Amusement devices – Occupant operated rocking – oscillating – or bouncing device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2003-01-28
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices
Occupant operated rocking, oscillating, or bouncing device
C472S133000, C482S023000, C482S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06511383
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to gymnast anti-gravity bungee-cord suspension apparatus, and more specifically it relates to those types of apparatus employing a specialized ground-anchored structure for supporting a plurality of gymnasts.
2. Relevant Prior-Art
Background research discovery provides some prior patent-art regarded as germane to this disclosure, chronologically for example U.S. Pat. No. 2.221,215(filed: February 1938 ) shows an amusement apparatus employing a central tubular-pylon which serves both as a tall elevator like structure, and as an attractive housing within which a pair of independent polly-cables are routed upward from a motor-driven cable-winch. An operator at the base of the pylon acts to release a catch, thereby suddenly catapulting a paying-rider seated in a catapult-chair vertically via energy stored in a bungy-cord cluster owing to a pretensiohing by the cable-winch. However;--the rider is not free to enjoy a true feeling of anti-gravity floating effect, in as much as the catapult-chair reaches its apogee then vertically oscillates a few times until the initial energy is expended and the rider reaches their equilibrium, then must be lowered to the ground by the operator.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,645(filed: May 1959) is shown a specially configured gimbal like waist-belt apparatus having a series of bungee-cord restraints-anchored to a large annulas having two horizontally opposed pivot-axes each moored to a clevis-joint and a rope strung upwards to a crossbeam in support of the rider. The purpose of the apparatus is an acrobatic training-aid, enabling the user to become hoisted up from the ground-level to a height where they can engage in various disorienting gyrations; as to thereby become more comfortable with the twisting forces attendant to aerial-acrobatics.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,448(filed: January 1990 from France) is shown an improved bungee-cord jumping-rig for jumping-off from a platform such as a bridge or other special structure; and involves a complex arrangement of pulleys and ropes by which to adjust the length of the bungee-cord to match the pretested weight of the rider, so as to assure their not impinging upon the ground below (in as much as a rider of greater weight bill necessarily impose a greater force of inertia, thereby tending to stretch the bungee-cord dangerously close to the ground or river-bed. However, the apparatus is for extraordinarily great jumping heights, and does not contemplate the possibility of interplay with a secondary platform near the ground-level for added inertial gyration activity.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,744(filed: August 1991) is shown a T-shaped tower structure having a spiral-staircase winding (or optional escalator not shown) up its central pylon portion whereby rider participants venture high to the uppermost horizontal bridge-like cantilevering structure, where they are secured into a body-harness (comprising both chest and pelvic webbing) connected to a special resilient cylindrical-bag to which the bungee-cord is directly secured, and thereby proceed to leap from the bridge platform in an exhilarating free-fall rate downward toward an commercial safety-airbag provided as a back-up in the event of a suspension-cord failure. The presence of the resilient-cylinder is said to somewhat dampen the heretofore sudden jerk of the bungee-cord, while also lessening the possibility of the suspension-cord abrading against or otherwise strangling the neck of the rider; in as much as the rider appears to be secured dependent upon the resilient-cylinder (not clearly revealed). in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,241(filed: January 1992) is shown a gymnastic training apparatus for trampolinists, balance-beamists, and free-style skiers, etc.; and features an arrangement of bungy-cord elements secured centrally to a gymnast person wearing a so called Pond type training-belt (waist & pelvic-harness) supporting two horizontally opposed pivot-axes. Once donning the supporting belt-rig, an assistant winches the gymnast well above the floor-level via a pair of pulley-cables coupled to a windless-winch, whereby the gymnast can then deploy themselves into various attitudes of seemingly gravity-free: gyrations. However, there is no provision for a light-weight free-standing suspending structure, nor for interplay with a near floor-level elastomeric inertia enhancing device.
In U.S. Pat No. 5,267,906(filed: August 1992) & 5,527,223(filed: June 1994) is shown a pair of opposed triangulated-steel tower structures, which are formed in a unique obliquely inclined opposition toward one another, (the later iteration reveals a more elaborate inverted U-shaped structure opposing a narrow X-shaped jumping tower), thereby affording a more generous area of activity clearance there between their rigid structures, for non-bungee rope-swinging activity. The notion here is to afford the rider certain sensations of bungee-jumping, yet in a more free-flying like modality of activity.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,783(filed: July 1993) is shown a so called human-slingshot machine, which entails a pair of vertically opposed stanchions which can be assembled in convenient shorter segments whereto the assembled upper terminuses each include a guide-pulley over which is winch drawn a pair of pull-cables which together pre-tension a pair of bungee-cord clusters. Once sufficiently pre-tensioned, a mooring-latch situated at the base of the rider's catapult-seat is released, enabling the opposed tensioned bungee-cords to instantly fling the occupant vertically, where the person oscillates for a few moments until their inertia has become finally dissipated. Again, it sets forth a single-occupant station structure, wherein there is no provision for further interplay with a near ground 5 level elastomeric inducing device.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,866(filed: March 1996) is shown another amusement-thrill apparatus comprising a triad of tall spaced apart vertical-tower structures, the first tower employing an internal vertical lift-cable taking a catapult-chair (with occupant) to the top of the first tower, whilst simultaneously a bungee-cord cluster is being pre-tensioned via servo winches operating from within the broadly opposed second and third suspension-towers. Thus upon release of the holding-latch, the catapult-chair is flung forward in a downward swinging arc, owing to pull of gravity, resulting in very rapid acceleration passing between the two suspension-towers, then gyrating to-and-fro until the inertia has dissipated, whereupon the catapult-chair is lowered to the ground to accommodate the next rider(s). Similarly, in the inventors' subsequent U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,671 (filed: August 1997) is shown a variant arrangement of only two suspension towers, operating in combination with an initial relatively lower guide-track structure which positions the catapult-chair back from the two towers in the desired pre-launch position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,983(filed: March 1997) is shown a smaller-scale aerobic bouncing and stretching exercising-chair, including a steel-pipe supporting-structure on three sides (left, back, & right sides) leaving an open ingress-egress frontal-side; and is particularly intended for handicapped, disabled, and infirm persons, normally lacking in adequate aerobic-exercise dynamics. The user is suspended in the dynamic-seat, with the ability to grip the upper/side-structure as to induce bouncing and swinging gyrations.
Finally, in German Pat's. No. DE-4335452-A1(filed: October 1993) & No. DE-9,317,279-U1(filed: November 1993) by the co-inventor's hereof, is shown a “bungee-cord(rope) over stretching protection device”, which serves various sorts of bungee-cord applications.
Therefore, in full consideration of the preceding patent review, there is determined a need for an improved form of device to which these patents have been largely addressed. The instant inventor hereof believes their newly improved amusement-thrill apparatus, commercially referred to as the Multibay EUROBUNGY-TR
Raidt Alexander
Raidt Peter C.
Leisure Inventions Company
Nguyen Kien T.
LandOfFree
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