UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

This invention relates generally to amusement devices, and particularly to a means for reciprocating a car rapidly in a vertical or inclined direction.

The main object of this invention is the provision of an exceedingly simple and efficient form of amusement device whereby a passenger may be reciprocated vertically or in a substantially vertical direction at a relatively high rate of speed.

The second object is to provide a device of the class described wherein the passenger is catapulted from a lowermost position to an uppermost position at a single movement and wherein the passenger may be held in the uppermost position or permitted to move up and down upon an elastic support until the stored energy is expended.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4--4 in Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5--5 in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a hollow column 10 which is preferrably vertical but may be inclined if desired. In its present form the column 10 has a circular sleeve 11 slidably mounted thereon. The lower end of the sleeve 11 is flanged outwardly to form a floor for the car 12. The column 10 is provided with lateral slots 14.

Within the column 10 is disposed a lifter 15 whose lugs 16 project through the slots 14 and serve to engage the under side of the bottom of the car 12. The lifter 15 is suspended by the resilient members 17 which may be either rubber bands or springs and are connected by an equalizer 18 to cable 19 which passes over a pulley 20 at the upper end of column 10 and thence downwardly inside of the column 10 around the pulley 20-A which is disposed within the column 10 and then around the idler pulley 21 to the cable winding drum 22 which is driven by reversible electric motor 23 through the worm drive 24.

It is desirable to provide a cap 25 for the upper end of column 10 and also to provide a plurality of shock absorbing springs 26 near the upper end of the column 10 to serve as a resilient stop for the sleeve 11 in its upper travel.

The lifter 15 is provided with a latch pin 27 adapted to engage the hook 28 of the bell crank lever 29 which is fulcrumed on the pivot 30, which is mounted on the standard 31. The lever 29 has attached thereto a foot pedal 32 which is urged upwardly by means of the spring 33.

The latch 34 is provided near the upper end of the column 10 for the purpose of holding the car 12 in its uppermost position should this be desired. The latch 34 may be released by means of the cable 35 which may be operated in any convenient manner. It is desirable to provide guy lines 36 between the cap 25 and the ground.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When empty, the car 12 is supported by means of the lugs 16 in a lowermost position. However, when passengers occupy the seats 13 and are fastened thereto by means of the straps 37, and the motor 23 is operated, it will cause the cable 19 to be wound upon the drum 22 increasing a tension of the elastic member 17.

When the desired tension is attained, the operator depresses the pedal 32 which releases the lifter 15 causing the car 12 with its seats 13 to be shot upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 where the latch 34 holds the car 12 in an elevated position until the latch 34 is released by a pull on the cable 35. The car 12 then falls until it strikes the lifter 15 and the inertia of the car causing the members 17 to elongate although not as much as they were when the car was first released.

It will be noted that lugs 16 stop against the upper ends of the slots 14 while the car 12 with its seats 13 continues on to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will also be noted that while the latch 34 engages the reces34-A in the sleeve 11, it could be positioned to engage the under side of the car 12.

The car then recoils and is again shot upwardly, this time without sufficient force to engage the latch 34 and so on until the car automatically comes to a rest. While this is taking place, the motor 23 is reversed causing the cable 19 to be played out so that when the car is finally at rest in a lowermost position when the lifter 15 will be held by the hook 28. Obviously, the latch 34 may be dispensed with or may be rendered inoperative, so that the car will never be caught at the upper end of its first jump.

It is desirable to provide some form of shock absorber for the upward movement of the car such as the springs 26, due to the fact that an excessive winding movement at the drum 22 coupled with a light load in the car might cause the car to travel upwardly an objectionable distance.

It should also be noted that while I have shown the column 10 as vertical, that same may be made to incline if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An amusement device consisting of a substantially upright column, a car slidably mounted on said column, an elastic supporting means for said car, means for increasing the tension of said supporting means, means for holding said car against the lifting action of said elastic support, and means for releasably holding said car in the uppermost position to which it can be elevated by said elastic member.

2. The device of the class described consisting of a substantially vertical column, a lifter slidably mounted on said column, a car on the upper side of said lifter and moveable thereby, an elastic support for said car, a latch for holding said car downwardly against the action of said elastic a second latch for releasably holding said lifter in an uppermost position and means for increasing the tension of said elastic together with means for cushioning said car at its uppermost limit of travel.

3. A device of the class described having in combination a column, a lifter slidably mounted on said column, a car adapted to be moved upwardly by said lifter, an elastic cable attached to said lifter, means for increasing the tension of said elastic cable and means for releasably holding said car at its uppermost limit of travel.

4. A device of the class described having in combination a column constituting a guide, a lifter constituting a slide mounted on said column, a latch for releasably holding said lifter in a downward direction, an elastic tension member for supporting said lifter, a car slidably mounted on said column adapted to be propelled by said lifter, means for varying the tension of said elastic member and means for releasably holding said car at its uppermost limit of travel.

5. A device of the class described having in combination a substantial vertical column, a lifter slidably mounted on said column, a car slidably mounted on said column, a car slidably mounted on said column and adapted to be supported by said lifter, an elastic support for said lifter, a latch for holding said car in an upper most position and means for increasing the tension of said elastic element.