Passenger Car; E.g., For Skiing Patents (Class 105/149.1)
  • Patent number: 11358614
    Abstract: A cable transportation system comprising: at least a cable; an upstream station and a downstream station between which the cable extends; a plurality of supporting intermediate structures for supporting the cable between the upstream station and the downstream station; a plurality of transporting units coupled above the cable in a configuration suspended in the void and free to swing; an alarm device configured for detecting the contact between the transporting units and the supporting intermediate structures when a threshold tilting angle of the transporting units is exceeded and for emitting a relative alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: LEITNER S.P.A.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Erharter, Alberto Casetta
  • Patent number: 10727674
    Abstract: A system for supplying at least one electrical load or energy storage device with direct current by way of a plurality of electrical generators that are mounted to at rollers, in particular track rollers or support rollers, of a cable car system. The output of each of the generators leads to a respective AC/DC converter. All AC/DC converters are controlled or regulated by a control unit to the extent that at least approximately identical constant voltages are present at their outputs. The outputs of all AC/DC converters are connected to one another and are connected to the at least one load or energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Luger
  • Patent number: 10119319
    Abstract: A door drive device for a door of a wagon, including at least one door panel mount displaceable along a first spatial axis substantially vertical to the plane of a door panel mounted on the at least one door panel mount and along a second spatial axis extending substantially horizontal in use and substantially vertical to the first spatial axis, a drive motor and a spindle which may be rotated by means of the drive motor. It is provided, that a displacement of the at least one door panel mount along the first and/or second spatial axis is effected by means of a guide fork being displaceable by an associated spindle nut slidably engaged with the guide fork, wherein the spindle nut is driven by rotation of a spindle and wherein the spindle and the drive motor are fixed with respect to the wagon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Vapor Europe S.r.l.
    Inventor: Alois Ritt
  • Patent number: 9382745
    Abstract: Windows including one or both of a powered sash driving apparatus and a window balance apparatus and further including a sash connector block and latch bolt assembly are described herein, along with methods of assembling and/or operating the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventor: David D. Plummer
  • Patent number: 9187101
    Abstract: A cabin for accommodating at least one of passengers and goods, including an opening and a holder fastened to the cabin for holding a glazing unit in the opening. The cabin includes at least two connection members that each include a first fastening part connected to the glazing unit and a second fastening part connected to the cabin. The glazing unit is secured in the region of the opening when the glazing unit has detached from the holder. The glazing unit can, for example, be pressed out of the holder as a result of persons carried in the cabin violently pushing or striking the inner side of the glazing unit. However, the connection member prevents these persons from falling downwards out of the cabin. The glazing unit is also prevented from falling. As a result, safety of the passengers and/or goods in the cabin is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: CWA CONSTRUCTIONS SA
    Inventor: Daniel Gubler
  • Patent number: 8635958
    Abstract: A cableway system has a conveying cable and chairs, which can be coupled to the conveying cable and are coupled to the conveying cable along the path of the cableway system, are uncoupled from the conveying cable at the entrance into the stations, are guided through the stations, along guide rails, by way of control tires, and are coupled to the conveying cable again at the exit from the stations, furthermore the chairs are designed with at least one safety bar and a device for adjusting the safety bar, and for locking the same, and a device for checking the locking are arranged at the exit from the stations. A first device for adjusting and locking the safety bar and an associated device for checking the locking and a second device for adjusting and locking the safety bar and an associated device for checking the locking are provided at the exit from the stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Beck
  • Publication number: 20130333589
    Abstract: A cabin for accommodating at least one of passengers and goods, including an opening and a holder fastened to the cabin for holding a glazing unit in the opening. The cabin includes at least two connection members that each include a first fastening part connected to the glazing unit and a second fastening part connected to the cabin. The glazing unit is secured in the region of the opening when the glazing unit has detached from the holder. The glazing unit can, for example, be pressed out of the holder as a result of persons carried in the cabin violently pushing or striking the inner side of the glazing unit. However, the connection member prevents these persons from falling downwards out of the cabin. The glazing unit is also prevented from falling. As a result, safety of the passengers and/or goods in the cabin is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CWA CONSTRUCTIONS S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel GUBLER
