Dynamically adjustable compliant lap restraint device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025001962-A1
Application number	US-202318216997-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2023
Priority date	Jun 30, 2023
Publication date	Jan 2, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A restraint system is used to provide a dynamically adjustable compliance for an occupant in a ride system. The restraint system includes a strap with adjustable extension length to wrap around the occupant. A tension on the strap is measured and used to adjust the length of the strap to provide different restraint levels. The restraint level is associated with the condition of the occupant (e.g., height, weight, age, shape, size), a property of the ride system (e.g., configuration of the ride vehicle), an operating parameter of the ride vehicle (e.g., velocity, acceleration, moving direction), a feature of the environment that the ride vehicle rides in, or any combination thereof.

First claim

1 . A restraint system for a ride vehicle, the restraint system comprising:
seating of the ride vehicle comprising one or more seats; and a lap bar, wherein the lap bar is configured to transition between an open configuration and an engaged configuration, wherein the lap bar comprises:
one or more prongs, wherein:
the one or more prongs comprise a first prong; and
the one or more prongs are configured to be disposed about one or more occupants of the seating of the ride vehicle with the lap bar in the engaged configuration; and

a restraint comprising one or more straps, wherein the one or more straps conform about at least a portion of each of the one or more occupants with the lap bar in the engaged configuration.

2 . The restraint system of claim 1 , comprising a first tensioner and a first strap of the one or more straps, wherein the first tensioner is:
coupled with the seating of the ride vehicle, and the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner to the first prong of the one or more prongs; or coupled with the first prong of the one or more prongs and, the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first prong of the one or more prongs to the seating of the ride vehicle.

3 . The restraint system of claim 2 , comprising a second tensioner and a second strap of the one or more straps, wherein the second tensioner is coupled with:
the seating of the ride vehicle, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first prong of the one or more prongs; the first prong of the one or more prongs, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the seating of the ride vehicle; the seating of the ride vehicle, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to a second prong of the one or more prongs; a second prong of the one or more prongs, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the seating of the ride vehicle; the first prong of the one or more prongs, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the second prong of the one or more prongs; or a second prong of the one or more prongs, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first prong of the one or more prongs.

4 . The restraint system of claim 1 , comprising a first tensioner, wherein the first tensioner is coupled with:
a first seat of the one or more seats, and a first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner to the first prong of the one or more prongs; or the first prong of the one or more prongs, and the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner to the first seat of the one or more seats.

5 . The restraint system of claim 4 , comprising a second tensioner, wherein the second tensioner is coupled with:
a second seat of the one or more seats, and a second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first prong of the one or more prongs; the first prong of the one or more prongs, and a second strap of the one or more straps extends from the first prong to the second seat of the one or more seats; a second seat of the one or more seats, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second seat of the one or more seats and a second prong of the one or more prongs; a second prong of the one or more prongs, and a second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to a second seat of the one or more seats; the first prong of the one or more prongs, and a second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to a second prong of the one or more prongs; or a second prong of the one or more prongs, and a second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first prong of the one or more prongs.

6 . The restraint system of claim 1 , comprising a first tensioner, wherein the first tensioner is coupled with:
a first seat of the one or more seats, and a first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner through the first prong of the one or more prongs to either a second prong of the one or more prongs or a second seat of the one or more seats; the first prong of the one or more prongs, and the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner through a second prong of the one or more prongs to either a third prong of the one or more prongs or a second seat of the one or more seats; or the first prong of the one or more prongs, and the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner to a second prong of the one or more prongs.

7 . The restraint system of claim 1 , comprising one or more tensioners, wherein at least one tensioner of the one or more tensioners comprises:
a spool about which a portion of a respective strap of the one or more straps is wrapped; and a biasing feature configured to pull the respective strap of the one or more straps toward the spool.

8 . The restraint system of claim 7 , wherein the respective strap of the one or more straps extends from a first tensioner of the one or more tensioners to conform, in the engaged configuration, at least partially about at least a first occupant of the one or more occupants and at least a second occupant of the one or more occupants.

9 . The restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the lap bar comprises a second prong of the one or more prongs and a third prong of the one or more prongs, wherein at least one prong of the one or more prongs comprises a tensioner, and wherein, in the engaged configuration, the first prong of the one or more prongs and the second prong of the one or more prongs are configured to be disposed at least partially about a first occupant of the one or more occupants of the seating, and the first prong of the one or more prongs and the third prong of the one or more prongs are configured to be disposed about a second occupant of the one or more occupants of the seating.

10 . The restraint system of claim 9 , comprising a single strap that engages each of the first prong of the one or more prongs, the second prong of the one or more prongs, and the third prong of the one or more prongs.

11 . The restraint system of claim 9 , wherein each of the first prong of the one or more prongs and the second prong of the one or more prongs, comprises a respective tensioner.

12 . The restraint system of claim 1 , comprising a sensor system configured to detect a tension level of at least one strap of the one or more straps.

13 . The restraint system of claim 12 , comprising:
one or more tensioners; and a tension management system configured to control the at least one tensioner of the one or more tensioners to adjust an extended length of the at least one strap of the one or more straps based on the tension level of the at least one strap of the one or more straps.

14 . The restraint system of claim 12 , comprising a lock system configured to lock the at least one strap of the one or more straps into place in response to the tension of the at least one strap of the one or more straps being within a defined range.

15 . The restraint system of claim 14 , wherein the defined range is selected based on a weight of at least one occupant of the one or more occupants, a size of the at least one occupant of the one or more occupants, a property of the ride vehicle, an operating parameter of the ride vehicle, a feature in an environment that the ride vehicle rides in

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Mcveen Keith Michael
• Habiak Gregory Paul
• Majdali David Gerard

Classifications

• B60R2021/0206

  Self-supporting restraint systems, e.g. restraining arms, plates or the like · CPC title

• B60R2021/0097

  Amusement vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2021/022

  mounted on seats · CPC title

• B60R21/02 Primary

  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

• B60R22/02 Primary

  Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both {; Manual restraint systems (knee, leg or head belts B60R22/001; devices for releasing in an emergency, remote or automatic unbuckling devices B60R22/32)} · CPC title