U.S. patent number 3,722,884 [Application Number 05/184,813] was granted by the patent office on 1973-03-27 for frontally raiseable vehicles amusement apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bally Manufacturing Corp.. Invention is credited to Richard L. Brown.
United States Patent |
3,722,884 |
Brown |
March 27, 1973 |
FRONTALLY RAISEABLE VEHICLES AMUSEMENT APPARATUS
Abstract
There is provided amusement apparatus comprising a miniature
simulated vehicle positioned within an upright hollow housing, and
remotely controllable by a rearwardly externally positioned
operator, the apparatus vehicle simulating the front-end raising or
"wheelie" effect of a typical land-vehicle as it might rapidly
traverse inclined or uneven terrain whereby pronounced vertical
accelerations are subjectable thereto (and especially evident at
the land-vehicle's forward-portion). The amusement apparatus also
preferably includes a simulated-terrain drum located within the
housing frame, means a drive wheel on the the vehicle frictionally
engaging the drum for causing relative longitudinal velocity
between the simulated-terrain and vehicle, protuberences on the
drum extending between the vehicle and the simulated-terrain for
vertically upwardly accelerating the vehicle such that the
forward-portion thereof pivots upwardly, or "wheelies," about its
rearward-portion, and operator remote control steering linkage to
steer the vehicle around the protuberances or preventing, or at
least minimizing, vertical accelerations to the vehicle
forward-portion, and a cable for rehabilitating an immobilized
upended vehicle.
Inventors: |
Brown; Richard L. (Bellevue,
NB) |
Assignee: |
Bally Manufacturing Corp.
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
22678446 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/184,813 |
Filed: |
September 29, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/442;
434/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G
31/16 (20130101); G09B 9/058 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63G
31/00 (20060101); G09B 9/04 (20060101); G09B
9/058 (20060101); A63f 009/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/1E,1M |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Shapiro; Paul E.
Claims
I claim:
1. An amusement apparatus simulating the raising effect upon the
forward-portion of a typical forwardly traverseable land-vehicle as
a said land-vehicle is thereby subjected to vectorially vertical
acceleration forces relative to underlying terrain, said amusement
apparatus comprising:
A. an upright hollow housing as a frame for the apparatus and
including a rearward part with a light transmissive opening
therethrough whereby an operator positioned immediately rearwardly
of the housing might have a view forwardly into the housing
interior;
B. a simulated-terrain located within said housing and viewable
through the said rearward part opening, said simulated-terrain
extending in longitudinal direction generally forwardly of the
housing open rearward part;
C. a surface vehicle and including along the lengthwise-axis
thereof a vehicle forward-portion and an integrally connected
rearward-portion that intersects a transversely extending
rear-axis, said vehicle having relative to the longitudinal
direction of the simulated-terrain a relatively stable
normal-condition wherein the vehicle lengthwise-axis extends in the
simulated-terrain longitudinal direction and wherein the vehicle
forward-portion is at a relatively low normal first-station, said
vehicle commencing at the said first-station being upwardly and
rearwardly pivotable, axially with respect to the vehicle's
rear-axis, whereby the vehicle is capable of performing a frontally
raiseable "wheelie;"
D. means for causing longitudinally extending relative velocity
between the vehicle and the underlying simulated-terrain; and
E. means operatively extending between the vehicle and the
simulated-terrain for accelerating the vehicle-forward-portion
vertically away from the first-station thereof, said vehicle
forward-portion vertical acceleration means being remotely
controllable by the apparatus operator from the housing rearward
part.
2. The frontally raiseable vehicle amusement apparatus of claim 1
wherein the hollow housing frame includes an upright rear-panel as
the rearward part thereof; wherein the simulated-terrain is an
inclined slope extending in longitudinal direction generally
upwardly and forwardly with respect to the housing rear-panel;
wherein the vehicle lengthwise-axis at vehicle normal-condition
extends generally forwardly and upwardly with respect to the
housing upright rear-panel and wherein the vehicle
center-of-gravity is located forwardly of the rear-axis thereof;
wherein the vehicle at the transversely extending rear-axis thereof
is pivotably associated with respect to the housing; and wherein
the vertical acceleration means operatively extending between the
simulated-terrain inclined slope and the vehicle includes
slope-to-vehicle vertical acceleration means.
