Amusement apparatus providing continuous wave motion

Abstract

An amusement apparatus having a primary structure which receives and supports a first belt which spans in a longitudinal direction between belt supports and in a transverse direction; the first belt having an upper surface and an underside surface; a sub structure having at least two spaced apart pulleys which accommodate a secondary belt having inner and outer surfaces and which in use, travels about said at least two pulleys; the inner surface of the secondary belt engaging the at least two spaced apart pulleys. The outer surface of the secondary belt having at least one outstanding formation which engages the underside surface of the primary belt during at least part of travel of the secondary belt about said at least two pulleys, thereby inducing in the primary belt a contour which substantially conforms to the shape of said at least one formation of the secondary belt.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . An amusement apparatus having a primary structure which receives and supports a first belt which spans in a longitudinal direction between belt supports and in a transverse direction; the first belt having an upper surface and an underside surface; a sub structure having at least two spaced apart pulleys which accommodate a secondary belt having inner and outer surfaces and which in use, travels about said at least two pulleys; the inner surface of the secondary belt engaging the at least two spaced apart pulleys; the outer surface of the secondary belt having at least one outstanding formation which engages the underside surface of the primary belt during at least part of travel of the secondary belt about said at least two pulleys, thereby inducing in the primary belt a contour which substantially conforms to the shape of said at least one formation of the secondary belt. 
     
     
         2 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein, the primary structure provides end anchorages for the primary belt and allows the belt to span longitudinally between the anchorages and transversely across said at least pulleys. 
     
     
         3 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the primary belt is arranged to allow for some flexibility between its longitudinal span. 
     
     
         4 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the flexibility is disposed axes in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         5 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the flexibility of the primary belt allows the primary belt to undergo displacement induced by interaction with formations on the secondary belt. 
     
     
         6 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the displacement of the primary belt is in a direction normal to a plane of the secondary belt. 
     
     
         7 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the outer surface of the secondary belt has evenly spaced apart wave shaped formations which engage the underside surface of the primary belt to induce displacement in the belt which simulates periodic waveforms. 
     
     
         8 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein at least one of the pulleys is a drive pulley and induces travel of the secondary belt about idler pulleys. 
     
     
         9 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein there is one drive pulley which drives the secondary belt and at least one idler pulley. 
     
     
         10 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the formations are sinusoidal, wave or dome shaped. 
     
     
         11 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein, the formations when moving relative to the primary belt induce waveforms in the primary belt. 
     
     
         12 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the secondary belt is continuous and rotates continuously about the drive pulley and each other pulley. 
     
     
         13 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein continuous waves are induced in the primary belt as the secondary belt rotates. 
     
     
         14 . An amusement apparatus having a primary structure which receives and supports a primary belt which spans in a longitudinal and transverse direction between supports; the belt having an upper surface and an underside surface; a sub structure having at least two spaced apart pulleys which accommodate a drive chain and which in use, travels about said at least two pulleys; the chain drive having a plurality of spaced apart formations which are arranged to sequentially engage the underside surface of the primary belt during travel of the chain drive about said at least two pulleys; the wave formations thereby inducing in the primary belt a series of waves in the primary belt by inducing local displacement in the primary belt. 
     
     
         15 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the chain undergoes revolutions to enable the formations to be continuously presented to the underside of the primary belt. 
     
     
         16 . An amusement apparatus having a primary structure which receives and supports a primary belt which spans in a longitudinal direction between supports and in a transverse direction; the primary belt having an upper surface and an underside surface; a drive chain or belt which travels about pulleys mounted on the primary structure; the chain drive having directly or indirectly connected thereto a plurality of formations which contact the underside of the primary belt and induce corresponding formations in the primary belt by displacement of the primary belt as the chain drive advances the formations. 
     
     
         17 . An amusement apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the formations comprise a space frame having a shape selected from sinusoidal, waveform, parabolic, spherical, crescent or dome shapes. 
     
     
         18 . An amusement apparatus comprising a primary support structure and mounted thereon at least one fixed belt, a drive belt which travels about belt support pulleys associated with the structure, formations mounted on the drive belt which are capable of movement relative to and which engage an underside of the at least one fixed belt; the engagement between the formations and the at least one belt inducing continuous waveforms in an upper surface of the at least one belt as the drive belt travels about the pulleys. 
     
     
         19 . An amusement apparatus comprising a primary support structure and mounted thereon a fixed belt spanning between belt anchorages; a drive assembly including a continuous drive chain which travels about belt support pulleys associated with the structure, formations mounted on the drive belt which are capable of movement relative to and which engage an underside of the fixed belt; the engagement between the formations and the fixed belt inducing continuous waveforms in an upper surface of the belt; the waveforms allowing a board rider to engage with the waveforms to simulate riding a slope or wave.