Patent Application
20240269574
Indoor amusement rides, commonly known as dark rides, convey passenger carriages through different scenes and experiences, which are generally provided by separate rooms containing different scenery, animatronics, special effects, interactive media, etc. Dark rides with horror themes are also referred to as ghost trains in some countries. Conventionally, dark rides have been designed with a closed loop or circuit ride path, where the rider car proceeds in a linear fashion along the ride path from beginning to end. Such designs generally require a large amount of space to buildout the ride path with a suitable number of scenes and experiences for the ride.
Various transport systems are used to provide the ride path for the rider carriage. Historically, the carriages are mounted on fixed rails or tracks. “Trackless” options include buried guide cables and local positioning systems. Rider carriages provided as free-ranging automated guided vehicles (AGVs) may use a combination of inertial navigation, laser scanners, RF tracking and ranging systems with WiFi and indoor GPS, optical encoders and sensors, buried magnets, buried wire and RFID tags with an onboard electronic map. Such vehicles may also have onboard or wayside vision systems monitoring for obstacles. Switching systems allow the carriages to be selectively directed onto different ride pathways. The carriages may be rotatable relative to the primary direction of travel along the ride path, and include onboard audio, interactive guns or blasters, displays, effects, etc.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.
The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and depicted in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.
Proceeding from this background, the present disclosure relates to an indoor amusement ride. One aspect is a ride configuration designed for small spaces, typically less than 3000 square feet. Another aspect is to provide such a ride configuration for small spaces which also provides a wide range of ride experiences for the passengers within such a small space.
An indoor amusement ride or ride system comprises at least two rider carriages movably disposed with respect to a ride path. The ride has a loading room for loading entering passengers on, and unloading exiting passengers from, the ride carriages. Preferably, the loading room also includes one or more entertainment elements as part of the ride, such as one or more media display screens for playing ride media, which may include LED displays and/or screens for media projectors for example. A main hallway is separated from the loading room by a system automated door. The main hallway has a first end section, a second end section and a central section located therebetween. The loading room opens into the central section, a first viewing room or area opens into the first end section, and a second viewing room or area opens into the second end section. The viewing room areas include panoramic media screens for displaying ride media. A variable ride element is located in each respective end section of the main hallway. Each variable ride element includes at least two different scenes of the ride, and each element is changeable to display different ride scenes. The variable ride elements are controlled and timed with the passage of the carriages during the ride. In some embodiments, the variable ride elements are rotatable, preferably 360° rotatable, in order to change which ride scene is displayed to the rider carriages in the main hallway, with a dividing wall separating different ride scenes from one another. For example, the transitional ride scenes provided by the variable ride elements in the main hallway may comprise various scene imagery, animatronics, show action props, special effects, lighting effects, video displays, etc. In addition, the lateral walls of the main hallway may also include one or more entertainment elements for rider interaction, such as theme imagery, special effects, lighting effects, video displays for ride media, etc.
For installations with limited space availability for the ride, the ride path preferably consists of three terminal positions for the rider carriages, namely, a first terminal position located in the loading room, a second terminal position located in the first viewing area, and a third terminal position located in the second viewing area. In which case, the ride path preferably consists of three movement pathways for the rider carriages, namely, one between the loading room and the first viewing area, one between the loading room and the second viewing area, and one between the first viewing area and the second viewing area which bypasses the loading room through the main hallway. According to a further development, the loading room is connected to the first viewing area and the second viewing area respectively with curved portions of the ride path, preferably semicircular portions. Preferably, the loading room, the first viewing area, and the second viewing area are arranged on a same lateral side of the main hallway, with the loading room located between the first and second viewing areas. Such layout is particularly space efficient. According to a further development, the loading room has a floorplan shape of a trapezoid or irregular hexagon, which is narrower on the passenger entry/exit side, and the adjacent viewing area rooms have a corresponding fan-shaped floorplans with the inner sidewalls thereof also providing the angled leg walls of the loading room's floorplan.
