Amusement park with rides conveying park-goers in their own motor vehicles

• US 6,162,127 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oriental Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Tokai Carbon (Dalian) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Oriental Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Tokai Carbon (Dalian) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ochi, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,030
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 472/13, 472/29, 472/30, 472/35, 472/40, 472/41, 472/43, 472/28, 472/36, 104/53, 104/77, 104/78
• US Class Current: 472/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/10 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/26 with seats moving with a planetary motion in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/28 with centrifugally-swingable suspended seats
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/20 Slideways with movably suspended cars, or with cars moving on ropes, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 27/00 Russian swings; Great wheels, e.g. Ferris wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 9/00 Swings

Abstract

An amusement park includes a plurality of rides, each ride being provided with car support mechanisms. Each car support mechanism is configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle filled with at least one passenger.

Claims

1. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride for conveying park-goers along a course in the park-goers'"'"' own motor vehicles, said amusement ride including a plurality of motor vehicle support mechanisms configured according to dynamics of the ride course to releasably receive a motor vehicle and to secure the motor vehicle in safety throughout the ride course, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism includes a front and a rear gate configured to secure a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism against moving with respect thereto.

2. The amusement park as set forth in claim 1, wherein said amusement ride is a roller coaster.

3. The amusement park as set forth in claim 1, wherein said amusement ride is an adventure theater.

4. The amusement park as set forth in claim 3, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism includes a mechanism for restraining retraining movement of the tires of a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism.

5. The amusement park as set forth in claim 1, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

6. The amusement park as set forth in claim 1, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

7. The amusement park as set forth in claim 1, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

8. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride for conveying park-goers along a course in the park-goers'"'"' own motor vehicles, said amusement ride including a plurality of motor vehicle support mechanisms configured according to dynamics of the ride course to releasably receive a motor vehicle and to secure the motor vehicle in safety throughout the ride course, wherein each of said motor vehicle support mechanisms includes a platform and front and rear gates supported on said platform, said front and rear gates being configured to secure to said platform a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism against moving with respect to said motor vehicle support mechanism, said platform being further provided with a plurality of rollers selectively brakable against rolling.

9. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride for conveying park-goers along a course in the park-goers'"'"' own motor vehicles, said amusement ride including a plurality of motor vehicle support mechanisms configured according to dynamics of the ride course to releasably receive a motor vehicle and to secure the motor vehicle in safety throughout the ride course, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism comprises;

a generally flat platform upon which motor vehicle is positionable;

at least two generally upright sides extending from said platform; and

at least one inflatable bag fixed to at least one of said upright sides, said inflatable bag being configured for upon inflation abutting against and securing a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism.

10. The amusement park as set forth in claim 9, said motor vehicle support mechanism further comprising a gate mounted to said platform, said gate including a second inflatable bag, said second inflatable bag being configured for upon inflation abutting against and securing a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism.

11. The amusement park as set forth in claim 10, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism includes means for supporting said platform on an underside thereof for use on said amusement ride, said amusement ride being configured with tracks for receiving said support means.

12. The amusement park as set forth in claim 10, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism includes means for supporting said platform on an upper side thereof for use on said amusement ride, said amusement ride including means for lifting said platform from the upper side thereof.

13. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride for conveying park-goers along a course in the park-goers'"'"' own motor vehicles, said amusement ride including a plurality of motor vehicle support mechanisms configured according to dynamics of the ride course to releasably receive a motor vehicle and to secure the motor vehicle in safety throughout the ride course, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism comprises;

a generally flat platform upon which motor vehicle is positionable;

at least one first inflatable bag fixed to said platform, said first inflatable bag being configured for upon inflation abutting against and securing to said platform a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism by preventing wheels of the motor vehicle from rotating.

14. The amusement park as set forth in claim 13, wherein said car support mechanism further comprises:

a second inflatable bag fixed to said platform proximate a rearward side of a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism, wherein said first inflatable bag is positioned to be proximate a forward side of the motor vehicle.

15. The amusement park as set forth in claim 14, wherein said motor vehicle support mechanism further comprises a means for abutting on an upper surface of a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism for restraining upward movement of the motor vehicle.

16. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride for conveying park-goers along a course in the park-goers'"'"' own motor vehicles, said amusement ride including a plurality of motor vehicle support mechanisms configured according to dynamics of the ride course to releasably receive a motor vehicle and to secure the motor vehicle in safety throughout the ride course, wherein each of said motor vehicle support mechanisms further comprises a means for abutting on an upper surface of a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism for restraining upward movement of the motor vehicle with respect to the motor vehicle support mechanism.

17. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride, said amusement ride including a plurality of a car support mechanisms, each of said car support mechanisms being configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle with passengers inside and said amusement ride is configured to move said plurality of car support mechanisms; and

wherein said car support mechanism includes a front and a rear gate configured for securing the automotive vehicle thus preventing movement of the automotive vehicle with respect to said car supporting mechanism.

