초록 ▼

A recreational apparatus is provided having an elevated railway system with a vehicle suspended therefrom. The vehicle includes a drive mechanism that is responsive to energy input in order to advance the vehicle along the elevated railway system. The drive mechanism is capable of efficiently motiva

A recreational apparatus is provided having an elevated railway system with a vehicle suspended therefrom. The vehicle includes a drive mechanism that is responsive to energy input in order to advance the vehicle along the elevated railway system. The drive mechanism is capable of efficiently motivating the vehicle along straight and curved sections of the elevated railway system with minimal stress on moving parts, and minimal frictional losses.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A recreational apparatus, comprising: an elevated railway system defining a first track;a vehicle motivatable along said first track with a drive mechanism, wherein said drive mechanism includes: (i) an input device for receiving energy and translating said energy into a mechanical motion useful

1. A recreational apparatus, comprising: an elevated railway system defining a first track;a vehicle motivatable along said first track with a drive mechanism, wherein said drive mechanism includes: (i) an input device for receiving energy and translating said energy into a mechanical motion useful in motivating said vehicle along said first track, said mechanical motion being delivered to a drive sprocket;(ii) a first drive wheel apparatus driven by said drive sprocket, said first drive wheel supporting a drive element, and transmitting said mechanical motion to said drive element, said input device, first drive wheel and drive element are together commonly aligned along a first radial plane of said first drive wheel apparatus;(iii) a second drive wheel apparatus having a circumferential drive surface in contact with said first track, and having a drive member being rotatably driven about a drive axis by said drive element to convey motion to said vehicle along said first track, said drive member of said second drive wheel apparatus defining a second discreet radial plane;(iv) a first alignment wheel defining a first alignment plane in which said drive element is supported, and wherein said first alignment wheel is pivotable about a first pivot axis to adjust said first alignment plane between substantial co-extension with both said first and second radial planes, and skewed with respect to said second radial plane; and(v) a second alignment wheel defining a second alignment plane in which said drive element is supported, and wherein said second alignment wheel is pivotable about a second pivot axis to adjust said second alignment plane between substantial coextension with both said first and second radial planes, and skewed with respect to said second radial plane. 2. A recreational apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot axes are substantially parallel to one another. 3. A recreational apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said input device is an input wheel driven by manual force exerted by a user. 4. A recreational apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said drive sprocket and said first drive wheel share a first axis of rotation. 5. A recreational apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said first axis of rotation is parallel to said drive axis. 6. A recreational apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said drive element is a chain or belt. 7. A recreational apparatus, comprising: a vehicle adapted for suspension along an elevated railway, said vehicle having a drive mechanism;a drive input of said drive mechanism, said drive input having a drive sprocket, said drive input adaptable to receive energy and translate said energy into a mechanical motion of said drive sprocket;a first drive wheel apparatus having a drive element coupled to drive sprocket, said drive sprocket and said drive element aligned along a first radial plane, wherein mechanical motion of said drive sprocket corresponds with mechanical motion of said drive element;a second drive wheel apparatus having at least one wheel adapted to circumferentially contact a first track of the railway, said second drive wheel apparatus further having a drive member adapted to be rotated about a drive axis by the mechanical motion of said drive element to convey motion to said vehicle along said first track, said drive member of said second drive wheel apparatus and a portion of said first drive wheel apparatus defining a second radial plane; andfirst and second opposed guide wheels aligned in an opposing position and adapted to contact opposing sides of the first track of the railway, said first and second guide wheels include corresponding alignment wheels having a respective first and second pivot axis to adjust an alignment plane between both said first and second radial planes. 8. A recreational apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said first and second pivot axis are substantially parallel to one another. 9. A recreational apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said drive input includes an input wheel driven by manual force exerted by a user. 10. A recreational apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said drive sprocket and said drive input share a first axis of rotation. 11. A recreational apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said first axis of rotation is aligned parallel to said drive axis of said second drive wheel apparatus. 12. A recreational apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first radial plane and said second radial plane are aligned parallel but offset from each other. 13. A recreational apparatus suitable for suspension along an elevated railway, said apparatus comprising: a vehicle adapted to be suspended on a ran;a coupling assembly that couples said vehicle to the ran, said coupling includes a pivot member coupled to the rail so that the coupling assembly is capable of pivoting about a longitudinal axis of the rail, said coupling assembly further including opposing guide wheels that are adaptable to contact side portions of the rail to stabilize said coupling assembly; anda motivation mechanism capable of receiving an energy input and converting the energy input into a motivational motion of said vehicle, said motivation mechanism including a drive mechanism adapted to engage the rail and roll along the rail on which the vehicle is suspended. 14. The recreation apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the drive mechanism is adapted to contact an under portion of the rail. 15. The recreation apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the drive mechanism is adapted to contact an upper portion of the rail. 16. The recreation apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said motivation mechanism further includes a drive assembly coupled to said drive mechanism. 17. The recreation vehicle as recited in claim 16, wherein said drive assembly includes a pedal assembly. 18. The recreation vehicle as recited in claim 17, wherein said pedal assembly includes a crank system and a gear system. 19. The recreation vehicle as recited in claim 16, wherein said motivation mechanism is capable of motivating the vehicle by converting energy received from configurations selected from the group consisting of a bicycle configuration, an elliptical machine configuration, and a rowing machine configuration.