  • Patent number: 8494694
    Abstract: A mass transportation system for efficiently transporting a plurality of passengers along a predetermined path from a loading station to an unloading station. The transportation system generally includes a support structure, a track positioned above ground level via the support structure, and a carrier vehicle operable along the track. A first control module operable by a passenger is located outside the carrier vehicle upon a loading station for signaling the carrier vehicle to stop along the track at the loading station and a second control module operable by the passenger is located inside the carrier vehicle for signaling the carrier vehicle to stop along the track at an unloading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Raymond Dueck
  • Patent number: 8443734
    Abstract: The seat surface of a chair of a chair lift can be pivoted with the aid of a pivot mechanism. Thus, the seat surface can, while a passenger is sitting thereon, be pivoted in such a way that it extends so as to descend, or descend more markedly, toward the rear edge of the seat part. Passengers enter automatically, and independently of their size and sitting position on the chair, into a stronger, stable back position, thereby reliably counteracting slipping in the direction of the front edge of the seat part and thus slipping-through between the seat surface and transverse hoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Switzeny
  • Patent number: 8234982
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski lift chair specifically designed for use by snowboarders. The chair comprises a plurality of seats facing perpendicular to the line of travel direction and can be either in-line back to back, in-line front-to-back or a combination of the two. The chair can be mixed on a ski lift with chairs designed for skiers or used alone with only snowboarder chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Katharine West Parker
  • Patent number: 8166885
    Abstract: An suspended cable amusement ride is disclosed. The cable is supported by turning beam assemblies and moved by turning beam drive assemblies. The turning beam assemblies and turning beam drive assemblies each have multiple sheave wheels supported in brackets along a turning beam. In the turning beam drive assembly the sheave wheels are driven by motors operably attached to the sheave wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: William J. Kitchen
  • Publication number: 20110300957
    Abstract: A ride system for moving a passenger vehicle through a dynamically-defined work space. The system includes a track structure that guides one or more motorized or driven carriers on the track structure. The system includes winches on the carrier(s) that are independently operable to set lengths of the vehicle supporting cables, which extend outward from the winches to the vehicle. During operation, the winch systems provide upper anchor points for suspending the passenger vehicle such that these anchor points are selectively positioned. The winches may be independently operated as the carrier(s) travels from a first position to a second position, such that the vehicle body pitches, rolls, or yaws and moves transversely relative to the track. The winches may be operated concurrently to drop or raise the vehicle to define the work space for the vehicle in the vertical direction. Passenger input may interactively control motion of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: David W. CRAWFORD, Edward A. NEMETH
  • Patent number: 8051778
    Abstract: A chair for a chair lift has seats with a seat surface and a safety bar that extends transversely over the seats and can be pivoted from an open position into a closed position. Securing parts, in particular protective panels, are arranged on the safety bar and, in the closed position of the safety bar, extend in the direction toward the center of the front edge of the respective seat surface. The securing parts have a first section which is adjacent to the safety bar and is oriented toward the front edge, and a second end section which is oriented at an angle of less than 180° to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Österle
  • Patent number: 8015926
    Abstract: Tracks are arranged on the floor of the entry region of a station of the chair lift, the tracks running below and in accordance with the path of movement of the seats of the chair and having a substantially equal width with the corresponding seats. The seat part and/or the backrest of a seat differ/differs with regard to the graphical design from the seat part and/or backrest of an adjacent seat. It is therefore made clear to the passengers, in particular children, how the seat division on the chair has been conceived by the manufacturer and where to stand in the entry region in order to be correctly seated on an approaching seat. If the graphical design of the tracks is identical to the graphical design of the corresponding seat, the effect of the chair according to the invention is reinforced by the unambiguous visual association between the track and seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Sutter
  • Publication number: 20110155017
    Abstract: A cabin for accommodating passengers and/or goods, including an opening and a holder fastened to the cabin for holding a glazing unit in the opening. The cabin includes at least two connection members that each include a first fastening part connected to the glazing unit and a second fastening part connected to the cabin. The glazing unit is secured in the region of the opening when the glazing unit has detached from the holder. The glazing unit can, for example, be pressed out of the holder as a result of persons carried in the cabin violently pushing or striking the inner side of the glazing unit. However, the connection member prevents these persons from falling downwards out of the cabin. The glazing unit is also prevented from falling. As a result, safety of the passengers and/or goods in the cabin is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Gubler
