Patent ID: 8453576

Claim:
A rollercoaster amusement device, comprising: an endless guide structure at least comprising multiple curves, one or more carriages displaceable along said guide structure, a passenger assembly associated with a carriage, said passenger assembly being adapted to accommodate at least one passenger, and a station along said guide structure allowing the passenger to board the passenger assembly, wherein the passenger assembly includes a frame that is connected to the carriage, the frame at least being provided with: a chest support, a back restraining member, and a leg restraining device for each leg, such that: the passenger's trunk can rest with a chest side thereof on the chest support, the back restraining member can restrain motion of the passenger away from the chest support, and the leg restraining devices can each hold the respective leg such that the upper leg is angled downward with respect to the trunk and the leg is bent at the knee so that the lower leg is angled rearward with respect to the upper leg, wherein the leg restraining device for restraining a leg includes: an upper leg retention member adapted to engage at least the front side of the upper leg, a lower leg retention member adapted to engage at least the front side of the lower leg, so that the upper and lower leg retention members can retain the leg while bent at the knee, and wherein the upper leg retention members are arranged substantially stationary on the frame and the lower leg retention members are connected to the frame such that upon boarding the passenger assembly the passenger should bend his legs at the knee and place the upper and lower leg against the upper and lower leg retention members, and wherein the leg restraining device further includes: a mobile knee restraining member and an associated knee restraining member drive for driving the knee restraining member, wherein the knee restraining member is mobile between an access position, allowing the passenger, at the boarding station, to place his upper and lower legs against the upper and lower leg retention members, and a restraining position wherein the knee restraining member is positioned at the backside of the knee so that the knee restraining member can prevent the passenger from removing the leg from the upper and lower leg retention members.