Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relates to, claims the benefit of and priority from, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/552,112, filed Nov. 24, 2014, of the same title and by the same inventor, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to amusement apparatuses, and more particularly to an apparatus for human flight or gliding suitable for use at a theme park, amusement park or other appropriate divertissement. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Human beings cannot fly. When we try in sports like sky diving, base-jumping, and bungee-jumping, we risk our lives. 
     Zip lines attempt to provide soaring, but the participant has little or no control, and the ride is over in just a few seconds. One must apply to several lines in a very large outdoor setting to get any air-time. 
     Indoor skydiving involves balancing on a column of super accelerated air that is uncomfortable at best. Again the ride only lasts a few seconds, and is not for all skill levels. 
     The aforementioned efforts to simulate a flying experience for humans are evidence of an unmet demand for a true experience of flying that is safe, comfortable, and that lasts a satisfying amount of time. 
     SUMMARY 
     A single rail system, suspended from the ceiling of a large warehouse, for example, shaped like an inverted roller coaster. Alternatively, the rail system is suspended from support members that extend upward from the ground. Integrated into the rail system is a free-moving, gravity driven wheel carriage which is attached to a bungee cord approximately 10 feet long, which is in turn attached to a soaring harness that a person wears to fly through this inverted course. The harness is equipped with a braking and steering system. It is essentially safe, indoor, flying for all ages and athletic abilities. 
     The apparatus of the present disclosure allows the participant to step off a platform into thin air, yet stay connected to the undulating course of the rail system. The flyer maintains a constant distance from the rail system, with some give in the bungee cord, and uses the harness and handlebar steering and braking system to glide and soar like a bird. It allows for courses that could last for many minutes at a time depending on the grade and height of the course. There is also the potential to run multiple flyers on multiple courses at staggered start times. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is an elevated view diagrammatic illustration of a flying course with ground supports of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is an elevated view diagrammatic illustration of a flying course with ceiling suspension supports of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view diagrammatic illustration of the flying course of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2B  is an elevated side view diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the flying course taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a side view diagrammatic illustration of the flying course of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 2D  is an elevated side view diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the flying course taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a harness of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a specific alternative embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a specific alternative embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  depicting a flying broom harness. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  having one or more thrusters. 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  having one or more thrusters. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative sea turtle harness. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative comet harness. Related harnesses include planets and the moon. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative insect harness, such as a dragon fly. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative lightning bolt harness. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative flying carpet harness. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative space ship harness. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative race car harness. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative bird harness. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative dragon harness. 
     
    
    
     NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. 
     In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. 
     For convenient reference a list of the drawing reference numbers correlated to the elements to which they refer is provided. 
     DESCRIPTION LIST 
     
         
         
           
               10 : designates a simulated flight system of the present disclosure. 
               11 : designates the building or area that houses the system. 
               12 : designates the elevated takeoff station. 
               13 : designates the return rail. 
               14 : designates the lower landing station. 
               16 : designates the undulating, downward trending rail system. 
               17 : designates the rail. 
               18 : designates the carriage. 
               19 : designates the optional ceiling suspension members of building  11 . 
               20 : designates the suspension members of rail system  16 . 
               21 : designates the safety net. 
               22 : designates the bungee cord. 
               23 : designates the support struts. 
               24 : designates the adjustable handlebar and brake assembly. 
               25 : designates the guide wires. 
               26 : designates the user. 
               27 : designates the safety slack cord. 
               28 : designates the harness. 
               30 : designates the attachment and stabilizing panel. 
               32 : designates the wings. 
               33 : designates the tail section of wings. 
               34 : designates the adjustable weighted handlebar. 
               35 : designates the handlebar brake levers. 
               36 : designates the wheels. 
               38 : designates the brake pads. 
               39 : designates the support pipe. 
               40 : designates the bend in support pipe  39 . 
               41 : designates the support pipe pivot ball. 
               42 : designates the support pipe clamp for bungee cord  22 . 
               44 : designates the block. 
               46 : designates the brake line conduit. 
               47 : designates the brake lines. 
