Live-action theater

• US 5,868,628 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Christopher, MacDonald, Robert A., Smith, Scott H., MacMurtry, David, Novak, Randall G., Kahn, Norman J., Garcia, Thomas A. Jr., Drobnis, Nicholas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/872,442
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 472/57, 472/59, 472/60, 472/75, 472/81, 472/83, 472/136, 472/137
• US Class Current: 472/81
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/02 Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances

Abstract

In a live-action theater, a catapult launches a prop which achieves free flight in the theater. The catapult and prop are concealed until the moment of launch, whereupon the prop suddenly hurtles into an audience'"'"'s view, and lands in front of the audience. The audience views the launch from a seating area or from a vehicle moved through the theater. The prop is for example, a seaplane or a jetski. The prop is then retrieved from the landing area using a crane or other lifter and returned to the catapult for a subsequent launch. By launching a prop in a theater with a catapult, the audience sees true free flight, rather than an illusion of flight. The audience sees no supports or other devices which can diminish the effect. A catapult allows a prop to be launched directly at the audience at a realistic or full speed, creating a more dramatic effect than if a prop is moved about some distant stage area using cables or a boom.

Claims

1. An attraction comprising:

a catapult,

an untethered prop on said catapult,

an audience viewing area into which said prop is launched from said catapult, such that said prop achieves free flight before landing in said viewing area;

a movable panel for concealing said prop from said viewing area until said prop is launched from said catapult; and

means for moving the panel out of the path of the prop.

2. The attraction of claim 1 wherein said prop comprises a seaplane.

3. The attraction of claim 1 wherein the panel conceals an opening in a wall.

4. The ride attraction of claim 3 further comprising a show controller linked to the means for moving, and to the catapult for coordinating movement of the panel with the launch of the prop.

5. The attraction of claim 1 wherein the audience viewing area includes a body of water into which the prop lands.

6. The ride attraction of claim 5 further comprising flexible fins positioned below the water surface.

7. The attraction of claim 1 further comprising a scenic wall positioned in between the catapult and the audience viewing area, with the panel positioned in an opening in the scenic wall.

8. The attraction of claim 7 further comprising a flame cannon in front of the scenic wall and below the panel.

9. An amusement park/theatrical attraction comprising:

a catapult;

an untethered prop on said catapult;

an audience viewing area into which said prop is launched from said catapult, such that said prop achieves free flight before landing in said viewing area; and

a pyrotechnic display in between the catapult and the audience viewing area in a position to conceal said prop from said viewing area until said prop is launched from said catapult.

10. The attraction of claim 9 wherein said audience viewing area further comprises means for transporting an audience through said viewing area.

11. The attraction of claim 9 wherein said prop comprises a vehicle and one or more riders.

12. The attraction of claim 11 wherein said prop comprises a jetski.

13. An attraction comprising:

a catapult;

an untethered prop placed on the catapult;

an audience viewing area into which the prop is launched from the catapult, such that the prop achieves free flight before landing in the viewing area; and

a frangible panel concealing the prop from the viewing area until the prop is launched from the catapult through the panel.