Merry-go-round

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a merry-go-round.

[0002] More precisely, the present invention relates to a merry-go-round for children, to which the following description will make explicit reference without thereby losing generality.

[0003] As is known some rotating merry-go-rounds for children comprise: a supporting frame which is structured for resting stably anchored on the ground; a central hub which is fixed in an axially rotating manner on the top of the supporting frame, so as to be able to rotate about a substantially vertical reference axis; a number of swingable supporting arms which jut out from the central hub in a radial direction, are angularly equally spaced about the central hub, and are hinged to the central hub so that each arms is able to rotate about a horizontal articulation axis locally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the supporting arm, so as to be able to swing while remaining on a vertical lying plane which substantially intersects the hub rotation axis; and a number of passenger-holding gondolas or vessels which are dimensioned so as to accommodate one or more people, and are each rigidly fixed directly to the distal end of a respective supporting arm.

[0004] The merry-go-rounds of the type described above are also provided with an engine unit structured so as to be able, on command, to drive into rotation the central hub about its vertical rotation axis, and with a number of double-acting hydraulic or pneumatic pistons each of which is interposed between the central hub and a corresponding supporting arm so as to be able to rotate, on command, the corresponding supporting arm for raising or lowering the passenger-holding gondola or vessel integral therewith. Document WO-A1-2005/102484 discloses all the technical features set out in the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Aim of the present invention is therefore to realize a new model of the merry-go-round for children structurally simpler than those described above.

[0006] In compliance with the above aim, according to the present invention there is provided a merry-go-round as defined in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of claims dependent thereon.

[0007] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a merry-go-round realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;
• Figure 2 is a front view of the Figure 1 merry-go-round, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity; whereas
• Figure 3 shows in enlarged scale a detail of the upper part of the Figure 2 merry-go-round.

[0008] With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a merry-go-round preferably, though not necessarily, for children of the type comprising:

• a rigid supporting frame 2 which is structured for resting stably anchored on the ground;
• a central hub 3 which is fixed in axially rotating manner on the top of the supporting frame 2, so as to be able to rotate about a preferably substantially vertical reference axis R;
• a plurality of swingable supporting arms 4 which jut out from the central hub 3 in a substantially radial direction, are angularly equally spaced about the central hub 3, and are hinged to the central hub 3 so as to rotate each about a respective horizontal reference axis A locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the supporting arm 4, so as to be able to freely swing while remaining on a substantially vertical lying plane which is preferably oriented so as to intersect the rotation axis R of the hub;
• a number of passive elastic supporting assemblies 5, each of which is interposed between the central hub 3 and a corresponding supporting arm 4, and is structured so as to elastically maintain the corresponding supporting arm 4 in a substantially horizontal resting position ; and
• a number of passenger-holding gondolas or vessels 6 which are dimensioned so as to accommodate one or more people, and are hanged each on the distal end 4a of a corresponding supporting arm 4.

[0009] More precisely, each passenger-holding gondola or vessel 6 is hanged down below the distal end 4a of the corresponding supporting arm 4 by means of a substantially vertical connection rod or stem 7, which has the lower end fixed to the body of the passenger-holding gondola or vessel 6, and has the upper end 7a directly hinged on the distal end 4a of the supporting arm 4, so as to allow the connection rod 7 and the passenger-holding gondola or vessels 6 to freely swing about a reference axis B locally substantially parallel to the rotation axis A of the same supporting arm 4, i.e. substantially horizontal and locally substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the supporting arm 4.

[0010] In other words, the upper end 7a of the connection rod 7 is fixed on the distal end 4a of the supporting arm 4 by way of an hinge which allows the vertical rod 7 and the relative passenger-holding gondola or vessel 6 to freely swing while remaining substantially parallel to the swinging plane of the corresponding supporting arm 4.

[0011] With reference to Figure 2, the merry-go-round 1 is further provided with an engine unit 8 which is arranged so as to drive into rotation the central hub 3 about its rotation axis R, and with an impulsive lifting mechanism 9 which is structured for momentarily and suddenly pushing each supporting arm 4 upwards when the supporting arm 4 is located in a predetermined angular position of its circular orbit.

