Boom coaster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288000-A1
Application number	US-201615085898-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A boom coaster includes a passenger vehicle, a track, a bogie coupled to the passenger vehicle and the track and configured to move along the track, and a simulated ride surface positioned above the track and beneath the passenger vehicle. The simulated ride surface is configured to imitate a path of the passenger vehicle, the bogie is coupled to a surface of the passenger vehicle via a leg member extending around the simulated ride surface, and the leg member suspends the passenger vehicle above the simulated surface such that the bogie and the track are blocked from a passenger view perspective of the passenger vehicle.

First claim

1 . A boom coaster, comprising:
a passenger vehicle; a track; a bogie coupled to the passenger vehicle and the track and configured to move along the track; and a simulated ride surface positioned above the track and beneath the passenger vehicle; wherein the simulated ride surface is configured to imitate a path of the passenger vehicle, the bogie is coupled to a surface of the passenger vehicle via a leg member extending around the simulated ride surface, and the leg member suspends the passenger vehicle above the simulated surface such that the bogie and the track are blocked from a passenger view perspective of the passenger vehicle.

2 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , wherein the simulated ride surface is substantially flat region including a face disposed substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the passenger vehicle.

3 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , wherein the simulated ride surface comprises a trough configuration.

4 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , wherein the simulated ride surface comprises a gap, an elevated gap, an obstruction, or a surface transition.

5 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , comprising a carrier coupled to the bogie and the leg member.

6 . The boom coaster of claim 5 , comprising an additional leg member coupled to the carrier and an additional surface of the passenger vehicle.

7 . The boom coaster of claim 5 , comprising an additional leg member coupled to the carrier and the surface of the passenger vehicle.

8 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the passenger vehicle is a lateral side or a bottom side of the passenger vehicle.

9 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , comprising an additional passenger vehicle and an additional leg member, wherein the additional leg member extends around the simulated ride surface to couple the bogie to an additional surface of the additional passenger vehicle.

10 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , wherein the passenger vehicle comprises a wheel configured to spin when in contact with the simulated ride surface, to spin when the passenger vehicle moves along the ride path, or both.

11 . The boom coaster of claim 1 , wherein the passenger vehicle comprises a wheel that does not engage the simulated ride surface and is configured to spin via a motor.

12 . A boom coaster, comprising:
a passenger vehicle; a track; a bogie coupled to the passenger vehicle and the track and configured to move along the track; a simulated ride surface extending along a ride path defined by the track such that the simulated ride surface remains between the passenger vehicle and the track as the passenger vehicle moves along all or portions of the ride path; and a leg member extending around the simulated ride surface and coupling the bogie to the passenger vehicle to enable the passenger vehicle to move along the ride path.

13 . The boom coaster of claim 12 , wherein the leg member is coupled to a surface of the passenger vehicle via a rotational joint.

14 . The boom coaster of claim 13 , wherein the passenger vehicle and the rotational joint are configured to facilitate maintaining an orientation of the passenger vehicle relative to the Earth as the track configuration changes along a ride path.

15 . The boom coaster of claim 13 , wherein the track is offset from the passenger vehicle along an axis transverse to a rotational axis of the rotational joint.

16 . The boom coaster of claim 13 , wherein the rotational joint comprises an axis of rotation that is substantially transverse to gravity.

17 . The boom coaster of claim 13 , wherein the track comprises a drop, a bump, or both.

18 . A boom coaster, comprising:
a passenger vehicle; a first track disposed below the passenger vehicle; a first bogie coupled to the first track and configured to move along the first track; a second track disposed below the passenger vehicle; a second bogie coupled to the second track and configured to move along the second track; a carrier coupled to the first bogie and the second bogie, wherein the carrier is configured to be directed along a ride path by the first bogie and the second bogie; a simulated ride surface extending along a ride path defined by the first and second tracks such that the simulated ride surface remains between the passenger vehicle and the first and second tracks as the passenger vehicle moves along portions of the ride path; and a leg member coupled to the carrier and the passenger vehicle, wherein the leg member is configured to extend around the simulated ride surface and couple to a surface of the passenger vehicle.

19 . The boom coaster of claim 18 , wherein the leg member is a substantially “J”-shaped boom.

20 . The boom coaster of claim 18 , wherein the leg member is coupled to the passenger vehicle via a pivot joint, wherein the pivot joint is configured to provide the passenger vehicle an additional degree of freedom.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Mcveen Keith Michael
• Parr Eric
• Coup Thierry
• Vance Eric A

Classifications

• A63G7/00 Primary

  Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks · CPC title

• A63G21/12 Primary

  with special cars, e.g. horse-shaped · CPC title