Patent Application
20250135363
The present invention generally relates to an amusement park activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to amusement activity station by way of which user participants may operate machinery to move, manipulate, reposition and/or pick up and release select objects by way of a movable boom apparatus positioned in spaced relation relative to an operator station.
Amusement parks and theme parks continuously face challenges attracting return visitors and new visitors. Past visitors may elect to not return, and potential new visitors may elect to not travel to a park that, in their opinion, does not regularly offer guest experience components that are new, innovative or different relative to those of other parks. To be successful, amusement or theme park owners perceive a need to regularly introduce new, innovative and fun guest experiences. A primary objective according to the present invention is to provide an amusement activity station that is new, innovative, fun and different relative to prior art attractions.
A first exemplary amusement attraction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,166,485 ('485 patent) authored by Girlya et al. and owned by Diggerland USA, LLC in West Berlin, New Jersey. The '485 patent describes an amusement ride, attraction or device comprising a modified vehicle, machine, vessel, container, load-carrying platform or similar device, or any combination thereof, or anything having the appearance thereof, which is used, useful or operated for mining, transportation, military or construction or other commercial or industrial uses, purposes or applications. Illustrative embodiments of the invention include a modified dump trailer, dump truck or load-carrying platform. Such a modified dump trailer includes a dump trailer modified so as to permit a horizontally-pivoting telescoping hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower the front of the modified dump trailer, which is modified with a passenger support system and a passenger restraint system. Associated processes, systems and methods include a power pack or other dedicated source of energy and an adjacent entrance/exit ramp and boarding/de-boarding platform and operator control platform.
A second exemplary amusement attraction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,946,296 ('296 patent) also authored by Girlya et al. The '296 patent describes an amusement ride that provides user participants with the sensation of riding scissor lift construction equipment. The amusement ride has a scissor lift mechanism supported by a construction equipment frame with wheels thereon. A stationary support structure supports the equipment frame and suspends the wheels in midair to hold the equipment stationary. A cargo lift platform connected on top of the scissor lift mechanism has amusement ride seats mounted thereon. The ride seats have passenger restraints which provides amusement-ride-level safety. An electric motor drivingly connected to the scissor lift mechanism is operated by a ride operator to raise and lower the cargo lift platform. A passenger access platform situated adjacent the cargo lift platform allows ride passengers to easily and safely enter and exit the scissor lift.
A third exemplary amusement attraction is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/738,468 ('468 application) authored by Girlya et al. and owned by Diggerland USA, LLC in West Berlin, New Jersey. The '468 application describes an amusement game station for enabling a user participant to operate complex machinery to direct a primary striker object into contact with at least one secondary target object to promote complex machinery-based, object-to-object contact skills. The amusement game station includes a complex machine component and a secondary object contact station. The complex machine includes a user position station, a user-to-machine interface, and a moveable member. The moveable member is movable relative to the user position station by way of the user-to-machine interface as manually operated by the user participant. The secondary object contact station includes the secondary target object(s). The moveable member is directable toward the secondary target object(s) for contacting the same via the primary striker object as attached to the moveable member. A reset mechanism resets the secondary target objects from moved or fallen positions to original or upright positions.
A fourth exemplary amusement attraction is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/830,525 ('525 application) authored by Girlya et al. and owned by Diggerland USA, LLC in West Berlin, New Jersey. The '525 application describes an amusement game station for enabling a user to operate complex machinery to pick up and position selectively shaped objects to promote complex machinery-based object placement skills. The amusement game station includes a complex machine component and at least one object-receiver station. The complex machine includes a user position station, a user-to-machine interface, a moveable member, and a pick-up mechanism. The moveable member is maneuvered relative to the user position station by way of manual operation of the user-to-machine interface. Each object-receiver station includes at least one object-receiving structure. The pick-up mechanism and moveable member are directable for picking up and conveying selectively shaped objects toward the object-receiving structure(s) for positioned placement. The amusement game station contemplates any number of shapes and sizes of the object-receiving stations and selectively shaped objects, including basically shaped objects and stations as well as irregularly shaped objects and stations.
