CA1190569A

CA1190569A - Standing position support apparatus for amusement vehicle

Info

Publication number: CA1190569A
Application number: CA000423591A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kazuo Yamada
Original assignee: Togo Japan Inc
Current assignee: Togo Japan Inc
Priority date: 1982-04-22
Filing date: 1983-03-15
Publication date: 1985-07-16
Also published as: IT1163055B; IT8319357A0

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure The invention provides a standing position support apparatus having: a standing position support column for holding a passenger in an upright posture on a main body of a vehicle which rolls or orbits along a track;
a height-adjusting frame which is disposed at the standing position support column to be vertically movable therealong and adjusted at a proper position in accordance with the height of the passenger and which has a locking mechanism for locking the height-adjusting frame; and a body safety support mechanism having a pair of right and left shoulder holders which are free to pivot and support the upper half of the body (e.g., surrounding of the shoulders) of the passenger, a saddle for supporting the pelvic portion of the body, and an abdominal support for supporting the lower torso of the passenger. With the standing room apparatus, the passenger can be safely held to stand on the main body while it is in motion and can enjoy thrilling excitement as if he were standing on the main body by himself.

Description

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The present invention relates to a standing position support apparatus for a roller coaster, a somersault coaster or any other amusemen-t vehicle which rolls or orbits along a track in an amusement park or the like and, more particularly, to a standing position support appaxatus for safely holding a passenger who stands on the amusement vehicle.
The present a~plicant has developed an amusement vehicle, a typical example of which is a so-called standing loop coaster. The passenger is held standing on the standing loop coaster, while the standing loop coaster moves along the track performing nose dives, turns and somersaults, thereby providing thrilling amusement which cannot be obtained from any other coaster. Unlike the conventional roller and somersault coasters where passengers sit deeply in thelr seats to maintain a lo~er center of gravity, the passenger maintains a higher center of gravity and his eye level is higher in the standing loop coaster, thus greatly increasing the feelings of zero gravity and speed and providing more thrilling sensations.
The safety of passengers in the standing loop coaster must be maintained while it is in motion.
Overloads such as excessive gravity (G) due to transverse vibration and nose dive acceleration must not be imposed on the stancing passenger. Even if the passenger faints while the standing loop coaster is in :

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motion, the standing posture of the passenger must be maintained to protect nim. For these purposes, a body support unit must be provided which may be used by passengers of different heights. Such a unit must ensure the safety of the passengers as well as provide thrilling amusement.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide a standing position support apparatus for an amusement vehicle, having a body support mechanism for supporting the upper half of the body of a passenger such as the shoulders or belly, or hips on a standing column disposed upright on a vehicle main body so as to be suitable for passengers who have different figures (e.g., tall, short, fat, slender), in order to maintain the safety of the passenger.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a standing position support apparatus ror an amusement vehicle which assures the safety of the passenger standlng therein when a gravity overload is imposed on the body of the passenger, by immediately damping the overload.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide a standing position support apparatus for an a~usement vehicle which provides further thrills by arbitrarily changing the pos-ture of the passenger 5~i~

standing in an amusement venicle of this type which has a safeguard.
This invention can be more ~ully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. l is a schematic view of a standing loop coaster having s-tanding position support apparatuses according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the detailed struc-ture of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a front view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a right side view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a pass2nger supporting state of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 6 is a front view o a height-adjusting frame of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is a right side view of the height-adjusting frame shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view for explaining an opening/closing link mechanism of right and left shoulder holders;

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram of hydraulic piping and electrical wiring;

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Fig. 10 is a side view of a standing loop coaster according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a circuit diayram of hydrauiic piping and electrical wiringi Figr 12 is a perspective vlew showing a modification of a height-adjusting mechanism of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the main part of the height-adjusting mechanism shown in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a side view of a standing position support apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention with the main part being cut awa~;
Fig. 15 is a rear view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a plan view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 14;
Fig. 17 is a side view of a rnodification of the right and left shoulder holders;
Fig. 18 is a side view of the main part of the shoulder holder, shown in Figs. 14 to 17, to which an expandable bag is attached, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 19 is a sectional view of the shoulder holder taken along the line X - X in Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is a sectional view of part of the collapsed bag corresponding to that of the bag shown in Fig. 19;

, Fig. 21 shows the state where the expanded bag is in tight contact with the passenger body;
Fig. 22 shows a side view of a standing position support apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 23 is a front view thereof;
Fig. 24 is a partially sectional plan view thereof;
Fig. 25 is a hydraulic circuit diagram therefore;
Fig. 26 is a sectional view of a support;
Fig. 27 is a sectional view of an expanded bag;
Fig. 28 is a sectional view of the expanded bag which is in tight contact with the passenger's body;
Fig. 29 is a plan view showing a partial section of a modification of a support;
Fig. 30 is a side view of a standing position support apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 31 is a rear view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 30;
Fig. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 30;
Fig. 33 is a view for explaining an opening/closins link mechanism of a body clamper;
Fig. 34 is a side view showing a partial section of a standing position support apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 35 is a rear view of the standing position 56~

support apparatus shown in Fig. 34;
Fig. 36 is a plan view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 34;
Fig. 37 is a plan view showing a turntable driving source for the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 34;
Figs. 38 and 39 are views for explaining the mode of operation of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 34;
Fig. 40 is a side view showing a partial section of a standing position support apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 41 is a front view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 40;
Fig. 42 is a rear view of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 40; and Fig. 43 is a view showing the hydraulic locking cylinder of the standing position support apparatus shown in Fig. 40.
~ standing position support apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In this embodimen~, a standing loop coaster is exem-plified as an amusement vehicle.
Referring to Fi~. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a track of the coaster; and 2, a plurality of vehicle main bodies on flat trucks which roll along the track 1 Si6~

via wheels 3. The flat truck does not have a box-shaped body for accomodating passengers therein, but has a fla~
upper surface. One or two rows of the standing position support apparatuses 4 are disposed on the upper surface of each main body 2 to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance. Passengers are respec-tively supported by the standing position support apparatuses 4.
The structure of the standing position support apparatus 4 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to ~igs. 2 to 8.
The standlng position support apparatus 4 comprises a standing column 6 disposed upright on the main body 2 through a base 5, and a height-adjusting frame 7 which is vertically movable along the standins column 6. The height-adjusting frame 7 comprises a prism-shaped cylinder 8 which is vertically movable around the standing column 6 having a square cross-section, three horizontal frame members 9 to 11 which are ~elded at 0 the front side of the cylinder 8 (two horizontal frame members 9 and 11 are dlsposed at the upper and lower portlons of the cylinder 8, and the romaining horizontal frame member 10 is spaced apart from the horizontal frame member 9 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7), and vertisal ~5 left and right frame members 12 and 13 respectively each of ~hich is connected to one end of each of the two horizontal frame members 9 to 11. Sliders 14 made of polytetraflt~roethylene liner are respecti~ely fix~d inside the lo~
end and the intermediate portion of the cylinder 8 to slide along the standing column 6, as shown in Fig. 5.
The height-adjusting frame 7 is vertically movable to S be adjusted to a proper height corresponding to the height of a passenger A, and is locked at a given position by a locking cylinder 15 to be described later.
A body safety support mechanism 16 is built into the height-adjusting frame 7 to support the standing passenger A. The body ~afety support mechanism 16 comprises a pair of opening/closing locking type shoulder holders 17 for supporting the shoulders of the passenger A, a back support 18 for supporting the back of the passenger A, a head rest 19 for supporting the head of the passenger A, a saddle 20 for allowing the passenger A ~o stand thereastride, and a pivotal abdomen support 21 of a locking type which supports the abdomen of the passenger A when it is moved upward and which releases the abdomen when it is pivoted downward.
Each shoulder holder 17 comprises a trianaulax frame 17a and a cushion 17b which covers the triansular frame 17a. The inner angle at the upper porticn of the shoulder holder 17 is 25; the inner angle at the front lower portion thereof is 80; and the inner angle at the rear lower por~ion thereof is 75. The rear vertical portions of the frames 17a of the pair of shoulder holders 17 are respectively supported by a palr of be~rings 22 e.~tending from the horizontal fr me me.r.bers 9 and 10 of the height-adjustin~ frame 7. The shoulder holders 17, which are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the height-adjusting frame 7, may be pivoted inward by 25 and outward by 15 (a total of 40). The opening/closing (pivotal) movement of the right and left shoulder holders 17 interlocks with a link mechanism 23 located at the upper notched portion of the height-adjusting frame 7. The link mechanism 23 comprises a link pivot plate 24 pivotally supported at the upper end notched rear plate o~ the height-adjusting frame 7, pivot levers 25 and 26 respectively extending backward from the rear vertical portions of the frames 17a as shown in Fig. 2, and a pair of link arms 27 and 28 for respectively pivotally connecting the pivot lever 25 of the left shoulder holder 17 to the upper portion of the link pivot plate 24 and connecting the pivot lever 26 of the right shoulder holder 17 to the lower portiGn or the link pivot plate 24. The piston rod end of a locking cylinder 30 supported by a pin on an upper left brac~et 29 (Figs. 3 and 6) of the heiaht-adjusting frame 7 is pivotal about a projection 2aa of the link pivot plate 24 (Figs. 2 and 8). The locking cylinder 30 comprises two cvlinder chambers which are partitioned by a piston and which communicate with each other by means of hvdraulic piping 32. A solenoid-controlled valve 34 is mourted in the hydraulic piping 32 to open or close the piping 32, as shown in Fig. 9.
When the solenoid controlled value 34 is OFF, causing the oil to stop communicating between the cylinder chambers, the locked state is obtained, so that the right and left shoulder holders 17 are locked in the passenger holding positions.
The back support 18 comprlses an arcuated back and hip support plate (made of a reinforced plastic) as shown in Fig. 5 which is mounted at the front side of the height-adjusting frame 7 through the horizontal frame members 9 and 10 and auxiliary intermediate horizontal members 35 and 36. A head pad 37 for children is mounted at the upper portion of the back support 18. The head rest 19 comprises a frame l9a whlch is welded to the upper horizontal frame member 9 o~ the height adjusting frame 7, and which is arcuated and e~tends upward to have an inverted U-shape, and a cushion l9b such as a thick urethane rubber cushion which covers the frame l9a. The saddle 20, located below the heisht-adjusting trame 7, is mounted on a bracket 3~ e~tending forward from the lower end of the height-adjusting frame 7. The passenger ~ st-~nds astride the saddle 20 like a bicycle saddle. The abdominal support 21 restrains .he lower torso of the passenger so as not to allow him any forward movement. The abcominal support 21 comprises an inverted L-shaped pivot arm 39, and a cushion ~0 such as a thick urethane 6~3 rubber cushion which covers the periphery of the portion which contacts the abdomen. A pivot lever al fi~sed at the lower end of the pivot arnl 39 is supported by a shaft 44 supported by bearings 42 and 43. The pivot S arm 39 is then pivoted about the shaft A 4 by a predeter-mined angle ~ as shown in Fig. 4 (equal to 55 in this embodiment). The bearinys 42 and 43 are secured by bolts to a lower end plate 46 of a fixing member 45 which is made of a prism-shaped pipe and which extends obliquely from the lower side surface of the height-adjusting frame 7, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Reference numeral 47 denotes a spring for urging the abdominal support 21 upward to support the abdomen of the passenger A. The spring 47 comprises a coil spring wound around lS the shaft 44 and having its one end secured to the lower end plate 46 and the other end secured to the pivot lever 41 (see Flg. 3). Reference numeral 48 denotes a hyaraulic locking cylinder for loc.l~ing the abdominal support 2L against the abdomen of the passen-ger A. The cylinder end is pivotally supported by apin on a brac.~et 49 of the fixing member 45, and the piston rod end of the cvlinder is pivotally supported by a pin at the distal end of ~he arm pivot pin 41, as shown in Fig. 5. The locking cylinder 48 causes the two partitioned cylinder chambers therein to communicate ~dith each other by means of hydraulic piping 50. A solenoid-controlled valve 51 is mounted within the hydraulic pipir.g 50. When the solenoid-controlled valve 51 is closed, the piston rod of the locXing cylinder 48 is movable only in the elongating direction. For this purpose, a check valve 52 is mounted in a bypass pipe 50a for allowing an oil flow so as to pivot the abdominal support 21 only in the dlrection toward the abdomen of the passenger A (Fig. 9)~
The locking cylinder 15 oi the height-adjusting fræme 7 will be described. When the height-adjusting frame 7 is vertically moved, a piston rod 15a of the locking cylinder 15 follows the movement of the height-adjusting fræme 7. When the height adjusting frame 7 is adjusted to a proper position, the locking cylinder 15 locks the height adjusting frame 7 at the proper position corresponding to the height of the passenger A. The cylinder end is pivotally supported by a pin on the bracket of the base 5, and the upper end of the piston rod 15a is pivotally supported near the proximal end of the saddle bracket 38 of the height-adjusting ~0 frame 7.
In the locking cylinder 15 for locking the heisht~
adjusting rrame 7, two partitioned cylinder chambers 15'o and 15c communicate with each other by means of a hydraulic piping 55 having an accumulator 53 and a solenoid-controlled valve 54, as shown in Fig. 9.
A reservoir tank S6 is connected between the solenoid-controlled valve 5a and tne upper cylinder chæmber 15b~

