Amusement ride for children

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12138558-B2
Application number	US-202117362158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2021
Priority date	Jun 29, 2021
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

The amusement ride for children has an open frame and a swinging passenger carriage suspended from a crossbar carried by two trolleys mounted in parallel tracks on the roof of the open frame. The passenger carriage has an upper platform rotatably mounted on a base platform, rotation of the upper platform being controlled manually by the passenger through rotation of a wheel mounted on a column having an end journaled into a bearing mounted in the base platform. A reversible motor is mounted on the roof frame, the shaft of the motor being connected to the crossbar by a crank and connecting rod to control translational movement of the trolleys, causing the passenger carriage to swing forward and backward. The combination of translational movement and swinging movement of the carriage with rotational movement of the upper platform provides a uniquely thrilling sensation for a child seated on the passenger carriage.

First claim

We claim:

1. An amusement ride for children, comprising:
a frame including a roof frame;
a track structure mounted on the roof frame;
a trolley assembly mounted on the track structure, the trolley assembly including an elongated crossbar having opposing ends;
a drive assembly mounted on the roof frame, the drive assembly including a prime mover having a rotatable shaft, a crank attached to the rotatable shaft, and a connecting rod having a first end pivotally attached to the crank and a second end attached to the crossbar, the prime mover being actuable to push and pull the trolley assembly in reciprocating translational movement in the track structure; and
a passenger carriage suspended from the opposing ends of the crossbar and free to swing back and forth below the roof frame as the trolley assembly reciprocates in the track structure, the passenger carriage having a base platform and a passenger platform adapted for carrying children rotatably mounted above the base platform, the passenger platform being manually rotatable by a passenger while the passenger carriage is swinging to simultaneously induce swinging and rotating sensations in the children being carried in the passenger carriage.

2. The amusement ride according to claim 1 , wherein said prime mover is a motor.

3. The amusement ride according to claim 2 , wherein said motor is reversible.

4. The amusement ride according to claim 2 , wherein said motor is an electric motor.

5. The amusement ride according to claim 2 , wherein said motor is a gas-powered motor.

6. The amusement ride according to claim 1 , wherein:
said frame further comprises a rectangular base frame having four corners and a corner post extending upward from each of the four corners of said base frame respectively, the roof frame being mounted on the corner posts; and
the roof frame comprises:
two parallel end beams; two parallel side rails, the end beams and the side rails defining a rectangular perimeter of the roof frame;
a center joist parallel to the end beams, defining a trolley half and a drive half of the roof frame.

7. The amusement ride according to claim 6 , wherein said track structure comprises two parallel U-shaped channels extending between the center joist and the end beam in the trolley half of said roof frame defining two parallel tracks, said trolley assembly comprising two trolleys, each of the trolleys having a body and at least one wheel, the body being mounted on the at least one wheel, the at least one wheel of each of the trolleys being constrained to translational movement in a corresponding one of the tracks, said crossbar extending through the body of both of the trolleys so that the two trolleys are constrained to translational movement in unison.

8. The amusement ride according to claim 7 , wherein said roof frame further comprises a motor platform mounted in the drive half of said roof frame and a support post extending upward from the motor platform, said prime mover comprising a motor mounted on the motor platform, the motor having a motor shaft rotatable through 360°, the motor shaft being the rotatable shaft of the prime mover, the motor shaft being journaled through the support post, said crank having a first end fixed to the motor shaft for rotation of the crank through 360° and a second end pivotally attached to said connecting rod, whereby rotation of the motor shaft through one 360° cycle pushes and pulls the two trolleys through one cycle of reciprocating translational movement in the two parallel tracks.

9. The amusement ride according to claim 8 , further comprising two elongated links, each of the links having a first end attached to the base platform of said passenger carriage and a second end pivotally attached to a corresponding one of the opposing ends of said crossbar, respectively, in order to suspend said passenger carriage from said trolley assembly and permit swinging movement of said passenger carriage as said trolley assembly engages in reciprocating translational movement.

10. The amusement ride according to claim 9 , wherein said passenger carriage further comprises:
a steering post having an upper end and a lower end, the steering post extending upward from the passenger platform and having a wheel rigidly attached to the upper end, the passenger platform being rigidly attached to the steering post for rotation therewith;
a bearing mounted in the base platform, the lower end of the steering post being rotatably mounted in the bearing; and
at least one ball bearing disposed between the passenger platform and the base platform, whereby an occupant of the passenger carriage may use the wheel at the upper end of the steering post to rotate the passenger platform relative to the base platform.

11. The amusement ride according to claim 10 , wherein said passenger carriage further comprises another bearing having an upper plate attached to said passenger platform and a lower plate attached to said base platform, said at least one ball bearing comprising a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate.

12. The amusement ride according to claim 11 , wherein said passenger carriage further comprises at least one seat mounted on said passenger platform.

13. The amusement ride according to claim 12 , wherein said passenger carriage further comprises at least one annular safety rail mounted on said base platform and at least one annular safety rail mounted on said passenger platform.

Assignees

• Kuwait Univ

Inventors

• Abdullah Abdullah Mohammed
• Alenezi Asmaa Saad
• Alawadhi Ameenah Mohammed
• Alghannam Munira Abdullah
• Almasoud Shaikha Khaled

Classifications

• A63G9/04

  with moving supporting-points · CPC title

• A63G9/02

  with two suspensory axles · CPC title

• A63G27/00

  Russian swings; Great wheels, e.g. Ferris wheels · CPC title

• A63G9/16 Primary

  Driving mechanisms, such as ropes, gear, belt, motor drive · CPC title

• A63G1/38

  with rocking turntables · CPC title