Obstacle course

Abstract

An interactive obstacle course characterized by a multitude of interlocking units which correspond to give the sections of the ceiling the capability to descend and ascend. In addition, the path of the obstacle course is able to be changed countless times to offer an ever-changing challenge.

1 . Housed within a shell of which the outer walls' design may vary to accommodate aesthetic preferences, the invention is an interactive obstacle course where the objective of the game is to transverse the length of the course to exit over the back wall at the rear of the obstacle course while avoiding to step onto any unlocked foot panel that will trigger the ceiling's unique attribute of slowly descending and/or avoiding to cause the ceiling to descend too far as to block off the players' exit. The course operates through a system of interlocking mechanisms that includes gearwheels, levers, pistons, and springs on a platform deck and foot panels that are capable of being individually locked and unlocked. Movable components on the deck's frames enables selected sections to separate, making it possible for the drop ceiling to descend and ascend along a beam-like structure that provides the course of travel for the drop ceiling. The obstacle course has the benefit of being set to different levels and paths. Though the shell's design may vary, three attributes remain constant: one being that it includes a series of slots through which the handles of a lever and the knobs of the brake system can stand through, two that it includes pole supporters, and three a torsion spring flap. 
     
     
         2 . The combination defined in  claim 1 , wherein mentioned the foot panel being the catalyst. On the underbody of each panel are serrated racks and pistons that are inserted into partnering piston chambers on the surface of the deck mentioned in  claim 1 . A compression spring inside the piston chamber, on top of which rests the bottom of the piston, assists in raising the foot panel back to it's initial position once pressure from the foot panel has been elevated. However, once the foot panel has been stepped on or otherwise depressed, the serrated rack meshes with a partnering gearwheel that is attached to a detachable spindle. Note that both the piston chambers and the partnered gearwheels also keep the foot panels balanced. 
     
     
         3 . The combination defined in  claim 2 , as the gearwheel is rotated so does the spindle turn, thus causing the specialized gearwheel attached at the end of the spindle to rotate, with said gearwheel being attached to the inner part of the sidewall at a rotatable mount and fitted with a torsion spring. 
     
     
         4 . The combination defined in  claim 3 , wherein mentioned the specialized gearwheel, said gearwheel is positioned to mesh with the rolling rack that travels along a track that is secured along the left frame of the deck. As the specialized gearwheel is rotated forward it drives the rolling rack backwards. Included on the rolling rack is one part of the brake system which is an erected cogged brake bar. 
     
     
         5 . The combination defined in  claim 4 , wherein mentioned the cogged brake bar, said bar stands at an intermediate point on the rolling rack on a track and has teeth that mesh with the cogged ceiling's casing and has a base designed with an opening fixed with a screw port. Also on the rolling rack, a plate stands in front of the cogged brake bar up said brake bar's midpoint. Within the space between the cogged brake bar and the plate, fitted into the opening of the base is a bar used to separate the cogged brake bar from the case. The ceiling's casing sheaths the beam-like structure as defined in  claim 1 . As mentioned in  claim 4 , when the rack and subsequently the wall and cogged bar are driven backwards by the forward rotation of the specialized gearwheel as defined in  claim 3 , the cogged bar is separated from the drop ceiling's casing thus causing the drop ceiling to begin its descent. 
     
     
         6 . The combination defined in  claim 5 , wherein mentioned the spacer bar, in order to reset the ceiling a player must first separate the cogged brake bar from the ceiling's casing. This action is performed with the spacer bar to which is attached a lever. The lever is extended through the outer wall and through the screw port at the base of the cogged brake bar and attaches to the spacer bar. When the lever is turned it turns the spacer which separates the cogged brake bar from the case. 
     
     
         7 . Reversely from the action defined in  claim 2 , wherein mentioned the foot panel being stepped on, once pressure is released from the foot panel it is elevated to its initial point by the piston's compression spring and the spindle's torsion spring working together to dually raise the foot panel and rotate the specialized gearwheel in reverse thus driving the rolling rack and subsequently the cogged brake bar forward. This will cause the cogged brake bar to reconnect with the ceiling's casing thus further preventing the ceiling from descending. 
     
     
         8 . The combination defined in  claim 1 , wherein mentioned the rotating piston chambers, at the mouth of the rotating piston chamber extends a flange or a catch and the bottom of the rotating piston chamber, extending underneath the deck's surface, is formed into a beveled gear, with said gear designed to interlink with the second part of the brake system, the gear system. 
     
     
         9 . The combination defined in  claim 8 , wherein mentioned the gear system which are a series of interlinking beveled gears connected by poles. Starting from the first pole secured vertically within supports along the inside of the outer wall and with its top formed into a turning knob, the pole ends in a beveled gear that interlinks with a horizontal beveled gear connected to a pole, with said pole being secured horizontally within supports along the underbody of the deck's surface and that ends in a final beveled gear, with said final beveled gear interlinking with the rotating piston chamber's beveled gear. Note that there is a gear system for each rotating piston chamber's beveled gear where the length of the poles are varied so as to accommodate the distance of the chamber's beveled gear starting from the left side of the obstacle course. 
     
     
         10 . The combination defined in  claim 9 , wherein mentioned the gear system, to lock an individually foot panel a player must turn the turn knob, which in turn causes the first beveled gear to rotate, thus rotating the interlinking beveled gear, in which in turns rotate the rotating chamber beveled gear. This turns the chamber so that the flange at the mouth of the chamber meets with flange from the foot panel's piston and preventing the foot panel from being depressed if it a player should step and/or stand on it. 
     
     
         11 . The combination defined in  claim 6 , wherein mentioned the first step to resetting the obstacle course, once the action described in  claim 6  has been performed a player can use the ceiling's casing, now separated from the cogged brake bar, to raise the ceiling to its initial setting.