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1~ --When the solenoid-controlled valve 54 is opened, the cylinder chambers 15b and 15c communicate with each other, so that oil in one cylinder chamber Elows into the other cylinder chamber. Therefore, the passenser A
can manually adjust the height of the height-adjusting frame 7. However, when the solenoid-controlled valve 5~
is closed, oil may not flow between the cylinder chambers l5b and 15c. Thus, the height-adjusting frame 7 is locked at a proper position. In this locked position, when an overload such as an excessive gravity (G) force due to an increase in acceleration speed accompanied by a nose dive of the main body 2 is applied to the locking c~linder 15 through the body safety support mechanism 16 and the height-adjusting frame 7, the piston rod 15a which does not move in normal condi-tions moves downward when oil in the lower cylinder chamber 15c is supplied to the accumulator 53, whereby an overload due to the e~cessive gravity force can be weakened, and the piston rod 15a is lowered to reduce the impact to the body. At this time, oil from the reservoir tank 5~ is supplied to the upper cylinder chamber 15b. When the e~cessive gravity (G) force is removed, the piston rod l5a returns to its previous position by means of the accumulator 53, and the excessive oil in the upper cyllnder chamber l5b returns to the reser~Joir tank 56. Thus, the height-adjusting frame 7 maintains a pred2termined height and is locked 5~

in the same manner as in normal operation.
An operation switch 60a electrically connected through three trolley lines 61 to 63 and power collect-ing brushes 6~ to 66 respectively to an electrical circuit 60 which is arranged on the main body 2, and an operation switch 67 in a control room 68 electrically connected ~o the trolley lines 61 and 62, are turned on/off to open/close the solenoid-controlled valves 54, 34 and 51 which respectivelv drive the locking cylinder 15 for adjusting the height adjusting frame 7, the locXing cylinder 30 of the shoulder holders 17, and the loc~ing cylinder 48 of the abdominal support 21, as shown in Fig. 9. Reference numeral 57 throughout Figs. 3 to 5 denotes a gas spring whlch is used together with the locking cylinder 15 for adjusting the height-adjusting frame 7. The lower end portion of the locXing cylinder 15 is supported by a pin on the bracXet of the base 5, and the upper end of the piston rod is pivotally supported by a pin on the lower bracket of the cylinder 8 of the he~ght-adjusting frame 7 so as to substantiallv cancel out the overall weight of the height adjusting frame 7 and .he body safety support mechanism 16.
Therefore, when the locXing cylinder lS is free, the passenger A can readily manually adjust the heiah~-adjusti~g frame 7 bearing the body safety supportmechanism 16.
Refere~ce numeral 58 throughout ~ig5. 2 to denotes a pair of grip handles which are respectively disposed on the right and left shoulder holders 17, so that the passenger A can grasp the grip handles 58 for further safety.
During operation of the standing loop coaster having a plurality of main bodies 2, passengers are respectlvely supported on the standing position support apparatuses 4 on the main bodies 2. The passenger A
lowers the abdominal support 21 to stand astride the saddle 20. The passenger A then manually adjusts the height-adjusting frame 7 to a proper height so as to match the saddle 20 with his crotch~ Thus, the passen-ger stands astride the saddle 20, and rests the back of his body and the back of his head respectively on the back support 18 and the head rest 19. He then passes his arms through the shoulder holders 17 and moves the shoulder holders 17 toward himself such that the shoulder holders contact his shoulders and sides.
In this condition, the abdominal support 21 is urged against the lower torso from the front of the body by the urging force of the spring (Fig. 5). When all the passengers are supported by a standing position support apparatus in the manner as described above, the operator 'urns on the operation switches 60a and 67 to close the solenoid-controlled valves 54, 34 and 51 of the loc~ing cylinders 15, 30 and ~'~, respectively. Thus, the locking cylinder 15 o~ the height-adjusting frame 7 is locked, - 16 ~

and the body safety support mechanism 16 is ~alntained at the height set by the passenger A. ~urther~ore, the right and left shoulder holders 17 are secured in a position where they contact the passenger's shoulders and sides. The abdominal support 21 is also locked by the locking cylinder 48. The abdominal support 21 is urged pivotally toward the abdomen by the chec~ valve 52, so that the abdominal support 21 may not be released from the abdomen of the passenger A. Thus, the passenger 1~ stands astride the saddle 20 and may not fall down.
Furthermore, the passenger's vertical movement is also prohibited. In order to lessen mental anxiety, the passenger can grip the grasp handles 58.
After confirming the safety of the passengers, the operator starts the coaster so as to roll the maln bodies 2 along the track. When the main body 2 rolls up an ascending track, the back of the body and the bac.~ of the head rest on the back support 18 and the head rest l9, respectively, -thus maintaining a safe posture without danger. When the main body 2 rolls along a curred trac~, the passenger ~ stands astride the saddle 20 and his lower torso is restrained bv the abdominal support 21. Furthermore, since the shoulder hol~ers 17 hold his shoulders and sides, tne body portiorl above the hips ls supported and protected.
When the main body 2 rolls down a descendi na trac~
immediatelJ after the main body 2 is started, the - 17 -~ ~

abdominal support 21, the right and left shoulder holders 17 and the grip handles 58 assure the safety of the passenger. When the main body 2 nose-dives on the descending trac~, a gravity (G) force corresponding to a load of a few multiples of the passenger's weight is experienced~ If no safeguard is provided, an overload is applied to the legs of the passenger, resulting in an undesirable accident. However, since the passenger stands astride the saddle 20, the overload is applied both to the legs and to the hip portion, the latter of which is the strongest portion of the body. Furthermore, since the shoulders are supported by the right and left shoulder holders 17, the overload is also lessened by being received at the sides of the body. Thus, the overload is distributed over various parts of the body.
Further, at this time, the locking cylinder 15 for adjusting the height-adjusting frame 7 functions as a damper against the overload, thus decreasing the overload. Although the passenger is slightly vertically moved, he can maintain the upright posture without canger and return safely to the initial truc~ platform zfter 1-rge turns and somersaults are performed. During the motion of the main body 2, when an une{pectedly larse gravity (G) force is applied to the passenger or if the passenger has faintsd, the passenger tends to bend hls ~nees. However, since the belly support 21 holds the belly, the hips may not be removed from the saddle 20. Further, since the shoulders are supported by the shoulder holders 17, the upright posture of the passenger is maintained, thus guaranteeins the safety of the passenger and eliminating danger.
In any state of motion, the passenger is kept safely in the standing posture, his center of gravity is high, and his eye level is also high. Further, since neither the supports nor the frame surround the passenger who is standing on the main body 2, a wide view is guaranteed on all sides of the passenger.
Unlike the conventional somersault coaster where the passenger sits therein, more thrilling excitement can be obtained when the main body 2 nose-dives and somer-saults. In addition to this, since the body safety support mechanism 16 is slightly moved downward by the damping function of the locking cylinder 15 for adjusting the hei~ht-adjusting frame 7, the passenger may slightly bend his knees, thus pro~iding further thrills.
Fig. 10 shows a standing support apparatus according

