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:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
May. 03, 2001
Michael J. Mehrman, Atlanta, GA (US);
Mark Kleimeyer, Panama City Beach, FL (US);
Other;
Abstract
Drums wind and unwind cables connected to a passenger carriage of an amusement ride in response to winding and unwinding of tethers about an axle . The tethers are connected to elastic members that store energy, and a lock is releasable to permit the carriage to travel under the force of the stored energy. The drums have a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the axle, thereby providing a mechanical advantage to launch and accelerate the carriage to a high velocity and/or to provide a dampening effect on the motion of the carriage. Alternative embodiments include ramps with loops, corkscrew sections, and/or inclined sections for carrying the carriage, safety cables strung through attachment members connected to the tethers, and telescopic spring devices with concentric coil springs.