Tower amusement ride
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An amusement ride comprising:
- a central tower having a base;
an annular passenger housing surrounding said central tower in which passengers are accommodated;
passenger containment means carried by said annular housing for containing passengers at locations within said passenger housing;
connector means interconnecting said annular passenger housing and said central tower;
drive means operatively connected to said tower for raising and lowering said annular housing along an operational height of said tower in ascending and descending vertical motions while said passengers are contained at said locations within said passenger housing; and
helix guidance means operatively connected between said tower and said annular housing causing said annular housing to rotate relative to said tower as it moves in said vertical motions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An amusement ride is illustrated having an annular passenger housing (A,A'"'"',A",A'"'"'") which surrounds a central tower (B, B'"'"', B") and is driven relative to the tower in vertical, tilting or wobbling, and/or rotary motion by a drive arrangement (12,16,18,42,44,50). Passsenger containment units (30,64,64'"'"') carried on tracks (32) or carriage rings (60,60'"'"') are guided in a prescribed path, depending on the configuration of the annular housing, in response to the resultant motion of the annular housing. A simulated effect of annular housing (A'"'"') riding atop a geyser (F) may be provided to enhance the ride.
27 Citations
57 Claims
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1. An amusement ride comprising:
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a central tower having a base; an annular passenger housing surrounding said central tower in which passengers are accommodated; passenger containment means carried by said annular housing for containing passengers at locations within said passenger housing; connector means interconnecting said annular passenger housing and said central tower; drive means operatively connected to said tower for raising and lowering said annular housing along an operational height of said tower in ascending and descending vertical motions while said passengers are contained at said locations within said passenger housing; and helix guidance means operatively connected between said tower and said annular housing causing said annular housing to rotate relative to said tower as it moves in said vertical motions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An amusement ride comprising:
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a central tower having a base; a continuous annular passenger carrier surrounding said central tower for carrying passengers; a space defined between said annular member and said central tower which permits said annular member to be driven in a wobbling motion relative to said central tower; passenger containment means carried by said annular passenger carrier for containing passengers at locations about said annular passenger carrier; and drive means for moving said annular passenger carrier over an operational height of said tower in vertical movements and for imparting a wobbling motion to said passenger carrier relative to said tower. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An amusement ride comprising:
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a central tower; an annular passenger carrier surrounding said central tower for carrying passengers; movable passenger containment means carried by said annular passenger carrier for movement relative to said annular passenger carrier for containing and carrying passengers; means for attaching said passenger containment means to said annular passenger carrier for relative movement therebetween; guide means for guiding said passenger containment means for movement along a prescribed path relative to said annular passenger carrier in response to movement of said annular passenger carrier; and drive means for imparting a prescribed motion to said annular passenger carrier relative to said tower to impart a resultant movement to said passenger containment means relative to said annular passenger carrier. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An amusement ride comprising:
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a central tower having a base supporting said tower vertically; an annular member surrounding said central tower in a concentric manner; a space defined between said annular member and said central tower which permits said annular member to be suspended from said central tower and driven in a wobbling motion relative to said central tower having at least two degrees of freedom; a carrier ring slidably carried by said annular member; passenger containment means carried by said carrier ring for carrying and containing passengers; and drive means for imparting a prescribed motion to said annular member relative to said central tower to impart a resultant movement to said passenger containment means relative to said annular member. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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51. An amusement ride comprising:
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a central tower having a base; an annular passenger housing surrounding said central tower in which passengers are accommodated; passenger containment means carried by said annular housing for containing passengers at locations within said passenger housing; connector means interconnecting said annular passenger housing and said central tower; drive means operatively connected to said tower annular housing for repeatedly raising and lowering said annular housing along an operational height of said tower in ascending and descending repeated reciprocal vertical motions during said ride while said passengers are contained at said locations within said passenger housing; and rotary means for rotating said annular passenger housing as said annular passenger housing moves in said repeated reciprocating vertical motions. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. An amusement ride comprising:
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a central tower having a base; an annular passenger housing surrounding said central tower in which passengers are accommodated; passenger containment means carried by said annular housing for containing passengers at locations within said passenger housing; connector means interconnecting said annular passenger housing and said central tower; drive means for raising said annular passenger housing along an operational height of said tower in an ascending generally non-rotating vertical motion during said ride while said passengers are contained at said locations within said passenger housing; and rotary means for rapidly rotating said annular passenger housing in rapid rotational motions as said annular passenger housing descends in said vertical motions. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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Specification