2~ to a second embodiment of the present invention. A
column 6 made of a prism-shaped hollow steel pipe is disposed upright on the upper surface of a vehicle main body 2 through a base S. The column 6 nas a cap 6a with a hole at the upper end thereof. A body sarety support mechanism for safely holding the back, shoulder and hip portions of the substantially standing passenger is mounted on the front side of the column 6.

A vertically elongated back support 69 of an inverted U-shape is used for the standing support and is disposed as the body safety support mechanism on the front side of the column. Support fxames 70 which surround the cclumn 6 respec-tively extend backward from the upper and lower portions of the left and right straight portions of a frame 69a of the back support 69.
A set of four guide rollers 71 at four sides of the column 6 are disposed inside each support frame 70.
The back support 69 is vertically movable along the column 6 at two portions of the column 6. The back support is supported at a desired height by the height-adjusting mechanism which weakens an overload due to gravity (G).
A saddle 73 which e~tends forward from a bracket 72 fixed at lower projections of the right and left vertical straight portions of the framework 69a is mounted at the lower portion of the back support 69.
Shoulder holders 74 are respectively disposed at the left and right portions of the back support 69 - ~hich are positioned slightly above the intermeaiate portion or the back support 69 in order to support ~he vicinities of the shoulders of the passenger. The shoulder holders 74 pivot by a link mechanism 74b disposed between the right and left vertical straight portions of the frames 69a of the back support 69.
The shoulder holders 74 are connected to a piston s~

rod 75d of a locking cylinder 75 mounted at the rear surface of the back support 69. The pivotal movement of the shoulder holders 74 is prevented by the switching operation of the valve in a hydraulic circuit to be described latex. As a result, the shoulder holders 74 are locked in a desired closed position.
Further, an abdominal support 76 which is supported at the lower end of the back support 69 presses against the lower torso of the passenger from the front of the body, so that the hip portion of the passenger is kept stable and may not slip off the saddle 73. The abdominal support 76 comprises a pivot arm 76a made of an inverted L-shaped steel pipe, and a cushion 76b such as a thick soft rubber portion which covers the body contact portion of the pivot arm 76d. An operation handle 77 is disposed at the intermediaté portion of the pivot arm 76a to allow the passenger to pull u~ the abdominal support 76.
A rota-ting shaft 76c of the abdominal support 76 is, through a pivot lever 79, connected to a piston rod 78a of a locking cylinder 78 mounted at the rear surface of a brac~et secured to downwardly extending right an left portions of the back support 69. The locking cylirder 78 is actuatea by the switching operation of the valve in the hydraulic circuit to be described later so as to lock the pivotal movement of the abdominal su?port 76.
A height-adjusting mechanism 28 which also functions to damp ~he overload by gravity (G) allows vertical 5~

adjustment of the height with respect to the body safety support mechanism. The height-adjusting mechanis~
comprises a built-in spring locking cylinder 79 which extends on the base 5 and is inserted in the column 6, a lifting rod $1 which is connected to the upper end of a piston rod 79a of the locking cylinder 79 through a guide plate 80 vertically movable in the column 6 and which extends upward through the cap 6a with a hole, a T-shaped suspension bar 82 mounted at the upper end of the lifting rod 81, and a pair of left and right rods 83 which are respectively connected to the upper and lower support frames 70 extending from the bac~
support 69 and which respectively extend downward from the two ends of the suspension bar 82. The loc~ing cylinder 79 has first, second and third pistons 84a, 84b and 84c from its bottom, as shown in Fig. 11. The piston rod 79a extends upward from the second piston 84b tightly through the third piston 84c. A damping spring 85 is sandwiched between the first and second ~istons 84a and 84b. The first and second pistons 84a and 84b are movably connected by means of a guide rod $6 so that they may not be spaced apart Lrom each other more than a predetermined distance. A first oil chamber 87a is disposed under the first piston 84a~ A second oil chamber 87b is disposed between the rirst and second pistons 84a and 84b. A third oil chamber 87c is disposed between the second and third pistons 84b and 5 fi;~

84c and communicates with the second oil chamber 87b through an orifice 88 formed in the second piston 84b.
An air chamber 89 which is open to the atmosphere is disposed above the third piston 84c. The first and third oil chambers 87a and 87c communicate with each other through a hydraulic circuit 91 having a valve 90.
When a foot pedal 92 is pressed to open the valve 90, the lifting movement of the first and second pistons 84a and 84b by the piston rod 79a is allowed, so that the passenger can adjust the body safety support me-cha-nism to a desired height with respect to the column 6.
When the foot pedal 92 is released to close the valve 90, oil does not flow between the first and third oil chambers 87a and 87c. Thus, at least the movement of the first piston 84a is completely stopped. The second piston 84b and the piston rod 79a which are supported on the firsi piston 84a through the damping spring 85 are kept stationary in the normal load (load corre-sponding to the sum of the passenger's weight and the overall weigh-t of the body safety support mechanism 7), so that the body safety support mechanism can be kept at the desired height. When a force of gravity (G) corre-s?onding to an overloaZ which is a few multiples of the passenger's weiaht is applied to the piston rod 79a through the passenger and the body safety support mechanism (due to an increase in the acceleration speed in the nose dive), the second piston 8~b moves downward reiative to the first piston 84a against the urging force of the damping spring 85 and the resistance to the oil flow from the second oil chamber 87b to the third oil chamber 87c through the orifice 88. Thus, 5 the overload is decreased. At this time, the descending movement of the piston rod 79a cannot be performed due to the reaction of the piston rod unless the outflow of the oil from the second and third oil chambers 87b and 87c corresponds to a volume obtained by multiplying the descending distance by the sectional area of the piston rod. However, due to the reaction of the rod, the third piston 84c above the third oil cham~er 87c is moved upward by causing the air in the air chamber 89 to escape to the atmosphere, thus allowing .he descending movement or the piston rod 79a.
Reference numeral 93 shown in Fig. 10 denotes a gas spring e~tending from the base 5 at the front surface of the column 6 to be used together with the height adjusting mechanism. The upper end of a piston rod 93a of the gas spring 93 is cormected to the lower support frame 70 e~tendlng from the back support 69 and urges the lower support rrame 70 upward. Thus, the overall weight of the bocy sarety support mechanlsm is cancelled, so that the pass2nger can easily adjust the body safety support mechanism.
The locking cylinder 75 or the right and left shoulder holders 71 and the locking cylinder 78 having check valve of the abdominal support 76 are opera.ed by pressing or releasing the foot pedal 92 which closes or opens a valve 94 of hydraulic circuits 9S and 96, as shown in Fig. 11. ~ check valve 97 is disposed in the hydraulic circuit 96 of the abdominal support 76 in parallel with the valve 94. Even in the locked state, the abdominal support 76 can be moved in the direction toward the passenger's body, but cannot be moved in the direction opposite to his body.
During operation, when the standing loop coaster having a plurality of main bodies 2 is stopped at the platform, the passengers get on the standing room apparatuses 4. After the operator presses the foot pedal 92, the passenger A pulls up or pushes down the body safety support mechanism to obtain a desired height corresponding to his height so as to match the saddle 73 with his cro-tch. Thus, the passenger A can stand astride the saddle 73 and rest the back of his head and back of his body on the back support 69. He inserts his right and left arms into the right and left shoulder holders 74 respectively and pulls the shoulder holders 74 toward himself so as to bring the shoulder holders 74 into contact with his shoulders and sides. The passenger then holds the handle 77 to pull up the abdominal support 76 which is then brought into contact with his abdomen. ~7hen all the passengers are supported on the standing room apparatuses, the operator releases the foot pedal 92 to close the valves 90 and 94 o the hydraulic circuits 91, 95 and 96, respectively. The cylinder 79 of the height-adjusting mechanism is locked to safely support ~he passenger on the column 6.
Further, the right and left shoulder holders 74 are brought into contact with his shoulders by the locking cylinder through the link mechanism 74b and sides and are locked without sideward movement. The abdominal support 76 is also locked by the locking cylinder 78, but is allowed to move toward the passenger's body.
Thus, no space is formed between the abdominal support 76 and the abdomen. As a result, the passenger A stands astride the saddle 73 and may not fall in any direction.
Furthermore, his vertical movement is regulated. The passenger can grasp grip handles 74a to lessen anxiety.
The operator starts the standing loop coaster after the safety of the passengers is confirmed. Wnen - the main body 2 rolls up an ascending track, the back of the body and the back of the head rest on the back support 69, thus maintaining the safety posture ~ithout danger. When the main body 2 rolls along a cur~,e, the passenger A stands astride the saddle 73 and his belly is restrained by the abdominal su??ort 76. Furthermore, since the shoulder holders 7i hold his shoulders and sides, the body portion above the hips is supported and protected. When the main body 2 rolls down a descendlng track immediately after the main body 2 is started, the abdominal support 21, the right and left shoulder holders 74 and the grip handles 74a assure the safety of the passenqer~ When the main body 2 nose-dives on the descending track, a gravity (G) force S corresponding to a load of a few multiples of the passenger's weight is experienced. If no safeguard is provided, an overload is applied to the legs of the passenger, resulting in an undesirable accident.
Hcwever, since the passenger stands astxide the seat 73, the overload is applied both to the legs and the hip portion, the latter of which is the strongest portion of the body. Furthermore, since the shoulders are supported by the right and left shoulder holders 7~, the overload is also weakened by being received at the sides of the body. Thus, the overload is spread-out and distributed over various parts of the body. Further, at this time, the piston rod 79a of the cylinder 79 or the height-adjusting mechanism is lowered against the urging force of the damping spring 85, thus decreasing the overload. Although the passenger is moved slishtly in the vertical direction, he can maintain an uprighc posture without danger and return safely to the truc~
platform after large turns and somersaults are per_ormed.
During the ~Lotion of the main body 2, when an unexpect-edly large gravity (G) force is applied to the passengeror if the passenger has fainted, the passenger tends to bend his knees. ~:owever, since the abdominal support 76 - 27 -~ ~

