US3159400A - Game apparatus for simulating skiing - Google Patents

Game apparatus for simulating skiing Download PDF

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Publication number
US3159400A
US3159400A US157354A US15735461A US3159400A US 3159400 A US3159400 A US 3159400A US 157354 A US157354 A US 157354A US 15735461 A US15735461 A US 15735461A US 3159400 A US3159400 A US 3159400A
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United States
Prior art keywords
control
linkage
belt
motion
ski
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US157354A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert L Brass
Feiner Alexander
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ORBICON Ltd
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ORBICON Ltd
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Priority to GB967118D priority Critical patent/GB967118A/en
Application filed by ORBICON Ltd filed Critical ORBICON Ltd
Priority to US157354A priority patent/US3159400A/en
Priority to FR913797A priority patent/FR1347732A/fr
Priority to CH1273362A priority patent/CH406932A/de
Priority to US358327A priority patent/US3273889A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3159400A publication Critical patent/US3159400A/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/18—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for skiing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/14—Racing games, traffic games, or obstacle games characterised by figures moved by action of the players
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
    • A63B2208/12—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player specially adapted for children
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
    • A63B69/18—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for skiing
    • A63B69/187—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for skiing for water-skiing

Definitions

  • FIG. 1 A first figure.
  • Skiing which has recently been undergoing a great surge of new interest in this country, can not be simulated by a game along the lines of these prior devices. This is particularly true because the actual control of the skis is due to movement of the skiers body and rotation of his legs so that a manual control would be only a poor simulation of actual skiing and a direct manipulative control would not be at all representative of actual skiing conditions.
  • an object of our invention to provide a skiing game or training device in which there is an accurate simulation of skiing. Further objects of specific illustrative embodiments of our invention include simulations of actual downhill skiing and water skiing.
  • a ski game wherein a player can determine by an appropriate score his relative skill, wherein as his skill changes he can render the game more, or less difiicult, as by eifectively changing the speed of motion of the simulated skiing, and wherein the nature of the problem presented to him by the game closely approximates one of the forms of skiing competition or one of the tests of skiing ability.
  • an endless surface such as a belt
  • a model of a skier mounted on'an elongated flat support shaped in the form of two skis held adjacent each other. Because this support is elongated, a varying relative motion occurs between the support, i.e., the model of the skier, and the surface; this relative motion is dependent on several factors, but particularly on the difierence between the ease of motion in the direction of the support and in the direction of the motion of the surface. In various embodiments this can be stated as the degree of friction presented to the support by the surface.
  • a mechanical control linkage is interposed between the skier support and the control elements varied by the player so that the player has an indirect control which, however, allows him to control the angular position of the elongated member on the moving surface.
  • This indirect control is obtained by at least a pair of parallel bar control linkages which are interconnected by an intermediate coupling element.
  • This intermediate coupling element and the provision of more than one parallel bar linkage assures that the elongated ski support member has more than one degree of freedom of motion on the moving surface. Accordingly, the support member may assume various angular positions on the surface.
  • One specific linkage that may be advantageously utilized in accordance with our invention comprises a pair of four-bar linkages consisting primarily of a pair of parallel ograms.
  • the bar at one end of thefirst parallelogram is under the immediate control of the user while the bar at the other end of the first parallelogram is rigidly coupled to the first bar of the second parallelogram.
  • the bar at the other end of this second parallelogram is attached to the elongated ski support which is advantageously perpendicular to it.
  • the other sides of the two parallelognams may advantageously be rigid wires through which the motion of the end bars is transmitted.
  • This combination shall be referred to herein as a double parallel linkage with an inner cross-coupling member and the side arms of the parallelograms shall be referred to as the parallel arms.
  • indirect control linkages utilizing an internal rigid coupling member may also be employed, such linkages comprising various pulley or other arrangements whereby the motion of first control wires can be transmitted through the internal coupling member to second control wires which determine the position of a member or bar around an axis which may be considered to be at some point along the member or bar. If a pulley arrangement is utilized then this axis may be the axis about which the control wires rotate the pulley shaft, the axis itself being rigidly connected to an axis of the internal coupling member in turn rigidly connected to an axis on the first member or bar directly responsive to the users control.
  • an endless belt is supported upon two or more rollers, to at least one of which a motor is attached for continuously driving the belt.
  • This moving belt has its upper surface substantially in a single plane at an angle to the horizontal, although, if desired, various uneven humps may be introduced into the surface of the belt.
  • the surface of the moving belt preferably has a deep pile, such as may be provided by carpeting or other material of a rug-like consistency, so as to provide a frictional surface.
  • the inclined surface corresponds to the hill down which the skier will ski while the skier himself is represented by the ski model on the elongated ski support.
  • the hill i.e., the belt, which moves in the direction of the incline and moves, obviously, opposite to the direction apparently taken by the skier model.
  • the skier model itself, in accordance with our invention, has all degrees of motion.
  • the ski support will move across the belt and will also move with or against the motion of the belt, i.e., will appear to travel .downhill at difierent rates of speed.
  • the participant in the game exercises control over the model skier in accordance with these principles as remote control of the angular position of the skier thus permits accurate control of the skier model on the moving surface.
