Abstract:
A wheelchair accessible amusement ride having a solid non-moving base to which a body that rocks back and forth on the base is mounted. The interior of the body is supplied with a seat that may move between a first position for use with able bodied children who may sit in the seat and operate the controls of the ride and a second forward stowed position allowing the interior compartment to give access to a wheelchair and wheelchair bound individual. The seat is mounted to a series of rails allowing the seat to easily be moved and locked between the two positions. The device is further equipped with a rear gate that may be dropped and used as a ramp to load a wheelchair and wheelchair bound individual into the device prior to closing the gate and containing the wheelchair and handicapped individual for the ride, thus allowing wheelchair bound children the same chance to have experience with these rides as able bodies children and adults.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of this invention in general is powered amusement rides for children and, more specifically, an amusement ride which may easily be configured to give access to wheelchairs so that physically handicapped people may enjoy the ride while also allowing for able bodied individuals to similarly enjoy the ride. 
     Amusement or kiddie rides have become increasingly popular and are commonly used outside of grocery stores, department stores, amusement parks and restaurants for the enjoyment of small children and parents watching and assisting their children in using the rides. Typical kiddie rides consist of a horse, a rocket, a car or other similar device mounted to a solid non-moving base. The user inserts a coin to allow the ride to move generally in a back and forth or rocking type motion for a given amount of time. These rides have long been known and used by small children over the years. However, most of these rides, as they are sit on such as horses, rockets or small climb-in type of rides such as cars, are not accessible to handicapped children and especially handicapped children bound to wheelchairs. 
     Recently it has been known to modify large moving amusement park rides to allow for wheelchair access. One type of ride is shown by the Volz et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,528 patent assigned to Universal City Studio, Inc. This patent generally discloses a ride where the seats for able bodied users fold out of the way through a complex mechanism allowing a wheelchair to be wheeled into place and locked down to the ride. However, this does not solve the problem of making small generally base mounted kiddie rides such as those used at department stores and grocery stores accessible to individuals in wheelchairs. 
     From this discussion, it can be seen that it would be desirable to make a small base mounted type ride as are commonly used outside of grocery stores and department stores accessible to wheelchair bound individuals while also allowing the ride to be used by able bodied individuals, thus increasing the number of people that may use the ride while allowing wheelchair bound children access to rides and experiences previously limited to able bodies children. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a means by which handicapped individuals who are bound to wheelchairs, especially children, can gain access to the rocker type amusement rides that are commonly found in amusement parks and around the entrances of department stores and other high traffic public areas. 
     It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide such a means of allowing access to such amusement rides that will not requirewheelchair bound individuals to leave their wheelchair in order to enjoy the entertainment provided by such amusement rides. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a means of allowing access to such amusement rides to handicapped individuals that will enable them to position their wheelchair within the interior of the ride without the aid of others. 
     It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide such a means of allowing access to these amusement rides to wheelchair bound individuals in a manner that will also enable non-handicapped individuals to enjoy the ride when it is not otherwise engaged. 
     These objectives are accomplished by the use of a rocker type amusement ride that is built in such a manner as to allow for the placement of a wheelchair within its body. With this in mind, the present invention is generally fashioned in the shape of a fire truck, or other relatively large bodied vehicle such as automobiles, stage coaches, boats, or trucks, and which contains a centrally located cavity large enough to accept a wheelchair and its occupant. This configuration allows a person that is confined to a wheelchair that can normally not enjoy the entertainment offered by these types of amusement rides to easily enter the present invention and operate the device from the confines of their wheelchair. 
     The entrance to the invention by the wheelchair occupant is accomplished through a drop gate located at the rear of the body of the invention. The drop gate is pivotally attached to the body of the invention on either side of its lower surface which allows it to be swung in a downward manner when the upper latch is released. In this downward position, the drop gate effectively forms an access ramp which allows for wheelchair access into the interior of the present invention. Additionally, the drop gate is also equipped with a plurality of. shock absorbers which limit the speed at which the end gate will open eliminating the danger that may be associated with the gate striking a person in the opening process. 