[0012] More precisely, in the example shown, the lifting impulsive mechanism 9 is preferably placed on a rigid supporting frame 2, beside the central hub 3, and is structured so as to temporarily push upwards the supporting arm 4 that, while rotating about the axis R, is momentarily aligned above the same lifting impulsive mechanism 8.

[0013] With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular, the rigid supporting frame 2 preferably, though not necessarily, consists of a lattice structured tower 2; whereas the central hub 3 is preferably, though not necessarily, fitted in an axially rotating manner to a horizontal fifth wheel which is rigidly fixed to the top of the lattice structured tower 2, coaxial with the rotation axis R of the hub.

[0014] The engine unit 8 instead preferably, though not necessarily, consists of an electrically-operated geared motor 8 which is fixed in a vertical position to the tower 2 immediately below the fifth wheel that supports the central hub 3, so that the pinion 8a of the electrically-operated geared motor 8 can protrude from the top of the tower 2, to the side of the fifth wheel, and permanently meshing on a ring gear 10 which, in turn, is rigidly fixed to the lower part of the central hub 3, coaxial with the rotation axis R of the hub.

[0015] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in the example shown each elastic supporting assembly 5 instead preferably comprises:

• a swingable supporting bracket 11 which juts out from the central hub 3 in a substantially horizontal direction, immediately beneath the corresponding supporting arm 4, is oriented so as to be locally substantially parallel to the same supporting arm 4, and is finally hinged to the central hub 3 so as to rotate about an articulation axis C locally substantially parallel to the rotation axis A of the supporting arm 4, so as to freely swing on the same swinging plane of the supporting arm 4;
• a stop bumper 12 positioned on the supporting bracket 11 and/or on the central hub 3 so as to prevent the supporting bracket 11 from being lowered below a substantially horizontal resting position; and
• an elastic suspension member 13 which is stably interposed between the supporting bracket 11 and the immediately overhanging supporting arm 4, and is dimensioned/structured so as to floatingly maintain the supporting arm 4 in its substantially horizontal resting position when the corresponding supporting bracket 11 is in turn arranged in the respective substantially horizontal resting position.

[0016] In the example shown, in particular, the elastic suspension member 13 preferably consists of a bellows pneumatic spring 13, and the elastic supporting assembly 5 is preferably provided with a second stop bumper 14 which is arranged on the supporting bracket 11, beside the bellows pneumatic spring 13, i.e. the elastic suspension member 13, and is dimensioned so as to prevent the supporting arm 4 from violently slamming, while it freely swings about the axis A, onto the supporting bracket 11 after having fully crushed/compressed the bellows pneumatic spring 13.

[0017] With reference to Figure 2, the impulsive lifting mechanism 9 in the example shown is instead preferably, though not necessarily, formed by a number of free guide wheels 15, each fixed in a freely rotatable manner below a respective supporting bracket 11, preferably near the distal end of the same supporting bracket 11; and by a small ramp or sky jump 16 which is arranged on top of the rigid supporting frame 2, i.e. on the top of the lattice structured tower 2, beside the central hub 3, so as to intersect the circular trajectory followed by the various guide wheels 15 fixed beneath the supporting brackets 11, and is dimensioned/structured so as to force the guide wheel 15 which temporarily crosses the ramp or sky jump 16 while rotating about the rotation axis R of the hub, to suddenly and temporarily push upwards the corresponding supporting bracket 11 so as to launch upwards with force the supporting arm 4 that rests on the same supporting bracket 11 via the elastic suspension member 13.

[0018] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, preferably, though not necessarily, the merry-go-round 1 finally presents, for each swingable supporting arm 4, a respective oscillations limiting device 18 which is structured so as to maintain below a predetermined limit angle the width of the oscillations that the connection rod 7 can make about the axis B, and/or of continuously damping/slowing down the oscillating movement of the connection rod 7 about axis B.

[0019] In the example shown, in particular, the oscillations limiting device 18 preferably comprises a double effect hydraulic damper 19 which is fixed on the supporting arm 4 so as to have its mobile shaft 19a locally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the arm; and a reaction strut 20 which is adapted to mechanically connect the connection rod 7 to the hydraulic damper 19 so as to transmit the oscillating movement of the connection rod 7 to the mobile shaft 19a of the hydraulic damper 19.