18. The amusement park as set forth in claim 17, wherein said amusement ride is an adventure theater.

19. The amusement park as set forth in claim 17, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

20. The amusement park as set forth in claim 17, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

21. The amusement park as set forth in claim 17, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

22. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride, said amusement ride including a plurality of a car support mechanisms, wherein each of said car support mechanisms is configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle with passengers inside and said amusement ride is configured to move said plurality of car support mechanisms; and

wherein said car support mechanism includes a mechanism for retraining movement of the tires of the automotive vehicle.

23. The amusement park as set forth in claim 22, wherein said amusement ride is an adventure theater.

24. The amusement park as set forth in claim 22, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

25. The amusement park as set forth in claim 22, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

26. The amusement park as set forth in claim 22, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

27. An amusement park, comprising:

at least one amusement ride, said amusement ride including a plurality of a car support mechanisms, each of said car support mechanisms being configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle with passengers inside and said amusement ride is configured to move said plurality of car support mechanisms in said amusement ride; and

wherein each of said car support mechanisms includes a platform and front and rear gates supported on said platform, said front and rear gates being configured to secure the automotive vehicle to said platform thus preventing movement of the automotive vehicle with respect to the car supporting mechanism, and said platform being further provided with a plurality of rollers which may be selectively braked against rolling movement.

28. The amusement park as set forth in claim 27, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

29. The amusement park as set forth in claim 27, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

30. The amusement park as set forth in claim 27, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

31. An amusement park, comprising:

at least one amusement ride, said amusement ride including a plurality of a car support mechanisms, wherein each of said car support mechanisms is configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle with passengers inside and said amusement ride is configured to move said plurality of car support mechanisms;

wherein said car support mechanism comprises;

a generally flat platform upon which an automobile is positionable;

at least two generally upright sides extending from said platform; and

at least one inflatable bag being fixed to at least one of said upright sides, upon inflation, said inflatable bag being configured to engage and secure the automotive vehicle on said platform.

32. The amusement park as set forth in claim 31, said car supporting mechanism further comprising a gate mounted to said platform, said gate including a second inflatable bag.

33. The amusement park as set forth in claim 32, wherein said car support mechanism includes means for supporting said platform on an underside thereof for use on said amusement ride, said amusement ride being configured with tracks for receiving said support means.

34. The amusement park as set forth in claim 32, wherein said car support mechanism includes means for supporting said platform on an upperside thereof for use on said amusement ride, said amusement ride including means for lifting said platform from an upper side thereof.

35. The amusement park as set forth in claim 31, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

36. The amusement park as set forth in claim 31, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

37. The amusement park as set forth in claim 31, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

38. An amusement park, comprising:

at least one amusement ride, said amusement ride including a plurality of a car support mechanisms, wherein each of said car support mechanisms is configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle with passengers inside and said amusement ride is configured to move said plurality of car support mechanisms;

wherein said car support mechanism comprises;

a generally flat platform upon which an automobile is positionable;

at least one first inflatable bag being fixed to said platform, said first inflatable bag being configured to engage and secure the automotive vehicle on said platform by preventing wheels of the automotive vehicle from rotating.

39. The amusement park as set forth in claim 38, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

40. The amusement park as set forth in claim 38, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

41. The amusement park as set forth in claim 38, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

42. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride for conveying park-goers along a course in the park-goers'"'"' own motor vehicles, said amusement ride including a plurality of motor vehicle support mechanisms configured according to dynamics of the ride course to releasably receive a motor vehicle and to secure the motor vehicle in safety throughout the ride course;

wherein each of said car support mechanisms comprises;

a platform; and

inflatable bags fitted to said platform to be proximate sides of a motor vehicle received on said motor vehicle support mechanism for securing the motor vehicle in position on said platform.

43. The amusement park as set forth in claim 42, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

44. The amusement park as set forth in claim 42, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

45. The amusement park as set forth in claim 42, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.

46. An amusement park comprising:

at least one amusement ride, said amusement ride including a plurality of a car support mechanisms, wherein each of said car support mechanisms is configured to receive and support an automotive vehicle with passengers inside and said amusement ride is configured to move said plurality of car support mechanisms;

wherein each of said car support mechanisms further comprises a means for contacting an upper surface of the automotive vehicle for restraining upward movement of the automotive vehicle with respect to the car support mechanism.

47. The amusement park as set forth in claim 46, wherein said amusement ride is a roller coaster.

48. The amusement park as set forth in claim 46, wherein said amusement ride is an adventure theater.

49. The amusement park as set forth in claim 46, wherein said amusement ride is a saucer tea cup ride.

50. The amusement park as set forth in claim 46, wherein said amusement ride is a swing ride.

51. The amusement park as set forth in claim 46, wherein said amusement ride is a Ferris wheel.