The present disclosure, in general, relates to a parking brake lever in a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a parking brake lever having a neck formed on the push rod near the vicinity of a push button, which facilitates an easy insertion of a return spring from the push button side and a stopper to prevent ejection of the return spring from the push botton side.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A parking brake, also called as an emergency brake or e-brake, is a mechanical hand lever or foot-operated brake that is a backup braking system. It is located either between the front two seats or to the left of your gas and brake pedal. The parking brake generally controls rear brakes and is a completely separate device from your vehicle's regular hydraulic brakes. The parking brake is in charge of keeping a parked vehicle stationary; and it will prevent the car from rolling down a hill or moving. The parking brake is completely mechanical and use only cables and levers to operate. When a parking brake lever is pulled (or when a parking brake pedal is pushed), these cables transmit the necessary force to keep your vehicle in place or to stop the vehicle.
[0003] A typical parking brake lever 100 is shown in FIG. 1A. The brake parking lever 100 generally includes a push button 102 and a spring stopper 104 positioned adjacent to the push button 102. In such parking brake lever 100, the spring stopper 104 supports a spring 106 loaded on one end of a push rod 108.
[0004] In such typical parking brake lever 100 where the spring stopper 104 is adjacent to the push button 102, the spring 106 is mounted or inserted from pawl side. For the insertion of the spring 106 from the pawl side, the size of spring 106 is required to be bigger than the width of the push rod 108 at pawl

side, and thereby this type of configuration of the parking brake lever 100 cannot be used when small diameter spring 106 is necessary, owing to requirement of small diameter of the brake lever 100. Further, if push rod width at the pawl side is kept small for such type of configuration, it will lead to less strength and less rigidity of the push rod 108.
[0005] To address the issues related to the insertion of the spring 106 from the pawl side, another type of parking brake lever 200 is shown in FIG. 1B, in which the spring 106 can be inserted from the push button side. In this type of the parking brake lever 200, a push button 102 acts a spring stopper for a spring 106 loaded on one end of the push rod 108. Another end of the push rod 108 is connected to a pawl 110 (shown in FIG. 2). When the push button 102 is pressed and the parking brake lever 100 is pulled, a pawl tooth of the pawl 110 (shown in FIG. 2) slides over one of teeth of a ratchet bracket 112 (shown in FIG. 2) and locks on a ratchet tooth causing cable tension for application of the parking brake. Similarly, to release the parking brake, the push button 102 is pressed and the parking brake lever 100 is pushed down to disengage the pawl teeth from the ratchet tooth.
[0006] However, with such type of the parking brake lever 200, the push button 102 is always under continuous load from the spring 106 because the push button 102 is acting as the spring stopper. In addition, in case of improper fitment of the push button 102 into the push rod 108, there is great chance that the push button 102 can come out of the push rod 108 due to continuous load from the spring 106, leading to functional failure of parking brake lever 200.
[0007] Hence, there is a need in the state of the art that can provide a new type of parking brake lever that allows easy insertion of the spring and holds the spring in proper position while keeping the diameter of the parking brake lever small.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0009] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever with a spring stopper, which facilitates an easy insertion of a spring from a push button side of the parking brake lever.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever with a spring stopper that holds a spring at a correct position.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever with a spring stopper having better flexibility.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever with a spring stopper that is cost-effective with low maintenance.
[0013] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever with a spring stopper that can easily be accommodated inside a neck formed on push rod of the parking brake lever.
[0014] It is yet further object of the present disclosure to provide a parking brake lever with better performance and reliability.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present disclosure is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0016] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a parking brake lever with a spring stopper and a neck formed on push rod of the parking brake lever that facilitates an easy insertion of a spring from a push button side and holds the spring after insertion without exerting load to a push button. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed

subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0017] The present disclosure provides a parking brake lever in a vehicle. The parking brake lever includes a push rod having a first end connected to a ratchet plate and a second end connected to a push button. Adjacent to the push button, a neck is formed with dimensions less than dimensions of the push rod. Further, a spring stopper having a slot at its central region is provided to lock the spring stopperwith the neck. In an aspect, the slot is having a shape corresponding to cross-sectional shape of the neck.
[0018] In an aspect, the cross-sectional shape of the neck is one of a trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, or square.
[0019] In an aspect, the shape of the slot is one of a trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, or square.
[0020] In an aspect, the spring stopper has a cut portion extending from the slot formed in the central region to an exterior edge of the spring stopper.
[0021] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the spring stopper is inserted on the neck through the cut portion and locked on the neck through the slot.
[0022] In an aspect, the spring stopper is inserted and locked on the neck after insertion of a spring from the second end of the push rod adjacent to the push button.
[0023] In an aspect, the diameter of the spring stopper is greater than the diameter of the spring.
[0024] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made regarding the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0025] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed

description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional parking brake lever in which a spring is inserted on a push rod from a pawl side;
[0028] FIG. 1B illustrates another conventional parking brake lever in which the spring is inserted on the push road from a push button side;
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a macroscopic view of the other conventional parking brake lever shown in FIG. 1B;
[0030] FIG. 3A illustrates a parking brake lever in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 3B illustrates a spring stopper in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate different steps of an operation of insertion and locking of the spring stopper on the push rod of the parking brake lever, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an assembly of the spring stopper on a neck of the push rod, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0034] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the

