Set transformation effect

• US 6,074,307 A
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Hettema, Philip D., Mason, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/229,528
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 472/77, 472/78, 472/80, 472/65, 472/136, 472/59, 472/74, 52/6, 52/7, 52/8, 52/9
• US Class Current: 472/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/028 Means for moving hanging scenery

Abstract

An amusement attraction provides a set transformation effect. The audience watches a presentation in a viewing area. A moveable, open-bottomed flying set piece is located at a raised position above the viewing area. The flying set piece is hidden from the audience when the audience enters the viewing area. The flying set piece is attached to an overhead rigging system. A drive system lowers the flying set piece from the raised position above the viewing area to a lowered position such that the flying set piece surrounds the audience in the viewing area. The audience perceives that they have been transported back to different location within the attraction.

Claims

1. An amusement attraction comprising:

a viewing are a in which guests view a theatrical performance or attraction;

a set piece movable between a raised position above the viewing area and a lowered position wherein the set piece at least partially surrounds the viewing area and guests; and

a set piece drive system linked to the set piece for moving the set piece between the raised and lowered positions.

2. The attraction of claim 1, the set piece further containing scenery on the interior of the set piece that resembles scenery of a different viewing area of the attraction.

3. The attraction of claim 2, wherein the scenery of the set piece resembles the scenery of a viewing area within the attraction that the guests have previously passed through.

4. An attraction for simulating a set transformation effect for guests comprising:

a pre-show area;

a show viewing area in which the guests view a theatrical performance or attraction after leaving the pre-show area;

an open-bottomed flying set piece displaceable from a raised position above the show viewing area to a lowered position wherein the flying set piece at least partially surrounds the viewing area and guests; and

means for moving the flying set piece from the raised position to the lowered position.

5. The attraction of claim 4, said flying set piece further containing scenery on the interior of the flying set piece that resembles scenery of a different viewing area of the attraction.

6. The attraction of claim 5, wherein the scenery of the flying set piece resembles the scenery of a viewing area within the attraction that the guests have previously passed through.

7. The attraction of claim 4 wherein the flying set piece is not visible from the viewing area when the flying set piece is in the raised position.

8. An attraction for simulating a set transformation effect for guests comprising:

a first viewing area in which the guests pass through during the amusement ride;

a second viewing area in which the guests view a theatrical performance or attraction after leaving the first viewing area;

an open-bottomed flying set piece having walls forming an enclosure, and wherein the flying set piece is positionable into a raised position above the second viewing area such that the flying set piece is hidden from the guests entering the second viewing area and positionable into a lowered position, wherein the flying set piece at least partially encloses the guests and the second viewing area;

an overhead rigging system including a plurality of load ropes attached to the flying set piece;

a counterweight tower assembly including a movable counterweight sled assembly connected to the load ropes of the overhead rigging system; and

a motor for moving the counterweight sled assembly and the flying set piece into the raised and lowered positions.

9. A method of producing a set transformation effect comprising the steps of:

showing a presentation or attraction to one or more guests in a viewing area, the viewing area including a flying set piece directly over the one or more guests in the viewing area;

distracting the one or more guests during the presentation or attraction in the viewing area; and

lowering the flying set piece over the one or more guests during the distracting event, wherein the flying set piece at least partially surrounds the viewing area and the one or more guests after the distracting event occurs.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of raising the flying set piece back to the overhead position directly above the viewing area.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the distraction is accomplished by introducing fog or mist into the viewing area.

12. An amusement attraction for simulating the magical transportation of guests to a previously viewed area of the amusement attraction comprising:

a pre-show room having a plurality of walls with scenery located on the walls;

a show viewing area in which the guests view a theatrical performance after leaving the pre-show room;

a flying set piece having a plurality of side walls forming an enclosure, and wherein the flying set piece is moveable from a raised position directly above the show viewing area, where the flying set piece is hidden from view of the guests during the theatrical performance, to a lowered position, where the flying set piece at least partially encloses the show viewing area;

flying set piece scenery located on the plurality of side walls and matching the scenery in the pre-show room; and

a flying set piece moving system attached to the flying set piece for moving the flying set piece from the raised position to the lowered position.

13. The attraction of claim 12 wherein the flying set piece has an open bottom.

14. The attraction of claim 12 wherein the raised position is directly vertically above the show viewing area.

15. The attraction of claim 12 wherein the moving system comprises ropes attached to the flying set piece and to a counterweight.

16. The attraction of claim 12 further comprising a pre-show ceiling in the pre-show room, with scenery on the pre-show ceiling, and, a flying set piece ceiling on the flying set piece, with the flying set piece ceiling having scenery matching the scenery on the pre-show ceiling.

17. The attraction of claim 16 wherein the flying set piece ceiling comprises an overhead lattice affixed to the plurality of side walls.