Patent Publication Number: US-2015080137-A1

Title: Amusement device for dynamic simulation, in particular for use in amusement parks or the like

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation. 
     In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for dynamic simulation able to reproduce a predetermined play situation, for example, a conflict in a historical context adapted to produce an amusement or entertainment effect for a predetermined number of people, for example in an amusement park. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It is well know that inside amusement parks attractions are installed specifically intended to make participants experience sensations that are very similar to those that can be found in analogous situations to real life and in situations of particular entertainment. 
     The above-mentioned attractions envisage simulating such situations through special mobile apparatuses, onto which the participants can climb aboard. Some of these apparatuses simulate in particular a conflict that can be set in a predetermined historical context, in order to provide a special emotional involvement on the part of the users. Apparatuses are known, for example, comprising a series of vehicles for housing the user who, according to the setting, can reproduce the shape of space shuttles, war vehicles, horses, etc. 
     These vehicles are generally hinged to respective arms which are in turn connected to a central rotating support for moving the vehicles themselves along a circular path. Furthermore, the support arms of vehicles can be moved vertically by appropriate pneumatic systems associated with the central support, in order to translate the vehicles in height in order to give participants the sensation of gliding in the air. 
     The vehicles are further equipped with play instruments that can reproduce a determined weapon according to the historic period, the setting and the conflict to be recreated. For example, compressed air or spring-powered pistols can be provided, as well as futuristic laser weapons. 
     In all these cases the attractions can be used by both adult and child participants and perform the function of entertaining the participants by making them experience a sense of fun and strong emotional involvement. 
     However, the need often arises to be able to make use of an attraction which, in the specific case of a conflict simulation, can reproduce a situation closer to reality. 
     The attractions currently known and described above, however, have limits due to safety reasons which exclude interaction between users with weapons that can “shoot” objects. For this reason, the known apparatuses envisage the use of weapons that can only be used on special targets, or weapons with which the action which reproduces a shooting between individuals is only imitated. 
     In this situation, the weapons provided in the known apparatuses cannot generate a sensation of full satisfaction in participants and, above all, in the case of weapons that fire objects against targets, are often dangerous due to the possibility of hitting the users. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation, in particular for use in amusement parks or the like, which can reproduce a situation typical of a conflict. 
     The set technical task and aims are substantially attained by an amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation, in particular for use in amusement parks or the like, comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following indicative, and hence non-limiting, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation, in particular for use in amusement parks or the like, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of an amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a lateral raised view of a detail of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral raised view of a construction detail of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
     
    
    