[0020] In other words, the reaction strut 20 is adapted to convert the oscillating movement of the connection rod 7 into a reciprocating rectilinear movement of the mobile shaft 19a, which is systematically counteracted by the hydraulic damper 19.

[0021] More in detail, in the example shown, the reaction strut 20 has a first axial end hinged to the upper end 7a of the connection rod 7 in an eccentric position with respect to the rotation axis B of the same rod, it extends along the supporting arm 4 parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the arm, and finally has the second axial end directly hinged on the mobile shaft 19a of the hydraulic damper 19 so as to transmit the oscillating movement of the connection rod 7 to the mobile shaft 19a.

[0022] The functioning of the merry-go-round 1 can be easily inferred from the above description and does not require further explanation.

[0023] The advantages offered by the particular structure of the merry-go-round 1 are evident. The fact that the passenger-holding gondolas or vessels 6 are able to freely swing with respect to the corresponding supporting arms 4, together with the fact that each supporting arm 4 continues to freely swing about the resting position during the rotation of the central hub 3 about the rotation axis R, enables the passenger-holding gondolas or vessels 6 to perform particularly pleasing random oscillating movements, without the need of having to lift/ lower, on command and in a selective way, the individual supporting shaft 4 by way of special double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders.

[0024] Clearly, changes and variations may be made to the merry-go-round 1 above described as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0025] For example, in a first not-shown alternative embodiment, the oscillations limiting device 18 may comprise, in combination with or alternatively to the hydraulic damper 19 and to the reaction strut 20, two stop bumpers made of rubber or other elastically deformable material, which are preferably fixed/ positioned on the distal end 4a of the supporting arm 4, on opposite sides of the connection rod 7 on the swinging plane thereof, so as to prevent the tilt angle of the connection rod 7 from exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

[0026] In a second not-shown alternative embodiment, instead, the upper end 7a of the connection rod 7 can be fixed to the distal end 4a of the supporting arm 4 by way of a ball joint or other mechanical member adapted to allow the vertical rod 7 and the relative passenger-holding gondola or vessels 6 to freely swing on any swinging plane, i.e. without necessarily remaining parallel to the swinging plane of the supporting arm 4.

Claims

1. A merry-go-round (1) comprising:

- a rigid supporting frame (2) structured for resting on the ground;

- a central hub (3) which is fixed in axially rotating manner on top of the supporting frame (2), so as to able to rotate about a first substantially vertical reference axis (R);

- a number of swingable supporting arms (4) which jut out from the central hub (3) in a substantially radial direction, and are hinged to the central hub (3) so as to rotate each about a respective second substantially horizontal reference axis (A) locally substantially perpendicular to the arm longitudinal axis (L), so as to freely oscillate while remaining on a substantially vertical lying plane;

- a series of elastic supporting assemblies (5) each of which is interposed between the central hub (3) and a respective supporting arm (4), and is structured so as to elastically maintain the corresponding supporting arm (4) in a substantially horizontal resting position; and

- an engine unit (8) which is structured so as to drive into rotation the central hub (3) about said first reference axis (R);

said merry-go-round (1) being characterised by additionally comprising:

- an impulsive lifting mechanism (9) which is structured for momentarily and suddenly push each supporting arm (4) upwards when the supporting arm (4) is located in a predetermined angular position of its circular orbit; and

- a series of passenger-holding vessels (6) which are dimensioned so as to accommodate one or more people, and are each hanged down on a respective supporting arm (4) by means of a substantially vertical connection rod (7) which has the lower end fixed to the body of the passenger-holding vessel (6) and the upper end (7a) pivotally jointed to the supporting arm (4) so as to allow the passenger-holding vessel (6) to freely swing with respect to the supporting arm (4).

2. Merry-go-round according to Claim 1, characterised in that each passenger-holding vessel (6) is hanged down below the corresponding supporting arm (4) by means of a substantially vertical connection rod (7) which has the upper end (7a) hinged to the supporting arm (4) so as to allow the passenger-holding vessel (6) to freely swing at least about a third reference axis (B) substantially horizontal and locally substantially perpendicular to the arm longitudinal axis (L).

