Roller Coaster Leg Restraint for Racing Position Boarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rollercoaster designs face challenges in safely restraining passengers' legs, particularly for smaller children, due to complex and costly mechanisms required to transition from a seated to a suspended racing position, and current leg restraining systems are unsuitable for young children.
Innovation Solution
A rollercoaster design featuring leg retention members that allow passengers to board with bent knees, where the knee restraining member is operated by a drive system to securely hold the legs in place, eliminating the need for passengers to change position and accommodating smaller children with a minimum height of 1.20 meters, and incorporating pivotable and spring-mounted lower leg retention members for comfort and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanisms are used to transition passengers from seated to suspended racing position, then safety and restraint effectiveness are improved, but device complexity and costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex mechanical transition mechanisms from the system. Instead of using elaborate mechanisms to transition passengers from seated to suspended position, the invention directly implements a simplified restraint system that secures passengers in the racing position without requiring such transitions, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not transitioning passengers from seated to suspended position, but rather directly positioning and restraining them in the racing position from the start. This inversion eliminates the need for complex transition mechanisms while achieving the same safety outcome
2Reliability
If conventional leg restraining devices are used, then restraint effectiveness is improved, but accessibility for smaller children deteriorates as they cannot be properly restrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the leg restraining device movable and adjustable. The lower leg retention members can be positioned at different locations along the lower leg, and the knee restraining member can be adjusted to accommodate different knee positions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same restraint system to effectively secure passengers of various sizes, including smaller children
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the restraining system by allowing adjustment of the retention members' positions. The lower leg retention members can be moved along the lower leg to different engagement points, and the knee restraining member's position can be varied. These parameter changes enable the system to adapt to different passenger anatomies and sizes while maintaining effective restraint
3Ease of manufacture
If simple leg retention members are used, then ease of manufacture and cost reduction are improved, but restraint effectiveness for all passenger sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamics by implementing movable and adjustable retention members that can be positioned to accommodate different passenger sizes. This dynamic capability allows simple, cost-effective components to achieve effective restraint across all passenger sizes, maintaining reliability while preserving ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the leg restraining device to serve multiple passenger sizes and types through adjustable positioning. The same basic structure with adjustable retention members can effectively restrain children, adults, and passengers of various anatomies, making a single universal system that replaces the need for multiple specialized restraint devices
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances safety and accessibility for smaller children by simplifying the passenger assembly and reducing operational costs, while providing a secure and comfortable riding experience without the need for complex position changes during boarding.
Implementation Method 1
a spring being provided to position the lower leg retention member in the substantially vertical access position
Data Source
AI summary
A roller coaster amusement device adapted to provide for the passengers a ride wherein the passengers experience at least a portion of the ride in a racing position, the amusement device wherein an endless guide structure at least including multiple curves, one or more carriages displaceable along the guide structure, a passenger assembly associated with a carriage, said passenger assembly being adapted to accommodate at least one passenger such that said passenger experiences at least a portion of the ride in a racing position, a station along said guide structure allowing the passenger to board the passenger assembly.