Seat for amusement apparatus

Abstract

A seat for amusement apparatus, unusually suitable for allowing the user to adopt a new position on the apparatus, comprising a support and means for immobilising the user on the support. The immobilising means comprise at least one support in front of the user and opposing means suitable for acting on the user's back. The opposing means comprises an arm which can move between a lowered position in which the user can sit down on the support and a raised position in which one end of the arm abuts against the user's back.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method of operating a seat for an amusement apparatus, comprising:
 receiving a rider on a rider support, the rider support including a seat portion and a front portion configured to receive at least one of the rider's abdominal and thoracic regions;   moving a restraint between a first position not contacting the rider and a second position wherein at least a portion of the restraint contacts at least a back portion of the rider and secures the rider to the seat.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the moving includes rotating an arm with respect to the rider support, the arm being connected at a first end to the restraint and at a second end to a splined shaft. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the splined shaft at the second end of the arm is operatively associated with a gear connected to a rotating actuator to cause the rotating of the arm. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the rotating actuator is one of pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the moving includes rotating an arm with respect to the rider support, the arm being connected to the restraint and having a substantially circular shape with a toothed side. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the toothed side of the arm is operatively associated with a toothed wheel connected to a rotating actuator to cause the rotating of the arm. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 adjusting the front portion of the rider support according to the rider's dimensions.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the adjusting includes one of continuous adjustment and stepwise adjustment. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining whether the restraint has passed beyond a predetermined position to ensure that the rider is secured to the seat.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the determining includes checking a position of an arm with respect to the rider support, the arm being connected at a first end to the restraint and at a second end to a cam. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cam is operatively associated with a microswitch to determine whether the restraint has passed beyond the predetermined position. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the cam includes a first profile over a majority of its surface and a second profile over a minority of its surface, and the microswitch includes a runner arm movably connected at one end to the microswitch and at an other end to a runner wheel. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein when the runner wheel moves over the cam from the first profile to the second profile, the microswitch senses that the restraint has passed beyond the predetermined position. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 immobilizing the restraint in the second position.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the immobilizing includes locking a position of an arm with respect to the rider support, the arm being connected at a first end to the restraint and at a second end to a toothed wheel. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the toothed wheel is operatively associated with a movable rack to immobilize the restraint in the second position. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the rack is moved into engagement with the toothed wheel by a piston. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the piston is a single-action pneumatic piston. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the rack is moved into engagement with the toothed wheel by a resilient member. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the resilient member is a spring. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 releasing the restraint from the second position.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the releasing includes unlocking a position of an arm with respect to the rider support, the arm being connected at a first end to the restraint and at a second end to a toothed wheel. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the toothed wheel is operatively associated with a movable rack to release the restraint from the second position. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the rack is moved into nonengagement with the toothed wheel by a piston. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the piston is a single-action pneumatic piston. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the rack is moved into nonengagement with the toothed wheel by a piston disabling a resilient member. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the piston is a single-action pneumatic piston and the resilient member is a spring. 
   
   
       48 . A method of operating an amusement apparatus, comprising
 operating a seat of the amusement apparatus according to  claim 21 ; and   moving the seat of the amusement apparatus with respect to a track on which the seat is guided.   
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the moving includes at least one of rotary motion and oscillatory motion. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the seat is mounted on a platform, the platform being guided on the track. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the moving includes moving the seat with respect to the platform. 
   
   
       52 . A method of operating a seat for an amusement apparatus, comprising:
 receiving a rider on a rider support, the rider support including a seat portion and a rear portion configured to receive at least a back portion of the rider;   moving a front portion between a first position not contacting the rider and a second position wherein at least a portion of the front portion contacts at least one of the rider's abdominal and thoracic regions and secures the rider to the seat.   
   
   
       53 . A method of operating an amusement apparatus, comprising
 operating a seat of the amusement apparatus according to  claim 52 ; and   moving the seat of the amusement apparatus with respect to a track on which the seat is guided.