     Additionally, the interior of the invention is equipped with a moveable seat which in its rearward position provides a seat for able-bodied users that positions them in front of the mock steering wheel or console. For use by disabled patrons, the moveable seat can be slid forward on a system of wheels and rails into the forward cavity of the invention&#39;s body where it is out of the way and allows a wheelchair occupant access to the forward portion of the body cavity where they can manipulate the steering wheel and obtain the full entertainment value of the operation of the present invention. The rails and moveable seat wheels in this configuration are also positioned behind inner side panels which ensure that an individual using the invention is not exposed to the moving parts contained in these areas and is therefore, isolated from the potential risk of injury that normally accompanies similar moving components. 
     The general operations of the present invention are controlled through the power supply positioned in the interior of the body and which can be activated and controlled through a coin operated or keyed mechanism and which controls two interconnected electrical circuits. The first of these operates the electric motor and rocking system which is located in the forward cavity of the body of the invention. The activation of this circuit starts the electric motor turning which rotates a pair of cams. These cams are connected to rods which are in turn connected to the base of the invention. The rotation of the cams causes the forward portion of the invention to raise and lower in relation to the base which, due to the pivotal nature of the body&#39;s attachment to the base, causes the entire body to rock in an gentle up and down manner. 
     The second circuit controlled by the power supply is a series of positional switches and solenoids which are in turn connected to the solenoid control switch. This system both monitors the position of the moveable seat and end gate and controls the position of the moveable seat through the wheel solenoid. The monitoring function works to ensure that both the end gate and moveable seat are in the proper position before the electric motor can be engaged. That is to say, if the end gate is not in the upright and locked position, the electric motor is prevented from operation by the power supply. Similarly, if the moveable seat is not either fully forward for use with wheelchair bound individuals or fully rearward for use with able-bodied individuals, the electric motor is also prevented from operating by this circuit. 
     The positional function of this circuit is operated through the wheel solenoid which operates in normal circumstances to lock the moveable seat into the full rearward position. This function is performed by the solenoid&#39;s protrusion into the track area just in front of the front wheel of the moveable seat. Due to the fact that the rail is slanted from a high point at its rear a low point at its front, this positioning of the solenoid holds the moveable seat in a rearward position when it is fully extended. Conversely, when the solenoid is retracted, the moveable seat is allowed to roll forward to its stored position in the forward cavity of the invention&#39;s body, allowing a wheelchair bound individual access to the ride. 
     An additional embodiment of the moveable seat wheel track is also provided which positions the solenoid in front of the rear seat wheel instead of in front of the front wheel. This positioning of the solenoid simplifies the operations and manufacture of the invention which will be more fully explained below. In terms of the operation of the moveable seat, the change of location of the solenoid does not alter the manner in which the seat is moved from its rearward to its forward positions or from its forward to its rearward positions. 
     Therefore, when a wheelchair bound individual approaches the invention the moveable seat is held in its rearward position and the end gate is up and closed. In this position, the invention is capable of operation by an able-bodied individual as the rearward wheel switch is properly activated by the position of the moveable seat and the gate switch is properly activated by the position of the end gate. The wheelchair bound individual converts the invention to wheelchair accessible by first opening the rear gate and then depressing the solenoid control switch which retracts the solenoid plunger and releases the moveable seat which then rolls forward into the forward cavity of the invention&#39;s body. In this position, the forward wheel of the moveable seat activates the forward wheel switch and the wheelchair bound individual can then position the wheelchair within the body cavity. The end gate is then closed which activates the gate switch and allows for the activation of the electric motor and provides the rocking motion desired by the wheelchair bound individual. 
