Title: Amusement ride

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. In an amusement ride device; enclosed trailer vehicle means, endless track means comprising a first reach extending longitudinally through the trailer means and a second reach extending outside the trailer means, and end sections joining said reaches, passenger cabs supported by said track means, and a motor on each of said cabs for propelling the cabs along said track means, said trailer vehicle means comprising a pair of trailer vehicles in end to end abutment, communicating door means in the abutting ends of said vehicles, said first reach of said track means extending through both of said vehicles and including separable connector means in the region of abutment of the vehicles, said second reach of said track means extending along the outside of said vehicles, said end sections of said track means being adjacent the ends of the vehicles which are remote from one another.

2. An amusement ride device according to claim 1 in which at least said first reach of said track means follows a sinuous path inside at least one of said vehicles.

3. An amusement ride device according to claim 1 in which said end sections of said track means include separable coupling means and said second reach of said track means is detachably supported on the vehicles to facilitate partial disassembly of the device for transport.

4. An amusement ride device according to claim 1 in which said first reach of said track means follows a sinuous path inside said vehicles and includes at least one relatively abrupt decline thereon.

5. An amusement ride device according to claim 1 in which each motor is a battery powered electric motor, a battery on each cab, circuit means for each cab including an on-off switch connecting the battery on the cab with the motor thereon, a battery charger, and connector means operable while said cabs are within a predetermined range along said track for electrically connecting the said batteries thereon with said battery charger.

6. An amusement ride device according to claim 5 in which said connector means comprises rail means in at least one of said vehicles electrically connected to said battery charger, and slider means on each cab electrically connected to the respective battery and engageable with said rail means during movement of the cabs along said first reach of said track means.

7. An amusement ride device according to claim 5 which includes a support and drive roller for each cab engaging said track means from above, bracket means supporting said roller and dependent therefrom and extending laterally beneath the track means, each cab being swingably suspended from the respective bracket, each bracket supporting the respective electric motor and the battery therefor, and drive means connecting each motor to the respective roller.

8. An amusement ride device according to claim 5 in which said second reach of said track means includes a longitudinal loading region for the loading and unloading of passengers, and means near the entrance end of said region for turning each said on-off switch to the "OFF" position thereof as the respective cab enters the said region.

9. An amusement ride device according to claim 8 in which said loading region is at a lower elevation than the remainder of said track means.

Other info:

Inventors: Barber, Gerald L. (Greenville, SC, US)

Application Number: 512105
Filing Date: 1974-10-04
Publication_date: 1976-04-13
Assignee: Venture Ride Mfg., Inc. (Greer, SC)
Primary Class(es): 104/63 104/84, 104/89, 104/93, 472/3, 472/27, 472/36
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

1127753	Feb, 1915	Glynn	104/63.
1890137	Dec, 1932	Traver	104/63.
3484104	Dec, 1969	Goforth et al.	272/29.
3625158	Dec, 1971	Lorenz et al.	104/93.
3637956	Jan, 1972	Blackman	191/4.
3854419	Dec, 1974	Cocroft	104/93.
3858520	Jan, 1975	Patin	104/89.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Makay, Albert J.
Assistant Examiner: Reese, Randolph A.
Attorney: Crosby; Melvin A.