Show effect system for attraction system
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsMichael Lee Wadsworth, Darrin Hughes, Timothy J. Eck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A show effect system of an amusement park attraction includes a prop component and a linkage system having an extension and a contactor system. The linkage system is configured to move relative to the prop component to move the extension toward the prop component and to cause engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, cause the prop component to move, via the engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, in conjunction with the extension, and block direct contact between the prop component and the extension. The extension is coupled to an animated figure such that the linkage system is configured to cause movement of the animated figure via the extension.
Claims20
A show effect system of an amusement park attraction, the show effect system comprising:
- an animated figure;
- a prop component;
- and
- a linkage system comprising an extension, a contactor system, and a support, wherein the extension is directly coupled to the animated figure, a first end of the support is directly coupled to the extension, and a second end of the support is directly coupled to the contactor system, wherein the linkage system is configured to:
- move the contactor system relative to the prop component to move the extension, the support, and the animated figure toward the prop component and to cause engagement between the contactor system and the prop component;
- cause the prop component to move, via the engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, in conjunction with the extension, the support, and the animated figure;
- and
- block direct contact between the prop component and the extension, the prop component and the support, and the prop component and the animated figure via the engagement between the contactor system and the prop component.
An attraction system of an amusement park, the attraction system comprising:
- a prop component comprising a first section and a second section;
- an extension;
- an animated figure directly coupled to the extension;
- a contactor system comprising a press configured to engage with the second section of the prop component;
- and
- a support directly coupled to the extension and to the contactor system, wherein the support extends between the contactor system and the extension and is configured to:
- move relative to the prop component to move the contactor system, the extension, and the animated figure toward the first section of the prop component until the press of the contactor system engages the second section of the prop component;
- and
- move while the press of the contactor system is in engagement with the second section of the prop component to cause concurrent movement of the component and the animated figure to avoid direct contact between the prop component and the animated figure, the prop component and the extension, and the prop component and the support.
A method of operating an attraction system of an amusement park, the method comprising:
- moving, via movement of a linkage system coupled to an animated figure, the animated figure, a contactor system of the linkage system, a support of the linkage system, and an extension of the linkage system toward a movable prop component of an attraction system, wherein the extension is directly coupled to the animated figure, a first end of the support is directly coupled to the extension, and a second end of the support is directly coupled to the contactor system;
- engaging, via the movement of the linkage system, the contactor system with the movable prop component;
- and
- causing, via the movement of the linkage system during engagement between the contactor system and the movable prop component, movement of the movable prop component in conjunction with movement of the animated figure, the support, and the extension to block direct contact between the animated figure and the movable prop component, the extension and the movable prop component, and the support and the movable prop component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.