The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 27, 1998
Julian J Bishop, Jr, Belmont, MA (US);
Chuck J Crofut, East Aurora, NY (US);
Jeffrey W Reynolds, East Aurora, NY (US);
Mattel, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);
Ark-Les Corp., Stoughton, MA (US);
Abstract
A battery connector system for use with a powered ride-on vehicle for children, where the vehicle includes an electric motor adapted to drive one or more wheels of the vehicle and a wiring harness adapted to convey power to the motor. The battery connector system includes a plug attached to the wiring harness and has a case substantially enclosing positive and negative plug contacts. The plug further includes a normally-open switch interposed between a switched one of the plug contacts and the wiring harness with the switch having an actuator by which the switch may be closed, whereby the switched plug contact is not electrically connected to the wiring harness until the switch is closed. The system further includes a battery including positive and negative terminals and a socket including housing structure adapted to fit together with the plug case and substantially enclosing positive and negative socket contacts which are respectively connected to positive and negative terminals of the battery. The housing structure is adapted to position the positive and negative socket contacts to respectively engage the positive and negative contacts on the plug when the housing structure and case are fit together. The battery connector also includes a key adapted to engage the actuator and close the switch when the housing structure and case are fit together. A portion of the socket may serve as a charging jack for the battery.