Rotating disc amusement ride

• US 4,971,314 A
• Filed: 08/25/1989
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry L. Barber
• Original Assignee: Jerry L. Barber
• Inventors: Barber, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/356,870
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 272/32, 272/35, 104/58, 104/59, 104/69, 104/70, 104/73, 104/86
• US Class Current: 472/28
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor

Abstract

The subject matter of the disclosure is an amusement ride system having one or more passenger-carrying cars adapted for movement on an air flotation, rotating platform arranged at an angle to the horizontal plane. The cars are brought to the top side of the angled platform and allowed to free fall under gravity to the lower side of the platform. As the cars so descend, they bump into other cars and railings so that they experience random movement and rotation. Another embodiment utilizes roller ball devices instead of air flotation for providing free wheeling, random motion to the cars.

Claims

1. An amusement ride system comprising

a rotatable platform positioned in an operating plane at an angle to the horizontal plane,

means for rotating said platform in said operating plane,

said platform being formed with a plurality of openings to permit the passage of pressurized fluid therethrough,

a plurality of amusement cars adapted for freely resting upon said platform, and

means for directing pressurized fluid to said openings from below said operating plane to reduce the frictional engagement of said cars relative to said platform sufficiently to permit free, random movement of said cars from the higher side of said platform to the lower side thereof during rotation of the same.

2. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 1 including a circular car bumper railing surrounding said platform against which said cars bump during rotation of said platform.

3. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 1 including means for directing one or more cars toward said higher side of said platform.

4. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 1 including a fixed circular car bumper railing surrounding said platform against which two or more cars bump to cause opposite rotation thereof and self-locking when in contact thereby effecting movement of the cars toward said higher side.

5. An amusement ride mechanism comprising an air flotation system having a rotatable platform arranged at an angle to define an upper side and a lower side,

at least one amusement car adapted for freely resting upon said platform under the influence of the air flotation system and

means for moving said car to said upper side to permit free movement of the same car from the upper side of said platform to the lower side thereof during rotation of said platform.

6. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 5 including a circular car bumper railing surrounding said platform against which said cars bump during rotation of said platform.

7. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for moving said car is a car bumping railing movable with said platform.

8. An amusement ride mechanism comprising an air flotation system having a platform arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal plane to define an upper side and a lower side,

at least one amusement car adapted for freely riding upon said platform under the influence of the air flotation system,

said car being adapted for free movement from the upper end of said platform to the lower side thereof during the presence of air flotation pressure relative to said platform.

9. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 8 wherein said air flotation system includes holes in said platform which diminish in size as the holes approach said lower side thereby serving to slow the car as the same approaches said lower side.

10. An amusement ride mechanism comprising a ride platform arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal plane to define an upper side and a lower side,

at least one amusement car adapted for resting upon said platform,

means operatively associated with said at least one amusement car for permitting the free and unguided motion upon inclination of said platform,

said car being adapted for free and unguided movement from the upper end of said platform to the lower side thereof resulting from said inclination.

11. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 10 wherein said platform is rotatable.

12. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 11 including a circular car bumper railing surrounding said platform against which said cars bump during rotation of said platform.

13. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 11 including means for directing one or more cars toward said higher side of said platform.

14. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 10 wherein said platform is fixed and inclined relative to the horizontal plane.

15. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 10 wherein said operatively associated means is a plurality of roller ball devices mounted on said at least one amusement car and adapted to support said car upon said ride platform.

16. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 15 wherein said platform is rotatable.

17. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 15 including means for directing one or more cars toward said higher side of said platform.

18. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 17 including at least one car bumper railing being arranged radially from said circular railing and being rotatably movable with said platform for moving one or more cars from one side of the platform to the other.

19. The amusement ride system as defined in claim 15 including a fixed circular car bumper railing surrounding said platform against which two or more cars bump to cause opposite rotation thereof and self-locking when in contact thereby effecting movement of the cars toward said higher side.

20. An amusement ride system comprising

a rotatable platform positioned in an operating plane at an angle to the horizontal plane,

means for rotating said platform in said operating plane,

said platform being formed with a plurality of openings to permit the passage of pressurized fluid therethrough,

a plurality of amusement cars adapted for freely resting upon said platform,

means for directing pressurized fluid to said openings from below said operating plane to reduce the frictional engagement of said cars relative to said platform sufficiently to permit free movement of said cars from the higher side of said platform to the lower side thereof during rotation of the same,

a circular car bumber railing surrounding said platform against which said cars bump during rotation of said platform, and

at least one car bumper railing being arranged radially from said circular railing and being rotatably moveable with said platform for moving one or more cars from one side of the platform to the other.

21. An amusement ride mechanism comprising a ride platform arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal plane to define an upper side and a lower side,

at least one amusement car adapted for resting upon said platform,

means operatively associated with said at least one amusement car for permitting the free motion upon inclination of said platform,

said car being adapted for free movement from the upper end of said platform to the lower side thereof resulting from said inclination, said system having an air flotation system including holes formed in said platform, and

means for directing pressurized fluid to said openings from below said operating plane to reduce the frictional engagement of said cars relative to said platform sufficiently to permit free movement of said cars from the higher side of said platform to the lower side thereof.

22. An amusement ride mechanism comprising a rotatable ride platform arranged at an angle relative to the horizontal plane to define an upper side and a lower side,

at least one amusement car adapted for resting upon said platform,

means operatively associated with said at least one amusement car for permitting the free motion upon inclination of said platform,

said car being adapted for free movement from the upper end of said platform to the lower side thereof resulting from said inclination, said system including at least one car bumper railing being arranged radially from said circular railing and being rotatably movable with said platform for moving one or more cars from one side of the platform to the other.