Roller coaster

Abstract

A roller coaster includes a cab that is rotatable between position for loading and unloading of passenger(s) and a position for riding the roller coaster. The cab includes a sliding pad mechanism, which is slidable on station entry and/or exit cams to move the cab between the two positions. In the position for loading and unloading the passenger(s), the cab is arranged so that the passenger(s) are non-parallel to a track of the roller coaster, and in the position for riding, the cab is arranged so that the passenger(s) are substantially parallel to the track.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A roller coaster, comprising:
 a carriage;   a cab at least pivotally connected to the carriage, the cab at least rotatable relative to the carriage between a first position substantially parallel to a track and a second position non-parallel to the track; and   at least one of a station entry cam having a first predetermined profile and a station exit cam having a second predetermined profile;   wherein the cab includes a sliding pad mechanism configured to slide on at least one of the station entry cam and the station exit cam to move the cab from a first one of the first position and the second position to a second one of the first position and the second position;   wherein the sliding pad mechanism includes a first sliding pad and a second sliding pad, at least one of the first sliding pad and the second sliding pad pivotable with respect to the cab.   
     
     
         5 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the carriage is suspended from the track at a front axle and a rear axle. 
     
     
         6 . The roller coaster of  claim 5 , wherein the front axle and the rear axle include rollers operatively associated with the track. 
     
     
         7 . The roller coaster of  claim 6 , wherein the rollers include two main wheels, two guide wheels, and two up-stop wheels. 
     
     
         8 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of carriages and a plurality of cabs are arranged on the track. 
     
     
         9 . The roller coaster of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of carriages and the plurality of cabs are arranged at least one of side-by-side and in tandem. 
     
     
         10 . The roller coaster of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of carriages includes at least one bumper configured to contact adjacent carriages. 
     
     
         11 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab includes a cage and a cover. 
     
     
         12 . The roller coaster of  claim 11 , wherein the cage is made of tubular members. 
     
     
         13 . The roller coaster of  claim 11 , wherein the cover is made of plexiglass. 
     
     
         14 . The roller coaster of  claim 11 , wherein the cover is configured to prevent extremities of a rider from passing outside of a clearance envelope of the cab. 
     
     
         15 . The roller coaster of  claim 11 , wherein the cage is configured to be actuated by at least one of a spring, a pneumatic system, a hydraulic system, a linear motor, a rotary motor, a geared transmission, a chain drive, a cable drive, a cam, and a linkage system. 
     
     
         16 . The roller coaster of  claim 11 , wherein the cage is configured to be biased in an open position via gas springs. 
     
     
         17 . The roller coaster of  claim 11 , wherein the cage includes a cage locking mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The roller coaster of  claim 17 , wherein the cage locking mechanism is manually operated by a handle out of reach of a rider of the cab. 
     
     
         19 . The roller coaster of  claim 17 , wherein the station entry cam includes a second entry cam, and the cab includes a second entry cam follower connected to the cab via a second entry cam follower arm, the second entry cam follower configured to trigger unlocking of the cage locking mechanism during contact with the second entry cam. 
     
     
         20 . The roller coaster of  claim 19 , wherein the second entry cam is connected on one side of the station entry cam. 
     
     
         21 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab is pivotally connected to the carriage at a rotating axle. 
     
     
         22 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab is configured to rotate between the first position and the second position via at least one of a hydraulic lift, a pneumatic lift, a cable hoist, a chain hoist, a geared transmission, a screw drive, a magnet, a piston, a cylinder, a linear motor, a rotary motor, a screw jack, a lever jack, a ratchet mechanism, a cantilever mechanism, a floatation mechanism, a buoyancy mechanism, an air-drive mechanism, a gas-drive mechanism, and a fluid-drive mechanism. 
     
     
         23 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab includes security springs configured to resist rotation of the cab from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab is configured to seat four riders in at least one of one row and two-by-two. 
     
     
         25 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab is made of at least one of fiberglass and foam. 
     
     
         26 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the cab includes hand grips and a ladder made from aluminum. 
     
     
         27 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the second sliding pad is arranged in longitudinal alignment with respect to the first sliding pad. 
     
     
         28 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the first sliding pad includes a profile configured to contact at least one of the station exit cam and the station entry cam between the second position of the cab and an intermediate position of the cab between the second position and the first position. 
     
     
         29 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the second sliding pad includes a profile configured to contact at least one of the station exit cam and the station entry cam between the first position of the cab and the intermediate position of the cab between the second and the first position. 
     
     
         30 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the first sliding pad is pivotally connected to the cab by a first pivot point and a compression spring. 
     
     
         31 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the second sliding pad is pivotally connected to the cab by a second pivot point. 
     
     
         32 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the carriage and the cab includes a cab locking mechanism to lock the cab in the first position. 
     
     
         33 . The roller coaster of  claim 32 , wherein the cab locking mechanism includes at least one of a security bar, a proximity sensor, a gas spring, a solenoid, a screw drive, a linear motor, a hydraulic system, and a pneumatic system. 
     
     
         34 . The roller coaster of  claim 32 , wherein the cab locking mechanism includes at least one security bar connected on one end to a first one of the cab and the carriage and extendable on an other end to a locking retainer on a second one of the cab and the carriage. 
     
     
         35 . The roller coaster of  claim 32 , wherein the station exit cam includes a first exit cam, and the cab includes a first exit cam follower connected to the cab via a first exit cam follower arm, the first exit cam follower configured to trigger locking of the cab locking mechanism during contact with the first exit cam. 
     
     
         36 . The roller coaster of  claim 35 , wherein the first exit cam is connected on an other side of the station exit cam. 
     
     
         37 . The roller coaster of  claim 32 , wherein the station entry cam includes a first entry cam, and the cab includes a first entry cam follower connected to the cab via a first entry cam follower arm, the first entry cam follower configured to trigger unlocking of the cab locking mechanism during contact with the first entry cam. 
     
     
         38 . The roller coaster of  claim 37 , wherein the first entry cam is connected on an other side of the station entry cam. 
     
     
         39 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the station exit cam is fixed to ground via a station exit cam support member. 
     
     
         40 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the station entry cam is fixed to ground via a station entry cam support member. 
     
     
         41 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein the track is made of steel. 
     
     
         42 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the station entry cam and the station exit cam is made one of wholly and partially of lubricious material. 
     
     
         43 . The roller coaster of  claim 42 , wherein the lubricious material includes one of a fluoropolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a lubricant, a sintered material, and an impregnated material. 
     
     
         44 . The roller coaster of  claim 4 , wherein each of the station entry cam and the station exit cam includes at least one roller element. 
     
     
         45 . The roller coaster of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one roller element includes a chain-like system of roller elements. 
     
     
         46 . The roller coaster of  claim 45 , wherein the chain-like system of elements is arranged at least one of serially and staggered. 
     
     
         47 . A roller coaster, comprising:
 a carriage;   a cab at least pivotally connected to the carriage, the cab at least rotatable relative to the carriage between a first position substantially parallel to a track and a second position non-parallel to the track; and   at least one of a station entry follower and a station exit follower, each of the station entry follower and the station exit follower including at least one roller element;   wherein the cab includes at least one cam configured to slide on at least one of the station entry follower and the station exit follower to move the cab from a first one of the first position and the second position to a second one of the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         48 . The roller coaster of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one station entry follower includes a plurality of roller elements. 
     
     
         49 . The roller coaster of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one station exit follower includes a plurality of roller elements. 
     
     
         50 . The roller coaster of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one cam includes a plurality of cams.