Motion simulation amusement park attraction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10286329-B2
Application number	US-201715852727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Apr 25, 2017
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A motion simulator ride assembly includes a motion base and a rider support assembly positioned beneath and coupled to the motion base. The rider support assembly includes a plurality of rider support units, each rider support unit of the one or more rider support units having an inversion table having a surface that may abut a rider. The inversion table may rotate about an axis to transition between a loading configuration and a ride configuration and the ride configuration positions the rider in a substantially facedown position. Each rider support unit also includes a restraint system that may secure the rider onto the inversion table. The restraint system includes a first moveable restraint and a second moveable restraint that are each coupled to the inversion table and the first and second moveable restraints may move relative to the surface to move the first and second movable restraints from an unrestrained configuration to a restrained configuration. The motion simulator ride assembly also includes a display screen that may project a simulated environment. The display screen is positioned below the motion base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motion simulator ride assembly comprising:
a motion base; and
a rider support assembly positioned beneath and coupled to the motion base, wherein the rider support assembly comprises a plurality of rider support units, each rider support unit of the plurality of rider support units comprising:
an inversion table having a first surface configured to abut a rider, wherein the inversion table is configured to rotate about an axis to transition between a loading configuration and a ride configuration, wherein the ride configuration positions the rider in a substantially facedown position, and
a restraint system configured to secure the rider onto the inversion table, wherein the restraint system comprises a first moveable restraint and a second moveable restraint that are each coupled to the inversion table, and wherein the first and second moveable restraints are configured to move relative to the first surface to move the first and second movable restraints from an unrestrained configuration to a restrained configuration; and

a display screen configured to project a simulated environment, wherein the display screen is positioned below the motion base.

2. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first moveable restraint comprises a first end rotatably coupled to the inversion table and a second end removably coupled to the inversion table.

3. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , comprising a leg restraint having a fixed member, wherein the fixed member and the second moveable restraint are each coupled to the inversion table adjacent to a foot end of the inversion table, wherein the second moveable restraint is spaced apart from the fixed member and configured to move relative to the fixed member to transition the leg restraint from the restrained configuration to the unrestrained configuration.

4. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first moveable restraint comprises a fixed member extending from the first surface of the inversion table and a rotating member configured to move relative to the fixed member to transition the first moveable restraint from the restrained configuration to the unrestrained configuration, wherein the rotating member is positioned essentially orthogonal to the fixed member when in the restrained configuration.

5. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first moveable restraint comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a pair of handle bars extending away from the outer surface, and wherein the outer surface faces away from the rider when the rider is restrained within a rider support unit of the plurality of rider support units.

6. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , comprising a pair of handle bars extending from a second surface of the inversion table, wherein the second surface faces away from the first surface.

7. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein each rider support unit of the plurality of rider support units comprises a cross-frame coupled to the inversion table, and wherein the inversion table is configured to rotate within and relative to the cross-frame.

8. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 7 , wherein each rider support unit of the plurality of rider support units comprises one or more sensors disposed on the inversion table and communicatively coupled to a controller of the motion simulator ride assembly, wherein the one or more sensors provide an output to the controller, and wherein the provided output is configured to control rotation of the inversion table.

9. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inversion table is coupled to an extending arm of each rider support unit of the plurality of rider support units.

10. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display screen is coupled to the rider support assembly.

11. The motion simulator ride assembly of claim 1 , comprising a cable suspension rig coupled to the motion base and to a bogie configured to move the rider support assembly along a ride path.

12. A rider support assembly, comprising:
one or more rider support units, each rider support unit of the one or more rider support units comprising:
a moveable base having a first end, a second end, and a surface extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the moveable base is configured to support and position a rider substantially horizontally in a facedown position;
a restraint system comprising:
a torso restraint comprising a rotating restraint extending from the moveable base and configured to move relative to the surface from an unrestrained configuration to a restrained configuration;
a leg restraint positioned adjacent to the second end and comprising a fixed member and a moveable member spaced apart from the fixed member, wherein the moveable member is configured to move relative to the fixed member to move the leg restraint from an unrestrained configuration to a restrained configuration; and

a cross-frame coupled to the moveable base, wherein the moveable base is coupled to and configured to rotate within the cross-frame to move the moveable base from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

13. The rider support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the moveable member is positioned essentially orthogonal to the fixed member in the unrestrained configuration and is positioned essentially parallel to the fixed member in the restrained configuration.

14. The rider support assembly of claim 12 , wherein the restraint system comprises one or more straps coupled to the moveable base, each strap of the one or more straps comprising a free end configured to engage with a locking feature on the rotating restraint, wherein the free end is removably attached to the locking feature.

15. The rider support assembly of claim 12 , comprising a virtual reality (VR) headset.

16. The rider support assembly of claim 12 , comprising a torso plate coupled to the movable base, wherein the surface forms part of the torso plate.

17. The rider support assembly of claim 16 , comprising a pair of handle bars extending from the movable base in a direction away from the surface, wherein at least a portion of the pair of handle bars is positioned substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the torso plate.

18. A motion simulator ride assembly comprising:
a rider support assembly comprising a plurality of rider support units, each rider support unit of the plurality of rider support units comprising:
a moveable base having a surface configured to abut a rider, wherein the moveable base is configured to rotate about an axis of the rider support assembly from a substantially vertical loading configuration to a ride configuration in which the rider is positioned substantially horizontally in a facedown position, and
a restraint system configured to secure the rider onto the rider support unit, wherein the restraint system comprises:
a torso restraint comprising a rotating restraint; and
a leg restraint comprising a first member and a second member, and wherein the rotating restraint and the second member are configured to move relative to the surface to transition the rotating restraint and the second member from an unrestrained configuration in the substantially vertical loading configuration to a restrained configuration in the ride configuration; and

a display screen configured to project a simulated environment wherein the display screen comprises a virtual reality (VR) display screen cou

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Freedman Daniel
• White Nathanael G
• Stenzler Paula

Classifications

• A63G1/00

  Roundabouts · CPC title

• A63G29/00

  Rolling drums turning somersaults with or without rolling seats · CPC title

• A63G29/02

  with seats staying at the bottom of the drum · CPC title

• A63G7/00

  Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks · CPC title

• A63G21/20 Primary

  Slideways with movably suspended cars, or with cars moving on ropes, or the like · CPC title