Special effects entertainment system

An entertainment system for use with a plurality of audiovisual sources and comprising one or more special effects chairs (23);

• each special effects chair (23) comprising:
• a body including a seat (72);
• a motion platform (21) connected to the seat (72);
• at least one special effects cabinet (20) contained in a portion of the body of each of the one or more chairs (23);
• a controller (74) in communication with the motion platform (21), with the at least one special effects cabinet (20) for generating special effects, and with the selected audiovisual source (35, 36);
• the controller (74) being configured to receive an input signal based on an audiovisual signal from the selected audiovisual source (35, 36) and to send a set of synchronized signals to the motion platform (21) and to the at least one special effects cabinet (20) in response to the received audiovisual signal, wherein each special effects cabinet (20) generates all the special effects free of requiring external special effects devices.

A special effects chair (23) for use with a plurality of audiovisual sources, the chair (23) comprising:

• a body including a seat (72);
• a motion platform (21) connected to the seat (72);
• and
• at least one special effects cabinet (20) housed in a portion of the body of the chair (23) and including a controller (74) configured to selectively communicate with one of the plurality of audiovisual sources (36), said controller (74) being in communication with the motion platform (21), with the at least one special effects cabinet (20) and with the selected audiovisual source (36), the controller (74) being configured to receive an input signal based on an audiovisual signal from the selected audiovisual source (36) and to send a set of synchronized signals to the motion platform (21) and to the at least one special effects cabinet (20) in response to the received audiovisual signal;
• wherein each special effects cabinet (20) generates all the special effects free of requiring external special effects devices.

An environmental special effects box (173) for use with a plurality of audiovisual sources, and with a user console (34), the environmental special effects box (173) comprising:

• a set of environmental special effects generators;
• a controller (111) configured to selectively communicate with one of the plurality of audiovisual sources (36) and with the user console (34), said controller (111) being configured to receive an input signal based on an audiovisual signal from the selected audiovisual source (36) or from the user console (34) and to send a set of synchronized signals to the set of environmental special effects contained therein in response to the received audiovisual signal or the received signal from the console (34);
• wherein said set of environmental special effect generators contained in each of the one or more environmental special effects generator boxes (173) comprise at least one of:
• an environmental smoke effect generator, an environmental light effect generator, an environmental wind effect generator, an environmental aroma effect generator, an environmental water spray effect generator, and environmental smoke effect generator;
• wherein said environmental smoke effect generator comprises a water tank (103) to store water, and wherein the water tank (103) contains an ultrasonic transducer (163) inserted into a floating device (164) and wherein the ultrasonic transducer (163) vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency breaking the water particles in the water tank (103) to generate mist that simulates smoke;
• and wherein the environmental smoke effect generator also comprises a turbine blower (101) that pushes the mist to an air outlet port (102) of the environmental special effects box (173);
• wherein the set of environmental special effects generators generates all the environmental special effects free of external special effects devices.

A method of providing a special effects system for use with a plurality of audiovisual sources, the system comprising one or more chairs;

• each chair having a seat (72), a backrest (13) and a footrest (24), a motion platform (21) connected to the seat, at least one special effects cabinet (20) contained in the chair (23) and a user console (34) configured to selectively communicate with one of the plurality of audiovisual sources, and including a controller (74) in communication with the motion platform (21), with the at least one special effects cabinet (20) and with the user console (34);
• wherein the user console (34) is configured to selectively communicate with one of the plurality of audiovisual sources (35, 36);
• the method comprising:
• providing (200) a menu to a user to select (201) a mode from:
• a cinema mode, a gaming mode, a relaxing mode, and a simulator mode;
• and
• causing (204) the controller (74) to send a set of synchronized signals to the motion platform (21) and to the at least one special effects cabinet (20) in response to an input signal based on an audiovisual signal received (203) from the user console (34) and the selected mode;
• or in response to an input signal based on an audiovisual signal received (202) from the selected audiovisual source (35, 36) and the selected mode.