3. The frontally raiseable vehicle amusement apparatus of claim 2
wherein the vehicle-to-slope vertical acceleration means comprises
at least one pronounced upward protuberance on the inclined slope,
the vehicle forward-portion being of a depending configuration and
adapted to abuttably collide with said slope protuberance; and
wherein there are steering control means at the housing rear-panel
and operatively extending therefrom to the surface vehicle whereby
the operator can transversely steer the vehicle to avoid collision
between a said slope protuberance and the vehicle depending
forward-portion.
4. The frontally raiseable vehicle amusement apparatus of claim 2
wherein the vehicle comprises at least one rearward drive-wheel
that revolvably surrounds said rear-axis and that is firmly
abuttable against said inclined slope; powering means to cause said
rearward drive-wheel to rotate about the vehicle rear-axis and
within a selectable continuum of angular velocities, higher torques
thereby applied to the drive-wheel while rotatably abutting the
slope providing a vehicle-to-slope vertical acceleration means
sufficient to raise the vehicle forward-portion away from the
normal first-station thereof; and means at the housing rear-panel
to permit the operator to selectively continuously vary the angular
speed of the drive-wheel through the powering means.
5. The amusement apparatus of claim 4 wherein there is within the
hollow housing a generally cylindrical drum revolvable about a
transversely extending drum-axis, the forward-upper portions of
said drum providing the longitudinally extending simulated inclined
slope; wherein the powering means for the rearward drive-wheel
comprises an electric motor carried by said surface vehicle; and
wherein the rearward drive-wheel frictionally abuts the revolvable
drum whereby said drum and drive-wheel rotate in opposite angular
directions to provide the longitudinal relative velocity between
the vehicle and the drum type slope.
6. The amusement apparatus of claim 5 wherein the revolvable drum
includes at least one pronounced upward protuberance, the vehicle
forward-portion being of a depending configuration and being
adapted at the vehicle normal-condition to abuttably collide with a
said drum protuberance; and wherein there are means at the housing
rear-panel and manupulatable independently of the drive-wheel
controlling velocity means to transversely steer the vehicle away
from the said at least one drum protuberance.
7. The amusement apparatus of claim 6 wherein the vehicle is a
simulated motorcycle having a depending front-tire as the depending
forward-portion thereof and having single rearward drive-wheel
revolvably surrounding the vehicle rear-axis; wherein the means for
pivotably associating the vehicle with respect to the housing
includes an elongated parallelogram linkage attached to the housing
rear-panel and extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom and
pivotable connected to the vehicle on opposite transverse sides of
the rearward drive-wheel, rearward portions of said parallelogram
linkage being connected to the steering control means; and wherein
there are means for automatically extinguishing the relative
longitudinal velocity between the vehicle at an upended-condition
thereof and the drum type slope and comprising an on-off type
switch that is deactuated from "on" to "off" as the
upwardly-rearwardly pivotal vehicle attains the upended-condition,
said on-off switch means being attached to one of the elongate arms
of said parallelogram linkage, together with an elongate spring
connected to the vehicle rearward-portion and extending
rearwardly-downwardly therefrom to the said on-off switch
means.
8. The amusement apparatus of claim 2 wherein the said pivotably
supported vehicle has at least two stable conditions including, in
addition to the said normal-condition, an upended-condition wherein
the forward-portion is at a second-station that is rearwardly and
upwardly withdrawn from the lower first-station and wherein the
vehicle's center-of-gravity is located rearwardly of the vehicle
rear-axis; means for automatically extinguishing the longitudinal
relative velocity between the vehicle and the inclined slope as the
vehicle has moved from normal-condition to upended-condition; and
wherein there are means at the housing rear-panel to permit the
external operator to restore the vehicle from upended-condition to
normal-condition and to then reinstate a longitudinal relative
velocity between the vehicle and the inclined slope.
