Patent ID: 6553862
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B60T,B62K,B62L,B62M,Y10T

Abstract:
In combination:a recreational vehicle having a grip and a braking mechanism for resisting movement of the recreational vehicle upon actuation of the braking mechanism, the braking mechanism including: a support bracket mounted on the grip; and a brake actuation member mounted on the support bracket, the brake actuation member causing actuation of the braking mechanism when the brake actuation member is moved from a first position to a second position; a gripping lever being pivotally mounted on the support bracket, the gripping lever being pivotable between a first orientation characterized by the gripping lever permitting the brake actuation member to remain in the first position and a second orientation characterized by the gripping lever pressing the brake actuation member from the first position toward the second position; a piston assembly comprising: a piston slidably received in a channel of the gripping lever, the piston having a retracted position characterized by the piston pressing against the brake actuation member only when the gripping lever is moved from the first orientation toward the second orientation, the piston having an extended position characterized by the piston pressing against the brake actuation member when the gripping lever is in the first orientation; a release pin removably mounted on said gripping lever and releasably holding the piston in the retracted position such that removal of said release pin from the gripping lever releases the piston to move from the retracted position to the extended position; and a tether mounted on the release pin and including means for mounting the tether to an operator of the recreational vehicle such that movement of the operator away from the recreational vehicle causes the tether to pull on the release pin and remove the release pin from the gripping lever to release the piston.