  • This control is exercised by controlling the double parallel linkage attached to the elongated ski model support.
  • in-. vention We provide a scoring mechanism based upon slalom skiing, in order to increase the entertainment value of the game and to provide an objective assessment of the players skill.
  • the slalom competition is based on a race against time over a prescribed course marked by pairs of poles indicating the slalom gates through which the skier must pass.
  • the bottom or a portion of the ski model elongated support is also of a conductive material.
  • the object of this specific embodiment of our game is to achieve the shortest time for an allotted fixed number of total revolutions of the belt while properly passing through all marked slalom gates.
  • Improper passage through a gate is, in accordance with this aspect of our invention, sensed by the electrical contact eifected between the skis and the conductive strips on the moving belt.
  • the scoring may comprise either a direct counting of these improper passages or the adding of an increment of time to the actual elapsed time.
  • a clock mechanism which measures the elapsed time for the number of revolutions of the belt allotted and which also adds a specified increment of time for each contacting of a slalom position pole.
  • the player In order to better his score, the player has to achieve a suilicient amount of skill to pass through all the gates without touching the metallic spots representing slalom poles.
  • Players of difierent and various skills are accorn modated by controlling the speed of the moving belt, several speed settings advantageously being available.
  • the best possible score can only be achieved at the highest speed setting of the machine, indicating the shortest elapsed time to complete the prescribed slalom course, with, of course, no advancements of the clock mechanism due to improper passage through the slalom gates.
  • the moving belt may be replaced by a rotating disc driven by a small battery operated motor.
  • the surface of the disc may be smooth and the desired degree of preference for motion in the direction of the ski supports provided by mounting the ski on small rollers.
  • a double parallel linkage is provided to the ski support, which is linkage is, however, manually controlled from a knob appropriately located on the top of the toy.
  • a lightly loaded spring is attached to the parallel linkage arms and serves to restrain the motion of the skier. No scoring is provided, the player merely observing his successful passages through the slalom gates.
  • the participants skill at water skiing, rather than downhill skiing is tested.
  • the ski model again is positioned on an endless moving surface and the control of the position of the ski model is determined by a triple parallel linkage controlled by the rotation of the players feet, as in actual water skiing.
  • the cross arm of the parallel linkage to whichv the skier is attached is itself subject .to an oscillatory motion, representing the somewhat unpredictable motion of the boat behind which the water skier is being pulled.
  • the test of the water skiers skill in this game is his ability to position the skier model so as to pass over a number of unevenly positioned jumps or raised portions of the endless surface.
  • an electrical switch actuated by the parallel arms attached to the ski models arms, the changein angle of these parallel arms relative to the cross arms of the linkage on a change of angle of the skis, due to the ski model going over the jump, is sensed and counted on a register.
  • the total number ofsuccessful jumps is then a measure of the skiers skill.
  • the speed of motion ofjthe moving belt may be changed to accommodate diflferent degrees of skill. 'Obviously, the faster the belt for thetimed interval of play the more suc- 'cessrul jumps Willbe possible and the higher the score,
  • an elongated strip support member is positioned and controlled as to its angular position with respect to the direction of motion of the movable surface.
  • the surface of the endless surface and the under surface of the elongated strip be such as to provide an easier degree of motion in the direction of the elongated strip than perpendicular thereto.
  • the surface of the moving belt is such as to provide different degrees of friction or resistance to motion of the elongated strip dependent on the angular position of the strip on the surface relative to the motion of the surface.
  • the surface of the endless belt or movable surface may be provided by a deep-pile like member, such as carpeting or a rug-like body.
  • the elongated strip member be connected to a mechanical linkage affording an indirect control of the position of the elongated strip member and enabling more than one degree of freedom of motion of the elongated strip member so as to enable control of the angular position of the strip member on the moving surface.
  • the mechanical linkage include an intermediate coupling member, interconnecting a first linkage to which the elongated strip member is connected and a second linkage to which the players control is applied. More specifically in one specific embodiment of our invention it is a feature that the mechanical linkage comprise a double parallel linkage including two cross-coupled parallelograms or fourbar linkages.
  • the mechanical linkage be controlled remotely and specifically in certain embodiments by the rotation of ski-like elements on which the players feet are positioned, the control thus being by the skiers feet in a manner similar to that of controlling actual skis.
  • the parallel arms of the inner four-bar or parallel linkage be spring loaded to limit the degree of motion of the elongated support member.
