초록 ▼

An apparatus for use as a flying entertainment vehicle. The apparatus includes a lift system, such as a parawing, that is inflated by air to generate lift and further includes a vehicle frame attached to the lift system such as by suspension lines that also space the lift system apart from the vehic

An apparatus for use as a flying entertainment vehicle. The apparatus includes a lift system, such as a parawing, that is inflated by air to generate lift and further includes a vehicle frame attached to the lift system such as by suspension lines that also space the lift system apart from the vehicle frame. The apparatus includes a thrust assembly supported on the vehicle frame that is operable to propel the vehicle at a flight speed at which the lift system is operated, e.g., the parawing is inflated, to generate lift to suspend the vehicle frame above the ground. The apparatus includes show elements that may be supported on or by the vehicle frame and be configured to be lift neutral. The show elements function to distract observers away from the lift system such as by appearing to provide the lift or features that cause the vehicle frame to fly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for use as a flying entertainment vehicle, comprising: a lift system inflated by air to generate lift;a vehicle frame attached to the lift system;a thrust assembly positioned on the vehicle frame, wherein the thrust assembly provides thrust that propels the vehicle frame at a flight

1. An apparatus for use as a flying entertainment vehicle, comprising: a lift system inflated by air to generate lift;a vehicle frame attached to the lift system;a thrust assembly positioned on the vehicle frame, wherein the thrust assembly provides thrust that propels the vehicle frame at a flight speed to operate the lift system to generate the lift and wherein the vehicle frame is lifted into flight by the lift; andshow elements supported by the vehicle frame, wherein the show elements are substantially lift neutral during the flight of the apparatus, wherein the show elements comprise a wing assembly including a pair of wing-simulating elements extending laterally outward from opposite sides of the vehicle frame, wherein each of the wing-simulating elements is configured to generate greater drag than lift at the flight speed when extended out from the vehicle frame and each of the wing-simulating elements comprises a webbing extending along a trailing edge of the wing, the trailing edge adapted to move vertically up and down in response to air flowing over the wing-simulating element during the flight, whereby the wing-simulating element remains substantially lift neutral. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the wing-simulating elements comprises a rigid arm defining a leading edge and said webbing extending from the arm to the trailing edge of the wing. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wing-simulating elements each further comprises at least one finger extending from a first end to the arm to a second end proximate the trailing edge, wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to allow the at least one finger to move traverse to a plane passing through the arm, and wherein the webbing comprises a flexible sheet connected to the at least one finger to move relative to the arm with the at least one finger. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wing-simulating element each further comprises a tubular support within the webbing extending along the trailing edge. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the show elements comprise a tail extending from a rear portion of the vehicle frame and wherein the tail comprises an elongated, hollow body formed of a flexible material that is inflated by air output from the thrust assembly. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the show elements comprise a tail assembly comprising an elongated hollow body extending from the vehicle to a tip element and wherein the tail assembly further comprises an internal support including a spring member extending a length of and supporting the body such that the body is constrained to move back and forth within a single plane in response to air flowing over the body during the flight. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the internal support further comprises a pivotal connection assembly linked to the spring member and the tip element and wherein the pivotal connection assembly pivotally supports the tip element allowing the tip element to pivot in response to air flowing over the tip or in response to movements of the spring member. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lift system comprises a parawing connected to the vehicle frame via a number of suspension lines and controllable via a number control lines extending to the vehicle frame, whereby the vehicle frame and the show elements are spaced apart a distance from the parawing and are lifted into flight when the parawing is inflated with air. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a projector projecting onto an underside of the parawing during the flight. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the parawing has a visual appearance, from an observer beneath the parawing during the flight, that disguises the parawing is operating to generate the lift, the visual appearance selected to match appearance, to the observer, of the sky behind the parawing. 11. A flying entertainment platform, comprising: a vehicle assembly including: a structural frame defining a cockpit for receiving a pilot;a thrust assembly operable to move the frame at a flight speed; anda number of show elements including a body covering a portion of the frame and a pair of wing-simulating elements extending laterally outward from the body, the wing-simulating elements being configured to provide parasitic drag on the frame when the frame is moved at the flight speed; anda parafoil attached to the frame via a number of flexible suspension lines, wherein the parafoil is inflated with air when towed by the vehicle assembly at the flight speed so as to generate lift to suspend the vehicle assembly above the ground,wherein each of the wing-simulating elements includes an arm defining a leading edge and a flexible webbing extending from the arm to a trailing edge of the wing-simulating element, the trailing edge moving vertically UP and down in response to air flowing over the wing-simulating element such that the wing-simulating element is substantially non-lifting when the vehicle assembly moves at the flight speed. 12. The platform of claim 11, wherein each of the wings further comprises spaced apart fingers pivotally mounted to the arm and connected to the webbing, whereby the webbing is structurally supported and allowed to move transverse to a plane extending through the wing. 13. The platform of claim 11, wherein the show elements comprise a tail with a tubular fabric body that is inflated at least in part by air output from the thrust assembly and wherein the tail includes an internal support that constrains movement to a side-to-side movement within a plane, the side-to-side movement having a predefined range and rate. 14. The platform of claim 11, wherein the show elements comprise animatronic components extending outward from the body and wherein the animatronic components are configured to be substantially lift neutral when the vehicle assembly moves through air at the flight speed. 15. A flying entertainment vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body;an aerodynamic lift system coupled to the vehicle body and generating lift when towed by the vehicle body, the lift system comprising control surfaces operable to controllably direct the vehicle body and affect the lift;control systems operable from the vehicle body and coupled to the aerodynamic lift system to control the control surfaces; andvisually perceptible show elements coupled to the vehicle body and operable during flight created by the lift to draw a line of sight of an observer to the vehicle body, wherein the show elements comprise a wing assembly including a pair of wing-simulating elements extending laterally outward from opposite sides of the vehicle body, wherein the show elements extend outward from the vehicle body a distance greater than a length of the vehicle body and the show elements generate drag while being lift neutral, and each of the wing-simulating elements comprises a webbing extending along a trailing edge of the wing, the trailing edge adapted to move vertically up and down in response to air flowing over the wing-simulating element during the flight, whereby the wing-simulating element remains substantially lift neutral. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the show elements move with respect to the vehicle body in a manner that controllable maintains aerodynamic stability of the flying entertainment vehicle. 17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the show elements further comprise elements that alter appearance of at least a portion of the aerodynamic lift system. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the aerodynamic lift system comprises a parafoil attached to the vehicle body via a number of risers, whereby the vehicle body and show elements are spaced apart a distance from the parafoil. 19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control systems operate independently to receive show commands and piloting commands from a pilot positioned within the vehicle body, wherein the piloting commands affect a direction of the flying entertainment vehicle and the lift generated and the show commands affect the visually perceptible show elements, and wherein the control system combines the piloting and show control commands to manipulate the aerodynamic lift system and show elements cooperatively so as to implement the show commands without adversely affecting aerodynamic stability of the flying entertainment vehicle.