# US 10,479,189 B2 · Motor drive selector mechanism for a child vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,189 B2 - Document ID: US10479189B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/064,005 - Filed: 2016-03-08 - Published: 2016-09-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-09 - Assignees: Huffy Corporation - Applicants: Huffy Corporation - Inventors: Donald K. Jessie, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479189B2 ## CPC - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - B60L 50/00: Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle (with power supply from force of nature, e.g. sun or wind, B60L8/00; for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00) - B60L 2200/20: Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles - B60L 2220/50: Structural details of electrical machines - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract In one aspect, a child vehicle is provided comprising a motor, a wheel selectively operatively coupled to the motor for driving the child vehicle under the power of the motor, and a motor drive selector mechanism. The motor drive selector mechanism allows the child vehicle to be operated in a first operational mode wherein the wheel is driven by the motor and a second operational mode wherein the wheel is substantially free from drag or resistance due to the motor. A method of operating the child vehicle is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A child vehicle, comprising: a motor having a drive wheel; a wheel selectively operatively coupled to the motor for driving the child vehicle under the power of the motor, the wheel defining a central axis; and a motor drive selector mechanism comprising: a drive adaptor including a first portion engaged with the drive wheel and a second portion extending toward the interior of the wheel; a lock pin assembly operable to rotate with the wheel and having a lock pin movable between an extended position and a retracted position; a selector plate rotatable about the central axis between a first motor driven position and a second motor disengaged position, the selector plate includes first and second spaced apart recesses for engaging with the lock pin, the first recess has a depth greater than a depth of the second recess such that the lock pin is in the extended position when in the first recess and the lock pin is in the retracted position when in the second recess; and a control knob for moving the selector plate between the first and second positions, wherein the motor drive selector mechanism allows the child vehicle to be operated in a first operational mode wherein the wheel is driven by the motor and a second operational mode wherein the wheel is substantially free from drag or resistance due to the motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein rotation of the selector plate moves the lock pin between the extended and retracted positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the selector plate is positioned within the wheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control knob extends outside of the wheel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism for locking the selector plate in the first and second positions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of a tricycle or a scooter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lock pin assembly is coupled to the wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the selector plate further includes a cam surface extending between the first and second recesses for facilitating movement of the lock pin between the extended and retracted positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the drive adaptor includes a plurality of recesses, and wherein the lock pin extends into one of the recesses when the selector plate is in the motor driven position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lock pin is biased toward the extended position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The child vehicle of claim 5, wherein the lock mechanism includes a protrusion extending from a surface of the selector plate for engaging with a recess operable to rotate with the wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The child vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a canister positioned internal to the wheel and coupled thereto so as to rotate with the wheel, and wherein the lock pin assembly is coupled to the canister. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The child vehicle of claim 12, wherein the lock pin assembly and selector plate are arranged within the canister. ### Claim 14 A child vehicle, comprising: a motor having a drive wheel; a wheel selectively operatively coupled to the motor for driving the child vehicle under the power of the motor; and a motor drive selector mechanism comprising: a drive adaptor including a first portion engaged with the drive wheel and a second portion extending toward the interior of the wheel; a lock pin assembly operable to rotate with the wheel and having a lock pin movable radially between an extended position and a retracted position; a selector plate movable between a first motor driven position and a second motor disengaged position; and a control knob for moving the selector plate between the first and second positions, wherein the motor drive selector mechanism allows the child vehicle to be operated in a first operational mode wherein the wheel is driven by the motor and a second operational mode wherein the wheel is substantially free from drag or resistance due to the motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein movement of the selector plate moves the lock pin between the extended and retracted positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the selector plate is positioned within the wheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the control knob extends outside of the wheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a lock mechanism for locking the selector plate in the first and second positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is one of a tricycle or a scooter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the lock pin assembly is coupled to the wheel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the selector plate includes first and second spaced apart recesses for engaging with the lock pin, and wherein the first recess has a depth greater than a depth of the second recess such that the lock pin is in the extended position when in the first recess and the lock pin is in the retracted position when in the second recess. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The child vehicle of claim 21, wherein the selector plate further includes a cam surface extending between the first and second recesses for facilitating movement of the lock pin between the extended and retracted positions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the second portion of the drive adaptor includes a plurality of recesses, and wherein the lock pin extends into one of the recesses when the selector plate is in the motor driven position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, wherein the lock pin is biased toward the extended position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The child vehicle of claim 18, wherein the lock mechanism includes a protrusion extending from a surface of the selector plate for engaging with a recess operable to rotate with the wheel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The child vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a canister positioned internal to the wheel and coupled thereto so as to rotate with the wheel, and wherein the lock pin assembly is coupled to the canister. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The child vehicle of claim 26, wherein the lock pin assembly and selector plate are arranged within the canister.