Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2009059
CONT~O~ M~C~t:C8M FOR A~ ON--OFF 8w~TCX
~aç~g~ound and Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to control mechanisms for
on-off switches, and more particularly to a novel control mechanism
which ensures that an on-off switch will be maintained in a non-
operative position once it has been switched off. In particular,
I the present invention relates to a control mechanism having
; applicability to an on-of~ switch which i5 used in connection with
a foot pedal or hand actuating device used to interconnect a
battery with a motor to provide power, as for example, on toys such
as ch$1dren's r$de-on vehicles.
~ n some models of children's battery-powered ride-on
vehicles, power is trans~it~ed from the battery to a driving motor
by means of a selectively actuable on-off switch. Such switches
,' 3 may ta~e the form of a rocker switch or the like which is mounted
; in a housing, appropriatelr disposed adjacent the floorboard of
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- the vehicle. A foot pedal or the like is positionable above the
rocker switch and includes an element projecting therefrom for
engaging a first end of the rocXer switch, when the foot pedal is
:~ 20 suitably depressed, to urge that end downwardly so a contact
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interconnects the batte:y with the motor. The rocker switch is
normally biased to an of' position by means of a return spring, and
the foot pedal must be depressed with sufficient force to overcome
the tension of the return spring so that the rocker switch may be
~oved to the on or operative position. When the foot pedal is
released, the return spring moves the rocker switch into the off
position.
A problem resides in conventional foot pedal/on-off
switch constructions as above described because return springs may
break a~ter being cycled repeated times. When the foot pedal is
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released, so that it moves to the normally non-operative position,
the rocker switch remains in the on position. The result is a
vehicle in whic~ the battery remai~s interconnected with the
; driving ~otor so that the vehicle continues to travel. Such a
"run-away vehicle~ is a ~rightenins as well as potentially very
dangerous situation to a child rider. The present invention seeks
to avoid that problem.
While there are several devices in the prior art which
show various types of safety switches, ~ost are relatively complex
constructions utilizing many movable parts and may be expensive.
Indicative of so~e idea~ for safety switc~es are the devices shown
in Williams (3,409,101) which relates ~o motor vehicles; Miller
(4,172,217); Buzzell (3,233,071); Hansen (3,358,108); ~uben
(2,944,120); and Quisenberry (2,917,122).
~; With the above problems as described in mind, the
; present invention provides a novel control mechanism operable for
selectively moving an on-off switch into operative and
non-operative positions by utilizing an actuating means disposed
adjacent the switch selectively operable for engaging a first end
of the switch and urging it in a first direction to an operative
.i position accompanied by movement of the second end of the switch
in the opposite direction, wherein a biasing means is provided
for engaging the second end of the switch and normally
maintaining it in the non-operative position, with the biasing
means yieldably resisting movement of the actuating means when it
engages the first end of the switch and moves it in the first
direction toward the operative position.
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The biasing means may be configured as a leaf or clip
, 30 spring having a first portion
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thereof a~fixed to the actuating means with another portion
normally engaging the switch's second end. When the actuating
~eans is moved to th~ off position, th~ end of the clip spring
normally engaging the second end of the switch continues to bias
-that end into the o~S position, thereby preventing the switch from
being inadvertently permitted to remain in the on position should
the return sprin~ break.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, taken in cross
'J' section, showing a control mechanism according to one embodiment
. of the present invention including an actuating means defined by
a foot pedal, positioned in the ~off~ position relative to an
~, on-off switch, with the biasing means being formed generally as a
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~ U-shaped clip spring:
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:~ Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the