9. The amusement apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vehicle rear-axis
is of substantially constant elevation; wherein the hollow housing
has therewithin a generally cylindrical drum that is revolvable
about a transversely extending drum-axis, upper-rearward portions
of said drum providing the longitudinally extending simulated
inclined slope whereby said revolvable drum also comprises the
longitudinal relative velocity means between the vehicle and the
drum type simulated inclined slope; and wherein the means for
automatically extinguishing the longitudinal relative velocity
between the vehicle at upended-condition and the drum type inclined
slope comprises an on-off type switch being deactuated from "on" to
"off" as the upwardly-rearwardly pivotable vehicle attains the
upended-condition, said on-off switch at "off" condition ultimately
disabling the drum from rotating about the transversely extending
drum-axis.
10. The amusement apparatus of claim 9 wherein the vehicle
comprises at least one rearward drive-wheel that revolvably
surrounds said rear-axis and that is firmly frictionally abuttable
against said revolvable drum; an electric motor carried by said
vehicle and actuatably connected to the rearward drive-wheel to
cause said drive-wheel to rotate about the vehicle rear-axis
thereby providing together with the frictionally engaged drum both
the longitudinal relative velocity means between the vehicle and
the drum type inclined slope and also a vehicle-to-slope vertical
acceleration means at higher drive-wheel torques sufficient to
provide a vehicle "wheelie."
11. An amusement apparatus simulating the raising effect upon the
forward-portion of a typical forwardly traverseable land-vehicle as
a said land-vehicle is thereby subjected to vectorially vertical
accelerations relative to the underlying terrain, said amusement
apparatus comprising:
A. a frame member including a rearward part thereof;
B. a longitudinally forwardly and upwardly extending
simulated-terrain attached to said frame member;
C. a surface vehicle and including along the lengthwise-axis
thereof a vehicle forward-portion and an integrally connected
rearward-portion that intersects a transversely extending
rear-axis, said vehicle having relative to the longitudinally
extending direction of the simulated-terrain a normal-condition
wherein the vehicle lengthwise-axis extends in the
simulated-terrain longitudinal direction and wherein the vehicle
forward-portion is at a relatively low normal first-station, said
vehicle commencing at the first-station thereof being upwardly and
rearwardly pivotable axially with respect to the vehicle's
rear-axis whereby the vehicle is capable of performing a frontally
raiseable "wheelie;"
D. means for causing longitudinally extending relative velocity
between the vehicle and the underlying simulated terrain; and means
for automatically extinguishing the said vehicle to terrain
relative velocity as said vehicle attains an upended-condition;
and
E. means operatively extending between the vehicle and the
underlying simulated-terrain for accelerating the vehicle
forward-portion vertically away from the first-station thereof,
said forward-portion vertical acceleration means being remotely
controllable by an apparatus operator located rearwardly of said
frame.
Description
It is a well known principle of dynamics science that when a
land-vehicle, such as motorcycles, rear-wheel drive automobiles,
etc., forwardly rapidly traverses along the underlying terrain, the
land-vehicle forward-portion can be coincidentally subjected to
vectorially vertical upward accelerations. Such coincidental
vertical accelerations will tend to, and oftentimes actually do,
raise the land-vehicle's forward-portion right off the underlying
terrain. For example, one such type vertical acceleration might be
induced when the forwardly moving land-vehicle's depending
forward-portion collides with a bump, a rock, or other upwardly
extending terrain aberation or protuberance. Similarly, when higher
angular accelerations are applied to the land-vehicle's rearward
drive-wheel(s), the resultant high torques can also produce such
front-end raising phenomenon. When the underlying terrain is an
upwardly inclined slope, the front-end raising phenomenon, which is
oftentimes referred to as a "wheelie," is especially likely to
occur, through either terrain upward protuberances, or the
drive-wheel(s) torque, or both together. With either such
acceleration-induced front-end raising or "wheelie," higher degrees
thereof can raise the forward-portion to such extent that the
land-vehicle's center-of-gravity becomes positioned rearwardly of
the rear-axle and the land-vehicle has become "stopped,"
uncontrollable, or otherwise temporarily immobilized and unable to
continue forwardly.