  • FIG. 1 Further features of another specific embodiment wherein water skiing is simulated include providing the inner cross member or coupling member of the parallel linkage with a degree of motion of its own; providing that such motion be oscillatory; providing that the surface of the endless belt have periodic raised narrow sloping portions defining jumps over which the skier model is to go; providing a switch actuated by the parallel arms of the inner linkage for detecting the angular variation in the position of the parallel arms when the skier model ascents the jump; registering such closure of the switch; and providing the skier models arms and feet with suflicientfreedom of motion to allow for both the jumps and the sidewise movement of the skier model across the endless belt.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one specific illustrative embodiment of our invention wherein the skill of the participant in downhill, slalom skiing is tested;
  • FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are diagrammatic representations depicting the control of the position of the skier model support on the endless surface in the embodiment of FIG. 1 by the double parallel linkage and the control, in turn, of the double parallel linkage by the position of the users feet;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view across the skier model elongated support member depicting particularly the shape of the member and its cooperation with the pile of the endless surface of the embodiment of FIG. 1 to obtain an effect analogous to the edge effect obtained by skiers in snow;
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the foot support showing details thereof
  • HG. 5 is a schematic representation of the control and scoring circuitries and devices of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another specific illustrative embodiment of our invention comprising an inexpensive toy for simulating downhill slalom skiing;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view or" a third specific embodiment of our invention comprising a device for simulating water skiing;
  • FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the control mechanism, including particularly a triple parallel linkage for the embodiment of FlG. 7;
  • FIGS. 9A and 9B depict details of the ski model and the parallel arms for allowing the model to ascend the jumps and for detecting such ascension of the jumps;
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the linkage crosscoupling member of the embodiment of FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 1 one specific illustrative embodiment of our invention as a slalom downhill skiing game is depicted in FIG. 1.
  • the various elements of the game are mounted in a housing 18 positioned on a base plate ll.
  • the ski model 15 stands on an elongated support member
  • the support member 18 is attached to a cross arm or bar 1% controlled bytwo wires 20, 21 which are arms of a fourbar linkage or a double parallel linkage, as discussed further below particularly with reference to FIG. 2.
  • the support 13 rests on a continuously moving belt 23, moving in the direction of the arrow 24.
  • the player attempts to control the path of the skier 15 on the ski support member 18 downhill," i.e., against the motion of the belt 23 as indicated by the arrow 24 so that the skier passes through slalom gates indicated by the flag poles 26, 27 and 28, 2Q painted on the top of the surface of the belt 23.
  • the poles 26, 2'7 and 28, 29 may be painted on by an electrically conductive paint or may comprise small flexible elements placed on the surface and short enough so as not to interfere with or impede the parallel arms 2%, 21.
  • the slalom gates are electrically defined by the conductive wires 3% on the upper side of the moving belt 23, as discussed further below.
  • a scoring clock 32 may advantageously be a yellow light to alert the player to get ready to play after he starts the game mechanism, as by deposit of a suitable coin, While light 3 may be a. green light to tell him that he should properly control the skier l5 and that the clock 32 is then measuring both the elapsed time of play and also penalty time intervals on improper passage of the skier through a gate.
  • the passageway between the poles, such as 26, 27, is the only path that does not cross, an electrically conductive member which, when contacted by the support member 13, causes a penalty interval to be added to the players time, as described further below with reference to FIG. 5.
  • the players control of the motion of the ski model 15 is entirely indirect and specifically is by means of a double parallel linkage as depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 20.
  • the contiguous surfaces of the endless belt 2? and the elongated ski support lb are such that the ski support has a preferential direction of motion in the direction of'the axis of the ski supportitself as the belt moves. This may be expressed by saying that the surfaces are preferentially frictional, there being a larger degree of friction between the two surfaces for certain angular positions of the elongated support 18 than for others.
  • the angular position of the support lid determines whether the support moves"downhill against the motion of the belt or moves up with the belt; it also determines the sidewise motion of the skier. This control closely approximates that which a skier actually has on downhill skiing.
  • the ski support 18 is shaped in the form of a pair of skis held adjacent each other. While this lends a degree of pictorial verisimilitude to the game, it also has an important bearing on the proper motion of the ski support across and dong the moving belt. This is because the front end of the elongated ski support 18 is v curved upwards, as actual skis are, and, just as actual with skis, this turned up portion prevents the ski support from digging into the surface of the moving belt23.
  • edge control The varying degree of friction between the skis and the snow on a'hill is enhanced by a skiers use of what is known as edge control.
  • edge control This is simulated inthis embodiment ofour invention by providing the ski support membar 18 as seen in cross section in FIG. 3, with side flanges as which depend from the ski support 1.8 andare bent in under it so as to bite into the deep pile 38 of' 3,15e,aoo
  • the coupling member is, however,
  • the energizing bar 43 and thus the first parallel linkage is driven by a selsyn motor 46 responsive, over three wires 47, to the movement of the associated foot control selsyn 48.
  • This latter selsyn is directly driven, as by a belt 59 or other suitable mechanical drive elements with an appropriate drive ratio, from the rotation of the control platform 12 determined by the rotation of the players feet.
  • .latforms i2 and 13 are advantageously coupled together, as by a bar 51. Each, however, pivots about its own axis'and shaft 52 to one of which is attached a pulley 53 for the drive belt 56. As seen in FIG.
  • the shaft 52 may be placed in an aperture and a thrust bearing 54 is provided around the shaft 52 and between the pulley 53 and the base platform ll, while the rear of the platform 12 rests on a steel ball support 56 which rolls over the upper surface of the base platform ill.
  • the upper surface 5?: of the platform 12 is advantageously of a material, geometry, or both to prevent slippage of the users shoe 5'7, while the middle 5'9 of the platforms is of foam rubber.. This allows for a slight tipping of the control platforms as the player bends his ankles and shifts his weight, as inskiing.