holds the abdomen, the hips may not be removed from the saddle 73. Further, since the shoulders are supported by the shoulder holders 74, the upright posture of the passenger is maintained, thus guarantee-ing the safety of the passenger and eliminating danger.
In the height-adjusting mechanism of the above embodiment, the accumulator 53 is ar~anged in the piping 55 of the hydraullc locking cylinder 15 for adjusting the height or the lift, as shown in Fig. 4, or the locking cylind-r 79 having a piston rod with the damping spring 85 and the air chamber 89 formed in the cylinder as shown in Fig. 11 is used. Thus, the height-adjusting mechanism also functions as a damper. Alternatively, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the height-adjusting frame (as indicated by reference numeral 7 in Fig. 4) may be supported and locked at a predetermined position bY
a locking cylinder to be described later through a spring to provide a damping function. Reference numeral 9~
denotes an inner cylinder. The lower end of the inner cylinder 94 is supported on the upper surface of the base 5 on -~hich the column 6 e~tends. Reference numeral 95 denotes an outer cylinder which guides the spring and which is fitted around the inner cylinder 9 from the top to be vertically movable. A compression coi' spring 96 is hooked between a spring seat 94a disposed at the lower end of the inner cylinder 94 and a bracket 95a secured to the upper end of the outer .:

s~
- 28 ~

cyiinder 95~ I'he bracXet 95a is supported by a lift 97 which is slidable along the column 6. The lower end of a locking cylinder 15a for locking -the position of the height-adjusting Erame 7 is securely supported on the bracket 95a. The locking cylinder 15a comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a rod 15b extendins ,hrough its two ends. The locking cylinder 15a is divided into two cylinder chambers by the piston. The height-adjusting frame 7 is connected to the upper end of the piston rod 15b through a bracket. The height-adjusting frame 7 supported through the compression coil spring 96 and the locking cylinder 15a is constantly urged upward by the urging force of the spring 96. The passenger adjusts the height of the shoulder holders and the saddle which are disposed at the height-adjusting frame 7 in accordance with the height of the passenger. When the locking cylinder lSa is locked, the shoulder holders and the saddle are locked at the desired height. Thus, the passenger can be safely held standing on the coaster while it is rolling along the track. When an overload is applied to the passenger during a nose dive or the like, the downward overload is cancelled by the damping mechanism, that is, the urging force of the spring 96. Thus, the safety of the passenger is assured.
A standing position support apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present in~ention will be described with reference to Figs. 14 to 21. Referring to Fig. 14, reference numeral 101 denotes a main body of an amusement vehicle which rolls and orbits along the track. A vertical column 102 having a square S cross-section is disposed on the standing support of the main body 101. Reference numeral 103 is a lift which is vertically movable in accordance with the height of the passenger A~ The lift 103 comprises a cylindrical body having a square cross-section and is slidably inserted in the column 102. The vertical movement and the locking operation of the lift 103 are performed by a hydraulic locking cylinder 104 disposed between a bracket 103a and a bracket 102a. The locking operation is performed by closing the valve arranged in the hydraulic circuit of the loc~ing cylinder 104.
A pair of horizontal brackets 105 which are spaced apart from each other are clisposed at the two sides of the upper portion of the lift 103. Reference numeral 107 denotes right and lert shoulder holders which can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the bod~
(particularly chest) of the ~assenger A. The shoulder holders 107 comprises frames 107a of annular members each having a free end deviating from the plane defined by mos~ of the length of the annular member, and a back support frame portion 117a which abuts against the two sides of the bac~ of the bod~, a shoulder support frame portion 117b which abuts asainst the shoulders, a chest support frame portion 117c which supports the two sides of the chest, and a side support frame portion 117d whose distal ends are brought into contact with the two sides of the body of the passenger A and are located at the lower end of the back support frame portion 117a, as shown in Figs. 14 to 16. The frame 107a of the shoulder holder 107 is covered with a cushion 107b made of a thick soft rubber portlon~ Upper and lower support arms 108 extending backward from the back support frame portions 117a of the right or left shoulder holder 107 are pivoted by shafts 109 which are supported by the pair o~ brackets 105 of the lift 103, so that the right and left shoulder holders 107 are pivotal about the shafts 109. Since the shafts 109 are respectively located behind the back support frame portions 1~7a of the right and left shoulder holders 107 as shown in Fig. 16, the distance between the right and left back support frame portions 117a can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the body of the passen-ger A such as an adult or child. Reference numeral 110denotes a link mechanism which comprises a pivot plate 112 supported at its center by a horizontal shaft 111 at the center of the upper notched portion of the lift 103, link levers 113 and 114 which are verticall~
symmetrical about the shaft 111 and are respectively disposed at a position between a pivot lever 108a as the e;~tended portion of the support arm and the lower part of the pivot plate 112 and a position ~etween a pivot lever 108b as the e~tended portion of the support arm and the upper part of the pivot plate 112, and a locking cylinder 115 having an end supported by a pin at a bracket 103b and having a piston rod 115a whose end is supported by a pin at the horizontal e~tending portion of the pivot plate 112. When the locking cylinder 115 is released bY opening the valve arranged in the hydraulic circuit, the passenger A
can easily push the shoulder holders 107 outward or inward, so that the shoulder holders 107 are inter-lockingly moved. When the shoulder holders 117 are brought into contact with the shoulders and sides or the body and thereafter the locking cylinder 115 is locked, the outward movement of the shoulder holders 10~ is prevented. The link mechanism and the locking mechanism or the shoulder holders 107 have substan-tially the same configurations as those of the previous embodiment, and a detailed description thereor will be omitted. Relerence numeral 116 denotes grip handles wnich are respectlvely mounted at the right and left shoulder holders 107. Referenc2 numeral 118 denotes a fastening belt for securing the body of the passenger A to the lift 103. Fig. 17 shows a modification OL-the shoulder holder 107. A notch 119 is formed at a portion (through which the passenger inserts or removes his arm) of the shoulder holder 107. In this modification, the passenger A can easily insert his arms into the holders or remove his arms therefrom while the shoulder holders 107 are opened as indicated by the imaginary lines in Fig. 16. When the shoulder holders 107 are brought into contact with the shoulders and sides, the arms may not be removed therefrom. The distance between the shoulder holders 107 may be adjusted by moving them horizontally by means of the hydraulic locking cylinder.
As described above, since the pair of shoulder holders are made of annular rings with cusnions for supporting the back, shoulders, check, and sides of the body of the passenser, only the shoulder holders or only the shoulder holders and the fastening belt guarantee the safet~ of the passenger standing in the upright posture, thus simplifying the standing room apparatus~ Further, since the lower half of the body is free, ~arious actions can be experienced, obtaining more thrilling excitement.
Fig. 18 shows a shoulder holder to which an expand-able bag 120 is attached according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The expandable bag is usuallv snrunk, but it may be expanded by introducing air therein as needed to be brought into tight contact with the body of the passenger, assuring the safety of the passenger. As shown in Fig. 20, the expandable bag 120 is usually shrunk and is mounted inside the shoulder holder 107. r~hen air is introduced into the expandable bag 120, the expandable bag 120 is expanded as shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 21. The expandable bag 120 comprises an expandable outer shell 122 fixed along the inner surface of the shoulder holder 107 by a number of rivets 121 and an expandable rubber tube 123 which is fitted inside the expandable outer shell 122. After the shoulder holders are set as shown in Fig. 14, air is introduced in the rubber tubes 123 respectively through rubber hoses 124. As shown in Fig. 21, the expandable bag is expanded which is then brought into contact with a body portion (portion around the shoulder) to safely support and protect the passenger A. Figs. 18 and 19 show the states where the arm is not inserted through the expandable bag 120 which is freely expanded.
The air is manually or electrically/mechanically introduced into the exFandable bag 120 through the ru~ber hose 12~ which is connected to an air supply source such as a foot pump (not shown).
A standing position support apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 22 to 29.
~eference numeral 201 denotes a main body of an amusement vehicle ~hich is moved or orbi-ts along the trac~. A column 203 having a square cross section e~tends vertically on the upper surface of the main body 201, ~-~hich corresponds to the standing CupportJ

