The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 11, 1994
John M Underbrink, Olympia, WA (US);
Russell L Keeler, Seattle, WA (US);
BigToys, Inc., Olympia, WA (US);
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a playground carriage (10) is provided for moving people (100) from one play area to another. The playground carriage comprises a rotatable support pipe (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16). The support pipe extends between a first vertical column (18) and a second vertical column (20). A manually-operated crank (22) having a first end (24) and a second end (26) is also included. The manually-operated crank extends between the first vertical column and a third vertical column (48). The first end of the crank is coupled to the first end of the support pipe so that manually turning the crank rotates the support pipe. A carriage (28) for carrying people is mounted to the support pipe. The carriage is advanced along the support pipe by a carrier (30). The carrier comprises a set of wheels (31) oriented along an outer surface (34) of the support pipe so that the wheels follow a helical, thread-like path along the support pipe and, thus, propel the carrier along the support pipe. A plurality of handrails (36) extend downwardly from the carrier and attach to a platform (37) so that the platform is suspended below the carrier. A protective housing (88) encapsulates the carrier. A guide rail (43) is located immediately below the platform of the carriage and extends parallel to the support pipe between the first vertical column and the second vertical column. In addition, a guide (38) is attached to a lower surface (35) of the platform and engages the guide rail in order to prevent the carriage from swinging excessively as it moves along the support pipe.