The front-end raising or "wheelie" phenomenon offers a thrilling
experience to operators of motorcycles and other highly powered
land-vehicles, to the extent that many participants and spectators
have been attracted thereto. For example, there are "drag" races on
relatively flat terrain. In vehicle hill climb contests as with
motorcycles and other highly powered land-vehicles, highly
experienced participants race against each other or against the
clock, in climbing the terrain, their ascent velocity being limited
by the "wheelie" effect. However, many would-be participants have
been deterred therefrom because of the danger associated with such
endeavor, or by the capital investment required for the specially
high powered land-vehicles, or by the fact that the special
terrains reserved for such activity are relatively few in number or
geographically remote from populated areas.
It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to
provide an amusement apparatus of the type comprising a miniature
simulated vehicle positioned within an external frame such as an
upright hollow housing wherein the rearwardly externally positioned
apparatus operator can realistically vicariously participate in the
thrilling experience of the front-end raising or "wheelie" of a
rapidly forwardly moving land-vehicle, the vicarious participation
being through the miniature vehicle and an underlying housed
simulated-terrain.
It is another object to provide an amusement apparatus wherein the
miniature vehicle is so positioned and supported with respect to a
housed simulated inclined slope that the vehicle forward-portion is
subjectable to vertically upward acceleration forces very similar
to that of a full size land-vehicle rapidly climbing inclined
terrain.
It is a further object to provide an amusement apparatus wherein
the operator can remotely control the miniature vehicle so as to
participate in a simulated hill climb race, his ascent rate being
realistically limited by the vehicle "wheelie" effect and by the
operator's ability to minimize or to avoid the front-end raising
"wheelie" phenomenon.
It is yet another object to provide an amusement apparatus amenable
to the inclusion of score keeping means therewith to award score to
the operator for his ability to hill climb at a rapid velocity, and
dependent upon his ability to minimize the "wheelie" phenomen
occurring at higher relative velocities between the
simulated-terrain and the mianiature vehicle associated
therewith.
It is a further object to provide an amusement apparatus wherein
the simulated rapidly forwardly moving vehicle is subjectable to
one or both types of the vertical accelerations that can provide
the front-end raising or "wheelie" phenomenon, wherein the remotely
positioned operator can make compensatory adjustment during minor
"wheelies" to prevent vehicle immobilization, and wherein the
operator, if a "wheelie" is severe in amplitude to temporarily
immobilize the vehicle, can take corrective action (though with
score or time penalty) to re-stabilize the vehicle and to resume
the vehicle race.
With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will
become more apparent as this description proceeds, the amusement
apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a suitable
frame member having a simulated miniature vehicle and underlying
simulated-terrain in conjunction therewith and viewable to an
operator positioned rearwardly externally of the frame, means for
causing relative longitudinal velocity between the vehicle and
simulated-terrain and means operatively extending between the
vehicle and terrain for vertically accelerating the vehicle
forward-portion upwardly away from the simulated-terrain to provide
the front-end raising or "wheelie" phenomenon, and means at the
frame rearward part to allow the operator to remotely control the
said relative longitudinal velocity and also the said vertical
acceleration, and preferably also to remotely rehabilitate
"wheelie" immobilized upended-conditions of the miniature
vehicle.
In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the
several views, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative form of the
amusement apparatus of the present invention, rearward and lateral
portions of a hollow housing type frame being broken away to shown
certain internal constructional details.
FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 2--2 of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along a longitudinally
extending line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
Referring initially and briefly to FIG. 1, which illiustates in
perspective view a preferred embodiment "A" of the frontally
raiseable vehicles amusement apparatus of the present invention.