through a brac.~et 202 A lift 204 is vertically slidable around the column 203. The lift 20~1 ls made of a cylindrical body having a square cross sectlon.
Three brackets 205, 206 and 207 are spaced apart rrom each other at predetermined intervals and are disposed in rront o~ the lift 204. ~ stay 208 which e~tends in a substantially horizontal dlrection is secured to the lowest bracket 205. One end of a hydraulic locking cylinder 209 is pivotal about the bracket 202. The hydraulic locking cylinder 209 is vertically disposed in front of the column 203. The upper end of a piston rod 210 of the hydraulic lockins cylinder 209 is connec~ed to the stay 208. The hydraulic loc~ing cylinder 209 of this embodiment has first and second chambers 212 and 213 partitioned by a plston 211 connected to the piston rod 210, shown in Fig. 25.
The first and second cylinder chambers 212 and 213 communicate with each other by means of piping 21~.
A solenoid controlled valve 215 is arranged in the piping 21~. ~ reservoir tank 216 is ~isposed between the first cylinder chamber 212 and the solenoid-controlled valve 215. An acc~mula~or 217 is dis?osed between the second cvlinder chamber 213 and the solenoia-controlled valve 215. When the solenoid-controlled valve 215 is opened, the first and second cylinder chambers 212 and 213 co~municate with each other and then the piston rod 210 becomes free. However, when T~

the solenoid-con-trolleZ valve 215 is closed, the oil does not flow between the first and second cylinder chambers 212 and 213, and the piston rod 210 is locked.
Upon the opening or closing of the solenoid-controlled 5 valve 215, the lift 204 is vertically moved or stopped by means of the hydraulic locking cylinder 209.
A saddle 218 is mounted at the upper surface of the stay 208. The passenger A can stand astride the saddle 218 which is as small as a bicycle saddle.
A pelvic support 219 is mounted at the front side of the brackets 206 and 207. The pelvic support 209 supports the pelvic portion of the body of the passenger A from the back and has a smooth arcuated shape. One side of the highest bracket 207 extends horizontally, and its eYtended end is bent toward the front. An abdominal support 221 is disposed at the front end of a bending portion 220 to support the passenger A. The abdominal support 221 supports the lower torso of the passenger A and is substantially C-shaped when viewed from the top. The abdominal support 221 comprises a frame 222, a cushion 223 of soft rubber which surrounds the frame 222, and a sheet 22~ which surrounds the surface of the cushion 223. A support arm 225 e.Y-.ends backward fro~ one end of the frame 222~ The distal end of the support arm 225 is connected to the bending portion 220 to be pivotal about a shaft 226. The abdominal support 221 is pivotal about the shaft 225 and is adjusted in accordance with the figure of the passenger A. Two grip handles 227 are mounted at two portions of the abdominal support 221. In this embodi-ment, an expandable bag 228 is mounted inside the abdominal support 221. As shown in Figs. 24 and 28, the e~pandable bag 228 comprises an e~pandable outer shell 230 which is mounted on the inner surface of the abdominal support 221 by a number of rivets 229, and an e~pandable rubber tube 231 which is mounted inside the e~pandable outer shell 230. The abdominal support 221 is set to surround the lower torso of the passenger A, and air is introduced in the expandable ruDber tube 231 through a hose (not shoT~n). The e~pandable bag 228 is expanded as shown in Fig. 27 to surround the body portion of the passenger A. The air may be supplied by a foot pump (not shown) by the passenger A.
A hydraulic locking cylinder 232 is transversely disposerl on the highest bracket 207. The distal end of a piston rod 233 of the hydraulic loc.king cylinder 232 is connected to a pivot lever 234 which is an e~tended portion of the support arm 225. The hydraulic locking cylinder 232 is not illus.rated in delail, but a solenoid~controlled valve is used to open/close the hydraulic circuit in the same manner as the hydraulic loc~ing cylinder 209. r~hen the solenoid-controlled valve is closed, the piston rod 233 is locked and the movement of the abdominal support 221 is prevented.
~, , ~ 37 The solenoid-controlled valves 215 of the hydraulic locking cylinders 209 and 232 are connected to a switch of the operator's console and are opened/closed by the ON/OFF state of the switch.
One end o~ a gas spring 235 is connected to the bracket 202. A piston rod 236 is connected to one side surface of the lift 204 through a bracket 237. The gas spring 235 supports the overall weight cf the lift 204 including the saddle 218, ~he pelvic support 219 and the abdominal support 221. When the solenoid-controlled valve 215 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 209 is opened, the passenger A can easily move the lift 204 vertically.
The hydraulic locking cylinder 209 in this embodi-ment has the locking function and the damping function after the height of the lift 204 is adjusted. When the lift 204 is locked and when the main body 2 nose-dives, an excessive gravity force is applied to the piston rod 210 through the saddle 218, the abdominal support 221 and the lift 204. Thus, the oil pressure in the second cylinder chamber 213 is increased, and the oil in the second cylinder chamber 213 is moved into the accumulator 217, thus lowering the piston rod 210 and providing the d~mping effect for an overload. At this time, since the first cylinder chamber 212 is kept at a negative pres-sur2, cil in the reservoir tank 216 is drawn into the first cylinder chamber 2120 When the overload described above is eliminated, the piston rod 210 returns to the previous position by means of the accumulator 217.
The oil in the first cylinder chamber 212 returns to the reservoir tank 216. As a result, the initial locking condition is restored.
The operatlon of the above standing position support apparatus will now be described. When the main body is stopped at the truck platform, the piston rods 210 and 233 of -the hydraulic locking cylinders 209 and 232 are free since the operator sets the switch in the ON posi-tion. The abdominal support 221 is free to pivot and can be vertically moved together with the saddle 218 and the pelvic support 219. When the passenger A gets on the main body of the vehicle, he adjusts the height of the saddle 218 and the abdominal support 221 witn his hand in accordance with his height. The passenger A then stands astride the saddle 218 and pulls the abdominal support 221 toward him so as to surround his lower torso. The passenger A then presses a foot pedal to e.~pand the e~pandable bag 228 which is bro~ght into tight contact with his lower torso. When the operator confirms that all the passengers have completed the above operation, the operator turns orf the switch to lock the hydraulic locking cylinders 209 and 232. Thus, the saddle 218, the pelvic support 219 and the abdominal support 221 are respectively secured in the desired positions. Furthermore, the abdominal support 221 is locked so as not to pivot hori~ontally. The passenger A

