GB2252281A

GB2252281A - Remotely reversible toy car for carrying a child

Info

Publication number: GB2252281A
Application number: GB9125832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Huang Kuo Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-04
Filing date: 1991-12-04
Publication date: 1992-08-05
Also published as: GB9125832D0; CN2109332U; DE9100077U1

Abstract

The toy car is provided with a reversing switch which reverses the direction of motion of the car and can be actuated by means of a remote transmitter (4). In this manner the car can be prevented from being driven into a dangerous area and damage to the drive motor of the car which may result when the car is stalled against an obstacle is also prevented. <IMAGE>

Description

A TOY ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A SAFETY CONTROLLER Conventional toy electric cars for carrying children are not provided with any controller which can externally control the car. Therefore, the entire control of the electric car is performed by the child. As a result, in case the child wrongly operates the car to make the car hit a wall, the car will become unable to advance or back up. At this time, if the child does not reverse the car, the drive motor of the electric car will not rotate under power and this will result in damage to the drive motor.

Moreover, if the car collides with furniture, an article placed on the furniture might drop and injure the child.

Furthermore, the child may carelessly drive the car toward a flight of stairs and fall downstairs and get hurt.

Therefore, a need arises for a safety controller on the electric car.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a toy electric car or other toy vehicle with a safety controller located between the battery and drive motor of the car or other toy vehicle to co-operate with a remote transmitter and a sensing receiver for controlling the direction of the motion.

The invention provides an electrically driven toy vehicle for carrying a child, comprising an electrically actuated reversing switch arranged to control a drive motor which drives the toy vehicle, the direction of motion of the toy vehicle being reversible by actuating said reversing switch, and a remote control which is arranged to transmit a signal which actuates said reversing switch and reverses the direction of motion of the toy vehicle.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a motor capable of rotating forward and reversely to drive a sector gear to swing clockwise or counter clockwise to actuate a two-state switch. Because the power source of the drive motor is also connected with the two-state switch, the direction of rotation of the drive motor can be also controlled externally so that in case the child drives the car towards a dangerous areas, an adult can use the remote transmitter to control the moving direction of the car to prevent the child from getting hurt.

The present invention can be best understood by way of example only through the following description and accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy electric car provided with the safety controller of this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the safety controller of this invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the screw gear set thereof; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the screw gear set; Fig. 5 and 6 shows the operation of this invention; Fig. 7 shows the connection between the safety controller of the present invention and the transmitter and receiver and the control circuitory of the car, and Fig. 8 shows the application of this invention.

Please first refer to Fig. 1. A safety controller 2 is disposed under the chassis of a toy electric car 1. However, the safety controller 2 can be disposed on other portions of the electric car 1. Three switches 10, 11, 12 are mounted on the electric car 1. The first switch 10 is a controlling switch for switching on/off the safety controller 2. Switch 10 is in series with a motor 20 (Fig. 7) and when it is switched off it disabls the safety controller 2 and ensures that reversing switch 23 thereof (Figs. 2, 5, 6, ) is held by friction in the state shown in Fig. 5 and does ot reverse th drive motor of the toy car. The second switch 11 is a selection switch for selecting automatic/non-automatic ("foot-stepping") mode of the electric car 1. The third switch 12 is a reversing switch for selecting forward and reverse movement of the electric car 1.

Please now refer to Fig. 2. The safety controller 2 includes a base 25 with an L-shaped cross-section. Two holes 250, 251 are formed on a vertical portion of the base 25 for mounting the controller 2 on the chassis (see Fig.

1). Another four holes 252, 253, 254, 255 are formed on a horizontal portion of the base 25.

A motor 20 is mounted on a motor seat 200 by bolts 201. A pulley 202 is disposed on a shaft of the motor seat 200. Two bolts 206,208 extend through the holes 252, 255 of the base 25 and then through the holes 203, 204 of the motor seat 200 to associate with two nuts 207, 209 for fastening the motor seat 200 to the base 25. A horizontal insert hole 205 is formed on the motor seat 200 in parallel with the shaft of the motor 20. A rod member 241 is closely fitted in the insert hole 205 and a screw gear set 24 is fitted on the rod member 241. A clevis 242 is engaged with the rod member 241 to prevent the screw gear set 24 from dropping down.

A screw gear set 21 is formed with a large horizontal hole 212 and a small horizontal hole 210. The screw gear set 24 is first fitted with a belt 240 and then into the large hole 212 with a head portion of the rod member 241 fitted in the small hole 210. Moreover, two vertical holes 213, 214 are formed on the screw gear seat 21 corresponding to the holes 253, 254 of the base 25 so that two bolts 215, 217 can go therethrough to engage with two nuts 216, 218 for fastening the screw gear seat 21 on the base 25. The belt 240 is fitted on a pulley 246 of the screw gear set 24 (see Fig. 3) and the pulley 202 of the motor 20 for transmitting power to the screw gear set 24.