Apparatus "A" generally comprises: a frame herein as an upright
hollow housing 10 including an upright rear-panel 11 having a light
transmissive opening 18 whereby an external operator might view
into the housing interior; an inclined slope simulated-terrain
located within housing 10, said slope being herein provided by
revolvable drum 20, the drum's upper-rearward quadrant being
viewable to the operator and providing a forwardly-upwardly
longitudinally extending inclined slope 20A; a miniature surface
vehicle 40 located within and herein attached to housing 10 and
located immediately above the inclined slope (20A), said vehicle
being pivotable upwardly about its rearward-portion(41), which
remains at relatively constant elevation; means for causing
relative longitudinal velocity between the slope and vehicle,
herein as a relatively stationary vehicle 40 and the revolving drum
20; means operatively extending between the vehicle and
simulated-terrain slope for accelerating the vehicle
forward-portion (49) vertically upwardly and away from the inclined
slope, such as through the vehicle's angularly acceleratable rear
drive-wheel(s) firmly contacting slope 20A, or drum upward
protuberances (29) adapted to collide with the vehicle depending
forward-portion (49); and means, such as at manual controls 30,
whereby the operator from the housing rear-panel 11 can control the
vehicle-to-slope relative longitudinal velocity and vertical
acceleration.
Upright hollow housing 10 comprises a plurality of interconnected
panels 11-16, herein as a pair of horizontal rectangular planar
panels including a roof-panel 15 loftily overlying a floor-panel
16, a vertical rectangular planar front-panel 12, a pair of
vertical generally rectangular planar lateral-panels including
left-panel 13 and right-panel 14, and a generally vertically
extending rear-panel 11. A plurality of legs 17, herein four in
number, depend from the respective corners of floor-panel 16 to
elevate the relatively stationary housing 10 above an underlying
substrate (not shown). A scoreboard 19 is shown supported upon
housing roof-panel 15. Rear-panel 11 comprises four rectangular
planar sections including a vertical upper-section 11A that
provides the major height of rear-panel 11, a second-section 11B
extending obliquely forwardly-downwardly of the upper-section lower
horizontal terminus, a fourth-section 11D extending vertically
upwardly from floor-panel 16, and a third-section 11C extending
obliquely forwardly-upwardly of the fourth-section upper horizontal
terminus to intersect the second-section 11B. The steering column
portion 31 of manual controls 30 extends obliquely
upwardly-rearwardly of third-section 11C and is revolvably secured
thereto, whereby the steering column lower terminus (at 39) is
located within housing 10. The light transmissive opening of
rear-panel 11 herein takes the form of a rectangular opening 18 in
upper-section 11A.
There is herein an inclined slope as a simulated-terrain located
within housing 10 and viewable to a rearwardly externally
positioned operator as he peers forwardly through the rear-panel
opening, e.g., 18. While the simulated inclined slope might be
provided in various ways, the revolvable drum embodiment is
preferred. For example, there is a generally cylindrical drum 20
revolvable about a transversely extending horizontal drum-axis 21.
Herein, revolvable drum 20 comprises a horizontal drum-axle 22
(extending transversely along drum-axis 21) and being revolvably
supported at the respective lateral-panels 13 and 14. Revolvable
drum 20 also includes an annular portion 25 that circularly
surrounds drum-axis 21 to provide a cylindrical drum surface,
annulus 25 being connected to drum-axle 22 with radially extending
ribs 22A. Drum 20 has a left end 23 nearer housing left-panel 13
and a right end 24 nearer to housing right-panel 14 whereby the
transverse width 23-24 of drum 20 is wider than the rear-panel
opening 18. As had been alluded to earlier, the rearward-upper
quadrant 20A of revolvable drum 20, which quadrant is seen through
the rear-panel opening 18, provides a longitudinally
forwardly-upwardly extending simulated inclined slope which also
has a transversely extending width (such as 23-24). The simulated
slope 20A might be visually defined lengthwise by a pair of
transversely extending opaque masks located within housing 10 at
opening 18. Herein, there is an upwardly extending lower-mask 26
connected to rear-panel upper-section 11A, and an upper-mask 27
extending rearwardly-downwardly of roof-panel 15. Thus, if the
miniature vehicle, e.g., 40, be relatively stationary
longitudinally, and if the drum 20 were made to rotate about
drum-axis 21 (as toward rear-panel 11), then such relative
longitudinal velocity between slope to vehicle would make it appear
to the rearwardly positioned operator that vehicle 40 is traveling
longitudinally forwardly along the simulated-terrain 20A. Though
less preferred for the purposes herein, relative longitudinal
velocity means between the simulated-terrain and vehicle could also
be provided with a longitudinally forwardly movable vehicle.
