US1591566A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

July 6 1926. 1,591,566

G. A. SCHMIDT ET AL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented July 6, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. SCHMIDT AND WILLIAM SCHMIDT, .13., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed November 6, 1924. Serial No. 7 18026.

This invention relates to an amusement device and more particularly to a boat ride, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a novel and improved amusement device in the nature of a boat ride; primarily intended for use by children, but capable of use by adults as well, by means of which there is oltered a ride in a miniature boat on a prescribed miniature water course, wherein and whereby, apparent complete control of the boat is ofiered to the occupant, as it driving a regular tull-size mot-or boat,-and this without danger to even the youngest child who may be inclined or induced to ride in'the boat.

The advantages of our invention will appear more clearly as we proceed with our specification.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a top plan view of the water course, landing and boat.

Figure 2, is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the boat itself.

t Figure 3, is a still larger view of the motor switch and battery connections for operating the boat.

Figure 4, is a view representing a vertical section through the-water course adjacent the landing stage in a planeindicated by lines H of Figure 1, illustrating abrake device used for arresting the boat when it reaches the landing stage. 7

Figure 5, is a View somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of the construction.

The improved boat ride includes in general a suitable water course and an associated landing stage for the admission and discharge of the riders and one or moremotor boats, depending upon the number to be served and the length ofthe water course, together with suitable devices at the landing stage to arrest the boats at the end of the ride and to again release the boats to start the ride, and switches either manual or automatic, but always beyond the control of those taking the ride, for controlling the operation of the motor, which actuates the propeller of the boat. j

The boat propeller is preferably driven by an electric motor but may be driven by any suitable motor device. When an electric motor is used, it may be operated either from an electric battery upon the boat or from current taken by an overhead trolley system or otherwise from any suitable source of electric current supply.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings :10 indicates a landing stage, and 11 a miniature water course; 12 indicates one of the boats to provide a ride on the course; it beingunderstood, as aforesaid, that any number of boats may be used. The water course, 11, as shown, is in the form of the elongated, approximately elliptical shape, but may manifestly be of any shapedesired. It should preferably, however, to reduce the number of attendants required, begin and end at the same point.

The water course is defined by side walls in any usual or'suitable manner. The said side walls are indicated in outline at 13 1 1, and are built of any suitable material, as of wood I planking. The water course, itself, is made quite shallow. having only depth enough to accommodate the draft of the type of boat used.

The side walls 1314:, adjacent the land ing or loading stage 10, are contracted in width, the walls 13-.11 approaching each other more nearly as indicated at 13-14 In the narrow part of the water way thus presented a suitable braking device is provided for arresting the boatand stopping its further travel in the water way when it reaches the landing or loading stage 10. In the modification, of the invention illustrated in the drawings, said braking device consists of a flexible board 15, extending longitudinally of the water way and provided on its top side with a wear member 15 for engagement with the keel of a boat when the boat passes above it. -The flexible board 15 is mounted on wooden bars 1616 extending transversely of the water way and se-' cured at their ends to the wooden walls B al? which define the sides of the water way. The board 15 is connected to the cross bars 16 by means of bolts and slots indicated at 16 in such .a manner that the board 15 may be flexed upwardly at its middle, the bolts and slots allowing the necessary play in the connection with the cross bars 16. Arranged below the board 15 is an operating arm 17 which is mounted to swing on a transverse rod 17 This arm is formed at its upper end in the manner of a cam and is adapted for engagement with a transverse board '17" on-the bottom of the board 15.

In Figure l, the parts are shown in their normal-position with the-board 15 below the keel of a boat, but not engaged therewith, so that the boat may have free passage. is the position of the parts when the boat is released for a trip.

The arm 17 is operated by suitable link and lever connectionsvindicated at 17.-17,'the lever 17 being located in a convenient posi tion adjacent the water way wall l l 'ready for operation by the attendant. When the lever 17 is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Figure 4:, thearm 17 will beoperated to bring its cam-like upper endv into engagement with the board 17 on the under side of the board .15 so as to raise said board to bring the wear member 15 into position to engage the keel of a boat for arresting its movement.

Except atthe narrower partof the course defined by the walls 13'1l, the water way may be made of such width -as to accommodate two or more boats abreast, so that the boats may pass each other.

The boat itselfmay be of anyfamiliar and convenient construction. As shown, it Consists of the-hull 18 with-bow and forward deck 19,-' under whiehis located a battery which supplies current to drive the motor. 21 indicates the motor, 22' the propeller shaft, and 23the propeller itself. The rear end of the forward deck 19 is turned down at 24c. to provide a dash through whichprojects the forward part of a steeringshaft 25,.the other end of which is journalled at 26 in the stemof-the how. 27 indicates a steering wheel at the rear end of the steering shaft 25 and a transversely disposed seat 28 is arranged directly back of the dash'2 1, the boat thus being set up in the manner of an automobile or'runabout.

