Ride Attraction and Method for Creating Impression of Rider Instability

Abstract

Ride features described herein may include a ride surface in which a rider may be maintained on a lateral side wall while traversing the ride feature. The ride feature may be in a spiral to turn the rider about a central axis. The ride feature may include a central opening that provides a perception that the rider may fall off of the ride feature. The properties of the lateral side wall may be manipulated so that the centripetal force is used to control the rider's speed and position on the lateral sidewall so that the rider is kept away from the inside edge of the central opening. The centripetal force can be changed by: varying the pitch of the helix of the lateral side wall, varying the radius of the helix of the lateral side wall, varying the friction between the ride surface and the rider, and combinations thereof.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ride feature, comprising:
 a rider entrance;   a rider exit;   a ride surface between the rider entrance and the rider exit, wherein the ride surface comprises a lateral sidewall and the ride surface is configured to maintain a rider on the lateral sidewall during a banked turn comprising the entirety of a rider travel path from the rider entrance to the rider exit;   wherein the ride surface is configured to maintain the rider on the lateral sidewall using centripetal forces and one or more of varying the pitch of the ride surface, varying a radius of curvature of the banked turn, or varying the amount of friction between the rider and the ride surface.   
     
     
         2 . The ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the ride surface comprises a spiral configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the ride surface comprises a central opening. 
     
     
         4 . The ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the banked turn does not have a lateral inner sidewall opposite the lateral sidewall of the ride surface. 
     
     
         5 . The ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the ride surface comprises two or more helical profiles coupled by one or more joining profiles. 
     
     
         6 . The ride feature of  claim 2 , comprising at least one revolution of a spiral. 
     
     
         7 . The ride feature of  claim 1 , having an inner guidance feature. 
     
     
         8 . The ride feature of  claim 7 , wherein the inner guidance feature is transparent or semi-transparent. 
     
     
         9 . The ride feature of  claim 7 , wherein the inner guidance feature comprises openings. 
     
     
         10 . The ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the ride surface comprises an outer guidance channel. 
     
     
         11 . A ride feature, comprising:
 a rider entrance;   a rider exit;   a ride surface between the rider entrance and the rider exit, wherein the ride surface has two or more helical profiles separated by a contoured guide, comprising a lateral sidewall, wherein the ride surface is configured to use centripetal forces to maintain a first rider on the lateral sidewall located on a first portion of the ride surface during a banked turn comprising the entirety of a the first rider's travel path from the rider entrance to the rider exit, and to use centripetal forces and a contoured guide feature to maintain a second rider on a second portion of the ride surface during a banked turn comprising the entirety of a the second rider's travel path from the rider entrance to the rider exit;   wherein the ride surface is configured to maintain the first and second riders on the first and second portions, respectively, of the banked turn using centripetal forces and one or more of varying the pitch of the ride surface, varying a radius of curvature of the banked turn, or varying the amount of friction between the rider and the ride surface.   
     
     
         12 . The ride feature of  claim 11 , wherein the ride surface comprises a spiral configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The ride feature of  claim 11 , wherein the ride surface comprises a central opening. 
     
     
         14 . The ride feature of  claim 11 , wherein the banked turn does not have a lateral inner sidewall opposite the lateral sidewall of the ride surface. 
     
     
         15 . The ride feature of  claim 11 , wherein the first rider and the second rider are able to interact with gaming elements of the ride during the riders' travel from the rider entrance to the rider exit. 
     
     
         16 . A ride feature, comprising:
 a first and second rider entrance;   a first and second rider exit;   a first ride surface between the first rider entrance and the first rider exit, wherein the first ride surface comprises a first lateral sidewall and the first ride surface is configured to maintain a first rider on the first lateral sidewall during a first banked turn comprising the entirety of a rider travel path from the rider entrance to the first rider exit;   wherein the first ride surface is configured to maintain the first rider on the first lateral sidewall using centripetal forces and one or more of varying the pitch of the first ride surface, varying a radius of curvature of the first banked turn, or varying the amount of friction between the first rider and the first ride surface;   a second ride surface between the second rider entrance and the second rider exit, wherein the second ride surface comprises a lateral sidewall and the second ride surface is configured to maintain a rider on the lateral sidewall during a banked turn comprising the entirety of a rider travel path from the second rider entrance to the second rider exit;   wherein the second ride surface is configured to maintain the second rider on the second lateral sidewall using centripetal forces and one or more of varying the pitch of the second ride surface, varying a radius of curvature of the second banked turn, or varying the amount of friction between the second rider and the second ride surface;   wherein the first and second rider surfaces are configured to wrap around a central vertical axis.   
     
     
         17 . The ride feature of  claim 16 , wherein the ride feature comprises a central opening. 
     
     
         18 . The ride feature of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second ride surfaces do not have a lateral inner sidewall opposite the first and second lateral sidewalls. 
     
     
         19 . The ride feature of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second lateral sidewalls extend upward to form an enclosed outer surface of the ride feature. 
     
     
         20 . The ride feature of  claim 16 , wherein the first rider and the second rider are able to interact with gaming elements of the ride during the riders' travel from the rider entrance to the rider exit.