Oscillatory amusement ride

Abstract

An oscillatory amusement ride having a housing containing a slidably mounted piston. A cable attaches the piston to a holder for a participant. A first end of the housing is closed except for an aperture through which the cable passes. Optionally, the side of the housing contains an aperture or a valve to assist initial movement of the piston when a participant jumps or falls. The second end of the housing can either be open or closed. Optionally, a fluid supply valve can provide compressible fluid between the piston and the first end of the housing. Also optionally, the housing can have a continuous cable that is attached to a second cable which supports the participant. Preferably, two cylinders are utilized, a movable platform is available from which the participant can jump or fall, and the holder can be rotated by the participant.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An oscillatory amusement ride, which comprises: 
 a housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore;    a holder for a participant; and    a means for transferring force between said piston and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said housing, wherein said housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end and the piston for at least one oscillation of the piston.    
     
     
         2 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said housing contains an aperture in the side of said housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said housing.    
     
     
         3 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a fluid supply valve between said piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         4 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a separate supply valve located between the piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         5 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a fluid supply valve between said piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         6 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a separate supply valve located between the piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         7 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing; and    a means for transferring force between said piston and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing and wherein said second housing contains an aperture in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing.    
     
     
         8 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         9 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end having an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing; and    a means for transferring force between said piston within said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing and wherein said second housing contains an aperture in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing;    a fluid supply valve between said piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing; and    a separate supply valve located between the piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing.    
     
     
         10 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a movable platform from which a participant can jump or fall.    
     
     
         11 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         12 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         13 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         14 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         15 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a valve in the side of said housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said housing.    
     
     
         16 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a fluid supply valve between said piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         17 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a separate supply valve located between the piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         18 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing;    a means for transferring force between said piston within said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing; and    a valve in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing.    
     
     
         19 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         20 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing;    a means for transferring force between said piston within said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing;    a valve in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing;    a fluid supply valve between said piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing; and    a separate supply valve located between the piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing.    
     
     
         21 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a movable platform from which a participant can jump or fall.    
     
     
         22 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         23 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         24 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         25 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         26 . An oscillatory amusement ride, which comprises: 
 a housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore;    a holder for a participant;    a cable that exits said housing through the aperture in the closed first end of said housing and re-enters said housing through the second end of said housing, said cable being attached to said piston within said second housing; and    a means for transferring force between said cable associated with said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end and the piston for at least one oscillation of the piston.    
     
     
         27 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said housing contains an aperture in the side of said housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said housing.    
     
     
         28 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a fluid supply valve between said piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         29 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a separate supply valve located between the piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         30 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a fluid supply valve between said piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         31 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a separate supply valve located between the piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         32 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing;    a cable that exits said second housing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing and re-enters said second housing through the second end of said second housing, said cable being attached to said piston within said second housing; and    a means for transferring force between said cable associated with said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing and wherein said second housing contains an aperture in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing.    
     
     
         33 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         34 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing;    a cable that exits said second housing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing and re-enters said second housing through the second end of said second housing, said cable being attached to said piston within said second housing;    a means for transferring force between said cable associated with said second housing and said holder; and    a means for transferring force between said piston within said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing and wherein said second housing contains an aperture in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing;    a fluid supply valve between said piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing; and    a separate supply valve located between the piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing.    
     
     
         35 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 a movable platform from which a participant can jump or fall.    
     
     
         36 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         37 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 35 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         38 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         39 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 34 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         40 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a valve in the side of said housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said housing.    
     
     
         41 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 a fluid supply valve between said piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         42 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 a separate supply valve located between the piston and the first end of said housing.    
     
     
         43 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing;    a cable that exits said second housing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing and re-enters said second housing through the second end of said second housing, said cable being attached to said piston within said second housing; a means for transferring force between said cable associated with said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing; and    a valve in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing.    
     
     
         44 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 43 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         45 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a second housing having a bore, a closed first end containing an aperture, a second end, and a side;    a piston slidably mounted within the bore of said second housing;    a means for transferring force between said piston within said second housing and said holder passing through the aperture in the closed first end of said second housing, wherein said second housing is capable of retaining a compressed fluid between the closed first end of said second housing and the piston within said second housing for at least one oscillation of the piston within said second housing;    a valve in the side of said second housing communicating with the atmosphere and with the bore of said second housing;    a fluid supply valve between said piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing; and    a separate supply valve located between the piston within the bore of said second housing and the first end of said second housing.    
     
     
         46 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 a movable platform from which a participant can jump or fall.    
     
     
         47 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         48 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 46 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.    
     
     
         49 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 a sensor which indicates a loss of pressure within said housing or said second housing;    a sensor which indicates whether said movable platform is in the jump position;    a source of compressible fluid;    a supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said housing;    a blocking valve in said supply line;    a second supply line between said source and said fluid supply valve associated with said second housing;    a blocking valve in said second supply line;    a sensor for detecting whether the movable platform is in the jump position; and    a microprocessor in communication with said sensors and with said fluid supply valves that will activate the blocking valve in the appropriate supply line if an unacceptable loss of pressure occurs within said housing or said second housing and will not allow the fluid supply valves to supply fluid until the movable platform has been moved away from the jump position.    
     
     
         50 . The oscillatory amusement ride as recited in  claim 45 , wherein: 
 said force transferring means associated with said housing and said force transferring means associated with said second housing are rotatably attached to said holder.