A seat for amusement apparatus is indicated as a whole by 10. As illustrated, seat 10 is constructed such that the passenger or user sits astride the same, adopting a posture similar to that adopted by motorcyclists.
In addition to this the structure of the seat is such as to leave the passenger's shoulders free, securing him in the vicinity of the chest or abdomen.
Seat 10 includes a support 12 supported by a frame 14. For example support 12 is in the shape of a saddle or motor vehicle seat so as to receive the passenger sitting astride the same. Frame 14 is, for example, constructed of a set of tubular members, although other arrangements such as compact and boxed structures are possible.
The extremity of the frontal supporting member opposite floor 18 ends in a portion 16a which may be inclined at an angle β with respect to the frontal supporting member. Portion 16a is suitable for supporting a cushion to support the passenger, which is, for example, manufactured from polyurethane.
Two lateral supporting members 20 extend from frontal supporting member 16 and floor 18. Further supporting members 22 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to floor 18 and constitute a support for supporting members 24 for support 12.
A cover or casing 26 completely encloses frame 14 of seat 10.
Reference numeral 28 indicates a device for immobilizing the user on support 12 of the seat. The immobilizing device may include at least one support 30 mounted at the end of frontal supporting member 16 in the vicinity of portion 16a. Support 30 is located frontally with respect to the user and may have a shape such as to wrap round the passenger both at the front and at the side. For example, support 30 includes a central portion 30a which may include a supporting member for a frontal portion of the user, for example, the chest in the case of children or the abdomen in the case of adults. Two side portions 30b, which may be arched, may also be provided and may extend from central portion 30a and may have a configuration such as to surround the passenger laterally.
Immobilizing device 28 may also include an opposing device 32 suitable for acting against the user's back. The opposing device is movable between an open position and a closed position in which it abuts against the user's back.
Opposing device 32 includes an arm 34 which is movable between a lowered position in which the user can sit down on the support of the seat and a raised position in which one end of the arm abuts against the user's back (see, e.g.,
One end of arm 34 may be keyed onto a splined shaft 38 mounted on frame 14.
A gear 40 is suitable for being caused to rotate by rotating actuator 36 and transmit the motion to splined shaft 38 (see, e.g.,
Arm 34 is operatively associated with a cam 42 and a microswitch 44, e.g., through splined shaft 38 (see, e.g.,
Cam 42 has a first circular profile which extends over approximately three quarters of the total perimeter of the cam and a second circular profile of smaller radius than the first circular profile which extends over approximately one quarter of the total perimeter of the cam. The two profiles are suitably connected.
Microswitch 44 includes a runner 46 which is hinged to a body of the microswitch and is provided at one end with a small wheel 48 which rotates with respect to the runner and can move over the profile of cam 42.
Arm 34 is operatively associated with a device for immobilizing it in the raised position, for example, including a rack 50 hinged on frame 14. For example, the rack is associated with a toothed wheel 52 keyed onto splined shaft 38 to mechanically immobilize the opposing device in the raised position when it has reached the position in which it supports the passenger (see, e.g.,
Rack 50 is kept in contact with and in mesh with toothed wheel 52, activated, for example, by a single-action pneumatic piston. For example, rack 50 is held against toothed wheel 52 by a resilient device which may be disabled, for example, pneumatically, during the return movement of the opposing device.
One end 54 of arm 34 can wrap partly round the user's back.
Cover or casing 26 may be in the form of a motorcycle, as illustrated in
Conventional actuation devices, such as, for example, one or more motors, pumps, servos or hydraulic or gas pistons, may be used to move the leg extensions 202 between the retracted and extended positions. The actuation device may be, for example, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, etc. Further, leg extensions 202 may be manually pivoted and locked in position using gears, cranks, cams, levers, etc. As illustrated in the top views of
As illustrated in the side views of
Plate 204 may be connected to other portions of frame 14, e.g., frontal supporting member 16 alone, frontal supporting member 16 and lateral supporting members 20, base plate 222 alone, etc.
The leg extensions 202 may be separately controlled by independent actuation devices.
The leg extensions 202 may each be independently controlled by a motor capable of forcing rotation of each leg extension about its respective pivot axis. The motors may be directly mounted on plate 204. Further, a single motor may control both leg extensions 202.
The manner in which the seat for amusement apparatus as described above is used is described below.
The user, whether a child or an adult, sits astride support 12 substantially as on a motorcycle and rests his chest or abdomen against support 30.
On the command of an operator, actuator 36 causes splined shaft 38 and therefore arm 34 to rotate until the latter abuts against the user's back. Cam 42 and microswitch 44 constitute a control for the position of arm 34. For example, the profile of cam 42 moves with respect to small wheel 48 causing runner 46 to rotate about the hinge point (the dashed and unbroken line illustrated in
Rack 50 meshes with toothed wheel 52 and keeps the arm immobilized in the raised position thus opposing the movements of the amusement apparatus and the thrust from the passenger, thus preventing the passenger from leaving the seat.
For the arrangement illustrated in
To release the passenger, single-acting piston 53 compresses the spring which maintains contact between rack 50 and toothed wheel 52, while actuator 36 causes arm 34 to make its return travel. Further, piston 208 may be triggered again, this time forcing the trigger head 210 in an opposite direction, and thus, the leg extensions 202 to the retracted position.
An amusement apparatus provided with seats is illustrated in
At least one set of seats 10 is mounted on a substantially perimetral portion of the platform, e.g., such that the user faces outwardly from the platform.
The motion to which the user is subjected is the combination of the rotatory motion and the oscillatory motion of the platform. Provision may also be made for movement of the seats with respect to the platform.
