Zip track and system

Abstract

A zip track system that is integrally connected to a challenge course so that a user can traverse one portion of the challenge course, and then can slide down the zip track system via a zip track to any other desired location.

Claims

1. A track system for a challenge course comprising: a puck track having a puck support surface, wherein a puck track opening extends through the puck support surface; a zip track having a rotating member support surface which extends between a first end of the zip track and a second end of the zip track, wherein the first end of the zip track is positioned higher than the second end of the zip track; and a moveable body comprising a puck and a rotating member, wherein the moveable body is displaceable along the puck track and the zip track, with the puck being disposed above the puck support surface when the moveable body is displaced along the puck track, and the rotating member being disposed above the rotating member support surface when the moveable body is displaced along the zip track; wherein the puck track overlaps with the zip track through at least a portion of the zip track, such that the puck is disposed above the puck support surface and the rotating member is disposed above the rotating member support surface when the moveable body is moved onto the first end of the zip track.

2. The track system of claim 1, wherein the puck track traverses at least a portion of the challenge course.

3. The track system of claim 1, wherein the zip track descends between a platform of the challenge course at the first end to another structure at the second end.

4. The track system of claim 3, wherein the structure at the second end is another platform of the challenge course or another challenge course.

5. The track system of claim 1, wherein the puck track overlaps with the zip track entirely between the first end of the zip track and the second end of the zip track.

6. The track system of claim 5, wherein the puck contacts the puck support surface through at least a portion of the puck track when the moveable body is moved between the first end of the zip track and the second end of the zip track.

7. The track system of claim 6, wherein the puck continuously contacts the puck support surface when the moveable body is moved between the first end of the zip track and the second end of the zip track.

8. The track system of claim 1, wherein the moveable body extends downwardly through the puck track opening from the puck, when the moveable body is disposed along the puck track, to attach to a lanyard connected to a safety harness worn by a user.

9. The track system of claim 1, wherein the rotating member support surface has a zip track opening which extends through the rotating member support surface.

10. The track system of claim 9, wherein the moveable body extends downwardly through the zip track opening, when the moveable body is disposed along the zip track, to attach to a lanyard connected to a safety harness worn by a user.

11. The track system of claim 9, wherein the moveable body comprises a first rotating member and a second rotating member arranged on opposing sides of the moveable body, with the first rotating member and the second rotating member being disposed above the rotating member support surface on opposite sides of the zip track opening when the moveable body is displaced along the zip track.

12. The track system of claim 9, wherein the puck track opening and the zip track opening are vertically aligned.

13. The track system of claim 1, wherein the puck is lifted off the puck support surface when the rotating member is moved onto the rotating member support surface at the first end of the zip track.

14. The track system of claim 1, wherein the puck support surface is positioned higher than the rotating member support surface at the first end of the zip track.

15. The track system of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is arranged on the moveable body downwardly from the puck.

16. The track system of claim 1, wherein the rotating member comprises at least one wheel.

17. The track system of claim 1, further comprising a second puck track arranged at the second end of the zip track, wherein the puck is disposed above a puck support surface of the second puck track when the moveable body is being moved out of the second end of the zip track.

18. The track system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the puck track is integrally connected to the zip track.

19. The track system of claim 1, wherein the zip track comprises a non-linear slope between the first end and the second end.

20. The track system of claim 1, further comprising a braking means to slow the moveable body when the moveable body is displaced along the zip track.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention of three challenge courses or towers connected with zip tracks;

(2) FIG. 2 is a pictorial side view of one embodiment of the present invention of the zip track connected to towers or portions of a challenge course;

(3) FIG. 3 is a pictorial side view of one embodiment of the present invention of the zip track connected to towers or portions of a challenge course;

(4) FIG. 4 is a pictorial side view of one embodiment of the present invention of the zip track connected to towers or portions of a challenge course;

(5) FIG. 4B is a pictorial cross sectional view of a portion of the zip track of FIG. 4;

