Patent Publication Number: US-2010124996-A1

Title: Obstacle course

Description:
This invention provides an improved obstacle course with interactive components making its attributes uniquely different from previous obstacle course. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a portable, interactive obstacle course offering a variety of maze-like paths. This game is beneficial to the promotion of entertainment, teamwork, physical challenge, and mental retention for the players. This game includes a number of interlocking mechanical parts wherein some may work independently of the others to either cause, decelerate, prevent, or retract the collapsible suspended surface&#39;s operation. Pressure applied to a floor panel is the catalyst for the levers, gearwheels and cogged surfaces that comprises the invention&#39;s mechanical body to cause the suspended surface to descend. A rolling component, controlled by a separate combination of levers, gearwheels and cogged surfaces, enables corresponding components to be separated, allowing the suspended surface to be returned to its starting position. Each individual floor panel is capable of being locked through the manipulation of corresponding gears, creating an opportunity for the obstacle course&#39;s path to be altered a multitude of times. 
     SUMMARY 
     Considered broadly, the invention relates to a portable, interactive obstacle course consisting of interlocking frames that operate through the use of mechanical parts, where each frame can operate either independently or in conjuncture with the neighboring frame. 
     The mechanical framework performs a unique function with respect to the collapsing of the suspended frame. Each individual floor panel is capable of being locked to prevent it from operating or unlocked and capable of initiating the corresponding framework into motion. 
     The invention possesses numerous benefits and advantages in physical and mental development, embodied in an obstacle course. In particular, the invention utilizes the players&#39; memory as well as intellect and sense of team work. In addition, the path of the course can be altered and reset multiple times to offer numerous challenges. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the obstacle course. 
         FIG. 2  is angled view of the left side of the obstacle course detailing half of the left sidewall and the apertures on the left side of the main deck&#39;s frame.  FIG. 3  is a singled out portion of the main deck with its aperture that corresponds to the rotating piston chamber. 
         FIG. 4  details how the brackets underneath the main deck are designed to support the rotating piston chambers and their connecting beveled gears, with sections of the deck embossed to clearly detail the brackets and rotating piston chambers. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the obstacle course with the right side omitted to detail the standing girder and its relationship to left side of the deck, its left sidewall, and the obstacle course&#39;s ceiling. 
         FIG. 5A  is a close up view of the top cogged half of the primary braking system. 
         FIG. 6  shows both the deck&#39;s serrated wheeled rack, its connected wheel, and its placement within the main deck&#39;s track, and an exploded view of the attached primary braking system where included is the standing girder erected on a raised stand over the wheeled rack. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the main deck&#39;s wheeled rack and how it corresponds to the spindle and gearwheels which are constructed underneath a row of foot panels. Also shown are the sidewalls rotating mounts along with the attached torsion springs. The components are shown here without either the deck or sidewalls for clarity of the drawing. 
         FIG. 8  is a detail of the second braking system constructed underneath the main deck with the deck embossed to emphasis the second braking system. 
         FIG. 9  shows both the front end of a foot panel with the rack that corresponds to the gearwheels shown in  FIG. 7  and the back of a foot panel with the piston to be inserted into the rotating piston chamber first shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9A  details the relationship between the foot panels/pistons to the main deck&#39;s rotating piston chambers, with surrounding structures omitted for clarity of the drawing. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the obstacle course detailing the ceiling and the ceiling&#39;s frame. 
         FIG. 11  is an overview of the completed obstacle course. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The obstacle course shown in  FIG. 1  is assembled on an opened bottom platform deck ( 1 ) with the surface of said deck embossed or otherwise imprinted with a central grid ( 2 ), which within are apertures ( 12 ). The grid specifies the arrangements of the foot panels ( FIG. 9 ) and as the grid is only central, the surrounding width of the deck&#39;s edges remain bare designating these areas as the deck&#39;s frame, with said frame being labeled as: the front frame ( 3 ) at the entrance; the left frame ( 4 ); the rear frame ( 5 ) at the deck&#39;s exit side; and the right frame ( 6 ). The left and right frames having two rows of ports ( 7 ,  8 ). The rear frame consist of ports ( 9 ), The left frame is indented down the center creating a wheel track ( 10 ). At the left frame&#39;s mid point is a raised bridge-like apparatus constructed as a stand ( 11 ). In regards to the deck&#39;s central grid, within each grid are centered apertures ( 12 ) through the surface. 
     The inner walls ( 13 ) are secured into the ports ( 7 ). The outer walls ( 14 ) are secured into ports ( 8 ). On the rear ports ( 9 ) is secured a specialized wall ( 15 ) of a lesser height and that is comprised of cut out rungs ( 15   a ). Note that the inner walls have a raised bottom. The inner side of the outside walls ( 15 ) consist of a rotating mounts ( 16 ) designed to readily fasten to the spindle ends ( FIG. 7 ) and that which can either be a clasping bracket or, as shown in this embodiment, a connecting male counterpart. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , on the left sidewall of the platform and within each axis of the horizontal grid lines are apertures ( 17 ). 
