Safety clip for a vehicle emergency brake system

Abstract

A safety clip is designed for a vehicle emergency brake system having a stem extending from a braking mechanism and ending in a knob, and a releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the stem in an extended position during braking. The safety clip includes a resilient, generally C-shaped sleeve having an opening and a pair of circumferentially spaced wing members extending from said sleeve at a location approximately radially opposite from said sleeve opening. In a normally closed position, the sleeve is capable of frictionally engaging the stem when the stem is in its extended position. In a distended position, the sleeve is capable of removal from the stem. In operation, compressing the wing members urges the sleeve to a distended position.

1 . A safety clip for a vehicle emergency brake system having a stem extending from a braking mechanism and ending in a knob, and a releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the stem in an extended position during braking, the clip comprising:
 (a) a resilient, generally C-shaped sleeve having an opening formed therein, said sleeve in a normally closed position capable of frictionally engaging said stem when said stem is in its extended position, said sleeve in a distended position capable of removal from said stem; and   (b) a pair of circumferentially spaced wing members extending from said sleeve at a location approximately radially opposite from said sleeve opening, whereby compressing said wing members urges said sleeve to a distended position.   
     
     
         2 . The safety clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of said wing members terminates in an end portion opposite said sleeve, said end portions flaring away from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The safety clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of said wing members has an upper edge and a lower edge, each of said wing members extending angularly from said sleeve such that said wing member end portion top edge is displaced upwardly in relation to said wing member top edge adjoining said sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The safety clip of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve and said wing members are integrally formed. 
     
     
         5 . The safety clip of  claim 4 , wherein said sleeve and said wing members are integrally molded. 
     
     
         6 . The safety clip of  claim 5 , wherein said sleeve and said wing members are integrally molded from a thermoplastic polymeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The safety clip of  claim 6 , wherein said thermoplastic polymeric material comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . A safety clip and storage pedestal assembly for a vehicle emergency brake system having a stem extending from a braking mechanism and ending in a knob, and a releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the stem in an extended position during braking, the assembly comprising:
 (a) a safety clip comprising:
 (1) a resilient, generally C-shaped sleeve having an opening formed therein, said sleeve in a normally closed position capable of frictionally engaging said stem when said stem is in its extended position, said sleeve in a distended position capable of removal from said stem; and 
 (2) a pair of circumferentially spaced wing members extending from said sleeve at a location approximately radially opposite from said sleeve opening, whereby compressing said wing members urges said sleeve to a distended position; and 
   (b) a storage pedestal capable of frictionally engaging said clip in a normally closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The safety clip and storage pedestal assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each of said wing members terminates in an end portion opposite said sleeve, said end portions flaring away from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The safety clip and storage pedestal assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each of said wing members has an upper edge and a lower edge, each of said wing members extending angularly from said sleeve such that said wing member end portion top edge is displaced upwardly in relation to said wing member top edge adjoining said sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The safety clip and storage pedestal assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said sleeve and said wing members are integrally formed. 
     
     
         12 . The safety clip and storage pedestal assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said sleeve and said wing members are integrally molded. 
     
     
         13 . The safety clip and storage pedestal assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said sleeve and said wing members are integrally molded from a thermoplastic polymeric material, and said pedestal is molded from said thermoplastic polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The safety clip and storage pedestal assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said thermoplastic polymeric material comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         15 . A method of maintaining a vehicle emergency brake system in a braked configuration, said system having a stem extending from a braking mechanism and ending in a knob, and a releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the stem in an extended position during braking, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a safety clip comprising:
 (1) a resilient, generally C-shaped sleeve having an opening formed therein, said sleeve in a normally closed position capable of frictionally engaging said stem when said stem is in its extended position, said sleeve in a distended position capable of removal from said stem; and 
 (2) a pair of circumferentially spaced wing members extending from said sleeve at a location approximately radially opposite from said sleeve opening; 
   (b) compressing said wing members to urge said sleeve to a distended position;   (c) positioning said sleeve in said distended position such that said sleeve substantially circumscribes said stem; and   (d) releasing said wing members such that said sleeve frictionally engages said stem.