Occupant propelled rotary conveyor

A rotary conveyor, particularly a merry-go-round, comprising a base having an upright axis;

• rotary means having bearing means rotatably mounted on said base for rotation about said axis, and an arm fixedly connected with said bearing means for joint rotation therewith;
• support means having a support member which carries a seat for supporting a user and is detachably connectable with said arm of said rotary means for joint rotation about said axis;
• and
• rotating means for rotating said rotary means together with said support member and having a ratchet mechanism which includes a gear fixedly connected with said base and having a radially outwardly extending marginal portion, and a pawl engageable with and disengageable from said gear, said rotating means further including a lever having one end portion operatively connected with said ratchet mechanism, and another end portion which is subject to force applied thereto by a user, so that in engaged condition of said pawl said rotary means together with said support means can be rotated about said axis under the action of the force applied by the user to said lever, said rotating means also including a cup-shaped holding member which has a downwardly open end portion abutting against said marginal portion of said gear, and which holds said pawl so that the latter freely falls into engagement with said gear.