Patents by Inventor Steven A. Norbury

Steven A. Norbury has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7685945
    Abstract: A drag strip race amusement ride runs on a straight-line track and is propelled to high rates of acceleration over the 150-foot racetrack. The vehicle cab seats nine. Each racer has an individual acceleration pedal. Located on the front windshield and on each side window is an LCD video screen. Audio sounds are also introduced into the cab during the ride. When the signal is given to begin the race, each racer hits his acceleration pedal. A central computer system synchronizes the video, audio, acceleration and deceleration so that the sensory perceptions of sight, sound and feeling of an actual drag strip race are created. A winner is determined by measuring the reaction time of each racer between the signal and the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Steven Norbury
  • Publication number: 20080257196
    Abstract: A drag strip race amusement ride runs on a straight-line track and is propelled to high rates of acceleration over the 150-foot racetrack. The vehicle cab seats nine. Each racer has an individual acceleration pedal. Located on the front windshield and on each side window is an LCD video screen. Audio sounds are also introduced into the cab during the ride. When the signal is given to begin the race, each racer hits his acceleration pedal. A central computer system synchronizes the video, audio, acceleration and deceleration so that the sensory perceptions of sight, sound and feeling of an actual drag strip race are created. A winner is determined by measuring the reaction time of each racer between the signal and the pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Steven Norbury
  • Patent number: 6910972
    Abstract: A real-size simulated drag strip ride is presented which recreates the physical and visual sensations of a drag race. A pair of real-size dragsters are positioned along specified and controlled parallel linear tracks. The occupant is positioned inside the driver's compartment, with a full safety harness securing him in place in an adjustable seat. The invention includes audio sounds of ignition, “burn-out” and acceleration simulating a drag strip race, as well as simulated smoke from the “burn out” portion of the race preparation. Once the simulated light tower signals that the dragster is set to race, each driver of two, side-by-side vehicles pushes the acceleration pedal to accelerate the vehicle through an initial acceleration zone. The dragsters are propelled by use of a pneumatically powered piston attached to a cable located out of sight underneath the vehicle. The race is finished when the cars pass the finish line. Speeds and the winner are displayed on the starting line tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Steven Norbury
  • Publication number: 20040266540
    Abstract: A real-size simulated drag strip ride is presented which recreates the physical and visual sensations of a drag race. A pair of real-size dragsters are positioned along specified and controlled parallel linear tracks. The occupant is positioned inside the driver's compartment, with a full safety harness securing him in place in an adjustable seat. The invention includes audio sounds of ignition, “burn-out” and acceleration simulating a drag strip race, as well as simulated smoke from the “burn out” portion of the race preparation. Once the simulated light tower signals that the dragster is set to race, each driver of two, side-by-side vehicles pushes the acceleration pedal to accelerate the vehicle through an initial acceleration zone. The dragsters are propelled by use of a pneumatically powered piston attached to a cable located out of sight underneath the vehicle. The race is finished when the cars pass the finish line. Speeds and the winner are displayed on the starting line tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Steven Norbury
  • Publication number: 20030140815
    Abstract: A real-size simulated drag strip ride is presented which recreates the physical and visual sensations of a drag race. A real-size dragster is located along a specified and controlled linear track. The rider is positioned inside the driver's compartment, with a specially adjustable safety helmet and full safety harness securing him in place in an adjustable seat. Once the simulated light tower signals that the dragster is set to race, each driver of two, side-by-side vehicles, may push the acceleration pedal to accelerate the vehicle through an initial acceleration zone. The dragsters are propelled by use of a linear induction motor and fin located out of sight underneath the vehicle. The race is finished when the cars pass the finish line. Speeds and the winner are displayed on the starting line tower. The cars are then returned to the loading and unloading area for the next riders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Steven A. Norbury
  • Patent number: 5636902
    Abstract: An attachable dumping device is presented which allows for dumping rock, sand, or other materials from a pick-up truck. The device has three main parts, a bin which is attached to a bin frame which in turn is attached to a bottom frame. The bottom frame is bolted to the truck bed and pivots near the tailgate portion of the truck. The bin and bin frame are attached to the bottom frame by means of rollers. The device has a tailgate and latch for loading and unloading the material. In use, one simply opens the tailgate and causes the bin to move along the rollers until the bin is approximately one-half of the way out of the bed of the truck. The bed frame then rotates about its pivot point and the entire device is tilted to dump the material onto the ground. In repositioning the device, the bin is pushed forward until the entire device pivots back to a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Steven A. Norbury
  • Patent number: D507803
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Steven A. Norbury
  • Patent number: D603476
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Inventor: Steven Norbury