U.S. patent application number 10/063171 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-03 for safety device for toy car.
Invention is credited to Kim, Da-Young, Kim, Eun-Young.
Application Number | 20020142702 10/063171 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19706048 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020142702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Da-Young ; et
al. |
October 3, 2002 |
Safety device for toy car
Abstract
A safety device for assuring safety of a user (a child) when he
or she plays with the toy car and for preventing damage of an
electric motor due to overload of the motor by automatically
stopping the operation of the electric motor when the toy car runs
into or when the toy car is under an idle conditions. The safety
device includes an actuating switch adapted for maintaining or
cutting-off the supply of the electric power to the electric motor
and a micro switch having an actuating bar of which one end extends
down to a frame of the toy car's body.
Inventors: |
Kim, Da-Young; (Kyungki-Do,
KR) ; Kim, Eun-Young; (Kyungki-Do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
19706048 |
Appl. No.: |
10/063171 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/484 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 29/22 20130101;
A63H 17/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/484 |
International
Class: |
A63H 029/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2001 |
KR |
2001-0008585 |
Claims
1. A safety device for a toy car, said toy car comprising the car
body (20) formed by injection molding in a designated shape, an
electric motor (M1) mounted behind a frame (10), and front and rear
wheels (12, 14) connected to said electric motor (M1) via a power
transmission system, said safety device being characterized in that
an actuating switch (SW1) adapted for keeping the supply of the
electric power to said electric motor (M1) or cutting off the
supply of the electric power to said electric motor (M1) is mounted
at the middle part to the front end of said frame (10):
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said
device further comprises a micro switch (SW2) having an actuating
bar (22) of which one end extends down said frame (10) from said
car body (20).
3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a moving
member (30) is disposed at the middle part in the bottom of said
frame (10), said moving member (30) being fixed by a bracket (32)
and being movable back and forth along a guide rail (34), and in
that a conducting member (36) in the form of a strip is provided at
the rear end of said moving member (30).
4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that an
auxiliary wheel (24) is joined to the end of the actuating bar (22)
of said micro switch (SW2).
5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that an
auxiliary frame (10') formed separately from a middle portion of
said frame (10) is supported resiliently by a coil spring (40) and
attached to said frame (10) pivotally by means of a hinge pin (42),
and in that a power switch (SW3) is disposed between said frame
(10) and said auxiliary frame (10').
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a safety device
for a toy car. More particularly, the present invention relates to
a safety device for a toy car, said safety device for assuring
safety of a user (a child) when he or she plays with the toy car
and for preventing any damage of an electric motor due to overload
of the motor by automatically stopping the operation of the
electric motor when the toy car runs into another toy car from
behind or when the toy car is under the idling conditions.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Generally, a toy car comprises an electric motor driven by
the supply of the electric power from a battery, and front and rear
wheel rotated by the motive power (rotation power) from the
electric motor via a power transmission system. Furthermore, the
toy car includes an electric switch for turning on or off the
electric motor by means of an electric signal, and several
electronic parts adapted for providing various illuminations and
melodies.
[0005] At present, a toy car in wide use is provided with
up-to-date function and capability, which are obtained by the
highly developed technology, artificial intelligence, and an
electric motor for rotating at high speed so that the toy car is
used in a motor race.
[0006] A manufacturer for manufacturing the toy car which is
provided with an electric motor for rotating at high speed is
always busy pursuing profit followed by selling of the toy car
through stimulation of possessiveness, curiosity and a spirit of
competition of children. However, the manufacturer does not provide
any safety device for preventing any safety accident, which may
occur by virtue of the high speed of the toy car.
[0007] For example, in case that the toy car equipped with the
electric motor for rotating at high speed is used at a place where
exclusive track for racing is not provided, there may be a high
possibility for a child's collision with a real passing car when he
or she tries to catch the moving toy car since control of the toy
car travelling at high speed is very difficult. Even in case that
the toy car is used on the track, there is a possibility that
frequent rear-end collision reads to easy breakdown and damage,
especially a possibility that a safety accident, such as a
contusion or a scratch due to the shock occurs frequently when the
child's body (for example, fingers) comes into contact with the toy
car.
[0008] Moreover, when the toy car is stopped by a rear-end
collision or a front obstruction on the track, or when the toy car
is off the track, the supply of the electric power for the electric
motor is kept, which may cause the overload of the electric motor.
Consequently, the life span of the electric motor is decreased, and
at the same time the motor may be damaged easily or the battery may
be consumed unnecessarily.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
overcome aforementioned problems of a toy car of the prior art.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
novel type of a toy car in which the operation of an electric motor
is stopped by means of automatic cutoff of electric power using an
actuating switch when the toy car runs into another toy car from
behind during the travel of the car, and the actuating switch is
turned off so that any unnecessary no-load operation of the
electric motor is prevented under the idling conditions, namely
when the toy car is held by a user away from the ground (track),
when the toy car is overturned due to a rear-end collision during
the travel of the car, or when the toy car is off the track.
