Systems and methods for an entertainment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10794073-B2
Application number	US-201816192456-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2018
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

An entertainment system includes a cylinder within a body of liquid, an entertainment platform within the cylinder, and a pump system. The entertainment platform is configured to move within the cylinder. The pump system is configured to remove fluid from and provide fluid to an interior of the cylinder on a first side of the entertainment platform to move the entertainment platform within the cylinder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An entertainment system, comprising:
a cylinder disposed within a body of liquid;
an entertainment platform disposed within the cylinder, wherein the entertainment platform is configured to move within the cylinder; and
a pump system configured to remove fluid from and provide fluid to an interior of the cylinder on a first side of the entertainment platform to move the entertainment platform within the cylinder, wherein the pump system is configured to remove fluid from the cylinder on the first side of the entertainment platform and configured to direct the fluid to a location external to the cylinder to store the fluid, wherein the cylinder comprises an access panel coupled to a bottom portion of the cylinder, and wherein the access panel is configured to enable access for at least one performer, at least one object, or both to enter the interior of the cylinder from a passageway exterior of and extending from the bottom portion of the cylinder.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder comprises one or more tracks, and wherein the entertainment platform is configured to engage with the one or more tracks to guide movement of the entertainment platform within the cylinder.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1 , comprising a first conduit extending from the pump system to the interior of the cylinder on the first side of the entertainment platform.

4. The entertainment system of claim 3 , comprising a second conduit extending from the pump system to the interior of the cylinder, wherein the second conduit is disposed on a second side of the entertainment platform opposite the first side when the entertainment platform is positioned at the bottom portion of the cylinder.

5. The entertainment system of claim 4 , comprising a third conduit extending from the pump system to a main volume of the body of liquid.

6. The entertainment system of claim 5 , comprising:
a reservoir configured to store a liquid; and
a fourth conduit extending from the pump system to the reservoir.

7. The entertainment system of claim 1 , comprising the passageway, wherein the passageway comprises a first end coupled to the cylinder and a second end disposed external to the body of liquid.

8. An entertainment system, comprising:
a body of liquid;
a cylinder comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the cylinder is disposed within the body of liquid;
an entertainment platform disposed within an interior of the cylinder, wherein the entertainment platform is configured to move axially within the cylinder between a first position at the bottom portion and a second position at the top portion;
a pump system;
a first conduit fluidly coupling the pump system and the interior of the cylinder at the bottom portion, wherein the pump system is configured to selectively provide and remove a flow of the liquid to and from the interior of the cylinder at the bottom portion to move the entertainment platform between the first position and the second position;
a reservoir configured to store the liquid, wherein the reservoir is external to the cylinder; and
a second conduit fluidly coupling the pump system and the reservoir, wherein the pump system is configured to remove the liquid from the interior of the cylinder at the bottom portion and configured to direct the liquid to the reservoir to store the liquid, wherein when the entertainment platform is located and maintained at the first position at the bottom portion of the cylinder, the pump system is configured to remove all of the liquid above the entertainment platform.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8 , wherein the pump system is configured to provide the flow of the liquid to the interior of the cylinder at the bottom portion from the body of liquid.

10. The entertainment system of claim 8 , wherein the pump system is configured to provide the flow of the liquid to the interior of the cylinder at the bottom portion from the reservoir.

11. The entertainment system of claim 8 , wherein the entertainment platform comprises a skirt disposed about a circumference of the entertainment platform, wherein the skirt is configured to engage with the cylinder to stabilize the entertainment platform within the cylinder.

12. The entertainment system of claim 8 , comprising a sensor disposed within the interior of the cylinder, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a presence of the liquid in the interior of the cylinder.

13. The entertainment system of claim 12 , wherein the cylinder comprises an access panel disposed at the bottom portion and a locking mechanism, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the access panel in a closed position in response to the presence of the liquid detected by the sensor.

14. The entertainment system of claim 8 , comprising a securement mechanism coupled to the cylinder and disposed at the top portion of the cylinder, wherein the securement mechanism is configured to engage with the entertainment platform and secure the entertainment platform in place in the second position.

15. A method of providing an entertainment platform in a body of liquid, the method comprising:
removing liquid from an interior of a cylinder on a first side of the entertainment platform, wherein the entertainment platform is disposed within the cylinder, and wherein the cylinder is disposed within the body of liquid;
providing liquid to the interior of the cylinder on a second side of the entertainment platform to lift the entertainment platform within the cylinder;
removing the liquid from the interior of the cylinder on the second side of the entertainment platform to lower the entertainment platform within the cylinder;
directing the liquid removed from the interior of the cylinder on the second side of the entertainment platform to a reservoir external to the cylinder to store the liquid; and
enabling access for at least one performer, at least one object, or both from a passageway, exterior of the cylinder, to the entertainment platform within the cylinder via an access panel of the cylinder after removing the liquid from the interior of the cylinder on the first side of the entertainment platform and when the entertainment platform is disposed within a bottom portion of the cylinder.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising storing the liquid removed from the interior of the cylinder on the first side of the entertainment platform in the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is separate from the body of liquid.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein providing liquid to the interior of the cylinder on the second side of the entertainment platform comprises:
providing liquid from the reservoir to the second side of the entertainment platform;
providing liquid from the body of liquid to the second side of the entertainment platform; or
both.

18. The method of claim 15 , comprising providing liquid to the body of liquid to raise a liquid level of the body of liquid above a top portion of the cylinder after removing the liquid from the interior of the cylinder on the second side of the entertainment platform to lower the entertainment platform within the cylinder.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Self Gregory
• Walker Kenneth

Classifications

• E04H3/26 Primary

  Revolving stages; Stages able to be lowered · CPC title

• B66F7/08

  hydraulically or pneumatically operated · CPC title

• B66B9/04

  actuated pneumatically or hydraulically (platforms for lifting or lowering through short distances B66F7/00) · CPC title

• A63G31/007 Primary

  involving water · CPC title

• A63G31/00

  Amusement arrangements · CPC title