US1279911A

US1279911A - Amusement device.

Info

Publication number: US1279911A
Application number: US21976918A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert N Ridgway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1918-03-01
Filing date: 1918-03-01
Publication date: 1918-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1935-09-24

Description

H. N. RKDGWAY.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1918.

1 ,279,91 1. v I Patefited Sept. 24, 1918.

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AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. I. 1915.

1 79, 9 1 1 Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

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HERBERT N. RIDGWAY, 0F WINTHRbP, MASSACHUSETTS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, leis.

Application filed March 1. 1918. Serial No. 219,769.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT N. RIDGWAY, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Winthrop, county of Suifolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Amusement Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to amusement devices of the type which include one or more passenger-carrying cars constructed so that they are free to travel in any direction, and means for giving movement to said cars in various directions.

In my present invention 1 have provided a relatively large stationary platform onto which the cars may be projected and means situated at the center of said platform for projecting the cars onto the stationary platform. Said stationary platform is preferabl v so constructed that the cars which are projected thereonto will gravitate back to the projecting means after the projecting force has been expended, and the car-projecting means is so constructed that it will receive the cars which gravitate back toward it and then will act on the returned cars to project them onto the stationary platform again. The cars may be projected 1 onto the stationary platform in any directiou, and the amusement which is derived from the apparatus will result not only from the pleasure and excitement of being carried about in the cars, but also from the exhilaration due to the unexpected directions in which the cars may be projected.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the drawings .a selected embodiment thereof which will i the cars showing parts thereof in section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing different Ways of flexibly connecting the bumper elements;

Fig. 6 is a view showing a difi'erent way of supporting the rotary platform from that. shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a view showing one way of constructing the doors for the car.

The passengercarrying cars are indicated at 1 and may have any suitable or usual construction, they being mounted on casters 2 so that they are free to travel in any direction. The particular construction of the cars will be more fully described herein after. 7

3 indicates a relatively large stationary platform or floor onto which the cars 1 may be projected. I will preferably make this stationary platform or floor circular in shape, and if desired it may be surrounded by a suitable railing 4 to prevent the cars from being thrown, off therefrom. Situated at the center of the stationary platform or floor 3 is a car-projecting device constructed to throw or project cars 1 outwardly onto the stationary platform 3. While any suitable car-projecting means adapted to thus project the cars may be employed, 1 will preferably usea rotating platform 5 which is situated centrally of the stationary platform 3 and which has a relatively small diameter compared to that of the platform 3. The stationary platform 3 is provided with an opening in which the rotating or car-projecting platform 5 is received and the top surface of the car-projecting platform forms a continuation of the surface of the, stationary platform. The car-project ing platform 5 is rotatably mounted to turn about its own center or axis, and any suitable means may be provided for rotating The rotary motion of the platform 5 will give movement to any car 1 which may be thereon and the centrifugal force developed will throw or project the car 1 outwardly onto the stationary platform 3.

The stationary platform 1s arranged not only to receive the cars thus projected, but also to cause the cars to gravitate back'to the rotary car-projecting platform 5 after the projecting force has been expended. One way of providing for this is to make the stationary platform 3 so that the centralportion immediately circumjacent the rotary platform is on a lower level than the outer or peripheral portion.

In the constructionshown the platform 3 is shaped so'that it inclines downwardly toward the rotary platform on all radial lines. The rotary car-projecting platform 5 is also preferably made somewhat dishmovement tov any car which is supported mg limits the outward movement of the 'at an position on the stationary latform will, if left to itselff gravitate to t e center j of the rotary plat orm. The rotation of the. car-projecting platform '5 will give thereon and will develop sufficient centrifugal force to throw or project the car out-I wardly onto the stationary platform. As soon as the projecting force has been expended, then the prO ected car will gravitate back onto the car-projecting platform' 5 again when it will be again thrown out-- wardly onto the stationary platform.

' plurality of rollers 7 which travel on a cir- The rotary or carrojectin' platform 5 may besup ortedan operate in any suitable way. have herein shown it as rotatng about a central pivot 6, and-in Fig. 1 it is provided on its under side with a cular track 8. In Fig. 6 I have shown a reversal of this construction wherein the car-prmecting platform is provided on its under side with a circular track 9 which rests on and rolls over supporting rollers 10 that are mounted in fixed supports 11.

While any suitable means may be provided for'rotating thecar-projecting platform 5, I have illustrated herein a motor 12 which. is connected to a driving ulley 4.2 around which runs a driving bet 14,

car-' rejecting platform 5. TE

the latter assin around a belt-receiving groove 15 orme on the underside of the e cars 1 may have an suitable construction, but I will prefera ly make them of circulan shape with the circular seat 16 on which the passengers may sit, all the passengers thus facing toward the center of the car. At the center of the car is a hand-hold 17 in the form of a wheel which is rigidly sustained on a post 18. The purpose of this hand-hold is to provide a solid support to which the passengers may cling during their ride.

