Ride vehicle restraint system
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsGarrett Malatek, Rachel Wilcox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A restraint system for a ride vehicle includes a soft restraint configured to extend across a passenger to secure the passenger within a seat of the ride vehicle. The soft restraint includes a pliable material configured to conform to a substantial portion of a torso of the passenger, and a sensory stimulation system integrated with the soft restraint. The sensory stimulation system is configured to generate sensory effects and impart the sensory forces to the torso of the passenger. The soft restraint also includes an inflatable bladder system integrated with the soft restraint and the inflatable bladder system is configured to inflate with a gas to increase contact between the soft restraint and the torso of the passenger.
Claims23
A restraint system for a ride vehicle, comprising:
- a soft restraint configured to extend across a passenger to secure the passenger within a seat of the ride vehicle, wherein the soft restraint comprises a pliable material configured to conform to a substantial portion of a torso of the passenger;
- an inflatable bladder system integrated with the soft restraint, wherein the inflatable bladder system is configured to inflate with a gas to increase contact between the soft restraint and the torso of the passenger, wherein the inflatable bladder system comprises an inflatable bladder disposed within an internal volume of the soft restraint;
- and
- a sensory stimulation system integrated with the soft restraint, wherein the sensory stimulation system is configured to generate sensory effects and impart the sensory effects to the torso of the passenger, and wherein the sensory stimulation system comprises an effect-generating element disposed between the inflatable bladder and the torso of the passenger when the soft restraint is in a deployed position.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method for operating a ride system, comprising:
- securing a passenger within a seat of a ride vehicle with a rigid restraint of the ride vehicle;
- applying a soft restraint to a torso of the passenger, wherein the soft restraint is coupled to the rigid restraint;
- inflating an inflatable bladder of an inflatable bladder system integrated with the soft restraint to increase contact between the soft restraint and the torso of the passenger;
- biasing an effect-generating element against the torso of the passenger, wherein the effect-generating element is integrated with the soft restraint and is disposed between the inflatable bladder and the torso of the passenger;
- generating a sensory effect with the effect-generating element;
- and
- imparting the sensory effect to the torso of the passenger.
(canceled)
A ride vehicle system, comprising:
- a ride vehicle comprising a seat configured to accommodate a passenger;
- a restraint system of the ride vehicle, wherein the restraint system comprises:
- a rigid restraint configured to secure the passenger within the seat;
- a soft restraint coupled to the rigid restraint, wherein the soft restraint comprises a pliable material configured extend across and conform to a torso of the passenger;
- and
- a sensory stimulation system integrated with the soft restraint, wherein the sensory stimulation system is configured to generate sensory effects and impart the sensory effects to the torso of the passenger;
- and
- an inflatable bladder system disposed within an internal volume of the soft restraint, wherein the inflatable bladder system is configured to inflate with a gas to bias an effect-generating component of the sensory stimulation system against the torso of the passenger;
- and
- a controller configured to regulate operation of the sensory stimulation system, the inflatable bladder system, or both, based on sensor feedback associated with the passenger, the ride vehicle, the sensory stimulation system, the inflatable bladder system, or a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.