  • the double parallel linkage 37 includes an inner four-bar or parallel linkage including bars 1% and db and side parallel arms 2d, 21, advantageously of a thin, rigid wire, and an outer four-baror parallel linkage including bars 39 and and parallel; arms e t and similar to arms Ell and 21.
  • cross bars 39 and ill are rigidly secured to each other, as by a bolt or other riveting member fig they arethus prevented from havthe double parallel linkage 37 and therefore such-an arrangcmentis considerably safer for use in a game apparatus left in a public place.
  • the support In this angular position the support is will offer more resistance to the motion of the belt 23 and will also tend tomove across the belt in the direction shown.
  • the ski model will'seem to ride slightly uphill With'the belt and will move across the belt, as opposed to the models prior motion simply straight downhill relative not only to the belt, but because of the preferred axis 1 of motion, even relative to the stationary housing.
  • the double parallel linkage 3 includes a pair of four-bar linkages in which the links form parallelograms, with a coupling member rigidly connecting the adjacent inner bars or cross members of the parallelograms.
  • This inner coupling member is an important aspect of the linkage and enables the linkage to allord the type of and degree of control desired for our invention.
  • additional four-bar parallelogram linkages could be inserted in the drive or control chain, each parallelogram being similarly rigidly coupled by a cross-coupling member to the adjacent parallelogram.
  • Such an arrangement is depicted in the embodiment of FKG. 8 wherein a triple parallel linkage is employed.
  • FlG. 5 depicts a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuitry for the embodiment of FlG. 1 described above.
  • A.C. power from a usual house supply, is applied, as by a normal house plug, to the input terminals 6t 61.
  • no power is applied to it from terminals 69, 61 as connection to terminal 6i) is prevented by the open contacts l-l or" the P relay, open contacts S1 of the S relay, and open start button ST, all in parallel.
  • the start button ST it is to be understood that this may advantageously comprise inserting a coin into a coin receptable which in turn effects closure of the start button ST.
  • Power supply as advantageously comprises a rectifier, voltage dividers, and rheostat for providing a variety of direct current output voltages: specifically a 24 volt output appears on lead 64 for operating certain relays, as set forth below; a 115 volt output appears on lead 65 and is connected to the field supply of the motor 6'7" which drives the belt 23; and 2. -135 volt output appears on lead 66 and is connected to the motor armature supply. This output is controlled by a variac or rheostat under control of the knob 35 on the side of the housing it as described above, and thus determines the speed of the belt 23.
  • Relay P also closes a locking path for itself through normally open contacts P2; releases a shunt down path for relay S by opening normally closed contacts P3, thereby preparing for subsequent operation of relay S as described further below; causes lighting of the yellow or preparatory lamp 33 by closing contacts Pd; allows a train of pulses 74 to be applied from an alternating current motor-driven interrupter 7'5 over lead 76 to conductor 7'7 to operate clock magnet 78 which in turn controls the ratchet mechanism 79 which advances the clock 32 by closing contacts P5; and by opening normally closed contacts P6 places the ground applied over lead 86 to the stepping magnet SM under control of normally open microswitch 80.
  • the clock 32 When the game is first started, it is to be expected that the clock 32 will have its arm 86 in some position other than the initial zero or vertical position. Accordingly, before any stepping pulses can be applied to the stepping switch 71 to initiate the timed play or" the game, a rapid train of pulses 74 is applied to the clock magnet 73 to advance the clock to its zero position. This position is recognized by cam 90 causing closure of microswitch 86. The next ground pulse on lead 36, as discussed below, then steps the Wiper '72 to the first terminal to operate the S relay.
  • relay is energized so that contacts P6 are opened and the ground can only be applied to the stepping magnet through microswitch 30 when the clock has been returned to its zero position, as discussed above.
  • the next ground appearing on lead 86 is applied to the stepping magnet SM and causes the wiper 72 to advance from the d terminal to the 1 terminal of the switch '71 thereby connecting ground to the S relay winding.
  • the S relay now operates over a path from power supply 63 by means of lead 64, resistance 37, relay winding S, terminal 1 of the stepping switch 71 and Wiper 72 to ground.
  • Relay S in operation closes contacts S1 assuring power being applied from terminals 60, 61; closes contacts S2 to provide its own locking path; closes contacts S3 to light the start or green light 34 to advise the player that his time and movements are now being registered; closes contacts S4 to shunt down the P relay, thereby releasing it; and closes the contacts S5 thereby applying the timed drive pulses 93 over lead S6 to the clock magnet 78 to advance the clock 32, thereby timing the play of the game.
  • the P relay is maintained operated by its locking path over the P2 contacts to assure continuity of power to the equipment from terminals 6%, 61.
  • the P relay operation gives the player at least one preliminary rotation of the belt 23 to practice or get in position before the clock mechanism is returned to its initial position by the pulses 74.
  • ground is applied over lead 86 from sliding contact 82, as described above, to operate the epping magnet SM.
  • a twenty terminal stepping switch of which output terminals 2 through 19 are unconnected.
