The present invention relates to amusement rides, and more particularly, to flying theater attractions in which rows of seats are suspended in front of a screen and operable to impart movement thereto during a show.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,463,391, issued on Oct. 11, 2016 (the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety), discloses a “flying theater” attraction in which multiple rows of seats are pivotably carried by a platform structure of a motion base, which is turn translatably and pivotably connected to a pivot structure. Viewers are loaded and unloaded from a raised loading platform with the platform structure oriented horizontally and the seats upright. For show viewing, the platform is oriented more vertically, with the rows of seats pivoting to keep viewers generally upright. During the show, the rows of seats are pivoted relative to the platform to impart pitch motion and the platform is translated relative to the pivot structure to impart heave (up and down) motion, affording two degrees of freedom. The pitch and heave motions are synchronized with the show to achieve a desired overall experience
This configuration has proved very successful for providing an entertaining flying theater experience for large numbers of viewers. However, the required space and mechanical complexity limit the implementation of the flying theater to larger venues. It would be desirable to provide a flying theater that could be implemented on a smaller scale while still offering a substantially similar motion experience.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flying theater motion base and related methods that are adapted for utilization in smaller venues. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a flying theater motion base includes a support structure, a pivot structure, at least a first row of seats, at least a first pivot drive and at least a first pitch drive. The first row of seats is pivotably connected to the pivot structure about a first row pitch axis with a pitch of the first row of seats about the first row pitch axis being adjustable by the first pitch drive. The pivot structure is pivotably connected to the support structure about a pivot axis and pivotable relative thereto by the first pivot drive. The support structure supports the pivot structure and first row of seats over an underlying surface in front of a viewing area.
The first pivot drive is operable to pivot the pivot structure to move the first row of seats between a load/unload position adjacent the underlying surface and a show position elevated above the underlying surface in front of the viewing area. While in the show position, the first pivot drive is further operable to pivot the pivot structure to move the first row of seats up and down to effectively simulate a heave motion. The first pitch drive is operable to maintain the first row of seats in a neutral pitch during movement between the load/unload position and the show position and to pitch the first row of seats forward and backward while in the show position.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the first row of seats includes a first canopy pivotably connected thereto such that a forward edge of the canopy is pivotable upwardly to facilitate loading and unloading of viewers. The upward pivoting is advantageously passively actuated by engagement between at least a first roller on the first canopy and at least a first cam surface of the pivot structure. Alternately, the pivoting of the first canopy can be actively actuated and operated synchronously with show events.
These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to
The pivot drives 26 are operable to pivot the pivot structure 14 to move the rows 16 of seats 20 between a load/unload position adjacent the floor 24 (as in
In the depicted embodiment, the support structure 12 includes columns 44 arranged on opposite ends of the pivot structure 14 and rear braces 46 extending between the floor 24 and upper ends of the columns 44. A lateral beam 50 extends between rear sides of the columns 44 with cross braces 52 extending from the center of the lateral beam 50 to the feet of each rear brace 46. The upper ends of the columns 44 carry bearings 54 for the pivot structure 14 as well as the pivot drives 26. In addition to providing lateral stiffness, the lateral beam delimits 50 the pivotal motion of the pivot structure 14. While the depicted support structure 12 is advantageous, it will be appreciated that differently configured support structures could be used in connection with the present invention. For instance, the support structure could incorporate structural elements (e.g., walls) of a given theater venue.
Referring to
Each tine 66 of each fork 62 is hollow and accommodates a respective one of the pitch drives 38 as well as the support pins 70 for the rows 16 of seats 20. This configuration also helps hide the pitch drives 39 from the sight of viewers, helping create an element of surprise for the show.
The counterweights 64 can be monolithic blocks of steel, concrete or the like, or formed from multiple plates or other discrete elements. The weight of the counterweights is preferably set to counterbalance the collective weight of the opposite ends of the side supports 60, the rows 16 of seats 20 and an estimated weight of viewers to be seated therein.
Referring again to
Each canopy 80 is pivotably connected to a pair of canopy supports 82 located inwardly of the seat pitch structures 74 so as to be adjacent an inner face of the respective tine 66. Each canopy 80 can also serve a discharge point for special effects such as wind, scent mist, special effect lighting and the like. The operation of the canopies 80 will be described in greater detail below.
Each pivot drive 26 preferably includes an electric motor 82 that engages a respective end of the pivot shaft 56 via a gearbox 84. Each pivot drive 26 preferably also includes a brake. Although the depicted embodiment includes a pair of pivot drives 26, it will be appreciated that a single pivot drive 26 could be used; for instance, a centrally located drive could connect between split pivot shafts extending laterally to the side supports.
