Universal City Studios, Inc.

Universal Studios LLC

Philip D Hettema

William D Mason

Nicholas H Drobnis

Cecil D Magpuri

Edward S Newquist

Craig R Hanna

Kevin Todd Parent

Gary Goddard

James H Hightower

John R Murdy

Aidan J Bradley

Craig Hanna

Jennifer K Sauer

An amusement attraction is housed within a building. The building contains several different settings. Each setting contains a variety of scenic elements. One setting acts as a pre-show and includes an audio-visual presentation. A second setting is designed to resemble a tornado-damaged building. A third setting contains various scenic elements designed to resemble an outdoor scene. In the third setting, a special effects show takes place that includes a man-made tornado. Other special effects are used to simulate the effect of the tornado on the scenic elements in the outdoor scene. Guests can safely view the man-made tornado from a guest viewing area.

Amusement attraction with man-made tornado

A roller coaster includes a plurality of ride vehicles that ride along a track. Each vehicle provides seating for at least one passenger. The track is elevated off the ground and includes a variety of hills, curves, loops, rolls, drops, inversions and the like. The vehicles are totally enclosed and preferably designed to represent a space capsule. Sight line controls and a yaw mechanism are used at the load platform to prevent passengers from seeing the other ride vehicles. In addition, the track at the load platform is angled upwards to allow for easy access to the ride vehicles. Portals in the cabin are designed to control sight lines to focus the passengers' attention on show elements that are placed along the track. An on-board audio system enhances the realism of the ride experience. Adjustable restraint systems are provided in each vehicle to keep the passengers in their seats and inside the vehicle during the ride.

Amusement ride

An amusement system has first and second paths extending through an amusement attraction. Vehicles moving along the paths have simulated weapons. Riders in the vehicles shoot at targets along the paths or on the vehicles. If sufficient points are accumulated, by hitting targets, or other events occur, the riders in the first vehicle can cause the movement of the second vehicle to change, for example, causing the second vehicle to spin, or to slow down.

Amusement system

An amusement ride vehicle includes a vehicle chassis that rolls on caster wheels. Pinch drive wheels, driven by on-board electric motors, engage a guide rail and propel the vehicle along a rack. A motion base is positioned on top of the vehicle chassis. A yaw ring is rotatably supported on the motion base. A passenger cabin is mounted on to the yaw ring. A slip ring assembly extends from the vehicle chassis to the passenger cabin, to provide electrical power and audio signals to the passenger cabin. A yaw drive motor turns the yaw ring, allowing the passenger cabin to spin on the motion base, and to provide continuous yaw movement. The motion base provides pitch and roll movements, as well as heave, slip and surge movements.

Amusement ride vehicle

An amusement attraction provides a set transformation effect. The audience watches a presentation in a viewing area. A moveable, open-bottomed flying set piece is located at a raised position above the viewing area. The flying set piece is hidden from the audience when the audience enters the viewing area. The flying set piece is attached to an overhead rigging system. A drive system lowers the flying set piece from the raised position above the viewing area to a lowered position such that the flying set piece surrounds the audience in the viewing area. The audience perceives that they have been transported back to different location within the attraction.

Set transformation effect

An amusement ride provides an interactive experience to its passengers. The amusement ride includes at least one ride vehicle movable along a track. The amusement ride senses inputs from at least one passenger that affects various elements of the ride. The elements can be the speed of the vehicle, acceleration of the vehicle, direction of travel, orientation of the ride vehicle or the like. The inputs can be audible inputs or optical inputs, water spray, or can be activated manually by the passengers.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Philip D Hettema