Passenger restraint with integrated audio system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10821934-B2
Application number	US-201715792522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Oct 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

Present systems and methods are directed to an audio system integrated into a restraint system for an amusement park ride vehicle. Specifically, a system includes a restraining system for a ride vehicle of an amusement park. The system includes an audio system comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein the audio system is positioned inside of the restraining system and configured to produce audio via the speaker in response to a received audio activation signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a restraining system for a ride vehicle of an amusement park, wherein the restraining system is configured to generate an audio activation signal when in a locked configuration; and
an audio system comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein the audio system is positioned inside of the restraining system, and configured to produce audio via the speaker and change the produced audio from a first sound type to a second sound type in response to the audio activation signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the restraining system is configured to contact a ride passenger on the ride vehicle to secure the ride passenger to the ride vehicle when the restraining system is in a locked position.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the restraining system is a two part restraining system, wherein the two part restraining system comprises an overhead-pull-down restraint and a lap bar restraint, the overhead-pull-down restraint comprising the speaker and the microphone, and the lap bar restraint comprising an additional speaker.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the speaker and the additional speaker are configured to collectively produce the audio, wherein the audio is received from a separate audio system of a separate ride vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising:
an additional ride vehicle that is separate from the ride vehicle; and
an additional audio system of the additional ride vehicle, the additional audio system comprising an additional speaker, and an additional microphone;
wherein the microphone and the additional microphone are configured to receive audio data and transmit the audio data to the additional speaker and the speaker, respectively, to facilitate communication between users of the audio system and the additional audio system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio system comprises a user interface configured to receive a user input, wherein the speaker or microphone is configured to be activated or deactivated in response to the received user input.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising a control system separate from the ride vehicle and configured to coordinate sound from off-ride features with the speaker.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio system is communicatively coupled to a park or ride feature and configured to produce the audio in response to communications with the park or ride feature.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio system is connected to a power source via a wired connection, wherein the wired connection contacts a brush at a pivot joint of the restraining system.

10. A ride system, comprising:
a first audio system positioned inside a first restraining system associated with a first ride vehicle;
a first speaker of the first audio system;
a first microphone of the first audio system;
a second audio system positioned inside a second restraining system associated with a second ride vehicle, wherein the first audio system and the second audio system are communicatively coupled to one another to facilitate transmission of audio data there between;
a second speaker of the second audio system; and
a second microphone of the second audio system,
wherein the first audio system and the second audio system comprise respective circuitry configured to communicatively couple to respective control systems, wherein the respective control systems each comprises a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory of the respective control systems, and
wherein the first restraining system and the second restraining system are each configured to pivotally rotate about respective joints, wherein the respective joints each include an electric brush configured to continuously contact the respective circuitry while the respective restraining system pivotally rotates.

11. The ride system of claim 10 , wherein the respective control systems are configured to cause the respective first and second microphones to receive audio input and the respective first and second speakers to produce audio output.

12. The ride system of claim 10 , comprising a first user interface of the first audio system, wherein the first user interface is configured to control the first speaker and the first microphone.

13. A method of operating a restraining system for a ride vehicle of an amusement park and an audio system including a speaker and a microphone, wherein the audio system is positioned inside of the restraining system and configured to produce audio via the speaker in response to an audio activation signal, wherein the ride vehicle is communicatively coupled to a second ride vehicle and an off-ride feature, the method comprising:
retracting the restraining system, wherein retracting the restraining system comprises moving the restraining system into an unlocked position, and wherein the ride vehicle is configured to receive a ride passenger when the restraining system is in the unlocked position;
determining, via a processor, whether the restraining system is in a locked position; and
controlling the audio system associated with the ride vehicle based on the restraining system being in the locked position or the unlocked position, wherein controlling the audio system comprises activating the audio system by producing the audio received from the second ride vehicle or the off-ride feature via the speaker.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the audio system comprises a user interface and multiple speakers.

15. A system, comprising:
a restraining system for a ride vehicle of an amusement park, wherein the restraining system is configured to contact a ride passenger on the ride vehicle to secure the ride passenger to the ride vehicle when the restraining system is in a locked position, wherein the restraining system comprises:
an overhead-pull-down restraint comprising a speaker and a microphone; and
a lap bar restraint comprising an additional speaker; and

an audio system positioned inside of the restraining system and configured to produce audio via the speaker and the additional speaker in response to an audio activation signal from a separate audio system of a separate ride vehicle.

16. A restraining system for a ride vehicle assembly of a theme park, the restraining system comprising:
a first restraint, comprising a first audio system comprising a first speaker and a first microphone, wherein the first audio system is fixed and recessed within the first restraint; and
a second restraint, comprising a second audio system comprising a second speaker and a second microphone, wherein the second audio system is fixed and recessed within the second restraint,
wherein the first audio system and the second audio system are configured to establish communication with one another via a communicative coupling to allow communication between the first restraint and the second restraint, via the first audio system and the second audio system, respectively, in response to the first and second restraint being in a locked configuration.

17. The restraining system of claim 16 , wherein the first restraint is configured to secure a first passenger to a first ride vehicle, and the second restraint is configured to secure a second passenger to a second ride vehicle.

18. The restraining system of claim 16 , wherein the first audio system and the second audio system are communicatively coupled to an off-ride feature.

19. The restraining system of claim 18 , wherein the first speaker and the second speaker are configured to produce audio in respons

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Hall Gregory S
• Mcveen Keith Michael
• Mcquillian Brian Birney

Classifications

• A63G31/00 Primary

  Amusement arrangements · CPC title

• B60R22/14 Primary

  incorporating enlarged restraint areas, e.g. vests, nets {, crash pads, optionally for children (crash pads for occupants' safety on vehicles in general B60R21/02)} · CPC title

• H04R1/403

  loud-speakers · CPC title

• H04R1/08

  Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor · CPC title

• A63G7/00 Primary

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