Amusement air pool and riding devices therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of recreational, entertainment or amusement sports. More particularly, the invention relates to an air pool and riding device that enables participants and/or passengers to fly freely in the riding device and experience unprecedented flying amusement. Advantageously, the air pool and riding devices therefor may be efficaciously utilized by most individuals of the general public without any type of training. The air pool and riding devices not only provide for free-flying and bumping experiences but desirably also provide motion control, by allowing three-dimensional acceleration of the device, through the individual ride participant's control.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An air pool amusement system which allows participants to pilot and fly riding devices, comprising: 
 a main tunnel having an internal passage through which air flows at a prescribed velocity profile to form an internal air pool, said passage having an upstream end, a downstream end and a plurality of flying zones therebetween, said upstream end having a first inner diameter and said downstream end having a second inner diameter, said passage between said upstream end and said downstream end having a third inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter and less than said second inner diameter; and    a plurality of riding devices levitatingly suspended in said zones of said passage, each of said riding devices having a controller operable by a ride participant to pilot said riding devices, each of said riding devices having an outer shell including perforations to allow an air flow therethrough, said riding devices being movable within said passage and between said zones by controlling and directing the air flow therethrough.    
     
     
         2 . The amusement system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a safety zone above said downstream end to contain said riding devices in said passage.  
     
     
         3 . The amusement system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a safety zone below said upstream end to contain said riding devices in said passage.  
     
     
         4 . The amusement system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises an air supply unit upstream of said passage for providing air flow through said passage.  
     
     
         5 . The amusement system of  claim 4 , wherein said air supply unit comprises at least one compressor.  
     
     
         6 . The amusement system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises an air quality control unit upstream of said passage for controlling the quality of air supplied to said passage.  
     
     
         7 . The amusement system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a distributor upstream of said passage for directing and orienting air flow through said passage.  
     
     
         8 . An air pool amusement system, comprising: 
 an arena through which air flows at a predetermined velocity;    a portal to facilitate entry of participants into said arena and/or exit of participants from said arena; and    a plurality of ride crafts adapted to seat said participants therein and being suspended and movable within said arena.    
     
     
         9 . The amusement system of  claim 8 , wherein said arena has at least two free flying zones.  
     
     
         10 . The amusement system of  claim 8 , wherein said arena has a varying inner diameter.  
     
     
         11 . The amusement system of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of said arena comprises a transparent material.  
     
     
         12 . The amusement system of  claim 8 , wherein said portal comprises one or more entrance and exit doors.  
     
     
         13 . The amusement system of  claim 8 , wherein said amusement system further comprises a conveyor to facilitate loading or unloading of the participants.  
     
     
         14 . The amusement system of  claim 8 , wherein said amusement system further comprises a ground control system to control and monitor the operation of the amusement system.  
     
     
         15 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises a rider monitor to monitor said ride crafts.  
     
     
         16 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises an air flow monitor to monitor system air flow.  
     
     
         17 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises a wireless receiver to receive wireless commands or data from said ride crafts.  
     
     
         18 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises an operator control panel to control or adjust system operational conditions.  
     
     
         19 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises a power supply unit to supply electrical power to said amusement system.  
     
     
         20 . The amusement system of  claim 19 , wherein said ground control system comprises a backup power supply unit.  
     
     
         21 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises a computer system to process requests and execute commands.  
     
     
         22 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises a wireless transmitter to send commands or data to said rider crafts.  
     
     
         23 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises one or more air flow devices to control air flow or quality.  
     
     
         24 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises an air flow device controller to control air flow devices including at least one of an air supply unit, an air quality control unit and an air distributor unit.  
     
     
         25 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises a ground device controller to control ground motion devices including at least one of a conveyor, an entrance gate and an exit gate.  
     
     
         26 . The amusement system of  claim 14 , wherein said ground control system comprises audio and video controller to control audio and video devices including at least one of a speaker and a display screen.  
     
     
         27 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises a ride ID map to map each ride crafts unique ID to a corresponding one of said ride craft's and/or participant's name.  
     
     
         28 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises data storage to store simulation data and flight data.  
     
     
         29 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises one or more microprocessors to process requested commands and send them to system controls.  
     
     
         30 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises an audio and video control to send audio and video commands to an audio and video controller.  
     
     
         31 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises an air flow control to send airflow commands to an air flow controller.  
     
     
         32 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises a ground control to send ground motion commands to a ground device controller.  
     
     
         33 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises a wireless control to send wireless commands to a wireless transmitter.  
     
     
         34 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises a system safety override control to automatically override commands based on system safety data stored on a data storage.  
     
     
         35 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises. a software application to process requested commands.  
     
     
         36 . The amusement system of  claim 21 , wherein said computer system comprises a hardware system to perform command and data processing.  
     
     
         37 . The amusement system of  claim 18 , wherein said operator control panel comprises an air flow control to control or adjust air flow conditions by a ground operator.  
     