I propose to use a plurality of cars, in

which case the various cars are liable to bum ea'chcar with "a resilient buffer which ex tends completely around the car. In the construction herein shown each buffer is in the form of a (plurality .of blocks 19, each carried b a ro v.20 which extends into and is slidab e through a housin 21 secured ach housing.

to the underside of the car. 21 is shown as having a uiding collar 22 slidably mounted therein t rough which the rod 20 extends, and a cushion spring 24 1s interposed hetweenthe collar 22 and the cushion spring said collar and the block 19. The collar 22 the car.

into each other asthey are thrown off rom the car-projecting-platform, or as I ma n; I

inner end of the housing, while another 25 is interposed between serves as a guiding means for the rod, and the two springs act as cushionsprings. The inner end of the rod or stem 20 is provided with a collar 23 which by its engagement with the inner end of the housdevice'of this nature the passengers in the car will suffer no disagreeable'jar due to the impact of one car agamst another.

Each car is herein shown as ,prov1ded with a ledge 28 which encircles it above the bumper and which constitutes a support on which the passengers may step as they enter the car: The blocks 19 of the bumper apparatus also provide a ste so that said bumper and the ledge 28 ma e a flight of steps surrounding the can to facilitate the passengerse'ntering the same. i

If desired I may make each car with doors 29 through which persons may enter In usin the apparatus, the rotating platform 5 wi 1 be brought to rest and the various cars will then all gravitate back onto said platform 5as near the center thereof as possible. The assengers who desire to gain amusement rom the apparatus Wlll then be given admission to the stationary platform and will walk thereoverand enter the waiting cars. After all the passengers who wish to ride are seated in the cars, then the platform 5 will be set in rotation. Qwing to the fact that the cars are provided with casters, the inertia of the cars will prevent themfrom immediately partaking of the rotary movement of the platform 5, but

the cars will gradually acquire, a rotary movement with the platform 5 which will develop centrifugal force, and which Wlll tend to throw the cars toward the periphery of the platform 5. Owing to the fact that the platform 5 is dish-shaped a considerable centrifugal force willhave. to be developed 1 before the cars will be thrown upwardly to the periphery of the rotary platform, but as soon as' sufficient centrifugal force has been thus developed, the cars will be .carried off from the platform 5 onto the stationary or receiving platform 3" and will travel agreater or less extent toward the periphery ofth e platform' 3, dependent on amen the amount of centrifugal force with which they are projected from the platform 5.

When the projectin force with which each car is thrown ofi' rom the carrojecting platformhas been expended, t en the car will gravitate back toward. andonto the rotating car-projecting platform again, and

as soon as some of the casters of each car takes will be partly due to. the rotati'onof the platform 5, partly due to the centrifugal action thereon, partly due to the action of gravity thereon, and partly due to the impact of the car with other cars. The final result is a most ;exhilarating and exciting ride for the passen ers.

The provision o a dish-shaped car-pro jecting platform 5 is important because the" dish shape thereof prevents the cars from being thrown off therefrom until suflicient centrifugal force has been developed to cause the cars to be carried some distance toward the periphery of the stationary platform 3. It is also important because in order to get the best effect it is desirable that the cars should start from the center of the platform 5, and by making the platform with the dish shape shown the returning cars are subjectedto the action of gravity until they reach the center of the platform.

While I have illustrated herein some selected embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limitedto the constructional features shown.

1.' In an amusement device, the combination with a stationary platform, of a passenger-carrying carlad-apted to travel over on said platform, and means at the center of said said stationary platform."

2. In an amusement device, the combination with a stationary platform, of a passenger carrying car adapted'to travel over on said platform, and means at tlie'center of said platform to project said car thereover, the center of said platformbeing at a' lower level than the periphery'thereof' whereby each car will gravitate back to the car-projecting means after the force with,

- which it was projected has been expended.

3. In an amusement device, the combinaplatform to project said car over riphery towa d the center on all radiating tion with a stationary platform, of a pas senger-carrying car adapted to travel over on said platform, and means at the center of said platform to project said car thereover, said platform being inclined. downwardiy from the periphery toward the center whereby the cars which are projected onto the stationary platform will gravitate back toward the projecting means again.

4. In an amusement device, the combination with a circular stationary platform having a relatively large diameter, of a rotary car-projecting platform having a relatively small diameter and situated at the center of the stationary platform, and means to rotate said car-projecting platform whereby a car on said car-pro ecting platform will be projected outwardly onto the stationary platform, the latter being so shaped that said projected cars will gravitate back onto the car-projecting platform after the projecting force has been expended.

5. In an amusement device, the combina-' tion witha' circular stationary platform having a relatively large diameter, 'of a rotary car-projecting platform of relatively small diameter situated at the center of the stationary platform and having a dish-shaped surface, and means to rotate said car-pros jecting platform whereby a car on said carprojecting platform will be projected out-.

wardly b, centrifugal force onto the stationary p atform.

l 6. In an amusement device, the combination with a circular stationary platform having a relatively large diameter, of a rotary car-projecting platform of relatively small diameter situated at the center of the sta tionary platform and having a dish-shaped surface, and means to rotate said car-projecting platform whereby a car on sald carprojecting platform will be pro ected outwardly b centrifugal force onto the stationary atform, the latter being so shaped that said projected cars will gravitate back onto the car-projecting platform after the projecting force has been expended.

7. In an amusement device, the comb1nation with a circular stationary platform having a relatively large diameter, said platform incliningdownwardly from. the pelines, of ayrotary car-projecting platform of relatively smal diameter situated at the center of the stationary platform and having a dish-shaped surface,'and means to rotate said car-projecting platform whereby a car on said car-projecting platform Wlll be projected outwardly b centrifugal force onto the stationary plat orm.

In testimony wherof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT N. RIDG'WAY.