Pinch relief structure for children's ride-on vehicle

• US 5,570,925 A
• Filed: 07/03/1995
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Europa BV (Mattel Incorporated), Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Europa BV (Mattel Incorporated), Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Cohen, Samuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, KIA MONIQUE
• Application Number:
  US08/498,674
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 296/177, 296/76, 180/69.21, 16/362, 16/363, 16/364, 49/254, 49/257, 446/487, 446/471, 446/470, 446/94, 446/93
• US Class Current: 296/177
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/12 Parts or details thereof locks E05B, E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; springs, e.g. pneumatic springs F16F

Abstract

A children'"'"'s riding vehicle includes a compartment-enclosing member which may be pivotably opened and closed, and pinch relief structure thereon for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the enclosing member is closed. The structure includes an arm joined to the enclosing member adjacent an edge thereof so that it is movable therewith when the enclosing member is opened and closed. A slot in the vehicle receives the arm and permits it to move when the enclosing member is opened and closed, and further allows the arm and the enclosing member to be selectively moved, together as a unit and relative to the vehicle, for defining a space between the edge of the enclosing member to which the arm is joined and the vehicle, for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the member is closed.

Claims

1. In a children'"'"'s riding vehicle of the type which includes a compartment-enclosing member which may be pivotably opened and closed for allowing access to a compartment on the vehicle, pinch relief structure for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the member is closed comprising:

an elongate arm with a free end and a fixed end joined to the member adjacent an edge thereof being movable therewith when the member is opened and closed and including an elongate axis;

a stop disposed on the arm proximal to the free end and including a ledge extending transverse to the elongate axis of the arm; and

a slot in the vehicle for receiving therethrough the free end of the arm and the stop and permitting them to move pivotally within the slot when the enclosing member is opened and closed, the slot further allowing the arm and member to be selectively moved together as a unit, relative to the vehicle, in the direction of the elongate axis of the arm for a distance limited by engagement of the ledge with the vehicle for defining a space between the edge of the enclosing member adjacent which the arm is joined and the vehicle, such space for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the member is closed.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the slot has an elongate axis and includes a transverse subslot configured to allow the stop to pass therethrough when the member is positioned in the open position and moved away from the vehicle in a direction along the elongate axis of the arm.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the enclosing member is a hood and the arm is joined adjacent the rear edge thereof.

4. In a children'"'"'s riding vehicle of the type which includes a compartment-enclosing member which is movable between an opened and closed position, pinch relief structure for preventing a child from pinching a finger when the enclosing member is closed comprising:

an elongate arm with a free end and a fixed end joined to the enclosing member for movement therewith and including an elongate axis, wherein the arm and the enclosing member are movable together in a first and second direction, which directions are different from each other;

a stop disposed on the arm proximal to the free end and including a ledge extending transverse to the elongate axis of the arm; and

a slot in the vehicle for receiving therethrough the free end of the arm and the stop and allowing them to be moved along with the member in the first and second directions, wherein the first direction lies along a generally arcuate path between the opened and closed positions and the second direction is a motion directed generally along the elongate axis of the arm for a distance limited by the stop.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the enclosing member is a hood.

6. A children'"'"'s riding vehicle comprising:

a body;

plural wheels rotatably mounted on the body;

a compartment-enclosing member pivotably mounted on the body and movable between an opened position and a closed position;

at least one elongate arm with a free end and a fixed end joined to the enclosing member;

a stop disposed on the arm proximal to the free end and including a ledge extending transverse to the elongate axis of the arm; and

a slot in the body for receiving therethrough the free end of the arm and the stop and through which the arm moves when the member is opened and closed, the slot further allowing the member and the fixed end of the arm to be selectively moved as a unit in a direction generally away from the slot for a distance determined by the position of the ledge on the stop, when the member is closed, for defining a space between the vehicle and the member which prevents a child from pinching a finger when the member is closed.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the enclosing member is a hood.