US2273581A - Passenger operated swing device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1942. w. LIEBRECHT PASSENGER OPERATED SWING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1941 q INVENTOR. 3 MUM Z/EE/QECHT be thus adjudged the winner.

involves physical effort and skill, it will be found Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED PASSENGER OlERAITED swine DEVICE Walter Liebrecht, New York, N. Y. Application March 29', 1941, Serial No. 385,917 13 Claims. 401.2%2-57) This invention relates to amusement devices,

a and especially those adapted for use at amusement parks, carnivals and the like, and with which a number of persons may engage in competitive activity.

The primary object of the invention is to providea device of the character mentioned wherein a plurality of persons are each carried in a swinging conveyance toward a support upon which a number of successively-operated control elements are mounted, said elements controlling the operation of suitable signal devices so that the-sequence of operation of the control elements will be indicated by the signal devices and the'more expert of the persons operating his conveyance will operate the requisite number of control elements more speedily than the other persons and Since the device interesting, exhilarating and amusing.

In the accompanying drawing, constituting a part hereof, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections and elements for operating the device, embodying a rotary switch, the parts thereof being in detached positionsfor clearness;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing the relative positions of the swings and cooperating wall; r

Fig. 3 is a frontview of a slightly modified form of the device; I

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view showing the relationship of swing to wall, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional, view of one of the pedals of Fig. 2.

The device as shown in'Fig. 2 consists of a plurality of swings, eachintended to receive a passenger and be swung in the conventional way i by the physical efforts of the passenger, toward a support carryingv a plurality of 'fo'ot operated switches arranged one above the other. These switches are adapted to be successively operated by the foot of the passenger, in a predetermined sequence, as the swing carrying the passenger travels in its are over the support; Since several swings are provided, the object sought by each passenger is to outstrip his companions by being the first to operate in sequence all of the switches in the group over which his swing traverses. Each switch is connected to a signal such as a lamp, the lamps being illuminated and remaining so during operation of the device so that each contestant may by watching the lamps, note his own progress and that of the other contestants.

The end or final switch in each group is connected to a winning audible and visible signal, and the first contestant to operate the last switch in his group is adjudged the winner of the contest.

Means is provided by which all other winning signals are rendered ineffective when one of the last switches is operated.

In the device of Fig. 3, substantially the same arrangement as that of Fig. 2 is employed, except that the foot-operated switches are arranged in a row extending transversely of the direction of movement of the swings. The lamps are similarly arranged, and they are placed to simulate a musical score.

With reference to the structure of Fig. 2, a plurality of swings l and 2 are suspended in the convention manner upon the bar 4. The swings are disposed in side-by-side relation and in a single line and as many of these swings may be employed as desired, only two being shown to simplify illustration. Each swing is operable independently of the others, and preferably by the physical eiforts of its occupant, so that the individual effort and skill of the several occupants determines the winner.

Located in front of the swings is a curved or inclined supporting surface or wall 5. The are of the wall is, as shown in Fig. 4, based on a center different from that of swing I, so that the arc l of movement of the swing approaches the wall at the highest pointof the movement. This tends to promote the safety of the players. The wall 5 may be divided into separate and independent sections, one for each of the swings. This wall or support may be constructed of any suitable material and my be supported by the framework 6.

pants on the support.

Located in front of each of stantially flush with the, curved surface thereof, is a plurality of pedals indicated at 8 to 13, inclusive, these pedals being hinged or otherwise resiliently mounted in the support so that when the swing moves over the support, the pedals can be easily reached by a foot or feet of the occupant of the swing and successively depressed.