  • Patent number: 7802523
    Abstract: A cable railway system has two or more stations and at least one carrying cable and a conveying cable extending between the stations and guided in the stations by way of deflection pulleys. At least one of the pulleys is driven. Vehicles, such as cable cars or chairs, may be boarded or disembarked from in the stations by the passengers. The system may also have one or more fixed carrying cables along which the cars are moved by way of one or more hauling cables. At least one device is associated with the vehicles along the section of the cable railway system, by way of which device the pendulum movements that the vehicles are subject to transversely relative to the direction of movement of the vehicles are detectable and its output signals are conducted to a device that controls the drive of the cable railway system. The drive is thereby controllable in dependence on the extent of the pendulum movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Moritzhuber, Markus Beck
  • Patent number: 7775161
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski lift chair specifically designed for use by snowboarders. The chair comprises a plurality of seats facing in a perpendicular to the line of travel direction and can be either in-line back to back, in-line front-to-back or a combination of the two. The chair can be mixed on a ski lift with chairs designed for skiers or used alone with only snowboarder chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Katharine West Parker
  • Patent number: 7690313
    Abstract: A chairlift has chairs for conveying persons. The chairs may be detachably fastened to a haulage and conveying cable. A closing bar can be moved from a closed position into an open position and is mechanically connected by way of a Bowden cable or the like to a lever which interacts with rails that are arranged at the entry and exit of a station of the cableway system. In order to check whether the closing bar is completely opened or closed, a sensor for detecting the position of the actuating device is arranged in the region of the end of the rails as viewed in the conveying direction of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Sutter, Manfred Österle, Herbert Schwendinger
  • Publication number: 20090165668
    Abstract: In a cableway system with supporting and haul cables, a trolley, supporting a passenger car, is moved along two taut supporting cables by a haul-cable drive having two drive pulleys, two return pulleys, and a haul cable wound about the two drive pulleys and return pulleys; the haul-cable drive also having two idle pulleys fitted to the trolley and about which is wound an intermediate portion of the haul cable extending between the drive pulleys, and a retaining device for fixing firmly to the trolley the portions of the haul cable extending from the return pulleys towards the trolley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: ROLIC INVEST S.AR.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Andreetto
  • Publication number: 20090031743
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling system-containing gondola lift having a capacity for at least one passenger, the gondola lift comprising a cabin and a cooling system installed in the cabin, wherein the cooling system comprises: a porous case having a plurality of holes; a block of ice disposed in the case; a liquid container connected to the case for housing the liquid melted from the block of ice; and an atomizer for atomizing the liquid melted from the block of ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Tien-Sheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20080276826
    Abstract: A device for conveying people or other objects, for example a car of an aerial cableway or a cable railroad, has a driveless running gear, which is pulled along a track cable. The car has consumers for electrical energy and an electrical energy storage device. Electrical energy is obtained by friction wheels on the running gear. The friction wheels are connected to a generator. The electrical energy is stored in the electrical energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: INNOVA PATENT GMBH
    Inventor: Philipp Erhart
  • Publication number: 20080148987
    Abstract: An aerial cableway system with transportation devices, such as gondolas or lift chairs, is formed with two cable loops to which the transportation devices can be coupled and from which the transportation devices can be decoupled. A lower station, one or more middle stations, and an upper station are provided. A lower cable loop extends in the section from the lower station to the middle station and an upper cable loop extends from the middle station to the upper station. In the middle station the lower cable loop and the upper cable loop are guided about a shared guide device in the form of a double-groove pulley or two sandwiched single-groove pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Beck
  • Patent number: 7389729
    Abstract: A method for heating a gondola of a cableway system and a gondola that is suitable for carrying out the process, as well as a cableway system with gondolas of the type. In order to increase passengers' comfort when being conveyed, the floor or parts of the floor is or are heated by an electrical heating device integrated in the floor in particular while the gondola is situated in a station of the cableway system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hinteregger