A fifth exemplary amusement attraction is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/830,525 ('525 application) authored by Girlya et al. and owned by Diggerland USA, LLC in West Berlin, New Jersey. The '525 application describes an amusement activity station for enabling a user to pick up and reposition machine-movable objects. The amusement activity station includes a crane apparatus and an operator gondola. The crane apparatus includes fixed pedestal and a movable boom apparatus. The boom apparatus is rotatable about a station axis of rotation and includes a bridge arm and an operable boom assembly. The boom assembly has a distal boom end and includes an object-to-boom linkage mechanism. The operator gondola is anchored to the bridge arm and provides a user-to-machine interface. The operator gondola is rotatable in unison with an upper machine portion by way of the bridge arm, and a roller enables movement of the operator gondola atop a support surface. The linkage mechanism links machine-movable objects to the distal boom end, and the boom assembly is maneuverable for lifting and repositioning the machine-movable objects by way of the user-to-machine interface.
From a consideration of the foregoing prior art examples, it will be noted that the prior art perceives a need and public interest in an amusement attraction based on scientific, technological or occupational activities that, instead of being passively ridden by park guests, offers user participants an opportunity to individually operate machinery in a safe, amusing manner. More particularly, the prior art perceives a need and public interest in an amusement activity station for enabling a user to operate machinery to move, manipulate, reposition and/or pick up and release machine-moveable objects as exemplified by logs or log-like members thereby promoting machinery operation skills or more simply to entertain or effect amusement among user participants as summarized in more detail hereinafter.
As prefaced above, a primary objective of this invention is the provision of an amusement activity station for enabling a user to move or manipulate machine-movable objects. In some embodiments, the user participant may pick up, move, and release objects. In some embodiments, the amusement activity station may be operated to drop objects into a hole or a fire pit or a water body, or a large open bin, or from a cliff or other elevated surface to drop to the ground and perhaps be destroyed or demolished by secondary actions. The amusement activity station may be said to essentially comprise an object mover apparatus and an operator station positioned in spaced relation relative to the object mover apparatus. In some embodiments, the operator station is opposite the object mover apparatus.
The object mover apparatus comprises a pedestal portion, a movable boom apparatus, and an operator extension. The pedestal portion extends in a pedestal plane and is anchored to at least one support surface. The movable boom apparatus extends away from the pedestal plane on a first side thereof and comprises a pedestal interface and object mover arrangement. The pedestal interface is adjacent the pedestal plane and the object mover arrangement is positioned in spaced relation relative to the pedestal plane. The pedestal interface is anchored to the pedestal portion. The operator extension extends into the operator station away from the pedestal plane on a second side thereof in some embodiments and supports a control station for controlling the movable boom apparatus and object mover arrangement.
The object mover arrangement is operably configured to selectively move at least one object at the first side within an object movement space via the control station. The movable boom apparatus is pivotal about at least one horizontal pivot axis and at least one vertical pivot axis for vertically and horizontally moving within the object movement space on the first side of the pedestal plane via the control station. The user participant, via the control station at the operator station, is thereby enabled to move, manipulate, reposition or pick-up and release machine-movable objects within the object movement space for promoting machinery operation skills or more simply for entertainment or amusement purposes.
In some embodiments, the object mover arrangement is characterized by a pincher mechanism. The pincher mechanism is configured to selectively pinch and release at least one object at the first side within the object movement space. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is operably configured to pinch and release the at least one object via a pincher hydraulic mechanism. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is rotatable about a pincher axis of rotation as enabled by a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism intermediate a distal end of the movable boom apparatus and the pincher mechanism.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion comprises an upright member and the pedestal interface comprises a lower attachment point and an upper attachment point. The lower and upper attachment points are attached to the upright member. In some embodiments, the pedestal portion comprises a pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs at the pedestal plane. The pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs extend downwardly from the upright member to a ground support surface. In some embodiments, the pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs extend obliquely relative to the upright member.
In some embodiments, the pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs are each configured to pivot about a leg pivot axis of rotation for better supporting the pedestal portion on opposite sides of the upright member at the ground support surface. In some embodiments, the upright member is anchored to a raised pedestal support structure, which raised pedestal support structure extends upwardly from the ground support surface intermediate the stabilizer legs in spaced relation thereto. In some embodiments, the upright member is configured to pivot about a vertical pivot axis by way of a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism supported by the raised pedestal support structure and controlled by the control station.