  • wiper 72 again contacts the 0 terminal, ground is applied by the wiper 72, the 0 terminal, and closed contacts P3 to shunt down the relay S causing its release, thereby removing power from the apparatus on the opening of the S1 contacts.
  • the clock 32 is operated to time the duration of the game, which in turn depends on the setting of the variac control 35 to determine the time required for twenty revolutions of the belt 123.
  • a players ability is measured and scored also by the clock 32.
  • the diode 97 assures that a pulse @3 on lead d6 which may occur after operation of the T relay and before the occurrence of the next pulse 94 does not (lo-energize the T relay and thereby lose the registration of a penalty before the penalty time has been scored on the clock 32'.
  • FIG. 6 depicts another embodiment of our invention which is similar in certain aspects to the just described embodiment but which is arranged as an inexpensive childs toy.
  • the ski model 1% is again supported by an elongated ski support llll which rests on a rotating surface 192, rotating in the clockwise direction as indicatedby the arrow 1493.
  • the surface 102 in rim driven by a small motor, indicated at 1%, whichmay be battery operated as is known in the art through a friction wheel 197.
  • the ski support member 191 has the preferred direction of motion along its own axis by providing four small rollers 99 rigidly affixed beneath the ski support member ithl, two at the front and two at the back.
  • the surface of the rotating plate 162 may now be relatively smooth; Only a portion of this surface is visible through an arcuate aperture 1&5 in a cover plate res.
  • the cover plate we may be formed to represent a hill with trees mounted or painted thereon.
  • a double parallel linkage 198 extends from the ski support 161, which in this instance is a bar of the parallelogram, and includes parallel arms 1%, rigid cross-cou-' pliug member 11%, and parallel arms 111, and rotating member 1152 to which a control handle 113 is attached.
  • Rotating member 112 is attached to the under side of the 7 cover plate 106 and the cover plate also serves to hide the double parallel linkage from view.
  • a lightly biased spring 115 is also attached to the cover plate 1%, as at 136, and to a cross piece 117 slidably positioned on parallel arms llllh, so as not to interfere with their relative motion, to provide a spring bias on the parallel linkage always tending to return the ski model to a centrally located position.
  • slalom skiing is also simulated, poles 119 being painted on the rotating plate 192.
  • no score is kept, the player merely observing visually his ability to control the skier in passing through the slalom gates.
  • a light positioned on the surface of the cover plate 1% could be arranged to be in series with electrical strips defining the gates so that the light is energized either on successful or unsuccessful passage through the gate.
  • this embodiment While we visualize this embodiment as a small toy to be placed on a table or on the floor, advantageously short back legs 12% are provided so that the ski model has a tendency under the pull of gravity to travel down the rotating plate 192 and against the direction of rotation, which tendency is restrained by the spring 115.
  • FIG. 7 there is depicted another specific embodiment of our invention wherein a game or training apparatus simulates water skiing.
  • a game or training apparatus simulates water skiing.
  • a control circuit of the type described above with respect to FIG. 5 may be employed except that the manner of scoring used is different, as set forth hereinafter.
  • a ski model positioned on an elongated ski support member E25 is attached by the parallel arms 126 and 127 of afour-bar parallelogram linkage to a first cross-coupling member 128.
  • the elongated support member is positioned on an endless belt Llfiil advantageously having a deep rug-like pile so that the surface of the belt 136 and the support member 125 provide the desired preferred degree of motion in the direction of motion of the belt 5130, indicated by the arrow 131, rather than across the belt.
  • the skier does'not have the same degree of edge control described above as in downhill snow skiing.
  • the desired frictional differences depending on the angle of the ski support member 128 to the belts motion can be obtained by providing that the undersurface of the elongated support member 128 is of Teflon.
  • the player stands on the control platforms 133, and as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, has an indirect control, by movement of his body, over the angular position of the elongated ski support member 125.
  • Handles 123 are mounted on the frame 124, which may be in the form of The handles 123 merely help the player feel that he is being pulled behind the boat and serve no control purpose. In water skiing, however, the skier has to accommodate himself to the occasional erratic movement of the boat behind which he is being pulled. In
  • the rotation of the control platforms 133, 134 is transmitted, as by selsyn motors are priorly explained, to the bar 145, which is rotatably mounted on the supporting frame 142.
  • bar 145 is depicted as a circular member it is to be understood that the ei'fective bar in the four-bar linkage is defined by the line between the points of attachment of the parallel arms or rods 14 6, 147 to the circular member 145.
  • this linkage is generally referred to as a four-bar or parallelogram linkage, the member M and the various other cross-coupling elements will be referred to herein in terms of the effective bars they define.
  • arms or rods 14-6, 1 17 are attached to an effective bar of a freely-moving cross-coupling member 149. Also attached to member 14-9 are ends of arms or rods 151 so positioned that the effective bar between them is perpendicular to the effec tive bar between arms 146, 1 17. The other ends of the arms 1:39, 151 are attached to the rotatable cross-coupling member 3128, described above.
  • the indirect control linkage of this embodiment includes three parallelogram linkages interconnected by a pair of cross-coupling members.
  • the cross-coupling member 1213 which is part of the linkage including the ski support member 125 as a bar thereof has a further motion imposed upon it by the oscillatory motion imparted to it by the wheel 138.
