Handbrake controls for road vehicles

Claim 1

A vehicle handbrake control including a hollow conductive member, a conductive rod mounted for axial movement within said member, said rod being insulated from said member, a handbrake release mechanism, means coupling the rod to the handbrake release mechanism so that axial movement of the rod operates the release mechanism to release the handbrake, a button mounted for axial movement in said member, said button being accessible from one end of the member and engaged with said rod so that axial movement of the button is transmitted to the rod to move the rod, resilient means urging the rod and the button to an axial position wherein, in use, the release mechanism is inoperative, a lens positioned in the exposed end of the button, a bulb holder supporting A bulb within the button, an electrical circuit including said bulb, one electrical connection to the bulb being made by way of the rod and a second electrical connection to the bulb being made by way of said member so that completion of said electrical circuit energizes the bulb to cause light from the bulb to issue from the button through said lens, and switch means connected in said electrical circuit and operable so that the circuit can only be completed when the handbrake is operative.