     Additionally, the end gate assembly also contains a warning beeper that is connected through the end gate position sensor and which is activated at all times when the end gate is in the open position. This safety feature functions much like the backup warning bells connected to most large trucks which are engaged when the vehicle is in reverse and warn people in the vicinity of the rearward motion of the truck. In the case of the present invention, the warning buzzer alerts nearby people of an open gate limiting the chances that they may trip over it and injure themselves. 
     Finally, the present invention is also equipped with a safety feature which ensures no one can be injured by having a body part pinched between the invention&#39;s body and its base during the rocking process. This component consists of a flexible skirt which spans the gap between the lowest most edge of the body and the base around the entirety of the invention. The use of the skirt ensures that nothing can be placed between the body and the base which ensures that no human appendages can be injured during the invention&#39;s operation. 
     For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be made to the drawings and the description in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention which illustrates the manner in which a wheelchair bound individual can be positioned within the body of the present invention thereby allowing them to enjoy the entertainment provided by such amusement rides to which they are normally incapable of gaining access. 
     FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the present invention illustrating the relative position of a wheelchair within the body cavity of the invention in relation to the other major components. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the present invention illustrating the position and configuration of the rocking base in relation to the body and the pivotal nature of the attachment of the two which allows the body to produce the rocking motion that is central to the operation of the ride. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevation cut-away view of the present invention illustrating the position of the electric motor and rocker assembly within the forward cavity of the body of the invention and further detailing the configuration of the rocker base. 
     FIG. 5 is a top elevation view of the electric motor and rocker assembly detailing their general configuration and the positions of the rotation cams and the cam drive chain in relation to the drive motor. 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the rotation cam and cam rod components of the present invention detailing their position and the positions of the body floor and base when the cam has been fully rotated into the down position which widens the gap between the body floor and base and initiates the rocking motion of the amusement ride. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the rotation cam and cam rod components of the present invention detailing their position and the positions of the body floor and base when the cam has been fully rotated into the up position which closes the gap between the body floor and base and completes the rocking motion of the amusement ride. 
     FIG. 8 is side elevation view of a the rear portion of the body of the invention detailing the position of the end gate when it is in the lowered position and the manner in which it forms a ramp that provides access to the interior of the invention to a wheelchair bound individual. 
     FIG. 9 is a top elevation cut-away view of the end gate component of the present invention detailing the position of the gate spring and the gate switch when the end gate is in the down position. 
     FIG. 10 is a rear elevation cut-away view of the end gate component of the present invention detailing the position of the gate spring and the gate switch when the end gate is in the down position. 
     FIG. 11 is a top elevation view of the body cavity portion of the present invention illustrating the position of the moveable seat and seat rails when the seat is in the rearward position for use with able-bodied individuals. 
     FIG. 12 is a top elevation cut-away view of the body cavity portion of the present invention illustrating the position of the moveable seat when it is in the forward position for use with a wheelchair bound individual. 
     FIG. 13 is a top elevation view of the seat guide rail components of the present invention detailing their manner of construction and the position of the seat wheels when the moveable seat is in the rearward position. 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the seat guide rail components of the present invention detailing the positions of the forward wheel switch, rearward wheel switch, and the wheel solenoid and associated solenoid plunger when the moveable seat is in the rearward position. 
     FIG. 15 is a top elevation view of the seat guide rail components of the present invention detailing their manner of construction and the position of the seat wheels when the moveable seat is in the forward position. 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of the seat guide rail components of the present invention detailing the positions of the forward wheel switch, rearward wheel switch, and the wheel solenoid and associated solenoid plunger when the moveable seat is in the forward position. 
     FIG. 17 is a flow chart representation of the electrical systems of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the circuits and their related components are interconnected through the power supply. 
     FIG. 18 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of the end gate component of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the shock assembly is attached to the invention between the end gate and the gate frame located at the most rearward end of the ride body. 
     FIG. 19 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of the end gate component of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the shock assembly spans the opening gap between the end gate and the gate frame as the end gate is lowered into its open ramp position. 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the present invention illustrating the use of its body skirt component which is a safety feature of the invention which ensures that body parts or other obstacles can become pinched between the body and the base during the rocking action of normal operation. 