The shaft 25 is connected by suitable cable 29 to operate the rudder 30. '31 indicates the battery which is connected by circuit wires-to the brushes 32 -33 of th'e..n1otor. The battery may be of any familiar type and is=of sufficient voltageand current to run a small motor,as for example a quarter-horsepower motor, which will be sulficient to operate the boat.

In the circuit connecting thebattery to the motor, are located, spring controlled makeand-brake switches 34 of any familiar type, and arms 35 projecting at each side through the hull :of the boat are arranged to operate said switches. The arms 35 are designed to becontrolled automatically or manually but always under the control ofthose in charge of the ride, and is not to be actuated by those takingthe ride. Said arms-35 are arranged insuch a manner that when the boat ap- 'proaches the narrow part'of the course de- This fined by the walls 13"-14, they will strike the side walls l3 14' and disengage the switches with the result that the motor is stopped. Two arms and switch members are thus provided, so that-there is'no-danger of stopping the motor in the wider part of the course where only one arm may be caused to engage with a side wall of the boat and-it is necessary to operate both arms to stop the motor. After the motor is stopped, the boat is arrested by the brake mechanism. operated by the lever 17, as heretofore described.

In order to give the person taking ;the ride a feeling of control over the motor, a dummy, spring-controlled pedal 36 is pro vided in a position in front of the seat 28, where it maybe easily engaged by the one steering the boat. Manifestly, the one riding in the boat will have no control over the operation of the motor, but will have full control of the steering of the boat after it leaves the loading platform, and until the boat again comes to the loading platform. His operation of the pedal 36, will make him feelas if he were controlling the speed of the boat and when several boats are in passage about the water course, one loaded with small children for example, and the other with larger childrentl1e difference in displacement of the two boats, even though the propellers of both boats-are operated at the same speed, will permit thelighter boat to gain upon the heavier boat, which willadd to the drivers feeling ofactually controlling the speed-of the boat.

Instead of operating the motor from a battery carried by the boat, it may also be operated by a trolley system. This is illustrated in the modification shown in Figure 5 where like parts are indicated by the same reference numeralsused heretofore.

In this case, however, a net work of wire 36*, such for example as lightchicken wire or the like of metal suitable for conducting an electric current, is located above and following the water way. Said net work is of substantially the width of the water way and is supported'by suitable insulated uprights 37' arranged alon the banks of the water way. A trolley 38"of familiar construction is provided at some convenient part of the boat, preferably, at or'near the stern, as shown in the drawings. Said trolley has a contact member 39 as a ball'or other contact member with a broad-wiping surface, which is adapted for engagement with the wire web conductor 36 The trolley carries conductors ina familiar manner which are connected'to the electric circuit to the motor in the same manneras heretofore described in connection with the battery.

Manifestly, with this construction, the trolley will be engaged with the over head wire web conductor 36 inany position of the boat upon the water way. The over head conductor 36 is connected to a suitable source of electric supply in any familiar manner (not shown).

While in describing our invention, we have referred to many details of construction and of arrangement of parts, it will be understood that the invention is in no Way limited thereto, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An amusement device comprising in combination, a landing stage, a water course associated with said landing stage, said course being defined by side walls, a motor boat adapted to said watercourse, a motor and means for operating the same in said motor boat, a steering device for the motor boat, including a hand control member, an arm for starting the motor-operatingmeans, and means provided adjacent the landing stage for braking the boat.

2. An amusement device comprising in combination, a landing stage, a water course arranged adjacent to said landing stage, said course being defined by side walls, a motor boat adapted to said water course, a motor and means for operating the same in said motor boat, a steering device for the motor boat including a hand control member, an arm for starting the motor-operatingmeans, means provided in the water course adjacent the landing stage to brake the boat, and an actuating device for said motoroperating-means control arm associated with and operated in association with said braking means.

3. An amusement device comprising in combination, a landing stage, a water course arranged adjacent to said landing stage, said course being defined by side walls, a motor boat adapted to said water course, an electric motor in said boat for driving the same, means for supplying electric current to said motor, a steering device for the boatincluding a hand control member, a switch device in said electric-current-supply-means, said switch device being constructed to be operated at the landing stage, and means atthe landing stage for braking the boat.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we afiix our signatures this 18th day of October A. D. 1924.

GEORGE A. SCHMIDT. lVILLIAM SCHMIDT, JR.

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