US3707781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for simulating roadway driving conditions
Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-22
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1991-11-22
Abstract
Abstract There is provided apparatus enabling an externally positioned operator to peer forwardly into an upright hollow housing containing therewithin and forwardly of a light-transmissive mirror a simulated roadway including a plurality of miniature intra-lanes road-vehicles arranged columnarly and seemingly traveling along transversely distinct respective roadway lanes, a transversely movably controllable miniature free-vehicle realistically optically superimposed upon the simulated roadway by the intervening light-transmissive mirror, the apparatus operator being able to remotely control the free-vehicle''s seeming transverse position and longitudinal velocity with respect to the simulated roadway, and automatic transverse motivation means for abruptly translating the free-vehicle transversely with respect to the simulated roadway when a seeming collision occurs between it and a road-vehicle. Preferred optical characteristics for imparting realism to the apparatus include: a hollow housing that is substantially opaque (with the exception of the operator''s viewing opening); novel lumination and fluorescent coloring for the roadway and the several miniature vehicles; and special techniques for imparting seeming relative longitudinal velocity to the several miniature vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 R Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:57
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B9/00; G09B9/02; G09B9/04; G09B9/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
Apparatus for simulating driving conditions of a selfpropelled surface vehicle traversible longitudinally and transversely along a public roadway including a plurality of parallel traffic lanes and columnar processions of road-vehicles therealong, said apparatus comprising: A. An upright hollow housing as a frame for the apparatus and including a rearward part with a light transmissive opening therethrough whereby an operator positioned immediately rearwardly of the housing at an operator''s station might have a view into the housing interior; B. A transversely broad mirror of the light transmissive type attached to the housing and located therewithin linearly forwardly of the housing rearward light transmissive opening, said mirror extending obliquely forwardly and upwardly so as to generally sub-divide the housing internal spatial volume into longitudinally consecutive portions including a rear-space and a larger front-space located on opposite sides of said mirror; C. A simulated roadway carrying at least two substantially parallel annular processions of miniature road-vehicles, the said respective annular processions being transversely distinct to simulate traffic lanes and being movable in endless annular fashion about at least one transversely extending datum located within the housing front-space whereby less than all of the annularly moving road-vehicles are seen as parallel columns by the apparatus operator when peering longitudinally forwardly through said mirror to the simulated roadway; D. Means accessible from the said rearwardly positioned operator''s station for varying the speed of the simulated roadway road-vehicles through a selectable range of velocities; E. A simulated free-vehicle located within the housing rearspace and optically superimposable by said mirror into the housing front-space and upon the road-vehicles; F. Steering means attached to the housing and extending rearwardly therefrom and accessible to manual control by the operator, said steering means being adapted to cause controllable transverse movements of the free-vehicle and its reflected image with respect to the road-vehicles; and G. Collision indication means located remote of said mirror to apprise the operator whenever the free-vehicle at its reflected image has become optically superimposed upon a road-vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
Apparatus for simulating driving conditions of a selfpropelled surface vehicle traversible longitudinally and transversely along a public roadway including a plurality of parallel traffic lanes and columnar processions of road-vehicles therealong, said apparatus comprising: A. An upright hollow housing as a frame for the apparatus and including a rearward part with a light transmissive opening therethrough whereby an operator positioned immediately rearwardly of the housing at an operator''s station might have a view into the housing interior; B. A transversely broad mirror of the light transmissive type attached to the housing and located therewithin linearly forwardly of the housing rearward light transmissive opening, said mirror extending obliquely forwardly and upwardly so as to generally sub-divide the housing internal spatial volume into longitudinally consecutive portions including a rear-space and a larger front-space located on opposite sides of said mirror; C. A simulated roadway carrying at least two substantially parallel annular processions of miniature road-vehicles, the said respective annular processions being transversely distinct to simulate traffic lanes and being movable in endless annular fashion about at least one transversely extending datum located within the housing front-space whereby less than all of the annularly moving road-vehicles are seen as parallel