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US 9,174,704 B1Granted
Interactive water shield for rafts or boats in water rides
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorDavid W. Crawford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passenger boat configured for interactively shielding passengers from incoming water. The boat includes a hull with seats for receiving passengers and a rider interactive assembly with an input element for receiving input from the passengers. The boat also includes a water shield supported on the hull and an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to move the water shield from a first position to a second position relative to the seats. In some cases, the water shield is mounted on the hull to travel within a channel extending about a perimeter of the hull located on an outboard side of the seats. Then, the water shield may include a wall that extends substantially vertically from the channel.
Claims26
A passenger boat for interactively shielding passengers from incoming water, comprising:
- a hull with seats for receiving passengers;
- a rider interactive assembly with an input element for receiving input from the passengers;
- a water shield supported on the hull;
- and
- an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to move the water shield from a first position to a second position relative to the seats,
- wherein the rider interactive assembly comprises a support arm linked to the input element to rotate about an axis in response to movement of the input element and
- wherein the actuation system responds to rotation of the support arm to move the water shield between the first and second positions.
4 more elements
A passenger boat for interactively shielding passengers from incoming water, comprising:
- a hull with seats for receiving passengers;
- a rider interactive assembly with an input element for receiving input from the passengers;
- a water shield supported on the hull;
- and
- an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to move the water shield from a first position to a second position relative to the seats,
- wherein the input element transmits electrical signals in response to the received input, wherein the rider interactive assembly further comprises a controller processing the electrical signals from the input element and in response transmitting shield movement control signals, and wherein the actuation system comprises an electric motor and batteries operating to drive movement of the shield from the first position to the second position in response to the shield movement control signals.
3 more elements
A vehicle for floating on water, comprising:
- a circular sidewall enclosing a passenger space;
- a water barrier extending a height above an upper surface of the sidewall;
- a rotatable ring member supporting the water barrier;
- and
- a passenger interactive assembly including a user input element for receiving input from passengers in the passenger space,
- wherein the rotatable ring member rotates about an axis passing through the passenger space in response to the input received by the user input element.
3 more elements
A passenger boat for use in a water ride, comprising:
- a hull with an outer sidewall;
- a circularly-shaped guide channel extending along an upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- a shield positionable along the length of the guide channel and extending outward a distance from the upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- at least one interactive device for receiving input from one, two, or more passengers of the passenger boat;
- and
- an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to rotate the shield about a center axis of the hull in the guide channel,
- wherein the shield comprises a wall that extends substantially vertically from the channel.
4 more elements
A passenger boat for use in a water ride, comprising:
- a hull with an outer sidewall;
- a circularly-shaped guide channel extending along an upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- a shield positionable along the length of the guide channel and extending outward a distance from the upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- at least one interactive device for receiving input from one, two, or more passengers of the passenger boat;
- and
- an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to rotate the shield about a center axis of the hull in the guide channel,
- wherein the actuation system comprises a connecting arm rigidly coupled at a first end to the interactive device and at a second end to a slewing ring configured for rotating about a center axis of the hull and
- wherein the shield is supported upon the slewing ring to move with the slewing ring.
5 more elements
A passenger boat for use in a water ride, comprising:
- a hull with an outer sidewall;
- a circularly-shaped guide channel extending along an upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- a shield positionable along the length of the guide channel and extending outward a distance from the upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- at least one interactive device for receiving input from one, two, or more passengers of the passenger boat;
- and
- an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to rotate the shield about a center axis of the hull in the guide channel,
- wherein the actuation system comprises a connecting drive belt or chain mating with a portion of the interactive device to move with the portion of the interactive device and further mating with a drive shaft of a friction wheel such that the friction wheel rotates with movement of the drive belt or chain, and
- wherein the actuation system further comprises a slewing ring supporting the water shield and having a running surface mating with the friction wheel, whereby the slewing ring rotates about a center axis of the hull in response to rotation of the friction wheel.
5 more elements
A passenger boat for use in a water ride, comprising:
- a hull with an outer sidewall;
- a circularly-shaped guide channel extending along an upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- a shield positionable along the length of the guide channel and extending outward a distance from the upper surface of the outer sidewall;
- at least one interactive device for receiving input from one, two, or more passengers of the passenger boat;
- and
- an actuation system operating in response to the input from the passengers to rotate the shield about a center axis of the hull in the guide channel,
- wherein the interactive device includes an input element that transmits electrical signals in response to the input,
- wherein the interactive device further comprises a controller processing the electrical signals from the input element and in response transmitting shield movement control signals, and
- wherein the actuation system comprises an electric motor and one or more batteries operating to drive movement of the shield from the first position to the second position in response to the shield movement control signals.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.