The general concept of this invention relates to amusement
apparatus wherein a rearwardly remotely controlled miniature
vehicle is subjected to the front-end raising or "wheelie"
phenomenon. In this vein, there are vertical acceleration means
operatively extending between the miniature vehicle and the
underlying simulated-terrain so that the vehicle's forward-portion
is caused to raise, i.e., to lift, vertically away from the
simulated-terrain(the vehicle's rearward-portion being relatively
unaffected elevationally by such front-end raising vertical
acceleration forces). The miniature vehicle, herein as a simulated
longitudinally extending motorcycle 40, has a rearward-portion such
as rearward drive-wheel 42 surrounding the vehicle's rear-axis 41.
Moreover, the vehicle has a forward-portion (herein having a
front-tire 49 as the vehicle's depending forward terminus)
extending longitudinally forwardly of rearward-portion 41-42.
Assuming that the vehicle is so associated with the frame (as
through longitudinally extending parallel arms 53 and 54 attached
to housing 10) that the vehicle at its rear-axis 41 remains of
substantially constant elevation, then the slope-to-vehicle
vertical acceleration means might be provided in one or both of the
two following ways. In the first type, the vertical acceleration to
the vehicle forward-portion is caused when a high impact collision
occurs between the vehicle depending forward end (49) and an
upwardly extending protuberance (29) on the simulated-terrain. This
would simulate the situation when a full size land-vehicle strikes
a rock or a sharp mound as it forwardly traverses a pathway. In
this vein, the drum cylindrical surface 25 might be provided with
one or more sharp bulges or protuberances 29 adapted to strike the
vehicle's depending front-tire 49. In the second type, the vertical
acceleration to the vehicle forward-portion is caused when the
vehicle's rearward drive-wheel(s), during rapid angular
acceleration, produces sufficiently high torque about the vehicle
rear-axis 41. In this vein herein, there are powering means, such
as electric motor 45, to provide a continuum of selectable angular
velocities to drive-wheel 42, which drive-wheel frictionally abuts
against the directionally oppositely revolvable drum 20 at 20A.
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the motorcycle
type miniature vehicle 40 generally comprises a transversely
extending horizontal rear-axis 41, a rearward tire drive-wheel 42
revolvably surrounding a rear-axis 41 (having rear-axle 41A
therealong), a vehicle forward-portion extending longitudinally
forwardly and upwardly of the vehicle rearward-portion 41-42 along
the vehicle lengthwise-axis 40A. The vehicle forward-portion
includes a longitudinally extending rigid frame 40F having the
vehicle's center-of-gravity "CG" or "X" therealong and having as a
forward terminus the depending front-tire 49. Vehicle 40 is
pivotably attached to housing 10 as through a pair of
longitudinally extending parallel elongate arms 53 and 54, the
forward extremities of arms 53 and 54 being pivotably attached with
pins 51 and 52 to the non-rotatable collars 44 which are attached
to the two respective ends of vehicle rear-axle 41A. The depending
rearward ends 55 and 56 of the respective arms 53 and 54 are
revolvably secured to the respective transversely extending wings
61 and 62 of T-bar 60. A central portion of T-bar 60 is pivotably
attached with a vertical pin 63 to a forward part of bracket 64
that is attached to and extends forwardly and upwardly of
rear-panel 11 from beneath lower-mask 26. Thus, as can be seen in
solid line in FIG. 2, the miniature motorcycle vehicle 40 has a
relatively stable lower normal-condition wherein the
lengthwise-axis 40A extends in the simulated-terrain longitudinal
direction and wherein the vehicle forward-portion is at a
relatively low normal first-station (such as when front-tire 49
abuts slope 20A). It is evident from the drawing that arms 53 and
54, bracket 64, lower-mask 26, section line 3-3, and the vehicle
lengthwise-axis 40A (when the vehicle is at normal-condition) are
substantially parallel to each other and extend in the upwardly and
forwardly longitudinal direction. However, during the front-end
raising or "wheelie," the simulated vehicle forward-portion and
including lengthwise-axis 40A pivots upwardly and rearwardly as at
42 about its substantially constant elevation rear-axis 41. As best
seen in phantom line in FIG. 2, the miniature vehicle under
progressively higher "wheelie" amplitudes, might ultimately reach
another stable condition (herein called the upended-condition)
wherein the vehicle's center-of-gravity is located rearwardly of
the vehicle rear-axis 41. The vehicle phantom line
upended-condition is analagous to the situation where a full size
typical land-vehicle becomes temporarily immobilized by a severe
"wheelie" such that its forward progress is stopped until the
operator takes drastic corrective action.
