False surface for amusement ride special effect

Abstract

A pair of opposed inflatable bladders form a false floor, ceiling or wall having a seam through which an object support is propelled, deforming the inflatable bladders around the support, thereby giving the appearance that an object mounted on the support above the bladders is self-propelled above the false floor, ceiling or wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of a false surface system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternate configuration of the bladders in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a further alternate configuration of the bladders in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A false surface system for a ride system comprising: a pair of opposed air bladders extending from opposite walls defining a recess, the air bladders each having an edge contacting the other air bladder, the contacting edges forming a seam and the air bladders defining a surface on a ride side of the air bladders, the air bladders being readily deformable along the seam;a carriage provided within the recess for moving within the recess;a support post mounted to the carriage and extending through the seam for movement along the seam, the air bladders deforming about the support post as the post is moved along the seam by the carriage; anda scenery element mounted to the support post for enhancing the ride system for a rider, the scenery element obscuring the support post and seam deformation from a rider in a ride vehicle of the ride system.

2. The false surface system according to claim 1, further comprising a static scenery design applied to the ride side of the air bladders.

3. The false surface system according to claim 1, wherein the surface defined by the air bladders is one of a floor, ceiling and wall.

4. The false surface system according to claim 1, wherein the seam formed by the contacting edges is non-linear.

5. The false surface system according to claim 1, wherein each air bladder has a portion located adjacent the respective one of the opposing walls that is more rigid than the air bladder at the seam.

6. The false surface system according to claim 1, further comprising fan means for inflating the air bladders and maintaining a pre-determined pressure within the air bladders.

7. An effect for an amusement ride comprising: a path for a ride vehicle of the amusement ride;a recess having opposing walls adjacent the path;a pair of air bladders extending across the recess from the opposing walls, the air bladders forming a surface covering the recess and defining a readily deformable seam between the air bladders; andmotion means extending through the seam from the recess for supporting a scenery element on a ride vehicle side of the surface, the motion means for moving along the seam, the seam deforming around the motion means, keeping the recess obscured from riders in the ride vehicle.

8. The effect of claim 7, further comprising a static scenery design applied to the ride vehicle side of the air bladders.

9. The effect of claim 7, wherein the surface defined by the air bladders is one of a floor, ceiling and wall.

10. The effect of claim 7, wherein the seam is non-linear.

11. The effect of claim 7, wherein each air bladder has a portion located adjacent the respective one of the opposing walls that is more rigid than the air bladder at the seam.

12. The effect of claim 7, further comprising fan means for inflating the air bladders and maintaining a pre-determined pressure within the air bladders.