.~ actuating means in its fully depressed position, whereby the on-
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- o~: switc!l lS pos~tion~d in t.`~e "~n" ~os~t' ~n and ~havin~ th-
~ia~ln$ ~ hlch n~ wltch~ s-con~ end h-in~ yl-lda~l-
- ~o~ nablln~ the ~'cch eo ~- ~o~ition~ ln t~- on po~ieion~
F~ ls a vi~ lar to ~$~J. 1 ~nd 2, o~ a ,-cond
~adi~nt o~ pr~-nt ~nv~n~lo~
r~g. 4 i~ a vl-w, ~ la~ to ~e oth-r ~riew~, o~ a third
c or t~- pr--<nt ln~r nt~ot~; ~Ad
Flq. ~ ~ a ~rlev, ~ lar to t~ othe: v~ew~, o~ ou~h
~bod~nt o~ th pr- -nt ~nv-ntlon
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As m-nt~on-d at th- outtet, the pr~sent ~nv~nt~on
; provid-J a control m~chan~m op-r~ble fo~ ctlvely mov~ng an
on-o~f Jwitch into op-rative nd non-operativ~ po~ltlonJ which
lncludo~ an actuatlng m-ans and a b~a~ing ~oans foe normally
m~int~ining tho ~witch in a non-operat$ve pos~tion, with th-
bi~Jing me~n4 yi-ldably ro~i-ting mov~ment of th- actuatlng meanJ
wh-n th- ~witch is engag~d and moved lnto ~t5 oporatlve
po~it$on A- shown in F~g. 1~ a control mechanLsm accordin~ to
i th- presont Inv-ntion l~ gener~lly indicatod t lO ~b- control
2~ mochanl-m is shown ln ~ido ol-vatlonal vi-w, aAd 1- also
ll~u4trat-d in C~O~J J-ction with an actuatlng moan-, ~u~h a- a
`` oot pedal, g~n~rally lndicatod t 12 p~votally mountod to a b~--
~late g~n-rally lndlcat~d at 14, ~hich in turn i8 suita~ly
mountod to the ~loorboard or th- like of a childr~n's rld- on
vehicle, ~or xa~pl~
:- A An on-off ~wit~h ~ch a- an on-o~ rocke~ ~witch a~embly
is g~n-rally indicate~ at 16 and is moun~ed wlthin an aperture
:. suit~bly provided in ~he base pla~e. Pedal 12 is provided wl~ a
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hook ~ er 18 whiah i~ insertable through aperture 20 provided in
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1 2009059
base plate 14 to enable the pedal to be pivoted relative thereto
_o actuate on-off switch 16 in a manner to be described. Mounted
hear the ~ront o~ pedal 12 and extending downwardly there~rom is
an internally threaded sleeve 22 ~or threadably receiving a screw
24 which is inserted through an aperture 26 provided in the base
plate. Screw 24 provides a limit means ~or limiting the extent to
j which the pedal can be pivoted in a clockwise direction as shown
in Fig. ~. Pedal 12 i5 provided with an element or abutment means
28 which extends downwardly ther~rom for engaging on-o~ switch
16 in a ~anner to b~ described.
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On-off switch 16 is of conventional const:uction, and
includes a housing 30 provided with spring~ e sides 32, 34 which
enable the housing to be snapped into position on base plate 14.
Mounted within housing 30 is a rocker switch 36 having a first end
, 36~ and a second 36k. ~he :oc~er switch is mounted in the assembly
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by means of a small coil spring 38 mounted in turn onto a rocker
arm 40 which is a csnduc:or having contacts 40~, 40b and 40c.
Those contacts interconnect with contacts 41~, 41b and 41c,
depending on the position of rocker switch 36. A return spring is
shown at 41, and normally u-ges pedal 12 in a clockwise direction
to the so-called "o~ position. The pedal, which is shown in
cross section, may have a length in the range of 2-3 inches and a
width o~ 1-2 inches, as is typical. Thus ~ar, everything which has
be-n described is convQntional~ and attention Ls now directed to
; a novel biasing means o~ the present invention generally indicated
, at 42.
The biasing means, as shown in the embodiment o~ Fig. 1,
i5 a ~lexible member such as a generally U-shaped clip spring which
includes a ~irst portion 42~ which tran~itions by means o~ curved
; 30 portion 42k into portion 42~. The biasing means is disposed
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2009059
adjacent the on-off switch and externally thereof. At the end o~
or~ion 42, there is provided a bent or offset end 42d which
ensures continuous engagement with second end 36k O~ rocker switch
36. The biasing means is suitably secured to pedal 12, by means
G~ a ~astener 13, and is provided with adequate spring tension so
that it engages second end 36k and normally maintains it in the
non-operative position. The biasing means, however, also i3
designed ~or yieldably resisting movement o~ pedal 12, and storing
up spring tension, when abut~ent means 28 engages ~irst end 36a and
moves it in a ~irst direction toward the operative position. The
slip spring may be dimensioned approximately 1 inch in width and
2-~/4 inches in length. Suitable material ~or the spring ~and in
the other embodiments as well) may include stress-relieved
stainless steel or the like.