     In accordance with the attached drawings, no.  1  denotes in its entirety an amusement apparatus for dynamic simulation according to the present invention. Apparatus  1  is intended to create an attraction for entertainment and amusement, for example in amusement parks. 
     The apparatus  1  comprises a first station  2  for housing at least one user “U” and at least a second station  3  for housing at least one user “U”. Preferably, the first and second station  2 ,  3  are adapted to contain a plurality of users. 
     Advantageously, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , please note that between the first and the second station  2 ,  3 , a water basin  4  develops. 
     The water basin  4  may be of any type and, in accordance with a preferred embodiment illustrated in the appended drawings, comprises an artificial lake. The water basin  4  could be supplied in various ways, for example directly from a water mains or through a tank. 
     In particular, the first station  2  is housed within the mentioned basin  4  and mobile along a respective path “P”. 
     In greater detail, the station  2  comprises a platform  5  housed in the water basin  4  and above the free surface of the basin  4  itself. 
     The platform  5  preferably has a substantially flat conformation with a circular peripheral development. At a peripheral edge  6  of the platform  5  a plurality of housing seatings  7  of respective users “U” develops. In this way, the seatings  7  are arranged circumferentially along the whole peripheral profile of the platform  5 . 
     With particular reference to the view of  FIG. 3 , the platform  5  may be rotatably associated with a central support structure  11 , assembled fixed inside the basin  4 , to rotate about a respective longitudinal development axis “X” of the support structure  11 . The rotation of the platform  5  takes place through appropriate motor means  12  of the known art therefore not described and illustrated in detail. Alternatively the platform  5  could be fixed. 
     Furthermore, the platform  5  is rotatable about a horizontal “Y” axis, transversal to the mentioned longitudinal “X” axis, so as to determine a combined rotation and oscillation movement of the platform  5 . Advantageously, the housing seatings  7  may be mobile along the path “P”, even if this is not strictly necessary, in the mentioned combined movement which gives the users “U” a particular rocking sensation which simulates sailing on the sea. 
     Still with reference to  FIG. 3 , please note that each housing seating  7  comprises a seat  8  for the user “U” and respective interaction means  9  between the users “U” arranged in the first and second station  2 ,  3 . 
     These interaction means  9  preferably comprise water supply organs  10 , arranged on the relative stations  7  for generating jets of water between the users “U”. Alternatively, the interaction means  9  could comprise devices for shooting pellets or other small objects, or laser sources. 
     In greater detail, the supply organs  10  arranged on the seatings  7  of the platform  5  are oriented in order to direct the water jet towards the outside of the platform  5 , in a substantially radial direction with respect to the circular path “P”. 
     Preferably, each supply organ  10  arranged on the platform  5  comprises a tubular dispenser  13  defining an outlet opening  14  of the water jet. 
     The tubular dispenser  13  is rotatably hinged onto a support element  15  constrained onto the platform. Furthermore, each organ  10  has manoeuvring means  15  (not described and illustrated in detail) associated with the dispenser  13  to direct the water jet moving the dispenser  13  itself manually with respect to the support element  15 . In this way the user “U” can determine where to direct the water jet and, by means of appropriate control means, activates/deactivates the dispensing of the jet according to requirements. For the water supply, the dispenser  13  is operatively connected to a water pump (not described and illustrated since it is of the known art) adapted to take water from the basin  4  to provide it to the various organs  10 . 
     Preferably, each housing seating  7  further comprises a target  17  arranged above the user “U” and overlooking the second station  3  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     In accordance with a first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the second station  3  comprises a dock  18  surrounding the water basin  4 . In this embodiment, the dock  18  has a substantially circular conformation developing around the platform  5 . 
     The dock  18  has a plurality of housing seatings  7  of the users “U” which are arranged along a peripheral edge  19  of the dock  18  itself. 
     Each housing seating  7  of the dock  18  comprises a respective water supply organ  10  adapted to direct the water jet towards the first station  2  and in particular towards the targets  17  of each seating  7  of the platform  5 . 
     In particular, with reference to  FIG. 4 , at least one water supply organ  10  of the housing seating  7  of the dock  18  comprises a launch system  20  of an elastic container  21 . In this case the water jet is contained in the elastic container  21  which is preferably made of latex in order to allow the water jet to exit following an impact against the first station  2 . 
     In other words, when the elastic container  21  thrown by the launch system  20  hits the target  17  or potentially a part of the platform  5 , the latex structure that defines the container  21  itself is ripped making the water jet exit. 
     The launch system  20  comprises a sling having a housing seating  22  of the elastic container  21  and at least one pair of elastic tie-rods  23  operatively connected between the housing seating  22  and a fixed structure  24  of the dock  18 . 
     In this way the sling can be manually switched between a preload condition in which the seating  22  is held by a user “U” to stretch the pair of tie-rods  23 , and a launch condition in which the seating  22  is released in order to allow the elastic pull of the tie-rods  23  and cause the launch of the container  21 . One or more launch systems  20  comprised of slings or catapults can also be arranged on the platform  5 , just as one or more targets  17  can be associated with the dock  18  above the users “U” and overlooking the platform  5 . 
     Each housing seating  7  of the dock  18  may be equipped with a water supply organ  10  comprising a launch system  20  of an elastic container  21  of the type described above. Alternatively, some housing seatings may be provided with a launch system  20 , and others with a tubular dispenser  13  of the type described in relation to the platform  5 . 
     Also the housing seating  7  of the dock  18  comprises a target  25  arranged above the user “U” overlooking the first housing station  2 . 
     In accordance with a second embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the second station  3  comprises at least one boat  26  which is mobile in the water basin  4  and having at least one housing seating  7  of respective users “U”. 
     In this embodiment the boat  26  is mobile through respective motor means which are not illustrated and preferably arranged inside the basin  4 , along a respective path “P” which develops at least partially around the first station  2 . 
     Furthermore, each housing seating  7  of the boat comprises at least one water supply organ  10  comprising a tubular dispenser  13  of the type described above and the same as that of the first station  2 , defining an outlet opening of the water jet. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment not illustrated in the appended drawings, numerous second stations  3  may be provided, each of which is comprised by a boat  26 . Again, a series of second stations  3  may be provided, comprising both fixed positions, for example docks  18  of the type described above, and mobile positions for example boats  26 . 
     The operation of the apparatus  1  described above is as follows. 
     Starting from the solution in  FIG. 1 , the platform  5  rotates and oscillates moving the respective seatings  7  along the circular path “P”. 
     During the movement, the users “U” arranged on the respective seatings  8  launch the water jets orienting the tubular dispenser  13  towards the housing seatings  7  of the dock  18  and in particular towards the respective target  25 . 
     Simultaneously, the users “U” arranged in the seatings  7  of the dock  18  launch the elastic containers  21  towards the platform  5  through the action of the sling. 
     In particular, the containers  21  are launched in order to hit the targets  17  of the first station  2 . 
     In the second embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the users “U” arranged in the boats  26  orient the dispensers  13  to direct the water jet towards the targets  17  of the first station  2 . The dispensing of the water takes place in particular in the stretches of the path “P” in which the boats  26  are taken in proximity to the platform  5 . 
     Advantageously, the apparatus simulates a naval conflict, through the use of only water as a weapon. 
     Consequently, the apparatus gives special involvement to the users “U” who interact with each other using water weapons therefore through instruments that are safe for the users “U” themselves. 
     Furthermore, the naval conflict is simulated very truthfully, precisely due to the possibility to allow the users to interact in a playful way with water weapons. 
     It is to be understood that, in a less preferred embodiment of the invention, each water jet launch or emitting device could be replaced by a device for shooting pellets or other small objects, or by a device for emitting a laser beam.