3. Merry-go-round according to Claim 2, characterised in that the upper end (7a) of each connection rod (7) is hinged to the distal end (4a) of the corresponding oscillating supporting arm (4).

4. Merry-go-round according to Claim 3, characterised by also comprising, for each supporting arm (4), oscillations limiting means (18) which are structured so as to maintain below a predetermined threshold angle the width of the oscillations that the connection rod (7) can make about the corresponding third reference axis (B), and/or so as to continuously dampen/slow down the oscillating movement of the connection rod (7) about the corresponding third reference axis (B).

5. Merry-go-round according to Claim 4, characterised in that the oscillations limiting means (18) comprise a dual-effect hydraulic damper (19) which is fixed on the supporting arm (4) so as to have its mobile shaft (19a) locally substantially parallel to the arm longitudinal axis (L); and a reaction strut (20) which is able to mechanically connect the connection rod (7) to the hydraulic damper (19) so as to transmit the oscillating movement of the connection rod (7) to the mobile shaft (19a) of the hydraulic damper (19).

6. Merry-go-round according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the oscillations limiting means (18) comprise two stop bumpers made of elastically deformable material, which are fixed/positioned on the supporting arm (4), on opposite sides of the connection rod (7) on the swinging plane of the rod, so as to prevent the tilt angle of the connection rod (7) from exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

7. Merry-go-round according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the impulsive lifting mechanism (9) is placed on the rigid supporting frame (2), beside the central hub (3), and is structured so as to temporarily push upwards the supporting arm (4) that, while rotating about said first reference axis (R), is momentarily aligned above the same impulsive lifting mechanism (9).

8. Merry-go-round according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each elastic supporting assembly (5) comprises:

- an swingable supporting bracket (11) which juts out from the central hub (3) immediately below the corresponding supporting arm (4), is oriented so as to be locally substantially coplanar to the supporting arm (4), and is finally hinged to the central hub (3) so as to rotate about a corresponding fourth reference axis (C) locally substantially parallel to the second reference axis (A) of said supporting arm (4), so as to freely swing on the same swinging plane of the supporting arm (4);

- a stop bumper (12) positioned on the supporting bracket (11) and/or on the central hub (3) so as to prevent the supporting bracket (11) from being lowered below a substantially horizontal resting position; and

- an elastic suspension member (13) which is stably interposed between the supporting bracket (11) and the immediately superjacent supporting arm (4), and is structured/dimensioned so as to floatingly maintain said supporting arm (4) in its substantially horizontal resting position when the corresponding supporting bracket (11) is, in turn, arranged in the relative substantially horizontal resting position.

9. Merry-go-round according to Claim 8, characterised in that the impulsive lifting mechanism (9) comprises a number of guide wheels (15) each fixed in freely rotating manner below a corresponding supporting bracket (11); and a ramp or sky jump (16) which is arranged on the top of the rigid supporting frame (2), beside the central hub (3), so as to intersect the circular trajectory followed by the various guide wheels (15), and is dimensioned/structured so as to force the guide wheel (15) that crosses the ramp or sky jump (16) while rotating about said first reference axis (R), to suddenly and temporarily push upwards the corresponding supporting bracket (11).

Ansprüche

1. Karussell (1), das aufweist:

- einen starren Trägerrahmen (2) zum Aufstellen auf einer Bodenfläche;

- eine zentrale Nabe (3), die auf axial drehbare Weise oben an dem Trägerrahmen (2) angebracht ist, um sich um eine im Wesentlichen vertikale erste Referenzachse (R) drehen zu können;

- mehrere schwingfähige Trägerarme (4), die sich von der zentralen Nabe (3) aus in eine im Wesentlichen radiale Richtung erstrecken und mit der zentralen Nabe (3) gelenkig verbunden sind, um sich jeweils um eine im Wesentlichen horizontale zweite Referenzachse (A), die lokal im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der Armlängsachse (L) ist, zu drehen, um frei zu schwingen und zugleich in einer im Wesentlichen vertikalen liegenden Ebene zu bleiben; und