  • the various positions of the control linkage will not be described at this time.
  • the ski support member 12-5 is itself a bar of the four-bar linkage, which was not the case in the embodiment of PEG. 1, the arms of the skier must be free to pivot or rotate in a horizontal plane, as described further below with reference to FIG. 9.
  • Scoring is determined, in this embodiment, by counting the number of successful jumps, as indicated on a register 15d, within'the allotted time, which may be shown on a timer 155.
  • the player depending on his skill, may also set the speed of the belt 1%, thereby effectively controlling the speed of the boat behind which he is being pulled, by a speed control knob 156.
  • the circuitry involved in these elements may be similar to that described above.
  • the manner of registering the successful passage of the skier over a jump 153 in accordance with another aspect of our invention can be best understood with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
  • FIG. 10 there is depicted an enlarged view of the cross-coupling element 128 which is mounted, as by pivot 136, on the boat element 135.
  • the parallel arms 126, 127 are connected to a cross member 153 by pivots 159, 161) so that the arms 126, 127 can move horizontally during the normal operation of the four-bar parallelogram linkage defined by member 158, arms 126, 127 and the elongated ski support member 125.
  • the member 153 is itself mounted by pins 162, 163 for rotation; the pins 162, 163 extend through or into side pieces 164 mounted, as from an integral plate 165, on the cross-coupling element 128.
  • a finger 167 extends from the member 158; this finger serves two purposes: (l) it carries the plungerlos of a dashpot 169 for damping the motion of the ski support during jumps, as
  • circuit which is not depicted but may take any of a number of forms known in the art, is energized after each jump, that is, on the return of the ski support member 12.; to its normal position on the belt 131.
  • the fingers 167, 172 are, of course, suitably insulated from each other.
  • the dashpot 169 advantageously includes a one-way valve 176, seen in FIG. 9, in the plunger seat 177 so that the seat may be rapidly depressed into the dashpot cylinder, with the valve open, but returns more slowly, with the valve closed.
  • FIG. 9A depicts the ski model 18% positioned on the skis 125 and pivoted at his toes 181 with a spring 182 connected between his legs and the skis 125 to tend to keep the skier in an upright position.
  • the parallel arms 126, 127 are connected to the skier arms 183 which, as described above, are free to pivot horizontally but which cannot move in a vertical direction.
  • the contacts 179, 171 are closed.
  • FIG. 9A when the skier is on the flat portion of the belt 136, the contacts 179, 171 are closed.
  • FIG. 9A when the skier is on the flat portion of the belt 136
  • a game for simulating skiing comprising an endless moving surface, an elongated member positioned on said surface, means including at least one of said surface and said elongated member. for causing said member to be subjected to less frictional resistance as it moves on said surface in the direction of the elongated axis of said member than across said axis, a control member, and control means coupling said control member to said elongated member for providing said elongated member more than one degree of motion in response to said control member and the movement of said surface, said control means comprising indirect mechanical linkage means including two distinct linkage components and a rigid coupling means therebetween, said rigid coupling means itself being free to move both in and against the direction of motion of said moving surface and in the direction transverse to the direction of motion of said moving surface.
  • said means for causing said different frictional resistances includes a rug-like pile on said moving surface.
  • a game in accordance'with claim 3 further comprising spring biasing means connected to the bars coupled to said elongated member.
  • a game for simulating the experience of skiing comprising an endless moving surface, means for moving said surface, an elongated member positioned on said surface. and means for determining the angular position of said member on said surface relative to the direction of motion of said surface and for varying said angular position to determine the actual position or said member on said surface, said determining means including a control element and an indirect mechanical linkage coupling said control element to said elongated member, said indirect mechanical linkage including a first and a second four bar linkage, said control element being coupled to one bar of said first linkage, said elongated member being coupled to one bar of said second linkage, and the bars parallel to said one bar being rigidly connected together, said first linkage extending substantially across the direction of motion of said surface at one end thereof and said second linkage extending substantially in the direction of motion of said surface from said one end thereof.
  • a ski-game comprising an endless moving surface of a material having a deep pile, means for moving said surface, a flat elongated member positioned on said surface and having depending side flanges extending into said pile, an indirect mechanical linkage connected to" said member, and means for controlling said mechanical linkage to determine the angular position of said member on said surface.
  • said indirect mechanical linkage includes a first four-bar parallel linkage, a second four-bar parallel linkage, means for rigidly connecting onebar of each linkage together and at right angles to each othenand means for connecting said elongated member to one bar of a linkage, and
  • controlling means comprises means for controlling the position of one bar of a different linkage under control of the player of the game.
  • a ski'game in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for controlling the position of said one bar under control of the player includes means connected to said one bar of said different linkage and responsive to the position of the players feet.
  • a ski-game comprising an endless belt positioned at an incline to the horizontal and having a rug-like pile, means for movingsaid belt, means for varying the speed of said belt, a flat elongated member positioned on said belt, saidelongated member having edge portions depending therefrom and bent under saidmember to bite into said pile, said edge portions causing said members to be subject to less frictional resistance to motion in the direction of the axis of said members than perpendicular to' said axis, and means including a double parallel linkage for determining the angular position of said member on said belt for varying said angular position to move said member across said belt.
