Vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster having a visible brake bias ratio indicator and method and apparatus for retrofitting a vehicle with a vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly having a visible brake bias ratio indicator

• US 10,323,733 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMG Depot LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovatech, LLC
• Inventors: Nesbitt, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Melanie Torres
• Application Number:
  US15/233,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/04 foot actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/24 responsive to vehicle inclination or change of direction, e.g. negotiating bends using electrical circuitry or regulation means B60T8/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/26 characterised by producing differential braking between front and rear wheels using electrical circuitry or regulation means B60T8/17
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/02 for conveying rotary movements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/005 for conveying oscillating or limited rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2043 Screw mechanisms driving an oscillating lever, e.g. lever with perpendicular pivoting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2062 Arrangements for driving the actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/20 Screw mechanisms with automatic reversal F16H25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/40 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/46 Means, e.g. links, for connecting the pedal to the controlled unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/30 Knob, control lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

A vehicle braking system bias adjuster which includes a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually and quickly determine the relative front to rear (or right front to left front) brake bias or brake bias setting of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle. The brake bias adjustment knob assembly visually indicates the exact amount of brake bias, or if there is no bias at all. The ratio is expressed in numbers to enable the driver to reset the brake bias to a known value of ratio as needed for track conditions and vehicle weight changes. The value in numbers is reproducible. The present disclosure also provides a method and apparatus for retrofitting an existing vehicle with a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually determine the relative brake bias or brake bias setting (i.e., the ratio of front to rear brake biasing or the ratio of side to side brake biasing) of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly for a vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster for a pedal assembly of a vehicle braking system of a vehicle, said vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly comprising:

a knob connectable to a connection cable of the vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster to enable a driver of the vehicle to set each one of a plurality of different amounts of a first brake bias, each one of a plurality of different amounts of a second brake bias, and no amount of first brake bias and no amount of second brake bias;

a handle connected to the knob, the handle including a mounting arm connected to the knob, an actuation arm connected to the mounting arm, and a sleeve rotatably connected to the actuation arm;

a cover plate having at least one wall simultaneously displaying a plurality of different brake bias indication symbols that are continuously viewable and configured to correspond to the plurality of different amounts of first brake bias, the plurality of different amounts of second brake bias, and the no amount of first brake bias and no amount of second brake bias;

a spring;

a ball bearing; and

a mounting plate defining a plurality of detents;

wherein the knob, the spring, the ball bearing, and the mounting plate are configured;

(a) to be assembled such that the spring and the ball bearing are positioned between the knob and the mounting plate, and

(b) to be assembled such that the spring biases the ball bearing against the plurality of detents in a sequence when the knob is rotated, and

wherein the knob and the cover plate are configured;

(a) to be assembled such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the cover plate,

(b) to be attached to the connection cable to enable reproducible setting of brake bias between two brake cylinders of the vehicle braking system,

(c) to indicate the setting of the brake bias between the two brake cylinders of the vehicle braking system, and

(d) to provide a designated rotation speed for the cover plate which corresponds to a designated rotation speed of the cable.

2. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 1, wherein the designated rotation speed for the cover plate is one of a first rotation speed, a second slower rotation speed, and a third even slower rotation speed.

3. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of different brake bias indication symbols correspond to the first designated rotation speed for the cover plate.

4. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of different brake bias indication symbols correspond to the second designated rotation speed for the cover plate.

5. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of different brake bias indication symbols correspond to the third designated rotation speed for the cover plate.

6. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 1, wherein the different brake bias indication symbols are sequential numbers.

7. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 1, wherein the different brake bias indication symbols are sequential numbers and which includes divisions between the numbers noted with markings.

8. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 1, wherein the knob includes a knob body connected to the handle.

9. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 8, wherein the knob body includes a lower portion and an upper portion.

10. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 8, wherein the mounting arm extends through the knob body.

11. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 8, wherein the mounting arm is connected to knob body.

12. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation arm extends transversely from the mounting arm.

