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US5192247A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ride attraction

Assignee: Universal City Development Partners Ltd
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Filing: 1992-05-28
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Granted: 1993-03-09
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Expires: 2012-05-28
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Abstract

Abstract A ride attraction has a stationary domed projection screen and a stationary projector, a plurality of motion bases with each supporting a viewer platform or vehicle. An elevator is provided for lifting the vehicle out of a staging room to a viewing position. The motion bases are mutually arranged with respect to each other such that a passenger in any vehicle can view substantially the entire screen but not any other vehicle within the theatre. Actuators beneath each vehicle move the vehicle in three dimensions in coordination with the projected motion picture.

Inventors

  • 👤 Craig K. Barr
  • 👤 Peter N. Alexander

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 15:52
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63J; A63J25/00; A63G; A63G31/00; A63G31/16; G; G09; G09B; G09B9/00; G09B9/02; G09B9/08; G09B9/30; A63J5/00; A63J2005/001; A63J2005/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 91 words
A ride attraction comprising: a projection screen; a stationary projector for projecting motion pictures on said screen; a plurality of motion bases, each motion base supporting a viewer platform; means for elevating each motion viewer vehicle out of a staging room to a viewing position, said motion bases mutually arranged with respect to each other such that a viewer on any motion base can view the screen but not any other viewer platform; and means for moving each viewer vehicle on its respective motion base in coordination with the motion pictures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 91 words
A ride attraction comprising: a projection screen; a stationary projector for projecting motion pictures on said screen; a plurality of motion bases, each motion base supporting a viewer platform; means for elevating each motion viewer vehicle out of a staging room to a viewing position, said motion bases mutually arranged with respect to each other such that a viewer on any motion base can view the screen but not any other viewer platform; and means for moving each viewer vehicle on its respective motion base in coordination with the motion pictures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The ride attraction of claim 1 wherein said plurality of motion bases are disposed on three tiers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The ride attraction of claim 2 wherein three motion bases are disposed on a first tier, five motion bases are disposed on a second tier and four motion bases are disposed on a third tier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The ride attraction of claim 3, wherein said first tier is nearest to and said third tier furthest from, said screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The ride attraction of claim 1 wherein each viewer entry room shares at least one interior wall with another viewer entry room.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The ride attraction of claim 4 wherein said motion bases are symmetrically disposed on either side of said projector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The ride attraction of claim 1 further comprising a waiting room disposed adjacent to each staging room.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 162 words
A ride attraction comprising a plurality of ride units arranged on at least two tiers within a ride attraction structure; a domed viewing screen; a stationary projector; each ride unit comprising a staging room having an entrance, floor, walls, and an at least partially openable ceiling, a pit disposed underneath the floor, a lift disposed in the pit and joined to a motion base supporting a vehicle, said lift actuatable to elevate the motion base from a loading position wherein the vehicle is substantially aligned with the floor, to a viewing position wherein said vehicle is disposed above and outside of said staging room, said motion base having means for moving the vehicle in coordination with motion pictures projected on the screen; said ride units arranged within said structure such that with the vehicles in their viewing positions, substantially the entire screen is within a line of sight of each vehicle and no vehicle is within a line-of-sight of any other vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 162 words
A ride attraction comprising a plurality of ride units arranged on at least two tiers within a ride attraction structure; a domed viewing screen; a stationary projector; each ride unit comprising a staging room having an entrance, floor, walls, and an at least partially openable ceiling, a pit disposed underneath the floor, a lift disposed in the pit and joined to a motion base supporting a vehicle, said lift actuatable to elevate the motion base from a loading position wherein the vehicle is substantially aligned with the floor, to a viewing position wherein said vehicle is disposed above and outside of said staging room, said motion base having means for moving the vehicle in coordination with motion pictures projected on the screen; said ride units arranged within said structure such that with the vehicles in their viewing positions, substantially the entire screen is within a line of sight of each vehicle and no vehicle is within a line-of-sight of any other vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The ride attraction of claim 8 further comprising a frame showing three spaced apart jacking points attached beneath said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 110 words
The ride attraction of claim 8 wherein said means for moving comprises a controller electrically linked to said projector and to first, second, third and fourth actuator drives, said first, second and third actuator drivers driving first, second and third linear elevational actuators attached to a frame supporting said vehicle in a triangular pattern thereon, for producing pitch and roll movement of said vehicle, said fourth actuator driver driving a fourth rotational actuator for producing yaw movement of said vehicle, said controller simultaneously controller said actuator drivers such that said vehicle is rotationally moved in three axes in synchronicity with the relative camera movement used to produce the motion picture.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 80 words
A method for operating a ride attraction comprising the steps of: seating viewers in a plurality of vehicles on ride units arranged such that no viewer can see any other ride unit; projecting a motion picture onto a screen facing said ride units; moving the vehicles in coordination with the projected motion picture such that a viewer's perception of pitch, roll and yaw movement of the motion picture is substantially matched by pitch, roll and yaw movement of said vehicle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 80 words
A method for operating a ride attraction comprising the steps of: seating viewers in a plurality of vehicles on ride units arranged such that no viewer can see any other ride unit; projecting a motion picture onto a screen facing said ride units; moving the vehicles in coordination with the projected motion picture such that a viewer's perception of pitch, roll and yaw movement of the motion picture is substantially matched by pitch, roll and yaw movement of said vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of releasing a vapor in between the viewers and the screen.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3469837A Cited
US4066256A Cited
US4251140A Cited
WO1983002028A1 Cited
US4642945A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-03-08 1996-09-07 1997-03-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-03-08 2000-09-07 2001-03-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-03-08 2004-09-07 2005-03-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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