               48 : designates the axle housing. 
               50 : designates the axle. 
               52 : designates the handlebar frame and brake line conduit  52 . 
               54 : designates the broom fuselage. 
               55 : designates the accordion joint attachment. 
               56 : designates the seat. 
               58 : designates the footrest. 
               60 : designates the hip safety bar. 
               62 : designates the hip seat belt. 
               64 : designates the lap seat belt. 
               66 : designates the shoulder safety cord. 
               67 : designates a thruster. 
               68 : designates thruster control panel. 
               69 : designates control panel connection to thrusters. 
           
         
       
    
       FIG. 1A  of the drawings is an elevated view diagrammatic illustration of a flying course of the present disclosure. The reference numeral  10  generally designates an exemplary embodiment of a simulated flight system of the present disclosure embodying features of the present disclosure. The system  10  includes rail system  16  which preferably is installed in a building or on suitable terrain  11 , which includes the floor of the building in certain exemplary enclosed embodiments, but also contemplates open air or enclosed exemplary embodiments wherein terrain  11  may be any one of a variety of suitable surfaces such as earth, turf, asphalt, concrete, synthetic surface and so forth. In the following description, reference number  11  is used to refer all such exemplary installation embodiments interchangeably. 
     Rail system  16  provides rail  17  which descends at an incline from elevated takeoff station  12  and terminates at landing station  14 , which landing station  14  is at a lower elevation than takeoff station  12 . Return rail  13  connects landing station  14  to takeoff station  12  to form a rail loop. Rail  17  is preferably modularly configurable so that it can be changed to provide a variety of desired flight paths. 
     Carriage  18  is movably mounted to or housed in rail  17  so that, upon departing take-off station  12 , carriage  18  descends along rail  17  until it lands at landing station  14 . The direction of travel of carriage  18  along rail  17  is indicated by bold directional arrows in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1B  is an elevated view diagrammatic illustration of an alternative embodiment of a flying course  10  such as in  FIG. 1A , wherein rail  17  is suspended from the ceiling of a course housing  11  such that support members  20  and support struts  23  depend from the ceiling of housing  11 . This is in contrast to the arrangement of  FIG. 1A , where support members  20  are anchored to the ground and support struts  23  depend from the top of members  20  (see  FIG. 2B ). 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2A  is a side view diagrammatic illustration of the flying course of  FIG. 1A . The present disclosure contemplates a variety of embodiments for erecting and securing rail system  16 . One exemplary embodiment provides rail system  16  erected vertically on terrain  11  with, for example, scaffolding or other suitably sturdy vertical support members. In other exemplary embodiments, particularly enclosed embodiments, rail system  16  is suspended from the ceiling of an enclosure for system  16  with suitably strong suspension members  20 . In still other exemplary embodiments, a combination of floor support members extending upward from terrain  11  and suspension members descending from the roof of an enclosure are utilized to safely secure rail system  16 . 
     In a specific exemplary embodiment, a plurality of upright suspension members  20 , each one of the plurality having a foot and a top, are installed at their respective feet on terrain  11 . A plurality of suspension struts  23  hang from the top of each of the plurality of suspension member  20  and are connected to rail  17  at various points along the path of rail  17 . One or more additional suspension members  19  are optionally provided in alternative exemplary embodiments. Safety net  21 , disposed under rail  17 , is particularly useful for embodiments in which rail system  16  is suspended from the ceiling of a housing. 
     Suspension struts  23  are preferably attached to rail  17  vertically in such a way that the path of rail  17  includes a variety of forms of loop de loops, for example, and other entertaining flight paths. Additionally, the plurality of suspension members  20  is disposed around terrain  11  horizontally to provide lateral displacement of the flight path for enhanced entertainment value. By arranging the vertical and horizontal elements of rail  17 , an entertaining ride is provided in which carriage  18  descends from takeoff station  12  and follows a wild, careening, path along rail  17 , terminating at landing station  14 . Due to its large scale, simulated flight system  10  is preferably installed as a permanent attraction. However, specific alternative embodiments provide the plurality of suspension members and suspension struts in a modular form so that the flight paths can be changed periodically or so that system  10  can be relocated to a different site. 
