Many passenger lifts designed to carry people are primarily used by skiers and are in use for a short period of the year only. Since many very charming mountain resorts have their tourist season only during the winter months and since the local lifts and inns are only in full use during this short period of the year, they tend not to be especially profitable.
Playgrounds have common children's slides which are used almost all year long. However, such slides are mounted on a structure which limits the total length of the slide.
The present invention is designed to increase the economy of passenger lifts, e.g., ski lifts. This may be done by building a long mountain slide at a ski slope, which slide consists of several straight and curved segments joined together and descending the entire mountain. The possibility of a unique downhill ride on the new slide will, of course, attract people to use the "ski" lift during the summer or non-snowy seasons.
In accordance with the invention, a simple and suitable support for the mountain slide, and an appropriate mat to sit on while sliding down an extended distance, as well as device to return the mat to the top of the mountain all have been provided as part of the new recreational facility.
The new slide is erected at the slope and may be as the particular incline permits, e.g., a slide may be 1,000 meters long. The slide may be in operation during the entire year, and, therefore, it adds to the year-round operation of any lift and its economy.
The partly straight and partly curved segments of the new slide may be arranged in serpentines, whereby the segments with narrow curves have higher edges. An appropriate material for construction of the slide segments is asbestos concrete. This material is inexpensive, durable in bad weather, shock-resistant, and it has good gliding characteristics after treatment with wax or a similar material. Preferably, each segment has at its upper part an overlap reaching under the next segment going uphill. In case of settling of one segment or its footing, no step will be formed against which a passenger might slide, although a small drop may be created.
The sliding surface of the segments is hollowed out or dished and is bordered lengthwise by open bottom flanges arching upwards and with their bottom edges extending outwardly away from the sliding surface. This design makes the segments so solid that no longitudinal supports are required. Furthermore, the hollowed out sliding surface permits a pleasant and comfortable ride down the new slide.
The footings for the new slide normally consist of ties which rest on bars or stakes driven into or otherwise anchored to the ground. If the ground conditions permit, it is also possible to attach the ties to posts. Alternatively, the posts may be driven into the ground for use as footings. This is recommended when the slide travels over a depression in the terrain. When erecting a slide or part of it on a rocky surface, the footings may be in the form of concrete foundations.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the slide segments are attached to the footings by adjustable supports in order to compensate for any difference in height of the footings. Preferably, the segments rest with their arched edges on adjustable struts having rounded upper portions. Short pieces of pipe with a diameter approximately equal to that of the radius of the arched slide segment edges are suited for the support of the arched edges of the slide segments. The bearing surface of the slide will then be sufficiently supported to avoid any breaking of the asbestos concrete slabs. The struts are arranged on the footings in such a fashion that they swivel in all directions in order to fit any position, i.e., they are "universal", thus compensating for deviations in nominal height and lateral positioning of the footings.
In order to avoid undue movements in a completed slide and to secure slide segments against lifting off their anchorages, the strut supports may be specially connected with the flanges of the slide segments in accordance with another characteristic of the invention. This special support may be achieved by directing each strut through an opening in a butt strap fastened onto the slide flange, the apertured leg of the butt strap being positioned directly beneath the rounded supporting piece. The aperture diameter of the strap is larger than the strut diameter in order to allow for a limited movement of the slide in relation to the footing. With the butt strap arranged underneath the footing, the slide cannot lift off the strut, and, consequently, it cannot lift off the footing.
In accordance with a more specific detail of the invention, each strut is in the form of a threaded rod and the lower end (opposite the rounded upper supporting piece) thereof is threaded into a base tube provided with a mating thread. By selective rotation of the base tube, the total length of the strut may be changed to compensate for inaccuracies, deviations in height, etc. The base tube extends through an opening into a yoke-like fixture attached to the footing, and a lock inside the yoke prevents lifting off, e.g., a retaining ring may be arranged in a ring groove in the base tube for this purpose. The base tube has, at the end opposite the thread (its lower end), a convex bearing surface which always nests solidly on the footing if the strut orientation should vary slightly.
In accordance with the invention, in order to prevent the adjustable struts from improperly tilting sideways or downhill, the upper part of each strut may be connected by a stay or bracing with an adjacent footing or with the other end of the footing on which it rests. The stay or bracing is adjustable for precise alignment and orientation of each strut.
According to another characteristic of the invention, there are new and improved sleds for sliding down the new slide. These sleds may consist simply of mats with handles on each side. The handles may be simply leather straps suitably attached to the mats with tubular rivets, screws, or the like. As will be understood, the mats protect the clothing of passengers and, furthermore, prevent the marring of the slides which may be caused by shoes, particularly by heels. For the securing of feet and the eliminating of soiling of the slide, the mats may have foothold devices, such as pockets attached to the mats. By attaching ropes to the mats near the foothold devices, a passenger who has fallen backwards may readily straighten up by using the ropes.
Furthermore, the mats may be equipped with a brake shoe located at a central rear portion. In order to slow the sled down, the brakes may be pressed down. Specifically, the mats may have an indentation to which the brake shoe is attached. If a passenger leans back while sliding, it is inevitable that the weight of the body will push down on the brake shoe, thus establishing braking contact with the slide and reducing the speed of the sled automatically.
For comparatively short slides, the mat, as described previously will suffice. These mats are not especially suitable for long slides with curves, where downhill sled speed has to be substantially reduced in the curves in order to meet safety requirements. Furthermore, the conditions of long slides are more likely to be affected by the weather, e.g., sections exposed to the sun have different friction properties than those in the shade. Recommended for such cases are sleds having their brake shoes attached to one end of a swiveling lever, the other end of which forms a handle. The brake may be activated at will to effect the amount of deceleration required.
The sled may comprise a frame provided on the bottom with glide linings, which frame forms a seat and accommodates the brake lever. The brake lever is mounted along the longitudinal axis of the sled and, therefore, in longitudinal direction of the frame with its handle end extending beyond the frame. The brake lever is pivoted on the frame between its handle end and brake shoe end.
The rear end (in the downhill or sliding direction) of the brake handle has a plate accommodating an interchangeable brake pad, preferably consisting of rubber. In order to improve braking properties, the bottom of the brake pad includes indentations comparable to the treads of car tires. The front (in sliding direction) of the brake plate is generally pointed, is downwardly bent, and is downwardly biased by a spring supported by the brake handle. The bent tip of the brake plate engages the slide surface, regardless of the angle of inclination of the brake handle due to the spring pressure, and deflects dirt and moisture, so that the effectiveness of the brake shoe is not reduced.
The top of the sled frame is equipped with a seat covered by a mat of felt or similar material, preferably extending over the frame in both longitudinal directions of the sled. The bottom of the frame is equipped with glide linings. These may consist of interchangeable plastic plates with plastic needles or bristles at the bottom. Plastic skids may also be utilized to advantage.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and a better appreciation of its attendant advantages, reference should be made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.