Parking brake mechanism for vehicles

Claim 1

A parking brake mechanism for a vehicle comprising: a bracket adapted for connection with a body of the vehicle, a foot-operated brake pedal lever rotatably supported on a main shaft secured to the bracket, said brake pedal lever being provided with a cam slot, a cam plate pivotally mounted on the main shaft to freely rotate with respect to the brake pedal lever, said cam plate having a first cam portion and a second cam portion, a cable having one end connected to the cam plate and an opposite end for connection to a wheel brake assembly to be pulled by foot depression of the brake pedal lever, a cam follower engaged in the cam slot formed on the brake pedal lever for displacement along the cam slot, and a spring disposed between a stationary member and the cam follower and providing a biasing force to urge the cam follower toward the first and second cam portions in pressure contact therewith, the cam plate and the brake pedal lever being displaced together upon engagement of the cam follower with the first cam portion, and the cam plate being displaced about the main shaft with respect to the brake pedal lever by the biasing force of the spring in a direction to pull the cable upon engagement of the cam follower with the second cam portion.