Patent attributes
A parking brake actuator for a motor vehicle includes a fixed support, a lever pivotably connected to the support for movement between brake-releasing and brake-engaging positions, and a locking mechanism adapted to releasably maintain the lever in the brake-engaging position. An electrical switch has a blade operable to indicate when the lever is out of the brake releasing position. The fixed support forms a unitary mounting bracket for securing the switch blade to the fixed support so that the switch is integrated with the actuator. The fixed support and the unitary mounting bracket are preferably unitarily molded of plastic. The switch is preferably located near a mounting hole formed in the fixed support which receives a fastener to secure the fixed support to the motor vehicle. The switch can then extend to the mounting hole to contact the fastener and connect the switch to motor vehicle ground.
