A roller coaster ride comprising a carriage adapted for travel along a track in a predetermined direction and a plurality of seats interconnected to and positioned exteriorly from the carriage. The seats are capable of 360 degree rotation about a longitudinal axis which extends perpendicular to the direction of travel. The seats may further be spaced apart from the carriage in a downward direction by a central arm and perpendicular to said direction of travel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of applicant's co-pending application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/178,314, filed Jun. 21, 2002, which will issue on Nov. 12, 2002 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,961, which is continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/057,010, filed Jan. 24, 2002, now abandoned which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/814,083, filed Mar. 21, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,115, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/219,297, filed on Dec. 21, 1998, entitled "Modular Amusement Ride and Training Simulation Device," and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,131, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/098,043, entitled "Modularized Amusement Ride and Training Simulation Device," filed Jun. 16, 1998, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,549, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/742,465, entitled "Full Range of Motion Roller Coaster," filed Nov. 1, 1996, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,254 on Aug. 11, 1998, which claimed the benefit of the filing of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/007,206, entitled "Amusement or Basic Transportation Device Using a Ball (Sphere) and Track or Tube," filed on Nov. 3, 1995, which are all incorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/098,043 also claimed the benefit of the filing of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/050,980, entitled "Modularized Ser. No. 60/050,980, entitled "Modularized Amusement Ride Device," filed on Jun. 20, 1997, which is also incorporated herein by reference.
A rail assembly is built from three parallel cylindrical members, wherein a first rail provides support for a large wheel. The large wheel has an axle protruding from each side, wherein the outbound side has a frame attached to the axle and a seat attached to the frame. The rail side of the axle connects to a second rail acting as a pilot/guide for the travel of the large wheel. A third rail and interconnections provide structural rigidity for the rail assembly. The riders fly through a roller coaster layout sitting only in a seat, facing the passing environment head on at high speeds, thereby experiencing a free flight sensation. A people mover embodiment adds a motor to the wheel to move the wheel along a relatively flat layout. An optional flip means functions to selectively engage the axle with the rotating large wheel (nominally via a reduction gear) to flip the riders 360.degree.. Optionally a group of large wheels can be coupled together to form a train.
