Method and apparatus for a tilting free-fall amusement ride
First Claim
1. A method for providing a tilting gravitational amusement ride to a passenger, said method comprising:
- positioning a passenger in a passenger support of an amusement ride in a forward facing orientation;
locating said passenger support at a drop position in a pre-fall orientation;
tilting said passenger support, together with said passenger, forward into a falling orientation, said falling orientation being at a predetermined tilt-angle to said pre-fall orientation;
dropping said passenger support, together with said passenger, from said drop position to a lower position while said passenger support and said passenger are in said forward tilted falling orientation thereby providing a thrilling amusement ride to said passenger; and
coupling said passenger support to a carriage at a pivot connection, said pivot connection configured to permit said tilting of said passenger support between said pre-fall orientation and said falling orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method an apparatus for providing a thrilling amusement ride to a passenger stemming predominantly from the inducement of a feeling of dropping through the air and falling from the ride'"'"'s supporting chair. The method includes positioning a passenger in a passenger support or chair of an amusement ride in a forward facing orientation. The passenger support is located at a drop position in a pre-fall orientation. This drop position may be an origination position, or may be a position to which the support is raised. The passenger support, together with the passenger, is tilted forward into a falling orientation which is at a predetermined tilt-angle to the pre-fall orientation. The passenger support, together with the passenger, is dropped from the drop position to a lower position while the passenger support and the passenger are in the forward tilted falling orientation thereby providing a thrilling amusement ride to the passenger.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing a tilting gravitational amusement ride to a passenger, said method comprising:
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positioning a passenger in a passenger support of an amusement ride in a forward facing orientation; locating said passenger support at a drop position in a pre-fall orientation; tilting said passenger support, together with said passenger, forward into a falling orientation, said falling orientation being at a predetermined tilt-angle to said pre-fall orientation; dropping said passenger support, together with said passenger, from said drop position to a lower position while said passenger support and said passenger are in said forward tilted falling orientation thereby providing a thrilling amusement ride to said passenger; and coupling said passenger support to a carriage at a pivot connection, said pivot connection configured to permit said tilting of said passenger support between said pre-fall orientation and said falling orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A tilting gravitational amusement ride for a passenger comprising:
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an elevational tower having at least a portion that is substantially vertically oriented; a carrier engaged upon said elevational tower, said carrier adapted for substantially vertical travel relative to said elevational tower and at least a portion of said carrier'"'"'s travel being through a substantially free-fall phase of travel; and a passenger support coupled to said carrier by a tilting connection, said tilting connection adapted to accommodate limited forward pivotation of said passenger support relative to said carrier so that said passenger support is transformable between a substantially upright pre-fall orientation and a forward tilted falling orientation.
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Specification