Patent Grant
8795094
This invention relates to an amusement apparatus, and, in particular, to a rotating amusement apparatus comprising a rotary device for enabling the action that a user feels unexpectedly.
Currently, playground apparatus provided with a function with various movement is developed, for example, a ride-on amusement apparatus (hereinafter called the play apparatus) is installed in a supermarket or a department store. The ride-on amusement apparatus is swung or rotated by feeding a coin into the slot, and it is known to include the example disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H07-098782.
As for the playground equipment described in the prior art, the movement is limited to normal rotation or swing, and thus the ride-on amusement apparatus does not work so that a user using the play apparatus is surprised. Playground equipment having such movement usually requires a complicated control needs specialized knowledge and a craftsman-like sense to construct control panels. Therefore, a handling to change connection of the control line is necessary for maintenance such as repair and change, and thus great labor is required. In addition, it is necessary to maintain the playground equipment frequently to secure safety, and therefore the playground equipment cannot be provided with a mechanism required by the complicated control.
On the other hand, there is a lot of demand for playground equipment having unexpected movement. Therefore playground equipment enabling such movement by simple configuration, comprising a mechanism with excellent ability of maintenance such as repair and change, is desired. An object of the present invention, brought about in view of the circumstance described above, is to make available playground equipment performing unexpected movement by simple configuration.
This Invention to achieve the object is a rotating amusement apparatus having a rotary device comprising a drive motor placed on a base, a crank and a rotating plate. The crank is pivotally supported by a rotating shaft rotated by the drive motor. A rotating plate is fixed to the crank and rotates together with the crank. And a playgame member is fixed to the rotating plate of the rotary device, and the playgame member rotates together with the rotating plate, by eccentric rotation.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, when the rotating shaft rotates by the drive motor, the rotating plate will make eccentric rotation (rotating around the position within the specified distance from the center of the rotating plate), by fixing the rotating plate to the rotating shaft of the drive motor via the crank. And, the rotating plate makes the movement that a user does not expect by rotating around the position secured by the crank. The playgame member fixed to the rotary device is preferable in any configuration, and any playgame member can make eccentric rotation and can make further complicated movement. When a slanted rotating plate is used, the distances from the undersurface of the rotating plate to a floor are different, and thus it is preferable to fix a wheel to the rotating plate undersurface via an adjustment member to equate the height to a floor. The height of adjustment member is determined depending on the position where a wheel is placed.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the crank may comprise a support horizontally supporting the rotating plate, and a fixture pivotally supporting the support to the rotating shaft. The rotating plate may be inclined against a horizontal-plane by being pivotally supported to the rotating shaft. Thus, the rotating plate makes eccentric rotation with the inclined condition by being pivotally supported to the rotating shaft, being inclined against a horizontal-plane.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a urethane member and a gum resin function as a shock absorber for playground equipment safety. A gum resin is applied to the urethane surface coated on a part of a playgame member. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a playground equipment portion can be turned more easily by a wheel provided to the rotating plate.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the rotating plate rotates further easily by hanging the rotating plate of the rotary device to a substantially reverse U-shaped frame vertically arranged on the base of the rotary device. Also a regulation means may be placed between the base of the rotary device and the rotating plate, for regulating an auto-rotation of the rotating plate. The rotating plate rotates while rotating on the rotating shaft of drive motor, and thus even if a room to install the rotating amusement apparatus is not wide enough, the rotating amusement apparatus to limit the auto-rotation of the rotating plate may be provided by a regulation means for regulating the auto-rotation of the rotating plate.
The playgame member comprises a support base placed on an upper part of the rotating plate, and comprises a plurality of holding members hung from the support base, which is turned by the rotation of the rotating plate. Also the rotating amusement apparatus comprises a frame placed on a top surface of the rotating plate for forming a game region for a user, partitioned off from the external space, and comprises a floor member comprising one or a plurality of members dividing the game region in the space into at least two spaces. And, the floor member forms a communication portion communicating with spaces vertically adjoining.
The rotating amusement apparatus comprising a swing apparatus placed on the rotating plate may be configured. The swing apparatus is provided with a lower rotating shaft pivotally provided in the lower frame, with a swing member, and with a lower frame. The swing member is fixed to the lower rotating shaft. And, an upper rotating shaft is rotatably provided to the swing member. The swing plate is fixed to the upper rotating shaft. Also the upper frame is fixed to the swing plate, and the upper frame is capable of swinging up and down by a motor.
