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`U5005173591A
`
`United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,173,591
`
`Perego
`Dec. 22, 1992
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`[54] ELECTRIC GEARSHIFI‘ FOR CHILDREN‘S
`CARS
`
`4,639,646
`4.736.648
`
`..... 313/139
`1/198? Harris e1 31..
`...... 318/109
`4/1983 Perego ......
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Gianluca Perego, Arcore, Italy
`
`['13] Assignee:
`
`Peg Perego Pines S.p.A., Milan, italy
`
`[2]] Appl. No: 696,350
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`May 6, 1991
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30}
`Jun. 29, 1990 {IT}
`Italy .............................. 21423/90fU}
`
`Int. Cl; .......................... H01H9/00;H02P1/08
`[51}
`[521 U.S.C1. ................................ 200/61.88;200/1V;
`313/139;313/230
`[531 Field of Search ................. 200/1V,61.85—61.91;
`318/109, 139. 230
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.5. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`............. ZOO/61.88
`4.360.118 11/1982 Schobinger et a].
`4.401.866
`8/1983 Knminski et a].
`.......
`ZOO/61.33
`
`4,429,I96
`1/1934 Belg ct al.
`.................... 2011/6138 X
`
`Primary Examiner—J. R. Scott
`Attorney, Agent. or Firm~McGlew and Tuttie
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An electric gearshift deVice (10) for an electric car for
`children has a lever (12) which can be operated manu-
`ally to give different electrical connections between an
`electric motor and sets of batteries, so as to achieve
`different running conditions. In particular, the device
`(10) comprises a first two-speed electric selector switch
`(16} and a second electric reversing switch (15). The
`lever (12) is movable From a first to a second position to
`control the movement of the first switch (16'). in the
`second position acting on the first switch (16) with
`elastically yieldable thrust surfaces (24) to enable the
`lever (12} to pass said second control position and reach
`a third position in which it actuates the second Switch
`(15).
`
`. 19 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`1
`
`Mattel Ex. 2004
`Mattel Ex. 2004
`Dynacraft v. Mattel
`Dynacraft v. Mattel
`|PR2018-00040
`IPR2018-00040
`
`

`

`US. Patent
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`Dec. 22, 1992
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`5,173,591
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`2
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 22, 1992
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`Sheet 2 of 3
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`5,173,591
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`3
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 22, 1992
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`Sheet 3 of 3
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`5,173,591
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`4
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`1
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`5,173,591
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`ELECTRIC GEARSHII'T FOR CHILDREN‘S CARS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION .
`
`This invention refers to a gearshift suitable for elec-
`tric cars for children.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In the manufacture of such cars it is advantageous to
`prOVide an electric gearshift device by which it is possi-
`ble to obtain two forward “speeds" and one reverse.
`SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The general scope of this invention is to provide a
`gearshift which has the aforesaid features and is simple
`and economical to manufacture.
`This scope is achieved, according to the invention, by
`providing an electric gearshift device 10 for an electric
`car for children, of the type which can be operated
`manually to provide different electrical connections
`between an electric motor and sets of batteries. These
`different electrical connections correspond to different
`running conditions, and are implemented by a first two-
`speed electric selector switch 16, a second electric re-
`versing switch 15 and a lever 12 which is movable from
`a first to a second position to control the movement of
`the first switch 16. In the second position the lever 12
`acts on the first switch 16 with elastically yieldable
`thrust surfaces 24 to enable the lever 12 to pass the
`sec0nd positiou in which it controls the first switch 16
`and reach a third position in which it actuates the sec-
`ond switch 15.
`
`The innovatory principles of this invention and its
`advantages with respect to the known technique will be
`more clearly evident from the following description of
`a possible exemplificative and non-restrictive embodi-
`ment applying such principles.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In the drawings:
`FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective partial phan-
`tom view of an electric gearshift made according to this
`invention;
`FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the
`gearshift of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the gearshift
`of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 shows a side view of the gearshift of FIG. 2
`shifted to a different gear;
`FIG. 5 shows a side view of the gearshift of FIG. 2
`shifted to reverse;
`FIG. 6 shows an example of a basic wiring diagram
`for use of the gearshift described herein.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`With reference to the Figures, :1 gearshift, made ac-
`cording to the invention and generally indicated by
`reference 10. comprises a box-shaped casing 11. secured
`to the electric car. From the top of the casing 11, pro-
`trudes a control lever 12. covered, if necessary, with a
`flexible sheath 13 (for example, made of rubber).
`The lever 12 is connected from below to an actuating
`element 14 which controls electric switches 15 and 16.
`As can be more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. the actu-
`ating element 14 comprises a first or fixed portion 1'7,
`integral with the lever 12 and pivoted to the walls of the
`
`[0
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`box 11 by means of a pivot or shaft 19 on which is
`rotatingly disposed a second or yield portion 18.
