Child carrying remote controlled vehicle

Description

[0001] This invention relates to remote controlled passenger carrying vehicles.

[0002] Much emphasis has been placed on providing remote controlled toy vehicles for children but these have been largely aimed at children who are old enough to play with the toy by themselves without the presence of an adult.

[0003] The present invention has at least three objectives. Firstly, to provide a remote controlled toy vehicle which is adapted to carry a child whilst the controls are in the hand of an adult or other person. This caters for children who are too small to use the controls themselves and for parents who want to spend time with their child but perhaps are tired after a days work or are perhaps confined to a wheelchair. In this instance the child may enjoy itself to the full with another person in a circumstance where the other person does not have to exert himself. Once the child becomes older it may be able to take the controls within the vehicle cockpit.

[0004] Secondly, the invention seeks to provide a child carrying vehicle suitable for the carriage of handicapped children where another person can relax and entertain the child.

[0005] Thirdly, the invention seeks to provide a child carrying vehicle suitable for the carriage of normal or handicapped children and adapted to be educational for the child in areas such as co-ordination, safety, road rules, and manipulation of controls.

[0006] Accordingly a remote controlled passenger carrying vehicle of the kind in question comprises at least a wheeled chassis and a power train adapted to drive the vehicle; control means associated with the vehicle and adapted to regulate the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle; and means remote from the vehicle adapted to activate or to override the control means when desired by an operator external to the vehicle.

[0007] Also according to the invention the vehicle is of dimensions and configuration such that it may be classified as a childs toy vehicle. More particularly the vehicle which the inventor has in mind basically approximates the known pedal cars in dimensions but may have a fixed or detachable body shell so that cars from old-fashioned saloon to ultramodern "formula one" racing appearance may be chosen.

[0008] The inventor envisages that the toy vehicle be remote controlled by electric cable, radio remote control, ultrasonic remote control, laser beam remote control or the like.

[0009] The drive chain and other mechanics may be of any conventional design.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toy vehicle is driven by an electric motor which drives the wheels through a reduction gearbox. The electric motor is powered from a re-chargeable dry cell battery. The battery is re-chargeable by a battery charger which may be mounted on or stored in the vehicle, for example, in the boot ('luggage compartment'). The steering is linked to a slow rotating electric motor. Both the drive motor and the steering motor are controlled by a remote radio controlled transmitter unit via the radio receiving unit which is mounted in the vehicle.

[0011] This preferred embodiment of the invention is aimed at children from the moment they can sit upright by themselves to about 7 to 8 years old. It is desirable to have a function that overrides the remote control unit in order to enable the child itself to drive the vehicle when it is capable of doing so.

[0012] It is also envisaged that the present toy vehicle has normal functions of forward and backward movement as well as the ability to turn left and right. Features such as speed control, seat belts, opening and closing doors, bonnets and boots and the like are optional extras.

[0013] Other optional features may include road signs, parking places and the like.

[0014] Other examples and applications of the invention will spring readily to mind of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A remote controlled passenger carrying vehicle comprising at least a wheeled chassis and a power train adapted to drive the vehicle; control means associated with the vehicle and adapted to regulate the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle; and means remote from the vehicle adapted to activate or to override the control means when desired by an operator external to the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, which is of dimensions and configuration such that it may be classified as a childs toy vehicle.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 which is controlled by radio remote control.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 which is controlled by electric cable.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 which is controlled by ultrasonic remote control.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 which is controlled by laser beam remote control.