WO1998007481A1

WO1998007481A1 - Recreational apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998007481A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Pondorfer; Brian Mirfin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-23
Filing date: 1997-08-22
Publication date: 1998-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1999-02-23
Also published as: AT1361U1; AU3842097A

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for engaging in activities such as skiing and skating involving movement along a surface. The apparatus (10) comprises a support surface (22) which is inclined and which is moveable in one direction, whereby movement of a user (40) travelling in a second direction on the support surface (22) is retarded or otherwise influenced by movement of the support surface. The support surface (22) may be provided on the inner face (21) of a drum (11) rotatable about its central longitudinal axis.

Description

Title

Recreational Apparatus

Technical Field

This invention relates to apparatus for engaging in recreational, amusement, sporting and related activities involving movement along a surface, such activities including skiing, snow-boarding, skating including roller skating and ice skating, board skating, sledding, tobogganing, and surfing (which apparatus is hereinafter referred to as "recreational apparatus").

Background of the Invention

The extent to which the activities referred to above can be pursued can be very much dependent on external factors such as location and weather conditions.

In relation to location, there is usually need for an open environment or an area having a broad expanse. Additionally, some of the activities, such as skiing, snow-boarding and tobogganing, usually require a downhill section at the location in order to assist with propulsion.

The locations at which the activities can be pursued are therefore restricted, and in many cases are not conveniently accessible to persons wishing to pursue them. Additionally, because of the limitations regarding the locations at which such activities can be pursued, it has not in the past usually been possible to incorporate facilities for such activities in confined areas such as amusement and recreational parks where there is likely to be significant interest in them.

In relation to weather conditions, activities such as skiing, snow-boarding, sledding and tobogganing require appropriate snow falls, and surfing requires appropriate conditions to generate suitable waves. Object of the Invention

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for engaging in recreational, amusement, sporting and related activities involving movement along a surface, which apparatus enables the activities to be pursued without the aforementioned restrictions relating to location and weather conditions.

Summary of the Invention

Broadly, the invention resides in apparatus comprising a support surface adapted to support a user, at least a portion of the surface being inclined and associated with means for influencing movement of the user over said at least a portion of the surface.

The surface may be a solid surface (either rigid or compressible) or a fluid surface (such as that provided by water).

The means for influencing movement of the user over said at least a portion of the surface may take various forms. In one arrangement, the means may comprise a hollow body rotatable about an axis, said surface being associated with a wall of the hollow body which wall moves about the axis of rotation of the hollow body upon rotation thereof, and drive means for rotating the hollow body. Conveniently, the hollow body comprises a cylindrical drum, in which case said wall is curved, wherein the curvature provides the inclination of the surface. The cylindrical drum may be of any suitable configuration, including a right cylinder, an oblique cylinder, or a truncated cone. In each case, the cylinder may have a straight cylindrical side wall, or a side wall configured in some other fashion such as an arcuate side wall which presents a concave support surface.

The surface may be provided on or otherwise associated with the inner face of the wall of the hollow body. The surface may, for example be provided by a coating of low-friction material on the inner face of the wall. Further, the surface may also be provided by a layer of ice on the inner face of the wall. Still further, the surface may be provided by a body of water which can move into a layer about at least part of the inner face of the wall on rotation of the hollow body.

With this arrangement, rotation of the hollow body causes said surface to move in a first direction and the user can move over the surface in a second direction. The second direction may be opposite to, or transverse (either normal or oblique) to, the first direction .

The resultant of the respective movements in the .first and second directions determines the extent to which the user (while using the apparatus) moves relative to a stationary reference point remote from the apparatus.

In another arrangement, the surface may be defined by an endless deck which is moveable in a closed loop. The closed loop may provide an upper run and a lower run, either of which may provide the support surface. The support surface provided by the upper run does, however, provide for a more compact structure. The endless deck may in one construction comprise a plurality of deck elements mounted on a support structure for movement in the closed loop. The endless deck may, in another construction, comprise an endless belt. The run of the endless belt which provides the support surface may travel across a backing plate formed of low-friction material. The backing plate provides stability to the belt for supporting the user.

The apparatus may comprise a plurality of such endless decks to provide an extended run on which the activity may be performed.

In still another arrangement, the surface may be defined by a plurality of rollers positioned in side by side relation, at least some of the rollers being driven thereby to cause rotation about their respective axes, whereby rotation of the rollers provides motion to the surface in a first direction. The rollers may be in spaced apart relationship with transition elements being provided between adjacent rollers to complete the surface.

The invention also provides apparatus comprising a support surface adapted to support a user, at least a portion of the support surface being inclined, the inclined portion being movable in one direction whereby movement of the user travelling in a second direction on the inclined portion of the surface is influenced by the movement of the surface.