As had been alluded to earlier, a collision between a drum
protuberance (29) and the miniature vehicle depending
forward-portion (49) can produce the "wheelie" phenomenon.
Moreover, a severe such collision, as when drum 20 is rotating at
higher velocities, can cause such vehicle to reach the
upended-condition. In order to avoid the "disastrous"
upended-condition, there are means to permit the remotely
rearwardly positioned operator to transversely steer the miniature
vehicle away from the upward protuberances 29 of the
simulated-terrain. In this regard, the leading end 66 of a flexible
"push-pull" type sheathed cable 65 is attached to the third wing
60A of pivotal T-bar 60, while the cable trailing end 67 is
attached to a radial extension 39 at the lower end of rotatable
steering column 31. As had been indicated earlier, the rear-axle
41A, the parallel elongate arms 53 and 54, and the colinear wings
61 and 62, together provide an elongated parallelogram pivotal
linkage to permit (through steering column 31 and the sheathed
cable assembly 65) transverse displacements e.g., 40L,40R, of the
simulated vehicle lengthwise-axis 40A. Thus, whenever the
rearwardly remote operator transversely re-aligns the handle grips
32, after having caused a transverse steering maneuver to vehicle
40, the lengthwise-axis is realistically re-established in the
simulated-terrain longitudinal direction.
For the second type induced "wheelie," or that effected through
high torques applied to the vehicle's rearward drive-wheel(s),
there is necessarily some kind of powering means for providing a
selectable continuous range of angular velocities to said
drive-wheel(s), e.g., 42. If the vehicle rear-axle 41A be of
substantially constant elevation and the rearward drive-wheel 42
frictionally abuts the drum cylindrical outer side 25, then the
rotation of drive-wheel 42 in a first angular direction about
rear-axis 41 will cause drum 20 to rotate in the opposite second
angular direction and about drum-axis 21 thereby providing relative
longitudinal velocity between the vehicle 40 and slope 20A.
However, higher torques upon abrupt acceleration in angular
velocity to the rearward drive-wheel 42 can cause the vehicle
forward-portion, e.g., 40F, to be vertically accelerated and
directionally away from the simulated-terrain 20A. Accordingly,
vehicle 40 would pivot upwardly and rearwardly about the
substantially constant elevation rear-axis 41 directionally
analagous to the terrain protuberance type "wheelie" described in
the preceeding paragraph. Herein, the powering means takes the form
of a small electric motor 45 attached to vehicle frame 40F, motor
45 being of the variable speed type and having a powerably
revolvable pulley thereon. Revolvably surrounding rear-axis 41 is a
hub 46 that is co-revolvably attached to drive-wheel 42 with a
sleeve 41B surrounding the herein non-revolvable rear-axle 41A; an
annular drive-chain 47 extends as a power transmission from the
electric motor pulley to hub 46. Electrical energy is supplied from
an external source (not shown) to electrical motor 45 through
electrical conductor wire 48, which conductor 48 extends from motor
45, along arm 54, and (preferably via switch 70) to rheostat 36
which is attached to the inside of housing rear-panel 11. Rheostat
36, which determines the voltage delivered to motor 45 and thus the
angular velocity of drive-wheel 42, is manipulated at the control
means 30 as through levers 33 depending from handle grips 32. It
can be readily seen that, should either induced type "wheelie"
effect occur, the operator can readily normalize vehicle 40, e.g.,
return it to normal-condition, simply by decreasing the velocity of
drive-wheel 42, as through controlling rheostat 36 through the
speed control, e.g., 33.
