초록 ▼

An amusement apparatus includes at least a pair of interconnected platforms configured to move on a track. A seat may be connected to at least one of the platforms and may include, for example, a support and an immobilization device for immobilizing the user on the support suitable for acting on the

An amusement apparatus includes at least a pair of interconnected platforms configured to move on a track. A seat may be connected to at least one of the platforms and may include, for example, a support and an immobilization device for immobilizing the user on the support suitable for acting on the user's back. The seat may optionally have a motorcycle shape and may include handlebars and retractable leg extensions projecting from each side of the seat for maintaining a user's legs in a crouched motorcycle riding position. At least one of the platforms may include a bridging portion to bridge a gap between the platforms during, for example, loading and unloading of the amusement apparatus with riders.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An amusement apparatus, comprising: a track including support rails; a first platform configured to move along the support rails of the track; a second platform configured to move along the support rails of the track and interconnected with the first platform; and a bridge po

What is claimed is: 1. An amusement apparatus, comprising: a track including support rails; a first platform configured to move along the support rails of the track; a second platform configured to move along the support rails of the track and interconnected with the first platform; and a bridge portion connected to a first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and moveable in a direction of a second one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform between a retracted position, in which a gap is formed between the first platform and the second platform, and an extended position, in which the bridge portion extends between the first platform and the second platform. 2. The amusement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bridge portion is pivotally connected to the first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and is moveable between the extended position, in which the bridge portion one of (a) contacts and (b) is suspended over the second one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and bridges the gap between the first platform and the second platform, and the retracted position, in which the bridge portion is at a higher angle, relative to the first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform, than in the extended position. 3. The amusement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first platform leads the second platform on the track. 4. The amusement apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bridge portion is adapted to remain in the extended position during a loading and unloading operation of the amusement apparatus and in a loading and unloading area of the amusement apparatus. 5. The amusement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bridge portion is located one of (a) between a leading platform and a trailing platform and (b) between laterally adjacent platforms. 6. An amusement apparatus, comprising: a first platform configured to move on a track; a second platform configured to move on the track and interconnected with the first platform; a bridge portion connected to a first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and moveable in a direction of a second one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform between a retracted position, in which a gap is formed between the first platform and the second platform, and an extended position, in which the bridge portion extends between the first platform and the second platform; and a pulley interconnecting the first and second platforms. 7. The amusement apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a first axle connected to an underside of the first platform; and a second axle connected to an underside of the second platform, the first axle and the second axle configured to support the first and second platforms on the at least one track; wherein the pulley is pivotally connected on one end to at least one of (a) the first axle and (b) the second axle. 8. An amusement apparatus, comprising: a first platform configured to move on a track; a second platform configured to move on the track and interconnected with the first platform; a bridge portion connected to a first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and moveable in a direction of a second one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform between a retracted position, in which a gap is formed between the first platform and the second platform, and an extended position, in which the bridge portion extends between the first platform and the second platform; wherein the bridge portion is pivotally connected to the first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and is moveable between the extended position, in which the bridge portion one of (a) contacts and (b) is suspended over the second one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and bridges the gap between the first platform and the second platform, and the retracted position, in which the bridge portion is at a higher angle, relative to the first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform, than in the extended position; and further comprising a pneumatic piston configured to move the bridge portion between the extended position and the retracted position. 9. An amusement, comprising: a first platform configured to move on a track; a second platform configured to move on the track and interconnected with the first platform; a bridge portion connected to a first one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform and moveable in a direction of a second one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform between a retracted position, in which a gap is formed between the first platform and the second platform, and an extended position, in which the bridge portion extends between the first platform and the second platform; and at least one seat connected to at least one of (a) the first platform and (b) the second platform, the seat including: (i) a support configured to receive a rider astride the support; and (ii) an arrangement configured to immobilize the rider on the support, the arrangement configured to maintain shoulders of the rider free and to secure the rider on the support at least one of (a) an abdominal portion of the rider and (b) a thoracic portion of the rider. 10. The amusement apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the seat includes a pair of extensions configured to move between an extended position, in which a first one of the extensions projects outwardly from a first side of the seat and a second one of the extensions projects outwardly from a second side of the seat, and a retracted position, in which the extensions are retracted relative to the extended position. 11. The amusement apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the support includes a seat portion and a front support member and is configured to receive the rider astride the seat portion, the arrangement is configured to secure the rider at least against the front support member at least one of the abdominal portion of the rider and the thoracic portion of the rider. 12. The amusement apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the seat portion of the seat is elongated and a longitudinal axis of the seat portion is arranged to follow the track. 13. The amusement apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each platform includes two seats side-by-side. 14. The amusement apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the support includes a seat portion and a front portion situated higher than the seat portion and angled such that the rider sitting astride on the seat portion must lean forward into a forward leaning posture for at least one of the rider's (a) abdominal and (b) thoracic regions to contact the front portion of the rider support, the arrangement including a restraint moveable between a first position not contacting the rider in the forward leaning posture and a second position in which at least a portion of the restraint contacts at least a back portion of the rider in the forward leaning posture and is configured to maintain the rider in said forward leaning posture. 15. A method for operating an amusement apparatus including a track having support rails and a vehicle movable along the support rails of the track, comprising: (a) while the movable vehicle is located in a loading and unloading position along the track, moving a bridge portion of the vehicle into an extended position between two adjacent platforms of the vehicle, in the extended position, the bridge portion extending between the platforms and spanning a gap between the platforms; (b) after the step (a), moving the bridge portion from the extended position to a retracted position in which the bridge portion does not extend between the platform and does not span the gap between the platforms; (c) after the step (b), moving the vehicle along the support rails of the track from the loading and unloading position and returning the vehicle to the loading and unloading position; and (d) after the step (c), repeating the step (a). 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising at least one of (a) loading and (b) unloading passengers into the vehicle between the step (a) and the step (b). 17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising at least one of (a) loading and (b) unloading passengers into the vehicle between the steps (c) and (d). 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the bridge portion is pivotally connected one of the platforms, the step (a) including pivoting the bridge portion into the extended portion, the step (b) including pivoting the bridge portion into the retracted position. 19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising immobilizing riders on at least one of the platforms at least one of (a) prior to and (b) simultaneously with the step (d). 20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the amusement apparatus includes at least one seat connected to at least one of the platforms. 21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the bridge portion is located one of (a) between leading and trailing platforms and (b) between laterally adjacent platforms.