New Disney patent for roller coasters to jump through the air before landing back on the track

Disney recently filed a patent that would make it possible for roller coasters to JUMP through the air before landing back on the track. I didn’t even know this was possible!

Editor’s Note: KtP Writer Maggie is a full time paralegal for a patent law firm. She found the original filed patent for use in this article. Similar technology is used in other theme parks. It gives the illusion of “jumping” which I should have been more clear about when writing this article.

Patents

It appears Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) is hard at work lately creating new technologies. Just yesterday, we shared a new boat technology that is much different from the current boat rides we experience in the parks today.

Disney was granted a patent for a boat motion simulator or system configured specially to impart boat-type motions (e.g., roll, sway, heave, pitch, surge, and yaw) to a passenger boat. This would create a much more authentic water experience that more closely mimics real life.

Now, Disney came up with a design that would allow a roller coaster to JUMP THROUGH THE AIR before landing back on the tracks.

Patent Description

The patent description reads:

A park ride for use in theme parks, amusement parks, and other settings. The new ride includes a track defining a ride path for a passenger vehicle (or multiple vehicles that may be linked in a train). The vehicle is configured, such as with a bogie assembly with two to four or more wheels, to roll upon and engage the track.

The ride includes a drop swing propulsion system that is adapted to drop a section of track upon which the passenger vehicle is supported from a first elevation to a second elevation that is lower than the first elevation. The dropping motion involves swinging the track with a linkage assembly, which with other components of the system may form a four-bar linkage, so as to impart a propelling force on the vehicle to move it along an exit track section provided at the second, lower elevation.

The ride includes a drop swing propulsion system that is adapted to drop a section of track upon which the passenger vehicle is supported from a first elevation to a second elevation that is lower than the first elevation

Other Details

Imagineers filed the patent in May of 2021, and the publication date reads for yesterday, November 17, 2022. Of course, the patent only guarantees they hold the technology. This does not mean Disney Imagineers will create an attraction with the patented technology.

What do you think about this new technology? Are you excited about the possible attractions? What else would you like to see? Follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: uspto.gov