Patents by Inventor Alberto Zamperla

Alberto Zamperla 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).

  • Publication number: 20230045857
    Abstract: A seat (1) for amusement rides comprising a seat portion (2) and a backrest (3) to accommodate at least one passenger, and in particular a disabled passenger, is described, characterized by comprising at least one footboard (11) and/or at least one leg rest element (12) configured in use to provide support respectively for at least one foot and at least one leg of the passenger. Preferably the seat comprises restraining means (20) configured to secure the foot and/or leg of said passenger to said at least one footboard (11) and/or to at least one leg rest element (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Alberto ZAMPERLA, Massimo ROMANALDI, Albano MORESCO
  • Patent number: 11554326
    Abstract: It is disclosed an amusement device (1) comprising a vehicle (2) riding on a track (3), said vehicle comprising a support frame (4) and a compartment (5) having one or more seats (52) for housing one or more passengers, the compartment being moveably connected to said support frame by a shaft (7), to rotate about an axis (Y) with respect to said support frame, from a first position (P1) to at least one second position (P2) in a rotation angular interval, at least when a centrifugal force acts on the passenger compartment (5). The vehicle comprises at least one restoring element (6) configured to rotate back said compartment (5) towards said first position (P1) for at least part of the angular interval between said at least one second position (P2) and said at least one first position (P1). The restoring element (6) is directly or indirectly constrained to said shaft (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: 11511204
    Abstract: An amusement device (1) with a central shaft (2) which includes a base structure (2a); and a plurality of arms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), coupled to the central shaft (2), each of the arms (3a-3d) being rotatable around a relevant arm axis (A2), provided with one or more vehicles (6) having seats for users of the amusement device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Jacobi, Alberto Zamperla
  • Publication number: 20210402311
    Abstract: Amusement device (1) comprising: a central shaft (2) comprising a base structure (2a); a plurality of arms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), coupled to said central shaft (2), each of said arms (3a-3d) being rotatable around a relevant arm axis (A2), provided with one or more vehicles (6) having seats for users of said amusement device (1); a gear system (7) for rotating said plurality of arms (3a-3d). The gear system (7) comprises a gear motor (M) coupled to a first gear (71), to rotate said first gear (71) and a plurality of second gears (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d), one for each arm (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) of said plurality of arm, coupled to said first gear (71) so that rotation of the first gear (71) drives in rotation said second gears (72a-72d), the rotation of said second gears (72a-72d) causing rotation of each arm (3a-3d) around the relevant arm axis. The gear system (7) is configured so that the angular speed of said arms (3a-3d) is substantially identical for all the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Robert JACOBI, Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20200391124
    Abstract: It is disclosed an amusement device (1) comprising a vehicle (2) riding on a track (3), said vehicle comprising a support frame (4) and a compartment (5) having one or more seats (52) for housing one or more passengers, the compartment being moveably connected to said support frame by a shaft (7), to rotate about an axis (Y) with respect to said support frame, from a first position (P1) to at least one second position (P2) in a rotation angular interval, at least when a centrifugal force acts on the passenger compartment (5). The vehicle comprises at least one restoring element (6) configured to rotate back said compartment (5) towards said first position (P1) for at least part of the angular interval between said at least one second position (P2) and said at least one first position (P1). The restoring element (6) is directly or indirectly constrained to said shaft (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20190321735
    Abstract: It is disclosed a trackless amusement ride (1) comprising at least one moveable amusement vehicle (2) provided with at least one seat (2a, 2b) for one or more users (U), and with control means (2c) operable by a user (U) to modify at least one vehicle parameter chosen between: the movement direction, the orientation, the height with respect to the ground of said amusement vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Patent number: 10065123
    Abstract: An amusement ride (1) and a method for its operation are disclosed. The amusement ride comprises a track (10) along which at least one vehicle (50) is movable, and at least one station (2) for the embarkation and/or disembarkation of passengers. The station comprises at least one platform (3) arranged above a portion of said track (10) in correspondence of the station (2), and the platform comprises an opening (S) for the transit of the vehicle (50) in the station. At least one floor element (20a, 20b, 20c) is arranged in at least one first position in which said floor element closes the opening (S) and is movable from the at least one first position to at least one second position to allow the transit of said vehicle (50) in the station (2). Returning means (25) are configured to move the at least one floor element (20a, 20b, 20c) from the at least one second position back to the at least one first position in which said floor element closes the opening (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: 10016692
    Abstract: It is disclosed a water amusement ride (1) comprising at least one vehicle (2) comprising means (6) for accommodating at least one passenger, a container (10) for storing water having an opening (10a) to define a water surface (S). The vehicle (2) is movable between a raised position (RP) with respect to the water surface (S), and a stop position (SP), in which at least part of the vehicle is submerged in the water. The ride further comprises lifting means (30) to move the vehicle from the stop position to the raised position, and wherein the vehicle (2) moved from the raised position (RP) towards said stop position (SP) is decelerated by the contact with water in said container (10) to reach the stop position (SP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: 10016690
    Abstract: A vehicle (6) for rotating carousel (1) is described, comprising means (8) movable by at least one passenger at a detectable speed, means (13) for detecting said speed of said movable means (8) and generating a corresponding signal and means (14, 15) for controlling the lifting of the vehicles (6) as a function of the activation and/or the speed of the movable means (8), characterized in that said movable means (8) are hand-operable means (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: 9962617