following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to consider all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0036] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context dictates otherwise. In addition, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context dictates otherwise.
[0037] Since the conventional stopper fails to effectively, insert the spring either from the push button side or pawl side of the parking brake lever as well as holding it in the proper position. As a result, there will be great chances of failure of the parking brake lever. Moreover, they are also not cost-effective, as well as inefficient to use.
[0038] FIG. 3A illustrates a parking brake lever 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned above, the present disclosure defines a parking brake lever 300 that includes a push rod 302 having a first end connected directly to a ratchet plate and a second end connected to a push button at a push button side 304. In other words, the first end is a pawl side end while the second end is a push button side end.
[0039] As can be seen from FIG. 3A, a neck 306 is integrally formed on the push rod 302 in a region adjacent to the push button side 304. The dimensions of the neck 306 are lesser than the dimensions of the push rod 302. In an

aspect, the cross sectional shape of the neck 306 may be trapezoidal, rectangular, square, or triangular. The neck can be integrally formed while manufacturing the push rod as during injection molding process or any other similar manufacturing process.
[0040] As per an implement of the present disclosure, on the neck 306, a a spring stopper 308 as shown in FIG. 3B is inserted and locked to block or restrict the movement of a spring 402 (shown in FIGs 4A-4C) loaded on the push rod 302. Although the spring stopper 308 is shown as a cirular shaped structure in FIG. 3B, the spring stopper 308 can have any shape within the scope of the present disclosure. In an aspect, the spring stopper 308 and the push rod 302 can be formed from the same material. In an alternative aspect, the spring stopper 308 can be formed from a material different from the material of the push rod 302.
[0041] Further, as can be seen from FIG. 3B, the spring stopper 308 may include a slot 308-S in its central region and a cut portion 308-CP extending from the slot 308-S to an exterior edge 308-E of the spring stopper 308.
[0042] In FIG. 3B, although the slot 308-S is of trapezoidal shape, the shape can be rectangular, square, or triangular. In an aspect, the shape of the slot 308-S is same as the cross sectional shape of the neck 306.
[0043] The cut portion 308-CP and the slot 308-S enable insertion and locking of the spring stopper 308 on the neck 306 of the push rod 302. FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate various steps involved in the insertion and locking of the spring stopper 308 on the neck 306 of the push rod 302 of the parking brake lever 300.
[0044] As per first step shown in FIG. 4A, the spring 402 is inserted from the push button side 304 on the push rod 302 of the parking brake lever 300. After insertion of the spring 402, as per second step shown in FIG. 4B, the spring stopper 308, through its cut portion 308-CP, is inserted on the neck 306. Thereafter, in third step as shown in FIG. 4C, the spring stopper 308, through its slot 308-S, is locked on the neck 306. In an aspect, the slot 308-S is having

a shape corresponding to a cross sectional shape of the neck 306. By having such a matching shape, the slot 308-S can be easily press-fittedly locked on the neck 306. FIG.4C depicts an assembly of the spring stopper 308 locked on the neck 306 so as to uphold the spring 402 in an upright position.
[0045] This locking of the spring stopper 308 over the neck 306 creates a positive locking between the spring stopper 308 and the push rod 302. In addition, the diameter (Dss) of the spring stopper 308 is more than the diameter (DPR) of the neck 306 of the push rod 302 as well as the diameter (Ds) of the spring 402, that helps in holding the spring 402 in the upright position. The spring stopper 308 also restricts the movement of the spring 402 from the push rod 302 end.
[0046] FIG. 5 depicts an assembly between the push rod 302, neck 306 and the spring stopper 308 near the push button side 304 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. With such assembly, no load from the spring 402 is acting on the push button as all the load is endured by the spring stopper 308. Moreover, due to this proposed assembly, there is no requirement of keeping pawl side of the push rod 302 of less width.
[0047] Thus, with the parking brake lever 300 having the spring stopper 308 fixed on the neck 306 of the push rod 302 described in the present disclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are resolved.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0048] There is a plurality of features which are listed as technical advantages below:
[0049] The present disclosure provides a parking brake lever with a spring stopper that facilitates in an easy insertion of a spring from a push button side.
[0050] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever with the spring stopper that holds the spring mounted over the push rod in a proper position.

[0051] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever with the spring stopper that does not deliver continuous load on the push button.
[0052] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever with the spring stopper that helps in easy insertion of the spring from the push button side.
[0053] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever in which there is no requirement of keeping push rod's pawl side of less width.
[0054] The present disclosure provides the parking brake lever in which no load from the spring is acting on the push button as all the load is endured by the proposed the spring stopper.
[0055] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. Those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter should also appreciate it.
[0001] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features, which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages, will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.


WE CLAIM:

1. A parking brake lever (300) in a vehicle comprising:
a push rod (302) having a first end connected to a ratchet plate while a second end connected to a push button at a push button side (304) ;
a neck (306) formed adjacent to the push button side (304), said neck (306) having dimensions less than dimensions of the push rod (302); and
a spring stopper (308) having a slot (308-S) at a central region to lock the spring stopper (308) with the neck (306), wherein the slot (308-S) is having a shape corresponding to a cross sectional shape of the neck (306).
2. The parking brake lever (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross sectional shape of the neck (306) is one of a trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, or square.
3. The parking brake lever (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the slot (308-S) is one of a trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, or square.
4. The parking brake lever (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring stopper (308) has a cut portion (308-CP) extending from the slot (308-S) formed in the central region to an exterior edge (308-E) of the spring stopper (308).
5. The parking lever (300) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring stopper (308) is inserted on the neck (306) through the cut portion (308-CP) and locked on the neck (306) through the slot (308-S).
6. The parking brake lever (300) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spring stopper (308) is inserted and locked on the neck (306) after insertion of a spring (402) on the push rod (302) from the second end of the push rod (302) adjacent to the push button side (304).

7. The parking brake lever (300) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the diameter (Dss) of the spring stopper (308) is greater than the diameter (Ds) of the spring (402).
8. The parking brake lever (300) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the diameter (Dss) of the spring stopper (308) is greater than the diameter (DPR) of the push rod side (304).