     
         38 . The amusement system of  claim 18 , wherein said operator control panel comprises a ground control to operate ground motion devices by a ground operator.  
     
     
         39 . The amusement system of  claim 18 , wherein said operator control panel comprises a rider control to control or override said ride crafts by a ground operator.  
     
     
         40 . The amusement system of  claim 18 , wherein said operator control panel comprises an auto control to automatically keep the system running at predetermined conditions.  
     
     
         41 . The amusement system of  claim 18 , wherein said operator control panel comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver to receive commands from a remote controller of a ground operator.  
     
     
         42 . A riding device for an air pool amusement system, comprising: 
 an outer shell having a plurality of holes arranged in a predetermined manner to allow air flow therethrough;    a portal to facilitate entry of ride participants into said riding device and/or exit of ride participants from said riding device;    one or more seats within said outer shell configured to securely accommodate at least one ride participant;    a motion controller operable by said ride participant to allow piloting and movement of said riding device within an air pool;    a motion stabilizer within said outer shell for controlling the stability of said riding device; and    a motion control system operatively coupled to said motion controller for controlling and directing the air flow through the riding device and enabling motion within said air pool as selected by the ride participant.    
     
     
         43 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said outer shell comprises a substantially aerodynamic shape.  
     
     
         44 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said seat comprises a safety mechanism to secure the ride participant.  
     
     
         45 . The riding device of  claim 44 , wherein said safety mechanism comprises a helmet.  
     
     
         46 . The riding device of  claim 45 , wherein said helmet is built in to said safety mechanism.  
     
     
         47 . The riding device of  claim 44 , wherein said safety mechanism further comprises a seat belt.  
     
     
         48 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion stabilizer comprises a plurality of vertically extending blades.  
     
     
         49 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises a wireless receiver to receive commands and data from a ground control system and other riding devices.  
     
     
         50 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises one or more motion sensors to detect the movement or acceleration of said riding device during flight.  
     
     
         51 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion controller comprises a manual pilot mode to allow said participant to control the flight of said riding device.  
     
     
         52 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion controller comprises an auto pilot mode to automatically fly said riding device based on external data or commands or pre-installed data from a data storage.  
     
     
         53 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises an external data receiver to receive simulation and flight data from an external system through a wireless connection or a wired connection.  
     
     
         54 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises a power supply to supply power to said riding device.  
     
     
         55 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises a computer system to process requests and execute commands.  
     
     
         56 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises a unique identifier of the riding device.  
     
     
         57 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises data storage to store simulation data and flight data.  
     
     
         58 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises one or more microprocessors to process requested commands and send them to system controls.  
     
     
         59 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises an audio and video control to send audio and video commands to an audio and video controller.  
     
     
         60 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises a motion control to send motion commands to a motion controller.  
     
     
         61 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises a wireless control to send wireless commands to a wireless transmitter.  
     
     
         62 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises a system safety override control to automatically override commands based on system safety data stored on a data storage.  
     
     
         63 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises a software application to receive and process requested commands.  
     
     
         64 . The riding device of  claim 55 , wherein said computer system comprises a hardware system to perform commands and data processing tasks.  
     
     
         65 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises a wireless transmitter to transmit commands or data to a ground control system and other riding devices.  
     
     
         66 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises a mechanical device controller to control mechanical devices of said riding device including at least one of air control valves and air flow nozzles to enable motion of the riding device.  
     
     
         67 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises an audio and video controller to control audio and video devices of said riding device including at least one of speakers and display screens.  
     
     
         68 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said motion control system comprises audio and video devices to broadcast and display instructional, command or simulation data.  
     
     
         69 . The riding device of  claim 42 , wherein said riding device further comprises a cushion on said outer shell to allow for bumping between riding devices.  
     
     
         70 . A communication system for an air pool amusement system that allows command, control and data communications between a ground operator, a ground control system, riding devices having a motion control system and ride participants riding said riding devices in said air pool amusement system, comprising: 
 means for implementing a safety override from said ground control system to control said riding devices; and    means for providing virtual reality simulation through data and motion control communication between said ground control system and said motion control system.    
     
     
         71 . The communication system of  claim 70 , wherein said communication system comprises said ground control system and said motion control system.  
     
     
         72 . The communication system of  claim 71 , wherein said ground control system and said motion control system comprise wireless communication devices including at least one of wireless transmitters, wireless receivers and wireless controls.  
     
     
         73 . A method of providing an air pool amusement system which allows participants to pilot and fly riding devices, comprising: 
 supplying an internal air flow into a passage to form an air pool with a prescribed velocity profile within said passage;    levitating a plurality of riding devices in said air pool within said passage with each of said riding devices configured to seat a ride participant and being movable within said passage; and    selectively allowing said air flow to flow through said riding devices to enable said riding devices to be pilotable and to move within said passage for providing amusement to said participants.