Use of batteries in children's electric vehicles

• US 5,434,494 A
• Filed: 01/03/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PEG Perego Pines SPA
• Original Assignee: PEG Perego Pines SPA
• Inventors: Perego, Gianluca
• Primary Examiner(s): KINCAID, KRISTINE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/176,780
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/5, 320/15, 320/48, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy 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: 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A toy electric car (11) with an accessible compartment (10) which removably houses an accumulator battery, is provided with a battery box (13) having a gripping and removing handle (15). The battery box (13) receives electric accumulators (21, 22) connected towards the outside by a socket (19) on the body of the battery box (13) to supply electric power to the vehicle through a complementary plug (20) connected to the wiring system of the vehicle and insertable in the socket.

Claims

1. A toy electric vehicle, comprising:

an accessible accumulator battery compartment;

a battery box including a gripping and removing handle;

electric accumulators disposed in said battery box, a socket provided on a body portion of said battery box, said socket for supplying electric power to said electric vehicle;

a complimentary plug connected to a wiring system of said vehicle, said complimentary plug being insertable into said socket;

said handle being moveable from a gripping position to a folded inoperative position, said handle including a coupling protrusion;

a protrusion seat positioned in said compartment, said coupling protrusion fitting into said protrusion seat when said handle is moved to said inoperative position whereby said coupling protrusion and said protrusion seat cooperate to prevent said battery from being extracted from said compartment, in said handle inoperative position.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said handle is shaped in a form of an upside down U with arms having ends hingedly connected along a horizontal axis whereby said handle is rotated between said inoperative position and said gripping position, said coupling protrusion projecting from one arm of said upside down U.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said compartment includes a U-shaped bearing seat including a base receiving a bottom of said battery box and including lateral arms disposed on either side of said battery box, each of said lateral arms ending in a hook, each hook defining one side of said protrusion seat.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a charged state of said accumulators.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said accumulators are connected to said socket by means of at least one protective fuse.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a cover for closing said compartment.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an alternative plug, connectable to said socket, for connecting a battery charger to said accumulators.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said accumulators comprise a first and second accumulator, each of said first and second accumulator being independently connected to said socket.

9. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said plug comprises a connection for connecting said accumulators in series with said battery charger.

10. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said plug comprises a connection for connecting said first accumulator and said second accumulator in series with a battery charger.

14. A vehicle according to either claim 1 or 11, wherein said display means is provided on an upper surface of said battery box.

16. A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said protective fuse is provided on an upper surface of said battery box.

11. A toy electric vehicle, comprising:

an accessible accumulator battery compartment;

a battery box including a gripping and removing handle;

electric accumulators disposed in said battery box, socket provided on a body portion of said battery box, said socket for supplying electric power to said electric vehicle;

a complimentary plug connected to a wiring system of said vehicle, said complimentary plug being insertable into said socket;

display means for displaying a charged state of said accumulators;

a testing button connected between said display means and said accumulators for activating said display means, said testing button including two sets of contacts alternately operable to connect either a first accumulator or a second accumulator of said accumulators, to said display device.

12. A battery box according to claim 11, wherein said testing button includes two operating positions with a stable central zero position, each of said operating positions corresponding to the operation of one of said two sets of contacts.

13. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said display means comprises three LED elements which each light up alternately, depending on whether a voltage of said accumulators is:

above a pre-established value, indicating a satisfactory state of charge;

within a pre-established range indicating an intermediate state of charge;

or

below a pre-established minimum indicating that said accumulators are substantially not charged.

15. A vehicle according to either claim 14 or 11, wherein said testing button is provided on an upper surface of said battery box.