There is thus provided in accordance with another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter an amusement activity station for enabling a user to move, manipulate, reposition or pick up and release machine-movable objects to promote machinery operation skills or more simply to entertain or amuse user participants. The amusement activity station may be said to essentially comprise an object mover apparatus and an operator station. The object mover apparatus comprises a pedestal portion, a movable boom apparatus, and an operator extension. The pedestal portion is anchored to at least one support surface, and the movable boom apparatus extends away from the pedestal portion in spaced relation relative to the operator extension and in some embodiments comprises an object mover arrangement at a distal end thereof.
The operator station is positioned in spaced relation relative to the movable boom apparatus in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the movable boom apparatus is positioned opposite the operator station such that the movable boom apparatus is on a first side of a pedestal plane and the operator station is on a second side of the pedestal plane. The operator extension extends into the operator station and supports a control station for controlling the movable boom apparatus and object mover arrangement. The object mover arrangement is operably configured to selectively engage and move at least one object. The movable boom apparatus is movable in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction within an object movement space via the control station. The user participant, via the control station at the operator station, is thereby being enabled to move machine-movable objects within the object movement space for promoting machinery operation skills or more simply to entertain or amuse user participants.
In some embodiments, the object mover arrangement is characterized by a pincher mechanism, which pincher mechanism is configured to selectively pinch and release at least one object within the object movement space. In some embodiments, the pinch and release actions may incorporate object movements to reposition objects within the object mover space. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is operably configured to pinch and release the at least one object via a pincher hydraulic mechanism. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is rotatable about a pincher axis of rotation as enabled by a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion comprises at least two stabilizer legs. The at least two stabilizer legs extend downwardly from the pedestal portion to a ground support surface. In some embodiments, the stabilizer legs extend obliquely relative to the pedestal portion. In some embodiments, the stabilizer legs are each configured to pivot about a leg pivot axis of rotation for better supporting the pedestal portion on opposite sides of the pedestal portion at the ground support surface.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion is anchored to a raised pedestal support structure, which raised pedestal support structure extends upwardly from the ground support surface intermediate the stabilizer legs in spaced relation thereto. In some embodiments, an upright member of the pedestal portion is configured to pivot about a vertical pivot axis as supported by the raised pedestal support structure and controlled by the control station. In some embodiments, the upright member is configured to pivot about the vertical pivot axis by way of a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism.
Other secondary objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following brief descriptions of the drawings and the accompanying drawing figures.
Other features and objectives of the presently disclosed subject matter will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings.
Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the presently disclosed subject matter provides an amusement activity station 10 for enabling a user operator or user participant to move, manipulate, reposition, or pick-up and release machine-movable objects. In some embodiments, the user participant may pick up, move, and release objects. For example, in some embodiments, the amusement activity station 10 may be operated to drop objects into a hole or a fire pit or a water body or a large open bin, or from a cliff or other elevated surface to drop to the ground and perhaps be destroyed or demolished by secondary actions. The amusement activity station 10 may enable a user participant to move, manipulate, reposition, and/or pick-up and release machine-movable objects within a defined space or object movement space 120 to promote machinery operation skills, or to more simply provide entertainment or to effect amusement among user participants.
In some embodiments, the machine-movable objects may be exemplified by logs or log-like objects as at 11, and an object mover apparatus 12 of the amusement activity station 10 may be exemplified by modified log loader or log mover machinery. The amusement activity station 10 may be provided as a stand-alone station or may be practiced in series with a plurality of substantially similar stations within an amusement park type setting. In some embodiments, a station perimeter 119 is outfitted with a barrier, railing, or other fence-like structure 118 for enclosing the station perimeter 119 to mark its boundary, control access thereto, and/or prevent unauthorized foot traffic therethrough. Key peripheral features of the amusement activity station 10 are generally depicted in
In some embodiments, the object mover apparatus 12 comprises a centralized pedestal portion 13, a movable boom apparatus 14 extending from a first side 110 of the centralized pedestal portion 13, and an operator extension 15 extending from a second side 114 opposite the first side 110 of the centralized pedestal portion 13. In some embodiments, the operator extension 15 and the operator station 115 into which the operator extension 15 extends need not be opposite the movable boom apparatus 14, but may be offset at an angle, on the side, facing the object mover arrangement or even on an upper deck looking down at the movable boom apparatus 14. Accordingly, the operator station 115 may be said to be positioned in spaced relation relative to the movable boom apparatus 14. In some embodiments,
