Ride with rotating lift

• US 10,398,989 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Hall, Gregory S., South, Dwain, Goodwin, David, Weiser, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennis, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/882,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20190232177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/10 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/24 with seats performing movements in a horizontal plane, other than circular movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel

Abstract

A ride system for an amusement park includes a plurality of rooms stacked atop one another and a ride vehicle. A method to transport the ride vehicle from a first room to a second room includes withdrawing the ride vehicle from the first room, changing the vertical height of the ride vehicle, rotating the ride vehicle, and inserting the ride vehicle into the second room.

Claims

1. A ride system for an amusement park, comprising:

an attraction tower;

a base configured to rotate about the attraction tower;

a frame coupled to the base, wherein the frame comprises a vertical column;

a mount coupled to the vertical column of the frame, wherein the mount is configured to move in a vertical direction along the vertical column of the frame;

a ride vehicle disposed on the mount, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to carry a passenger;

an arm coupling the mount to the frame, wherein the arm is configured to rotate the mount and the ride vehicle with respect to the vertical column of the frame; and

a ride vehicle base coupling the ride vehicle to the arm, wherein the ride vehicle base is configured to move the ride vehicle along the arm, and wherein the ride vehicle is configured to rotate, roll, pitch, and yaw about the ride vehicle base.

2. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a controller configured to activate one or more actuators, wherein the one or more actuators are configured to rotate the base, or move the ride vehicle, or a combination thereof.

3. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a projector coupled to the mount, wherein the projector is configured to project an image onto a surface of an enclosure surrounding the attraction tower.

4. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the attraction tower and the base are disposed within an enclosure.

5. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the attraction tower comprises rooms stacked vertically atop one another.

6. The ride system of claim 5, wherein the base is configured to rotate the ride vehicle around the attraction tower, wherein the mount is configured to translate along the frame, and wherein the ride vehicle is configured to move into and out of openings of the rooms.

7. The ride system of claim 6, wherein the rooms comprise animatronic figures, projections, displays, or any combination thereof.

8. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the attraction tower extends through a center of the base.

9. A ride system, comprising:

an attraction tower having a plurality of rooms positioned at different vertical locations within the attraction tower;

a base configured to rotate about the attraction tower;

a frame coupled to the base, wherein the frame comprises a vertical column;

a motion base lift assembly coupled to the frame, wherein the motion base lift assembly is configured to move in a vertical direction along the vertical column of the frame; and

a ride vehicle coupled to the motion base lift assembly, wherein the base and the motion base lift assembly are configured to rotate the ride vehicle about the attraction tower and to move the ride vehicle into and out of the plurality of rooms.

10. The ride system of claim 9, wherein the motion base lift assembly is configured to rotate the ride vehicle about the vertical column and to move the ride vehicle in a direction away from the frame.

11. The ride system of claim 9, comprising an enclosure surrounding the attraction tower, the frame, the motion base lift assembly, and the ride vehicle.

12. The ride system of claim 11, comprising a projector coupled to the motion base lift assembly, wherein the projector is configured to project an image onto a surface of the enclosure, and wherein the motion base lift assembly is configured to rotate the ride vehicle to face the surface of the enclosure such that passengers on the ride vehicle are able to view the image.