columns by the apparatus operator when peering longitudinally forwardly through said mirror to the simulated roadway; D. Means accessible from the said rearwardly positioned operator''s station for varying the speed of the simulated roadway road-vehicles through a selectable range of velocities; E. A simulated free-vehicle located within the housing rearspace and optically superimposable by said mirror into the housing front-space and upon the road-vehicles; F. Steering means attached to the housing and extending rearwardly therefrom and accessible to manual control by the operator, said steering means being adapted to cause controllable transverse movements of the free-vehicle and its reflected image with respect to the road-vehicles; and G. Collision indication means located remote of said mirror to apprise the operator whenever the free-vehicle at its reflected image has become optically superimposed upon a road-vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light transmissive mirror has a pair of substantially planar opposed surfaces including a forward surface and also a rearward surface nearer the operator; and wherein the plurality of parallel processions of road-vehicles are of longitudinally elongate annular configuration and appear as substantially linear columns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein there is a carriage extending rearwardly from and transversely co-responsive with the steered free-vehicle; and wherein the collision indication means includes a sensor means attached to the carriage and located within the housing front-space, said sensor means being substantially transversely aligned with the free-vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the collision indication means includes means for abruptly translating the free-vehicle whenever its front-space image has attained optical superimposition with a road-vehicle, said automatic abrupt translation means being initiatable through said sensor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the intra-annular road-vehicles are spaced at irregular intervals therealong; and wherein the automatic translation means will abruptly move the free-vehicle image transversely off a columnar roadway lane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for varying the speed of the road-vehicles is through a depressible foot-pedal that varies the speed smoothly continuously; wherein the free-vehicle is suspended from a rearward portion of the carriage; wherein the abrupt translation means is adapted to transversely eject the free-vehicle off the transverse confines of the simulated roadway; wherein there is a resiliently disengageable coupling between the steering means and the carriage to permit temporary automatic transverse translation of the free-vehicle; and wherein the sensor means is adapted to make electrically conductive contact with the individual road-vehicles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the collision indication means includes means for automatically abruptly translating the free-vehicle to simulate operator loss of control whenever the operator erroneously steers the free-vehicle such that its front-space image has become optically superimposed with a road-vehicle; and wherein the automatic abrupt translation means is initiatable through a sensor means located within the housing front-space at the simulated roadway and that is transversely co-movable with the free-vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plurality of parallel annular processions of road-vehicles are of longitudinally elongate configuration and each movable about a pair of longitudinally separated transverse-axles data; wherein the sensor means is adapted to make electrically conductive contact with individual road-vehicles; and wherein the speed control means for the road-vehicles comprises a depressible foot-pedal located rearwardly remote of the simulated roadway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upright hollow housing is substantially visually opaque; wherein the mirror has a visible light transmissivity within the range of 20 to 80 percent; wherein there is an ultraviolet light source within the housing rear-space, the free-vehicle being fluorescent to the ultra-violet spectrum; and wherein there is an ultraviolet light source within the housing front-space, the road-vehicles being fluorescent to the ultraviolet spectrum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the light transmissive mirror has a pair of substantially planar parallel opposed surfaces, the visible light transmissivity therethrough being within the range of 40 to 60 percent; wherein the simulated roadway with the exception of the road-vehicles is non-fluorescent to the ultraviolet spectrum; and wherein there is a roadside scenario located within the housing front-space and comprising a non-opaque tubular revolvable drum carrying therewithin a light source rich in the visible light spectrum, and means at the operator''s station for varying the angular velocity of said tubular drum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for varying the speed of the road-vehicles and the angular velocity of the scenario drum is through a common resiliently depressible foot-pedal located at the operator''s station, initial depressions thereof causing the road-vehicles to travel towards the operator''s station and further depressions thereof causing the road-vehicles to travel away from the operator''s station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |