Suspended Occupant Or Article Carriage Type Patents (Class 472/32)
  • Patent number: 8876615
    Abstract: Provided are a driving motor-placement device to be used in rotating playground equipment that is superior in terms of maintenance, and rotating playground equipment. The disclosed playground equipment driving motor-placement device is characterized in that it is provided with a lower stationary component and an upper rotator; the lower stationary component is provided with a stationary plate that can be removed from the playground equipment and a shaft that stands upright on said stationary plate; the upper rotator is configured to be able to rotate around the shaft of said lower stationary component and is provided with a handle support that supports handles that users can grasp, and a driving motor support that supports the driving motor; said driving motor support is provided above the handle support; and a coupling that transmits the rotation of the driving motor to the shaft of the lower stationary component is fixed to the top of said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: BLD Oriental Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 8684852
    Abstract: An angled rotating play device is provided as a cantileveredly merry-go-round supported above the ground from below. A foot platform provides a location for one or more riders feet along a first rotation axis and is angled at an acute angle relative to a vertical axis. The vertical axis may also provide a second rotation axis. At least one of a plurality of supports connect to at least one hand hold above the foot platform whereby the hand hold and/or covers over the hand hold provide a maximum elevation of the device and may help users to shift their weight to self drive the device from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Playcore Wisconsin, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Henry, Kim Blackwood
  • Patent number: 8684853
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a substantially vertical elongated mast and a substantially horizontal elongated boom which is supported by the mast proximate an upper end thereof. The boom can pivot independently about a substantially vertical first axis and a substantially horizontal second axis. The boom has a first end proximate the mast and a distal opposite second end. A gripping element, for gripping by a user of the apparatus while the user is supported thereby, depends from the boom proximate the second end thereof. An elastic biasing member operatively attached to the mast and the boom provides a biasing force to bias the boom toward a rest position and against downward movement of the second end of the mast. The biasing member allows a temporary downward movement of the second end of the boom due to sudden application of weight of a user's body when the user grasps the gripping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Jake M. Peters, Michael K. Peters
  • Patent number: 8388458
    Abstract: A round ride configured to provide lateral flight or movement of the passenger vehicle. The ride includes a vehicle support or boom arm that includes a four-bar linkage with: a base link affixed to the rotating hub; a crank or driver link rotating about a pivotal connection with this base link by a rotary actuator; a vehicle support link pivotally connected at one end to the crank or driver link to move with this link and at a second or outboard end to a coupler that supports the vehicle; and a follower or connector link pivotally connected at its ends to the base link and vehicle support link. As the crank or driver link is rotated, the guest compartment moves along a motion profile defining irregular vertical movement (not simply a preset arc) and providing lateral movement, which changes the ride dynamics including changing vehicle velocity with varying vehicle radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Peyton B. Buhler
  • Patent number: 8313388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an amusement device which comprises a rotating body formed in a disk shape and provided horizontally rotatably, and an upper member disposed at the upper position located at a certain distance from the upper surface of the rotating body. A strut is vertically arranged in the center portion of the upper surface of the rotating body. A plurality of poles are formed in a straight line and disposed with its axis directed in the up-and-down direction. The lower ends of the plurality of poles are fixed on the upper surface of the rotating body, and the upper ends of the plurality of poles are fixed on the lower surface of the upper member. A support mechanism supports the rotating body. A rotation drive mechanism rotates the rotating body horizontally. An air cushion is provided to cover the upper surface of the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: BLD Oriental Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Publication number: 20110244971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an amusement device which comprises a rotating body formed in a disk shape and provided horizontally rotatably, and an upper member disposed at the upper position located at a certain distance from the upper surface of the rotating body. A strut is vertically arranged in the center portion of the upper surface of the rotating body. A plurality of poles are formed in a straight line and disposed with its axis directed in the up-and-down direction. The lower ends of the plurality of poles are fixed on the upper surface of the rotating body, and the upper ends of the plurality of poles are fixed on the lower surface of the upper member. A support mechanism supports the rotating body. A rotation drive mechanism rotates the rotating body horizontally. An air cushion is provided to cover the upper surface of the rotating body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Yasushi OCHI
  • Patent number: 7959513
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an amusement device which comprises a rotating body formed in a disk shape and provided horizontally rotatably; a frame body which is fixedly arranged on the upper surface of the rotating body 10; a partition member which is fastened to the frame body for forming the play area; a plurality of beams which are mounted to the frame body across the play area horizontally; a plurality of floor portions which are supported by the frame body and the beams, and which partition the play area into a plurality of layered spaces; the support mechanism; and the rotation drive mechanism. The support mechanism supports the rotating body. The rotation drive mechanism rotates the rotating body horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Bld Oriental, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 6773016
    Abstract: Game apparatus that enables players themselves to bodily sense a feeling of reality and lively motion, and that enables satisfying curiosity regarding mechanical manipulations. The game apparatus is composed of: a holding section (6) for holding a plurality of grab articles (7); a ride apparatus (10) for players (Y) to board, adapted to be shiftable and/or rotatable; and a fetching device (25) attached onto the ride apparatus (10), for fetching grab articles (7) from the holding section (6) by player (Y) manipulations. By actions that manipulate the fetching device (25), a player (Y) can satisfy curiosity regarding mechanical manipulations, and can enjoy an amusement brimming with appeal. By boarding and traveling with the ride apparatus (10), the players (Y) themselves can bodily sense a feeling of reality and lively motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 6494787
    Abstract: A children's play ride includes an elongated rigid vertical pole having an exterior surface and an elongated tubular housing with an inner surface snugly encircling the pole, the housing being moveable along the pole between an upper position and a lower position. The housing includes a support for a child and co-acting parts on the pole and the housing cause the housing to rotate about the pole only when the housing is moved from the upper position toward the lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Hedstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Bork, Steven Hanson
  • Patent number: 6342013
    Abstract: A child's suspended merry-go-round preferably includes a vertical pole member, a seat member, tension members to attach the seat member to a bearing attached to the vertical pole member, back supports, and a hand wheel on the pole member. A child seated on the seat member suspended from the pole by flexible tension members connected to the pole may be rotated on the merry-go-round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: FF Acquisition Corp.
    Inventor: Robert D. Irelan
  • Patent number: 6328658
    Abstract: An amusement ride is provided which includes a base, stationary elements mounted on said base, assemblies that are movable relative to said stationary elements, cabins that are fastened on said moving assemblies, and units for passengers loading, unloading and servicing that are mounted on said base. At least one of said cabins is designed as a restaurant and/or a bar, and said servicing units contain blocks for food preparation and/or storage. The amusement ride can be designed as a panoramic wheel or any other amusement device equipped with cabins that move under the action of forces applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Vladimir Gnezdilov
  • Patent number: 6319135
    Abstract: A merry-go-round for playground use comprises a rotating shaft mounted to a support shaft. A frame structure including a spin ring and two seats are mounted to the rotating shaft. Seat belts are provided to strap riders (children) into the seats. The support shaft extends into the ground and incorporates an anchoring system which is encased in concrete. A safety barrier is positioned between the spin ring and the seats. The merry-go-round is operated by a person who manually propels the spin ring mounted to the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Alan K. Monson
  • Patent number: 6210284
    Abstract: A cable driven ride includes at least one carriage configured to receive and support an motorized passenger vehicle filled with at least one passenger and move with a cable as the cable is moved between at least one terminal and a tower, the cable extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Oriental Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 5564983
    Abstract: An amusement ride (10) is provided which includes a trailer (12) to make the ride portable. A park ride (10') is also disclosed for permanent installation at an amusement park or similar facility. In the portable ride (10), the tower (14) is moved by a double acting hydraulic cylinder (26) along the trailer from the transport position to a position where it is hingeably mounted to the trailer (12) by a hinge support (32). The double acting hydraulic cylinder (26) is also used to lift the tower to the erected position once the tower assembly is hinged to hinge support 32. In both the portable ride (10) and park ride (10'), the tower includes a lower section (16) and an upper section (18). A hydraulic cylinder lifts the upper section relative to the lower section. Cables (46) extend between a gondola and the lower section and are guided on pulleys over the upper end of the upper section. As the upper section moves vertically, the gondola will move vertically at about twice the velocity of the upper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: Walter F. Larson
  • Patent number: 5376053
    Abstract: A motorized swing for disabled persons and children which provides pendulous reciprocal movement as well as rotational movement. Electric motors drive mechanisms for inducing reciprocal and rotational movement either separately or in combination. Sensory activated switches are electrically connected to said motors to allow handicapped persons and children to control the movement of said swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventors: Patricia D. Ponder, Gaylon D. Ponder