BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Learning how to ride a bicycle is always hard for kids. On the other side, teaching how to ride a bicycle is also a headache to their parents. The root problem is the conflicts among power, balance and safety. If the power is from the kid's riding, the bicycle will move very low because kids are commonly not strong, and it will be very hard for the kid to keep balance at the same time. If the power is from the parent's pushing, the kid can be easily confused about the balance, and the speed raises the risk of injury. A good way to keep balance and safety is the kid leaving both his/her feet on the ground, but it will increase the resistance and lower the speed.
This invention can solve these conflicts. If the kid rides the bicycle inside a rotating tube, and controls rotation speed with controllers installed on the bicycle's handlebar, power can be easily gained and controlled. When the tube rotates, riding can be emulated vividly. During the riding, the kid can leave his/her feet on the tube's internal surface, so balance can be kept well, and the kid can increase the speed, try to pull up their feet and learn the handling gradually. If the kid losses the balance and falls off, he or she will stop holding the handles, and the switch on the handle will be triggered, then power will be cut off and brakes will be enabled, and the tube will stop rotating immediately. The result is the kid falls on a static tube, and the risk of injury is minimized.
To make the experience more educational and amusing, a digital projector is installed inside the tube, and a 3D animation synchronized with both the rotation of the tube and the position of the player is projected in front of the player, so a virtual 3D scenario, in which the player feels he or she is riding, can be seen through the 3D glasses worn on the player's face
Besides a bicycle, this invention can also be applied to a tricycle, a 3-wheel glider, a 2-wheel scooter, a skateboard and other rolling toys, to meet demands from kids across ages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is an amusement apparatus, which includes a powered rotating tube, in which a player can ride a rolling toy, for example, a bicycle or a scooter, so the riding is emulated. The player holds hands-on controllers, which control the rotation speed. A multi-functional digital module is installed statically inside the tube. It can sense the player's position, receive control signal from the controllers, play sound and project a 3D animation, which is synchronized with the rotation of the tube and the position of the player, in front of the player, so a virtual 3D scenario is presented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front end of the ride assembly, which is at working status.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the left side of the ride assembly, with the tube partially broken away to show the internal details.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the specially shaped static frame.
FIG. 4 illustrates the specially shaped main bearing.
FIG. 5 illustrates the spoke and spoke pillar cap, which are used to connect the tube and the main bearing.
FIG. 6 illustrates a handlebar, which is also a remote controller of the tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus ride assembly, in which a player can ride a rolling toy, for example, a bicycle.
The tube 101 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can be powered to rotate, so because of gravity, the player 103 on the bicycle 105 can emulate riding inside the tube 101 endlessly without stamping the pedals. The multi-functional digital module 107, hanging on the static frame 301 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, has a fixed position inside the tube 101. It receives rotation speed signal from the axle 305, senses the player 103′s position through its radar sensor and camera, plays sound and projects three dimensional animation 109, which is synchronized with the tube 101′s rotation speed and the player 103′s position, on the internal surface of the tube 101. Through the three dimensional glasses 111, the player 103 can see a three dimensional real-time virtual scenario around him/her, and feel he or she is riding inside the scenario vividly. The tube 101 is supported by the wheels 113 beneath it. The wheels 113 contain brakes, which are controlled by the multi-functional digital module 107.
A static frame 301 is installed by the back side of the tube 101 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A motor 201 is installed on the motor platform 303. The main bearing 401 is installed on the axle 305. A linked metal circle chain 203 is used to connect the motor 201 and the main bearing 401 by circling on both the sprocket 405 on the main bearing 401 and the sprocket on the motor, so the motor 201 can drive the main bearing 401 to rotate. The spokes 501 are used to connect the tube 101 and the main bearing 401. The hook end of a spoke 501 hooks through one of the holes 403 on the main bearing 401, and the screw end of a spoke 501 screws in the spoke pillar cap 503. The spoke pillar caps 503 insert through the holes equally spreaded on the back rim of the tube 101 from outside. After screwing the spoke pillar caps 503 properly, spokes 501 are fastened, and the tube 101 is fixed horizontally. At the same time, the tube 101 can be driven to rotate by the main bearing 401, and by the motor 201 indirectly.
The handlebar 601 illustrated in FIG. 6 is also a remote controller connecting with the multi-functional digital module 107 wirelessly, and it can be installed on multiple kinds of rolling toys, like bicycle, tricycle, 3-wheel glider and 2-wheel scooter. The left handle 603 can be rotated with elastic resistance and send wireless signal to the multi-functional digital module 107. When it's rotated by the player 103 in a small angle and reaches the rotation end, a signal is sent to the multi-functional digital module 107, saying that the motor 201 can be turned on, then the multi-functional digital module 107 connects the motor 201 with power and puts it into ready status. When it's released by the player 103, the elastic force inside it will resume it to its initial position and send a signal to the multi-functional digital module 107, saying that the tube 101 should be stopped, then the multi-functional digital module 107 will cut off the power of the motor 201 and enable the brakes on the wheels 113, then the tube will be stopped immediately. The right handle 605 can also be rotated with elastic resistance and send wireless signal to the multi-functional digital module 107. It constantly sends rotation degree signal to the multi-functional digital module 107. The more this handle 605 is rotated means the faster the player 103 wants. The multi-functional digital module 107 adjusts the power of the motor 201 accordingly, so the rotation speed of the tube 101 is adjusted as well.