An example method for operating such an indoor amusement ride or ride system comprises the steps of loading a first rider carriage with one or more passengers in the loading room, opening the door between the loading room and the main hallway, moving the first carriage from the loading room through the main hallway into the first viewing area, whereby the variable ride element in this first end section of the hallway displays its first ride scene as the first carriage passes, and playing ride media for the first carriage in the first viewing area. Before the first carriage exits the first viewing area, the variable ride element in the first end section preferably changes to display another ride scene which is different from the ride scene previously displayed by the variable ride element to the first carriage in entering the first viewing area. While the first carriage is in the first viewing area, a second rider carriage is moved from the second viewing area through the main hallway into the loading room. After completing the ride media in the first viewing area, and while the second carriage is in the loading room, the first carriage is then moved from the first viewing area through the main hallway into the second viewing area, whereby the variable ride element in this second end section of the hallway displays its first ride scene as the first carriage passes, and ride media is played for the first carriage in the second viewing area. Before the first carriage exits the second viewing area, the variable ride element in the second end section preferably changes to display another ride scene which is different from the ride scene previously displayed by the variable ride element to the first carriage in entering the second viewing area. While the first carriage is in the second viewing area, the second carriage is then moved from the loading room through the main hallway into the first viewing area. After completing the ride media in the second viewing area, and while the second carriage is in the first viewing area, the first rider carriage is then moved from the second viewing area through the main hallway into the loading room, and the door between the loading room and the main hallway is closed.
The current ride of the first carriage may end after returning to the loading room. In which case, the current passengers are unloaded from the first carriage to end the current ride, and new passengers are loaded on the first carriage to begin a new ride. The first carriage may then repeat the above steps for the new ride. Alternatively, the loading room is used at this point to provide an intermediary scene for the current ride of the first carriage, which allows the second carriage to move through the main hallway between the viewing areas without encountering the first carriage. For example, ride media may be played for the first carriage in the loading room. After playing such ride media for the first carriage in the loading room, and with the main hallway clear of the second carriage, the door between the loading room and the main hallway is opened and the first carriage is moved through the main hallway into either the first or second viewing area, whichever is open based on where the second rider carriage is currently located.
Accordingly, where the ride course path consists of three terminal positions for the rider vehicles, namely, one in the loading room, one in the first viewing area room, and one in the second viewing area room, the operation of the ride or ride system may be further described in terms of the relative positions of the rider vehicles as follows: when one carriage is in the loading room, the other carriage is either in the first viewing area, in the second viewing area, or in the main hallway moving between the first viewing area and the second viewing area, when one carriage is in the first viewing area, the other carriage is either in the loading room, in the second viewing area, or in the main hallway moving between the loading room and the second viewing area; and when one carriage is in the second viewing area, the other carriage is either in the loading room, in the first viewing area, or in the main hallway moving between the loading room and the first viewing area.
In addition to aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the appended drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally designate corresponding structures in the several views.
The description below utilizes example embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:
Before explaining example embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in application to the details of particular arrangements shown in the drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.
Referring to
In this example, the amusement ride system 100 further comprises an indoor reception area 110 as well as backroom areas 111 within the building structure 107. The reception area 110 may include one or more kiosks 112 (e.g., for ticketing, merchandise, etc.), a 3D glasses pickup and deposit stations 113 and deposit station 114, passenger queue line dividers, waiting area seating, entertainment displays, etc. The reception area 110 is connected to the loading room 102 via a doorway 115. In the depicted example, the doorway 115 is provided with a door 116 in the form of a rollup door, preferably system controlled; it being understood that other door types may also be used. Preferably, the reception area 110 is designed to limit or prevent contact between incoming patrons entering the loading area 102 and outgoing patrons leaving the loading area 102. For this purpose, the reception area 110 may be separated into an entry space 117 and an exit space 118 by a barrier 119 such as a wall (see
The rider carriage loading/unloading room 102 is where passengers are loaded onto a carriage 106 to the start a ride and disembark from the carriage 106 at the end of the ride. The loading room 102 is connected to the main hallway 103 by a doorway 121 which contains a system-controlled automated door 122. In the depicted example, the door 122 is provided in the form of a two-panel sliding door; it being understood that other door types may also be used. As discussed below, the loading room 102 may serve as an interactive space for holding one of the two carriages 106 during the ride, in order to allow the other carriage 106 to pass across the main hallway 103 and move directly between the viewing areas 104, 105. Therefore, the loading room 102 is preferably configured to contribute to the ride experience or story via one or more entertainment elements for rider interaction, such as one or more media display screens 123 for playing ride media. For example, the media display screens 123 may include LED displays and/or screens for media projectors 124. The depicted examples have three in each case, though other configurations are also possible. In the depicted examples, the loading room 102 has a floorplan shape of a trapezoid or irregular hexagon, which corresponds to the three media panels. This trapezoid or irregular hexagon shaped floorplan is narrower on the passenger entry/exit side, and the adjacent viewing areas 104, 105 have fan-shaped floorplans with the inner sidewalls thereof also providing the angled legs of the floorplan of the loading room 102. Such arrangement is particularly space efficient. Accordingly, the loading room 102 equipped with entertainment elements 123 may be used to provide the first and/or last scene of the ride, as well as intermediary ride scenes to allow the other carriage 106 to pass across the main hallway 103.
