This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/MX2012/000048, having a filing date of May 4, 2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The following relates to the field of entertainment, more specifically to the use of mirrors arranged in triangular cells in order to create an illuminated maze with the dynamic illusion of straight passageways or infinite tunnels by means of the projection as a result of the mirrors, which are positioned on vertical supports arranged in basic cells forming triangles with internal angles of 60°.
The concept of a mirror maze dates back to 1649, when a wealthy Parisian citizen named Peter Stuyvesant visited the Hall of Mirrors in the palace of Versailles; he founded the House of Mirrors in Amsterdam in 1651.
The mirror maze is an attraction that creates repetitive images that confuse the spectator, where obstacles are created by combining support panels and mirrors embedded therein, and disorientation of the spectator is effected through repetition of the images in the arrangement of mirrors that are set up in cells at specific angles in order to form a basic cell comprised of three support panels and at least two mirrors. The frames or contours that hold the mirrors are imprinted with repetitive motifs in order to confuse the spectator even more, and in this manner to increase disorientation; this is the usual pattern of what is called a first-generation maze.
Second-generation mirror mazes utilize panels with imprinted arches and changes in lighting in the floor and ceiling of the basic cell with the purpose of creating a more intense experience by using a greater amount of visual stimuli.
United States patent application US 2011310310, published on Dec. 22, 2011, whose inventors are Lassila Neal et al., describes a system and method for multiple projection and framing of a lateral projection of a video on objects in a random fashion, wherein the data of the image are used to produce the framing of the projection on the object, and opaque projection surfaces and additional background surfaces are used to change the viewing angle.
Chinese patent CN 101923205, published on Dec. 22, 2010, whose inventor is Lai-Chang Lin, describes an optical system for wide-angle projection—in other words, the projection of lateral images or short throw images with very short effective focal length—which allows projection within narrow profiles with high image quality.
United States patent application US 2010277780, published on Nov. 4, 2010, whose inventor is Elias Darrin, describes an arrangement of mirrors disposed in a triangular prism shape on a revolving base supported on a vertical axis, wherein the mirror arrangement is used to increase the illusion created by the mirror maze per se; the arrangement has a zipping mechanism that facilitates the propulsion of the rotation axis, which in turn causes the mirror arrangement to revolve.
Taiwanese patent TW 200926840, published on Jun. 16, 2009, whose inventor is Wang Feng-Xing, describes an image-generating system in a maze, which projects a digital photograph and comprises an image-processing module that assigns flags to the photographs to be projected onto a platform.
Japanese patent JP 2009006022, published on Jan. 15, 2009, whose inventor is Nishi Nobuhiro, describes a mirror maze for amusement in which additional entertainment stations, such as slot machines, video game machines, and so on are integrated along the length of the tour. The entertainment stations are located in specific areas within the maze, and the spectator can decide if he would like to play an additional game during the tour.
United States patent application US 2008205046, published on Aug. 28, 2008, whose inventor is Elias Darrin, describes modifications to the lighting of a mirror maze with the traditional arrangement formed by support pillars and mirrors, wherein double lighting lines are positioned at the junction between two pillars that do not include a mirror, and a single lighting line is positioned in those that include a mirror in order to produce the appearance of a pair of lighting lines, that is, in the arch that allows the passage of the spectator and the one that constitutes an obstacle, respectively.
Slovak patent SK 322008, published on Aug. 5, 2008, whose inventor is Holy Peter, describes an inflatable maze for the entertainment of children at a party.
International patent application WO 2007121639, published on Nov. 1, 2007, whose inventor is Lai Ying-Kuang, describes a three-dimensional maze with an arrangement with several levels, in which the user can climb up or down in addition to circulate through each level. The maze is suitable for amusement during parties or in areas where large groups of people gather.
Chinese patent CN 2465755, published on Dec. 19, 2001, whose inventor is Shen Xingcun, describes a mirror maze that combines transparent glass panels that function as passages and as a generator of the image of the spectator through the additional mirrors located in the vicinity of the glass.
An advantage is to provide a mirror maze for the projection of images onto an opaque surface in order to create the optical illusion of passages or infinite tunnels with animated contours by means of the projection.
Another advantage is to provide a mirror maze with lighting, projection of images, and sound, which changes in a dynamic fashion.
Yet another object of the invention advantage is to provide a mirror maze with cells formed by two arches with mirrors, whose support panel is covered with reflecting vinyl, wherein a projection is produced on an arch with an opaque panel that allows the passage of the spectator; said projection is created using a short throw projector located above said panel.
Yet another advantage is to provide a mirror maze in which a projection is exclusively produced on an opaque surface of the full passage arch of the cell without producing a shadow as the spectator passes.
It is also an advantage to provide a mirror maze in which opaque arches that follow the line of reflection of a light beam are distributed in order to create the illusion of infinite tunnels or infinite passageways in a straight line.
It is additionally an advantage to provide a mirror maze with triangular cells formed by flat panels with at least one passage, wherein one surface of the arch is opaque and has a central passage space in the shape of an arch, and the other two surfaces have at least one mirror and contours lined with reflecting vinyl, even the support columns, pillars, or posts of the panels of the cells.