- mehrere elastische Trägeranordnungen (5), die jeweils zwischen der zentralen Nabe (3) und einem jeweiligen Trägerarm (4) angeordnet sind und die jeweils so konfiguriert sind, um den entsprechenden Trägerarm (4) in einer im Wesentlichen horizontalen Ruheposition zu halten; und

- eine Motoreinheit (8), die konfiguriert ist, die zentrale Nabe (3) in Drehung um die erste Referenzachse (R) zu versetzen;

wobei das Karussell (1) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass es zusätzlich aufweist,

- einen impulsiven Hebemechanismus (9), der konfiguriert ist, kurzeitig und plötzlich jeden Trägerarm (4) aufwärts zu stoßen, wenn sich der Trägerarm (4) in einer vorgegebenen Winkelposition seines Umlaufs befindet; und

- mehrere Passagieraufnahmekörbe (6), die so dimensioniert sind, um eine oder mehrere Personen unterzubringen und die jeweils mittels einer im Wesentlichen vertikalen Verbindungsstange (7), deren unteres Ende an dem Körper des Passagieraufnahmekorbs (6) angebracht ist und deren oberes Ende (7a) gelenkig mit dem Trägerarm (4) verbunden ist, an einem jeweiligen Trägerarm (4) herabhängen, um dem Passagieraufnahmekorb (6) ein freies Schwingen bezüglich des Trägerarms (4) zu erlauben.

2. Karussell nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Passagieraufnahmekorb (6) mittels einer im Wesentlichen vertikalen Verbindungsstange (7), deren oberes Ende (7a) gelenkig an dem Trägerarm (7a) angebracht ist, unterhalb des entsprechenden Träger-arms (4) herabhängt, um dem Passagieraufnahmekorb (6) ein freies Schwingen um mindestens eine dritte Referenzachse (B), die im Wesentlichen horizontal und lokal im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der Armlängsachse (L) ist, zu erlauben.

3. Karussell nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das obere Ende (7a) jeder Verbindungsstange (7) gelenkig an dem distalen Ende (4a) des entsprechenden schwingenden Trägerarms (4) angebracht ist.

4. Karussell nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es außerdem für jeden Trägerarm (4) Schwingungsbegrenzungsmittel (18) aufweist, die konfiguriert sind, die Schwingungsweite, in welcher die Verbindungsstange (7) um die entsprechende dritte Referenzachse (B) schwingen kann, unterhalb eines vorgegebenen Schwellenwinkels zu halten und/oder die Schwingungsbewegung der Verbindungsstange (7) um die entsprechende dritte Referenzachse (B) kontinuierlich zu dämpfen/verlangsamen.

5. Karussell nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schwingungsbegrenzungsmittel (18) aufweisen: eine doppeltwirkende hydraulische Dämpfungseinrichtung (19), die an dem Trägerarm (4) befestigt ist, so dass ihr beweglicher Schaft (19a) lokal im Wesentlichen parallel zu der Armlängsachse (L) ist; und eine Reaktionsstrebe (20), die die Verbindungsstange (7) mit der hydraulischen Dämpfungseinrichtung (19) mechanisch verbinden kann, um die Schwingungsbewegung der Verbindungsstange (7) auf den beweglichen Schaft (19a) der hydraulischen Dämpfungseinrichtung (19) zu übertragen.

6. Karussell nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schwingungsbegrenzungsmittel (18) zwei aus einem elastisch verformbaren Material hergestellte Anschlagpuffer aufweisen, die an dem Trägerarm (4) an sich gegenüberliegenden Seiten der Verbindungsstange (7) in der Schwingungsebene der Stange angebracht/angeordnet sind, um zu verhindern, dass der Neigungswinkel der Verbindungsstange (7) einen vorgegebenen Schwellenwert überschreitet.

7. Karussell nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der impulsive Hebemechanismus (9) an dem starren Trägerrahmen (2) neben der zentralen Nabe (3) angeordnet ist und konfiguriert ist, den Trägerarm (4) in dem Augenblick, in dem er sich im Verlaufe seiner Drehung um die erste Referenzachse (R) oberhalb dieses impulsiven Hebemechanismus (9) befindet, kurzzeitig aufwärts zu stoßen.

8. Karussell nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede elastische Trägeranordnung (5) aufweist:

- eine schwingfähige Trägerklammer (11), welche von der zentralen Nabe (3) aus unmittelbar unterhalb des entsprechenden Trägerarms (4) vorspringt und orientiert ist, um lokal im Wesentlichen koplanar mit dem Trägerarm (4) zu sein, und mit der zentralen Nabe (3) gelenkig verbunden ist, um so um eine entsprechende vierte Referenzachse (C), die lokal im Wesentlichen parallel mit der zweiten Referenzachse (A) des Trägerarms (4) ist, drehbar zu sein, um in der gleichen Schwingungsebene wie der Trägerarm (4) frei zu schwingen;

- ein Anschlagpuffer (12), der an der Trägerklammer (11) und/oder an der zentralen Nabe (3) angeordnet ist, um zu verhindern, dass die Trägerklammer (11) unter eine im Wesentlichen horizontale Ruheposition sinkt; und

- ein elastisches Federungselement (13), das stabil zwischen der Trägerklammer (11) und dem unmittelbar darüber liegenden Trägerarm (4) angeordnet ist und so gestaltet und dimensioniert ist, um den Trägerarm (4) in seiner im Wesentlichen horizontalen Ruheposition schwebend zu halten, wenn die entsprechende Trägerklammer (11) ihrerseits in der im Wesentlichen horizontalen relativen Ruheposition angeordnet ist.

9. Karussell nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der impulsive Hebemechanismus (9) aufweist: mehrere Führungsrollen (15), die jeweils in frei drehbarer Weise unterhalb einer entsprechenden Trägerklammer (11) angeordnet sind; und eine Rampe (16) oder Skyjump, die oben auf dem starren Trägerrahmen (2) (seitlich) neben der zentralen Nabe (3) angeordnet ist, um den Umlaufpfad der mehreren Führungsrollen (15) zu kreuzen, und die derart bemessen und gestaltet ist, um die Führungsrolle (15), die im Verlaufe ihrer Drehung um die erste Referenzachse (R) die Rampe (16) überquert, zu zwingen, plötzlich und kurzzeitig die entsprechende Trägerklammer (11) aufwärts zu stoßen.

Revendications

1. Manège (1) comprenant :

- un châssis de support rigide (2) structuré pour s'appuyer sur le sol ;

- un moyeu central (3) qui est fixé d'une manière axialement rotative sur le sommet du châssis de support (2), afin de pouvoir tourner autour d'un premier axe de référence sensiblement vertical (R) ;

- un certain nombre de bras de support oscillants (4) qui font saillie du moyeu central (3) dans une direction sensiblement radiale et sont articulés par rapport au moyeu central (3) afin de tourner chacun autour d'un deuxième axe de référence sensiblement horizontal (A) respectif, localement sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal de bras (L), afin d'osciller librement tout en restant sur un plan sensiblement vertical ;

- une série d'ensembles de support élastiques (5), dont chacun est intercalé entre le moyeu central (3) et un bras de support (4) respectif, et est structurée afin de maintenir élastiquement le bras de support (4) correspondant dans une position d'appui sensiblement horizontale ; et

- une unité formant moteur (8) qui est structurée afin d'entraîner en rotation le moyeu central (3) autour dudit premier axe de référence (R) ;

ledit manège (1) étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre :

- un mécanisme de soulèvement impulsif (9) qui est structuré pour pousser momentanément et soudainement chaque bras de support (4) vers le haut lorsque le bras de support (4) est positionné dans une position angulaire prédéterminée de son orbite circulaire ; et

- une série de nacelles de passagers (6) qui sont dimensionnées pour loger une ou plusieurs personnes, et sont chacune suspendues sur un bras de support (4) respectif au moyen d'une tige de raccordement sensiblement verticale (7) qui a l'extrémité inférieure fixée sur le corps de la nacelle de passagers (6) et l'extrémité supérieure (7a) assemblée de manière pivotante au bras de support (4) afin de permettre à la nacelle de passagers (6) d'osciller librement par rapport au bras de support (4).

