Railways – Amusement – Racing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-05-08
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railways
Amusement
Racing
C105S082000, C105S209000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227120
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of amusement rides. More particularly, the present invention relates to dragster-type amusement rides.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The sport of dragster racing typically involves two vehicles racing against each other on two straight, parallel racing tracks. At one end of the track is a designated starting line and at the opposite end of the track is a designated finish line. A winning vehicle is one that reaches the finish line within the shortest time period. The race commences with the vehicles accelerating from a stationary start. During the sudden acceleration of the vehicles from the starting line, the front ends of the dragsters often raise from the ground. The action which results when the front end lifts during acceleration is commonly referred to as a “wheelie”. The rapid acceleration combined with a wheelie makes dragster racing a thrilling experience. Unfortunately, a dragster is an inherently dangerous vehicle during a “wheelie” because the entire front end is lifted off the roadway, making the vehicle unstable, very difficult to control, and a hazard to its occupants and any bystanders.
In a continuing quest to provide thrilling and unique experiences, others have created amusement rides which attempt to simulate the sensation of being in a drag race while eliminating the danger inherent in operating a dragster. None of these rides have been successful in generating an authentic feeling “wheelie.”
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,321, issued to MOSLEY et al. discloses a dragster ride featuring bungee cord acceleration and deceleration structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,514, issued to POWELL et al. discloses a ride simulating a drag race in which each vehicle is accelerated by a linear induction motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,705 to POWELL discloses an electrically powered drag racing ride, including a special effects generator for generating sound, hydraulic shaking, and smoke at appropriate times.
Although each of these patents attempts to simulate the thrill of a real dragster race, none of them discloses a means by which to incorporate the “wheelie” motion into the ride. U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,241 to HOCK discloses a sled for sliding on low friction surfaces, such as snow or ice, provides a mechanism for manually raising the front frame of the sled off the ground, generating a sensation similar to that experienced with a “wheelie”. However, this sensation is created by the rider pushing against a control bar, and is thus expected, and not as thrilling as a wheelie which is automatically generated by acceleration.
Accordingly, the need exists for a dragster-type amusement ride which permits the front end of the vehicle to rise up automatically to generate a wheelie when a predetermined acceleration occurs, without the accompanying hazards of a dragster vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a dragster-type amusement ride that simulates a wheelie automatically during acceleration. An objective of the present invention is to achieve this result at a much lower acceleration than would normally be possible with conventional vehicles. Further objectives of the present invention include creating a vehicle that can provide the same “wheelie” effect independent of the passenger loading conditions.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an amusement ride vehicle for riding along a trackway. The vehicle includes a chassis with a front end and a rear end, a passenger compartment mounted on the chassis for seating at least one passenger, a guidance means for engaging the trackway and for guiding the vehicle along the trackway, a means for accelerating the vehicle in a forward direction along said trackway; and, a means for automatically levelling the chassis (i.e., balancing the chassis about a predetermined center of gravity located at or near the rear end of the chassis) after passengers have been seated in the passenger compartment, so that a natural feeling “wheelie” will be automatically induced when the vehicle is accelerated in a forward direction above some minimal value, such as at least about 0.5 Gs.
In another, more preferred, embodiment the present invention provides an amusement ride simulating a dragster race, including a trackway having a guide rail defining a ride path, and a vehicle for traveling on the trackway, the vehicle including a chassis having a front end and a rear end, a passenger compartment mounted on the chassis for seating at least one passenger, a guide rail engagement means mounted to the vehicle for engaging the guide rail, two drive wheels mounted to a drive axle for rotation, the first drive wheel located at a right rear end of the chassis and the second drive wheel mounted for rotation at a left rear end of the chassis, the drive wheels for propelling the vehicle along the trackway, a motor means mounted to the chassis for rotating the drive wheels about an axis, an automaticlevelling mechanism mounted between the guide rail engagement means and the chassis for raising the front end of the chassis to balance the chassis about a center of gravity located at or near the drive axle to compensate for passenger loading conditions so that wheelies can be generated independent of passenger loading, and without affecting the engagement between the guide rail and the guide rail engagement means. A means for limiting the upward movement of the front end of the chassis during a “wheelie” is also most preferably provided for safety reasons. When the vehicle is accelerated on the trackway to a predetermined level, the front end of the chassis rises up automatically in a natural arc about the axis of the rear wheels until it reaches an uppermost limit. The front end of the chassis will remain at this uppermost limit for so long as the vehicle continues to accelerate above the predetermined minimum value. When the vehicle decelerates below this value, the front end of the chassis will automatically return to its starting position.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3840241 (1974-10-01), Hock
patent: 4540188 (1985-09-01), Mcloche et al.
patent: 4682547 (1987-07-01), Schwarzkopf
patent: 4877223 (1989-10-01), Hackett
patent: 4991514 (1991-02-01), Powell et al.
patent: 5048867 (1991-09-01), Gradert
patent: 5109939 (1992-05-01), Conaway et al.
patent: 5361705 (1994-11-01), Powell
patent: 5522321 (1996-06-01), Mosley et al.
patent: 5551347 (1996-09-01), Gutknecht
patent: 5595121 (1997-01-01), Elliott et al.
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Medlen & Carroll LLP
Morano S. Joseph
Wright Andrew
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