It should be appreciated that the provision of a seat for amusement apparatus as described herein makes it possible to satisfy the requirement for obtaining a different position of the user on the apparatus, changing the sensations provoked in the user without the need for any drastic modification in the structure of the apparatus.
The seat leaves the user's shoulders free and allows him to adopt a position similar to that adopted by motorcyclists. Provision may be made for the opposing device to rotate or move laterally with respect to the support.
The motion of the opposing device, and, e.g., the arm, can be brought about by devices other than those described and illustrated. For example, arm 34 may have a substantially circular shape with one toothed side suitable for meshing with a toothed wheel driven by the actuator.
As an alternative, the frontal support may be movably mounted on the seat so that its position can be adjusted according to the user's dimensions. In this instance, a continuous adjustment or a stepwise adjustment may be provided, or movement may be permitted to assist access from the side.
The seat 10 may be substantially reversed with the provision of a movable frontal support and a fixed rear support. In each instance, the passenger sits astride the seat with his shoulders free. The frontal support may rotate or move linearly.
An amusement apparatus may be provided with the seat illustrated in
At least one seat 10 may be mounted on each of the platforms 304. The seat 10 may be situated on each platform 304 such that the length of the seat 10 extends along a longitudinal axis of the support rails 306 and such that a rider faces the direction of travel of the seat 10. As illustrated in
The amusement apparatus 300 may include one or more platforms 304. As illustrated in
The leading portion 318 on a given platform 304 may be pivotally connected, for example, via hinges 338 (see, e.g.,
Each platform 304 may be supported by a front axle 322 which may connected to and roll on each of the supporting rails 306 via a bogie 340, which may include, for example, two road wheels 324, one up-stop wheel 326 and two guide wheels 328. Pulley axles 332 may interconnect each of the front axles 322 and may be pivotably and rotatably connected on each end to the front axles 322. A trailing end of the pulley axle 332 of the trailing platform 312 may be connected to an independent axle 334, which is not used to support a platform 304.
As indicated above, the platforms 304 may be interconnected such that the convex leading portion 318 of each platform 304 partially fits in the concave trailing portion 336 of an adjacent platform 304. As illustrated in
The pulley axles 332 may interconnect the platforms 304 directly, i.e., they may be pivotally connected on both ends to the adjacent platforms, as opposed to being connected to the adjacent front axles 322.
Each of the pulley axles 332 may include a fin 330 projecting downwardly away from the platform 304 toward the track cross members 308. As illustrated in
The track 302 may twist and turn and be supported via conventional structures. The propulsion mechanisms may add potential energy to the train, i.e., the interconnected platforms 304, by driving the train to the top of a lift hill. Once the center of gravity of the train crests the apex of the lift hill, gravity may be used to propel the train throughout the remainder of the track 302.
A ride control system may be provided including, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC), so as to monitor and actuate all necessary ride components such as the restraint releases, leg extensions 202, kicker motors 344, 346, etc. The ride control system may include proximity sensors and photo eyes.
An amusement apparatus provided with the seat illustrated in
As illustrated in
The pivoting portion 352 may be manually moved between the lowered position and the upright position using, for example, gears, cranks, cams, levers, etc., or moved automatically using, for example, one or more pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, gas pistons, motors, pumps, servos, etc. As illustrated in
As illustrated, pivoting portion 352 is connected to the trailing portion 336′ of platforms 304′. However, pivoting portion 352 may also be connected to the leading portion 318′ of platforms 304′ in which case each pivoting portion 352 would be lowered onto the trailing portion 336′ of the platform 304′ ahead of it to bridge the gap 353 between the platforms 304′.
The ride control system may be configured to lower the pivoting portion when each of the platforms 304′ are in proximity to a predetermined point on a loading/unloading area for the amusement apparatus. Each platform 304′ may include a switch, e.g., a proximity switch, which may be triggered when the platform 304′ reaches its respective predetermined point on the loading/unloading area.
The ride control system may also be configured to lower the pivoting portion 352 when the back support or arm 34 and cushion 29 of the seat 10 is lowered and/or when the leg extensions 202 of the seat 10 are withdrawn.
The ride control system may be configured to raise the pivoting portion 352 when the amusement apparatus is in motion and/or the sensor on each platform 304′ has moved away from its respective predetermined point on the loading/unloading area.
The ride control system may also be configured to raise the pivoting portion 352 to its upright position when the back support or arm 34 of the seat 10 is raised and contacting the rider's back and/or when the leg extensions 202 of the seat 10 are extended.
The pivoting portion 352 may be replaced with a bridge portion, for example, a metal sheet, that is slid into place. The bridge portion may lie on, in, or under one of the platforms and may be moved, for example, by sliding, using, for example, rollers or any of the mechanisms discussed above use to move pivoting portion 352, into position over the gap 353 between adjacent platforms 304′. The bridge portion may extend from one platform to a position adjacent an edge of an adjacent platform so as to bridge a gap between these platforms. The bridge portion may also extend over the adjacent platform similar to the pivoting portion 352.
During loading and unloading of passengers, the portion 352 may be extended to bridge a gap between the trailing edge of leading platform 304′ and the leading edge of a trailing platform 304′ so that passengers may embark and disembark the platforms 304′, and pass between platforms 304′ without or minimizing the possibility of injury due to an exposed gap. During travel of the platforms 304′ around the track, the portion 352 is retracted so that movement between adjacent platforms 304′ may occur without interference from the portion 352. Thus, safety to passengers may be enhanced during loading and unloading while not interfering with overall operation of the amusement device.
Rather than being provided between adjacent platforms 304′ in the direction of travel of the platforms 304′ along the track, the portion 352 may be arranged between adjacent platforms transverse to the direction of travel (e.g., side-by-side).
Each of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/991,547, filed on Nov. 17, 2004 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/726,830, filed on Dec. 3, 2003, is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.