Abstract:
A vehicle brake assembly for improving the brake system on vehicle without using wearable brake pads. The vehicle brake assembly includes a drum having spaced openings a bore extending through the drum. A securing means is provided for securing the drum in a vehicle. A shaft is rotatably extended through the drum. A disc brake member has a pair of sides and a centrally-disposed opening therethrough and is mounted about the shaft for rotation therewith and is disposed within the drum and has a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A braking means is provided for braking the disc brake member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a frictionless brake device and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle brake assembly for improving the brake system on vehicle without using wearable brake pads. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of a frictionless brake device is known in the prior art. More specifically, a frictionless brake device heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, not with standing the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,706; U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,294; U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,483; U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,523; U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,604; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,968. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new vehicle brake assembly. The inventive device includes a drum having spaced openings a bore extending through the drum. A securing means is provided for securing the drum in a vehicle. A shaft is rotatably extended through the drum. A disc brake member has a pair of sides and a centrally-disposed opening therethrough and is mounted about the shaft for rotation therewith and is disposed within the drum and has a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A braking means is provided for braking the disc brake member. 
     In these respects, the vehicle brake assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of improving the brake system on vehicle without using wearable brake pads. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of frictionless brake device now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new vehicle brake assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for improving the brake system on vehicle without using wearable brake pads. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which has many of the advantages of the frictionless brake device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new vehicle brake assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art frictionless brake device, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a drum having spaced openings a bore extending through the drum. A securing means is provided for securing the drum in a vehicle. A shaft is rotatably extended through the drum. A disc brake member has a pair of sides and a centrally-disposed opening therethrough and is mounted about the shaft for rotation therewith and is disposed within the drum and has a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A braking means is provided for braking the disc brake member. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which has many of the advantages of the frictionless brake device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new vehicle brake assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art frictionless brake device, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such vehicle brake assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly for improving the brake system on vehicle without using wearable brake pads. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly which includes a drum having spaced openings a bore extending through the drum. A securing means is provided for securing the drum in a vehicle. A shaft is rotatably extended through the drum. A disc brake member has a pair of sides and a centrally-disposed opening therethrough and is mounted about the shaft for rotation therewith and is disposed within the drum and has a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A braking means is provided for braking the disc brake member. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly that substantially reduces the wear and tear on the drums of the wheels of a vehicle. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle brake assembly that involves little or no maintenance unlike the conventional brake systems. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention,  15  are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevational view of the first embodiment of a new vehicle brake assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of disc brake member of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new vehicle brake assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the vehicle brake assembly  10  generally comprises a drum  11  having spaced openings  16 ,  17  that define a bore that extends through the drum. The assembly further comprises a means for securing the drum  11  in a vehicle. A shaft  24  rotatably extends through the drum  11 . A disc brake member  25  having a pair of sides and a centrally-disposed opening  26  therethrough is conventionally mounted about the shaft  24  for rotation therewith and is disposed within the drum  11  and has a plurality of holes  27  extending therethrough. The vehicle brake assembly  10  also includes a means for braking the disc brake member  25 . 
     As a first embodiment, the drum  11  includes a first member  12  having a first side  14  facing the disc brake member  25  and a second member  13  also having a first side  15  facing the disc brake member  25  with the first and second members  12 , 13  being mirrored images of one another and with the openings  16 , 17  extending through the first and second members  12 , 13 . The means for securing the drum  11  in a vehicle includes a pair of hub members  18 , 19  each of which includes a bore  20 , 21  extending therethrough and includes an annular flange  22 , 23  for being in contactable relationship with a respective end of the drum  11 . The hub members  18 , 19  are conventionally mounted about the shaft  24  for holding the first and second members  12 , 13  in contactable relationship to one another. The means for braking the disc brake member  25  includes a plurality of mounting members  28  being securely and conventionally attached to the first sides  14 , 15  of the first and second members  12 , 13 , and also includes a plurality of electro-magnetic members  29  each of which is securely and conventionally mounted to a respective one of the mounting members  28 , and further includes a plurality of arm members  30  pivotally attached to one of the first sides  15  of either the first or second member  12 , 13 , and also includes a plurality of pad members  31  each of which is securely and conventionally attached to an end of a respective one of the arm members  30  and is adapted to engage the disc brake member  25 , and further includes a power cord  33  conventionally connected to the electro-magnetic members  29  for the energizing thereof, and also includes a cable  32  conventionally connected to the arm members  30  for the actuation thereof. 
     As a second embodiment, the means for securing the drum  11  in a vehicle includes a drum mounting bracket  34  being securely and conventionally attached to an exterior of a wall of the drum  11  for mounting the drum  11  to a vehicle. The drum mounting bracket  34  includes a first portion and a second portion which is angled relative to the first portion. The shaft  24  is adapted to securely and conventionally attach to an axle of the vehicle and includes means for securely attaching the shaft  24  to an axle of the vehicle. The means for securely attaching the shaft  24  to an axle of the vehicle includes a pair of yoked members  45  integrally attached to ends of the shaft  24 . A means for braking the disc brake member  25  includes a pair of support members  35 , 36  each of which is securely and removably fastened with fastening members to the drum  11  at a respective end thereof. Each of the support members  35 , 36  includes a centrally-disposed aperture  37 , 38  extending therethrough with the aperture  37 , 38  being adapted to receive the shaft  24  therethrough. Each support member  35 , 36  further includes a bearing member  41 , 42  securely and conventionally attached to a side of the support member  35 , 36  and is in alignment with the aperture  37 , 38  and also includes a bracket member  39 , 40  securely and integrally attached to an upper portion of the side essentially facing the disc brake member  25 . The means for braking the disc brake member  25  also includes a pair of electro-magnetic members  29  each of which is securely and conventionally mounted to the bracket member  39 , 40  of a respective support member  35 , 36  and is adapted to brake the disc brake member  25  by magnetizing the disc brake member  25  when the electro-magnetic members  29  are energized; and further includes power cords  33  conventionally attached to the electro-magnetic members  29  with the electro-magnetic members  29  being proximately spaced from either of the sides of the disc brake member  25 . The means for braking the disc brake member  25  further includes a pair of arm mounting brackets  44  securely and conventionally attached to an interior of the drum  11 ; and also includes a pair of arm members  30  each of which is pivotally attached to a respective one of the arm mounting brackets  44  and is proximately spaced and adjacently disposed to a respective side of the disc brake member  25 ; and further includes a pair of pad members  31  each of which is securely and conventionally attached at an end portion of a respective arm member  30  and is engageable to the disc brake member  25 ; and also includes a linkage member  43  conventionally connected to the arm members  30  for the pivoting thereof; and further includes a cable  32  conventionally connected to the linkage member  43  for actuating and moving the linkage member  43 . Each of the bracket members  39 , 40  mounted to a respective the support member  35 , 36  includes a first portion which extends perpendicular to the support member  35 , 36  and also includes a second portion which is angled relative to the first portion and which is disposed essentially parallel to the support member  35 , 36 . The disc brake member  25  is rotatably disposed between the electro-magnetic members  29 . 
     In use, to brake the vehicle or, in particular, the shaft  24 , the electro-magnetic members  29  are energized and magnetized from the power source of the vehicle which attracts the adjacently-disposed disc brake member  25  thus braking and slowing the rotation of the disc brake member  25  which causes the shaft  24  to also brake and slow accordingly. In an emergency, the user can actuate the cable  32  which, in turn, causes the arm members  30  to pivot toward the disc brake member  25  with the pad members  31  engaging and braking the disc brake member  25 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.