Airborne space simulator with zero gravity effects

• US 8,241,133 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Communications Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Communications Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewis, James C., Mascia, Nick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennis, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/512,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59, 104/53, 104/63
• US Class Current: 472/59
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/12 with inflatable and movable substructures connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel

Abstract

Systems, devices, apparatus and methods of using a simulator cabin module with an interior space which replicates a space ship, where the simulator module is mounted in a real aircraft, as a real airborne simulator. The aircraft lifts off to provide airborne maneuvers such as parabolic flight paths to cause G force and zero gravity effects to passengers in the cabin module. The cabin module includes rows of seats where passengers experience realistic sounds, lights, different temperatures, and physical effects (vibrations) of space ship liftoffs and space travel by having realistic simulation effects distributed over the seated passengers. Passengers can be seated in special reclinable seats with 5 point harnesses and pilot helmets with operable wireless communications and uniforms to add to the realistic simulation effects. Simulator modules can also be mounted in other moving vehicles, such as but not limited to submersibles, ships, and the like.

Claims

1. An airborne space simulator, comprising:

an aircraft having a cargo hold area, the aircraft being capable of taking off and landing; and

only one single portable cabin module independent of the aircraft cargo hold area for being fixedly mounted inside the cargo hold area spaced a distance away from the side walls of the aircraft cargo hold area of the aircraft, the only one single portable cabin module having a closed interior space simulating an interior of a spacecraft designed for space flight, with seats inside and attached to the only one single portable cabin module, and side window video screens and sound emitters for displaying recorded audio/video positioned between the aircraft side walls and an exterior of the only one single portable cabin module to simulate sensory effects of space flight travel liftoff, wherein the only one single portable cabin module is stationary within the aircraft cargo hold area when the aircraft physically takes off from ground level to simulate motion effects of space flight travel liftoff to passengers in the seats within the only one single portable cabin module; and

helmets for each of the seated passengers, the helmets having cabin air intake vents on a front portion of the helmets, and built in wire-less headsets for allowing each of the seated passengers to hear remote verbal directions and commands.

2. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes:

a Boeing 727.

3. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the seats include:

rows of seats replicating a cabin on an aircraft, the rows of seats being mounted to parallel interlock tracks running lengthwise through the cabin module.

4. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the seats include:

inflatable and deflatable air bladders for raising and lowering portions of each of the seats between fully inflated and deflated positions.

5. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the seats include:

temperature controls for increasing temperatures and decreasing temperatures to the seated passengers.

6. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the seats include:

reclining portions that are remotely controlled.

7. The airborne space simulator of claim 4, wherein the seats include:

five point harnesses for each of the seated passengers, the harnesses allow for both supporting the passengers in both loose and tight belt configurations, wherein a combination of both a loosened belt configuration along with a fully inflated positions of the bladders allow the passengers to be in a floating and weightless condition, and where a combination of the deflated bladders and the tightened belt configuration allow the passengers to be in a pulled down condition when the passengers are in a simulation for taking off.

8. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the cabin module includes:

programmable lighting effects that turn on and off lighting colors to the seated passengers.

9. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the cabin module includes:

glow lights under the seated passengers to simulate reentry heat.

10. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the sound emitters include:

subwoofers for causing low frequency sounds and vibrations to the seated passengers.

11. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, further comprising:

odor distributors to distribute odors into the cabin about the seated passengers.

12. The airborne space simulator of claim 1, wherein the aircraft includes:

maneuvers to cause G-force effects to the seated passengers in the cabin module.

13. The airborne space simulator of claim 12, wherein the maneuvers include:

parabolic flight paths that cause weightless effects to the seated passengers.