     FIG. 21 is a side elevation cut-away view of the body skirt component of the present invention detailing the general configuration of the skirt and the manner employed to attach it to the correct portion of the invention. 
     FIG. 22 is a front elevation view of the dashboard component of the present invention illustrating the position of the start switch and accessory switches in relation to the steering wheel and power supply. 
     FIG. 23 is a side elevation cut-away view of the inner side panel components of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the moving parts of the moveable seat are isolated from the invention&#39;s user. 
     FIG. 24 is a front elevation cut-away view of the inner side panel component of the present invention detailing the method used to seal the wheel axles as they pass through the inner panel walls. 
     FIG. 25 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the seat guide rail component of the present invention which positions the wheel solenoid in front of the rear seat wheel instead of in front of the front seat wheel to hold the seat in the rearward position used by able bodied individuals. 
     FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the seat guide rail component of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the rear wheel of the moveable seat moves forward along the seat guide rail when the plunger of the wheel solenoid is retracted to allow the moveable seat to move forward into the position which allows wheel chair bound individual access to the body cavity of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheelchair accessible amusement ride  10  is an adaptation of the rocking type amusement rides that are commonly found in public areas. The present invention is made up of a ride body  16  that is typically a formed fiberglass shell containing a centrally located body cavity  17  and a large flat and stable body floor  62  and which is generally shaped to resemble a fire engine or other similar larger vehicle or child friendly shape. The ride body  16  is designed with the large and accessible body cavity  17  and the body floor  62  to enable it to house a wheelchair  12  and the wheel chair occupant  14  during the operation of a rocking type amusement ride. 
     As previously stated, the ride body  16  of the present invention is formed in a manner so that it readily resembles a child friendly shape such as a fire truck (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2) which is accomplished by the general shape and color of the ride body  16  accompanied by aesthetic additions such as body wheels  28 , fire ladders  30 , steering wheels  34 , and rotating emergency lights  32 . The use of these details adds to the overall enjoyment of the present invention as the most common users of such devices are children who view these additions as essential to the creation of a sense of realism to the amusement ride experience. Similar details may be added to other shapes as necessary. 
     Access for the wheelchair  12  and wheelchair occupant  14  to the body cavity  17  is gained through the end gate/ramp  20  located on the most rearward end of the ride body  16 . The end gate/ramp  20  is pivotally attached to the ride body  16  at the inner and lower surfaces of the two gate frames  22  which are essentially metallic end caps that provide for the pivotal mounting of the end gate/ramp  20 . Without the use of the metallic gate frames  22  the pivotal attachment of the end gate/ramp  20  would place too much stress on a mounting to bare fiberglass to be practically operational. 
     Additionally, the lower ends of the gate frames  22  also have an angled foot  24  which serve to provide a stable contact point with the surface upon which the invention is placed when the end gate/ramp  20  is open and swung down (as detailed in FIG. 8) to form a ramp over which the wheelchair occupant  14  can maneuver his wheelchair wheels  18  to gain access to the body cavity  17  of the present invention. Once access to the body cavity  17  has been gained and the wheelchair  12  has been properly positioned, the end gate/ramp  20  is closed and securely latched to ensure that the wheelchair occupant  14  is provided the greatest degree of safety as possible. 
     The ride body  16  also provides the mounting point for the power supply  38  and the solenoid control switch  40 . The power supply  38  is the component of the present invention which is used to control the actual mechanical and electrical functions associated with the operation of the these types of amusement rides and is generally positioned in an accessible position of the ride body  16  on the outer surface of the forward body cavity  36 . The operation of the power supply  38  is typically controlled by the use of a common coin activated device which allows a user to operate the present invention by inserting an appropriate number and denomination of legal tender coins into a slot on the front of the power supply  38 . However, this coin activated mechanism is not the only manner in which the operation of the invention can be controlled as other methods of operational control consisting of key and other similarly activated devices can easily be incorporated in the design of the operating systems of the present invention. 