The pedestal portion 13 generally extends vertically in a pedestal plane 100 and is anchored via a series of fasteners 52 to at least one support surface as exemplified by a concrete slab type ground support surface and in some embodiments a concrete raised pedestal support structure. A ground support surface is referenced at 101 and a raised pedestal support structure is referenced at 41, which raised pedestal support structure 41 comprises a raised support surface as at 54 to which the object mover apparatus 12 may be fastened via a series of fasteners 52 according to the presently disclosed subject matter.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion 13 provides or comprises an upright member 16 to which a pedestal interface 53 of the movable boom apparatus 14 is anchored. In some embodiments, the pedestal interface 53 may be bolted to the upright member 16 and in some embodiments, the pedestal interface 53 may be welded to the upright member 16, for example. In some embodiments, the pedestal interface 53 comprises a lower attachment point 17 and an upper attachment point 18, which lower and upper attachment points 17 and 18 provide pivotal attachment or anchor points to the upright member 16. The lower and upper attachment points 17 and 18 are configured to respectively provide horizontal pivot axes as at 102 and 103 as perhaps most clearly depicted and referenced in
In some embodiments, a first arm element 19 or boom portion of the movable boom apparatus 14 comprises a proximal arm end 27 and a distal arm end 28. The proximal arm end 27 is pivotally attached to the upright member 16 at the upper attachment point 18. A proximal end 20 of a first hydraulic mechanism 21 is pivotally attached to the lower attachment point 17, and a distal end 23 of the first hydraulic mechanism 21 is pivotally attached to an attachment point 24 of the first arm element 19 defining a horizontal pivot axis as at 106. In some embodiments, a second arm element 22 or stick element is pivotally connected to the first arm element 19. The second arm element 22 comprises a proximal arm end 29 and a distal arm end 30. The proximal arm end 29 of the second arm element 22 is pivotally attached to the distal arm end 28 of the first arm element 19 and a horizontal pivot axis 104 extends through the connection point 25 of the first and second arm elements 19 and 22.
A second hydraulic mechanism 26 is operably connected to the first and second arm elements 19 and 22, and comprises a proximal end 31 and a distal end 32. The proximal end 31 is pivotally attached to the first arm element 19 at an attachment point 33 distal to the attachment point 24 defining a pivot axis as at 107. The distal end 32 is pivotally attached to the second arm element 22 at an attachment point 34 defining a horizontal pivot axis as at 105. The first and second hydraulic mechanisms 21 and 26 may be characterized by hydraulic cylinders in some embodiments, each of which comprise a piston rod 35 linearly extendable and retractable relative to a cylinder body 36. In some embodiments, the first and second hydraulic mechanisms 21 and 26 are attached to undersides of the first and second arm elements 19 and 22. A series of hydraulic lines 37 interconnect the first and second hydraulic mechanisms 22 and 26 to a control station 38, which, when operated by the user participant, are operable to pivot the first and second arm elements 19 and 22 about the horizontal pivot axes 103 and 104 to selectively effect vertical movements of the first and second arm elements 19 and 22 relative to the ground support surface 101 within the object movement space 120 on the first side 110 of the pedestal plane 100.
The pedestal portion 13 may further comprise a pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs 39 generally positioned at the pedestal plane 100 in some embodiments. The stabilizer legs 39 extend downwardly from the upright member 16 to the ground support surface 101 for providing lateral stability at laterally opposed points of the pedestal portion 13 and the ground support surface 101. In some embodiments, the stabilizer legs 39 extend obliquely relative to the vertically extending upright member 16 and the relatively horizontal ground support surface 101. In some embodiments, the stabilizer legs 39 are each configured to pivot about a leg pivot axis 108 for independently and laterally supporting the pedestal portion 13 on laterally opposite sides of the upright member 16 at the ground support surface 101 in those cases where the ground support surface 101 may be uneven, for example.
To enable pivotal movement of the stabilizer legs 39, laterally opposed hydraulic mechanisms 40 are pivotally anchored to (a) upper brackets 55 laterally offset from or relative to the upright member 16 at a pedestal platform 57, and (b) lower brackets 56 attached to lower portions of the stabilizer legs 39. The stabilizer legs 39 have upper ends 59 pivotally attached to the brackets 55 at attachment points 60, and the hydraulic mechanisms 40 have upper ends 61 pivotally attached to the brackets 55 at attachment points 62. The upper ends 61 pivot about pivot axes 111 generally parallel to pivot axes 108. Lower ends 63 of the hydraulic mechanisms 40 are pivotally attached to the brackets 56 at attachment points 64 to provide pivot axes 112. The upper and lower brackets 55 and 56 are configured to pivot the stabilizer legs 39 about the pivot axes 108 when the piston rods 35 are linearly extended from and retracted into the cylinder bodies 36 of the hydraulic mechanisms 40 as needed to stabilize the object mover apparatus 12 at the ground support surface 101.