A vertical post 211 is formed on the screw gear seat 21. A pinion 3 with a large diameter worm wheel portion and a small diameter gear portion is fitted on the post 211. A clevis 219 is fitted on the post 211 for fastening the pinion 3 to the post 211. The large diameter worm wheel portion meshes with the screw of the screw gear set (worm) 24.

A sector 22 has a sleeve portion fitted on a bolt 225 which is vertically fixed on the base 25 by a nut 226. By means of two nuts 221, 222 and a washer 223, the sector gear 22 is fastened to the bolt 225 and can swing about bolt 225. The sector gear set 22 is engaged with the small diameter gear portion of the pinion 3 so that the motor 20 can transmit power to the sector gear 22. A hole 227 is formed on a central portion of the sector gear 22 for limiting the movement thereof. Moreover, a bolt 256 is disposed on the base 25 similarly to the bolt 225. The bolt 256 is located in the hole 227 of the sector gear 22 (see Fig. 5, the diameter of the hole 227 is larger than that of the bolt 256). A nut 257 is engaged with the bolt 256 to fasten the same on the base 25 for limiting the swinging travel of the sector gear 22.

A two-stage switch 23 is mounted on the base 25 by two bolts 230, 231. The switch 23 has a top rod 232 and a compression spring 233 urges the top rod 232 to abut against the edge of the sector gear 22 (see Fig. 5).

A tension spring 224 connects the sector gear 22 with the switch 23 to assist in counter clockwise moving the sector gear 22 to push the top rod 232 for switching the switch 23.

Please now refer to Fig. 3. A rod portion 2430 of a tappet shaped member 243 is hollow. A washer 244 having diametrically opposed tabs is fitted on the rod portion 2430 and then a spring 245 and a pulley 246 are fitted thereon. The pulley 246 has a shaft hole 2460 which receives the rod portion 2430 of the member 243, permitting the pulley 246 to freely rotate thereabout. A screw gear 248 has an insert hole 2480 which communicates with a central hole 2481 of the screw gear 248. An O-shaped friction liner 247 is attached to the screw gear 248. The member 243 is fitted to the washer 244, spring 245 and pulley 246 with its rod portion 2430 closely inserted into the insert hole 2480 of the screw gear (worm) 248 form a screw gear set.

Please refer to Fig. 4, which shows a sectional view of the screw gear (worm) set, wherein the spring 245 is compressed so that it biases the pulley 246 rightward, making the pulley 246 abut against the friction liner 247. The central hole of the member 243 is aligned with the central shaft hole 2481 of the screw gear (worm) 248 for the rod 241 to go therethrough. Referring to Fig. 5, the pulley 246 is driven by the belt 240 to transmit the power to the friction liner 247, screw gear 248 and the member 243, making the screw gear set 24 rotate. When the screw gear 248 is restricted from rotating, the pulley 246 will idle and two pushing rods 249 thereof will urge the washer 244 to rotate and drive the spring 245 to rotate so that when the pulley 246 idles, a relatively small frictional force exists.

Please now refer to Figs. 5 and 6. When the motor 20 rotates clockwise the power is transmitted through pulley 202, the belt 240 and screw gear set 24 to the gear 3 so as to make the sector gear 22 rotate clockwise to abut against the bolt 256. The top rod 232 is not pressed to compress the spring 233, so the switch 23 is not actuated and the original direction of motion of the electric car 1 is maintained. Referring to Fig. 6, when the motor 20 rotates counterclockwise, the power is transmitted through the pulley 202, the belt 240 and the screw gear set 24 to the pinion 3 so as to make the sector gear 22 rotate counterclockwise to abut against the bolt 256. At this time, top rod 232 is pressed to compress the spring 233, actuating the switch 23 so as to reverse the direction of motion of the electric car 1.The spring 224 serves to help the sector gear 22 in pressing the top rod 232 so that less drive is required of the motor 20 when it rotates counterclockwise.

Please now refer to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 wherein when the remote transmitter 4 transmits a signal, the sensing receiver will receive it and set the motor (20) in a rotating counterclockwise state so that the safety controller 2 will be in a state as shown in fig. 6. When the remote transmitter transmits no signal, the sensing receiver will keep the motor 20 in a rotating clockwise state so that the switch 23 is not actuated. When the signal is transmitted from the transmitter, the motor 20 again rotates counterclockwise to actuate the switch 23 and change the direction of the electric car (1). The advancing/backing switch 12 and switch 23 are six connector two-stage switches, wherein four connectors at four corners are cross connected.Switch 10 is normally closed and when opened disables the safety controller 2 so that switch 23 does not reverse the direction of motion selected manually by switch 12. Reversing switch 12 is mounted on the car as shown in Fig. 1 and can be used by the child to reverse the car. The Switch 11 is mounted by the driver's seat as shown in Fig. 1 and can be operated by hand to switch on drive motor M. Switch 13 is actuated by a fast pedal (not shown) and is used to switch on th drive motor M in the "fast stepping" mode. The input terminals of switch 12 are connected in circuit with a drive battery B and the output terminals of switch 12 are connected to the input terminals of electrically-actuated switch 23. Reversing switch 23 is actuated by motor 20 as explained above, and reverses the polarity of the drive motor M of the toy car.Thus whichever direction of motion is selected manually by switch 12 can be reversed by actuating switch 23 via remote control, as is explained below in more detail.

