Safety controller serving as a power switch

Details Safety controller serving as a power switch Safety controller serving as a power switch

2000-03-04

2001-10-16

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Foot operated

C200S343000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06303884

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a safety controller which servers as a power switch and, in particular, to a safety device for controlling the on and off of a power switch on a children toy such as for controlling the motion of a children's ride-on vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
The current popular children's ride-on vehicle mainly includes a body, a plurality of wheels mounted thereon, a motor for driving the wheels, and a battery as the power supply of the motor. In particular, the battery is connected to a power switch; which is used to control the driving power of the motor. A controller is provided on the children's ride-on vehicle to control the power switch. Manipulation of the controller can control the motion of the vehicle. Therefore, this controller is similar to the gas pedal of a car. A control mechanism on an on-off switch of a children's ride-on vehicle is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,550. This control mechanism operable for selectively moving an on-off switch into on and off positions includes an on-off switch mounted on a base and having a button with opposed, first and second ends simultaneously movable in opposite directions, an actuating pedal disposed adjacent the on-off switch selectively movable for engaging the first end of the on-off switch and urging it in a first direction to an on position accompanied by movement of the second end of the on-off switch in the opposite direction, and a biasing device disposed adjacent the on-off switch and externally thereof for engaging the second end of the on-off switch and normally maintaining it in the off position. The biasing device yieldably resists movement of the actuator when it engages the first end of the on-off switch and moves it in the first direction toward the on position. When the actuating pedal is depressed, the first end is engaged to turn on the power and interconnects the battery and the motor; whereas when the pedal is released, the spring restores the pedal to its original position and simultaneously engages the second end to turn off the power.
The pressing and pedal engaging directions of the power switch button in the above-referred patent are horizontal, which means that the power switch is mounted vertically. This configuration requires a larger longitudinal space. However, different types of children ride-on vehicles have different designs. Some of them may not be able to provide sufficient longitudinal space and a reconfiguration of the power switch is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is then a main object of the present invention to provide a safety controller for use with a power switch.
The safety controller disclosed in the invention applies to turn the power switch on and off. A control pedal is formed with a clip spring fixed on a base so that the control pedal can be pressed with the clip spring portion as the pivot. A power switch is horizontally disposed on one side of the control pedal. Two pressing actuators are provided at the positions opposite to the power switch button, the two pressing actuators having slant surfaces tilting in opposite directions. When the control pedal is stepped on, the first pressing actuator pushes one end of the power switch button to turn on the power; whereas when the control pedal is released and restored to its original position, the second pressing actuator pushes the other end of the power switch button to turn off the power.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3553405 (1971-01-01), Guettinger
patent: 5166513 (1992-11-01), Keenan et al.
patent: 5180925 (1993-01-01), Lieb
patent: 6028274 (2000-02-01), Harris

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