  • a ski-game comprising an endless moving surface, means for moving said surface, a frat elongated member on said surface, said member and said surface 1n combillation caus s'sa d member to be subject to dilterent ill iii
  • a ski-game comprising an endless moving surface, means for moving said surface, a fiat elongated member on said surface, at least one of said member and said surface causing said member to be subject to less frictional resistance to motion in the direction of the axis of said elongated member'than across said axis, means in cluding a double mechanical linkage for determining the angular position of said member on said surface, control means responsive to the position of the players feet, means interconnecting said control means and said double mechanical linkage, conductive elements on said surface and between which said elongated member is to be directed, a clock, means including a first relay and first contacts thereon for applying resetting pulses to said clock on initiation of play of the game, stepping means for determining the number of revolutions of said endless moving surface allowed the player, means including second contacts on said first relay for preventing operation of said stepping means until said clock is reset, a second relay operated on initial operation of said stepping means, means including contacts on said second relay for applying timed pulses to advance
  • said indirect mechanical linkage includes a first distinct linkage portion extending substantially perpendicular to the direction of saidinclined moving surface and adjacent the lower end thereof, a second distinct linkage portion extending from said lower end up said inclined surface, and a rigid cross-coupling member interconnecting said first and second linkage portions.
  • a game in accordance with claim 6 further comprising independent pivot means for each of said rotatable rnoving surface and having its lower surface resting on said moving surface, a pair of control platforms on which thepl'ayer'stands, and means for transmitting the movements of the players legs from the platforms to the flat elongated member, said control transmitting, means including an indirect mechanical linkage including a first and a second linkage component and a rigid member interconnecting said linkage components, said rigid member having degrees of freedom relative fto both the direction of motion of said moving surface and the direction perpendicular tosaid first mentioned'direction whereby said flat elongated member can both traverse said moving said surface.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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US157354A 1961-12-06 1961-12-06 Game apparatus for simulating skiing Expired - Lifetime US3159400A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB967118D GB967118A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1961-12-06
US157354A US3159400A (en) 1961-12-06 1961-12-06 Game apparatus for simulating skiing
FR913797A FR1347732A (fr) 1961-12-06 1962-10-29 Appareil récréatif, en particulier simulant la pratique du ski sur neige ou nautique
CH1273362A CH406932A (de) 1961-12-06 1962-10-30 Trainings- und Spielvorrichtung
US358327A US3273889A (en) 1961-12-06 1964-04-08 Game apparatus for simulating skiing

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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US157354A US3159400A (en) 1961-12-06 1961-12-06 Game apparatus for simulating skiing

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US3159400A true US3159400A (en) 1964-12-01

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US157354A Expired - Lifetime US3159400A (en) 1961-12-06 1961-12-06 Game apparatus for simulating skiing

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US (1) US3159400A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH406932A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1347732A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB967118A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3266802A (en) * 1963-03-18 1966-08-16 Balanyi Leslie Slalom race game
US3408067A (en) * 1966-05-19 1968-10-29 Raymond E. Armstrong Sking simulator device
US3489408A (en) * 1965-07-13 1970-01-13 Harold E Goodrich Simulated surf and surfboard
US3658336A (en) * 1970-06-03 1972-04-25 Caroline Wilke Knapp Board game apparatus
US3814417A (en) * 1971-08-20 1974-06-04 Mogul Leisure Prod Ltd Ski and ski practice machine
US4074903A (en) * 1976-07-08 1978-02-21 Diez De Aux Alphonzo Snow skiing simulation apparatus
US4092787A (en) * 1976-05-13 1978-06-06 Adolf Kaempfen Apparatus for teaching the execution of a ski turn on skis
US4231571A (en) * 1977-12-28 1980-11-04 Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc. Portable obstacle toy
US4244143A (en) * 1978-10-10 1981-01-13 Scully Terrence A Highway game
US4278095A (en) * 1977-09-12 1981-07-14 Lapeyre Pierre A Exercise monitor system and method
US4340219A (en) * 1980-10-17 1982-07-20 Isamu Saito Toy wth interlocking object and obstacle
US4448413A (en) * 1983-02-03 1984-05-15 David Weindel Amusement game device
US4544153A (en) * 1984-11-05 1985-10-01 Babcock Michael A Slalom waterskiing simulator
US4629181A (en) * 1983-07-21 1986-12-16 Krive Irwin M Multi-directional movement leg exerciser