The electrical system shown in Fig. 1 consists essentially of a series of pedal operated switches and a step-by-step rotary switch, a series of GI lamps, audible and/or visible winning signals,

the swings, and so mounted in the wall or support 5 as to be subto I30.

and relays, all being so interconnected as to provide the desired functions with the proper timing. Each pedal operates a switch of the pushbutton type, whereby a single foot-thrust on a pedal will close a switch to light a lamp. Pedal 8 will thus close switch 8a, while pedal 9 will operate switch 9a, pedal III operating switch IOa, pedal II operating switch Ila, pedal I2 operating switch I20. and pedal I3 operating switch I3a.. One contact of all of the switches is connected to one side 35 of the power line, designated as negative side for convenience in illustration, the

other contact 36 of each switch connecting to.

one of a series of contacts indicated at 827 to I31) inclusive. Circuit between these contacts and the positive side of the power line is closed by a contact finger I5, secured on a shaft I6, and adapted to be moved with a step-by-step movement from one contact to the next, or for example, from the contact 8b to contact 9b andthenceto contact "lb andso on, until the last contact, indicatedat I3b is reached. The contact finger I is shifted from one of the contacts to the next by the successive operation of the pedals 8 to I3 inclusive in proper sequence.

Secured upon the shaft I5, also, and movable therewith is an arcuate contactor or wiper IT connected by the wire I8 to the negative side 35 of the power line. Said contactor I1 is adapted to close circuit with a bank of contacts designated at 80 to I30 inclusive, each of the contacts 80 to I30 being connected by wiring to a lamp, said lamps being designated as 801 to I3d inclusive. The lamps also have connections, as usual, to the positive side 23 of the power line; The I lamps 8d to I3d are each arranged, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, alongside of the pedal which causes the lamp to be illuminated, and each lamp when illuminated, will remain so, so that each contestant may, by watching the lamps,ascertain his progress and that of his fellow contestants.

Fig. 5 shows the mounting of the pedals. A coil spring 40 is mounted on rod 4| having a head 42 secured to pedal 8. The opposite end of rod 4| has a head 43 held against the outer face of support 5, the rod being adapted to move freely in opening. Pedal 8 has contact member 8d cooperating with contact member 36 on support 5, constituting a switch.

In its inoperative or initial position, the device is as shown in Fig. 1 with switches 8a to I3a biased in open position and contacts 22, 28 and 30 biased in closedposition. When the occupant of the swing situated in front of a group of pedals, depresses the pedal 8, switch 8a will be closed, and since the finger I5.is at this time located on contact 8b, current willflow through the contact finger I5 and through wire I9 to energize driver magnet 20, forming part of the step-by-step switch of conventional form. that includes the shaft I6 and contact members I5 andv I1 and contacts 8b to I31), and contacts 80 Driver magnet 20 will then rotate shaft I6 for one step to cause finger I5 to move to the second contact, or that indicated at 912 and remain in contact therewith. Simultaneously, the. arcuate contactor II. will be moved to engage.

contact 80 and the signal lamp designated at 811 will be illuminated. Current flowing through wire I9 will also energize a relay 2I of the delayed-action. type, and this relay opens its movable contact 22, holding the same open for a short period, say one-fourth of a second, stopping the movement of arm II, so that only one.

of the pedals can be operated at a time and in proper sequence to cause the successive lamps to be illuminated. After a short interval, contacts 22 will close, by suitable means, such as a plunger to retard the return movement of contact 22, and when the next pedal, or that indicated at 9 is depressed, lamp 9d will be illuminated. The successive illumination of the lamps 10d to I3d will take place in the proper sequence by the successive depression of the pedals until the last pedal, or that indicated at I3, is depressed, the operation of which will set in operation the winning signal, which can consist of a lamp or illuminated sign, diagrammatically indicated at 24. The so-called winning signal can also include or be an audible signal, such as a phonograph 25 which can be set in operation to play a record when the last pedal in any one of the groups is depressed.

The last contact I is connected by wire 26 to the lamp signal and phonograph 25. Connected in parallel to signals 24 and 25 and the last contact I-3c is a relay indicated at 21 which isv energized when pedal I3 is depressed. and it is so connected in to the circuit of the adjacent switch groups that the last pedal in any of the other groups when then depressed will be ineffective to operate the winning signals for such groups. For example, if it is assumed that the pedal I3 for swing I is thefirst. of the final or last pedals in thetwo groups shown, to be delast pedal.

pressed, the winning signals 24 and 25 will be set in operation. At the same time, relay 2'! will be energized and. the same-will open relay contacts 28 in the circuit controlled by pedals operated from swing. 2 so that the occupant of swing 2 can thereafter depress his last pedal I3 without his winning signals being set in operation. Should the occupant of swing 2 be the first to depress. his pedalv I3, the relay 29 controlled by the pedal I3 for the group operated by swing 2, will open switch 30. and then the occupant of swing I will be unableto operate his winning. signal by depressionof'his pedal I3.