     The mechanism that is employed to provide the rocking motion to the present invention further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The present invention is equipped with body base  44  which is pivotally attached by the use of the pivoting base connection  46  to the center of the lower surface of the ride body  16 . The rocking motion is imparted to the present invention by the use of the two rocking rods  48  that are pivotally attached to the forward portion of the body base  44  by the use of the rod brackets  50 . From this point of pivotal attachment, the rocking rods  48  extend upwards through the body floor and into the interior of the forward body cavity  36  where they are attached to the rocker assembly  53  just forward of the point of attachment for the drive motor  52 . 
     The rocking motion of the ride body  16  is illustrated in these FIGS. by the forward end of the ride body  16  being lifted up and separated from the body base  44  resulting in the ride body  16  being oriented at a downward angle in relation to its most forward end relative to its most rearward. This position places the foot  24  located on the lower end of each of the gate frames  22  solidly on the floor upon which the invention is placed. From this rearwardly tilted position, the ride body  16  is pivoted until its forward end obtains a similar position to that of the previously described rearward end. This up and down motion of the ride body  16  is then repeated for a predetermined time period which provides the rocking motion that is pivotal to the operation of such amusement rides. 
     The method of construction and specific manner of operation of the electric drive motor  52  and rocker assembly  53  are further detailed in FIGS. 5,  6 , and  7 . The rocker assembly  53  is the component of the present invention which transfers the rotational force supplied by the drive motor  52  to the vertical displacement motion required to provide the rocking motion necessary for the operation of the invention. This transfer of power is began by the drive chain which transfers the rotational power from the drive motor  52  to the drive shaft  60 . The drive shaft  60  is the central component of the rocker assembly  53  and has fixedly attached on either end a pair of rod cams  54  which are generally circular discs fixedly attached to either end of the drive shaft  60  at their center and having an outwardly and perpendicularly extending cam pins  56  fixedly attached to the outer edge of the rod cams  54  in relation to their rotational center and to the outside surface of the rod cams in relation to the body of the drive shaft  60  of the rocker assembly  53 . This manner of construction means that the rotational force transferred to the drive shaft  60  from the drive motor  52  forces the cam pins  56  to travel in a circular path around the outside of the rod cams  54  which results in a vertical displacement of the cam pins  56  described by the outside diameter of the rod cams  54 . 
     The cam pins  56  provide the point of rotational attachment at the cam attachments  64  for the upper ends of the rocking rods  48  which are in turn pivotally attached to the body base  44  after passing through body floor  62  by the use of the rod brackets  50 . The illustrations of FIGS. 6 and 7 detail the operations of the drive motor  52  and rocker assembly  53 . Specifically, these FIGS. detail the manner in which the rotation of the rod cams  54  and the relative positioning of the cam pins  56  due to this rotation operate to continually change the spacial relationship between the ride body  16  and the body base  44 . This change is due to the fact that the cam pins  56  are connected to the body base  44  by the rocking rods  48 . Therefore, as the rod cams  54  rotate the cam pins  56  to their lowest position relative to the body floor  62 , the gap between the body floor  62  and the body base  44  widens causing the forward end of the present invention to rock upward. Conversely, when the rotation of the rod cam  54  move the cam pins  56  to their highest position relative to the body floor  62 , the gap between the body floor  62  and body base  44  closes which causes the forward end of the invention to rock downward. Thus, the circular force provided by the drive motor  52  is converted to the vertical motion necessary to operate this type of rocking amusement ride by the use of the rocker assembly  53  and the cam pins  56 . 
     The operation of the end gate/ramp  20  and its use of the gate spring  66  and gate switch  68  is further detailed in FIGS. 9 and 10 which illustrate the end gate/ramp  20  in its lowered position for use as an access ramp. The gate spring  66  is an apparatus that is used by the present invention to lessen the force necessary to raise the end gate/ramp from the lowered position to the upright and locked position. This feature is important to the operation of the present invention as it allows individuals with limited physical strength to operate it. Thus, the use of the gate spring  66  provides access to the use of the invention to a group of people who otherwise would be incapable of operating it, thereby furthering the spirit and scope of the invention as a whole. 