Typically, the inclined portion would be moveable in an upward direction and the user would be travelling in a direction having at least a downward component with respect to the portion of the surface. In this way, the actual extent to which the user moves relative to a stationary external reference point would be restricted by the upward movement of the inclined portion.

The invention also provides apparatus comprising a support surface adapted to support a user, the support surface providing a track having a longitudinal extent along which the user can travel, the support surface being movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the track.

The track may be an endless track comprising a closed loop. In one arrangement, the track may be substantially concave in cross-section. In another arrangement, the track may be banked thereby having one longitudinal side higher than the other longitudinal side.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a schematic view of recreational apparatus according to a first embodiment;

Fig 2 is a partly cut-away schematic perspective view of recreational apparatus according to a second embodiment;

Fig 3 is a schematic perspective view of recreational apparatus according to a third embodiment;

Fig 4 is a schematic perspective of recreational apparatus according to a fourth embodiment;

Fig 5 is a schematic side view of recreational apparatus according to a fifth embodiment;

Fig 6 is schematic perspective view of recreational apparatus according to a sixth embodiment;

Fig 7 is schematic side view of recreational apparatus according to a seventh embodiment;

Fig 8 is a schematic side view of recreational apparatus according to an eighth embodiment;

Fig 9 is a schematic view of recreational apparatus according to a ninth embodiment;

Fig 10 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of recreational apparatus according to a tenth embodiment;

Fig 11 is a schematic perspective view of recreational apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment; Fig 12 is a schematic sectional end view of the apparatus of Fig 1 1 in one mode of use; and

Fig 13 is a schematic sectional end view of the apparatus of Fig 1 1 in another mode of use.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Fig 1 of the drawings, there is shown a recreational apparatus 10 intended for an activity which simulates skiing. .However, the recreational apparatus can be modified, if and as necessary, to accommodate other activities of the type referred to above.

The apparatus 10 comprises a hollow body 11 defining an interior chamber 12. The hollow body 11 is in the form of a drum having a cylindrical side wall 13 and open end walls provided by the lips 17 each of which extends radially inwardly from the respective end of the cylindrical wall and surrounds an access opening 19. The cylindrical side wall has an inner face 21 and an outer face 23.

The drum 11 is supported for rotation about its central longitudinal axis on support means 25 in the form of a plurality of rollers 27 which provide a supporting cradle for the drum, with each roller in contact with the outer face 23 of the drum. Drive means (not shown) are provided for selectively driving at least one of the rollers 27 thereby to cause rotation of the drum 11 about its central longitudinal axis.

The inner face 21 of the cylindrical side wall of the drum presents a curved surface 22 which can support a user and over which the user can glide, as will be described in more detail later. The gliding surface 22 may comprise a tufted surface of low-friction material over which skis can easily glide. Upon rotation of the drum in the anticlockwise direction depicted by arrow 30 in the drawing, the lower region 31 of the surface 22 has a curved sector 35 which descends and a curved sector 37 which ascends, the two curved sectors 35, 37 being separated by a central vertical longitudinal plane through the drum. The two curved sectors 35, 37 are inclined, one having an ascending motion and the other having a descending motion on rotation of the drum 11. In Fig 1 of the drawings, a user 40 is shown gliding down the ascending surface 37 on skis 41. The upward movement of the ascending sector 37 counteracts at least to some extent downward movement of the user 40 as he or she glides down the ascending sector. This results in an arrangement Where the movement of the user relative to a stationary point outside of the chamber 12 may be minimal. In other words, the user 40 can ski within the chamber 12 for some time without moving any significant distance relative to the outside stationary point. The user can, however, vary his or her position, and direction of travel, so as to move about the surface 22 as it rotates. The user 40 may, for instance, assume a direction of travel transverse to the direction of movement of the surface, in which case the actual movement of the user relative to the stationary point would be the resultant of the movements in the two directions. Indeed, with appropriate conditions it may be possible for the user 40 to move axially along the chamber 12 from one end of the drum 11 to the other end without any ascending or descending movement relative to the stationary point.

A screen 43 is provided within the chamber 12 so that the user 40 is in facing relationship with the screen, as shown in Fig 1. Images can be projected onto the screen 43 which the user 40 can view while skiing. The images may replicate the view that a skier would have during a down-hill ski run and so enhance the realism of the experience which the user receives while in the chamber 12.