While I'have, inorder to simplifythe description. and operation of the device, shownonly two.

swings and, the. mechanism operated by the. occupants thereof,' it.willbe understood that. the

number of swings, may be increased'toan appreciable extent.

are used, the relays employed as. at. 2'! and- 25 When more than twoswings will be arranged to disconnect electrically the, winning signals of all of the remaining swings after any one swing occupant has depressed his In the structure of Fig. 2, the pedals.8. to- I3 inclusive are arranged for successive operation in a direction co-extensive withthe arc in which the'swing travels, while in Fig. 3 the pedals are constructed to resemble piano keys-.andto be operated from left to right orin. a direction transverse to the. direction of swing. travel,- the signal lamps 8d to, I3d being arranged toresemble musical. notes. Other attractive and interesting variationsImay be employed as will. be readily apparent. to those skilled in. the art.

In theioperation ofthe device, the occupants abled. to reach pedal 9, which upon beingdepressed,,will illuniinatelamp; 9d The succes-;

sive. depression ofthe pedals continues until the last pedal, or that indicated ra t 13, is reached, whereupon the first of the swing occupants to reach and depress that pedal in his switch group will illuminate :his. winning signal 24 and sound his audible winning signal 25. The depression of, the first pedal I3 in any group will, by operation' of the relays 21 or 29, disconnect all other winning signals 24 and 25 and preventanyone but the winner from operatinghis winning signals. r. a l i ContactsEB and: 30 may be connected so as to disconnect driver magnet. 2 0. or'wiper ill, by opening wire I9 or l8, respectively. After each game is finished, means are provided'for placing all the elements in starting position. i while I have shown and described several embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that the samemay be modified in many ways without departing, from the spirit of the invention. Al-

thoughin the specification I have referred to a. wall, it neednot be solidly constructed but itmay consist of any suitable support for the pedals. The wall" orwalls and the pedals may be made of or. be covered with shock absorbing materials. The lamps in Fig. 1 are shown staggeredto correspond with the locations of the musical notes asplaced on Fig. 3, but other arrangements to suit the circumstances may be used. In place of the step-by-step switch shown in Fig. 1, any other switch of this type may be substituted, as such switches are well known. Where a. phonograph record is operated as a winning signal, a differentrecord for each of theunits of the device may be provided and a single operating mechanism be provided for all the units so that only one mechanism is required. r r

In viewof the above, the invention is to be broadly construed and to be limited only by the character of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. An amusement device comprising, a plurality of independently operated swingingly mounted, conveyances, each of said conveyances holding a passenger and mounted for propulsion by the physical effort of only the passenger occupying the same, a support over which the several conveyances move when propelled by their respective passengers, a group of control devices on said support disposed in the path of movement of each conveyance and adapted for operation by the passenger as the conveyance moves adjacent to the control devices, and means connected to said control devices and to a signal device and by which said signal device is operated when all of the control devices in a group have been successively operated by the passenger in l the conveyance movable adjacent to said group.

2. An amusement device comprising, a plurality of independently operated swinging conveyances, each of said conveyances holding a passenger and mounted for propulsion by the physical effort of only the passenger occupying the same, a support over which the several conveyances are swung, a group of control devices in the path of movement of each conveyance and adapted for operation by the passenger as the conveyance swings over them, signal devices and means connected to said control devices and to the signal devices for successively operating a signal device when each one of the control devices is operated and for operating another signaldevice when all of-the control devices in a group have been operated.

['3 en amusement-device comprising, a plurality of independently operated swings, a support over which each of the swingsis swung by the physical efforts of only the passenger occupying the same,.a'group; of switches on the support and disposed in the path of movement of each of the swings, and-arranged for operation by the physical effort of the passenger of each swing, an electric signal connectedto each switch and arranged for actuation when each switch is operated, and another signal arranged for actuation when the last switch in agroup is operated.