[0011] In order to accomplish the aforesaid objects, the present
invention provides a safety device for a toy car, said toy car
comprising a car body by injection molding in a designated shape,
an electric motor mounted behind a frame of said car body, and
front and rear wheels connected to said electric motor via the
power transmission system, said safety device being characterized
in that an actuating switch adapted for keeping the supply of the
electric power to said electric motor or cutting off the supply of
the electric power to said electric motor is mounted at the middle
part to the front end of said frame, and in that said device
further comprises a micro switch having an actuating bar of which
one end extends down said frame from said car body.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a moving
member is disposed at the middle part in the bottom of said frame,
said moving member being fixed by a bracket and being movable back
and forth along a guide rail, a conducting member in the form of a
strip is provided at the rear end of said moving member, an
auxiliary wheel is joined to the end of the actuating bar of said
micro switch, and an auxiliary frame formed separately from a
middle portion of said frame is supported resiliently by a coil
spring and attached to said frame pivotally by means of a hinge
pin.
[0013] Furthermore, a power switch is disposed between said frame
and said auxiliary frame for keeping the supply of the electric
power to said electric motor or cutting off the supply of the
electric power to said electric motor when said auxiliary frame is
turned.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a toy car equipped
with a safety device according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a toy car equipped
with a safety device according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged bottom plan view showing
another preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the
present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing still another
preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a toy car equipped
with a safety device according to the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 1, in the toy car comprising an electric motor M1 mounted
behind a frame 10, and front and rear wheels 12 and 14 connected to
the electric motor M1 via a power transmission system (not shown),
such as various kinds of gears, an actuating switch SW1 adapted for
keeping the supply of the electric power to the electric motor M1
or cutting off the supply of the electric power to the electric
motor M1 is mounted at the middle part to the front end of the
frame 10.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a toy car equipped
with a safety device according to the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 2, a micro switch SW2 adapted for keeping the supply of the
electric power to the electric motor M1 or cutting off the supply
of the electric power to the electric motor M1 is mounted in a car
body 20 formed by injection molding in a designated shape. The
micro switch SW2 is provided at one end thereof with an actuating
bar 22, which extends down the frame 10. To the end of the
actuating bar 22 of the micro switch SW2 is joined an auxiliary
wheel 24 for preventing abrasion of the actuating bar 22 due to its
contact with the ground when the toy car is travelling.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged bottom plan view showing
another preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a moving member 30 for
cutting off the supply of the electric power to the electric motor
M1 is disposed at the middle part in the bottom of the frame of the
toy car. The moving member 30 is fixed in the bottom of the frame
10 by a bracket 32, and is movable back and forth along a guide
rail 34. At the rear end of the moving member 30 is provided a
conducting member 36 in the form of a strip. The conducting member
36 is connected to the connection terminals 38 and 38', which are
connected to a battery P.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing still another
preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 4, an auxiliary frame 10', which is
formed separately from a middle portion of the frame 10, is
supported resiliently by a coil spring 40 and attached to the frame
10 pivotally by means of a hinge pin 42 in the toy car comprising
the car body 20 formed by injection molding in a designated shape,
the electric motor M1 mounted behind the frame 10, and the front
and rear wheels 12 and 14 connected to the electric motor M1 via
the power transmission system. Between the frame 10 and the
auxiliary frame 10' is disposed a power switch SW3 for keeping the
supply of the electric power to the electric motor M1 or cutting
off the supply of the electric power to the electric motor M1 when
the auxiliary frame 110' is turned.
[0023] The operation of the safety device according to the present
invention will now be described.
[0024] When a user plays a car racing with the toy car comprising
the car body 20 formed by injection molding in a designated shape,
the electric motor M1 mounted behind the frame 10, the front and
rear wheels 12 and 14 connected to the electric motor M1 via the
power transmission system, the actuating switch SW1 mounted at the
middle part to the front end of the frame 10 for keeping the supply
of the electric power to the electric motor M1 or cutting off the
supply of the electric power to the electric motor M1, and the
micro switch SW2 having the actuating bar 22 of which one end
extends down the frame 10 from the car body 20, as shown in FIG. 1
and FIG. 2, the actuating switch SW1 mounted to the frame 10 is
actuated by the front object or the user's hand, by which an
electrical signal (not shown or not described as it is an ordinary
signal for keeping or cutting off the supply of the electric power)
is applied to the battery P. As a result, the electric power
supplied from the battery P to the electric motor M1 is cut off so
that the operation of the motor is stopped, if the travelling toy
car runs into another toy car from behind or if the user touches
the front part of the toy car to stop the toy car.
[0025] As mentioned above, as the electric power supplied from the
battery P to the electric motor M1 is cut off by means of the
actuation of the actuating switch SW1, the travelling toy car is
stopped immediately when the toy car runs into another car from
behind. As a result, overload, which otherwise may be imposed on
the electric motor M1 due to the failure in cutting off the supply
of the electric power after the toy car runs into another car from
behind, is prevented. Similarly, in case that the toy car is
stopped by the user's hand, the actuating switch SW1 is actuated so
that the operation of the electric motor M1 is stopped as in the
case of the rear-end collision, if the actuating switch SW1 mounted
to the frame 10 comes into contact with the user's hand. As a
result, shock applied to the user, especially the child's hand, is
minimized, preventing any safety accident (a contusion or a
scratch) due to the contact.