`Disposed between the two portions 17 and 18 is a
`thrust spring 20. The portion 18 has a corner 21 at the
`end Opposite that of the pivot or shaft which strikes
`against a protrusion 22 on the portion 17.
`As can also be clearly seen in FIG. 2. the lower part
`of the portion 1'." comprises stating surfaces 23 and the
`portion 18 comprises slanting surfaces 24 for re5pec-
`tively operating switches 15 and 16 of the rocker type
`normally operated by hand. In particular, the switch 16
`is of the type with two fixed positions, while the switch
`15 is of the pushbtttton or momentary type. that is to
`say. with only one fixed position (the one shown in
`FIG. 2}.
`
`The upper part of the element 17 has a curved sliding
`surface 25 which frictionally slides on the edge of the
`aperture 30 and through which the lever 12 passes
`through the casing 11. When used, the lever can be
`shifted to and from the extreme positions shown in
`FIGS. 4 and 5.
`.
`The forward or first position (or turned in a clock-
`wise direction as shown in FIG. 4) is stably balanced
`thanks to the engagement of the surface 25 with the
`edge of the casing 11. During the movement to reach
`the forward or first position the element 18 is pushed by
`contact with element 17 so that the slanting surface 24
`operate the switch 16 to shift it to its other position. The
`surfaces 23 on the contrary do not come into contact or
`interfere with the switch 15 during the movement to the
`forward or first positions as shown in FIG. 4.
`When shifting from the forward or first position, in
`the opposite direction to the second or central position
`of lever 12 as shown in FIG. 2. the slanting surface 24
`return the switch 16 to its original or second position
`(FIG. 2). For this purpose the force of the spring 20
`must be grater than the force necessary to switch the
`switch.
`When the lever is shifted towards the reverse or third
`position (or in an anticlockwise direction as shown in
`FIG. 5] the spring 20 compresses due to the impossibil-
`ity of the element 18 to rotate further since it strikes
`against the switch 16. Therefore, switch 16 remains in
`its original or second position during movement of lever
`12in the third position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The
`lower surfaces 23 of the lent 1'? simultaneously press the
`switch 15 as shown in FIG. 5. This third position is not
`stably balanced. When the lever 12 is released,
`the
`thrust of the spring 20 returns the device to the central
`or second position shown in FIG. 2 and the switch 15
`snaps back to its only stably balanced position.
`FIG. 6 shows a possible exemplificative electrical
`connection of the gearshift of this invention. The
`switches 15 and 16 used in the example are of the type
`with two switching contacts, and are connected, as
`shown, to interconnect two electric batteries 26 and 27
`to an electric motor 28 to drive the car. The circuit also
`comprises a device 29 for controlling the speed of. rota»
`tion of the motor. This device 29 can be of any known
`type, for example electronic. as is well known by the
`technician, and can be controlled, for example. by a
`pedal disposed in a position similar to that of the accel-
`erator pedal of a normal car.
`As can be seen in the wiring diagram (where the
`switches are in the positions corresponding to FIG. 2).
`the two batteries (for example 6V} are connected, by
`means of the switch 16, in parallel with each other. In
`
`

`

`5,173,591
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`3
`this way, when the gearshift lever is in the central posi-
`tion. the motor is supplied with a voltage equal to that
`of a single battery but has at its disposal higher input
`current. Cansequently. the central position can be con-
`sidered as the low speed gear, for example, for starting.
`When the lever is in the forward position. the switch
`16 connects the two batteries in series, so that the drive
`motor is supplied with a voltage twice that of the previ-
`ous case, even though with a low available current.
`Consequently, the forward position of the lever 12 can
`be considered as the high speed gear.
`the
`When the lever is in the backward position.
`switch 16 connects the batteries in parallel while the
`switch 15 inverts the connections of the motor so as to
`obtain the low speed reverse function.
`The aforementioned scopes are thus achieved by
`providing an electric gearshift with a “first gear“. “set:-
`0nd gear'and "reverse gear" . which15 inexpensive and
`simple to manufacture, since it can advantageously
`make use of normal hand-operated switches available
`On the market at low cost.
`
`The foregoing description of an embodiment apply-
`ing the innovatory principles of this invention is obvi-
`ously given merely by way of example in order to illus~
`trate such innovatory principles and should not there-
`fore be understood as a limitation to the'sphere of the
`invention claimed herein.
`
`For example, the gear lever and the casing containing
`the device can be shaped differently also in order to
`adapt to particular aesthetics] and assembling require-
`ments in various models of electric motor cars.
`I claim:
`1. An electric gearshift device for an electric car for
`children, ofthe type which can be operated manually to
`provide different electrical connections between an
`electric motor and sets of batteries, correSponding to
`different running condition, the gearshift device com-
`prising: a first
`two-speed electric selector switch. a
`secoud electric reversing switch and a lever movable
`frOm a first to a second position to control movement of
`the firsts switch between a first switch first switching
`position corresponding to the lever first position and a
`first switch secOnd Switching position corresponding to
`the lever second position, the lever in the lever second
`position acting on the first switch with an elastically
`yieldable thrust surfaces to enable the lever to pass the
`lever second position in which it controls the first
`switch and reach a lever third position in which it actu-
`ates the second switch.
