Drift racer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10335696-B2
Application number	US-201615152419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 12, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A ride assembly includes a passenger vehicle having front wheels, rear wheels, a motor, and a steering wheel, where the front and rear wheels are disposed on a surface, the motor is configured to provide power to the front wheels to propel the passenger vehicle, and the steering wheel is configured to adjust a position of the rear wheels and enable the passenger vehicle to drift, a track forming a trough in the surface, and a bogie hingedly coupled to the passenger vehicle, where the bogie is disposed in the trough, and where the bogie is configured to direct movement of the passenger vehicle along the track.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ride assembly, comprising:
a passenger vehicle comprising front wheels, rear wheels, a motor, and a steering wheel;
wherein the front and rear wheels are disposed on a surface;
wherein the motor is configured to provide power to the front wheels to propel the passenger vehicle; and
wherein the steering wheel is configured to adjust a position of the rear wheels and enable the passenger vehicle to drift;

a track forming a trough in the surface; and
a bogie hingedly coupled to the passenger vehicle to enable the passenger vehicle to drift, wherein the bogie is disposed in the trough, and wherein the bogie is configured to direct movement of the passenger vehicle along the track.

2. The ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises concrete or asphalt.

3. The ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trough comprises a drain configured to prevent water accumulation in the trough.

4. The ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passenger vehicle comprises a receiver, the surface comprises one or more emitters, and the receiver is configured to detect an emitter of the one or more emitters when the passenger vehicle is positioned above the emitter.

5. The ride assembly of claim 4 , wherein a passenger control feature is activated when the receiver detects the emitter.

6. The ride assembly of claim 5 , wherein the passenger control feature is configured to bounce the passenger vehicle in a vertical direction with respect to the surface when activated.

7. The ride assembly of claim 5 , wherein the passenger control feature is configured to accelerate movement of the passenger vehicle when activated.

8. The ride assembly of claim 1 , comprising a slot filler coupled to the bogie and disposed in the trough, wherein the slot filler is aligned with a travel path of the rear wheels and is configured to be substantially flush with the surface.

9. The ride assembly of claim 1 wherein the passenger vehicle comprises a stop mechanism configured to block the passenger vehicle from drifting beyond a predetermined distance.

10. The ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor is electric and configured to receive power from a brush in contact with an electric power strip disposed in the trough.

11. A ride assembly, comprising:
a passenger vehicle comprising front wheels, rear wheels, an electric motor, and a steering system;
wherein the front and rear wheels are disposed on a surface;
wherein the electric motor is configured to provide power to the front wheels to propel the passenger vehicle and to provide power to the steering system; and
wherein the steering system is configured to utilize the power from the electric motor to adjust a position of the passenger vehicle, such that the passenger vehicle may drift, and wherein the steering system is configured to block the passenger vehicle from drifting beyond a predetermined distance;

a track forming a trough in the surface; and
a bogie hingedly coupled to the passenger vehicle to enable the passenger vehicle to drift, wherein the bogies is disposed in the trough, and wherein the bogie is configured to direct movement of the passenger vehicle along the track.

12. The ride assembly of claim 11 , wherein the steering system comprises an Ackermann steering system.

13. The ride assembly of claim 11 , wherein the steering system comprises a gear and a threaded rod coupled to the passenger vehicle, wherein the gear is configured to rotate such that the threaded rod adjusts the position of the passenger vehicle with respect to the track.

14. The ride assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bogie comprises one or more up-stop wheels configured to contact the surface, one or more side guide wheels configured to contact a side of the trough, or a combination thereof.

15. The ride assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bogie is coupled to one or more guide tracks, and wherein the bogie comprises one or more wheels configured to move along the one or more guide tracks.

16. The ride assembly of claim 11 , wherein the passenger vehicle comprises a receiver, the surface comprises one or more emitters, and the receiver is configured to detect an emitter of the one or more emitters when the passenger vehicle is positioned above the emitter.

17. A ride assembly, comprising:
a passenger vehicle comprising front wheels, rear wheels, a steering system, and a receiver;
wherein the front and rear wheels are disposed on a surface;
wherein the steering system is configured to adjust a position of the passenger vehicle enabling the passenger vehicle to drift and to block the passenger vehicle from drifting beyond a predetermined distance; and
wherein the receiver is configured to detect an emitter disposed on the surface when the passenger vehicle is positioned above the emitter;

a track forming a trough in the surface; and
a bogie hingedly coupled to the passenger vehicle to enable the passenger vehicle to drift, wherein the bogie is disposed in the trough, and wherein the bogie is configured to move the passenger vehicle along the track.

18. The ride assembly of claim 17 , wherein the passenger vehicle comprises a controller coupled to the receiver, and wherein the controller is configured to activate a passenger control feature when the receiver detects the emitter.

19. The ride assembly of claim 18 , wherein the passenger control feature is configured to bounce the passenger vehicle in a vertical direction with respect to the surface when activated.

20. The ride assembly of claim 18 , wherein the passenger control feature is configured to accelerate movement of the passenger vehicle when activated.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Mcveen Keith Michael
• Vance Eric A

Classifications

• A63G25/00 Primary

  Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor · CPC title

• A63G33/00 Primary

  Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B61B13/00

  Other railway systems · CPC title

• B61C3/00

  Electric locomotives or railcars (characterised by power transmission B61C9/00; electrical features B60L; H02) · CPC title

• A63G21/06 Primary

  with passing arrangements for cars · CPC title