[0026] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, as the micro switch SW2 having
the actuating bar 22 of which one end extends down the frame 10
from the car body 20 of the toy car is provided, the supply of the
electric power from the battery P to the electric motor M1 is cut
off by the micro switch SW2 if the toy car is under the idling
conditions, that is, if the front and rear wheels 12 and 14 of the
toy car are off the ground (the track), and the micro switch SW2 is
actuated by the actuating bar 22, by which the electric power is
supplied from the battery P to the electric motor M1 so that the
toy car is able to travel if the front and rear wheels 12 and 14 of
the toy car are on the ground. In this case, any abrasion of the
actuating bar 22 due to its contact with the ground is prevented
when the toy car is travelling, as the auxiliary wheel 24 is joined
to the end of the actuating bar 22 of the micro switch SW2.
[0027] If the toy car travelled by actuation of the micro switch
SW2 is off the track, the actuating bar 22 of the micro switch SW2
is lowered to its original position, by which the supply of the
electric power from the battery P to the electric motor M1 is cut
off. Consequently, any overheating of the electric motor M1 and
no-load operation of the front and rear wheels 12 and 14 under the
idling conditions are prevented, and the protection of the
expensive electric motor is accomplished.
[0028] It will be understood that the detailed description of the
electrical connection for keeping or cutting off the supply of the
electric power among the battery P, the electric motor M1 and the
micro switch SW1 is omitted since such connection is one of the
commonly employed technical arts.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged bottom plan view showing
another preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the
present invention. As the moving member 30 is fixed in the bottom
of the frame 10 by the bracket 32, and is movable back and forth
along the guide rail 34, and the conducting member 36 in the form
of a strip is provided at the rear end of the moving member 30, the
supply of the electric power from the battery P to the electric
motor M1 is automatically cut off by means of the moving member 30
when the toy car runs into another toy car from behind during the
travel of the car. In other words, when the travelling toy car is
stopped abruptly due to the rear-end collision, the moving member
30 is moved forwardly along the guide rail 34 by means of inertia,
and then the conducting member 36 is disconnected from the
connection terminals 38 and 38'. Consequently, the supply of the
electric power is cut off, by which the operation of the electric
motor M1 is stopped.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing still another
preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the present
invention. As the auxiliary frame 10', which is formed separately
from a middle portion of the frame 10 of the toy car, is supported
resiliently by the coil spring 40 and attached to the frame 10
pivotally by means of the hinge pin 42, and the power switch SW3 is
disposed between the frame 10 and the auxiliary frame 10', the
auxiliary frame 10' with the electric motor M1 and the rear wheels
14 attached thereto is turned downwardly by a predetermined angle
about the hinge pin 42 as its starting point, having the power
switch SW3 turned off, preventing overheating and the no-load
operation of the electric motor M1 if the toy car is under the
idling conditions, that is, if the front and rear wheels 12 and 14
of the toy car are off the ground (the track), and the auxiliary
frame 10' is turned upwardly about the hinge pin 42 as its starting
point (the auxiliary frame is turned upwardly by its own load of
the toy car), having the power switch SW3 turned on, by which the
electric power is supplied to the electric motor M1 so that the toy
car is able to travel if the front and rear wheels 12 and 14 of the
toy car are on the ground.
[0031] At this time, since the auxiliary frame 10' is attached
resiliently to the frame 10 by the coil spring 40, the auxiliary
frame 10' is turned downwardly about the hinge pin 42 as its
starting point by the spring force of the coil spring 40 when the
toy car is under the idling conditions, and the coil spring 40 is
compressed by means of its own load of the toy car when the front
and rear wheels 12 and 14 of the toy car are on the ground.
[0032] By provision of the safety device as mentioned above, it is
possible to keep or cut off the supply of the electric power safely
and conveniently so that the toy car is travelled or stopped.
Furthermore, it is possible to prevent overheating and no-load
operation of the electric motor M1, and thus any damage of the
electric motor M1 when the toy car runs into another toy car from
behind or when the toy car is under the idling conditions.
[0033] With the safety device provided in the toy car as mentioned
above, the supply of the electric power is automatically cut off by
means of the actuating switch when the toy car runs into another
toy car from behind during the travel of the car, and the actuating
switch is turned off so that any unnecessary no-load operation of
the electric motor is prevented when the toy car is under the
idling conditions, namely when the toy car is held by a user away
from the ground (track), when the toy car is overturned due to a
rear-end collision during the travel of the car, or when the toy
car is off the track. Consequently, overheating or damage of the
electric motor due to overload imposed to the motor is prevented,
the life span of the expensive electric motor is increased, and
unnecessary consumed electric power (energy) is saved. Furthermore,
since shock applied to the child's hand is minimized when the toy
car is stopped by the child's hand, preventing any safety accident,
such as a contusion or a scratch, and thus assuring the safety in
playing with the toy car.
* * * * *