Amusement apparatus, components, and, method

1. An improvement for amusement ride apparatus providing an amusement ride for a plurality of passengers one amusement ride at a time, any given amusement ride being characterized by an embarkation location and time permitting the loading of a plurality of passengers at a beginning time for that given amusement ride, and being further characterized by a debarkation location for off-loading the loaded passenger or passengers at a spaced apart debarkation time for that given amusement ride later than the embarkation time for that given amusement ride; the improvement comprising:

a passenger carrier;

each passenger carrier comprising a plurality of seat stations;

each seat station providing seating for a single passenger;

at least one nesting seat insert for removable docking into and undocking out of the seat station between amusement rides whereby as adapted to be performed by an attendant for the amusement ride apparatus; and

a smaller-sized nesting seat insert complementing the one nesting seat insert whereby there are at least two nesting seat inserts, each sized for a different sized passenger,

wherein the smaller-sized nesting seat insert has a seat form sized and contoured to provide seating for a diminutive passenger, and comprising a seat portion and a back-rest portion which fold with respect to each other such that when folded together the smaller-sized nesting insert forms a collapsed configuration adapted for docking and undocking operation, and for storage during non-use;

wherein the at least one nesting seat insert has a seat form sized to provide seating for a large passenger, and comprises a seat portion and a back-rest portion which fold with respect to each other such that when folded together the at least one nesting seat insert forms a collapsed configuration adapted for docking and undocking operation, and for storage during non-use;

the seat portion and back-rest portion of the seat station serves as a permanent seat form sized to provide seating for an extra-large passenger; and

the passenger carrier further comprising plural storage housings under plural ones of the seat portions of the seat stations for storing the at least one nesting seat insert and the smaller-sized seat insert during non-use whereby providing storage during amusement rides;

whereby the permanent seat form of the seat station for extra-large passengers and the two nesting seat inserts for diminutive and large sized passengers respectively affords the attendant for the amusement ride apparatus three options for seat sizes.

2. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein:

a representative amusement ride time is defined as an average difference between the embarkation time and the debarkation time, as averaged over a sample of a plurality of amusement rides for a given part of a day; and

a representative cycle time for offloading the passenger or passengers of a just-finished amusement ride and the loading of a passenger or passengers for a next-succeeding amusement ride is defined as an average difference between the debarkation time of the just-finished amusement ride and the embarkation time of the next-succeeding amusement ride, as averaged over a sample of a plurality of a plurality of amusement rides for a given part of a day;

wherein the representative amusement ride time is measured in minutes not hours; and

the representative cycle time is measured in minutes not hours.

3. The improvement of claim 1 , further comprising:

a medium-sized nesting seat insert complementing the one nesting seat insert, the smaller-sized nesting seat insert and the seat station, whereby respectively affording the attendant for the amusement ride apparatus four options for seat sizes.

4. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein:

the seat portion of each nesting booster seat insert has an under surface contour and the back-rest portion of each nesting seat insert has a back surface contour; and

each nesting seat insert nests within the permanent seat form of the seat station with the under surface contour and the back-rest portion of each nesting seat insert has a back surface contour of the respective nesting seat insert making conforming contour matching with provisions and contours of the seat portion and back-rest portion of the permanent seat form.

5. The improvement of claim 4 , wherein:

the passenger carrier comprises, for each station, a pair of lugs, cross bar or pair of cross bars proximate a rear margin of the seat portion of the permanent seat form; and

each nesting seat insert comprises a laterally-spaced pair of steel hooks extending rearwardly out of the respective seat portion;

the laterally-spaced pair of steel hooks each nesting seat insert are sized and configured for making an acute angle flight path into the permanent seat form for hook up with the pair of lugs, cross bar or pair of cross bars proximate a rear margin of the seat portion of the permanent seat form and thus docking of the respective nesting seat insert;

as well as, proximate the same an acute angle flight path for removal of the respective nesting seat insert.

6. The improvement of claim 4 , wherein:

the plurality of seat stations comprises two seat stations arranged back-to-back.

7. The improvement of claim 4 , wherein:

the plurality of seat stations comprises a plurality of two seat stations arranged back-to-back.

8. The improvement of claim 7 , wherein:

the plurality of seat stations comprise any of four to six, eight, ten or twelve seat stations arranged in back-to-back pairs.

9. The improvement of claim 4 , wherein:

the amusement ride apparatus provides an amusement ride that at various times tilts the passenger carrier, and thereby the seat stations, from a characteristic plane defined by the orientation of the passenger carrier during passenger loading to at least one plane in excess of a forty-five degree (45°) angularly apart therefrom; and

the amusement ride apparatus further comprises a drive system for driving the passenger carrier in a transit path from the embarkation location and debarkation location, which are about the same location or at least relatively proximate each other.

10. The improvement of claim 9 , wherein:

the amusement ride further comprises at least a pair of spokes from which the passenger carrier is suspended.

11. An improvement for amusement ride apparatus providing an amusement ride for a plurality of passengers one amusement ride at a time, any given amusement ride being characterized by an embarkation location and time permitting the loading of a plurality of passengers at a beginning time for that given amusement ride, and being further characterized by a debarkation location for off-loading the loaded passenger or passengers at a spaced apart debarkation time for that given amusement ride later than the embarkation time for that given amusement ride; the improvement comprising:

a passenger carrier;

each passenger carrier comprising a plurality of seat stations;

each seat station providing seating for a single passenger;

the seat station has a permanent seat form which serves as a dock for receiving a nesting seat insert;

the permanent seat form has a seat portion and back-rest portion;

the nesting seat insert nests within the permanent seat form of the seat station;

the nesting seat insert has a seat portion and a back-rest portion which fold with respect to each other such that when folded together the nesting insert forms a collapsed configuration adapted for docking and undocking operation, and for storage during non-use; and

the passenger carrier further comprises a storage housing under at least one of the seat rides.

12. The improvement of claim 11 , wherein:

the nesting seat insert has a seat form sized and contoured to provide seating for a smaller passenger than for the permanent seat form.

13. The improvement of claim 11 , wherein:

the passenger carrier comprises, for each station, a pair of lugs, cross bar or pair of cross bars proximate a rear margin of the seat portion of the permanent seat form; and

the nesting seat insert comprises a laterally-spaced pair of steel hooks extending rearwardly out of the respective seat portion;

the laterally-spaced pair of steel hooks the nesting seat insert are sized and configured for making an acute angle flight path into the permanent seat form for hook up with the pair of lugs, cross bar or pair of cross bars proximate a rear margin of the seat portion of the permanent seat form and thus docking of the nesting seat insert;

as well as, proximate the same an acute angle flight path for removal of the respective nesting seat insert.

14. The improvement of claim 13 , wherein:

the amusement ride apparatus provides an amusement ride that at various times tilts the passenger carrier, and thereby the seat stations, from a characteristic plane defined by the orientation of the passenger carrier during passenger loading to at least one plane in excess of a forty-five degree (45°) angularly apart therefrom; and

the amusement ride apparatus further comprises a drive system for driving the passenger carrier in a transit path from the embarkation location and debarkation location, which are about the same location or at least relatively proximate each other.

15. The improvement of claim 13 , wherein:

the plurality of seat stations comprises two seat stations arranged back-to-back.

16. The improvement of claim 13 , wherein:

the plurality of seat stations comprises a plurality of two seat stations arranged back-to-back.

17. The improvement of claim 13 , wherein:

the plurality of seat stations comprise any of four to six, eight, ten or twelve seat stations arranged in back-to-back pairs.