Patent ID: 6941872
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: A63G

Abstract:
1. An amusement device for providing a sense of excitement to one or more persons using the amusement device, said amusement device comprising: (a) a detachable and movable track section adapted to support a track-following vehicle, the vehicle being sufficiently large to carry one or more of said persons using the amusement device, the movable track section being elongated to generally define a corresponding first axis of elongation; (b) a driving system adapted to move the movable track section between a relatively low first position and a higher second position; (c) a tilter operatively coupled to the movable track section to cause the first axis of elongation of the movable track section to be tilted into a substantially horizontal first angle when the movable track section is in said first position and to cause the first axis of elongation to be tilted into a substantially non-horizontal second angle when the movable track section is in said second position, the second angle being sufficiently non-horizontal so that if the vehicle and vehicle-carried riders are supported by the movable track section at the time its first axis attains said second angle, the second angle provides a sense of enhanced excitement to the one or more persons carried in the vehicle beyond excitement provided merely by the vehicle and movable track section being at said higher second position; and (d) at least one track-continuation section to which the movable track section detachably attaches so that said track-following vehicle can move between a first support state in which the vehicle is supported by the movable track section and a second support state in which the vehicle is supported by the at least one track-continuation section, the movement of the track-following vehicle between the first and second support state occurring when the movable track section is attached to the at least one track-continuation section.