Abstract: An improved musical ornamental carousel formed by assembly of various structural parts is disclosed and includes on the bottom thereof a base provided with a battery compartment, a hollow support post vertically located in the center of the base, a revolving disc rotatably supported on the upper part of the support post, a fixing disc located at the top of the hollow support post and spaced above the revolving disc.

Abstract: A carrousel including a hollow base covered with a bottom cover, the bottom cover having an endless, wave-like track at a top side around the center, a rotary table supported on the bottom cover and turned on its center, the rotary table having a plurality of equiangularly spaced through holes around the border, a drive mounted on the bottom cover inside the hollow base and controlled to turn the rotary table on its center, a plurality of sleeves respectively mounted in the through hole of the rotary table, and a plurality of tappet rods respectively and slidably inserted into the sleeves and movably supported on the endless, wave-like track to carry a respective ornament above the rotary table.

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.

Abstract: A fairground device has a base disc driven for rotation about a central axis, seat supports carried by the base disc in a spaced relation relative to the central axis for rotation of the seat supports about a second axis, and seats mounted eccentrically relative to a corresponding second axis. In the improvement, the seats are mounted on the seat supports for rotation about a third axis extending substantially transversely to the second axis. The base disc has a plurality of longitudinally extending radial arms pivotally connected to a central hub for pivoting the radial arms about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinally extending radial arms and for carrying the seat supports. A positioning device sets the pivotable position of the radial arms.

Abstract: A toy motion simulating apparatus for imparting motion to an operator controlled by a hydraulic control valve to proportionally direct hydraulic fluid from pitch, roll, and yaw fluid nozzles to respective pitch, roll, and yaw receiving chambers which are pivotably disposed with respect to the nozzles. A pitch and roll nozzle to proportionally direct hydraulic fluid to respective nose up and nose down pitch receiving chambers and clockwise and counter-clockwise roll receiving chambers and a yaw nozzle to proportionally direct hydraulic fluid to right and left yaw receiving chambers. The valve has a drain means for directing hydraulic fluid that doesn't flow into the receiving chambers out of the hydraulic control valve.

Abstract: An infant entertainment device having a molded plastic seat which rotates a baby carried thereby at a rate of about one rpm relative to a stationary base member. Optionally, the carousel may be equipped with a rheostat capable of varying the rate of rotation between one-half and four rpm. Music is provided by a microchip, for example, or at the option of the operator, the carousel may be operated without music. An optional accessory bar may be provided to support amusement devices in the baby's view.

Abstract: A backyard carousel for small children is constructed from tubing and fittings which are attached into a lightweight unitary superstructure. The tubing and fittings are preferably plastic, with the joints preferably being permanently bonded with a plastic cement. The superstructure is freely rotatable on standard steel pipe, one section of which is firmly anchored in a base surface such as concrete and has its upper end flush with the ground surface, while the other section of which fits inside the one section and extends upwardly to form an internal post for journaling a hub of the tubing superstructure. A thrust bearing between the hub and post facilitates free rotation of the superstructure. Seating is arranged around the periphery of the superstructure with sufficient space between the inner edges of the seats and the hub for children to dangle their legs and rotate the superstructure by foot contact witch the ground.

Abstract: An improved amusement ride and ride vehicle that permit a passenger to control the rotation of a passenger car as the vehicle travels along a ride course. The ride vehicle includes a support tube upon which the passenger car is rotatably mounted and a passenger operable steering mechanism. The ride vehicle also includes a spin shaft that extends down through the support tube. The spin shaft permits the use of safety systems that are mounted to the chassis of the ride vehicle. Control logic may be used to turn the passenger cars to a preferred orientation at the end of the ride. The ride vehicle itself may be barbell shaped to permit it to turn sharp corners along the ride course. The passenger car also includes a readily adjustable lap bar that is self-releasing. A slot cover, a plow assembly for displacing the slot cover and a slot cover switch are also provided.

Abstract: An improved turntable is provided for use in a building, such as in a residential or office environment, wherein the turntable is constructed from modular components for facilitated installation within a relatively low profile space. The turntable comprises a skeletal frame including an outer rim in combination with a plurality of radially extending support beams, wherein the assembled frame defines a plurality of generally pie-shaped openings for nested reception of a corresponding plurality of lightweight modular panel units. Wheels are mounted to the outer rim in adjacent pairs on opposite sides of each radial support beam for shared distribution of loads applied to the turntable during use. A traction drive surface is formed on the periphery of the outer rim in a position engaged by a drive roller of a low profile drive unit.

Abstract: A fairground device having a plurality of seats, a base disc driven for rotation about a central axis and at least one seat support mounted in spaced relation relative to the central axis for rotation about a second axis. Each of the seat supports carry at least one seat mounted eccentrically relative to the corresponding second axis. The seats are mounted on the seat supports for rotation about at least one, third axis which extends substantially transversely to the second axis.

Abstract: An improved turntable structure for a moving wooden horse toy, which comprises a rotation structure mounted between a turntable and a base disk; the rotation structure includes a round niche under the turntable, and a music box assembly mounted in the round niche; the center of the music box is connected with the supporting shaft in the center of the bearing base on the base disk. Between the turntable and the base disk, there is a roller bearing assembly to provide a rotary connection between the turntable and the base disk; a vertical-driving mechanism is mounted between the edge portions of the turntable and the base disk; when the turntable is driven with the driving power of the music box, the vertical-moving rods mounted on the edge portion of the turntable will jump up and down simultaneously as a result of a repelling force between the upper magnets under the turntable and the lower magnets on the base disk.

Abstract: An arrangement of cables, pulleys and cams has been invented which provides a simple, reliable, flexible and inexpensive method of converting rotary carousel motion in the horizontal plane into vertical motion of animals on the carousel. A cam is attached to the center pole of the carousel. The cam is positioned so as to interact with cables which are routed from the carousel animals to be given subsidiary motion (typically up-down). For up-down motion each cable is routed vertically from its animal to the overhead support structure and then along a radial passing neat the center pole and is fastened to the overhead support radially opposite the animal being moved. As the carousel, with animals and cables, rotate around the center pole the cam sequentially intercepts the cables forcing the overhead table paths to lenghten and drawing the animals upward to accomodate the cable path change.