`2. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 1.
`wherein: the lever acts 0n the two switches by means of
`an actuating element having a first portion and a second
`portion, the first portion having first portion surfaces is
`set on a pivot and rigidly connected, to rotate on the
`pivot, to one end of the lever so as to operate the second
`switch with said first portion surfaces, on reaching said
`third position; the second portion is set on a pivot, rotat-
`ably disposed with respect to the first portion. the sec-
`ond portion having thrust surface, and reciprocal inter-
`- ference means, disposed between said first and second
`portion. for rotation of the first and second portion
`integral with the movement of the lever between the
`second and first position. and said second portion hav-
`ing elastic means for elastic interconnection between
`said first and second portion during the movement inte-
`gral with the lever of the first portion only, on rotation
`of the lever between the second and third position.
`
`4.
`3. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 2,
`wherein: the first switch Operated by the first portion
`has a switching position with a spring-operated return
`which is operated when the lever is shifted to the third
`position.
`4. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 2.
`wherein the pivot support of the first portion and the
`pivot support of the second portion coincide with a
`single pivot.
`5. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 3,
`wherein: the reciprocal interfering means has a corner
`on the second portion which strikes against a protrusion
`on the first portion when the leVer is shifted between
`the second and first position.
`6 An electrical gearshift device as claimed1n claim 2.
`wherein: the elastic means has a thrust spring disposed
`between the first and second portions.
`'1'. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 2.
`Wherein: the first portion has a sliding surface which
`frictionally slides on the edge of an aperture of a casing
`through which the lever passes through the casing to
`constitute a removable engagement on reaching the first
`position.
`8. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 1,
`wherein: the first switch is connected between a motor
`and sets of batteries to invert a connection when Oper-
`ated by shifting the lever to the third position, in order
`to obtain a reverse gear.
`9. An electrical gearshift device as claimed in claim 1,
`wherein: the second switch is connected between a
`motor and two sets of batteries to connect the two sets
`of batteries in parallel when the lever is in the second
`position and to connect the two sets of batteries in series
`when the lever is shifted to the first position, in order to
`obtain two speeds.
`10. An electric gearshift comprising:
`casing;
`a lever having pivot means for pivotably connecting
`said lever to said casing, said pivot means pivoting
`said lever between a first, second and third posi-
`tron;
`
`a first switch mounted on said casing;
`a second switch mounted on said casing;
`actuating means for actuating said first and second
`switches in response to said first, second and third
`positions of said lever, said actuating means hold-
`ing said first and second switch in a first connection
`position when said lever is in said first position. said
`actuating means holding said first switch in a SEC-
`ond connection position and keeping said second
`switch in said first connection position when said
`lever _is in said second position, and said actuating
`means holding said first switch in said second con-
`nection position and holding said second switch in
`a second connection position when said lever is in
`said third position.
`11. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 10.
`wherein:
`said actuating means has first and second control
`surfaces. said first control surface moving said first
`switch and said second control surface moving said
`second switch said first control surface having
`elastic means for yielding against said first Switch
`when said lever'15 pivoted'in said third position.
`12. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 11.
`wherein:
`
`said second control surface is on a fixed portion and
`said fixed portion is rigidly connected to said lever;
`
`10
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`5
`said first control surface is on a yield portion and said
`yield portion is connected to said fixed portion by
`said elastic means.
`13. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 12,
`wherein:
`
`5
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`5,1?3,591
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`6
`first connection position. said return means and
`said elastic means biasing said lever from said third
`position toward said second position.
`16. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 13.
`wherein:
`
`said second control surface only applies force to
`move said second switch from said first connection
`pOsition to said second connection position.
`17. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 10.
`wherein:
`
`said pivot means only pivots. said lever about a gener-
`ally single axis.
`.
`18. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 10,
`wherein:
`
`said first and second switches are rocker-type
`switches.
`
`19. An electric gearshift device in accordance with
`claim 18. wherein;
`said rocker-type switches were originally designed to
`be operated by hand.
`i
`I
`I
`t
`i
`
`said elastic means has rotation means for rotatably
`connecting said yieid portion to said fixed portion,
`said elastic means having biased means for biasing
`said yield portion against said fixed portion in a
`biased direction of rotation, and said yield portion 10
`yielding to said first switch in a direction substann
`tially opposite to said biased direction when said
`lever is pivoted in said third position.
`14. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 13.
`wherein:
`said second control surface only contacts said second
`switch when said lever moves between said second
`and third positions.
`15. An electric gearshift in accordance with claim 13,
`wherein:
`
`15
`
`20
`
`said second switch is a momentary switch and has
`return means to bias said second switch into said
`
`30
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`35
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