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US 4,487,410 AGranted
Fluid suspended passenger carrying spherical body having universal attitude control
OwnerJohn J. Sassakinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An amusement device comprising a spherical body for holding a passenger, a ground supported base having a semi-spherical seat for supporting the body in a lower position, a source of air under pressure connected to the base beneath the body for raising it to predetermined position supported solely by air, and an upright tube mounted on the base for guiding the body as it is being raised above the base. Movable control members mounted externally and internally of the body permit the passenger to revolve the body in any direction.
Claims12
Apparatus comprising:
- a base having a seat with an upper opening and a lower opening;
- a spherical passenger-holding body having closure means for receiving a passenger therein, the body being receivable through the upper opening in the base to a lower position in the seat adjacent said lower opening;
- means for delivering a fluid through the lower opening in the base beneath the body to raise it above said lower position such that the body is supported solely by the fluid being received through the lower opening in the base and passing out the upper opening;
- and
- external control means and internal control means each having means adapted to be operated by the passenger to jointly control the universal attitude of the body when suspended in and by the fluid, the external control means biasing the body by reaction to the fluid and the internal control means biasing the body by imbalance.
2 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a base having a hemispherical seat, an upper opening above the seat, and a lower opening;
- a spherical passenger-holding body having closure means for receiving a passenger therein, the body being receivable through said upper opening to a lower position in the seat;
- means for delivering air through the opening in the base beneath the body to raise it and the passenger above said lower position toward said upper opening such that the body is supported solely by air passing from the lower opening toward said upper opening;
- an upright tube mounted on the base to receive the body as it is being raised from said lower position and to guide the body along a predetermined upward path of motion defined by the tube;
- at least one louver member mounted adjacent the exterior surface of the body so as to be disposed between the body and the tube wall in the path of air moving adjacent the surface of the body to bias it toward rotation in said tube;
- control means mounted in the body for permitting the passenger to move any louver member to adjust the rotation of of the body;
- a controlled member mounted in the body for adjusting the center of gravity of the body and passenger whereby the body revolves in the tube from a first position toward a second position while supported in said raised position;
- whereby the passenger is able to control any louver member and the controlled member from a position within the body so as to revolve the body to any attitude while supported in the tube in said raised position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.