Patent ID: 8485104

Claim:
A ride system providing crossing vehicle paths, comprising: a lower assembly including a first track and a first set of vehicles movable along a first ride path defined by the first track, the first vehicle set being vertically supported above the first track of the assembly at a first height; an upper assembly including a second track and a second set of vehicles movable along a second ride path defined by the second track, the second vehicle set being vertically supported below the second track of the upper assembly at a second height, wherein the second track is spaced apart from and at a higher elevation than the first track; and a synchronization mechanism operating to synchronize movements of the first and second vehicle chains, wherein a rate of movement of the first vehicle chain is equal to a rate of movement of the second vehicle chain, wherein the first ride path crosses the second ride path at a cross over point when the ride system is viewed in plan view, and wherein the vehicles of the first and second vehicle sets are supported within first and second ranges of elevations at the cross over point, the first and second elevation ranges at least partially overlapping.