Patent Publication Number: US-4928601-A

Title: Bike monorail system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention relates generally to amusement devices and more specifically it relates to a bicycle monorail system. 
     Numerous amusement devices have been provided in prior art that are adapted to include a number of cycles which are ridden around a circular path to give pleasure to the riders of the cycles. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 480,477 to Schafer; 665,393 to Barto and 832,902 to Hambright et al all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle monorail system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another object is to provide a bicycle monorail system that will utilize a series of bicycles which are to be peddled by riders to run about an elevated monorail track having an irregular continuous path. 
     An additional object is to provide a bicycle monorail system in which each bicycle will have a structure thereon to prevent another bicycle behind it from bumping into it. 
     A further object is to provide a bicycle monorail system that is simple and easy to use. 
     A still further object is to provide a bicycle monorail system that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the monorail track of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1, showing the mechanism for preventing a first bicycle from bumping into a second bicycle ahead of it. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2, showing the mechanism on front wheel axle for keeping the bicycle centered within the monorail track. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2, showing the front wheel of the first bicycle elevated from bottom of the monorail track by the roller on the bumping preventing mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate a bicycle monorail system 10 that consists of a monorail track 12 having an irregular continuous path and bicycles 14 peddled by riders to run within the monorail track 12 along the irregular continuous path. A mechanism 16 is carried on each of the bicycles 14 for keeping the bicycles centered within the monorail track 12. Another mechanism 37 is provided for preventing the bicycles 14 from bumping into each other on the monorail track 12. 
     The system 10 also includes a plurality of spaced apart support stands 18. Each stand has a base portion 20 and an upright post 22 to elevate the entire monorail track 12. A loading platform 24 is disposed near the monorail track 12 so that the riders can get on and get off the bicycles 14. 
     The centering mechanism 16 includes a ball bearing race 26 carried on each opposite distal end of the front and rear axles 28 and 29 of the bicycles 14 which will bear against top edges 30 and side edges 32 of the monorail track 12 to keep front wheels 34 and rear wheels 36 of the bicycles 14 centered therein. 
     The bumping preventing mechanism 37 includes the monorail track 12 having a centered narrow bottom recess 38 which runs parallel therealong. A pair of Z-shaped drag bars 40 are provided with each extending from rear axle 29 on one of the bicycles 14 and goes within the bottom recess 38. Ball bearings 42 are carried within opposite side walls 44 and 46 of the bottom recess 38 to guide the drag bars 40. A first set of rollers 48 are carried on bottom surface of each of the drag bars 40 to ride within the bottom recess 38 of the monorail track 12. A second set of rollers 50 are carried on top surface of each of the drag bars 40 so that if the bicycles 14 get too close to each other the front and rear wheels 34 and 36 of one of the bicycles 14 will ride upon the second set of rollers 50 instead of bottom 52 of the monorail track 12 to prevent the bicycles 14 from bumping against each other. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.