is thus supported in the upright posture. Thereafter, the main body of the vehicle starts to perform large turns and somersaults.
According to the standing room apparatus oE this type, since the abdominal support 221 surrounds the lower torso of the passenger A, the passenger A is safely supported in the upright posture. Furthermore, since the upper half of the body of the passenger A
can be freely moved because the upper half of the body is not surrounded by a frame or the li~e, a wide vlew is assured in front of the passenger A. The passenger A
feels as if he were standing on the coaster by himself.
He thoroughly en~oys thrilling e~citement when large turns and nose dives are performed while he is standing on the coaster.
In the above embodiment, the abdominal support has a substantially C-shape. However, as shown in Fig. 29, a abdominal support 242 may have a ring shape with a through hole 241 through which the passenger A inserts hlmself In this case, the abdominal support 242 need not be pivotal, so that a special linking mechanism and a hydraulic locking cylinder for securing the abdominal support 242 in a predetermined position need not be used, resulting i~ a simple structure.
In the above embodiment, the expandable bag is mounted on the inner surface of the abdominal support.
However, if the abdominal support has a structure which does not allow a space between the torso and the abdominal support, the expandabie bag need not be mounted.
Furthermore, in the above embodlment, the hydraulic locking cylinder for adjusting the height-adjusting mechanism has a damping function. However, the hydraulic locking cylinder may have only the height-adjusting function. The damping function may be provided by a separate mechanism. ~arious changes and modifi-10 cations may be provided within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
A standing support apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 30 to 33. A step 305 is formed 15 on the floor of a main body 303 of the-vehicle. The passenger A stands on the step 305. A column 306 made OL a U-shaped steel material extends vertically on the step 3~5. The column 306 has right and left side frames made of a U-shaped steel material which constitute 20 guide rails 307a and 307b in the vertical direction.
A lift 308 is supported by the column 306. The lirt 308 comprises an upper beam 309 and a lower be~m 310 and a rod 311 e~tending between the upper and lower beams 309 and 310. Rollers 312 are disposed at the 25 ends of the upper and lower beams 309 and 310 and are guided by the guide rails 307a and 307b. Thus, the lirt 308 is supported by the column 306 to be vertically movable therealons. A hydraulic locking cylinder 313 for adjusting the height of the llft 308 is disposed between the lower beam 310 and the step 305 or between the lower beam 310 and the main body 303 of the vehicle.
The locking cylinder 313 and the lift 308 constitute a height~adjusting mechanism. The cylinder rod is e.~tended or shortened to adjust the Aeight of the lift 308. When the oil pressure is kept constant, the lift 308 is kept at a given height.
A body safety support mechanism 315 is mounted at the front side of the lift 308 to be vertically movable.
The body salety support mechanism 315 has a back support 316 and a saddle 317 as the major components. The back support 316 comprises a frame 316a of an elliptical pipe and a cushion 316b of thick rubber which covers the fra~le 316a. As shown in Fi~. 30, the passenger A
can rest his head and back on the back support 316.
The back support 316 has a palr of integral arms 318 and 319 which extend bac.~ward. The arms 318 and 319 are mounted to the rod 311 of the lif' 308 respectively thrcugh slide sleeves 320 and 321 to be vertically movable. The sddle 317 resembles a bicycle saddle, but does ~ot resemble a chair in which the passenger can deeply sit, so that the passenger ~ can stand astride the saddle 317. The saddle 317 has an arm 322 which is connected to the rod 311 through a slide sleeve 323 so as to be vertically movable. A hydraulic - ~2 -loc.~ing cylinder 324 is disposed between the back support 316 and the arm 319 to adjust a relative distance between the back support 316 and the saddle 317. After such adjustment is performed, the hydraulic locking cylinder 324 is locked to secure the relative distance described above. Thus, the back support 316 and the saddle 317 are moved integrally in a vertical direction along the rod 311.
Right and left shoulder holders 325 are mounted at the back support 316 and extend forward therefrom.
Each shoulder holder 325 comprises a frame 325a of a substantially elliptical pipe and a cushion 325b of rubber which covers the frame 325a. The right and left shoulder holders 325 respectively have grip handles 326 formed integrally therewith. As shown in Fig. 32, the shoulder holders are pivotally supported by bearings 328 through arms 327 connected thereto. Thus, the shoulder holders 325 can be horizontally pivoted. The passenger A inserts his arms through the shoulder holders 325 and holds the grip handles 326. The passenger A
then pulls the shoulaer holders 325 toward himself, so that the shoulder holders 325 are brought into contact wlth his shoulders and sides. The bearings 328 are supported by support arms 330 e~tending from a bracket 329 fi:~ed at the rear surface of the back support 316. The arms 327 are integral with rear levers 331 which are, in turn, pivotally connected to ~69 link levers 332. As shown in Fig. 33, the link levers 332 are connected to a pivot plate 333 which is pivotal about the bracket 329. The pivot plate 333 is connected to a hydraulic loc~ing cylinder 334 for safety locking.
After the shoulder holders 325 are interlockingly moved to desired positions, the hydraulic circuit (not shown) is closed to lock the shoulder holders 325.
A damper unit 335 is disposed between the lift 308 and the body safety support mechanism 315. A support frame 336 is mounted at the upper beam 309. The support frame 336 is substantially U-shaped, as shown in Fig. 29.
The support frame 336 is disposed between the slide sleeves 320 and 321 and allows the rod 311 to extend therethrough. Therefore, the rod 311 is guided by the lS support frame 336. An upper spring 337 is hooked between the upper slide sleeve 320 and the support frame 336. The upper spring 337 u'ges the upper slide sleeve 320 upward. ~ lower spring 338 is hooked between the lower slide sleeve 321 and the support frame 336. The lower spring 338 urges the lower slide sleeve 321 downward. The lower slide sleeve 321 holds a nut 340 through a tube 339. An adjusting bolt 3~1 which also functions as a spring seat for supporting the lower end of the lower spring 338 is movably screwed in the nut 340. When the position of the adjusting bolt 341 is adjusted, the initial tension of the upper and lower springs 337 and 333 is changed.

The efrect of the apparatus of the above structure will be described.
When the standing loop coaster having a plurality of main bodies 303 is stopped at the truck platform, passengers are supported on the body safety support mechanisms 315 in the following manner. The passenger A stands astride the saddle 317 and vertically adjusts the height of the back support 316 to rest his back and head on it while he is standi.ng. Further, the passer.ger A vertically adjusts the saddle 317 to manually set it to the height of his crotch while he is standing. When`
such adjustments are completed, the passenger A inserts his right and left arms into the right and left shoulder holders 325, respectively. Tne passenger A then pulls the shoulder holders 325 toward himself so as to bring the shoulder holders 325 into tight contact with his shoulders and sides. Further, the passenger A holds the grip handles 326. When the operator confirms that the all the passengers are set, he closes the hydraulic ~ circuit. The locking cylinder 313 for adjusting the height of the body safety support mechanism 315 is locked to prohibit the movement of the lift 308. At the same time, the hydraulic locking cylinder 324 ls locked to prohibit the movement of the saddle 317, and the hydraulic locking cylinder 33a is locked to yrohibit the pivotal movement of the shoulder holders 325. The hips of the passenger may not be removed from the saddle 317 while he is kept securely standing, supported by the body safety support mechanism 315. Thus, the passenger A may not fall in any direction.
When the main body 303 starts rolling along the track and when it nose-dives or rolls up an ascending track, the back of the body and the back of the head of the passenger A are brought into tight contact with the back support 316. Furthermore, the shoulders and sides of the body of the passenger A are supported by the shoulder holders 325, and the upper half of the body of the passenger A is safely supported and protected.
However, when the main body 303 rolls down a descending track and is decelerated, that is, when the passenger A
tends to incline forward, the shoulder holders 325 prevent forward inclination. Further, since the passen-ger holds the grip handles 326, forward inclination of the passenger A can be further prevented.
When the main body 303 nose-dives on the descending track, a gravity (G) force corresponding to a load of several multiples of the passenger's weight is experienced. If no safeguard is provided, an overload is applied to the legs of the passenger, resulting in an undesirable accident~ However, since the assenger stands astride the saddle 317, the overload is applied both to the legs and to the hip portion, the latter of which is the strongest portion of the body. Further-more, since the shoulders are supported by the right 6~

and left shoulder holders 325, the overload is also weakened by being received at the sides of the body.
Further, the upper spring 337 of the damper unit 335 supports the back support 316 through the upper slide sleeve 320 and the arm 318, so that the upper spring 337 absorbs a downward overload, thus decreasing the downward overload.
When the main body 303 shifts from zooming to a nose dive, that is, when the passenger body tends to be moved upward, the upward movement of the passenger is prevented since the shoulders are supported by the shoulder holders 325. At this time, since the lower spring 338 receives the upward force from the lower slide sleeve 321, the lower spring absorbs the upward force, thus cancelling the impact.
In any driving condition of the standing loop coaster, the passenger is safely kept in the upright posture, so that he can enjoy thrilling e~citement which cannot be obtained in an~ rolling coaster where the passengers sit~ Further, the body safety support mechanism 315 comprising the back support 316 and the saddle 317 can be supported to be vertically movable by means o~ the damper unit 335 which comprises the upper and lower springs 337 and 338. As a result, an impact is absorbed by the damper unit 335, thus preventing an overload from being applied to the knees o~ the passenger.