       FIG. 2B  is an elevated side view diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the flying course taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1B . Rail  17  is shown looping around suspension members  20  by virtue of the plurality of suspension struts radiating in all the directions around the top of each suspension member  20 . 
       FIG. 2C  is a side view diagrammatic illustration of the flying course of  FIG. 1B . 
       FIG. 2B  is an elevated side view diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the flying course taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2C . 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan cross-sectional view of a harness of the present disclosure taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 4 . Carriage  18  is depicted housed in rail  17  on support pipe  46  and carriage  18  consists of an assembly that includes a pair of wheels  36  wherein one wheel of the pair of wheels  36  is disposed on one side of support pipe  39  and the other wheel of the pair of wheels  36  is disposed on the other side of support pipe  39 . The wheels of the pair of wheels  36  are rotate-ably connected to each other by axle  50  which is at least partially housed in axle housing  48 . Support pipe  39  provides bend  40  to accommodate the traverse of axle  50 . Support pipe  39  terminates at its proximate end at support ball  41 . In specific alternative embodiments support ball  41  is pivot-able to allow carriage  17  to swing on support pipe  39 . 
     Continuing with the description of the carriage  18  assembly, brake pads  38  selectively engage the pair of wheels  36  via actuation of brake lines  47 . Support pipe clamp  42  for bungee cord  22  is mounted on the distal end of support pipe  39 . Block  44  is mounted on the exterior of brake line conduit  46  inside rail  17  and safety slack cord  27  is fastened to block  44 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view indicated by line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 5  is a top plan view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  are discussed below together. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  depict a specific exemplary embodiment of a flying apparatus with wings of the present disclosure mounted to and suspended from carriage  18  by brake line conduit  46 . The mount arrangement allows user  26  to engage carriage  18  via a manually operated brake line to slow down or stop carriage  18 . Depending from brake line conduit  46  is elastic member  22 , such as a bungee cord, which is attached distally to attachment and stabilizing panel  30  of the apparatus, or, with particular specific harnesses, is connected distally to accordion joint  55 . A first adjustable handlebar and brake assembly  24  is also connected to brake line conduit  46  and also provides a brake line conduit from the user&#39;s  26  hands to conduit  46  and ultimately to carriage  18 . 
     First assembly  24  extends rearward and above user  26  from a first end of handlebar cross member  34 . A second assembly  24  extends rearward and above user  26  from a second end of handlebar cross member  34  (see  FIG. 5 ). A first hand brake assembly  35  is mounted to the first end of handlebar cross member  34  and a second hand brake assembly is mounted to the second end of handlebar  35 . First and second hand brake assemblies  35  provide braking to carriage  18  via brake line conduits  24  and  46 . 
     Guide wires  25  connect brake line conduit  46  to user  26  at a front end and to the harness at a rear end to provide stability. Safety slack cord  27  extends with slack from rail  17  to panel  30 . Harness  28  provides a plurality of support members extending from panel  30  to wings  32 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention. The flying apparatus is the embodiment of  FIG. 6  is a flying broom. Broom fuselage  54  has a top and a bottom and is suspended to brake line conduit  46  from the top via accordion joint attachment  55 . Handlebar frame and brake line conduit  52  connects to and communicates with conduit  46  and houses a manually operated brake line that communicates with carriage  18  via conduit  46 . Seat  56  is mounted on the top of fuselage  54  in front of conduit  46 . Footrest  58  is mounted to the bottom of fuselage  54  opposite seat  56 . Hip safety bar  60  is mounted to fuselage  54  and extends upward to secure user  26  in seat  56 . Hip seat belt  62  is attached to fuselage  54  and wraps around the waist of user  26 . Lap seat belt  64  is attached to fuselage  54  and wraps around the legs of user  26 . Shoulder safety cord  66  extends between and connects user  26  to seat  56 . 