Referring to Fig. 9, when a child drives the electric car into a dangerous area or to hit a wall, a man can push forward the operating lever 40 of the transmitter 4 to actuate switch 23 and change the direction of the electric car. When releasing the lever 40, the lever 40 will rebound backward to restore the original state of switch 23 and original direction of the motion of the electric car.

Preferred embodiments of the invention include the following features: 1. A child-played electric car provided with a safety controller, characterized in that said safety controller includes a remote transmitter, a receiver and a motor mounted on a motor seat by bolts, a shaft of said motor being fitted with a pulley, said motor seat being mounted on a base with L-shaped crosssection by nuts and bolts going through a set of holes of said base, a horizontal insert hole being formed on said motor seat, a rod being inserted in said motor seat, a rod being inserted in parallel with said shaft of said motor, a screw gear set being fitted on said rod to fasten said screw gear set to said rod;; said screw gear set goes through a belt and a large horizontal hole of a screw gear seat, a head portion of said rod being inserted in a coaxial small horizontal hole of said screw gear seat, screw gear seat being mounted on said base by nuts and bolts going through another set of holes of said base, a post being formed on said screw gear seat, a gear with an upper large diameter slant gear portion and a lower small diameter straight gear portion being fitted on said post, a clevis being fitted on said post to fasten said gear to said post, said large diameter slant gear portion meshing with said screw gear set, said belt being fitted on said pulley of said motor and said screw gear set for transmitting power;; a bolt being vertically disposed on said base by a nut, a sector straight gear being disposed on said bolt, said sector gear meshing with said small diameter straight gear portion, a central hole being formed on said sector gear, a bolt being vertically disposed on said base by a nut, said central hole of said sector gear receiving said bolt for limiting the swinging travel of said sector gear; a two-stage switch having a top rod is disposed in said base by bolts, said top rod abutting against said sector gear, said sector gear being capable of swinging within a range to just switch said switch, a spring connecting said sector gear and switch to help to compress an inner spring of said switch when said sector gear swings counterclockwise.

2. An electric car as defined above wherein said screw gear set includes a T-shaped member, a plastic washer, a spring, a pulley, a friction liner and a screw gear, said T-shaped member having a rod portion and a central hole, said plastic liner being

-shaped and fitted on said portion of said T-shaped member, said spring and pulley being fitted on said rod portion, said pulley being freely rotatable about said rod portion and a rear hat-like portion, an insert hole being formed in said hat-like portion, said friction liner being O-shaped and attached to said hat-like portion, a central shaft hole being formed in said screw gear set to communicate said insert hole, said plastic washer, spring and pulley being fitted on said T-shaped member and said rod portion being inserted in said insert hole of said screw gear set, at this time, the distance between said screw gear set and T-shaped member being larger than the height of said pulley so that said spring is compressed to urge said pulley to abut against said friction liner for transmitting power, two pushing rods being disposed on two sides of said pulley whereby when said pulley idles about said rod portion, said two pushing rods two projections of said

shaped plastic washer, making said plastic washer and spring idle together with said pulley.

Claims

1. An electrically driven toy vehicle for carrying a child, comprising an electrically actuated reversing switch arranged to control a drive motor which drives the toy vehicle, the direction of motion of the toy vehicle being reversible by actuating said reversing switch, and a remote control which is arranged to transmit a signal which actuates said reversing switch and reverses the direction of motion of the toy vehicle.

2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrically actuated reversing switch has a pair of input terminals connected to a pair of output terminals of a further reversing switch which is mounted on the toy vehicle and is arranged to be actuated by the child on the vehicle so as to reverse the polarity of said input terminals and hence the direction of motion of the toy vehicle, said electrically actuated reversing switch being responsive to said signal to reverse whichever direction of motion is selected by said further reversing switch.

3. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said electricallyactuated reversing switch is provided with an electric motor which is responsive to a signal from said remote control which controls the direction of rotation of said electric motor, a drive train being coupled between said electric motor and said electrically actuated reversing switch whereby the electrically-actuated reversing switch is urged into a first state or into a second state of opposite polarity in dependence upon said direction of rotation.

4. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drive train includes a friction coupling which enables said electric motor to rotate whilst said electrically-actuated reversing switch is in said first or second state.

5. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein relatively rotating frictionally engaged members of said friction coupling are urged together by a coil spring and one of said members engages said coil spring so as to wind its coils in such a direction as to reduce the spring force urging said members together when said electric motor has a predetermined direction of rotation.

6. A toy vehicle as claimed in any of claims 3, 4 and 5 wherein said drive train includes a worm-driven pinion which engages a sector gear which in turn actuates said reversing switch.

7. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sector gear is provided with a stop which limits its travel.

8. A toy vehicle substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.