Amusement devices – Swing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-15
2002-08-27
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices
Swing
C472S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06440002
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This present invention relates to a swing-type amusement ride which has a loading tower for loading the riders high in the air, the loading tower having a 360° safety guardrail and wall to prevent falling, wherein disembarkment is done at the ground surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, there have been a variety of different types of amusement rides and apparatus for simulating the reduction of gravity to a rider. Some of these devices are known to be disclosed in Fitch, U.S. Pat. No. 857,338; Ridgway, U.S. Pat. No. 2,779,596; Ryan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,528; Greenwood, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,120; Kitchen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,906; Kitchen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,223; and Kitchen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,740 (1999).
Furthermore, there have been a variety of playground and backyard swings and swing sets used by children and adults. These swings can vary in height from a small swing standing about three meters high, to a large swing standing about five meters high. A rider of such a swing normally takes a sitting position in a swing seat and starts its pendulum motion from a position in which the swing is vertical, unless aided by a running start, or by a person to help push and enhance the height of the swing arc. While the sitting or standing position on a swing seat is the norm, riders have been known to lie on their stomachs on top of a swing seat and swing in a prone position, but without being secured to the swing.
Even the most skillful and powerful swing rider on a large swing will rarely exceed a 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock position at a height of about seven meters, before gravity overtakes the centrifugal force of the swing, and slack occurs in the swing rope or chain. Should a rider manage to force the swing to make a 360 degree circuit, his or her height would seldom exceed about ten meters from the ground.
The use of external equipment to assist a swing rider to begin his or her ride from an elevated position is taught in Hoppes U.S. Pat. No. 1,731,532; Pruessner U.S. Pat. No. 1,918,559; and Walker U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,870. Each of these references discloses standard playground and backyard type swing systems which have adjacent stairs a person climbs to start swinging from a position above the ground. The rider thereby obtains an immediate swing elevation and experiences an initial speed which is higher and faster than starting to swing from the ground. But, even in these systems the initial height above the ground which the rider experiences would seldom be more than about one to four meters.
Japanese patent no. 36-2475 dated Apr. 1, 1961, to Nogima describes a chair-type swing having a cradle which is pulled to a launch position by a sliding car on rails. However, this device is clumsy in operation and its construction restricts the release height of the chair. Further, the cradle does not spin during operation.
In some swing systems, and especially those designed for small children, and in some amusement rides, bungee jumping equipment, parachute equipment, hang gliding systems, and the like, mechanisms for securing a rider to the equipment is provided. But, none of these systems provide a ride which initiates a rider module release at a height of more than ten meters above the ground. The prior art swing sets have not been large enough, strong enough or high enough to justify the use of a module for riders. Furthermore, prior art swing technology has not been known to operate at heights which allow a rider to reach a height which is greater than about seven to ten meters above the ground, or, other than in a trapeze system, to swing from a “launch” structure towards a “support” structure. It is noted that in trapeze systems, the swings are intentionally “high above the center ring”, and never approach the ground.
Kitchen '906 and Kitchen '223 disclose an amusement ride and swing-type amusement ride which comprise a support structure, a support line, and a launch structure. However, Kitchen '906 support the rider(s) in a harness or an equivalent which causes the rider(s) to operate in the prone position. Some persons cannot handle this prone position for a variety of reasons including fear and physical incapacity. Older or physically challenged riders sometimes cannot handle strapping into a harness in a prone position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,740 (1999) to Kitchen discloses a giant swing ride having a rotating rider module. Rider loading for this ride is preferably done at ground level.
In Kitchen '223 a multi-rider embodiment referred to as the Skysaucer™ can accommodate up to 120 riders in a saucer suspended from a support structure. However, the Kitchen '223 riders are seated in a plurality of rows, and the Skysaucer™ does not rotate about the axis of the support lines.
One giant swing ride is known which loads the riders high atop the launch tower. U.S. Pat. No. 1,220,332 (1917) to Happel discloses a launch tower with stairs for the riders to ascend. A two-person chair is hoisted to the top of the launch tower and locked in place. The riders load into the chair. The operator pulls a release handle to launch the chair. However, a dangerous situation is created high above the ground by exposing the riders to falling straight out the front of the chair during the load operation.
The present invention offers the added thrill of mounting the ride high up in the air (like a bungee jump). Simultaneously the present invention creates a 360° safety partition around the rider during his load procedure into the rider module.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main aspect of the present invention is to provide a rider the thrill of loading onto a support line with a harness or a rider module high in the air, and then be launched into a giant swing trajectory.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a 360° safety partition such as a guardrail around the rider during his load procedure.
It is, therefore, an aspect of the present invention to provide a rider of the subject amusement ride with a sensation of “body flight”.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide the thrills and excitement of bungee jumping, but without the dangers related to the use of rubber or elastic cords, without the possibility of failing to make harness connections to the support line, and without subjecting the body of the rider to the type of stress borne by a bungee jumper, and without the natural fear of a “free fall” plunge associated with bungee jumping.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an amusement ride which can be enjoyed by a single rider secured in a single rider module, or by a plurality of riders who may enjoy the thrill of riding together while secured in a multi-rider module.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an amusement ride which can include a plurality of rider modules to afford simultaneous rides to numerous riders.
Another important aspect of the present invention is to provide a body flight experience for the physically-challenged rider.
Yet a further aspect of the present invention is to furnish an amusement ride which provides smooth, fast acceleration, excitement and thrills, while being a fail safe ride, without the anxiety and trauma related to finding the nerve to jump from an elevated platform in a “free fall” plunge, such as that which is associated with bungee jumping and sky diving.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an amusement ride in which the rider swings back and forth in a pendulum-like motion about a dozen times or more before terminating the ride.
Another aspect of the multi-rider embodiment is to provide a means for safely allowing many riders to enjoy the ride together, thus providing a more secure feeling to each rider than the single rider embodiment.
Another aspect of the multi-rider embodiment is to provide a faster and more elevated ride than the single rider embodiment.
Another aspect of the multi-rider embodiment is to allow more riders to be serviced in a given time than the single rider embodiment, the
Martin Rick
Patent Law Offices of Rick Martin P.C.
Skycoaster, Inc.
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