Security arrangement for person transporting systems such as fun-rides

• US 20060017271A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co., KG
• Original Assignee: Maurer Söhne GmbH & Co., KG
• Inventors: Muller, Alfred, Gettert, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0097 Amusement vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0206 Self-supporting restraint systems, e.g. restraining arms, plates or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A security arrangement for passengers in transport systems and fun-rides, more particularly amusement devices such as roller coasters or the like, comprising a holding means (3), with the aid of which the passenger to be secured is prevented from leaving a secured ride position, more particularly a seat (2), the holding means being able to assume at least one open and a plurality of securing positions, the different securing positions of the holding means being associated with at least two secured position ranges, which are detected by a signal producing means (7, 9 and 10) associated with the holding means (3).

Claims

1. A security arrangement for passengers in transport systems and fun-rides, more particularly amusement devices such as roller coasters and the like, comprising a holding means (3), with the aid of which the passenger to be secured is prevented from leaving a secured ride position, more particularly a seat (2), the holding means being able to assume at least one open and a plurality of securing positions,

characterized in that

the different securing positions of the holding means are associated with at least two secured position ranges, which are detected by a signal producing means (7, 9 and 10) associated with the holding means (3).

2. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 1,

characterized in that

a first and a second secured position range is provided, the first secured position range comprising positions of the holding means (3), in the case of which small and/or slim passengers are insufficiently secured, whereas tall and/or fat passengers are sufficiently secured, and in the case of which the second secured position range comprises positions of the holding means (3), in the case of which even short and/or slim passengers are sufficiently secured.

3. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2,

characterized in that

a third secured position range is provided, which comprises securing positions of the holding means (3), which indicate that a passenger, who is too short for the transport system or the fun-ride or a passenger, who requires particular attention of particular measures, is in the secured ride position.

4. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 2 or claim 3,

characterized in that

the first secured position range comprises securing positions of the holding means (3), in the case of which a first distance between a stand-on, sit-on and/or lean-on surface of the ride position (2) and the holding means (3) or components thereof is provided, the second secured position range comprises securing positions of the holding means (3), in the case of which a second distance between a stand-on, sit-on and/or lean-on surface of the ride position (2) and the holding means (3) or components thereof is provided, the first distance being larger than the second distance and more particularly the third secured position range comprises securing position of the holding means (3), in the case of which a third distance between a stand-on, sit-on and/or lean-on surface of the ride position (2) and the holding means (3) or components thereof is provided, such third distance being smaller than the first and second distances.

5. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 2,

characterized in that

in a manner dependent on the position of the holding means (3) a first signal is produced, when the holding means (3) is not in the prescribed operational state and/or produces a second signal, when the holding means is located in the first or in the third secured position range.

6. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 5,

characterized in that

a second signal producing means, associated with the holding means (3), is provided for producing the first signal and the second signal is produced independently by the second signal producing means.

7. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 5,

characterized in that

the first and/or the second signal influences the course of operations of the transport system or of the fun-ride and more particularly halts the transport system and/or the fun-ride and/or prevents start thereof and/or warns the operator optically and/or acoustically using suitable means.

8. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 1,

characterized in that

a plurality of ride positions, and more particularly seat (2) with a holding means (3) and a signal producing means (7, 9 and 10) are provided, each ride position in the system being able to individually halt the transport system or the fun-ride and/or to cause the start to be prevented.

9. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 1,

characterized in that

a control means is provided, which receives the signal of the one or more signal producing means and produces an output signal for the control of the course of operations of the transport system or of the fun-ride, the transport system or the fun-ride being halted more particularly by means of the output signal, when the control means receives a first or a second signal of the one or more signal producing means and/or a warning and indicating signal, which more particularly indicates an insecure ride position.

10. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 1,

characterized in that

the holding means (3) comprises a rotary, pivoting or sliding means (4) by means of which the holding means or components thereof are able to be shifted in relation to a stand-on, sit-on and/or lean-on surface of the ride position (7), the rotary, pivoting or sliding means comprising parts of a signal producing means, which indicate the rotary, pivoting or sliding position in steps or continuously and more particularly in accordance with the secured position ranges.

11. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 10,

characterized in that

the parts for indicating the rotary, pivoting or sliding position comprise at least one boss (7) or inductive proximity switch, which dependent on the rotary, pivoting or sliding comes into engagement with associated circuit means (7, 10 and 11).

12. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 11,

characterized in that

a boss (7) and two circuit means (9 and 10), more particularly probes, are provided for mutual cooperation in order to create two circuit conditions corresponding to two secured position ranges or two bosses (15 and 16) and two circuit means (9 and 10) or one boss (7) and three circuit means (9, 10 and 11) are provided for mutual cooperation in order to create at least three circuit conditions corresponding to three secured position ranges.

13. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 11,

characterized in that

the holding means comprises a rotary device (4), the rotary device comprising a crescent-like rotary element (5), which on rotary movement of the rotary device is turned about an axis so that the bosses (7:

15 and 16) projecting from the rotary element come into contact with the rocker switches (9, 10 and 11).

14. The security arrangement as set forth in claim 1,

characterized in that

an input device is provided, by means of which the transport system or the fun-ride may be freed for further travel.