WHEELCHAIR RAMP FOR A RIDE VEHICLE

• US 20100066111A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Flueck, Charles Albert, Fritsche, Joel L., Hilsen, Don Robert, Wolf, William Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/1.70
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/061 using ramps
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/00 Roundabouts
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 27/00 Russian swings; Great wheels, e.g. Ferris wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks

Abstract

A curved wheelchair ramp for ride vehicles of an amusement park attraction, ride, or other environment is provided. In one embodiment, the wheelchair ramp is maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the wheelchair ramp may form a door to the ride vehicle. In the extended position, the wheelchair ramp extends, in a curve, between an access opening of the ride vehicle to a station platform. In various embodiments, the ramp may have a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The segments may fold together or may nest together.

Claims

1. A wheelchair accessible ride vehicle accessible from a station platform, said ride vehicle comprising:

a main body having a user access opening;

a wheelchair ramp operably associated with said main body, said ramp having a length and including a lateral displacement extending at least partially from one end of said length to an opposite end of said length, and extending from adjacent the user access opening to the station platform.

2. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein said lateral displacement is a curve along at least a portion of said length of said ramp.

3. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 2, wherein the curvature is in three dimensions.

4. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the main body has a direction of movement, and the user access opening is at a portion of the ride vehicle opposite the direction of movement.

5. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the main body rotates laterally approximately 45°

relative to the station platform for extension of the wheelchair ramp to the station platform.

6. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wheelchair ramp is maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position.

7. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 6, wherein in the retracted position the ramp forms at least a partial closure to the access opening in the main body.

8. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 6, wherein the wheelchair ramp comprises a first segment and a second segment that move relative to one another to maneuver between the retracted position and the extended position.

9. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 8, wherein a curvature of the first segment and a curvature of the second segment are substantially the same.

10. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a hinge between the first segment and the main body adjacent the access; and

an intermediate hinge between the first segment and the second segment.

11. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 6, wherein the wheelchair ramp comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment that move relative to one another to maneuver between the retracted position and the extended position.

12. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

a hinge between the first segment and the main body adjacent the access; and

an intermediate hinge between the first segment and the second segment and wherein the third segment selectively nests with the second segment.

13. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wheelchair ramp extends vertically from the user access opening to the station platform.

14. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wheelchair ramp extends horizontally from adjacent the user access opening to the station platform.

15. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wheelchair ramp includes at least a first segment, a recess is formed within a bottom portion of said main body, and said ramp may be received in said recess.

16. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 15, wherein the wheelchair ramp comprises a first segment and a second segment wherein the second segment nests with the first segment, and wherein the nested segments may be removably stowed in the recess.

17. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 15, wherein the wheelchair ramp comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein the third segment nests with the second segment and the second segment nests with the first segment, and wherein the nested segments may be removably stowed in the recess.

18. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 15, wherein the ride vehicle rotates approximately 90°

towards the station platform for extension of the wheelchair ramp to the station platform.

19. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a companion seat.

20. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to rotate between a ride direction and a boarding direction.

21. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 1, wherein said wheelchair accessible ride vehicle is one of a plurality of ride vehicles movable on a track;

at least a second ride vehicle is positioned on said track adjacent said wheelchair accessible ride vehicle, said at least second ride vehicle including a main body defining a width relative to said track;

said main body of the wheelchair accessible ride vehicle having a width relative to said track; and

wherein said extension of said width of said main body of the wheelchair accessible ride vehicle toward said platform does not substantially surpass the extension toward the platform of the width of the main body of the at least second ride vehicle.

22. The wheelchair accessible ride vehicle of claim 21, wherein the main body of said the wheelchair accessible vehicle has a body shape asymmetrical relative to said track.

23. A wheelchair ramp for a ride vehicle, the wheelchair ramp comprising:

a first segment and a second segment relatively maneuverable between a retracted position and an extended position; and

wherein in the extended position the ramp has a lateral curve, and in the retracted position the wheelchair ramp forms at least a partial door for the vehicle.

24. The wheelchair ramp of claim 23, wherein a curvature of the first segment and a curvature of the second segment are substantially the same.

25. The wheelchair ramp of claim 24, further comprising a hinge adjacent the location where the wheelchair ramp engages the ride vehicle, and an intermediate hinge between the first segment and the second segment.

26. The wheelchair ramp of claim 25, further comprising a third segment.

27. The wheelchair ramp of claim 26, wherein a curvature of the first segment, a curvature of the second segment, and a curvature of the third segment are the same.

28. The wheelchair ramp of claim 26, further comprising:

a hinge adjacent the location where the wheelchair ramp engages the ride vehicle;

an intermediate hinge between the first segment and the second segment; and

wherein the third segment nests with the second segment.

29. A wheelchair ramp for a vehicle, the wheelchair ramp having a curvature, wherein the wheelchair ramp comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein the third segment nests with the second segment and the second segment nests with the first segment, and wherein the wheelchair ramp may be stowed in a recess of the vehicle.

30. The wheelchair ramp of claim 29, wherein the first segment, second segment, and third segment pivot about a pivot point.

31. The wheelchair ramp of claim 30, wherein the pivot point is the nexus of the first segment, second segment, and third segments.

32. The wheelchair ramp of claim 30, wherein the pivot point is a virtual pivot point.