Means (not shown) may be provided for selectively tilting the drum 11 about an axis transverse to its central longitudinal axes to vary the inclination of the gliding surface 22. Operation of apparatus 10, or at least one or more aspects thereof, may be computer-controlled. For example, the means for tilting the drum 11 may be computer-controlled. Additionally, the images projected onto the screen 43 may be computer-controlled. Indeed, the tilting action of the drum 11 may be interfaced with images projected onto the screen 43 so that there is coordination therebetween. Furthermore, the apparatus 10, or at least one or more aspects thereof, may be interactive with the user. There may, for example, be facility for the user to control operation of the apparatus (such as rotational speed of the drum and/or the angle of tilt of the drum) during use.

The embodiment shown in Fig 2 of the drawings is somewhat similar to the embodiment shown in Fig 1 , with the exception that there is a series of poles 45 extending radially inwardly from the inner face 21 , and no screen. The poles 45 are in spaced apart relationship around the gliding surface 22 so as to provide a slalom course through which the user 40 may pass while skiing within the chamber 12. This is particularly advantageous as it provides a lengthy slalom course which is of compact nature and along which the user 40 can continuously ski for the duration of the time in the apparatus.

Referring to Fig 3 of the drawings, the apparatus according to the third embodiment is again similar to the first embodiment with the exception that there is a harness structure 50 by which a user can be supported, and no screen. The harness structure 50 incorporates a harness portion 53 adapted to be worn by the user 40, and a supporting cable 55 connecting the harness structure to a central support 57 which in this case is a beam supported within the chamber 12. The cable 55 is slidably supported on the beam 57 so that the user 40 can move along the length of the drum whilst skiing within the chamber 12. This arrangement allows the user 40 to ski within the chamber 12 without falling onto the gliding surface 22 in the event that balance or control is lost. The harness structure 50 would also allow the user 40 to practice complicated manoeuvres in safety. ln Fig 1 of the drawings the drum 11 is in the form of a right cylinder. The drum can be of various other configurations, including a cylinder having an arcuate side wall 61 , as shown in the embodiment of Fig 4 of the drawings. With this arrangement, the arcuate side wall 61 presents a concave inner face 21 which provides the guiding surface 22. The concave arrangement of the gliding surface 22 may assist the user 40 in winding back and forth at speed over the gliding surface.

Fig 5 shows another embodiment in which drum 11 is not in the form of a right cylinder but rather is in the form of a truncated cone.- With this arrangement, the cylindrical side 13 provides an inner face 21 which presents an inclined gliding surface 22. In this embodiment, the drum 11 can also be tilted about pivot axis 71 at one end thereof under the influence of a tilting ram 73. In this way, the inclination of the gliding 22 surface can be changed prior to, or even during, the skiing activity.

In the embodiments which have been described above, the gliding surface 22 is provided on the inner face 21 of a rotatable drum 11. In another arrangement (which is not shown), the gliding surface could be provided by the outer face of a rotating drum. In other words, the user would glide on the exterior of the drum.

Referring now to Fig 6 of the drawings, there is shown apparatus 80 in which the gliding surface is not provided by a rotating drum. In this embodiment, the apparatus 80 comprises an endless deck 81 supported on a support structure 83. The endless deck 81 comprises a plurality of elongate deck elements 85 assembled in side by side relation. The deck elements 85 extend between a pair of spaced support rails 87 forming part of the support structure 83. Each elongate deck element 85 has a roller assembly 88 at each end thereof which rides along an endless track 89 provided by the support rails 87.

Drive means (not shown) are provided for moving the assembly of deck elements 85 through a closed loop around the support rails 87. The endless deck 81 has an upper run 91 and a lower run 93. The upper run is inclined and presents a gliding surface 95 along which a user 97 can glide on skis 99.

In this embodiment, the drive means causes the gliding surface 95 presented by the upper run 91 of the endless deck to move upwardly so as to oppose downward movement of the user 97. In this way, the user 97 is able to ski with little movement relative to a stationary point remote to the apparatus. The user is, of course, also able to move transversely of the upwardly moving gliding surface 95 and thereby travel along a weaving course.

The direction that the endless deck 81 is caused to rotate may be reversed so that the gliding surface 95 descends (rather than ascends) in circumstances where the user wishes to ski in an uphill mode.

Fig 7 of the drawings shows an embodiment which is somewhat similar to the embodiment of Fig 6 with exception that it is composed of a plurality endless deck sections 101 each of which is of similar construction to the endless deck 81 and each of which can be driven independently of the other. The deck section 101 are supported on a support structure 103 including support posts 105. The posts 105 can be of extensible construction so that the inclination of the various deck sections 101 is selectively adjustable if desired.

