BRAKE MONITORING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A braking device for a towed vehicle, the braking device being configured to be positioned within the towed vehicle, the braking device further being configured to depress a brake pedal of the towed vehicle, the braking device comprising:
- (A) a brake actuator, the brake actuator configured to controllably press on the towed vehicle'"'"'s brake pedal, the brake actuator comprising a brake pedal attachment device, the brake pedal attachment device being removably attached to the brake pedal;
(B) a brake release system in communication with the brake actuator, the brake release system being configured to monitor when the brake pedal has been depressed for a predetermined period of time and wherein when the brake release system determines that the predetermined period of time has been exceeded, the brake release system deactivates the brake actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a brake release system for a towed vehicle. The towed vehicle has a braking device that is positioned within the towed vehicle and is configured to depress a brake pedal of the towed vehicle. The braking device includes a brake actuator that is configured to controllably press on the towed vehicle'"'"'s brake pedal. The brake release system is in communication with the brake actuator. The brake release system is configured to monitor when the brake pedal has been depressed for a predetermined period of time and when the brake release system determines that the predetermined period of time has been exceeded; the brake release system deactivates the brake actuator.
36 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A braking device for a towed vehicle, the braking device being configured to be positioned within the towed vehicle, the braking device further being configured to depress a brake pedal of the towed vehicle, the braking device comprising:
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(A) a brake actuator, the brake actuator configured to controllably press on the towed vehicle'"'"'s brake pedal, the brake actuator comprising a brake pedal attachment device, the brake pedal attachment device being removably attached to the brake pedal;
(B) a brake release system in communication with the brake actuator, the brake release system being configured to monitor when the brake pedal has been depressed for a predetermined period of time and wherein when the brake release system determines that the predetermined period of time has been exceeded, the brake release system deactivates the brake actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A braking system for a towed vehicle comprising:
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(A) braking means for depressing a brake pedal of the towed vehicle;
(B) brake release means for deactivating the braking means, the brake release means in communication with the braking means, the brake release means being configured to monitor when the brake pedal has been depressed for the predetermined period of time and to deactivate the braking means after the predetermined period of time has transpired. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring a braking system of a towed vehicle, the braking system being configured to brake the towed vehicle, the method comprising:
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(A) sensing the application of braking to the towed vehicle;
(B) measuring a period of time that the brakes are applied;
(C) deactivating the braking system, if the period of time that the brakes are applied is greater than a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification