Retention spring for brake pressure pads

Abstract

A brake caliper has a retention spring to eliminate excessive movement of the pressure plates or pad pin with respect to the caliper housing. The retention spring has a pad pin contacting portion to exert a force on the pad pin. The spring includes a retention portion continuous with the pad pin portion to provide counterforce to maintain the pad pin in position.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 : A spring clip for causing contact between a brake pad pin and a pressure plate or pad pin support of a brake caliper, the spring clip comprising: 
 a spring portion for contacting and exerting a force against a brake pad pin to hold the brake pad pin against a single pressure plate or pad pin support; and    a retention portion configured to provide counter force in response to the exerted force, the retention portion including portions located on opposite sides of the spring portion which engage the pressure plate or pad pin support,    wherein the spring clip is configured to engage a single brake pad pin and a single pressure plate or pad pin support.    
   
   
       27 : The spring clip of  claim 26 , wherein the sum of the counter force is generally equal to the sum of the exerted force.  
   
   
       28 : The spring clip of  claim 27 , wherein the counter force includes at least one directional force generally perpendicular to the exerted force.  
   
   
       29 : The spring clip of  claim 27 , wherein the counter force includes at least one directional force generally parallel to the exerted force.  
   
   
       30 : The spring clip of  claim 26 , wherein the spring clip includes a depth that is generally equal to a depth of the pressure plate or pad support.  
   
   
       31 : The spring clip of  claim 26 , wherein the spring clip is formed of stamped metal and includes a material depth that extends through a length of the spring clip and which is greater than the material thickness of the stamped metal.  
   
   
       32 : The spring clip of  claim 31 , wherein the spring portion includes a contact portion for engaging the brake pad pin, the contact portion including a concave arcuate portion having a shape complementary to the brake pad pin.  
   
   
       33 : The spring clip of  claim 32 , wherein the retention portion includes two opposing C-shaped members located on opposite sides of the spring portion and facing each other to form two openings extending through the depth of the spring clip.  
   
   
       34 : The spring clip of  claim 26 , wherein the spring clip is formed of a single continuous wire forming a closed rectangular shape, the spring clip configured to entirely surround a portion of the pad pin support.  
   
   
       35 : The spring clip of  claim 34 , wherein the spring portion includes a contact portion for engaging the brake pad pin, the contact portion including two concave arcuate wire portions having a shape complementary to the brake pad pin and wherein the retention portion includes two members located on opposite sides of the spring portion and extending away from each other.  
   
   
       36 : A brake caliper comprising: 
 a caliper housing including an inboard side and an outboard side separated by a rotor gap, the inboard and outboard sides including a pad pin support defining an opening for receiving a brake pad pin;    a first brake pad including a first pressure plate and a second brake pad including a second pressure plate, the first and second pressure plates each defining an opening for receiving the brake pad pin;    a first spring clip exerting a force against the brake pad pin in a direction to hold the brake pad pin against the first pressure plate or pad pin support; and    a second spring clip exerting a force against the brake pad pin in a direction to hold the brake pad pin against the second pressure plate or pad pin support,    wherein the first and second spring clips are each configured to engage a single brake pad pin.    
   
   
       37 : The brake caliper of  claim 36 , wherein the first and second spring clip each include: 
 a spring portion contacting and exerting the force against the brake pad pin; and    a retention portion providing a counter force in response to the exerted force, the retention portion including portions located on opposite sides of the spring portion.    
   
   
       38 : The brake caliper of  claim 36 , wherein the first and second spring clip include a depth that is generally equal to a depth of the pressure plate or pad pin support.  
   
   
       39 : The brake caliper of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first and second spring clips are entirely located within the opening formed in the first and second pressure plate, respectively.  
   
   
       40 : The brake caliper of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first and second spring clip entirely surround a portion of the first and second brake pad pin support.  
   
   
       41 : The spring clip of  claim 40 , wherein the spring clip is formed of a single continuous wire forming a closed rectangular shape.  
   
   
       41 : The spring clip of  claim 40 , wherein the spring clip is formed of a single continuous wire forming a closed rectangular shape.  
   
   
       42 : The spring clip of  claim 41 , wherein the spring portion includes a contact portion for engaging the brake pad pin, the contact portion including two concave arcuate wire portions having a shape complementary to the brake pad pin and wherein the retention portion includes two members located on opposite sides of the spring portion and extending away from each other.  
   
   
       43 : The spring clip of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second spring clips are formed of stamped metal and includes a material depth that extends through a length of the spring clip and which is greater than the material thickness of the stamped metal.  
   
   
       44 : The spring clip of  claim 43 , wherein the spring portion of the first and second spring clips each include a contact portion for engaging the brake pad pin, the contact portion including a concave arcuate portion having a shape complementary to the brake pad pin, and wherein the retention portion of the first and second spring clips each include two opposing C-shaped members located on opposite sides of the spring portion and facing each other to form two openings extending through the depth of the spring clip.  
   
   
       45 : The brake caliper of  claim 36 , further comprising a third spring clip, the third spring clip includes: 
 a spring portion exerting a force against the brake pad pin in a direction to hold the brake pad pin against the inboard and outboard pad pin support; and    a retention portion providing a counter force in response to the exerted force, the retention portion including portions located on opposite sides of the spring portion and contacting the first and second pressure plates.