For purposes of description, the main hallway 103 is characterized as or divided into three sections, namely, a central section 131 arranged between two end sections 132, 133. The loading room 102 opens into the central section 131. The viewing areas 104, 105 are arranged in the respective end sections 132, 133. Doorway 134 connects the first viewing area 104 to the first end section 132. Doorway 135 connects the second viewing area 105 to the second end section 133. The doorways 134, 135 are shown without doors in the depicted example; it being understood that one or both doorways 134, 135 may have system-controlled doors in other embodiments, which can help reduce noise leakage between the main hallway 103 and viewing areas 104, 105 if desired. The first viewing area 104 and the second viewing area 105 are arranged on a same lateral side of the main hallway 103, with the loading room 102 located between the first and second viewing areas 104, 105. Preferably, the main hallway wall 108 includes one or more entertainment elements for rider interaction, such as theme imagery, special effects, video displays for ride media, etc.
The ride 100 further comprises two variable ride elements 140. Each variable ride element 140 is provided in a respective end or corner of the end sections 132, 133 of the main hallway 103. Each variable ride element 140 comprises at least two ride scenes, including a first ride scene 141 and a second ride scene 142, which each present a respective “part” or “scene” of the experience or story of the ride 100. For example, the ride scenes 141, 142 may comprise scene imagery, animatronics, show action props, special effects, video displays, etc. The variable ride elements 140 are controlled and timed with the passage of the carriages 106 during the ride. For example, the variable ride element 140 in the hallway end section 132 may display the first ride scene 141 when the carriage 106 passes from the main hallway 103 into the first viewing area 104, and then change to display the second ride scene 142 when the carriage 106 exits the viewing area 104 back into the main hallway 103, or vice versa. Preferably, not only are the ride scenes 141, 142 of the same variable ride element 140 different from each other, but also the ride scenes 141, 142 of one ride element 140 are different than the ride scenes 141, 142 of the other ride element 140. In which case, the two variable ride elements 140 provide at least four distinct scenes for the ride experience or story, which avoids redundancy and creates an illusion that the amusement ride 100 is much larger in size. This effect may be augmented by rotating the carriages 106 to disorient the passengers' sense of direction.
In the depicted example, the variable ride elements 140 are rotatable, preferably 360° rotatable, in order to change which ride scene 141, 142 is displayed to the rider carriage 106. In particular, the ride scenes 141, 142 are provided as different displays separated from one another by a dividing wall 143 of the variable ride element 140, with each scene 141, 142 allocated about half or 180° of the turntable platform of the element 140. In a further development, one or both variable ride elements 140 are divided into more than two displays containing more than two ride scenes. In embodiments with three scene displays, each scene display is preferably allocated an equal area of the turntable platform, in particular a 120° circumferential arc. In embodiments with four scene displays, each scene display is preferably allocated an equal area of the turntable platform, in particular a 90° circumferential arc.
Other designs create the at least two scenes 141, 142 without needing to rotate physical displays or use physical dividers. For example, the variable ride elements 140 may have objects which are raised and lowered to change the ride scenes 141, 142 such as from the floor or ceiling. Additional techniques to create different impressions for the ride scenes 141, 142 include projection mapping, black light to white light transitions, Pepper's ghost illusions, different animatronic dialogue and/or motions, video displays playing different ride media, holograms, special effects, etc. In this way, the same physical display may be used to present more than one unique ride scene. Accordingly, with respect to the depicted example, the two variable ride elements 140 divided into four total scene displays may be cleverly used to provide more than four scenes of the ride experience or story.