  • Patent number: 7225744
    Abstract: A support for chairlifts includes bracketing for easily and simply retrofitting the support to an existing chairlift for providing support for snowboards on a chairlift which is easy to mount and provides a rugged, secure support. By changing orientation of the support on this chairlift, it may be utilized to support a mountain bike or skateboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventors: Jeffrey Christopher Gladnick, Peter Jonathan Boyle, Matthew Nickolas Eberhardt
  • Patent number: 7082880
    Abstract: An assembly for fastening a transportation device of a cableway system, such as a cabin or a chair, on a suspension bar, which is formed at its upper end with a running mechanism, with a coupling clamp, interacting with the conveying cable or traction cable of the cableway system, and with a guide roller, the transportation device also being provided at its upper end with a supporting device, by way of which it is articulated on the lower end of the suspension bar in a way allowing it to be pivoted transversely with respect to the conveying cable or traction cable. The articulation of the transportation device on the lower end of the suspension bar is formed by two links, which are located at a distance from each other transversely in relation to the conveying cable or traction cable and run obliquely upward in relation to each other, their free ends being articulated on the one hand on the supporting device and on the other hand on the lower end of the suspension bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Schertler
  • Patent number: 6862998
    Abstract: An aerial cableway system has an endless, closed load-bearing and conveying cable which, in the terminal stations, is guided over drive or deflection wheels. Transportation devices, such as cabins and chairs, can be fixed to the load-bearing and conveying cable via a suspension bar in each case. A bearing at the lower end of the suspension bar mounts the transportation device such that it can rotate about an at least approximately vertical axis. The bearing is attached to the suspension bar via a damping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Doppelmayr
  • Patent number: 6840179
    Abstract: Plant for amusement parks of the kind having a circuit and a series of vehicles joined one to another in an articulated way for the transport of passengers. The vehicles move along a rail track or the like, and can accommodate the transported passengers at different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ride Tek Engineering S.r.l.
    Inventor: Marco Begotti
  • Patent number: 6729241
    Abstract: An aerial cableway system has at least one load-bearing and conveying cable that is moved between a valley station and a mountain station, which is guided over deflection pulleys in the stations, and transportation devices that can be coupled to the load-bearing and conveying cable and that are formed by cabins and by chairs. The cabins and chairs can be uncoupled from the conveying cable in the stations, moved along guide rails through entry and exit regions located in the stations, and then once more coupled to the conveying cable. The entry and exit regions provided in the stations are respectively subdivided into two mutually separate sectors which follow each other in the direction of movement. A first sector is intended for the users of the cabins and a second sector is provided for the users of the chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Gabriel, Herbert Dür, Gerd Dür
  • Patent number: 6494145
    Abstract: An automatic crossbar on a ski chair-lift for containing seated passengers and facilitating dismounting passengers. A vertically elongated bar (20) with a cross (20a) attached at its base is pivotably suspended from a passenger chair, positioning the crossbar in front of passengers. An elastic closure attachment (9), and/or an automatic locking mechanism (60), is attached between the elongated bar and the chair to retain the crossbar in a closed position and contain passengers. A blocking structure (200) is suspended proximal to the aerial cable above the landing platform. The elongated bar has an upper portion (20v) above its pivotal mount (21b) which impacts the blocking structure as the aerial cable moves the chair forward. The impact causes the upper portion to rotate back as the lower portion and crossbar are levered forward and upward. As the crossbar swings forward from the chair, passengers grasp the crossbar to balance with while standing onto the landing platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph F. Kernan
  • Patent number: 6453824
    Abstract: According to this invention, a ski lift radio is provided whereby data are stored electronically and converted to an audio signal to be played by the radio and wherein the system is charged by means of an inductive charge receptor associated with the radio which is charged by means of a stationary inductive charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Dobbins
  • Patent number: 6393995
    Abstract: An aerial ropeway wherein oppositely located first and second sheave trains are supported on a crossarm wherein first and second sheave train supporting apparatus are pivotally mounted at fixed spaced apart locations on the crossarm and the first and second sheave train supporting apparatus are each pivotally connected to an elongated member extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Poma of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Mugnier