Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include at least one driven wheel and a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel. The drive assembly may include at least one electric motor, a battery assembly including at least one battery and adapted to provide a plurality of voltages to the at least one electric motor, and at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child sitting on the at least one seat, and adapted to select among the plurality of voltages and to apply that selected voltage to the at least one electric motor; and an electronics system adapted to detect the applied voltage to the at least one electric motor and to generate at least one of an audio output and a visual output based, at least in part, on the applied voltage.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices, and a ground detection system that is adapted to detect when at least one of a plurality of wheels loses contact with the ground surface. The ground detection system may be adapted to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to loss of contact of the at least one of the plurality of wheels with the ground surface, and it may be made regardless, or independent, of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.

Abstract: A children's ride-on vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include at least one driven wheel and a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel. The drive assembly may include at least one electric motor, a battery assembly including at least one battery and adapted to provide a plurality of voltages to the at least one electric motor, and at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child sitting on the at least one seat, and adapted to select among the plurality of voltages and to apply that selected voltage to the at least one electric motor; and an electronics system adapted to detect the applied voltage to the at least one electric motor and to generate at least one of an audio output and a visual output based, at least in part, on the applied voltage.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices, and a ground detection system that is adapted to detect when at least one of a plurality of wheels loses contact with the ground surface. The ground detection system may be adapted to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to loss of contact of the at least one of the plurality of wheels with the ground surface, and it may be made regardless, or independent, of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices, and a ground detection system that is adapted to detect when at least one of a plurality of wheels loses contact with the ground surface. The ground detection system may be adapted to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to loss of contact of the at least one of the plurality of wheels with the ground surface, and it may be made regardless, or independent, of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.

Abstract: Children's ride-on vehicles having a drive assembly that is selectively configured between a plurality of drive configurations, such as responsive to user inputs via user input devices, and a ground detection system that is adapted to detect when at least one of a plurality of wheels loses contact with the ground surface. The ground detection system may be adapted to restrict the plurality of drive configurations responsive thereto. This restriction may be automatic responsive to loss of contact of the at least one of the plurality of wheels with the ground surface, and it may be made regardless, or independent, of user inputs that otherwise would select and/or enable one of the restricted drive configurations.

Abstract: An improved blower motor speed control resistor array in which the resistor elements are defined by multiple optimally sized patches of resistive ink deposited onto opposite sides of a thin flat ceramic substrate. The array comprises three resistive patches connected in series via fusing elements to provide three reduced blower motor speeds MH, M and L. The thin ceramic substrate is flat on both of its faces, and each face comprises a terminal region for attachment of the resistive patches to the terminal elements, and a resistor region for deposition of the three resistive patches. The resistive patch of lowest resistivity (the MH resistor) is deposited on the entire resistor region of a first side of the substrate. The resistor patches of intermediate and highest resistivity (the M and L resistors, respectively) share the resistor region of the other side of the substrate in relation proportion to their respective resistivities.

Abstract: A blower motor speed control resistor array in which the resistor elements contain an electrically conductive plastic material which melts to limit the blower motor current in the event of an extreme temperature condition. The conductive plastic is insert molded on a terminal array to form a self-supporting structure adapted to be disposed in an air duct. Each resistor of the array is defined by a number of legs of electrically conductive plastic extending between a pair of parallel headers, in the manner of a picket fence.

Abstract: A vacuum operated actuator has a spring biased diaphragm that is exposed on one side to atmosphere and on the other side to a vacuum chamber. An output means is connected to move with the diaphragm and carries a valve means which together with a tube a manually controlled tube operates to connect the vacuum chamber with either atmosphere or with a vacuum source so that the diaphragm and thereby the output moves with the movement and in the direction of the tube so as to provide an output force so as to move the output with a force substantially greater than the input force applied to the tube.