Speed controlled switching system for a ride-on vehicle

• US 10,279,694 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Flyer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radio Flyer Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Matthew E., Eckert, Cameron, Yang, Zhi Gang, Chen, Cong
• Primary Examiner(s): Luo, David
• Application Number:
  US15/428,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20170232856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 318139, 318 34
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0466 from above
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/025 Input devices for controlling electric drive motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/046 with electrical transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/02 Dead-man's devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 : Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 : Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 : for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/81 : Toys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 : Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 : specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 : characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A ride-on vehicle is provided that has a speed controlled switching system. The ride-on vehicle has a vehicle body having a driver'"'"'s seat, a plurality of wheels, a motor, a battery electrically connected to the motor, a direction switch assembly electrically connected between the battery and the motor, and a speed switch electrically connected between the direction switch assembly and the motor. The direction switch assembly has a forward button and a reverse button, and is proximal the driver'"'"'s seat in the vehicle body. The speed switch has a high speed setting and a low speed setting and is distal the driver'"'"'s seat and generally not accessible by a rider seated in the driver'"'"'s seat. When the reverse button is actuated the direction switch assembly causes the voltage observed by the motor to be at the low speed setting regardless of the setting of the speed switch.

Claims

1. A ride-on vehicle having a speed controlled switching system, comprising:

a vehicle body having a driver'"'"'s seat for a rider;

a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle body;

a motor connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels;

a battery electrically connected to the motor;

a direction switch assembly electrically connected between the battery and the motor, the direction switch assembly having a forward button and a reverse button; and

,

a speed switch electrically connected between the direction switch assembly and the motor, the speed switch being separate from the direction switch assembly, and the speed switch having a high speed setting and a low speed setting, wherein when the reverse button of the direction switch assembly is actuated it removes control of a speed of the motor from the speed switch, wherein when the forward button of the direction switch assembly is actuated it causes the speed switch to control the speed of the motor, and wherein the direction switch assembly is proximal the driver'"'"'s seat in the vehicle body, and wherein the speed switch is distal the driver'"'"'s seat and generally not accessible by a rider seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

2. The ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein a first switch of the direction switch assembly controls the polarity of the current sent to the motor.

3. The ride-on vehicle of claim 2, wherein when the first switch is in a first position the current provided to the motor has a first polarity, and when the first switch is in a second position the current provided to the motor has a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

4. The ride-on vehicle of claim 1, wherein actuation of the forward button operates to actuate a first switch to a first position and to actuate a second switch to a first position, and wherein actuation of the reverse button operates to actuate the first switch to a second position and to actuate the second switch to a second position.

5. The ride-in vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second motor connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels.

6. The ride-on vehicle of claim 5, wherein a voltage is provided to the motors in parallel when the forward button is actuated and when the speed switch is in the high speed setting, wherein the voltage is provided to the motors in series when the forward button is actuated and when the speed switch is in the low speed setting, and wherein the voltage is provided to the motors in series when reverse button is actuated regardless of the setting of the speed switch.

7. The ride-on vehicle of claim 6, wherein the voltage observed by the motors is higher when provided in parallel than in series.

8. A ride-on vehicle having a speed controlled switching system, comprising:

a vehicle body having a driver'"'"'s seat for a rider;

a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle body;

a motor connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels;

a battery electrically connected to the motor;

a direction switch assembly electrically connected between the battery and the motor, the direction switch assembly having a forward button and a reverse button adjacent the forward button; and

,

a speed switch electrically connected between the direction switch assembly and the motor, the speed switch being separate from the direction switch assembly, wherein when the reverse button of the direction switch assembly is actuated it removes control of a speed of the motor from the speed switch, wherein when the forward button of the direction switch assembly is actuated it causes the speed switch to control the speed of the motor, and wherein the direction switch is proximal the driver'"'"'s seat in the vehicle body, and wherein the speed switch is distal the driver'"'"'s seat and generally not accessible by a rider seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

9. The ride-on vehicle of claim 8, wherein the direction switch assembly further comprises a first switch and a second switch, and a rocker plate between the forward and reverse buttons and the first and second switches.

10. The ride-on vehicle of claim 9, wherein actuation of the forward button of the direction switch assembly operates to actuate both the first switch and the second switch, and wherein actuation of the reverse button of the direction switch assembly operates to actuate both the first switch and the second switch.

11. The ride-on vehicle of claim 10, wherein actuation of the forward button operates to actuate the first switch to a first position and to actuate the second switch to a first position, and wherein actuation of the reverse button operates to actuate the first switch to a second position and to actuate the second switch to a second position.

12. The ride-on vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first switch is a two position toggle switch, and wherein the second switch is a two position toggle switch.

13. The ride-in vehicle of claim 8, wherein the speed switch has a high speed setting and a low speed setting.

14. The ride-on vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a first motor and a second motor, wherein a voltage is provided to the motors in parallel when the forward button is actuated and when the speed switch is in the high speed setting, wherein the voltage is provided to the motors in series when the forward button is actuated and when the speed switch is in the low speed setting, and wherein the voltage is provided to the motors in series when reverse button is actuated regardless of the setting of the speed switch.

15. The ride-on vehicle of claim 14, wherein the voltage observed by the motors is higher when provided in parallel than in series.

16. A ride-on vehicle having a speed controlled switching system, comprising:

a vehicle body having a driver'"'"'s seat for a rider;

a plurality of wheels supporting the vehicle body;

a motor connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels;

a battery electrically connected to the motor;

a direction switch assembly electrically connected between the battery and the motor, the direction switch assembly having an independent forward button and an independent reverse button adjacent the forward button; and

,

a speed switch electrically connected between the direction switch assembly and the motor, the speed switch separate from the direction switch assembly, the speed switch having a low speed setting and a high speed setting, wherein the direction switch is proximal the driver'"'"'s seat in the vehicle body, and wherein the speed switch is distal the driver'"'"'s seat and generally not accessible by a rider seated in the driver'"'"'s seat.

17. The ride-on vehicle of claim 16, wherein the direction switch assembly is positioned within the cockpit of the vehicle body, and wherein the speed switch is positioned outside the cockpit of the vehicle body.

18. The ride-on vehicle of claim 16, wherein when the reverse button is actuated the direction switch assembly causes a voltage observed by the motor to be that of the low speed setting regardless of the setting of the speed switch.