Stroller including a motorized wheel assembly

A motorized wheel assembly for attachment to a main frame member of a stroller having at least one wheel, the motorized wheel assembly comprising:

• a frame adapted for removable adjustable attachment to the main frame member of the stroller, the frame having at least one wheel coupled thereto for movement along the ground;
• a motor coupled to the frame for driving said at least one wheel of the frame, the motor having a shaft and a pinion attached thereto;
• a gear reduction unit having a drive gear selectively operatively coupled to said at least one wheel of said frame and rotatable therewith, the drive gear being operatively coupled to the pinion of said motor;
• a direction control switch operatively coupled to the motor for selectively causing the motor to rotate continuously in a first direction of operation until the direction control switch is operated again thereby causing the motor to cease rotating in the first direction of operation until the direction control switch is operated again;
• and
• a speed control switch operatively coupled to the motor for controlling the speed of operation of the motor;
• wherein the direction control switch must be substantially continuously actuated to maintain operation of the motor;
• and
• wherein when said drive gear is operatively coupled to said at least one wheel of said frame and when said motor is operating, the shaft rotates the pinion which operatively engages the drive gear causing said at least one wheel of the frame to rotate.

A motorized stroller comprising:

• a first frame member operatively adapted to support a seat for placement of an infant, the first frame member having at least one wheel for movement of the first member along the ground;
• and
• a motorized wheel assembly comprising:
• a frame adapted for attachment to the first frame member, the frame having at least one wheel coupled thereto for movement along the ground;
• a motor for driving said at least one wheel of said frame, the motor having a shaft and a pinion attached thereto;
• a gear reduction unit coupled to said frame, said gear reduction unit having a drive gear selectively operatively coupled to said at least one wheel of said frame and rotatable therewith, the drive gear being operatively coupled to the pinion of said motor;
• and
• a control mechanism operatively coupled to the motor for controlling the speed of operation of the motor and for causing the motor to rotate continuously in a first direction of operation until the control mechanism is operated again thereby causing the motor to cease rotating in the first direction of operation until the control mechanism is operated again;
• wherein the direction control switch must be substantially continuously actuated to maintain operation of the motor;
• and
• wherein when said drive gear is operatively coupled to said at least one wheel and when said motor is operating, the shaft rotates the pinion which operatively engages the drive gear causing the at least one wheel to rotate.