CHILDREN'S RIDE-ON VEHICLES HAVING DETECTION SYSTEMS

• US 20100059968A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Mcilvain, Scott H., Lenihan, Gary G., Waples, David G., Asbach, Ronald M., Bergum, Mark J., Howell, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,366,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/446.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/06 Ball-and-socket hitches , e.g. constructional details, auxiliary devices, their arrangement on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/065 characterised by the hitch mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 9/00 Children's cycles toy vehicles A63H17/00

Abstract

A children'"'"'s ride-on vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a body having a seat assembly configured to support a child; and a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive rotation of at least one driven wheel in a plurality of drive configurations, and including a motor assembly comprising at least one electric motor, at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child supported by the seat assembly and adapted to selectively actuate the motor assembly, a battery assembly adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly, and a detection system adapted to detect whether an accessory is coupled to the body. The drive assembly being adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detection system detecting whether the accessory is coupled to the body.

Claims

1. A children'"'"'s ride-on vehicle, comprising:

a body having a seat assembly configured to support a child;

a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least one steerable wheel and at least one driven wheel; and

a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive rotation of the at least one driven wheel in a plurality of drive configurations, wherein the drive assembly includes;

a motor assembly comprising at least one electric motor,

at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child supported by the seat assembly and adapted to selectively actuate the motor assembly,

a battery assembly including at least one battery adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly, and

a detection system adapted to detect whether an accessory is coupled to the body, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detection system detecting whether the accessory is coupled to the body.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations responsive to the detection system detecting that the accessory is uncoupled from the body.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations responsive to the detection system detecting that the accessory is coupled to the body.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one user input device includes a first configuration input device adapted to receive user inputs selecting amongst the plurality of drive configurations, the drive assembly being further adapted to disengage the first configuration input device from the motor assembly responsive to the detection system detecting that the accessory is coupled to the body, the first configuration input device being unable to selectively actuate the motor assembly when disengaged from the motor assembly.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the accessory includes a second configuration input device positioned, when the accessory is coupled to the body, to receive inputs selecting amongst the plurality of drive configurations from a user other than a child supported by the seat assembly.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a steering assembly comprising a steering mechanism adapted to receive steering inputs from a child supported by the seat assembly, and a steering linkage adapted to convey the steering inputs to the at least one steerable wheel, wherein the steering assembly is adapted to disengage the steering mechanism from the steering linkage responsive to the detection system detecting that the accessory is coupled to the body, the steering linkage being unable to convey the steering inputs from the steering mechanism to the at least one steerable wheel when the steering mechanism is disengaged from the steering linkage.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the accessory includes a steering input device positioned, when the accessory is coupled to the body, to receive steering inputs from a user other than a child supported by the seat assembly.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat assembly includes a seat that is configured to be selectively adjusted between a small-seat position in which the seat is configured to support a child, and a large-seat position in which the seat is configured to support a child larger than the child supported in the small-seat position.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the detection system is further adapted to detect the selected seat position, and the drive assembly is further adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the selected seat position.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat assembly includes a seat, the detection system is further adapted to detect usage of the seat by a child, and the drive assembly is further adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detected seat usage.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to a de-energized drive configuration of the plurality of drive configurations responsive to the detection system detecting a lack of seat usage.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the detection system is further adapted to detect a weight of a child being supported by the seat assembly, and the drive assembly is further adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detected weight.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to a de-energized drive configuration of the plurality of drive configurations responsive to a detected weight that exceeds a predetermined maximum weight.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the detection system is further adapted to detect an orientation of the vehicle relative to a horizontal plane, and the drive assembly is further adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detected orientation.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to a de-energized drive configuration of the plurality of drive configurations responsive to a detected orientation that deviates beyond a predetermined maximum angle.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a trailing vehicle.

17. A children'"'"'s ride-on vehicle, comprising:

a body having a seat assembly configured to support a child, the seat assembly including a seat configured to be selectively adjusted among a plurality of seat positions;

a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least one driven wheel; and

a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive rotation of the at least one driven wheel in a plurality of drive configurations, wherein the drive assembly includes;

a motor assembly comprising at least one electric motor,

at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child sitting on the seat and adapted to selectively actuate the motor assembly,

a battery assembly including at least one battery adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly, and

a detection system adapted to detect at least one of seat position, seat usage, and weight supported by the seat, wherein the drive assembly is adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on at least one of the detected seat position, the detected seat usage, and the detected weight supported by the seat.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the plurality of seat positions includes a small-seat position in which the seat is configured to support a child, and a large-seat position in which the seat is configured to support a child larger than the child supported in the small-seat position.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the detection system is further adapted to detect an orientation of the vehicle relative to a horizontal plane, and the drive assembly is further adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detected orientation.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the detection system is further adapted to detect whether an accessory is coupled to the body, wherein the drive assembly is further adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detection system detecting whether the accessory is coupled to the body.

21. A children'"'"'s ride-on vehicle, comprising:

a body having a seat assembly configured to support a child;

a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least one steerable wheel and at least one driven wheel;

a steering assembly comprising a steering mechanism adapted to receive steering inputs from a child supported by the seat assembly, and a steering linkage adapted to convey the steering inputs to the at least one steerable wheel; and

a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive rotation of the at least one driven wheel in a plurality of drive configurations, wherein the drive assembly includes;

a motor assembly comprising at least one electric motor,

at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child supported by the seat assembly and adapted to selectively actuate the motor assembly, the at least one user input device including a configuration input device adapted to receive user inputs selecting amongst the plurality of drive configurations,

a battery assembly including at least one battery adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly, and

a detection system adapted to detect whether an accessory is coupled to the body, wherein the drive assembly, responsive to the detection system detecting that the accessory is coupled to the body, is adapted to (1) restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations and (2) disengage the configuration input device from the motor assembly, the configuration input device being unable to selectively actuate the motor assembly when disengaged from the motor assembly, and the steering assembly is adapted to disengage the steering mechanism from the steering linkage responsive to the detection system detecting that the accessory is coupled to the body, the steering linkage being unable to convey the steering inputs from the steering mechanism to the at least one steerable wheel when the steering mechanism is disengaged from the steering linkage.