A swing member is capable of swinging relative to the lower rotating shaft by a swing member being fixed to the lower rotating shaft. Also a swing member is capable of swinging relative to the upper rotating shaft by a swing member being fixed to the upper rotating shaft. Therefore, the upper frame fixed to the swing plate can configure the swing apparatus capable of swinging back and forth and around.
According to the rotating amusement apparatus of the present invention, a rotating plate of the rotating amusement apparatus can make eccentric rotation by attaching a crank to a drive motor, and attaching one end of the crank to the rotating plate. Also by rotating around the position secured by the crank, the rotating amusement apparatus can make complicated swing operation by simple configuration. Therefore, a playground equipment having the movement that user does not expect and having an excellent ability of maintenance can be provided.
Also by the regulation means to connect the base and rotating plate, the auto-rotation of the rotating plate can be regulated, and thus depending on a room installing the playground equipment, movement of the playground equipment can be controlled.
A specified embodiment of a rotary device 100 for rotating a rotating amusement apparatus 200 of this Invention is explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
One end of the crank 112 rotates on a shaft same as the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111, and the other end of crank 112 makes eccentric rotation around the rotating shaft. Of course, a switch (not shown) for operating the drive motor 111 is provided to the rotary device 100. A rotating speed of the drive motor 111 may be configured to be controllable by the switch.
Also an overload protection means (e.g., torque limiter), not illustrated, for protecting the over load of the drive motor 111 may be attached to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111, or to the crank 112.
The playgame member 210 imitating yachts is placed on the upper part of the drive motor 111 as will hereinafter be described. Therefore the weight of a user expecting to play with the rotating amusement apparatus 200 of this Invention is added to the drive motor 111. If the load added to the drive motor 111 is greater than a predetermined value, the overload protection means detects the load, and idles the drive motor 111. Then, a rotating plate 115 (described below) fixed by the crank terminates the autorotation of drive motor 111. The playgame member can be moved rotatable (hand-operated rotation) to the user's desired direction.
As described above, one end of the crank 112 is attached to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111. The rotating plate 115 is attached to the other end of the crank 112. The rotating plate 115 with any shape is used if the playgame member 210 can be attached, and a rotating plate 115 having many kinds of shapes such as rectangular, polygon, circle or the like, can be attached. As in the preferred embodiment (cf.
As shown in
Wheels 130 are put on the lower part of the rotating plate 115. The wheels 130 are put on symmetrically with each other in top-view. In the present embodiment, as shown in
A specified shock absorber is coated to the rotating amusement apparatus 200 of the present invention. A foam such as urethane is coated to the outer frame of the rotating amusement apparatus 200 as this shock absorber. For example, the one side face of the shock absorber of a hollow cylinder is cut, so as to be coatable on the stick face. And the shock absorber having been coated on a part of the rotating amusement apparatus 200 (even all surfaces of the apparatus is preferable and may be the part that it is expected that a user comes in contact with), and, a gum resin having been painted on the surface of the shock absorber, as a result of that a surface of the shock absorber has a water repellency. Of course the side (cut part) of the shock absorber will be closed when gum resin is painted. The shock absorber may be a composition other than urethane, and shock absorber like foams such as polyethylene is preferably used.
A regulation means 140 for regulating the auto-rotation of the rotating plate 115 can be provided. An elastic body (rubber or a spring are preferably used) connecting between the base 110 supporting the drive motor 111 and the rotating plate 115 is used as the regulation means 140. If the regulation means 140 can be configured to regulate auto-rotation of the rotating plate 115, any alignment method thereof is preferable. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, as shown in
If the regulation means 140 can be configured to regulate auto-rotation of the rotating plate 115, any shape for the regulation means 140 is preferable. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a pair of belt-shaped or stick-shaped rubber is formed and is placed to the position as described above.
The auto-rotation of the rotating plate 115 is regulated by composing the regulation means 140 such as rubber, and thus the rotating plate 115 swings while rotating on the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111.
As another configuration of the regulation means 140, one end of rubber formed into a cylinder-shaped or truncated cone is connected to the base 110 and can connect the other end of the rubber to the above rotating plate 121. As shown in
As for the playgame member 210 fixed to the rotary device 100 of the present invention, any shape is preferable. All playgame members 210 such as a jungle gym, the tree (a playground equipment imitating a tree and configured to be able to climb the tree) can be turned with the rotary device 100 besides a yacht and a surfing.