It is a further advantage to provide a mirror maze wherein the placement of the projectors is arranged in such a way that it causes the illusion of passageways in a straight line with sounds and theme-related images with movement and sound.
a shows a view of an arch according to the prior art in which lighting by means of LEDs is positioned overhead, and both faces of the contour of the arch are imprinted.
b shows a view of an arch according to the invention, whose contour is an opaque projection surface without impression, generally of pale or white color, and wherein the content of the video is projected by means of a short-throw projector located in the upper part of the arch.
The application describes a mirror maze in the traditional arrangement of hexagons divided by mirrors placed in the opening or arch of the support panels, which in turn form basic cells in the shape of an equilateral triangle, which in turn are supported on pillars or posts placed in each vortex and center of the hexagon, thus forming basic triangular cells, wherein at least one support panel has a central opening section or arch that allows the passage of the spectator and has a flat edge on the sides and upper end and is positioned in order to imprint or project images; and wherein the projection or impression is effected without invading the area delimited for placement of the mirror or reflecting area, even the passage area or arch. The short-throw projector and the projection delimited within a specific contour of an object of random shape are of particular importance in the invention.
The video projectors allow the use of flexible screens, including vertical walls and panels, in order to display entertaining images, general information, product demonstrations, or other entertainment and informational content. The video projectors can be mounted on supports that are raised beyond reach, reducing the risk of accidental damage due to user neglect, thus protecting the projection equipment, which is generally expensive. In order to project a three-dimensional object, it is necessary to use two or more projectors with the same control and projecting the same image, which consequently increases the cost and complicates the implementation of the projection due to image interference and calibration errors.
It becomes necessary, as a consequence, to use a single delineated image and a single projector in order to obtain a high-quality image and overcome the mentioned disadvantages. The delineation of the image is effected through removing or making transparent all the pixels outside of the contour of the shape defined on the object.
a shows an arch (400) according to the prior art, which is provided with an impression (41) and overhead lighting (403) by means of LEDs that change colors, wherein the arch consists of a perimeter surface (401) attached to the pillars or posts by the vertical edges; said surface is imprinted with motifs that are repeated on both the front and rear surfaces of each frame along the entire maze; the space (402) defines the passage through the latter in order to obtain access to the subsequent basic triangular cell within the maze, and also defines the space to be covered with a mirror in order to present an obstacle that prevents the passage of the spectator, and the mirror has a plurality of reflections that confuse the spectator. The basic cell is formed by three arches in a triangular arrangement at 60° angles to each other—that is, they form equilateral triangles—wherein one cell has at least one passage and at least one mirror; more specifically, it can contain two passages and one mirror or two mirrors and one passage.
An important advantage to be attained with the invention was the selection of a suitable projector that would project from above the arch in order to avoid the shadow of the spectator as he passes under the portal. A short-throw projector was found to be a suitable device, as the projection angle located within the interval of 30 to 40 degrees was immediately resolved; however, the projection required another modification, as the panel of the arch was flat and elongated, making it necessary to hold the short-throw projector in a vertical position or on its side by means of supports, which in most cases emerge from the ceiling; however, the projector must be affixed to the upper end of the post or pillar by means of an aerial support when it is not possible to affix it to the ceiling; this allows the projector to be moved up, down, and along a horizontal plane so that the exact position for projection can be reached with this support in order to completely cover the desired contour of the arch. Without the projection arrangement over one face of the arch and the reflective lining of the complementary angles that form the basic cell, it would be necessary to use three short-throw projectors for each cell in order to achieve the projection and reflection effect with a single projector; that is, the reflection is projected onto the passage arch or portal lined with white or pale opaque vinyl, and the other arches are lined with reflecting vinyl or a mirror, as are the columns that support the arch, which are also lined with reflecting vinyl, but the projection or opaque arches and those with mirrors must be defined, for which purpose the line of vision mentioned in
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/MX2012/000048 | 5/4/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/17/2014 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2013/165233 | 11/7/2013 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5474501 | Teng | Dec 1995 | A |
5906373 | Sanders | May 1999 | A |
6095927 | Malone | Aug 2000 | A |
6398659 | Karg | Jun 2002 | B1 |
7749087 | Elias | Jul 2010 | B2 |
20080205046 | Elias | Aug 2008 | A1 |
20090154760 | Wang | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20100277780 | Elias | Nov 2010 | A1 |
20100315725 | Lin | Dec 2010 | A1 |
20110310310 | Lassila et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2465755 | Dec 2001 | CN |
2009006022 | Jan 2009 | JP |
322008 | Aug 2008 | SK |
2007121639 | Nov 2007 | WO |
Entry |
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Projection Mapping Door, Feb. 14, 2011, Retrieved from Internet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsTJCyP-cnQ. |
3D Projection Mapping Tutorial, May 23, 2011, Retrieved from Internet http://www.weltlighting.com/3d-video-mapping-projection-tutorial/. |
Laberinto De Espejos, Feb. 1, 2011, Retrieved from Internet http://www.mirrormazes.com/. |
International Search Report; PCT/MX2012/000048; International Filing Date: May 4, 2012; 2 pgs. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150105168 A1 | Apr 2015 | US |