Dome theater ride system and method
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsDaniel M. Freedman, Nathanael G. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dome ride system includes a dome, a cartridge, receptacles of the cartridge configured to secure users, a media system configured to communicate a narrative to the users disposed within the cartridge utilizing an interior surface of the dome to display a visual aspect of the narrative, and a drive system. The cartridge is configured to be disposed within the dome, the dome is engaged with the drive system and configured to rotate in multiple directions about a center of the dome in response to input from the drive system, and the cartridge is configured to be coupled to and rotate with the dome.
Claims21
A dome ride system, comprising:
- a dome;
- a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured to be disposed within the dome;
- receptacles of the cartridge configured to secure users;
- a media system configured to communicate a narrative to the users disposed within the cartridge utilizing an interior surface of the dome to display a visual aspect of the narrative;
- and
- a drive system, wherein the dome is engaged with the drive system and configured to rotate relative to the drive system in multiple directions about a center of the dome in response to input from the drive system, and wherein the cartridge is configured to be coupled to and rotate with the dome.
A system comprising:
- a dome substantially spherical in shape;
- a ride vehicle configured to secure one or more users disposed within the dome;
- a media system configured to display images to the one or more users via an interior surface of a first hemisphere of the dome;
- a drive system configured to rotate the dome in all directions about a center of the dome, wherein the ride vehicle is coupled to the dome such that the ride vehicle rotates in conjunction with the dome, and wherein the drive system comprises one or more spherical induction motors configured to rotate the dome.
A method, comprising:
- positioning, via a first translation of a conveyance system, a first cartridge from adjacent to a first loading zone to adjacent to an entrance of a dome, wherein the first cartridge comprises a first ride vehicle;
- positioning, via the first translation of the conveyance system, a second cartridge from adjacent to the entrance of the dome to adjacent to a second loading zone, wherein the second cartridge comprises a second ride vehicle, and wherein the first loading zone is separate from the second loading zone;
- inserting the first cartridge into the dome;
- implementing a ride cycle;
- withdrawing the first cartridge from the dome;
- and
- transferring users between the second cartridge and the second loading zone.
A dome ride system, comprising:
- a dome, wherein an exterior of the dome is substantially a sphere;
- a cartridge, wherein the cartridge is configured to be disposed within the dome;
- receptacles of the cartridge configured to secure users;
- a media system configured to communicate a narrative to the users disposed within the cartridge utilizing an interior surface of the dome to display a visual aspect of the narrative;
- and
- a drive system, wherein the dome is engaged with the drive system and configured to rotate in multiple directions about a center of the dome in response to input from the drive system, and wherein the cartridge is configured to be coupled to and rotate with the dome.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.