The present invention is not limited to these particular embodiments, but may be extended to a loop coaster which orbits along a track and to a screw soaster or a chairoplane besides the standing loop coaster.
A hydraulic cylinder having an accumulator, an air cylinder, or a combination of a spring therewith can be used in place of the damper unit 335 which comprises the upper and lower springs 337 and 338.
A standing position support apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 34 to 39.
Reference numeral 401 denotes a track of a standing loop coaster; 402, a main body as a truc~. The standing loop coaster has a plurality of main bodies 402 each of which is mounted on the track 401 through whe;els 403.
A stationary frame 404 is fixed on the main body 402.
A top plate 405 is fi~eZ to an upper opening 406 at the center of the stationary frame 404. A disc-shaped turntable 407 is slidably fitted in the opening 406 or the top plate 405. The turntable 407 is rotatably mounted at the opening 406 of the stationary frame ~04 through bearings 408. A hydraulic rotary act~lator 409 as a rotary locking mechanism is disposed at the bottoM
center of the stationary frame 4. The rotary actuator 409 causes a solenoid-controlled val~-e of the hydraulic circuit to open or close, so that a rotary shaft 410 is locked or unlocked. A rotary disc 411 is coaxially mounted on the rotary shaft 410. One end of a hydraulic locking cylinder 412 is plvotally supported at an eccentric position on the lower surface of the turn-table 407. A piston rod 413 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 is rotatably supported at an eccentric position of the rotary disc 411, as shown in Fig. 35.
The hydraulic locking cylinder 412 is manually operated by a passenger X as will be described later. A piston rod 413 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 ls usually locked to function as a connecting rod so as to maintain the angular position of the turntable 407 stationary relative to the rotary disc 411 of the rotary actuator 409.
A column 415 having a square cross-section is vertically disposed at the standing support on the upper surface of the turntable 417 through a bracket 414. A lift ~16 is fitted around the column 415 and is vertically slida~le therealong. The lift 416 has a square cross-section. A hydraulic locking cylinder 417 is vertically disposed at the lower rear side of the coluIIm 415. The distal end of a piston rod 418 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 417 is connected to the lift 416 through a bracXet '19. The configuration of the hyd-aulic locking cylinder 417 is not described in detail ~owever, the piston rod `418 is locked or unlocked by opening ox closing the hydraulic circuit by the solenoid controlled valve. Upon the vertical mo~ement of the piston rod 418, the lift 416 is verti-cally moved in accordance with the height of the passenger X. Thus, the hydraulic locking cylinder 417 serves as a height adjusting mechanism.
Brackets 420a and 420b are disposed at two different positions of the upper portion of the lift 416 and extend to the left therefrom, whereas brackets 421a and 421b are disposed at the corresponding two positions of the upper portion of the lift 416 and extend to the right therefrom. A body safety support mechanism 422 for supporting the passenger ~ is mounted on the brackets 420a, 420b, 421a and 421b. The body safety support mechanism 422 has right and left shoulder holders 423. Each shoulder holder 423 has a frame 426 comprising a back support frame portion a24a for supporting the two sides of the shoulders of the passenger X, a shoulder support frame portion 424b for su?porting the shoulders of the passenger X, a chest support frame portion 424c for supporting the ~o sides of the chest of ~he passenger X, and a side support frame portion 424d for supporting the two sides or the body oE the passenger X. The frame portions 424a, 424b, 424c and 424d define spaces into which the passenger's arms are inserted. The frame 42S is covered with a cushion 427 of soft rubber. Upper and lower support arms 428a and 428b, and 42ga and 42gb respectively extend bac.~ward ~rom the left and right back support frame portions of the left and right shoulder holders 423, respectively. The distal ends of the upper and lower support arms 428a and 428b, and 429a and 429b are pivotally supported respectively by the brackets 420b and 420a, and 421b and 421a through shafts 430. The right and left shoulder holders 423 are pivotal about the shafts ~30, respectively. The passenger X can adjust the distance between the right and left shoulder holders 423 in accordance with the width of his body. The distal ends of the support arms 428a and 429b respectively extending from the left and right shoulder holders 423 extend backward to constitute pivot levers 431a and 431b, respectively. Grip handles 432 are respectively disposed at the front sides of the ches-t support frame portions 424c of the right and left shoulder halders 423.
The shoulder holders 423 are connected to each other by a link mech2nism 433. The link mechanism 433 has a pivot plate 434 which is secured to the rear surface of the lift 416 to be pivotal about a shaft 435. The first ends of link levers 43~ are respec-tively connected to the upper and lower eccentric positions of the pivotal plate 434. The second ends of the link levers 436 are respectively symmetrically connected to the pivot levers 431a and 431b of the support arms 428a and 429b. When the passen~er X pulls -the shoulder holders 423 toward himself or pushes them away from him, the pivot plate 434 is pivoted about the shaft 435, so that the shoulder holders 423 are pivoted.
A hydraulic locking cylinder 438 is vertically moun.ed at the upper portion of the lift 416 at the right side through a bracket 437~ The upper end of a piston rod 439 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 438 is connected to the eccentric position of the pivot plate 434. The confiyuration of the hydraulic locking cylinder 438 is not described in detail. ~owever, a piston rod 439 is locked or unloc~ed by opening or closing its hydraulic circuit by a solenoid-controlled valve (not shown).
When the solenoid-controlled valve is closed, the piston rod 439 is locked, thus preventing the pivotal movement of the ~houlder holders 423.
A bracket 440 extends to the left-hand side from the middle portion of the lift 416. A holder 441 is mounted on the upper surface of the distal end o the bracket 440. The intermediate portion of an operation lever 424 iâ vertically and movably supported at the holder 441 through a pin 443. A grip 444 iâ mounted at the distal end of the operation lever 442, so that the passenger ~ can grasp the grip 444 by his hand so as to vertically move it. A pushbutton 445 is disposed at the distal end of the grip 442. rNhen the passenger X
pushes the pushbutton 445, the operation lever 442 is released to be reely moved. A hydraulic locking cylinder 446 is vertically mounted at the rear side of the bracket 440. A piston rod 447 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 446 is connected to the pro~imal end of the operation lever 442. The oil chamber of the hydraulic locking cylinder 446 communicates with -the oil chamber of the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 for driving the turntable 407 through a rubber hose 448.
When the passenger X pulls up the operation lever 442, the piston rod 447 is moved downward, so that the oil in the hydraulic locking cylinder 446 flows into the oil chamber of the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 through the rubber hose 448. As a result, the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 is operated to project the piston rod 413. The turntable 407 is then rotated in the direction indicated by arrow A in Fig. 38. ~owever, when the passenger X pushes down the operation lever 442, the piston rod 439 is moved upward. The oil is withdrawn from the hydraulic locking c~ylinder 412. The piston rod 413 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 is moved to be withdrawn thereinto. Thus, the turntable 407 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow s in Fig. 39.
In this manner, the operation lever -42 and the hydraulic locking cylinder 446 constitute an operation mechanism ~49.
The rotar-~ actuator 409 and the solenoid-controlled valve~ of the hydraulic: locking cylinders 417 and ~ 8 are electrically connected to a switch of the operalion console at the truck platform through power collecting brushes (not shown) disposed at the main body ~02 and the trolley lines which contact the power collecting brushes and are disposed along the track 401. The operator turns on/off the switch to control the opera-S tion mechanism.
During operation, when the main body 402 is stopped at the truck platform, the operator turns on the s~itch.
The rotary actuator 409 and the solenoid-controlled valves of the hydraulic locklng cylinders 417 and 438 are opened, so that the turntable 407 is free to rotate, and the shoulder holders 423 are ~ree to pivot and are vertically movable. In this condition, the passenger X
gets on the turntable 407. The passenger X manually turns the turntable 407 directlv or through the body lS safety support mechanism 422 to change the direction of the body safety support mechanism 422 to a desired direction. The passenger X then pushes u~ or pulls do~-n the shoulder holders 423 to adjust them in accordance with his height and inserts his arms through ~he shoulder holders 423. The passenger X then pulls the shoulder holders 423 inward to bring them into tight contact with his shoulders and sides. When the operator conirms that all the passengers are set, he turns off the switch to close the rotary actuator 409 and the solenoid-controlled valves of the hTJdraulic locking cylinders417 and 43~. The rotational movement OL the turntable 407 and the pivotal and vertical movements of the 6~

shoulder holders 423 are orohibited. Thus, the passenger X is held standing on the turntable 407 and faces in the desired direction that he has chosen.
After confirming the safety of the passengers, the operator star~s the main body 402. When the passenger X holds the grip 444 of the operation lever 442 by his hand and when he pushes the pushbutton 445 to vertically move the operation lever 442 so as to drive the h~draulic locking cylinder 446 while the main body 402 is in motion, the oil pressure in the hydraulic locking cylinder 412 is changed to pivot the turntable 407 in a direction indicated by arrow A or B in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operation lever 442.
Therefore, the passenger X can arbitararily face any direction around the column 415 with respect to the travelling direction of the main body 402. When the passenger X releases the pushbutton 4a5 at a desired position of the operation lever 442, the operation le~Ter g42 is held at this position. The turntable 407 is kept at a desired position, so that the passenger X
enjovs travelling at the desired position. -~ihen the stancing loop coaster returns to the truck platform ~fter large turns, somersaults and nose cives are performed, the operator turns on the swi-tch to release the locking state of the rotary actuator 409, the lift 41~ and the shoulder holders 423. After the standing loop coaster is stopped at the truck platform, r~9 the turntable 407 is forced to turn to a predetermined ~osition by the drive source mechanism so as to make the passenger X face the truck platform. The passenger X can thus easily get off the standing loop coaster.
As may be apparent from the above description, since the back, shoulders, chest and sides of the body of the passenger X are supported by the pair of shoulder holders 423 and since he is safely held standing on the turntable 407, he can enjoy nose dives and somersaults.
Furthermore, since the passenger ~ can change the dlrection of his body with respect to the travelling direction of -the standing loop coaster, more thrilling e~cit2ment can be obtained when nose dives, large turns and somersaults are performed as if he were standing on the turntable 407 by himself.
A standing position support apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 40 to 43.
Reference numeral 501 denotes a trac~ of a standing loop coast2r; 502, a main body as a chassis. The standing loop coaster has a plurality of main bodies ~02 each o~ which is mounted on the track 501 through wheels 503 mounted at the front and back sides of the main body 502. Two floor plates 50~ are disposed to be spaced apart from each other at the right and left sides above the main body 502. A plurality of damping elastic bodies such as gas springs 505 are sandwiched - 5~ -bet-~een the floor plates and the main body 502. The gas springs 505 elastically support the rloor plate 504.
Thus the floor plate 504 is three-dimensionally movable independent of the main bodv 502. The degree of the movement of the floor plate 504 is determined by the number elasticity and positions of the gas springs 505.
A foot support 506 for delermining the position of feet of the passenger A is secured to the floor plate 504.
Two columns 508 hy which two passengers are respectively supported are vertically disposed on the upper surface of the maln body 502 through brackets 508. Each column 507 e~tends above the floor plate 504 through a through hole 509 which is formed substan-tially at the center of the floor plate 504. The column 507 has a square cross section and a llft 510 is fitted therearound to be vertically movable therealong. The lower end of a hydraulic locking cylinder 511 is secured to the bracket 508. The hydraulic locking cylinder 511 is ~ertically disposed at the rear side of the column 507. The upper end of a piston rod 512 of the hydraulic locking cylinder 511 is connected to tne lift 510 through a brac.~et 513. As shown in Fig. ~3 the hydraulic locking cylinder 511 is ~arti-tioned into first and second cylinder chambers 515 and 516 by a piston 51~ connected to the piston rod 512. The rirst and second cylinder chambers 515 and 516 communicate with each other by piping 517.

