Universal City Studios, Inc.

Oceaneering International, Inc.

Michael David Russell, Jr

James Anthony Bertoncello

Rachel Sarah Wilcox

Steven C Blum

Frank K Weigand

Luis Carlos Alarcon

Michael Gordon

Daniel Coats

Brad Borgman

Fred Calvin Wainwright, Jr

Harrison Raleigh Smith

Daniel Roman Swando

Maria Carlota Fontiveros Penso

Robert William Dannenfelser, Jr

Kenneth D Salter

Michael Wayne Boshears

Frank Peter Hass

Andrew Scott Grant

David Andrew Gribbin, Jr

Shawn Michael Kish

A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

Gap blocking systems and methods for amusement park attractions

A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. A guardrail assembly having a plurality of guardrail units is coupled to the first portion, where the guardrail units are configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The guardrail units are configured to block access to the gap when in the first position. The ride vehicle includes an engagement feature configured to interface with an individual guardrail unit of the guardrail units to selectively transition the individual guardrail unit from the first position to the second position. The individual guardrail unit is configured to permit the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position adjacent to or on the loading platform in the second position.

In an embodiment, an animated figure display system includes an animated figure having a body and a first tracker coupled to the body. The animated figure display system includes a projection surface having a second tracker coupled to the projection surface. The projection surface moves between a first position and a second position and the projection surface is at least partially concealed behind the animated figure in the first position. The animated figure display system includes a tracking camera that detects the first tracker and the second tracker and generates location data. A controller receives the location data and generates a control signal based on the location data. A projector receives the control signal indicative of image content from the controller and projects the image content onto the body of the animated figure and the external surface of the projection surface.

Systems and methods for animated figure display

An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.

Loading turntable systems and methods

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, and system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle. The system includes a ride seat and a restraint system configured to restrain the passenger against the ride seat. The restraint system includes a crossbar for placing against the passenger, a support bar having a first support bar end coupled to the crossbar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted to an upper-rear portion of the ride seat, and a flap coupled to the support bar. The flap is configured to insert into, or extract from, a slot formed within a seat side structure when the support bar is rotated about the pivot and indicate whether the crossbar has attained a minimum closed position for restraining the passenger based on a position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot.

Support bar mounted system and method of minimum close indication for ride vehicle

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for replacing a drive assembly of a turntable load station. A system includes a structural pier, a track formed on a top surface of the structural pier, a turntable, a bogie assembly detachably coupled to an underside of the turntable, the bogie assembly including a wheeled drive assembly, a swap rail mounted to a radial side surface of the structural pier, and a translating cartridge movably mounted to the swap rail in a serviceable orientation. The translating cartridge is configured to move along the radial side surface of the structural pier via the swap rail while in the serviceable orientation to an unloading position underneath the bogie assembly, pivot from the serviceable orientation to an upright functional orientation to couple with the wheeled drive assembly, and decouple the wheeled drive assembly from the bogie assembly.

Method of bogie replacement for turntable station

Method and system of determining if a predetermined amount of time has passed since dispatch of a first one of the plurality of trackless vehicles onto one of a predefined plurality of intersecting paths. If the predetermined amount of time has passed, determining if a second one of the plurality of trackless vehicles was available for dispatch onto the predefined path or another predefined path. If the second trackless vehicle was available for dispatch, dispatching the second trackless vehicle, and if the second trackless vehicle was not available for dispatch, dispatching a third one of the trackless vehicles onto the predefined path or another predefined path. The predetermined amount of time may be calculated based on a time interval on which the trackless vehicles are dispatched onto the predefined plurality of paths.

Method of managing loading, unloading, and routing of trackless vehicles and system using the same

Growing community of inventors

Orlando, FL, United States of America

Michael David Russell, Jr