Abstract:
An apparatus and system whereby a user can move by guidance of a return track on a challenger course. The return track may extend away from the challenge course and overhang its main frame so the user can experience an element outside of the main frame.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a system to allow users of a challenge course to have a continuous track by having what is called as a return element or return track. The return track also allows the user to remain secured to a single safety member when moving from one challenge element or obstacle to another, or from one direction to another. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Challenge courses are structures that allow a person, or a team to challenge themselves by participating in various events such as walking at elevated heights or climbing. These courses are also used to train military personnel. These courses are also used at recreational parks or other such centers that have go-carts and miniature gulf. It is common for people to wait in line to participate in the challenge course. 
         [0004]    Therefore increasing the speed of the flow of participants is an important feature of the challenge courses as well as increasing safety. The participants are usually performing some act at an elevated level between support structures. A harness cable secures the participant to a safety hook or trolley. The safety hook or trolley usually slides along cables or inside a track, substantially oriented horizontally as the participant walks on an “element” or “obstacle” below, whereby the participant is secured to a trolley. Therefore it is also an important feature to retain the harness cable to the trolley as the trolley moves along the main track and return track. 
         [0005]    One problem with challenge courses involve the traffic flow of individuals using the course along the track. The cause of many of the flow problems are caused by factors such as many users near each other along the same track of the challenge course. The user may be moving along the track until the user encounters an intersection, which normally allows the user to then go left, right, straight ahead, or backwards. 
         [0006]    The return track of a ropes course track may be supported from the side of a steel ropes course structure and presents a path or track that starts from a column, runs out around some obstacle and then returns to the same column from which it started. The return track can be supported from the overhead, the platform, another supporting member from another level, or any combination of the three. 
         [0007]    The return track presents the opportunity to offer more elements that hang from the side of a steel structure, where normal elements that must be supported at each end, are not possible. 
         [0008]    Ropes courses of a modular design like many designs have empty connection points where previously they could only be blocked off. With a return track these empty connection points can be put to good use. 
         [0009]    The present invention may only need to connect to one column. If there is one available connection point, a return track can be installed. This will allow customers to add elements where they couldn&#39;t before. 
         [0010]    The return track can leave from one empty connection point to another on the same column, or leave and return to the same connection point. This configuration can also offer another way for participants to pass each other. 
         [0011]    There exists a need for a return tracks and any associated element to be used as respite areas where participants can get out of the main traffic of the ropes course for a short period of time. 
         [0012]    There exists a need offer additional ways for participants to pass each other. 
         [0013]    There also exists a need to for a return track that can offer the feeling of danger by allowing the participant to distance themselves from the main structure of the ropes course. 
         [0014]    Multiple embodiments of the system are disclosed herein. It will be understood that other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    One aspect of the present invention is a continuous track, comprising: a frame having a main track; said main track adapted to receive a trolley; and said main track operably connected to a return track, whereby said trolley can displace within said main track to said return track and from said return track to said main track. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of the present invention is a continuous track, comprising: a frame having a main track; said main track adapted to receive a trolley; and said main track operably connected to a return track, whereby said trolley can displace within said main track to said return track and from said return track to said main track; an intersection an element fixedly disposed to said frame; wherein said main track and said return track have a track slot adapted to receive at least one of either a trolley, or anything connected to said trolley; wherein said element is at least one if either ropes that can be walked on, beams, a climbing wall, a bar that requires users to use hands to move along the element, horizontal or angled platforms or steps, horizontally strung cables, ropes, boards and other materials secured between columns or other elements, a free-fall simulation device which allows participants to safely fall, a walk the plank element, a 6-inch stand-alone beam, allowing participants to walk a distance of 7-feet and turn-around hands-free, a rope that can be pulled so participants take their own picture by pulling a rope, or a bench swing element. 
         [0017]    A third aspect of the current invention is a challenge course with a continuous track, comprising: a return track; said return track capable of movably receiving a trolley that can move within said return track. 
         [0018]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0023]      10  challenge course 
         [0024]      20  column 
         [0025]      30  main track 
         [0026]      40  return track 
         [0027]      50  frame 
         [0028]      60  intersection 
         [0029]      70  element 
         [0030]      80  trolley 
         [0031]      90  safety cable 
         [0032]      100  non-returnable intersection 
         [0033]      110  track slot 
         [0034]      120  hub track 
         [0035]      130  distal portion of return track 
         [0036]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a challenge course  10  is illustrated with both the standard intersections  60 , non-returnable intersections  100 , a main track  30  and a return track  40 . The main track  30  and return track  40  may be integrated and connected so a trolley  80  can move from the main track  30  to the return track  40 , and from the return track  40  to the main track  30 . An element  70  or obstacle  70  may be configured so that a person connected to the trolley  80  or otherwise using the challenge course may walk or interact with the element  70  or obstacle  70 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment as to how a return track  40  of the present invention may be configured. In  FIG. 1  the return track  40  is illustrated as substantially circular. However, in  FIG. 2  the return track  40  has five ( 5 ) sides. The main track  30  and return track  40  may have a track slot  110 . The trolley  80  may be movably disposed within the main track  30  and return track  40 , and may extend downwardly from the main track  30  and the return track  40  through said track slot  110 . 
         [0039]    The track slot  110  may be contiguous from the main track  30  to the return track  40 , and vice versa. An element  70  may be operable by a user when traversing through the return track  40 . A column  20  may support a hub track  120 . The hub track  120  may have a track slot  110  therein that may also be contiguous or integral with the track slot  110  of both the main track  30  and the return track  40 . The hub track  120  may have six (6) sides as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . However the hub track  120  may also be circular, or any shape or configuration. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a top view from  FIG. 2 . A main track  30  may be operably connected to a hub track  120 , and the hub track  120  may be operably connected to a return track  40 . A column  20  may extend from a hub track  120  downwardly to any other portion of a challenge course  10 , to the ground, or to an element  70  or obstacle  70 . 
         [0041]    The track slot  110  may span the entire length and configuration of the main track  30 , return track  40 , and hub track  120 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a return track  40  of the present invention. The return track  40  may extend away from the challenge course  10 . The return track  40  may extend away from a column  20 . An element  70  may extend downwardly from the return track  40 . The element  70  may allow the user to climb around or upon the element  70 . 
         [0043]    An element  70  or obstacle  70  is any structure upon which the user may be challenged. Examples of elements  70  or obstacles  70  include but are not limited to ropes that can be walked on, beams, a climbing wall, a bar that requires users to use hands to move along the element, horizontal or angled platforms or steps, horizontally strung cables, ropes, boards and other materials secured between columns  20  or other elements  70 , a free-fall simulation device, which allows participants to safely fall, for example, 30-feet from the air, a walk the plank element, a 6-inch stand-alone beam, allowing participants to walk a distance of 7-feet and turn-around hands-free, participants take their own picture by pulling a rope at the end of an element for instant proof of their fearless adventure, or a bench swing element. 
         [0044]    Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been discussed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.