In some embodiments, the upright member 16 is anchored to the raised pedestal support structure 41, which raised pedestal support structure 41 extends upwardly from the ground support surface 101 intermediate the stabilizer legs 39 in spaced relation thereto. The raised pedestal support structure 41 is preferably of sturdy weigh-supportive construction and in some embodiments, may be characterized by a concrete block securely anchored or integrally formed with the concrete slab forming the ground support surface 101. In some embodiments, the upright member 16 is configured to pivot as at arrow 130 about a vertical pivot axis 109 by way of a rotary actuator type hydraulic mechanism 42 supported by pedestal platform 57 as anchored to the raised support surface 54 atop the raised pedestal support structure 41 and controlled by the control station 38. The rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism 42 is operable to rotate the upright member 16 about a rotary base 43 such that the movable boom apparatus 14 may pivot as at arrows 130 about the vertical pivot axis 109 and swing or direct as at arrows 117 through the object movement space 120 located on the first side 110 of the pedestal plane 100 as generally depicted in
More particularly in this regard, the movable boom apparatus 14 generally extends away from the pedestal plane 100 on the first side 110 and is vertically and horizontally movable within the object movement space 120. The movable boom apparatus 14 comprises an object mover arrangement at the distal end 30 of the second arm element 22. In some embodiments, the object mover arrangement may be characterized by a grapple or pincher mechanism 44. In other words, the object mover arrangement as exemplified by a pincher mechanism 44 is located or positioned in spaced relation relative to the pedestal plane 100 at a distal most end of the movable boom apparatus 14 or at the distal end 30 of the second arm element 22 in some embodiments. In certain other embodiments, the distal end 30 of the second arm element 22 may be outfitted with alternative object engagement mechanisms or mover arrangements, as for example, a hook mechanism or member as generally described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/859,676 or a loop members or simpler linkages as generally described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/830,525.
In a preferred application according to the presently disclosed subject matter, however, the movable boom apparatus 14 of the object mover apparatus 12 is outfitted with a pincher mechanism 44. The pincher mechanism 44 is operably configured to pinch and release machine-movable objects via a hydraulic mechanism 58 linearly actuable as at arrows 127 to pivotally close and pivotally open pincher jaws or elements 45 of the pincher mechanism 44 in some embodiments. Directed closing movement of the pincher jaws 45 to pinch an object exemplified by a log 11 is generally depicted at arrows 129 and directed opening movement of the pincher jaws 45 to release an object or log 11 is generally and comparatively depicted at arrows 129 in
The rotary actuator type hydraulic mechanism 46 enables the user participant to rotate the pincher mechanism 44 about the pincher axis of rotation 113 to reorient a pinched object 11′ within the object movement space 120. In some embodiments, the operator station 115 of the amusement activity station 10 may be positioned opposite the movable boom apparatus 14 on a second side 114 of the pedestal plane 100. The reader will recall, however, the operator station 115 may be positioned offset an at angle, on the side, facing the object mover arrangement, or even on an upper deck looking down at the movable boom apparatus 14. In some embodiments, however, the operator extension 15 of the object mover apparatus 12 extends into the operator station 115 away from the pedestal plane 100 on the second side 114 thereof.
In some embodiments, the operator extension 15 may extend orthogonally relative to the upright member 16 and pedestal plane 100 as generally depicted in
The hand controls 47 enable the user participant to selectively pinch and release machine-movable objects by way of the pincher mechanism 44, and also move the movable boom apparatus 14. In other words, the pincher mechanism 44 is operably configured to selectively pinch and release at least one object (e.g., a log or log-like member 11) via the hand controls 47 of the control station 38. It will be recalled the movable boom apparatus 14 is pivotal about at least one horizontal pivot axis and at least one vertical pivot axis for vertically and horizontally moving within the object movement space 120 so as to direct the pincher mechanism 44 therewithin for picking up and releasing the machine-movable objects within the object movement space 120 on the first side 110 of the pedestal plane 100 via the control station 38.
