Air delivered special effects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776100-B2
Application number	US-201414535281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A discharge platform comprises an air propulsion mechanism that propels the discharge platform through the air. The discharge platform also comprises a special effect storage device that stores a special effect and is operably connected to the discharge platform. Further, the discharge platform comprises a processor. In addition, the discharge platform comprises an air delivery special effect mechanism that discharges a special effect from the special effect storage device toward a destination after receiving an instruction from the processor and during propulsion of the discharge platform through the air by the air propulsion mechanism.

First claim

We claim:

1. A special effect multi-copter comprising:
a discharge platform;
a propulsion mechanism coupled to the discharge platform that propels the discharge platform through the air to a aerial position and maintains the aerial position;
a storage apparatus that stores a special effect producing device and is coupled to the discharge platform; and
a dispenser that drops the special effect producing device from the storage apparatus at the aerial position toward a destination after receiving an instruction while the discharge platform is flying such that the special effect producing device is activated to provide a special effect for a human audience at a predetermined distance from the destination.

2. The special effect multi-copter of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver that receives an instruction from a remote transmission device to drop the special effect producing device.

3. The special effect multi-copter of claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises GPS coordinates for the aerial position.

4. The special effect multi-copter of claim 1 , further comprising a GPS sensor that determines GPS coordinates for a position of the discharge platform.

5. A method comprising:
propelling a discharge platform through the air to a aerial position, the discharge platform storing a special effect producing device;
maintaining the aerial position;
receiving an instruction while the discharge platform is flying, the instruction providing a destination for a special effect;
activating a dispenser that dispenses a special effect producing device based upon the instruction;
dispensing the special effect producing device at the aerial position toward the destination based upon the activation of the dispenser to provide an entertainment feature for a human audience at a predetermined distance from the destination.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving an instruction from a remote transmission device to discharge the special effect producing device.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving GPS coordinates for the aerial position.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising propelling the discharge platform through the air to the GPS coordinates.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising activating the dispenser manually via a remote control or automatically via a timer.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the discharge platform is propelled autonomously through the air without human intervention.

11. A multi-copter system comprising:
a transceiver;
a discharge platform that stores a special effect producing device and receives an instruction from the transceiver to activate a dispenser that drops a special effect producing device from a aerial position toward a destination based upon the instruction while the discharge platform is flying to provide a special effect for an audience at a predetermined distance from the destination.

12. The multi-copter system of claim 11 , wherein the instruction comprises GPS coordinates for the aerial position.

13. The multi-copter system of claim 11 , wherein the discharge platform is propelled autonomously.

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Wong Clifford
• Bouman John
• Kelley Kevin
• Wagner Ken

Classifications

• A63H37/00 Primary

  Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours {; Cracker bonbons or the like} · CPC title

• A63H27/12

  Helicopters (A63H27/04 takes precedence); Flying tops · CPC title

• A63H27/00

  Toy aircraft; Other flying toys (toys with parachutes A63H33/20) · CPC title