    Abstract: Amusement device (1) comprising a platform (2) riding on a track (3), said platform being provided with at least one arm (4), moveably connected to said platform, to rotate about a pivot (7) with respect to said platform, from a first position (P1) to at least one second position (P2), at least when a centrifugal force acts on said arm, and a compartment (5) for housing one or more passengers, integral with or connected to said at least one moveable arm, characterized in that said platform comprises means (6) for stably restoring said at least one arm (4) in said first position (P1) at least when said centrifugal force no longer acts on said moveable arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Publication number: 20180085675
    Abstract: An amusement ride includes a plurality of main arms which are moved by at least one motor along a circular path about a central rotation axis arranged substantially vertical to the ground, or to a platform. The main arms are rotatable about a rotation axis so that a first portion, which extends with respect to the rotation axis, can be raised or lowered with respect to the ground. The ride further includes at least one seat for at least one rider connected to the first portion of the main arm, at least one movable aerodynamic surface, and a control device for modifying the angle of incidence of the aerodynamic surface with respect to the air flow impacting it during the rotation of the main arm about the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20180085676
    Abstract: An amusement ride (1) and a method for its operation are disclosed. The amusement ride comprises a track (10) along which at least one vehicle (50) is movable, and at least one station (2) for the embarkation and/or disembarkation of passengers. The station comprises at least one platform (3) arranged above a portion of said track (10) in correspondence of the station (2), and the platform comprises an opening (S) for the transit of the vehicle (50) in the station. At least one floor element (20a, 20b, 20c) is arranged in at least one first position in which said floor element closes the opening (S) and is movable from the at least one first position to at least one second position to allow the transit of said vehicle (50) in the station (2). Returning means (25) are configured to move the at least one floor element (20a, 20b, 20c) from the at least one second position back to the at least one first position in which said floor element closes the opening (S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20170361237
    Abstract: Provided is an amusement ride. The amusement ride includes a vehicle for one or more passengers and a lifting device to move the vehicle between a lower position and a raised position. The lifting device includes a nested tube arrangement having a plurality of nested tubes, a fluid reservoir for housing an operating fluid fluidically connected to the nested tubes, and a pressurizing device to pressurize the operating fluid for supplying pressurized operating fluid within the nested tubes to extend the nested tube arrangement in order to lift the vehicle from the lower position to a raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20170333800
    Abstract: It is disclosed a water amusement ride (1) comprising at least one vehicle (2) comprising means (6) for accommodating at least one passenger, a container (10) for storing water having an opening (10a) to define a water surface (S). The vehicle (2) is movable between a raised position (RP) with respect to the water surface (S), and a stop position (SP), in which at least part of the vehicle is submerged in the water. The ride further comprises lifting means (30) to move the vehicle from the stop position to the raised position, and wherein the vehicle (2) moved from the raised position (RP) towards said stop position (SP) is decelerated by the contact with water in said container (10) to reach the stop position (SP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20170312641
    Abstract: A vehicle (6) for rotating carousel (1) is described, comprising means (8) movable by at least one passenger at a detectable speed, means (13) for detecting said speed of said movable means (8) and generating a corresponding signal and means (14, 15) for controlling the lifting of the vehicles (6) as a function of the activation and/or the speed of the movable means (8), characterized in that said movable means (8) are hand-operable means (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Patent number: 9802131
    Abstract: An amusement ride includes a plurality of main arms which are moved by at least one motor along a circular path about a central rotation axis arranged substantially vertical to the ground, or to a platform. The main arms are rotatable about a rotation axis so that a first portion, which extends with respect to the rotation axis, can be raised or lowered with respect to the ground. The ride further includes at least one seat for at least one rider connected to the first portion of the main arm, at least one movable aerodynamic surface, and a control device for modifying the angle of incidence of the aerodynamic surface with respect to the air flow impacting it during the rotation of the main arm about the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Publication number: 20160221586
    Abstract: A vehicle (2) movable along a track (3) of an amusement ride comprising at least one launch tube (4) inside which a gas is injected to accelerate said at least one vehicle (2) is disclosed. The vehicle (2) comprises a plurality of rollers (2b) for moving the vehicle along the track (3) and at least one pressure surface (20, 20?) arranged at the rear portion of the vehicle, and on which the launching force generated by the gas injected into the launch tube is exerted. The pressure surface comprises at least one movable portion (21) between at least one deployed position and at least one folded position. The at least one movable portion (21) is moved under an aerodynamic force applied on it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Alberto ZAMPERLA
  • Publication number: 20160220910
    Abstract: Amusement device (1) comprising a platform (2) riding on a track (3), said platform being provided with at least one arm (4), moveably connected to said platform, to rotate about a pivot (7) with respect to said platform, from a first position (P1) to at least one second position (P2), at least when a centrifugal force acts on said arm, and a compartment (5) for housing one or more passengers, integral with or connected to said at least one moveable arm, characterized in that said platform comprises means (6) for stably restoring said at least one arm (4) in said first position (P1) at least when said centrifugal force no longer acts on said moveable arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: D905143
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: D923736
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zamperla