The viewing areas 104, 105 provide an immersive ride media experience for the passengers. Each viewing area 104, 105 has a panoramic media screen 145 that receives images from a 3D projector 146. The curved display area extends over a 120° arc here, though other angular coverages are also possible. Projection cones are indicated by dashed lines. In another embodiment, the viewing areas 104, 105 may have one or more LED screens, again preferably providing a panoramic display area for immersive effect. Audio components of the media may be provided by audio speakers onboard the carriages 106 and/or in the viewing areas 104, 105. The viewing areas 104, 105 may be equipped with additional sensory stimulating devices, such as lighting effects, fan blowers, fog machines, water sprayers, odor emitters, etc. The viewing areas 104, 105 are designed the same in the depicted example; it being understood that the viewing areas 104, 105 may instead be configured differently from one another to provide different experiences or effects if desired.
The carriage 106 is displaced along a ride path 150 and rotatable relative to its primary direction of movement along the ride path 150, which can be used to direct passenger attention toward or away from ride elements as desired. The carriage 106 may have onboard audio, interactive user interface devices (e.g., guns, blasters, etc.), displays, effects, etc. To provide the ride path 150, any suitable transport system may be used with controllable switching to direct the carriage 106 to move directly between any combination of the loading room 102, the first viewing area 104, and the second viewing area 105. Example transport systems include traditional fixed rail as well as trackless systems such buried guide wire and local positioning systems. Rider carriages 106 provided as free-ranging automated guided vehicles (AGVs) may use a combination of inertial navigation, laser scanners, RF tracking and ranging systems with WiFi and indoor GPS, optical encoders and sensors, buried magnets, buried wire and RFID tags with an onboard electronic map. Such vehicles may also have onboard or wayside vision systems monitoring for obstacles. Such transport systems and carriages are known in the amusement ride art, and therefore not discussed in further detail here. The depicted example uses buried guide wire for the ride path 150.
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Therefore, it should be appreciated that the ride vehicles 106 are continuously cycled between the three areas 102, 104, 105 without encountering the other vehicle. Moreover, the ride vehicles 106 traverse the same ride course path 150 multiple times while experiencing different scenes on each pass. The ride media that is projected or displayed in each viewing space 102, 104, 105 is changed to show new ride content each time the same ride vehicle 106 enters the same space. The variable ride elements 140 in the main hallway 103 are configured to change between different ride scenes to provide new experiences for passengers as the same ride vehicle 106 passes the same ride element 140 in entering and then exiting one of the viewing areas 104, 105. The ride vehicles 106 are preferably rotatable relative to the primary direction of travel in order to direct passengers' attention in a desired direction to highlight and/or hide something in the ride environment, as well as disorient the passengers' sense of direction. Accordingly, the design and operation of the indoor amusement ride or ride system 100 allows for an immersive and diverse ride experience in a small spatial footprint which creates the illusion of a much larger ride.
The example indoor amusement ride or ride system 100 with three rooms 102, 104, 105 positioned on the same lateral side of the main hallway 103 is particularly designed to fit small spaces. Where additional space is available for the ride 100, alternative designs may include one or more additional rooms on the other lateral side of the main hallway 103. For example, one such embodiment (not shown) has an additional room attached to the main hallway 103 across from the loading room 102, wherein the ride path 150 has four terminal positions (the fourth being in the additional room), and therefore the ride 100 is operable with three rider carriages 106 which increases rider capacity. The same concepts apply in embodiments with more than one additional room.
While several aspects and embodiments have been discussed herein, those persons skilled in the art will recognize numerous possible modifications, permutations, additions, combinations and sub-combinations therefor, without these needing to be specifically explained or shown within the context of this disclosure. The claims should therefore be interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations, which are within their true spirit and scope. Each embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.
The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, it should be understood that although the invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are hereby incorporated into this disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub-combinations possible of the group are hereby individually included in this disclosure. In general, the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. Any above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/047536 | 10/24/2022 | WO |
