Passenger restraint with integrated lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040731-B2
Application number	US-201815963789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2018
Priority date	Apr 29, 2017
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

Present systems and methods are directed to a passenger restraining system, which includes a restraint and a locking mechanism, and a lighting system, which includes a variety of light sources. At least a portion of the variety of light sources is integrated with the restraint. Furthermore, the lighting system receives an indication of a configuration of the locking mechanism, executes a first light scheme via the plurality of light sources when the indication is of an unlocked configuration, and executes a second light scheme via the plurality of light sources when the indication is of a locked configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a passenger restraining system comprising a restraint and a locking mechanism; and
a lighting system comprising a plurality of light sources, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of light sources is integrated with the restraint and wherein the lighting system is configured to:
receive an indication of a configuration of the locking mechanism,
execute a first light scheme via the plurality of light sources when the indication is of an unlocked configuration, and
execute a second light scheme via the plurality of light sources when the indication is of a locked configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passenger restraining system comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect a signal indicative of the locked configuration when the restraint is in an engagement position.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the proximity sensor is integral with the restraint or the locking mechanism and configured to interact with a sensing component.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting system comprises a screen configured to be actuated to block or transmit light emitted from the plurality of light sources.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to process sensor data to determine the indication of the configuration of the locking mechanism and communicate the indication to the lighting system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first light scheme comprises emitting light from the plurality of light sources, and wherein the second light scheme comprises not emitting the light from the plurality of light sources.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the restraint of the passenger restraining system comprises an overhead restraining mechanism configured to pivot about an axis to fit over a head of a ride passenger, wherein the plurality of light sources are embedded in the overhead restraining mechanism.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a proximity sensor set comprising a sensing component configured to emit a signal detected by a proximity sensor of the proximity sensor set, wherein the signal is communicated to a controller to initiate the locking mechanism into the locked configuration when the sensing component and the proximity sensor are below a threshold distance away from each other.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to block the restraint from rotating about the locking mechanism or configured to block the restraint from translating relative to the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in the locked configuration.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the lighting system is configured to control light emission from the plurality of light sources based on the locking mechanism blocking the restraint from rotating about the locking mechanism or from translating relative to the locking mechanism.

11. A method, comprising:
receiving a locking indication from a restraining system of a ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to operate in a ride system;
determining whether the restraining system is in a locked configuration or an unlocked configuration based on the locking indication;
executing a first light scheme via a plurality of light emitters integrated with a restraint of the restraining system in response to determining that the restraining system is in the unlocked configuration; and
executing a second light scheme via the plurality of light emitters integrated with the restraint of the restraining system in response to determining the restraining system is in the locked configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the locking indication comprises receiving data indicative of whether a pawl is engaged with a gear of the restraining system to prevent rotation of the restraining system.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein executing the first light scheme comprises emitting a pattern of light emissions.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein executing the second light scheme comprises continuously emitting a second light color different than a first light color of the first light scheme.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
locking the restraining system prior to operating the ride system; and
unlocking the restraining system prior to passenger disengagement from the ride vehicle.

16. A control system, comprising:
a restraining system comprising a locking mechanism and a restraint;
a lighting system comprising a plurality of light sources integrated with the restraint of the restraining system; and
a controller, comprising:
one or more processors;
a memory device storing instructions, wherein the instructions when executed by the one or more processors are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
receive a locking indication of a locking configuration of the restraining system;
instruct the lighting system to execute a first light scheme, via the plurality of light sources, in response to determining that the restraining system is in an unlocked configuration based on the received locking indication; and
instruct the lighting system to execute a second light scheme, via the plurality of light sources, in response to determining that the restraining system is in a locked configuration based on the received locking indication.

17. The control system of claim 16 , wherein the restraining system comprises a first transceiver configured to enable wireless communication of a first set of data indicative of the locking configuration to the controller.

18. The control system of claim 16 , wherein the lighting system comprises a second transceiver configured to enable wireless communication of a second set of data indicative of an executed light scheme.

19. The control system of claim 16 , wherein the first light scheme comprises blocking light emission.

20. The control system of claim 16 , wherein the lighting system comprises a screen configured to open to allow light emitted from the plurality of light sources to be visible from the restraining system.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein executing the second light scheme comprises coordinating the second light scheme with a sound to indicate that the locking mechanism is engaged in the locked configuration.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein coordinating the second light scheme with the sound comprises blinking a light source of the plurality of light sources to the rhythm of music.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second light scheme comprises light emission commensurate with an entertainment theme of the system.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc
• Universal Studios LLC

Inventors

• Hall Gregory S

Classifications

• B60R22/48

  Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness · CPC title

• B60R21/02

  Occupant safety arrangements or fittings {, e.g. crash pads (seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839)} · CPC title

• A63G7/00 Primary

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

• B60R2021/0097

  Amusement vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2022/4866

  Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof · CPC title