(6) FIG. 5 is a pictorial side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a pictorial top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a zip track connected to a challenge course, and as part of the element use of the challenge course;

(9) FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a cross section of the puck track;

(10) FIG. 9 is a pictorial cross sectional view of line A-A of FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of a zip track of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a pictorial sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is a pictorial sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention showing an embodiment of a braking means according to the present invention;

(14) FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of an entrance zone of the present invention;

(15) FIG. 14 is another pictorial view of the entrance zone of the present invention;

(16) FIG. 15 is an internal pictorial top view of the entrance zone of the present invention;

(17) FIG. 16 is a pictorial sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention with the magnets in the wheel support;

(18) FIG. 17 is a pictorial view of a side view from FIG. 16;

(19) FIG. 18 is a pictorial sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention with the magnets below the wheel support; and

(20) FIG. 19 is a pictorial view of a side view from FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(21) The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

(22) Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words. Also, “connected to,” “secured to,” or similar language includes the definitions “indirectly connected to,” “directly connected to,” “indirectly secured to,” and “directly secured to.”

(23) FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention 10. FIG. 1 illustrates three different challenge courses 160 having a zip track 20 connected to each of the challenge courses 160. Alternatively, any end of a zip track may be connected to a tower. A tower or challenge course 160 may be referred to herein as a structure 165.

(24) FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment having a zip track 20 connected to a platform 170 of the challenge course 160. The zip track 20 can be configured so that it has a lower end 190 connected to one challenge course 160 or platform 170, and a higher end 200 connected to another challenge course 160 or another platform 170, which allows gravity to be the impetus or force to assist in moving the user from the higher end 200 to the lower end 190.

(25) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the zip track 20 may have a support means 180 to help support the zip track 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the support means 180 may be a support beam 210. Or as illustrated in FIG. 3, the support means 180 may be a trestle 220. As further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are two zip tracks 20 connected to two challenge courses 160, one zip track 20 is descending from left to right, and the other is ascending from left to right. There can of course be more than two zip tracks 20 going from one challenge course 160 or platform 170 to another challenge course 160 or another platform 170.

(26) FIG. 4 illustrates a zip track 20 extending from one challenge course 160 to another challenge course 160 wherein the support means 180 is a truss 230. The truss 230 may have two beams disposed above the zip track 20 connected to the zip track 20.

(27) Support means 180 are not always necessary, but may be when the span of the zip track 20 is greater than a predetermined distance.

(28) FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention 10 whereby the zip track 20 is not linear, but has a downward or upward curved portion 240. There may be more than one downward or upward curved portion 240. Here, the zip track 20 may have a non-linear slope.

(29) FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention 10 wherein the zip track 20 may have a leftward or rightward curved portion 250. In this embodiment, the zip track 20 curves at least one of either leftwardly or rightwardly.

(30) FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment whereby the zip track 20 has a higher end 200 and a lower end 190 on the same challenge course 160. The user may stand on a platform 170 before descending or after descending. In a further embodiment the zip track 20 may allow one to descend to exit the challenge course 160. In one embodiment the zip track 20 may be above an element of the challenge course 160.

(31) FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a body 100 that may have a body member 280 that can extend from a fastener 120 downwardly to a lanyard 290 connected to a safety harness 295 worn by a user (see FIGS. 10 and 18). A puck 270 may be secured to the body 100 so that the puck 270 can slide within a puck track 260. The puck track 260 may have a puck-track opening 300. The body 100 may extend downwardly from the fastener 120 through the puck-track opening 300. The puck track 260 may be used within the challenge course 160 when the zip track 20 is not used as a means to move about the challenge course 160.

(32) A rotating member 90 may be rotatably secured to the body 100 downwardly from the puck 270. There may be two rotating members 90 rotatably secured to the body 100 via an axle 310. The rotating member 90 may be secured to the axle 310, and the axle may be rotatably secured to the body 100. Alternatively, the rotating member 90 may be rotatably secured to the axle 310, and the axle 310 may be rotatably or non-rotatably secured to the body 100.