     The position of the end gate/ramp  20  is monitored by the gate switch  68  which is located within the base of one of the gate frames  22  in a manner which enables it to determine whether the end gate/ramp  20  is in the open or closed position. This is very important to the operation of the present invention as, for safety purposes, the rocking motion provided by the drive motor  52  cannot be activated if the end gate/ramp  20  is left in the open position. This ensures that an individual who is using the invention and who is bound to a wheelchair  12  cannot accidentally exit the rear of the ride, an occurrence that could easily result in an injury. 
     The body cavity  17  of the present invention can be configured in one of two different manners depending upon the physical characteristics of the intended user. For use with able-bodied individuals, the invention&#39;s moveable seat  70  is positioned in a rearward manner within the body cavity  17  with the front and rear seat wheels,  72  and  74 , rolled back to the most rearward sections of the seat guide rails  42 . This provides sufficient room between the front edge of the moveable seat  70  and the steering wheel  34  which allows able-bodied people to enter the body cavity  17  through the body access door  26  on the center side of the ride body  16 . 
     For the wheelchair  12  bound individuals, the moveable seat  70  is capable of being moved forward into the forward body cavity  36  located just beneath and behind the steering wheel  34 . The forward movement of the moveable seat  70  provides sufficient room within the body cavity  17  to allow for the positioning of a wheelchair  12  in front of the steering wheel  34 , thereby, allowing a wheelchair  12  bound individual to derive enjoyment the from such rocking amusement rides that was previously limited to able-bodied people. 
     The manner in which the seat guide  42  rails are constructed and their method of operation are further detailed in FIGS. 13,  14 ,  15 , and  16 . The seat guide rails  42  are primarily made up of a rail body  90  which is an open top U-shaped channel that extends diagonally upward from its forward most point to its rearward most and which provides the track over which the front and rear seat wheels,  72  and  74 , roll to properly position the moveable seat  70 . Additionally, the front and rear sections of the rail body  90  are also fixed with the forward containment rail  76  and the rearward containment rail  78  which are both essentially caps that overhang the rail body  90 . This configuration ensures that the front and rear seat wheels,  72  and  74 , cannot leave the rail body  90  under any circumstances (whether the moveable seat  70  is in the rearward or forward position), providing an additional measure of safety to the maintenance and operation of the present invention. 
     The seat guide rails  42  also provide the point of attachment for the plurality of sensing and actuating devices that are important to the operation of the present invention. These devices include the wheel solenoid  86  which functions to hold the front seat wheels  72 , and therefore the moveable seat  70 , in an upright and rearward position in relation to the length of the rail body  90 . This positioning is accomplished through the use solenoid plunger  88  which is a moveable extension of the wheel solenoid  86  that can be extended into the wheel channel of the rail body in a manner that impedes the movement of the front seat wheels  72 . With this purpose in mind, the wheel solenoid  86  is positioned on the seat guide rails  42  in a manner that will allow the solenoid plunger  88  to lock the moveable seat  70  (through the blocking of the front seat wheel) in the proper position on the rail body  90  so that the present invention can be used by an able-bodied individual. An additional result of this positioning of the moveable seat is that in this rearward and locked position, the rear seat wheel  74  engages the rearward wheel switch  84  which is located at the most rearward end of the rail body  90 . The rearward wheel switch  84  functions with other components of the present invention&#39;s electrical system to control the operations of the amusement ride which will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     The most forward end of the rail body  90  is equipped with a rail detent area  80  which is an area of the rail body  90  which slopes shapely downward in relation to the remainder of the rail body  90 . The purpose of the rail detent area  80  is to hold the moveable seat  70  in the desired position when it is moved all the way forward within the invention for use with a wheelchair  12  bound individual. This operates by providing a depression into which the front seat wheel  72  drops when the moveable seat  70  is moved all the way forward on the rail body  90 . Thus, in order to reposition the moveable seat  70 , the front seat wheel  72  must be removed from the rail detent area  80  which requires a significant amount of force; certainly more than can be generated by the motion of the invention. Finally, the most forward end of the rail detent area  80  is also equipped with a forward wheel switch  82  which is designed to operate in conjunction with the remaining components of the present invention&#39;s electrical and operating systems. 