As noted in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment 1, a rotating plate 115 is attached to one end of the crank 112 (the other end is attached to rotating shaft of drive motor 111). In contrast, in preferred embodiment 2, the rotating plate 115 will be attached to one end of the crank 112, with the rotating plate 115 inclined.
As shown in
The support 112a with a part putting the rotating plate 115 inclined against a horizontal-plane is fixed to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111. In the present embodiment, the support 112a is fixed to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111 via a fixture 112b attached on the side of the support 112a, for fixing the inclined support 112a.
The support 112a and the fixture 112b correspond to the crank 112 of the preferred embodiment 1. In supporting the rotating plate 115 at the sides of the support 112a, the support 112a is fixed to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111 while the sides of the support are inclined against a horizontal-plane. Also wheels 130 described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment 1 may be put on lower part of the rotating plate 115. In this embodiment, the rotating plate 115 is inclined against a horizontal-plane, thus the height from the lower parts of the rotating plate 115 to a floor may be varied according to a position of the rotating plate 115. Therefore, it is desirable that the height from the under surface of the rotating plate 115 to the wheel 130 is adjusted by attaching the wheel 130 to the rotating plate 115 via a height adjusting means 131 of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment 1. In the case of the present embodiment, a regulation means 140 for regulating the auto-rotation of the rotating plate 115 may be provided.
Also by applying a gum resin to the surface of a shock absorber coating an exterior frame of the rotating amusement apparatus 200, the shock absorber having a water repellency on its surface can coat the exterior frame.
In the preferred embodiment 1, the playgame base 211 (soleplate) of the playgame member 120 is fixed to the rotating plate 115. In contrast, the rotating plate 115 can be hung from an upper part.
As shown in
The hung member 235 can hang the rotating plate 115 as follows. As shown in
A drive motor 111 described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment 1 is placed under the rotating plate 115. Crank 112 is attached to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111, and the rotating plate 115 is fixed to the other end of the crank 112. Also the base 110 and the rotating plate 115 may be connected by the regulation means 140 described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment 1. In this embodiment, wheels are not necessary.
When the rotating shaft of the drive motor 111 rotates by operation of the drive motor 111, the crank 112 makes eccentric rotation. Also in the present embodiment, the rotating plate 115 connected to the wire rotates when the wire hung by member 235 is swung by a user.
Also by applying a gum resin to the surface of a shock absorber coating an exterior frame of the rotating amusement apparatus 200, the shock absorber having water repellency on its surface can coat the exterior frame. Another configuration of playgame member 210 is shown in
In the present embodiment, when a motor (different from the drive motor 111 provided to the rotary device 100) provided to a hollow portion of the strut 212 formed using a hollow pipe rotates, the strut 212 rotates. Also each end of a plural of the support arms 520 is connected on the top surface of the strut 212. Each support arm 520 is radially arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction from a center axis of the strut 212. A position near one end of each support arm 520 is bundled by a fixing member 523.
The holding members 522 connected to the support arms 520 are placed at specified intervals from the outer peripheral surface of the strut 212. And when the strut 212 rotates (meaning a rotation by operation of the motor in the strut 212), the holding members 522 rotate. For example, holding members 522 are formed in a spherical shape, a ring, or a column shape, and a user can hold onto and hang on an outer peripheral surface of the holding member 522, and an annular inner peripheral surface of the holding member 522.
An air cushion may be placed in the perimeter of the strut 212. Even if a user falls off a holding member 522 by mistake, the air cushion reduce the user's impact, and a user's injures can be prevented effectively. The air cushion can be configured from a seat member having a flexibility. When the air cushion swells as a result of charging of the air by blowers, a hemispherical portion is formed in the center part, and three different-sized annular sections may be formed therearound. A playgame base 211 of the playgame member 210 is placed on the top surface of the rotating plate 115 of the rotary device 100 while the outermost of the annular portion is protruded from the outside.