US4709917A (en) * 1982-09-03 1987-12-01 Yang Tai Her Mock bicycle for exercise and training effects
US5318488A (en) * 1992-10-26 1994-06-07 Michael Anthony Babcock Waterskiing simulator
USRE34728E (en) * 1988-12-20 1994-09-13 Heartbeat Corp. Video game difficulty level adjuster dependent upon player's aerobic activity level during exercise
US5362069A (en) * 1992-12-03 1994-11-08 Heartbeat Corporation Combination exercise device/video game
US5713794A (en) * 1995-06-22 1998-02-03 Namco Ltd. Simulator controlling device
US6368217B2 (en) * 1997-02-14 2002-04-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises Input device, data processing device, data processing method, game device and medium
US7401786B2 (en) * 2001-01-24 2008-07-22 Light Wave, Ltd. Surf toy action figure and simulated surfing game
US20150126337A1 (en) * 2012-05-11 2015-05-07 Miroslav POPOV Lateral Foot Sliding Mechanism

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US1436935A (en) * 1921-02-14 1922-11-28 Bigmore Cyril Frederick Mechanical race-game apparatus
US2038059A (en) * 1935-01-17 1936-04-21 Bendix Aviat Corp Instrument for transmitting angular movement
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US2673421A (en) * 1949-10-12 1954-03-30 John J Leonard Magnetic figure toy
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US2743068A (en) * 1952-05-02 1956-04-24 American Junior Aircraft Compa Adjustable spool type control for miniature airplane

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE339241C (de) * 1921-07-19 Wilhelm Kampe Wettrennspiel
US1436935A (en) * 1921-02-14 1922-11-28 Bigmore Cyril Frederick Mechanical race-game apparatus
GB446214A (en) * 1934-02-09 1936-04-27 Marcel Billon Testing apparatus for vehicle drivers
US2038059A (en) * 1935-01-17 1936-04-21 Bendix Aviat Corp Instrument for transmitting angular movement
US2148828A (en) * 1936-10-09 1939-02-28 Myers Mark Coin-freed game apparatus
US2251927A (en) * 1937-05-11 1941-08-12 Firm Riddell Skislide Company Slide for sport, amusement, and artistic purposes
US2265598A (en) * 1941-01-21 1941-12-09 Internat Mutoscope Reel Co Inc Game apparatus
US2527274A (en) * 1947-05-28 1950-10-24 Harry T Mcintyre Ratio control for captive airplanes
US2673421A (en) * 1949-10-12 1954-03-30 John J Leonard Magnetic figure toy
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US2743068A (en) * 1952-05-02 1956-04-24 American Junior Aircraft Compa Adjustable spool type control for miniature airplane

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3266802A (en) * 1963-03-18 1966-08-16 Balanyi Leslie Slalom race game
US3489408A (en) * 1965-07-13 1970-01-13 Harold E Goodrich Simulated surf and surfboard
US3408067A (en) * 1966-05-19 1968-10-29 Raymond E. Armstrong Sking simulator device
US3658336A (en) * 1970-06-03 1972-04-25 Caroline Wilke Knapp Board game apparatus
US3814417A (en) * 1971-08-20 1974-06-04 Mogul Leisure Prod Ltd Ski and ski practice machine
US4092787A (en) * 1976-05-13 1978-06-06 Adolf Kaempfen Apparatus for teaching the execution of a ski turn on skis
US4074903A (en) * 1976-07-08 1978-02-21 Diez De Aux Alphonzo Snow skiing simulation apparatus
US4278095A (en) * 1977-09-12 1981-07-14 Lapeyre Pierre A Exercise monitor system and method
US4231571A (en) * 1977-12-28 1980-11-04 Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc. Portable obstacle toy
US4352493A (en) * 1977-12-28 1982-10-05 Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc. Portable obstacle toy
US4244143A (en) * 1978-10-10 1981-01-13 Scully Terrence A Highway game
US4340219A (en) * 1980-10-17 1982-07-20 Isamu Saito Toy wth interlocking object and obstacle
US4709917A (en) * 1982-09-03 1987-12-01 Yang Tai Her Mock bicycle for exercise and training effects
US4448413A (en) * 1983-02-03 1984-05-15 David Weindel Amusement game device
US4629181A (en) * 1983-07-21 1986-12-16 Krive Irwin M Multi-directional movement leg exerciser
US4544153A (en) * 1984-11-05 1985-10-01 Babcock Michael A Slalom waterskiing simulator
USRE34728E (en) * 1988-12-20 1994-09-13 Heartbeat Corp. Video game difficulty level adjuster dependent upon player's aerobic activity level during exercise
US5318488A (en) * 1992-10-26 1994-06-07 Michael Anthony Babcock Waterskiing simulator
US5362069A (en) * 1992-12-03 1994-11-08 Heartbeat Corporation Combination exercise device/video game
US5713794A (en) * 1995-06-22 1998-02-03 Namco Ltd. Simulator controlling device
US6022272A (en) * 1995-06-22 2000-02-08 Namco Ltd. Sliding simulator and game apparatus using the same
US6368217B2 (en) * 1997-02-14 2002-04-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises Input device, data processing device, data processing method, game device and medium
US7401786B2 (en) * 2001-01-24 2008-07-22 Light Wave, Ltd. Surf toy action figure and simulated surfing game
US7513504B2 (en) * 2001-01-24 2009-04-07 Light Wave, Ltd. Surf toy action figure and simulated surfing game
US20150126337A1 (en) * 2012-05-11 2015-05-07 Miroslav POPOV Lateral Foot Sliding Mechanism
US9393456B2 (en) * 2012-05-11 2016-07-19 Miroslav POPOV Lateral foot sliding mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB967118A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH406932A (de) 1966-01-31
FR1347732A (fr) 1964-01-04

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