4. An amusementdevice comprising, a plurality of independently operated-swings, a support over which each-oi the swings is swung by the physical efforts of only the passenger occupying the same, a; group of switches on the support adjacent. to each swingqand, in position to be operated by the foot of the passenger thereof asthe swing'movesover thesup-port, signal devices, and an electrical circuit connecting the signaldevices andthe switches and by which the signal devices for each group of switches will be successively operated with the switches in said group are successivelyoperated by the passenger in the swing moving over said group, and other signal devices operative when the last switch in any one of the groups is first operated.

5. An amusementdevice comprising a plurality of independently operated swings, a support overwhich each of the swings is swung, a group of switches on the support and disposed in the path of movement 5 of each of, the'swings and arranged for operation by the foot of the passenger in the swing, an electrically controlled signal connected zto each switch and adapted for operation when each switch is operated, means for preventing operation of;-the signals in any one group unless the switches for said group are operated in sequence, and an additional main signal for each group, said main signal being operated when and if the last switch in any group is the first one of the last switches in all of the groups to be operated.

6. An amusement device comprising, a plural-- ity of independently operated swings, an inclined wall constituting a support disposed adjacent said swings and in position to be reached by the .feet of the occupants of said swings as the swings move back and forth, switches carried by the support and adapted to be operated by the feet of the swing occupants, and electric signals controlled by operation of said switches.

7. An amusement device comprising, a plurality of independently operated swings, a curved wall disposed adjacent to said swings and. in position to be reached by the feet of the occupantsof the swings as the swings are moved back and forth by the physical 'efiorts of their occupants, switches mounted in the wall and arranged substantially flush with the surface thereof, signals, and electrical circuits connecting the signals and the switches and by which the signals are actuated when the switches are closed by the feet of the swingson the. switches as the swingsintheir swinging movementcarry theoccupants to aposition to operate the switchess 9.- An amusement device comprising" a plurality of independently operated swings,-each' of which is adapted to carry a-passenger' who propels the swing by his physical eifort, a support disposed adjacent to the swings and over which the several swings are swung; a group of switches disposed on the support in front of each swing and arranged for successive foot-operation by the occupant of 'theswing, a visible signal electrically connected to each switch and arranged to operate when its switch is closedby' the occupant of the swing moving adjacent toit, means for pre-- venting actuation .of the signals unless the same are operated in a predetermined sequence, an additional main signal electricallyconnected to the last signal in each group, and meansby which the actuation of the main signal for one group will render the main signals for the other groups ineffective.

10. An amusement device comprising', a plurality of independentlyoperated swings arranged in side by-sid relationship; a support over which each of the swings is swung'by the physical effortsiiof only the passenger'occupying the same," a group of switches on the support-in front-of each swing arranged transversely 'oi the direction oflmovement of the swings, the switches in each group being adapted foroperation by the passenger in the swing movable adjacent to the group,

a visible signal electrically connected to and controlled. by eachof the switches, an additional main signal connected to and controlled by the last switch in each group, an audible signal also connected to and controlled by the last switch in each group, and means by which the actuation of'th'e main signal and audible signal for one group will render similar signals for the other groups ineifective.

aerate- 1" 11.-In an amusement device, a swing for carrying apassenger, a curved support adjacent to the'path of movement of the swing, a number of switches-mounted on the support, a number of signal lamps on the support, and'electrical circuitsbetween the lamps and the switches whereby a lamp will be illuminated by the pressureof the feet of the swing occupant on one of the switches when he is carried to a position by the swing to reach and operate said switch by foot pressure.

12. In an amusement; device, a swing for carrying a passenger, a curved support adjacent to the path of-movement of the swing, a group of switches mounted on the support, a number of 13. An amusement device comprising a series of'independently operated swings mounted in a line andin' side-by-side relation, an inclosed supporttoward which the swings are movable solely by 'eiforts of the passenger in each swing, switches on the support over which the swing is swung,

signals electrically connected to the switches Wherebysaid' signals are actuated by foot operation of the switches by the passenger of the swing, and means for requiring operation of said switches in a predetermined sequence to procure actuation of the signals.

WALTER LIEBRECHT.

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