2. Manège selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que chaque nacelle de passagers (6) est suspendue au-dessous du bras de support (4) correspondant au moyen d'une tige de raccordement sensiblement verticale (7) qui a l'extrémité supérieure (7a) articulée par rapport au bras de support (4) afin de permettre à la nacelle de passagers (6) d'osciller librement au moins autour d'un troisième axe de référence (B) sensiblement horizontal et localement sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal de bras (L).

3. Manège selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que l'extrémité supérieure (7a) de chaque tige de raccordement (7) est articulée par rapport à l'extrémité distale (4a) du bras de support oscillant (4) correspondant.

4. Manège selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend également, pour chaque bras de support (4), des moyens de limitation d'oscillations (18) qui sont structurés afin de maintenir au-dessous d'un angle de seuil prédéterminé, la largeur des oscillations que la tige de raccordement (7) peut faire autour du troisième axe de référence (B) correspondant, et/ou afin d'amortir/ralentir de manière continue le mouvement oscillant de la tige de raccordement (7) autour du troisième axe de référence (B) correspondant.

5. Manège selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de imitation d'oscillations (18) comprennent un amortisseur hydraulique à double effet (19) qui est fixé sur le bras de support (4) afin d'avoir son arbre mobile (19a) localement sensiblement parallèle à l'axe longitudinal de bras (L) ; et une entretoise de réaction (20) qui peut raccorder mécaniquement la tige de raccordement (7) à l'amortisseur hydraulique (19) afin de transmettre le mouvement oscillant de la tige de raccordement (7) à l'arbre mobile (19a) de l'amortisseur hydraulique (19).

6. Manège selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de limitation d'oscillations (18) comprennent deux butées d'arrêt réalisées avec un matériau élastiquement déformable, qui sont fixées/positionnées sur le bras de support (4), sur les côtés opposés de la tige de raccordement (7) sur le plan d'oscillation de la tige, afin d'empêcher l'angle d'inclinaison de la tige de raccordement (7) de dépasser une valeur de seuil prédéterminée.

7. Manège selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de soulèvement impulsif (9) est placé sur le châssis de support rigide (2), à côté du moyeu central (3), et est structuré pour pousser temporairement vers le haut le bras de support (4) qui, tout en tournant autour dudit premier axe de référence (R), est momentanément aligné au-dessus du même mécanisme de soulèvement impulsif (9).

8. Manège selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chaque ensemble de support élastique (5) comprend :

- une console de support oscillante (11) qui fait saillie du moyeu central (3) immédiatement au-dessous du bras de support (4) correspondant, est orientée afin d'être localement sensiblement coplanaire par rapport au bras de support (4), et est finalement articulée par rapport au moyeu central (3) afin de tourner autour d'un quatrième axe de référence (C) correspondant, localement sensiblement parallèle au deuxième axe de référence (A) dudit bras de support (4), afin d'osciller librement sur le même plan d'oscillation du bras de support (4) ;

- une butée d'arrêt (12) positionnée sur la console de support (11) et/ou sur le moyeu central (3) afin d'empêcher la console de support (11) d'être abaissée au-dessous d'une position de repos sensiblement horizontale ; et

- un élément de suspension élastique (13) qui est intercalé de manière stable entre la console de support (11) et le bras de support (4) immédiatement surjacent, et structuré/dimensionné afin de maintenir, de manière flottante, ledit bras de support (4) dans sa position de repos sensiblement horizontale lorsque la console de support (11) correspondante est, à son tour, agencée dans la position de repos sensiblement horizontale relative.

9. Manège selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de soulèvement impulsif (9) comprend un certain nombre de roues de guidage (15), chacune fixées d'une manière librement rotative au-dessous d'une console de support (11) correspondante ; et une rampe ou tremplin de lancement (16) qui est agencé (e) sur le sommet du châssis de support rigide (2), à côté du moyeu central (3), afin de couper la trajectoire circulaire suivie par les différentes roues de guidage (15), et est dimensionnée/structurée afin de forcer la roue de guidage (15) à traverser la rampe ou tremplin de lancement (16) tout en tournant autour dudit premier axe de référence (R), pour pousser temporairement et subitement vers le haut la console de support (11) correspondante.

Drawing