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:
Mar. 27, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2004
William R. Howell, Chaffee, NY (US);
Gary G. Lenihan, East Aurora, NY (US);
William R. Howell, Chaffee, NY (US);
Gary G. Lenihan, East Aurora, NY (US);
Mattel, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
Children's ride-on vehicle assemblies that include a leading vehicle, a trailing vehicle, and a connection apparatus, such as a hitch assembly, that selectively interconnects the leading and trailing vehicles. At least the leading vehicle includes a drive assembly adapted to propel the vehicle along a ground surface. In some embodiments, at least the leading vehicle is a battery-powered ride-on vehicle. The hitch assembly is adapted to interconnect the leading and trailing vehicles and to provide a limited range of pivoting of the vehicles relative to each other. In some embodiments, the hitch assembly includes a pinch-relief mechanism that is adapted to provide at least a predetermined clearance between the vehicles. In some embodiments, the hitch assembly is adapted to provide limited pivotal ranges in at least two planes. In some embodiments, the hitch assembly is adapted to selectively uncouple and recouple the vehicles from and to each other.