13. A vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster comprising:

(a) a biasing mechanism attachable to a pedal assembly of a vehicle;

(b) a connection cable attachable at one end to the biasing mechanism; and

(c) a brake bias adjustment knob assembly attachable to a dashboard of the vehicle, said brake bias adjustment knob assembly including;

a knob connectable to the connection cable to enable a driver of the vehicle to set each one of a plurality of different amounts of a first brake bias, each one of a plurality of different amounts of a second brake bias, and no amount of first brake bias and no amount of second brake bias;

a handle connected to the knob, the handle including a mounting arm connected to the knob, an actuation arm connected to the mounting arm, and a sleeve rotatably connected to the actuation arm;

a cover plate having a wall simultaneously displaying a plurality of different brake bias indication symbols that are continuously viewable and configured to correspond to the plurality of different amounts of first brake bias, the plurality of different amounts of second brake bias, and the no amount of first brake bias and no amount of second brake bias;

a spring;

a ball bearing; and

a mounting plate defining a plurality of detents;

wherein the knob, the spring, the ball bearing, and the mounting plate are configured;

(a) to be assembled such that the spring and the ball bearing are positioned between the knob and the mounting plate, and

(b) to be assembled such that the spring biases the ball bearing against the plurality of detents in a sequence when the knob is rotated, and

wherein the knob and the cover plate are configured;

(a) to be assembled such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the cover plate,

(b) to be attached to the connection cable to enable reproducible setting of brake bias between two brake cylinders of the vehicle braking system,

(c) to indicate the setting of the brake bias between the two brake cylinders of the vehicle braking system, and

(d) to provide a designated rotation speed for the cover plate which corresponds to a designated rotation speed of the cable.

14. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 13, wherein the designated rotation speed is one of a first rotation speed, a second slower rotation speed, and a third even slower rotation speed.

15. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 14, wherein the plurality of different brake bias indication symbols correspond to the first designated rotation speed of the cover plate.

16. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 14, wherein the plurality of different brake bias indication symbols corresponding to the second designated rotation speed of the cover plate.

17. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 14, wherein the plurality of different brake bias indication symbols correspond to the third designated rotation speed of the cover plate.

18. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 13, wherein the different brake bias indication symbols are sequential numbers.

19. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 13, wherein the different brake bias indication symbols are sequential numbers and which includes divisions between the numbers noted with markings.

20. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 13, wherein the knob includes a knob body connected to the handle.

21. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 20, wherein the knob body includes a lower portion and an upper portion.

22. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 20, wherein the mounting arm extends through the knob body.

23. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 20, wherein the mounting arm is connected to knob body.

24. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster of claim 13, wherein the actuation arm extends transversely from the mounting arm.

25. A vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly for a vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster for a pedal assembly of a vehicle braking system of a vehicle, said vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly comprising:

a knob configured to be connected to a connection cable of the vehicle braking system brake bias adjuster to enable a driver of the vehicle to set each one of a plurality of different amounts of a first brake bias, each one of a plurality of different amounts of a second brake bias, and no amount of first brake bias and no amount of second brake bias;

a ring gear having at least one wall displaying a plurality of different brake bias indication symbols and configured to correspond to the plurality of different amounts of first brake bias, the plurality of different amounts of second brake bias, and the no amount of first brake bias and no amount of second brake bias;

a spring;

a ball bearing; and

a mounting plate comprising a plurality of detents;

wherein the knob, the spring, the ball bearing, and the mounting plate are configured;

(a) to be assembled such that the spring and the ball bearing are positioned between the knob and the mounting plate, and

(b) to be assembled such that the spring biases the ball bearing against the plurality of detents in a sequence when the knob is rotated, and

wherein the knob and the ring gear are configured;

(i) to be assembled such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the ring gear,

(ii) to be attached to the connection cable to enable reproducible setting of brake bias between two brake cylinders of the vehicle braking system,

(iii) to indicate the setting of the brake bias between the two brake cylinders of the vehicle braking system, and

(iv) to provide a designated rotation speed for the ring gear which corresponds to a designated rotation speed of the cable.

26. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 25, wherein the spring biases the ball bearing against one of the plurality of detents for each time the knob is rotated 90 degrees.

27. The vehicle braking system brake bias adjustment knob assembly of claim 25, wherein the knob includes an interior structure defining a cylindrical hole, and wherein the interior structure is configured to receive and hold the spring and the ball bearing.