In some applications, the user participant may also move, manipulate or otherwise reposition objects within the object mover space 120. In other words, the user participant, via the control station 38 at the operator station 115, is enabled to move, manipulate, reposition, or pick-up release machine-movable objects exemplified by logs or log-like members 11 within the object movement space 120 for promoting machinery operation skills by way of the amusement activity station 10. In some applications, the operation of the movable boom apparatus 14 and object mover arrangement as exemplified by pincher mechanism 44 may be said to more simply entertain or amuse user participants with less focus on developing or promoting machinery operation skills.
Referencing
The movable boom apparatus 14 may also be pivoted about the vertical axis of rotation 109 to reposition the pinched object or member 11′ to a new location within the object movement space 120 whereafter the movable boom apparatus 14 may be operated to lower the pinched object or member 11′ as at arrows 124 to the ground support surface 101 or other support structure, which may in some embodiments be a receptacle or object-receiving structure particularly configured to receive objects of various sizes and dimensions such as the object-receiver station as variously described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/830,525. In some embodiments, the amusement activity station 10 may be operated to drop objects into a hole or a fire pit or a water body, or a large open bin, or from a cliff or other elevated surface to drop to the ground and perhaps be destroyed or demolished by secondary actions.
Once lowered to a proper release height in some applications, the pincher mechanism 44 may be operated to open the pincher jaws 45 and release the pinched object 11′ at the repositioned location within the object movement space 120. The user participant may then raise the pincher mechanism 44 via the movable boom apparatus 14. If multiple objects or log-like members 11 are provided, for example, the form of a stacked pile 131 of log-like members 11, the user participant may repeat the process of pinching and releasing the machine-movable objects or log-like members 11 in a similar manner.
The operator station 115 is generally characterized by that space defined by the station perimeter 119 on the second side 114 of the pedestal plane 100 in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the operator station 115 may be provided with a canopy structure 48 having a roof 49 as supported by laterally opposed upright members or posts 50 with a cross member 51 being attached to lower ends of each of the upright posts 50 and supported or braced on a pedestal by the raised pedestal support structure 41 to stabilize the same. In some embodiments, a barrier 121 may be provided to define the operator station 115 at or parallel to the pedestal plane 100 to prevent user participants from accessing the first side 110 and the objection reposition space 120 from the second side 114 of the pedestal plane 100.
In some embodiments, power/hydraulic fluid delivery cables 122 may be extended downwardly to the object mover apparatus 12 from an overhead cable delivery structure 123 substantially as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/859,676. Hydraulic lines 37 are connected to an external electrically powered hydraulic power pack via the overhead cable delivery structure 123 as supported by upright posts (not specifically illustrated). The overhead cable delivery structure 123 may also provide a support structure for positioning support systems to a series of amusement activity stations (not specifically illustrated). The power/hydraulic fluid delivery cables 122 may be attached to outer surfacing of a select post of the upright posts 50 to help conceal the cables 122 from user participants when manning the control station 38. In those applications having a series of substantially similar activity stations, overhead cable delivery structure 123 may traverse several such stations and delivery power to each of the stations in a similar manner.
While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter, but rather as an exemplification of thereof. There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter an amusement activity station for enabling a user to move or manipulate machine-movable objects. In some embodiments, the user participant may pick up, move, and release objects. In some embodiments, the amusement activity station may be operated to drop objects into a hole or a fire pit or a water body, or a large open bin, or from a cliff or other elevated surface to drop to the ground and perhaps be destroyed or demolished by secondary actions.
The amusement activity station may be said to essentially comprise an object mover apparatus and an operator station positioned in spaced relation relative to the object mover apparatus. In some embodiments, the operator station is opposite the object mover apparatus. The object mover apparatus comprises a pedestal portion, a movable boom apparatus, and an operator extension. The pedestal portion extends in a pedestal plane and is anchored to at least one support surface. The movable boom apparatus extends away from the pedestal plane on a first side thereof and comprises a pedestal interface and object mover arrangement. The pedestal interface is adjacent the pedestal plane and the object mover arrangement is positioned in spaced relation relative to the pedestal plane. The pedestal interface is anchored to the pedestal portion. The operator extension extends into the operator station away from the pedestal plane on a second side thereof in some embodiments and supports a control station for controlling the movable boom apparatus and object mover arrangement.
