US 5,087,054 A · Amusement dunking apparatus

Abstract

A dunking apparatus, useful as an amusement device, is provided which is easily assembled, disassembled and transported. The apparatus comprises a control housing for enclosing at least part of a release mechanism, a load supporting platform and a fluid-retaining reservoir mounted upon a support platform. The apparatus also includes target-supporting walls hingedly connected to the housing which may be pivoted to lie flush against the remainder of the apparatus for disassembly, or pivoted to extend perpendicular to the remainder of the apparatus for operative assembly. The entire apparatus may be permanently mounted upon a wheel-based, mobile trailer. The apparatus also includes an impact-activated release mechanism for releasing a load, such as a human, sitting upon the platform. The release mechanism is activated upon impact with a thrown object, such as a ball.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A release mechanism for an amusement apparatus adapted to release a load upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, comprising

a load-supporting platform having load-supporting and load-releasing conditions;
an elongate support rod adapted to maintain the platform in the load supporting condition, a first end of said support rod being pivotally connected to a bottom surface of the load supporting platform;
a control apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed member rotatable about its longitudinal axis;
a locking mechanism secured to the control apparatus and adapted to receive and retain a second end of the support rod to facilitate the load-supporting condition of the platform, said locking mechanism moveable between load-supporting and load-releasing conditions upon rotational movement of the control apparatus;
and
impact responsive release activation means for imparting rotational movement to the control apparatus to facilitate movement of the locking mechanism from a load-supporting condition engaging the support rod to a load-releasing condition for releasing the support rod.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Amusement dunking apparatus

Life of this patent

Amusement dunking apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15