With this arrangement, one or more of the deck sections 101 can be arranged to rotate in a direction opposite to the intended direction of travel of the user 107 so as to influence movement of the user by opposing the direction of travel of the user, as previously described in earlier embodiments. The arrangement does, however, also allow for at least one of the deck sections 101 to be rotated in a direction which would correspond to direction of travel of the user and so assist in rapidly moving the user along that particular deck section. This may enhance the thrill experienced by the user while on the apparatus. The apparatus 109 shown in Fig 8 of the drawings has a gliding surface of a different construction of the embodiments described above. In this embodiment, the gliding surface 110 comprises a plurality of rollers 1 11 supported on a support structure 113. Each roller 111 is supported on the support structure 113 for rotation about its central longitudinal axis and is oriented so as to be transverse to the direction of intended movement of a user 1 15 on the gliding surface 110.

The rollers 111 are positioned in side by side relation and are spaced apart. The spacing between adjacent rollers 111 is accommodated by stationary elements 1 17 which present a transition extending between the rollers so as to allow relatively smooth gliding movement along the gliding surface.

Drive means (not shown) are provided for driving the rollers 111 so as to influence movement of the user 115 along the gliding surface 110.

The gliding surface 110 has several sections, comprising a lower section 121 which is inclined, a central section 122 which is generally horizontal, and an upper section 123 which is also inclined. The rollers 111 in the upper and lower sections may be rotated in a direction to influence movement of the user 115 down those sections by opposing such movement (so as to retard travel of the user). The rollers 111 in the central section 122 may also be driven or may be freely rotatable.

In circumstances where the run between the top end of the gliding surface 110 and the bottom end of the gliding surface is of a sufficient distance, some of the rollers 111 may be rotated in a direction which provides ascending motion to the gliding surface so as to retard downward movement of the user as described previously, and other rollers may be rotated in the reverse direction to provide descending motion to the gliding surface so as to propel the user along the gliding surface. The alternating propulsion and retardation influences imposed on the user by the gliding surface may enhance the thrill of skiing activity on the apparatus.

While the various embodiments has been described in relation to a user gliding on a support surface using skis, it should be appreciated that the user can glide along the surface in any other suitable fashion such as on a snow-board, skates (including roller blades), a skate board, or indeed in a vehicle such as sled or toboggan. It may, of course, be necessary to modify the construction of the gilding surface so as to be compatible with the particular type of ride which can be accommodated by the apparatus. Indeed, the gliding surface could, for example, be provided as a layer of ice on the inner surface of the drum 11 employed in the embodiments of Figs 1 to 5. Refrigeration means may be provided within the structure of the drum to maintain the ice in an appropriate condition for ice skating.

Referring now to Fig 9 of the drawings, there is shown an apparatus 130 primarily intended for snow-boarding but on which other activities such as skate boarding, roller skating and roller blading may be performed.

The apparatus 130 comprises a track 131 over which a user 133 can travel on a snow-board 134. The track 131 has a longitudinal extent providing the general direction of travel of the user 133 and is generally concave in cross-section. The track 131 is defined by a gliding surface 135 movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the track, as shown by directional arrow 139. With this arrangement, one longitudinal side 141 of the track 131 moves in a descending direction and the other longitudinal side 143 moves in an ascending direction. This allows the user 133 to weave about the track 131 onto each of the longitudinal sides 141 , 143 as he or she travels along the track and thereby experience various influences caused by the movement of the gliding surface 135. Indeed, it may be possible for the user 133 to travel on the ascending side 143 of the track 131 for the full length thereof without ascending or descending in circumstances where the appropriate relationship exists between various factors including the speed of the gliding surface 135 and the speed of the user 133.

The track 131 comprises an endless belt 145 movable about end rollers 147 extending along the longitudinal sides of the track. Drive means (now shown) are provided for driving at least one of the end rollers 147.

The track 131 shown in Fig 9 extends between two ends. It may, however, be possible for the track to be constructed as an endless track so that a user can travel continuously around the track while on the apparatus.

Referring now to Fig 10, there is shown an apparatus 150 which comprises a track 151 providing a gliding surface 153. The track 151 is configured as a closed loop and the gliding surface 153 is banked so as to have an outer perimeter edge 155 which is elevated in relation to an inner perimeter edge 157. The gliding surface 153 provided by the track 151 is adapted to move upwardly from the lower perimeter edge 157 to the upper perimeter edge 155, as shown by directional arrow 159. In order to provide for the upward direction of travel of the gliding surface 153, it may be necessary to form the track 151 in a plurality of sections 152 particularly at the curved regions of the track. The various sections 152 can be constructed in any suitable fashion, such as in the form of an endless deck movable through a closed loop or in the form of rollers.