     The electrical and operating systems of the present invention are detailed in FIG. 17 which is a flow chart representing the manner in which the components of the system control the operation of the invention. The electrical system consists of two separate circuits that are operationally dependant on one another and which are both controlled through the power supply  38 . The first of these individual circuits operates the drive motor  52  used to provide the rocking motion that is central to the theme of the amusement ride. The drive motor  52  is connected directly to the power supply  38  through a feed wire  92  and the activation of the drive motor  52  is dependant on the proper configuration of the second circuit of the invention. 
     The second circuit consists of the three positional switches, the gate switch  68 , the forward wheel switch  82 , and the rearward wheel switch  84 , and the wheel solenoid  86  which are also connected to the power supply through a series of feed wires feeds  92  and the solenoid control switch  40 . The primary function of the solenoid control switch  40  is to release the solenoid plunger  88  of the wheel solenoid  86  which allows the moveable seat  70  to move forward and out of the way of a wheelchair  12 . The remaining components of this circuit function to monitor the position of the primary components of the invention. The important thing to note in this regard is that the interconnection of the two systems operates to ensure that the drive motor  52  cannot be engaged by the power supply  38  unless the monitoring switches confirm that their related component is in the proper position for the safe operation of the invention. That is to say, if either the forward or rearward wheel switches,  72  and  74 , do not register the presence of the moveable seat  70 , the power supply  38  will not activate the drive motor  52 . Likewise, if the gate switch  68  indicates that the end gate/ramp  20  is not properly closed, the drive motor  52  will not operate. This interconnected design enhances the overall safety of the present invention as it ensures that it cannot be operated if any of the safety features are not properly configured. 
     An additional safety feature of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 which detail the use of a plurality of end gate shocks  94 . The end gate shocks  94  extend from their point of pivotal attachment to the end gate/ramp  20  at the upper shock mount  96  to their pivotal point of attachment to the interior wall of the gate frames  22  at the lower shock mount  98 . The purpose of the end gate shocks  94  is to control the motion of the end gate/ramp  20  during the opening process. This is necessary because without the use of the end gate shocks  94 , the end gate/ramp  20  can drop down too quickly and the force of this opening process could injure an individual that is in the path of the opening end gate/ramp  20 . The end gate shocks  94  control this by forcing the end gate/ramp  20  to open in a slow and controlled manner which eliminates any risks involved in the opening process to both bystanders and users of the present invention. 
     A further safety feature of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 which detail the use of a safety skirt  100  which spans the gap  101  between the lower edge of the ride body  16  and the body base  44 . The use of this safety device is made necessary by the rocking motion of the invention as it creates an opening and closing gap  101  between the ride body  16  and the body base  44 . Consequently, if this gap were left open a user or bystander could sustain an injury by inadvertently placing a foot, hand, or other appendage into the closing gap  101  and having it pinched and compressed by the rocking motion of the present invention. The use of the safety skirt  100  eliminates this hazard as it closes off the gap  101  between the ride body  16  and the body base  44 . 