As had been previously alluded to, if the vehicle "wheelie"
conditions become too severe (as when the center-of-gravity "CG" or
"X" becomes located rearwardly of rear-axis 41), the vehicle
attains the "temporarily immobilized" upended-condition. During the
minor "wheelies" existing until upended-condition is reached, the
vehicle remains capable of continuing its relative forward
longitudinal velocity. The apparatus herein preferably includes
means for distinguishing between minor "wheelies" and the
upended-condition and also means for automatically extinguishing
the relative longitudinal velocity between the vehicle and the
simulated-terrain.
The means to extinguish the relative longitudinal velocity between
simulated vehicle 40 and revolvable drum 20 as said vehicle has
attained the severe-"wheelie" upended-condition might be through an
"on-off" type switch means, such as electrical switch 70 carried on
leftward arm 53. There is an elongate spring-arm 75 having its
rearward end 77 actuatably connected to switch 70 and having its
forward end 76 attached to a lug 43 that extends rigidly
transversely of the vehicle frame substantially at rear-axis 41.
The major length of spring-arm 75 is loosely surrounded by a tube
75A extending along and carried by the underside of leftward arm
53. Thus, it is readily apparent that when vehicle 40 at lug 43
reaches the phantom line upended-condition, spring-arm 75 will be
pulled forwardly, thus deactuating switch 70 from "on" to "off"
whereupon motor 45 (through conductor 48) is deactuated to stop
drive-wheel 42 (and too the frictionally co-driven drum 20) thereby
stopping the vehicle's "forward longitudinal progress." In order to
overcome the angular inertia of heavier drums (20), a
reciprocatable brake 12A adapted to bear from housing 10 against
the drum periphery (25) might be optionally employed. Electrical
means (not shown) would extend from the switch 70 at "off"
condition to activate brake 12A. To restore the upended-condition
vehicle back to normal-condition, an elongate "push-pull" sheathed
cable assembly 85, analagous to assembly 65, might be employed. The
forward end 86 of cable assembly 85 is attached, via flexible
beaded connector-link 78, to a rearward part of elongate spring-arm
75. As seen in solid line in FIG. 2, connector-link 78 is slack
when vehicle 40 is at normal-condition. However, connector-link 78
becomes relatively tighter when the vehicle has attained
upended-condition (lug 43 and spring-arm 75 being forwardly
displaced), switch 70 being "off." When the operator at 87 pulls
upon the cable assembly 85, spring-arm 75 and lug 43 are brought
rearwardly thus restoring vehicle 40 to normal-condition; switch 70
is coincidentally moved from "off" to "on" causing motor 45 and
drive-wheel 42 to be reactivated and thereby re-instating a
relative longitudinal velocity between vehicle 40 and drum type
slope 20A. While the "push-pull" cable assembly 85 might be
manually actuated by the operator at the housing rear-panel 11,
timedelayed automatic control of switch 70 via an independently
powered unit might also be utilized. In this way the apparatus
could be programmed to penalize the operator for having had allowed
minor "wheelies" to develop into a vehicle upended-condition.
The apparatus scoring, e.g., recordable at scoreboard 19, might be
programmed mechanically or electronically in various ways. For
example, the operator's time in "forwardly traversing" the drum
full circumference 25 might be recorded at the scoreboard.
Penalties can also be recorded whenever the operator fails to take
corrective action during minor "wheelies" such that a vehicle
upended-condition occurs. Countdown button lights, such as seen in
FIG. 1 at rear-panel area 11A, might be employed to give the
operator a realistic "race type start." These and other appropriate
means might be utilized in conjunction with the basic structural
concepts herein to allow the operator to vicariously realistically
participate in the typical land-vehicle "wheelie" phenomenon.
From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the front-end
raising vehicles amusement apparatus will be readily understood and
further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since
numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those
skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the
exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all
suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling
within the scope of the appended claims.
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