A solenGid-controlled ~ialve 518 is disposed in the piping 517. A reser~JOir tank 519 is disposed between the first cvlinder chamber 515 and the solenoid-controlled valve 518. An accumulator 520 is dis?osed between the second cylinder chamber 516 and the solenoid controlled valve 518. When the solenoid-controlled valve 518 is opened, the first cylinder chamber 515 communicates with the second cylinder chamber 516 to free the piston rod 512. However, when the solenoid controlled valve 513 is closed, the oil does not flow between the first and second cylinder chambers 515 and 516 to lock the piston rod 512. Upon operation of the h~draulic locking cyllnder 511, the lift 510 is ver-i-cally mo~ed and the height of the lift 510 is adjusted in accordance with the height of the passenger A. The llft 510 is then locXed after such an adjustment is comp le ted .
~rac.~ets 521a and 521b e~tend to the left a. t~o different positions of the upper portion of the li^t 510, whereas brackets 522a and 522b e~ctend to the right at the corresponding positions of the upper portion of the li-_ 570. A bodv safety support mechanism 523 for supportirg the passenger A is connected to the brackets 521a, 521~, 522a and 522b. The body safety support mechanism 523 'nas right and left shoulder holders 524. The shoulder ho7der 52~ has a frame 527 comprising a back support frame portion 525a for supporting the two sides of the 5i6~
- 5~ -shoulders of the passenger A, a shoulder support frame por'ion 525b for supporting the shoulders of the passenger A, a chest support frame portion 525c for supporting the two sides of the chest of the passenger A, and a side support frame portion 525d for supporting the -two sides of the body of the passenger A. The frame portions 525a, 525b, 525c and 525d define spaces into which the passenger's arms are inserted. The frame 527 is covered with a cushion 528 of soft rubber.
~pper and lower support arms 529a and 529b, and 530a and 530b respectively extend backward from the left and right back support frame portions of the left and risht shoulder holders 524, respectively. The distal ends of the upper and lower support arms 529a and 529b, and 530a and 530b are pivotally supported respectively by the brac.~.ets 521b and 521a, and 522b and 522a through shafts 531. The right and left shoulder holders 524 are pivotal about the shafts 531, respectively. The passenger A can adjust the distance bet~een the right and left shoulder holders 524 in accordance with the width of his body. Grip handles 532 are disposed at the front sides of .he chest support frame portions 525c o1: the right and ler-t shoulder holders 524.

The shoulcer holders 524 are connected to e~ch other by a link mechanism 533.` The link mechanism 533 has a pi~lOt plate 534 which is secured to the rear su~face cf the lift 510 to be plvotal about a shaft 535.

5~

The firs~ ends of the link levers 536 are respectively connected to the upper and lower eccentric posltions of the pivotal plate 534. The second ends of the link levers 536 are symmetrically connected to the pivot levers 537a and 537b of the support arms 530b and 529a, respectively. When the passenger A pulls _he shoulder holders 524 toward himself or pushes them away from him, the pivot plate 534 is pivoted about the shaft 535, so that the shoulder holders 524 are pivoted. A hydraulic locking cylinder 539 is vertically mounted at the upper portion of the lift 510 at the right side though a bracket 53~. The upper end of a piston rod 5ac of the hydraulic locking cylinder 539 is connected to an eccentric position of the pivot plate 534. The con-figuration of the hydraulic locking cylinder 539 is not described in detail. Ho~ever, in the same manner as the hydraulic locking cylinder 511 for height ad~,ustment, the piston rod 540 is locked or unlocked by opening or closing its hydraulic circuit by a solenoid-controlled valve (not shown). r~hen the solenoid-controlled valve is closed to lock the piston rod 540, the pivotal ~ovement or the shoulder holders 52' is prevented.
The hydraulic locking cylinder 511 for height adJustment in this emboci~mert has a locking function of the iift 510 and a damping function to eliminate an overload i~posed on the passenger A. r~hen the ' .

i6~

lift 510 is locked and when a nose dive or somersault is performed, an overload is applied to the piston rod 512 through the shoulder holders 524 and the lift 510. The oil pressure of the second cylinder chamber 516 is increased, so that the oil therein flows in~o the accumulator 520. The piston rod 512 is lowered, and the first cylinder chamber 515 is held at a negative pressure. The first cylinder chamber 515 thus withdraws oil from the reservoir tank 519. When the overload is eliminated, the piston rod 512 returns to the previous position by means of the accumulator 520. As a result, the oil flows from the first cylinder chamber 515 to the reservoir tank 519 and the previous locking stzte is restored.
The solenoid-controlled valve 518 for the hydraulic locking cylinders 511 and 539 is electrically connected to a switch arranged on the operation console at the truc.~ platform through ~ower collecting brushes disposed along the main body 502 and the trolley lines ~hich contact the power collecting brushes and are disposed along the track 501. The operator turns on/off to open/close the solenoid-controlled valve 518.
During operation, when the standina loop coaster is stopped at the truck platform, the operator keeps the switch ON, so that the piston rods 512 and 540 of the hydraulic locking cylind~rs 511 and 539 are free.
rhe shoulder holders 524 are thus free to pivot and can be vertically moved. T~hen the passenger A gets on the floor plate 50~ which is elastically supported on the main body 502, he holds the shoulder holders with his hands and vertically moves them to adjust their height in accordance with his height. The passenger A
then inserts his arms through the shoulder holders 524 and pulls the shoulder holders 524 inward to bring the cushion covered frame portions into tight contact with his shoulders, back, chest and sides. The passenger A
then inserts his feet into the foot support 506.
When the operator confirms that al1 the passengers are set, he turns off the switch to close the solenoid-controlled valve 518 of the hydraulic locking cylinder~
511 and 539. The shoulder holders 524 are set in a desired position corresponding to the height of the passenger A. Further, the pivotal movement of the shoulder holders 524 is prohlbited. The passenger A is held standing on the floor plate 501 and faces front.
In this case, since the floor plate 504 is supported -0 on the main body 502 through -the gas springs 505, the floor plate 504 swings vertically and hori20nta11y independenLiy of the column 507 e~tending on the main ~ody 502. As a result, the passenger A stands on an unstable floor plate. Tnereafter, the rnain body 502 s~arts rolling to perform ~uick turns, nose dives, zoomings and somersaults and returns to the truck platform.

In the standing position support apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention as described above, since the floor plate 504 swings freely, the foot portion of the passenger A three-dimensionally swings in accordance with a change in acceleration speed of the main body 502 and a change in the center of gravity of t~e passenger A. The horizontal movement in all directions, the vertical movement, and the rotary movement such as rolling and pitching are combined to produce the complex movement of the floor plate 504.
Therefore, the passenger A feels as if he were riding on ski boards or a surf board, thus obtaining thrilling e~citement which cannot be obtained by a conventional rolling coaster. Furthermore, when nose dives, quick turns, and somersaults are performed, he enjoys thrilling e~citement as if he were standing on the floor plate by himself.
The floor plate is a flat board in the above embodiment. Howeve , the shape of the floor plate may be of a surr board or a yacht. Furthermore, the floor plate may be subdivided into two pieces of boards such as ski boards.
The elastic body need not be limited to the gas spring. A coil spring may be used in place of the gas spring. Furthermore, the foot support need not be used. In this case, the feet of the passenger can be freely moved.

)5~
~ 63 -Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to any other rolling coaster, a screw coaster and a chairoplane or the like.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A standing position support apparatus for an amusement vehicle, comprising: a main body of said amusement vehicle, which is free to move or orbit along a track; a standing position support column vertically extending on said main body; a height-adjusting mechanism which is vertically movable around said column extending on said main body and which has locking means for locking said height adjusting mechanism at a proper position in accordance with a height of a passenger; and a body safety support mechanism disposed at said height-adjusting mechanism to safely hold the passenger in a standing posture.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body safety support mechanism comprises a pair of right and left shoulder holders of an annular shape which are freely opened/closed to hold an upper half of a body of the passenger and which are locked by a locking cylinder.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pair of right and left shoulder holders respec-tively comprise right and left annular members for supporting shoulders of the passenger.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pair of right and left shoulder holders respectively comprise right and left annular members having their free ends extending outwardly and which support the back, shoulders, chest and sides of the passenger.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pair of right and left shoulder holders respectively comprise right and left expandable bags which are respectively mounted on inner surfaces of said pair of right and left shoulder holders and which are respec-tively expanded and shrunk by introducing and withdrawing a gas so as to bring said right and left expandable bags into tight contact with the upper half of the body of the passenger by introducing the gas therein after the passenger inserts his arms in said pair of right and left shoulder holders and pulls said pair of right and left shoulder holders toward him.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pair of right and left shoulder holders respectively have right and left support arms extending backward from said pair of right and left shoulder holders and respectively pivot about right and left shafts supported at said pair of right and left support arms.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body safety support mechanism comprises a pelvic support and a pair of right and left shoulder holders of an annular shape which support an upper half of a body of the passenger and which are locked by a locking cylinder.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body safety support mechanism comprises: a pair of right and left shoulder holders of an annular shape which support an upper half of a body of the passenger and which are locked by a locking cylinder; a pelvic support; and an abdominal support of an annular shape which transversely supports a lower torso of the passenger and which is releasably locked by said locking cylinder.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body safety support mechanism comprises a pelvic support and an abdominal support of an annular shape which transversely supports a lower torso of the passenger and which is releasably locked by a locking cylinder.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said height-adjusting mechanism which is locked by said locking means at the proper position in accordance with the height of the passenger comprises damping means for allowing said height-adjusting mechanism to move even in a locked state when said vehicle is travelling and an overload is applied downward to the body of the passenger.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said damping means is constituted by a hydraulic locking cylinder as said locking means of said height-adjusting mechanism, and assemblying an accumulator in piping communicating cylinder chambers of said hydraulic locking cylinder, said cylinder chambers being partitioned by a piston.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said damping means is constituted by connecting said body safety support mechanism to said height-adjusting mechanism, having said locking means for locking said height-adjusting mechanism at the proper position in accordance with the height of the passenger, through a damper having a damping function against the overload so as to allow vertical movement of said body safety support mechanism along said height-adjusting mechanism.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another standing position support column on a turntable which is rotatable on an upper surface of said main body, and another locking means for stopping angular movement of said turntable at an arbitrary position set by the passenger.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pivotal elastic members are sandwiched between said main body and a standing position support spaced apart from an upper surface of said main body, said standing position support being pivotal with respect to said main body.