     Alternative embodiments provide pneumatic thrusters  67  to provide forward or directional thrust for more speed and enhanced steering. 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a specific alternative embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a specific alternative embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  are discussed herein together. In the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , one or more thruster  67  is pivotally mounted to handlebar  34  to provide optional forward thrusting force for increased speed. Steering is enhanced by pivoting thruster  67  to change the direction of thrust using control panel  68  on handlebar  34 . Control panel  68  connects to thrusters  67  with connection  69 . 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . In the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 9 , handle bar  24  is proximally mounted to fuselage  54 , and one or more thruster  67  is pivotally mounted to handlebar  24  as well as distally on fuselage  54  to provide optional forward thrusting force for increased speed. Steering is enhanced by pivoting thruster  67  to change the direction of thrust. 
     The decorative and entertaining design of harnesses for a simulated flying system  10  of the present disclosure is limited only by the imagination. Examples of decorative and entertaining harnesses are provided in  FIGS. 10-18 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative sea turtle harness. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative comet harness. Related harnesses include planets and the moon. 
       FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative insect harness, such as a dragon fly. 
       FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative lightning bolt harness. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative flying carpet harness. 
       FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative space ship harness. 
       FIG. 16  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative race car harness. 
       FIG. 17  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative bird harness. 
       FIG. 18  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative dragon harness. 
     Alternative decorative harnesses of  FIGS. 10-18  are illustrated as including one or more optional thrusters  67 , thruster controller  68  and connection  69 . 
     Additional fanciful harness configurations include but are not limited to: 
     Sea Creatures: Dolphin, Shark, Whale, Sea Turtle, Sting Ray, even a Surfer on a Wave harness. 
     Fairytale Creatures: Fairies, Dragons, Flying Carpet, Basilisk, Hippogriff, Gryphon, Gnomes, Elves, Unicorns, Genies, Hobbits, Pegasus, even a Bubble that would enclose the rider. 
     Desert Creatures: Lions, Tigers, Bears, Elephant, Leopard, Warthog, Hyena, Water-Buffalo, Giraffe, Rhino and so on. 
     Forest Creatures: Bears, Elk, Moose, Deer, Badgers, Beavers, Eagles, and so forth. 
     Birds: Eagle, Condor, Egret, Hawk, Falcon, Barn Owl, Swift, Cardinal, Sparrow, Hummingbird. For progressively easier runs suitable for younger or first time riders, for example, the smaller the bird the smaller the ride. 
     Garden Creatures: Butterflies, Birds, Moths, Frogs, Lizards, Wasps, Bees, Squirrels, Earthworms, and so forth. 
     Weather: Storm clouds, Lightning bolts, Stars, Planets, Moons, the Winds and the like. 
     Jungle Creatures: Apes, Monkeys, Panthers, Snakes, and so forth. 
     Insects: Giant Ants, Butterflies, Moths, Beetles, and the like. 
     Vehicles: Planes, Spaceships, Cars, Motorcycles, Tanks, Jeeps, Ornithopters, and so forth. 
     Fantasy/Science Fiction: Aliens, Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, the Undead, Evil Pirates, and so forth. 
     Additional harness forms include licensed figures from film and television tie-ins: 
     Super Heroes: Superman®, Batman®, Wonder Woman® and her Invisible Plane, Spiderman®, Storm (X-Men®), and so on. 
     Harry Potter®: the Broom Fuselage, Hippogriffs, Nargels, Dementors, Dragons, and so on. 
     Aladdin®: The Genie, the Flying Carpet, and so on. 
     Transformers®: Cars that become Robots as you fly! 
     Star Wars®: X-Wing fighters, Tie Fighters, Millennium Falcon, and the like. 
     Star Trek®: The Enterprise, the Galileo Seven, and so on. 
     Futurama® 
     Battlestar Gallactica® 
     Shrek® 
     Cars® 
     Dora the Explorer® 
     The present disclosure contemplates at least two types of harnesses  28 , one type is a suspension harness wherein the harness fastens to the back of the user and the user is suspended from the harness, and a second type is a ride-able harness, wherein the user straddles, sits or otherwise mounts the harness. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the system and apparatus described herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Technology Category: 7