Patent ID: 7748290

Claim:
A parking brake operator for a vehicle comprising: a base plate defining a ratchet; a parking brake lever rotatably connected to the base plate, the lever movable upwards from a first position to a second position; a brake cable connected to the lever for operating a parking brake; a button mounted to the lever and axially movable; a rod having one end connected to the button and a second end connected to a pawl, the pawl movable into and out of engagement with the ratchet; and a stopper mounted to the lever and spaced laterally apart from at least one portion of the rod; wherein when the lever is in the second position, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet and pressing the button does not disengage the pawl from the ratchet, wherein the rod further comprises a first member, second member, and third member, and the first, second, and third members are disposed at an angle to each other, wherein the first and third members are disposed approximately perpendicular to each other, wherein the second end of the rod is offset from a longitudinal axis of the first member thereof with a predetermined distance and the stopper is disposed therebetween to selectively engage with the rod, wherein the rod contacts the stopper when pressing the button in the second lever position, and wherein the second position is at an angle between about horizontal and about vertical.