A user is able to travel around the track 152 utilising the influences of gravity and the sideways upward movement of the gliding surface 153 to provide propulsion.

Referring now to Figs 11 ,12 and 13, there is shown apparatus 160 in which a user 161 may surf on a form of surf board 163.

The apparatus 160 is of a similar construction to the apparatus 10 shown in the embodiment of Fig 1 and comprises a hollow body 165 in the form of a drum having a cylindrical side wall 167 and open end walls provided by lips 169 each of which extends radially inwardly from the respective end of the cylindrical wall and surrounds an access opening 171. The cylindrical side wall has an inner face 173 and an outer face 175.

The drum 165 is supported for rotation about its central longitudinal axis in support means 177 in the form of a plurality of rollers 179 which provide a supporting cradle for the drum. Drive means are provided for selectively driving at least one of the rollers thereby to cause rotation of the drum about its central longitudinal axis.

The cylindrical side wall 167 and the end walls 169 provide a catchment area in which a body of water can be contained. Water can be introduced into the catchment area by way of a delivery conduit 181.

Upon rotation of the drum in the direction depicted by directional arrow 183 in the drawings, the water is caused to spread into a condition in which it forms a layer 185 against at least part of the inner face 173 of the side wall 167 of the drum 165.

As the drum 165 rotates, the water moves upwardly with the ascending side of the drum until such time as the influence of gravity causes the water to fail away from the inner face 173 of the side wall 167 and cascade downwardly. The cascading action of the water forms a wave 187 which curls as best seen in Fig 12 of the drawings. The user 161 can surf along the wave between the ends of the drum, the water providing the surface along which the user 161 glides on the surf board 163 while surfing.

It may be possible to rotate the drum at a speed which retains the water in the layer 185 against the entire perimeter of the inner face 173 rather than cascading downwardly, as shown in Fig 13. With this arrangement the inner face 189 of the layer of water provides the gliding surface on which the user can surf. Reference was made in relation to the description of the apparatus according to the first embodiment that operation thereof may be computer-controlled. It should be understood that operation of each of the embodiments may be computer-controlled, if desired.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the various embodiments provide a simple yet highly effective arrangement for allowing users to glide along a surface to experience activities such as skiing, skating of various forms, snow-boarding, tobogganing, surfing and related activities for extended periods of time without travelling significant distances relative to the environment in which the apparatus is accommodated. This makes the apparatus particularly suitable for location at theme parks and amusement parks. The activities can also be pursued in circumstances where weather conditions might not otherwise be favourable.

Finally, it should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the various embodiments described.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus comprising a support surface adapted to support a user, at least a portion of the support surface being inclined and associated with means for influencing movement of the user over said at least a portion of the surface.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means comprises a hollow body rotatable about an axis, said surface being associated with a wall of the hollow body which wall moves about the axis of- rotation of the hollow body upon rotation thereof, and drive means for rotating the hollow body.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said surface is provided on the wall of the hollow body.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises a plurality of rollers providing a cradle for rotatably supporting the hollow body, at least one of the rollers being a driven roller.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the hollow body comprises a cylindrical drum.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the hollow body comprises a truncated cone.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims where means are provided for tilting the hollow body to vary the attitude of the axis of rotation thereof.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surface is defined by an endless deck, said deck being movable through a closed loop and means being provided for moving the endless deck through the closed loop.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the closed loop provides an upper run and a lower run, one of which provides the support surface.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the upper run provides the support surface.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the endless deck comprises a plurality of deck elements mounted on a support structure for movement through the closed loop.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 where in the endless deck comprises an endless belt.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the run of the endless belt providing the support surface travels over a backing surface.

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the inclination of the run of the closed loop providing the support surface is selectively variable.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein there are a plurality of said endless decks positioned in end to end relationship to provide an extended run.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surface is defined a plurality of rollers positioned in side by side relation, at least some of the rollers being driven thereby to cause rotation about their respective axes, whereby rotation of rollers provides motion to the surface in a first direction.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the rollers are in spaced apart relationship and wherein transition elements are provided between adjacent rollers to complete the surface.

18. Apparatus comprising a support surface adapted to support a user, a portion of the support surface being inclined, the inclined portion being movable in one direction whereby movement of the user travelling in a second direction on the inclined portion of the surface is influenced by movement of the surface.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the inclined portion of the support surface is movable in an ascending direction.

20. Apparatus comprising a support surface adapted to support a user, the support surface providing a track having a longitudinal extent along which the user can travel, the support surface being movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the track.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the track is an endless track.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the track is substantially concave in cross-section.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the track is banked thereby having one longitudinal side higher than the other longitudinal side.

24. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is at least in part computer-controlled.

25. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.