Lap Bar Assembly with Locking Mechanism with Locking In Lap Bar and Grab Bar Positions

A dual function locking mechanism for passenger restraint devices, comprising:

• a mounting flange for attaching to a vehicle frame;
• a support shaft pivotally mounted to the mounting flange;
• a passenger restraint rigidly attached to the support shaft to pivot with the support shaft;
• a ratchet wheel with a plurality of teeth, wherein the ratchet wheel is coupled to the support shaft to rotate with the support shaft;
• a trip cam pivotally mounted to the support shaft with an arm extending outward from the support shaft;
• and
• a pawl assembly pivotally supported in the locking mechanism and selectively engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to block rotation of the support shaft in a first direction while concurrently allowing rotation of the support shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the trip cam is positionable to contact the pawl assembly with the trip cam arm to space the pawl assembly apart from the ratchet wheel and allow rotation of the support shaft in the second direction and travel of the passenger restraint to a raised position.

An amusement park ride, comprising:

• a vehicle track including a station cam with an arcuate contact surface;
• a vehicle adapted for traveling on the vehicle track including over the station cam;
• and
• a lap bar assembly including a lap bar and a locking mechanism, where in the locking mechanism comprises a mounting frame attached to the vehicle, a support shaft pivotally mounted to the mounting frame with the lap bar coupled to the support shaft to rotate with the support shaft, a ratchet wheel affixed to the support shaft, a trip cam pivotally mounted to the support shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted to the mounting frame for selective engagement with the ratchet wheel including a first locked position comprising engagement with teeth on the ratchet wheel, and a cam follower pivotally mounted to the mounting frame,
• wherein the cam follower contacts the station cam and, in response, rotates to abut the pawl and disengage the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet wheel.