DE29512759U1 - Seating arrangement of amusement devices - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Seating arrangement of amusement devices

The invention relates to a seating arrangement of amusement devices for one or more people, in which a safety bar that can be pivoted over the shoulder and upper body of the individual person is rotatably mounted in the upper area of the backrest and a lateral seat limiter is provided.

Such seating arrangements are generally known from amusement rides and are usually mounted on chassis. The safety bar is in a raised position for getting in and out. As soon as the person has sat down on the seat, the safety bar is swung over the person's shoulder manually or by means of a drive, so that the person is prevented from lifting off the seat even in the event of significant centrifugal forces.

Amusement devices using such seating arrangements require significant space and also entail significant manufacturing and operating costs.

The aim is therefore to design entertainment devices in such a way that they take up less space,

are cheaper to manufacture and operate, but ■ provide a significant experiential appeal.

The invention is based on this basic idea and aims to develop a seating arrangement for amusement devices that allows the execution of exciting movements while maintaining the

ensures personal safety and requires a minimum of manufacturing and operating costs.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that a hood which is open at the bottom is rotatably mounted in the upper area of the backrest and can be swiveled from a steep position to an approximately horizontal position above the head of the individual person, with a monitor suitable for transmitting a film being arranged on the front inside of the hood in the direction of the person's view," and in that the seat arrangement is connected to a drive which can be remotely controlled by the person for height and/or tilt adjustment of the seats.

The seat arrangement according to the invention provides the prerequisite for conveying to the person held securely in the seat an impression of movement via the film, which causes the person to reactively adjust their seat in order to apparently adapt the seat position to the film impression.

In this case, certain flight maneuvers or other three-dimensional movements, e.g. on giant roller coasters, can be simulated via the film, giving the person the impression that they are taking part in this movement. Consequently, the person then strives to adapt to the apparent centrifugal forces, i.e. to move into a kind of curve, which is made possible by the fact that the person can adjust their seating arrangement themselves.

Numerous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

For example, it is useful if the safety bar and the hood are pivoted around a common axis. The hood and/or the safety bar can be pivoted by motor. If the amusement device contains several seats or

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Seating groups, it is recommended that their hoods and/or safety bars be swivelled together by motor from a central control unit.

Such an amusement device according to the invention can be used commercially and requires only a small amount of space. It must be ensured that the seat adjustment in response to the film broadcast on the monitor can only take place when the safety bar has been moved into the safety position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the individual seat or a group of seats are connected to upright and differently inclined lifting generators, the energy supply of which can be switched on and off via a control arrangement that can be operated manually from the seat. According to the invention, this control arrangement can be used to generate overlapping lifting movements of the individual lifting generators in response to the film impression conveyed via the monitor. The individual lifting generator is expediently designed as a pneumatically or hydraulically length-adjustable cylinder-piston arrangement that is articulated to the seat base and a base frame.

These and other details of the invention can be seen from the drawing. The invention is shown schematically and by way of example. They show:

Fig. 1 a side view of a seating arrangement

in a basic position suitable for climbing,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the seat arrangement according to Fig. 1 in an operating position and

Fig. 3 is a front view of the seat arrangement according to

Fig. 1 for two seats.

The seat arrangement (1) according to Fig. 1 and 2 has one or more seats (11) arranged next to one another for persons (2). An axis (5) is provided on the upper part of the backrest (4), around which a safety bar (3) can be pivoted. This safety bar (3) is pivoted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and there it grips the shoulders of the person (2) and the upper body. This prevents the person (2) from being able to lift off the seat (11) due to any forces. The safety bar (3) can also contain an arrangement for laterally limiting the shoulders, so that it also prevents lateral movements of the upper body of the person (2). There is a lateral seat limiter in the pelvic area of the person (2).

(6) .

A hood (7) which is open at the bottom is preferably pivotally mounted about the same axis (5) and can be pivoted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. On the front inside of the hood (7) there is a monitor (10) on which a film is played which is played in the direction of view (9) of the person (2). Accordingly

the monitor (10) is set at approximately the same height as the head (8) of the person (2) in the case of Fig. 2.

The position of the individual seat (11) or a group of seats (see Fig. 3) can be changed by a drive (2).

In the embodiment of the drawing, the drive consists of a plurality of lifting devices (13) which are inclined upright in different directions. These lifting devices (13) can be pneumatically or hydraulically driven piston-cylinder arrangements of a conventional type. At the upper end, these lifting devices (13) are connected to the seat base (19) via the joints (14) and at the lower end to a base frame (16) via the joints (15). Depending on the way in which the lifting devices are operated, the seat (11) can be raised, tilted forwards and backwards and swiveled to the side. This drive (12) can be operated from the seat (11) via a control arrangement (17), for example in the form of a hand lever or joystick, as in an aircraft.

A film is sent via the monitor (10) which gives the viewer the impression of taking part in a movement. This movement can be, for example, a flying maneuver, a ride on the chassis of an amusement device or something similar. In any case, the person not only observes the film action, but feels that they are directly involved in it. Accordingly, the film generates a reaction in the person, who strives to adapt to the film impression. So if the film simulates, for example, a steep curve, the person is enticed to automatically tilt their seat (11) in order to counteract the supposed centrifugal force.

The invention naturally offers the possibility of allowing numerous other influences to act on the person.

For example, you can use appropriate fans to give the impression that the person is taking part in a movement in the air. Heat or light effects can also be incorporated to increase the overall experience.

To ensure that the drive (12) remains invisible, cannot become dirty and does not present any conditions for injury, in the embodiment it is surrounded by a bellows (18) which is connected to the seat (11).

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Seating arrangement 2 person 3 safety catch 4 backrest 5 axis 6 side seat limitation 7 Hood 8th Head 9 Viewing direction 10 monitor 11 Seat 12 drive 13 Lifting generator 14 joint 15 joint 16 Base frame 17 Tax arrangement 18 bellows 19 Seat base

Claims (7)

PROTECTION CLAIMS 1.) Seat arrangement (1) of amusement devices for one or more people (2), in which a safety bar (3) that can be pivoted over the shoulder and upper body of the individual person (2) is rotatably mounted in the upper area of the backrest (4) and a lateral seat limiter (6) is provided, characterized in that a hood (7) that is open at the bottom is rotatably mounted in the upper area of the backrest (4) and can be pivoted from a steep position into an approximately horizontal position over the head of the individual person (2), a monitor (10) suitable for transmitting a film being arranged on the front inside of the hood (7) in the direction of view (9) of the person (2), and that the seat arrangement (1) is connected to a drive (12) that can be remotely controlled by the person (2) for adjusting the height and/or tilt of the seats (11). 2.) Seat arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing bracket (3) and the hood (7) are pivotally mounted about a common axis (5). 3.) Seat arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual seat (11) or a group of seats are connected to upright and differently inclined lift generators (13), the energy supply of which can be switched on and off via a control arrangement (17) that can be operated manually from the seat (11). 4.) Seat arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that via the control arrangement (17) an overlapping lifting movement of the individual lifting generators (13) can be generated as a reaction to the filmic impression conveyed via the monitor (10). 5.) Seat arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that &iacgr;&ogr; the individual stroke generator (13) is designed as a pneumatically or hydraulically length-adjustable cylinder-piston arrangement which is articulated to the seat base (19) and a base frame (16). 6.) Seat arrangement according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the hood (7) and/or the safety bracket (3) can be pivoted by a motor. 7.) Seat arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that when arranging several seats (11) or groups of seats, their hoods (7) and/or safety brackets (3) can be pivoted together by motor from a central unit.