The pivot drives 26 are computer controlled and operated to pivot the pivot structure 14 to move the rows 16 of seats 20 between the load/unload position (
Referring again to
Each pitch drive 38 is preferably a linear actuator, such as a motor-driven lead screw-type actuator, which acts between a respective one of the pitch structures 74 of the corresponding row 16 of seats 20 and a mounting point within the tine 66. Thus, by extending and retracting, the drives 38 actively vary the pitch of each row 16 of seats 20 about its pitch axis 30. The pitch drives 38 are also computer controlled and advantageously operated to maintain a neutral seat pitch in the load/unload position and while transitioning to and from the show position, despite the changing orientation of the pivot structure 14 (as shown in the transition from
Although a projection screen 40 (coupled with a projector 94) represents a preferred embodiment, other electronic, mechanical and/or live display elements could be employed within the viewing area. Also, the projection screen 40 can be flat, curved (including various hybrid curves) or, as in the depicted embodiment, hemispherical. Advantageously, the use of a hemispherical screen in tandem with the seat canopies 80 effectively limits to the field of view of the viewers to the screen, offering a more immersive effect.
The use of pivotably mounted canopies 80 allows positioning closer to the viewer, such that a shorter canopy can achieve the same visual delimitation as larger canopy positioned farther away. Advantageously, a passive actuation system is used to pivot the canopies 80 when transitioning to and from the load/unload position. Referring to
With the pivot structure 14 in the load/unload position (as in
In an alternate embodiment, the return springs 104 can be replaced with linear actuators, allowing for active pivoting of the canopies 80. Active control of the canopies allows for a controlled delimitation of the field of view while the rows 16 of seats 20 are moved in the show position. For instance, the canopies 80 can be pivoted upwardly to permit a larger field of view when the rows 16 of seats 20 are pitched forward and vice versa.
Referring to
A ride control subsystem controller commonly known to persons skilled in the art may be used for control of the motion base. The ride control system may use network protocols commonly known to persons skilled in the art to communicate with controllers on the motion base to receive, transmit, or communicate status and diagnostic information. In one embodiment, the ride control system may include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 212 that will support the controls to return the pivot structure 14 to the load/unload position with the seats 20 at neutral pitch in the event of a loss of power to the theater.
According to a method aspect, at the start of a show (such as a movie or other presentation) the pivot structure 14 is positioned with the rows 16 of seats 20 in the load/unload position, and, as such, the viewers entering the theater can only see the rows 16 of seats 20. The screen is purposely kept dark. As part of the show sequence, the pivot drives 26 rotate the pivot structure 14 to move the rows 16 of seats 20 from the load/unload position into the show position while pitch drives 38 maintain a neutral pitch, thereby lifting the seats 20 up from the ground and giving a breathtaking “reveal moment” as the projected image comes alive on the screen. The element of surprise for the “reveal moment” can be further enhanced with the application of fog or mist effect while the pivot structure 14 is rotating the seats 20 into the show position. If controlled by active actuators 214, the control system will also control the movement thereof.
Once in the show position, the pivot structure 14 in combination with the pitch drives 38 will move in synchronization with the projected images on the screen. Special effects 216 such as wind, mist, scent and special effects lighting will be discharged from the canopies 80 or elsewhere at preprogrammed points of the show to enhance the immersive effect. At the end of the show, the rows 16 of seats 20 are smoothly returned to the load/unload position by the pivot drives 26 rotating the pivot structure 14 in combination with the pitch drives 38 adjusting the pitch of the rows 16 of seats 20.
It will be appreciated that a motion base for a flying theater according to the present invention allows for a simplification of the motion base used in the prior art flying theater by eliminating the need for a separate translation mechanism while still effectively allowing viewers to experience the same two degrees of freedom during a show. Additionally, the need for an elevated loading platform is eliminated, as viewers can take their seats from the venue floor or only a few steps up—again allowing accommodating of the motion base within a smaller space. The pivoting canopy design also allows shorter canopies to be used to achieve a desired degree of sightline restriction relative to a fixed canopy high enough to allow easy viewer entrance and egress.
The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. Those skilled in this art will understand that various modifications of detail may be made to these embodiments, all of which come within the scope of the invention and of the claims appended hereto.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/249,637, filed on Sep. 29, 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63249637 | Sep 2021 | US |