Another playgame member 210 is shown in
If balloon body 630 can be supported, the balloon support base 610 can be any shape. However in the present embodiment, a plurality of struts 212 are placed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction from the playgame base 211 (as shown in
Another configuration of playgame member 210 is shown in
A beam 720 is placed horizontally to the frame 230, and a floor member 730 is fixed between the adjacent beams. Each floor member 730 comprises a sheet member having a flexibility, and partitions a game region in upper and lower directions into three spaces. In addition, by providing a predetermined number of the communication portions vertically communicating adjoining spaces with each other, the top and middle spaces communicate with each other, and the middle and bottom spaces communicate with each other, so that a user can move within the playgame member 210.
The user can play like in a jungle gym, by moving laterally along the beam, moving laterally over the floor member 730, and moving vertically through the communication portion.
A swing apparatus for swinging the playgame member can be placed on the rotating plate 115.
The lower part frame 900 has a shape extending perpendicularly along two sides of a rectangular frame. A crosspiece 902 capable of supporting after-mentioned lower bearings 910 is connected to the rectangular portion 901 of the lower part frame 900. A pair of lower bearings 910 is placed near both ends of the crosspiece 902 coupled to the rectangular portion 901 of the lower part frame 900. Also a lower shaft 915 (corresponding to the lower rotating shaft) pivotally supported to the lower bearings 910 penetrates through an opening formed on both sides of the upwardly opened swing member 920 having a U-shaped cross-section. The lower shaft 915 is fixed while penetrating the swing member 920.
Therefore, when the lower shaft 915 performs specified angular rotation, swing member 920 swings through an angle corresponding to the rotation.
As described above, furthermore a pair of bearings (upper bearing 921) is placed on the swing member 920 swung by a rotation of the lower shaft 915 pivotally supported by the lower bearings 910. The pair of upper bearings 921 is placed in the longitudinal direction near both ends of the swing member 920 pointed to the orientation substantially orthogonally intersected to the lower shaft 915. A swing plate 925 is fixed to the upper shaft 923 (corresponding to the upper rotating shaft) pivotally supported to the upper bearings 921. Therefore, when the upper shaft 923 performs specified angular rotation, the swing plate 925 swings through the angle corresponding to the rotation. And the swing plate 925 is fixed to the upper frame 950.
Then a swinging motor 940 for swinging the upper frame 950 fixed by the swing plate 925 is fixed. The swinging motor 940 is attached to one end of an extended part 905 of the rectangular portion 901 of the lower part. A rotating plate 115 of rotary device 100 is fit in clearance 946 formed to the extended part 905 of the lower frame 900.
When the swinging motor 940 is active, a swing shaft 945 attached to the swinging motor 940 repeats swinging up and down by attaching a crank mechanism 943 to the rotating shaft of the swinging motor 940. The swing shaft 945 is configured to move up and down the upper frame 950 via the fixing member 947. A pair of swinging motor 940 is provided to the two edges of the two sides extending the lower frame 900, so that when the swing shaft 945 performs a swing up and down by active swinging motor 940, the upper frame 950 swings in response to it. A mechanism which the upper frame 950 moves back and forth and around, can be configured by controlling a rotary (frequency) timing of both swinging motors 940.
A playground equipment making eccentric rotation, while swinging, can be configured, by placing the swing apparatus configured as above to the rotary device 100 described with detailed description of the preferred embodiment 1. The following is a playground equipment comprising upper frame 950 of the swing apparatus. A projection apparatus 960 is attached above the playgame base 211 fixed to the rotating plate. For example, a projection frame 967 in a screen is hung from a circular ring 965 fixed to a plurality of leg sections 960. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, as shown in
The rotating plate 115 is hung from the upper part. The projection apparatus 960 is hung from the higher position (e.g., pedestal 980 shown in
The present invention can make eccentric rotating the playground equipment by attaching a crank mechanism to the rotating shaft of the swinging motor. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a rotating amusement apparatus can do complicated movement so that the rotating plate swings on the rotating shaft of drive motor 111 and so that the rotating plate swings on the position fixed to the crank. Also autorotation of the rotating plate can be stopped by the regulation means. It can make complicated swing operation without the complicated mechanism such as control panels, and a playground equipment with excellent ability of maintenance can be provided. Therefore, the industrial applicability is provided.
The embodiments and implementations that have been disclosed here are illustrative by nature and should not be regarded as limiting. The scope of the invention is defined by its claims rather than the foregoing description, and should be understood to include the features of the claims of the invention and equivalents thereof, in addition to all changes falling within the scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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| 2009-259841 | Nov 2009 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2010/002873 | 4/21/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/22/2012 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011/058668 | 5/19/2011 | WO | A |
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