     Shown in  FIG. 3  the relationship between the center aperture ( 12 ) that is designed with the rim of said aperture formed into a track to provide a course for travel for the rotating piston chamber ( 19 ). The rotating piston chamber has a rimmed base constructed to spin freely around the track and also has at the center of its base a shaft ( 19   a ) running down into a beveled gear ( 19   b ). At the mouth of the rotating piston chamber is an extended subpart ( 19   c ). Also shown, a compression spring ( 20 ) is placed inside the rotating piston chamber through piston chamber&#39;s mouth. 
       FIG. 4  is a depiction of the deck&#39;s underbody pole supports ( 18 ) hanging near the center apertures ( 12 ) at varying lengths equaling those of the rotating piston chamber shaft ( 19   a ) to level off in front of the beveled gear ( 19   b ), also shown in  FIG. 4 . Note that starting with the rotating piston chamber on the left side, to the middle one, to the right side one the lengths of the shafts ( 19   a ) advantageously increase from shortest to longest as does that of the pole supporters ( 18 ). 
     In  FIG. 5  we see the standing Girder ( 21 ) or beam having a base designed to be fastened onto left frame&#39;s stand ( 11 ) where it is erected tall to eventually connect to the ceiling. The top half of the brake shown in  FIG. 5A  is teethed ( 25   d ) or otherwise cogged so as to mesh with the grid&#39;s casing that is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The rack ( 22 ) shown in  FIG. 6  consists of wheels ( 22   a ) at both ends. It travels upon the indented track ( 10 ) of the left frame, thusly moving underneath the girder. As shown, the wheeled rack consists of serrations ( 22   b ) or notches along its length. Also shown in  FIG. 6 , the case ( 23 ), which is erected from the wheeled rack at a point where it will meet with the front facing side of the girder ( 21 ), is constructed to encase the base of the brake with said case having pegs ( 23   a ) or any apparatus to be assembled at the cases&#39; inner walls and configured to hold the brake in place with said apparatus pressing a spring ( 24 ) or some resilient device onto the brake to clamp the brake to the case. The spring will also return the brake to the case after the brake has been driven from the case. At the mid point of the case&#39;s sidewall is a pivot pole ( 23   b ). 
     The first part of the brake system, shown in  FIG. 6 , is comprised of a bar ( 25 ) of two parts with the bottom half being the base that fits into the case. Shown in one embodiment of the design the base has apertures ( 25   a ) designed to partner with both the pegs ( 23   a ) and spring ( 24 ). Also shown, the base is constructed with an indenture ( 25   b ) with pivot hole ( 25   c ) on its sidewalls where it will align with the pivot hole ( 23   b ) of the case. 
       FIG. 6  also details the spacer ( 26 ) which is placed inside the brake&#39;s indenture ( 25   b ). It consists of a screw port ( 26   a ) at its mid-section which aligns with the pivot holes ( 23   b,    25   c ). The lever ( 27 ) passes through a predetermined opening in the outer wall ( 15 ) and through the pivot holes ( 23   b,    25   c ) to fasten onto the screw port ( 26   a ). 
     Shown in  FIG. 7 , the spindle ( 35 ) with attachable gearwheels ( 36 ) at interspersed sections where both ends of said spindle are secured onto the rotating mounts on the inner part of the outer wall ( 15 ). The specialized gearwheel ( 37 ) at the left end of the spindle meshes with the wheeled rack ( 22 ). Torsion springs ( 38 ) are fastened around the rotating mounts ( 16 ) with one also connecting to the specialized gearwheel ( 37 ). 
     Shown in  FIG. 8 , the second part of the brake system is comprised of a series of interlocking gears ( 29   b,    30   a ) attached to sets of poles ( 29 ,  30 ) of varying lengths that are in ranking secured by the outer wall&#39;s pole supporters ( 15   b ), the platform&#39;s left side wall apertures ( 17 ), and the surface&#39;s underbody pole supporters ( 18 ) with the last gear of each pole ( 31 ) engaging the rotating piston gear ( 19   b ) and that at the top of the first pole ( 29 ) in each set is formed a turning knob ( 29   a ). 
     The foot panels ( 39 ) are shown in  FIG. 9 . The underbody of each foot panel is comprised of a piston ( 40 ) with a flange ( 40   a ) and is inserted into the rotating piston chamber ( 19 ) and a serrated or notched rack ( 41 ) to mesh with the gearwheels ( 36 ). 
       FIG. 9   a  shows the relationship between the rotating piston chambers ( 19 ) and the pistons ( 40 ). 
     The drop ceiling ( 32 ) shown in  FIG. 10  is comprised of a tightly stretched masking ( 33 ) sandwiched between two frames with a perimeter that is slightly less than the perimeter of the deck&#39;s surface and that has a girder casing ( 34 ) adjacent from it&#39;s outside frame that fits over the girder ( 21 ) in a sheath-like fashion with said casing having it&#39;s side facing the platform&#39;s entrance cogged and having the out facing side adorned with a handle-bar ( 34   a ). 
       FIG. 11  is an overview of the completed obstacle course. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Children often find it enjoyable to compete in physical contests that involve running, jumping, crawling, climbing, etc. Because children often find such activities enjoyable, it would be a benefit to have a portable obstacle course system that could be used as an entertainment activity for birthday parties and the like activities that could be easily transported to the activity site, that could be rapidly set up in a variety of configurations and that could be rapidly taken down.