     The safety skirt  100  is made up of a flexible yet extremely durable fabric-like material that will allow the relationship between the ride body  16  and the body base  44  to continually change due to the rocking motion of the invention while making it impossible for anything to be placed within the gap  101 . The attachment of the safety skirt  100  to the invention is accomplished by the use of a plurality of attachment screws  102  which, on the lower end of the safety skirt  100 , attach it to the outer edge of the body base  44 , and on the upper end attach it to the inner surface of the lowest edge of the ride body  16 . Additionally, this attachment is performed around the entirety of the perimeter of the invention ensuring that there are no open areas which would allow for the passage of a foreign object into the gap  101 . Thus, the use of the safety skirt  100  in conjunction with the present invention enhances its safe operation for not only the primary user, but also for those who are close to the invention during its operation. The fact that wheelchair  12  bound individuals are normally accompanied by adults and other similar individuals, makes the safety skirt  100  a vital component for the safe operation of the present invention. 
     The manner in which a start button  108  is used with the present invention is detailed in FIG.  22 . As previously stated, the primary control of the invention is a function of the power supply  38  which is located on the right side of the dashboard  104  outside of the steering wheel  34 . However, the power supply  38  only activates the invention after the user performs the necessary initiating process (inserting the proper number of coins or turning the key) and then depresses the start button  108 . This ensures that the rocking motion of the invention is not began until the user is properly positioned within the ride body  16 . Additionally, the dashboard  104  also contains a plurality of accessory buttons  106  which control the operation of the entertainment accessories such as the emergency light, siren, and bells. These features enhance the entertainment value of the invention to its potential users as they provide an additional measure of reality to the ride. 
     A still further safety device that is employed in the normal use of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24 which detail the configuration of the inner side panels  110 . The inner side panels  110  function to isolate the moving parts of the moveable seat  70  component of the invention from the user within the interior of the invention. This isolation is accomplished by the inclusion of a axle slot  116  that is diagonally oriented in the face of the inner side panel  110  in a position that coincides with the upper surface of the seat guide rails  42 . The openings of the axle slots  116  is enclosed by the use of two oppositely oriented axle seals  114  which meet roughly along the center line of the axle slots  116 . The axle seals  114  are made of a material that is highly flexible and that will readily return to its original configuration when a distortion force has been applied and subsequently removed. This characteristic not only allows the wheel axles  112  to pass from their point of attachment at the front and rear seat wheels,  72  and  74 , through the inner side panels  110 , but also makes it possible for the moveable seat  70  to move up and down the seat guide rails  42  without losing this seal. Additionally, the seal not only isolates the user from these moving parts, but also keeps dirt and other debris from interfering with the efficient operations of the moveable seat  70  component of the invention. 
     Finally, an alternative embodiment of the seat guide rail  42  components of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26. This embodiment of the invention moves the wheel solenoid  86  from its position on the rail body  90  which places the protruding solenoid plunger  88  in front of the front seat wheel  72  rearward to a point at which it protrudes in front of the rearward position of the rear seat wheel  74 . Despite this change of position, the interaction between the wheel solenoid  86  and the rear seat wheels  74  is exactly as described in the previous embodiment for the interaction between the wheel solenoid  86  and the front seat wheel  72 . 
     The changing of the wheel solenoid&#39;s  86  position allows the invention to operate without need for the installation of the forward and rearward wheel switches,  82  and  84 . The difference in the ride&#39;s operation is simply that the depression of the solenoid control switch  40  retracts the solenoid plunger  88  and allows the rear seat wheels  74  to move forward along the rail body  90 . However, unlike the previous embodiment, the release of the solenoid control switch  40  allows the solenoid plunger  88  to return immediately to its protruding position after the rear seat wheels  74  has passed. This allows the forward and rearward wheel switches,  82  and  84 , to be eliminated as the solenoid plunger&#39;s  88  default position is extended and the moveable seat  70  can only be either held in its rearward position by the solenoid plunger  88  or all the way forward at the bottom of the diagonally oriented rail body  90 . Thus, the functions of the forward and rearward wheel switches,  82  and  84 , of monitoring the position of the moveable seat  70  is no longer necessary as the solenoid plunger  88  is always extended unless the solenoid control switch  40  is depressed which means that the moveable seat  70  can only be in one of two possible positions during all phases of the operation of the present invention. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.