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:
Feb. 10, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2006
Christopher F. Lucas, Cheektowaga, NY (US);
John Rhein, Hamburg, NY (US);
Christopher F. Lucas, Cheektowaga, NY (US);
John Rhein, Hamburg, NY (US);
Mattel, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
Children's ride-on vehicles having improved shifter assemblies. The vehicles include a drive assembly comprising a velocity control assembly that selectively configures the drive assembly within a plurality of drive configurations and which includes a switch assembly adapted to be selectively configured between a plurality of velocity settings. Each velocity setting configures the drive assembly to a predetermined drive configuration. The velocity control assembly may include an actuator assembly that receives user inputs via a shifter handle moveable between a plurality of shift positions along a plurality of shift paths. Each shift position configures the switch assembly to a particular velocity setting. At least two of the shift paths have non-linear relative orientations. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes a biasing mechanism, which urges the shifter handle towards a selected shift position, and/or a restraining mechanism, which selectively prevents the shifter handle from being moved to a selected shift position.