The object mover arrangement is operably configured to selectively move at least one object at the first side within an object movement space via the control station. The movable boom apparatus is pivotal about at least one horizontal pivot axis and at least one vertical pivot axis for vertically and horizontally moving within the object movement space on the first side of the pedestal plane via the control station. The user participant, via the control station at the operator station, is thereby enabled to move, manipulate, reposition or pick-up and release machine-movable objects within the object movement space for promoting machinery operation skills or more simply for entertainment or amusement purposes.
In some embodiments, the object mover arrangement is characterized by a pincher mechanism. The pincher mechanism is configured to selectively pinch and release at least one object at the first side within the object movement space. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is operably configured to pinch and release the at least one object via a pincher hydraulic mechanism. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is rotatable about a pincher axis of rotation as enabled by a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism intermediate a distal end of the movable boom apparatus and the pincher mechanism.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion comprises an upright member and the pedestal interface comprises a lower attachment point and an upper attachment point. The lower and upper attachment points are attached to the upright member. In some embodiments, the pedestal portion comprises a pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs at the pedestal plane. The pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs extend downwardly from the upright member to a ground support surface. In some embodiments, the pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs extend obliquely relative to the upright member.
In some embodiments, the pair of laterally opposed stabilizer legs are each configured to pivot about a leg pivot axis of rotation for better supporting the pedestal portion on opposite sides of the upright member at the ground support surface. In some embodiments, the upright member is anchored to a raised pedestal support structure, which raised pedestal support structure extends upwardly from the ground support surface intermediate the stabilizer legs in spaced relation thereto. In some embodiments, the upright member is configured to pivot about a vertical pivot axis by way of a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism supported by the raised pedestal support structure and controlled by the control station.
There is thus provided in accordance with another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter an amusement activity station for enabling a user to move, manipulate, reposition or pick up and release machine-movable objects to promote machinery operation skills or more simply to entertain or amuse user participants. The amusement activity station may be said to essentially comprise an object mover apparatus and an operator station. The object mover apparatus comprises a pedestal portion, a movable boom apparatus, and an operator extension. The pedestal portion is anchored to at least one support surface, and the movable boom apparatus extends away from the pedestal portion in spaced relation relative to the operator extension and in some embodiments comprises an object mover arrangement at a distal end thereof.
The operator station is positioned in spaced relation relative to the movable boom apparatus in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the movable boom apparatus is positioned opposite the operator station such that the movable boom apparatus is on a first side of a pedestal plane and the operator station is on a second side of the pedestal plane. The operator extension extends into the operator station and supports a control station for controlling the movable boom apparatus and object mover arrangement. The object mover arrangement is operably configured to selectively engage and move at least one object. The movable boom apparatus is movable in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction within an object movement space via the control station. The user participant, via the control station at the operator station, is thereby being enabled to move machine-movable objects within the object movement space for promoting machinery operation skills or more simply to entertain or amuse user participants.
In some embodiments, the object mover arrangement is characterized by a pincher mechanism, which pincher mechanism is configured to selectively pinch and release at least one object within the object movement space. In some embodiments, the pinch and release actions may incorporate object movements to reposition objects within the object mover space. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is operably configured to pinch and release the at least one object via a pincher hydraulic mechanism. In some embodiments, the pincher mechanism is rotatable about a pincher axis of rotation as enabled by a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion comprises at least two stabilizer legs. The at least two stabilizer legs extend downwardly from the pedestal portion to a ground support surface. In some embodiments, the stabilizer legs extend obliquely relative to the pedestal portion. In some embodiments, the stabilizer legs are each configured to pivot about a leg pivot axis of rotation for better supporting the pedestal portion on opposite sides of the pedestal portion at the ground support surface.
In some embodiments, the pedestal portion is anchored to a raised pedestal support structure, which raised pedestal support structure extends upwardly from the ground support surface intermediate the stabilizer legs in spaced relation thereto. In some embodiments, an upright member of the pedestal portion is configured to pivot about a vertical pivot axis as supported by the raised pedestal support structure and controlled by the control station. In some embodiments, the upright member is configured to pivot about the vertical pivot axis by way of a rotary actuator hydraulic mechanism.
Accordingly, all embodiments herein should be regarded as illustrative rather than exclusive or limiting, and variations to embodiments herein may be made without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. In other words, although the amusement activity station according to the presently disclosed subject matter has been described by reference to a number of different embodiments, it is not intended that the novel combinations or assemblies be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the appended drawings, and the following claims.
