Safety system for powered ride-on toy vehicles

Abstract

Described are safety-enhancing systems for remotely controlling the delivery of electric current to the drive mechanisms of electrically powered ride-on toy vehicles. Such systems comprise a vehicle-mounted receiver module that includes a receiver capable of receiving a control signal and a control-signal-responsive relay disposed in the electrical circuit between the vehicle's energy source and drive mechanism. Receipt of an appropriate control signal actuates the relay, thereby interrupting the flow of electric current between the vehicle's power supply and drive mechanism and causing the vehicle to stop. In preferred embodiments, the control signal is transmitted by a transmitter activated by, for example, a parent observing a child operating a powered ride-on vehicle in an unsafe manner.

1 . A system for interrupting operation of an electrically powered ride-on toy vehicle, comprising a vehicle-mounted receiver module that comprises a receiver capable of receiving a control signal and a control-signal-responsive relay disposed in the electrical circuit between the vehicle's energy source and drive mechanism.  
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising a transmitter that transmits a control signal that can be received by the receiver and cause actuation of the control-signal-responsive relay.  
   
   
       3 . An electrically powered ride-on toy vehicle that comprises a system according to  claim 1  operatively connected between the vehicle's energy source and drive mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3  further comprising a transmitter that transmits a control signal that can be received by the receiver and cause actuation of the control-signal-responsive relay.  
   
   
       5 . A method of interrupting the operation of an electrically powered ride-on toy vehicle, comprising: 
 a. operating an electrically powered ride-on toy vehicle according to  claim 3  in an environment wherein a control signal can be received by the receiver to cause actuation of the control-signal-responsive relay;    b. transmitting a control signal that is received by the receiver and that causes actuation of the control-signal-responsive relay to interrupt the supply of electric current between the vehicle's energy source and drive mechanism, thereby interrupting the operation of the vehicle.