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As shown in Fig. 2, pedal 12 has been fully depressed,
and because the first and second ends o~ rocker switch 36 are
movable simultaneously in opposite directions, contact 40~ o~
rocXer ar~ 40 now engages contact 39~. ~he principal reason for
provision of biasing means 42 is as follows. Return spring 41,
being of very small size, can breaX after repeated cycling,
resulting in a run-away veh-cle even when pressure is removed from
foot pedal 12 because there is no force to return rocker switch 36
to an inoperative posi~ion. However, biasing means 42 will urge
second end 36~ o~ the rocker switch toward the non-operative
position if return spring 41 should ~ail.
As shown in Fig. 2, it can be seen that when pedal 12 is
J depressed so that the rocke- switch is in the operative position,
biasing means 42 is deflected so that portion 42c is displaced
toward portion 42a, i.e., it yieldably resists movement o~ the
30 pedal. Because biasing means 42 is provided with o~set end 42~,
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~hat portion maintains its grip on second end 36b o f the rocker
switch. ~hen, when foot pressure is removed from ~oot pedal 12,
bia~ing means 42, havLng ~tored up spring tension, urges second end
36~ downwardly and returns it to the position shown in Fig. 1.
Thus, it can be appreciated that i~ return spring 41 fails, it is
impossible for the vehicle, or whatever device switch 16 operates,
to continue to run in the operative position. Biasing means 42
e~iciently provides a sa~ety override for the on-o~ switch, which
is nor~ally biased into a non-operative position. ~he biasing
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1 10 means also urges pedal 12 into a non-operative position. Once
pedal 12 is released, on-off switch 36 will be biased into its non-
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operative position because o~ biasing means 42.
Figs. 3-S show alternative embodiments of the present
invention. For example, Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment in which
a lea~-like or clip sprins 44 is mounted to foot plate 14 and
includes a portion 44a disposed on the underneath side of the foot
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plate. It will be noted ~hat base plate 14 is provided with an
aperture lS to allow recep_ on therethrough of portion 44b o~ the
biasing means which transi~ions into a substantially straight
~i~ 20 overlapping portion 44. 'ortion 44 transitions into bent or
$ of~set end 44_ which ensures gripping onto the second end of the
rocker switch. Biasing ~eans 44 is again constructed as clip
spring, with the difference being that it is not mounted on pedal
~` 12 as in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However,
biasing means 44 still returns pedal 12 to its non-operative
position, when a downwardly depressing ~orce is not applied to the
;~oot pedal, because the fi.st end of the rocker switch engages
against abut~ent means 28 to urge pedal 12 upwardly by virtue of
the spring action of biasing means 44.
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Figs. 4 and 5 show additional embodiments. The Fig. 4
or third e~bodiment o~ th~ present invention contemplates that a
biasing means 46 i5 d$mensioned to extend with an elongat~ arm 46a
from the underneath side of pedal 12 as shown. A bent or o~tset
end 46~ also ensures adequate gripping of the second end of the
rocker switch. ~hus, the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is a clip
spring which extends substantially directly from the pedal for
engaging the rocker switch.
Finally, the fourth e~bodiment, as shown in Fig. S,
contemplates the use ot a Siasing means formed a~ a flexible,
generally bow-shaped spring member indicated at 48 which has an
; arcuate portion of the bow continuously engaging the second end of
~ the roc~er switch. The bow spring includes a forward portion 48a
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;~ mounted adjacent abutment means 28 and an elongate mid portion 48k,
~ormed as an elongate a:c, which engages the rocker switch. An end
portion 48 of the biasing means is secured to an end o~ pedal 12
as shown.
While the presen~ invention has been shown and described
with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it is to be
understood by those skilled in the art that other changes in form
and detail may be made the-ein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined in the appended clai~s.
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