(33) As illustrated in FIG. 9, the zip track 20 may have a puck track 260 secured upwardly from a wheel support 40 so that the rotating member 90 can roll on the wheel support 40 to eliminate any downward force on the puck 270. The body 100 may extend through a zip track opening 130 which extends through the wheel support 40. This configuration of the zip track 20 can allow the body 100 to move from the puck track 260 to the zip track 20.

(34) FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the zip track 20 showing the body 100, the rotating member 90 and puck 270.

(35) FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the zip track 20 where the body 100 may be rolling along the rotating member 90 contacting the wheel support 40.

(36) FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the zip track 20 where the vertical distance 320 may be greater than a predetermined distance so that the puck 270 is in contact with a puck support 330, and the rotating member 90 is not in contact with the wheel support 40. This configuration allows the body 100 to slow down due to the friction between the puck 270 and the puck support 330. The zip track 20 may be connected to a frame 110. This is one example of the braking means 420 that may be utilized.

(37) FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of an exchange 340 of the present invention 10. The exchange 340 may have an entrance zone 350 where the body 100 may enter the challenge course 160 or zip track 20.

(38) As illustrated in FIG. 15, the body 100 may follow a path 380 away from the entrance zone 350 to an intersection 400. The intersection 400 may be a Y-shaped intersection that allows the user to continue to the challenge course 160, or the user can exit by taking the exit path 410, through a one way gate or back stop 360. The backstop 360 may be secured to the exchange 340 at a fixed side 390, and may bias to allow the body 100 to move through the path 380 in one direction, but not the opposite direction. To exit the exchange 340, the user would have to move the body 100 in the direction of the exit path 410, also having a one way gate 360.

(39) FIGS. 16 and 18 illustrate embodiments of another braking means 420 that may be used in the zip track 20. In these embodiments, the zip track 20 may have a magnet 430 or a plurality of magnets 430 whereby when the body 100 is moving along the zip track 20, an eddy current is created to slow down the body 100, or to prevent the body 100 from obtaining an undesirable speed. In one embodiment the magnet 430 may be disposed within the wheel support 40 (see FIGS. 16 and 17). In another embodiment, the magnet 430 may be disposed below the wheel support 40 (see FIGS. 18 and 19). FIG. 16 also illustrates another embodiment of the puck track 260.

(40) FIG. 17 illustrates the side view of FIG. 16. FIG. 17 also illustrates one version of the puck 270 where the side profile may have a circular shaped surface 440.

(41) The zip track system 10 may have a zip track 20 upon which the body 100 may be movably displaced as the rotating member 90 of the member 100 may move, become displaced, or roll relative to the zip track 20. The zip track 20 may be shaped to accommodate the shape of a rotating member 90. For example, the zip track 20 may have a wheel support 40 that allows the rotating member 90 to roll upon the wheel support 40 that may be disposed within the zip track 20.

(42) The zip track 20 being secured to a frame 110 via one or more fasteners 125 (see FIGS. 9 and 11). In one embodiment the wheel support 40 may be secured to a plate 50.

(43) The body 100 extending downwardly through the puck track opening 300, and downwardly through the zip track opening 130 (see FIG. 9).

(44) Another embodiment includes a wheel support 40 without a rotating member 90 that still allows the member 100 to move, become displaced, or slide within the zip track 20 (not shown).

(45) In one embodiment there are two rotating members 90 having a center to center distance substantially the same as the wheel support center to center distance (not shown).

(46) The zip track 20 may be oriented with one end higher than the other, so that the user can slide down from the higher end 200 to the lower end 190, and then while traversing the other portions 80 of the challenge course 160, the member 100 moves with the challenge course track (see FIG. 7).

(47) In another embodiment, the present invention 10 may have telescoping zip tracks 20 (not illustrated), which can extend outwardly for a longer zip track, or may retract inwardly for a shorter track.

(48) It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.