US3896738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Staging and loading device for chair lifts
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-04-03
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1994-04-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for loading skiers from the front of the line onto a ski tow preferably of the cable chair lift type. The loading apparatus is a carousel type consisting of a central post from which one or more arms radiate outwardly and rotate about a vertical axis off-set from the up-hill run of the chair lift tow. The arms rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and a mechanism is provided such that the arms momentarily stop at each of the skier loading pick-up position and skier drop-off position, the latter position locating one or more skiers in line with a chair of the chair lift as the chair approaches from behind. The arms are driven to rotate in synchronism with the spacing of the chairs on the ski tow cable either by a direct drive from the mechanism driving the ski tow cable or alternatively an individual drive controlled to rotate the arms in unison with movement of the chairs on the ski tow. A gate is also provided permitting orderly entry of one, two or more skiers, depending upon the number of skiers, to be seated on each chair from a line-up position to the pick-up position of the carousel. The gate may be electrically or otherwise controlled to synchronize with rotational movement of the arms.
Inventors
- 👤 David J Dubeta
- 👤 Robert J Papirnyk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:38
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B12/00; B61B12/02; B61B12/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A ski tow system including a. a ski tow for moving skiers in sequence up-hill from one position to another by members spaced from one another and movable in sequence along a selected path; and b. transport means for positively moving the skiers in sequence from the leading end of a line of skiers located at a predetermined pick-up position to a tow line loading zone, said transport means comprising a central support having at least one arm radiating horizontally outwardly and rotatable about a vertical axis horizontally offset from said predetermined path and positioned to intersect such path in a tow line loading zone, drive means for rotating said arm about said vertical axis, and means momentarily interrupting movement of said arms at each of said skier pick-up position and tow line loading zone During each revolution of the arm about said vertical axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A ski tow system including a. a ski tow for moving skiers in sequence up-hill from one position to another by members spaced from one another and movable in sequence along a selected path; and b. transport means for positively moving the skiers in sequence from the leading end of a line of skiers located at a predetermined pick-up position to a tow line loading zone, said transport means comprising a central support having at least one arm radiating horizontally outwardly and rotatable about a vertical axis horizontally offset from said predetermined path and positioned to intersect such path in a tow line loading zone, drive means for rotating said arm about said vertical axis, and means momentarily interrupting movement of said arms at each of said skier pick-up position and tow line loading zone During each revolution of the arm about said vertical axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ski tow system as defined in claim 1 including means synchronizing rotation of said arms about said vertical axis with movement of the ski tow members along said predetermined path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A ski tow system as defined in claim 1 including means retracting the radial extent of each arm to bypass skiers at and approaching the leading end of the line of skiers, and means extending the radial extent of the arm immediately in front of the skiers at the leading end of said line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for moving skiers in sequence from the front of a line from a first pick-up position to a second tow line loading position comprising: a. a central support; b. at least one arm radiating horizontally outwardly from said central support and rotatable about a vertical axis to intersect the path of travel of a tow line; c. drive means for rotating said arm about said vertical axis; d. means interrupting movement of said arm in timed relation to rotation of the same during each revolution thereof about said vertical axis at each of said first and second positions to facilitate respective engagement and disengagement of the same by skiers at said first and second positions; and e. means varying the radial extent of each arm at preselected positions during each revolution thereof about said vertical axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for moving skiers in sequence from the front of a line from a first pick-up position to a second tow line loading position comprising: a. a central support; b. at least one arm radiating horizontally outwardly from said central support and rotatable about a vertical axis to intersect the path of travel of a tow line; c. drive means for rotating said arm about said vertical axis; d. means interrupting movement of said arm in timed relation to rotation of the same during each revolution thereof about said vertical axis at each of said first and second positions to facilitate respective engagement and disengagement of the same by skiers at said first and second positions; and e. means varying the radial extent of each arm at preselected positions during each revolution thereof about said vertical axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including means pivotally mounting said central support on a base for rotation about a vertical axis and wherein said arm is secured to said central support for rotation therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including means pivotally mounting said arms on said central support for movement through a selected arc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said arm is an articulated member having an outer end portion movable to vary the radial extent the free end of the arm projects from the central support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
In combination with a ski tow having members spaced apart from one another and movable in sequence along a predetermined path for moving skiers in sequence up a hill from a tow loading zone and transport means adapted to move skiers in an upright skiing position in sequence from the front of a line-up of skiers awaiting the ski tow to the ski tow loading zone in said predetermined path, said transport means comprising one or more horizontally extending arms rotatable about a vertical axis horizontally offset from said predetermined path, said arms having free outer end portions passing through said ski tow loading zone during rotation thereof about said vertical axis, means retracting the radial extent of each arm to bypass skiers at and adjacent the leading end of the skiers, means extending the radial extent of the arm immediately in front of the skiers at the leading end of said line of skiers, and drive means for rotating said arms about said vertical axis for movement in the loading zone in a direction corresponding to the direction of travel of the ski tow members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
In combination with a ski tow having members spaced apart from one another and movable in sequence along a predetermined path for moving skiers in sequence up a hill from a tow loading zone and transport means adapted to move skiers in an upright skiing position in sequence from the front of a line-up of skiers awaiting the ski tow to the ski tow loading zone in said predetermined path, said transport means comprising one or more horizontally extending arms rotatable about a vertical axis horizontally offset from said predetermined path, said arms having free outer end portions passing through said ski tow loading zone during rotation thereof about said vertical axis, means retracting the radial extent of each arm to bypass skiers at and adjacent the leading end of the skiers, means extending the radial extent of the arm immediately in front of the skiers at the leading end of said line of skiers, and drive means for rotating said arms about said vertical axis for movement in the loading zone in a direction corresponding to the direction of travel of the ski tow members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said arms are rotated about said vertical axis in timed relation to movement of the members on the ski tow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as defined in claim 8 including means temporarily interrupting movement of said arms at each of the skier pick-up position and tow line loading zone during each revolution of such arm about said vertical axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as defined in claim 8 including a ski guide for each skier extending from adjacent the skier pick-up position to adjacent the ski tow loading zone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of loading skiers on a ski tow having members spaced from one another and moving in sequence along a predetermined path passing through a ski tow loading zone comprising rotating an arm about a vertical axis horizontally offset from said loading zone and positioned such that a free end portion of the arm moves through the loading zone during rotatioN of the arm, reducing the radial extent of said arm from said vertical axis at a predetermined position of the rotation and thereafter extending said arm across in front of the leading end of a line of skiers at a second predetermined position spaced from said loading zone, one or more skiers grasping said extended arm and being moved thereby in an arcuate path from said second position to said loading zone and rotating said arm in timed relation to movement of said ski tow members, the direction of travel of the skier in the arcuate path adjacent the loading zone being in the same direction of travel as the members on the ski tow.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of loading skiers on a ski tow having members spaced from one another and moving in sequence along a predetermined path passing through a ski tow loading zone comprising rotating an arm about a vertical axis horizontally offset from said loading zone and positioned such that a free end portion of the arm moves through the loading zone during rotatioN of the arm, reducing the radial extent of said arm from said vertical axis at a predetermined position of the rotation and thereafter extending said arm across in front of the leading end of a line of skiers at a second predetermined position spaced from said loading zone, one or more skiers grasping said extended arm and being moved thereby in an arcuate path from said second position to said loading zone and rotating said arm in timed relation to movement of said ski tow members, the direction of travel of the skier in the arcuate path adjacent the loading zone being in the same direction of travel as the members on the ski tow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |