Patent Application
20190024454
The present disclosure relates generally to gate systems, and more specifically to retractable gate systems that enable amusement park guests to enter and exit a queue.
Most amusement parks include attractions that appeal to the interests of a wide variety of audiences of park guests. The attractions include animated characters, amusement park rides, live shows, televised shows, roller coasters, and water slides, among various other amusement park attractions. During peak times (e.g., weekends, national holidays, and/or grand openings of new attractions), park guests may wait in a queue for a long period of time to engage with the amusement park attractions. In some cases, the path of the queue is not always well defined, causing confusion as to where the line begins and/or ends. For example, the path of the queue may be defined by cones that may be easily removed or a chain that may be easily crossed, compromising the integrity of the queue. In some cases, the gate defining the path of the queue may include a swing gate that may swing into the travel path of guests, thereby preventing them from entering and exiting the queue quickly, and/or compromising the speed at which guests can enter and exit the queue.
It may be beneficial to enhance the efficiency by which park guests identify the path of the queue, the speed at which park guests enter, exit, and/or pass through the queue, or the integrity of the queue to block people from jumping spots in line. Accordingly, it is now recognized that it is desirable to provide a gate system that may enhance the efficiency by which park guests enter and/or exit a queue leading to an amusement park attraction, while preserving the integrity of the queue (e.g., by making jumping a spot in line more difficult).
Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the subject matter may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.
In an embodiment, a gate system includes a first fixed support structure that includes a plurality of fixed rails defining respective passageways and a gate that moves relative to the fixed support structure between an open position and a closed position. The gate includes a plurality of gate rails that slide within the respective passageways as the gate moves between the open position and the closed position. Furthermore, the gate includes one or more compressible sheets coupled to the plurality of gate rails, wherein the one or more compressible sheets are configured to move from a compressed position to an expanded position as the gate moves from the open position to the closed position.
In an embodiment, a gate system includes a first fixed support structure that includes a plurality of fixed rails defining respective passageways and a gate that moves relative to the first fixed support structure between an open position and a closed position. The gate includes a plurality of gate rails that slide within the respective passageways as the gate moves between the open position and the closed position. Furthermore, the gate system includes one or more compressible sheets coupled to the plurality of gate rails, one or more biasing members that bias the gate toward the open position, and a locking member coupled to a second fixed support structure, such that the locking member maintains the gate in the closed position while the locking member is in a locked position.
In an embodiment, a gate system includes a plurality of gates that define a queue path for a line of amusement park guests. Each gate of the plurality of gates moves relative to a corresponding fixed support structure between an open position and a closed position, and each gate of the plurality of gates includes a plurality of gate rails that slide within a respective passageway of the corresponding fixed support structure. Furthermore, the gate system includes a plurality of biasing members, and each biasing member of the plurality of biasing members biases a respective gate of the plurality of gates toward the open position. Furthermore, the gate system includes a plurality of locking members, wherein each locking member of the plurality of locking members, while in a locked position, maintains the respective gate in the closed position.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
Typically, amusement parks experience a large amount of guest traffic, especially during peak times. As such, park guests may spend a large portion of their time waiting in a line, hereinafter called a “queue,” before engaging with the amusement park attraction. Amusement park attractions may include roller coaster rides, water slides, digital media showings, interactive shows, among various other attractions. In an embodiment, the queue leading up to the amusement park attraction may follow a path defined by chains, removable cones, rope or other features. Furthermore, in an embodiment, gates that allow for the ingress and/or egress of guests may be inserted, but the gates may be hinged and may swing open, interfering with the path of travel of some guests. As such, it may be beneficial to enhance the efficiency by which park guests enter and/or exit the queue.
The disclosed gate system may effectively define a path for guests and may efficiently adjust between open and closed positions. Although the presently disclosed subject matter describes a gate system in an amusement park setting, it should be noted that the gate system described herein may be applied to any environment that may experience queues and/or that may benefit from the use of a gate. As such, the subject matter disclosed herein may be applied to restaurants, concert venues, banks, shopping centers, universities, cafeterias, and the like.
In an embodiment, the gate system 14 may enable park guests 12 to access and efficiently exit the queue 10 through a queue exit 20. As shown, the gate system 14 may include gates 16 that slide along the lateral direction 2 between an open position, allowing park guests 12 to pass, and a closed position blocking park guests 12 from passing. In the closed position, the gates 16 may further define the queue path 4. The gate system 14 in the open position is described in detail below with regards to the description of
In an embodiment, the illustrated gates 16 may all be in the open position, thereby defining a path 6 (e.g., exit path) along the forward direction 1, which may enable the park guests 12 in the queue 10 to quickly exit the queue 10 via the queue exit 20. For example, when the park attraction associated with the queue 10 stops operation or shuts down, the park guests 12 may want to quickly exit the queue 10. Instead of following the queue path 4, which may be long, the park guests 12 may follow the path 6 along the forward direction 1 when the gates 16 are in the open position to efficiently exit the queue 10.
The illustrated embodiment includes an attendant lane 22 positioned on a portion of the perimeter formed by the area of the queue 10. In an embodiment, the attendant lane 22 may be separated from the queue 10 via a wall. In addition, the wall may include windows that allow the park attendants to monitor the queue 10 from the attendant lane 22. In an embodiment, a controller 30 that may control the gate system 14 is positioned in the attendant lane 22. In an embodiment, the park attendants in the attendant lane 22 may send instructions (e.g., via a user interface of the controller 30 or communicatively coupled to the controller 30, such as wirelessly coupled to the controller 30) that the controller 30 may process to actuate the gates 16 of the gate system 14. For example, the park attendants may send instructions to change the gates 16 from an open position to a closed position. It should be appreciated that the controller 30 may be positioned in any of a variety of locations proximate to or remote from the gates 16. Furthermore, the controller 30 may receive various inputs that may be used to control the gates 16, such as inputs from one or more sensors (e.g., signals from rain or wind sensors indicating that the ride will be shut down, or any other suitable sensors that provide signals indicative of a status or condition of the queue path 4, an attraction, environment, or the amusement park).
In an embodiment, the controller 30 includes a processor 34 (e.g., a microprocessor) and a memory 32. The processor 34 may be used to execute software (e.g., stored in the memory 32), such as software for controlling the gate system 14. Moreover, the processor 34 may include multiple microprocessors, one or more general-purpose microprocessors, one or more special-purpose microprocessors, and/or one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICS), or some combination thereof. For example, the processor 34 may include one or more reduced instruction set (RISC) processors.
The memory 32 may include a volatile memory device, such as random access memory (RAM), and/or a nonvolatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM). The memory 32 may store a variety of information and may be used for various purposes. For example, the memory 32 may store processor-executable instructions (e.g., firmware or software) for the processor 34 to execute, such as instructions for controlling the gate system 14. The memory 32 (e.g., nonvolatile storage) may include ROM, flash memory, a hard drive, or any other suitable optical, magnetic, or solid-state storage medium, or a combination thereof. The memory 32 may store data (e.g., image data and audio data), instructions (e.g., software or firmware for controlling the gate system 14), and any other suitable data.
Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment includes a power source 36 that may be communicatively coupled to the controller 30 and may regulate power output to the gate system 14. The power source 36 may be any suitable device capable of supplying the power necessary to move the gate 16 between a closed and open position. For example, the power source 36 may be a battery (e.g., lead-acid and/or lithium), an electric generator, and the like, such that the power (e.g., electric power) is transferred to the gate system 14 via an alternating current (AC) power plug or socket. In an embodiment, the position of the gate 16 may be adjusted (e.g., between a closed position and an open position) based on regulating the power output of the power source 36 via the controller 30.
As illustrated, the gate system 14 includes a first gate rail 40, a second gate rail 42, and a third gate rail 44, and hereinafter collectively called “gate rails.” The gate rails 40, 42, and 44 are each oriented substantially parallel to the floor along the lateral direction 2. The gate rails 40, 42, and 44 collectively span a plane that forms the general shape of the gate 16. Furthermore, the gate rails 40, 42, and 44 may be formed of materials such as steel, aluminum, iron, plastic and/or the like. Although the illustrated embodiment includes three gate rails, in an embodiment, the gate 16 may include any number of gate rails. For example, the gate 16 may include two, four, six, eight, ten, twenty, or any number of gate rails. As shown, the gate 16 includes a vertical support beam 45 coupled to the gate rails 40, 42, and 44.
With the following in mind, the illustrated embodiment includes compressible sheets 50 (e.g., foldable sheets or panels) that are positioned in the respective gaps formed by the vertical distance (e.g., distance along the vertical direction 3) between any two sequentially spaced gate rails. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes a first compressible sheet 51 between the first gate rail 40 and the second gate rail 42. In addition, the illustrated embodiment includes a second compressible sheet 53 between the second gate rail 42 and the third gate rail 44. In an embodiment, there may be more compressible sheets 50, if the gate 16 includes more gate rails. For example, if the gate 16 includes five gate rails oriented along the lateral direction 2, parallel to the floor, and separated from other gate rails by a corresponding vertical distance, the gate 16 may include four compressible sheets 50. In an embodiment, no compressible sheets 50 are included (e.g., the gate 16 is devoid of compressible sheets 50).
In an embodiment, the gate 16 may include gaps between any two gate rails that do not include the compressible sheets 50. For example, instead of including the compressible sheet 51 between the first gate rail 40 and the second gate rail 42, and the second compressible sheet 53 between the second gate rail 42 and the third gate rail 44, the gate 16 may include only the compressible sheet 50 between the first gate rail 40 and the second gate rail 42. As such, there may be an open gap (e.g., the compressible sheet 50 may be omitted) between the second gate rail 42 and the third gate rail 44.
In an embodiment, the controller 30 may execute, via the processor 34, instructions stored in the memory 32 that cause the gate 16 to move between a closed and open position by, for example, regulating the power source 36. The compressible sheet 50 may move (e.g., translate, fold, and/or compress) as the gate rails 40, 42, and 44 move between an open and closed position. As such, the compressible sheets 50 may be of any material that may compress along the lateral direction 2 (e.g., when the gate system 14 moves from a closed position to an open position). For example, in an embodiment, the compressible sheet 50 may be made of nylon, cotton, polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET), or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the compressible sheets 50 may be made out of a substantially water resistant or waterproof material such as a tarpaulin, which may further include a cloth (e.g., such as a canvas or polyester) coated with urethane or made of plastics such as polyethylene. Further, the compressible sheets 50 may include a woven material that is made of any suitable polymers conducive to compressing along the lateral direction 2.
Turning to
Furthermore, the clasps 54 may couple the set of compressible sheets 50 to each other along the vertical direction 3 by engaging with the sheet openings 52 of the respective compressible sheets 50. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes clasps 54 that are positioned around the circumference of the second gate rail 42 and that engage with the sheet openings 52 corresponding to the first and second compressible sheets 51 and 53 (e.g., the compressible sheet above and below the second gate rail 42). In an embodiment, the clasps 54 may be of any other material (e.g., plastic). The clasps 54 may couple the gate rail to the sheet openings 52 of the respective compressible sheets 50. For example, as illustrated, the third gate rail 44 includes four clasps 54 that, instead of looping around the circumference of the third gate rail 44, are coupled to the inside of the third gate rail 44.
In an embodiment, the compressible sheets 50 may include clips 56 that may couple the compressible sheets 50 to the perimeter of the gate 16. In the illustrated embodiment, these clips 56 laterally engage the compressible sheets 50 (e.g., engage a lateral edge of the compressible sheets 50). In an embodiment, the clips 56 may maintain the compressible sheets 50 in an expanded position and block the compressible sheets 50 from sliding along respective gate rails 40, 42, and 44 while the gate 16 is in the closed position.
The illustrated embodiment of the gate system 14 includes a wheel 60 with a protective member 62 (e.g., bracket), such that the wheel 60 may roll along a linear opening 64 in a floor 66. In other embodiments, the gate system 14 may include any number of the wheels 60 or rolling members to facilitate the movement of the gate 16 along the lateral direction 2. For example, the gate system 14 may include two, four, six, ten, or any suitable number of wheels, rolling members, and/or sliding members that may facilitate the movement of the gate 16 along the lateral direction 2. As illustrated, the wheel 60 is coupled to the first gate rail 40, and the wheel 60 may roll along the lateral direction 2 to facilitate the movement of the gate 16 along the lateral direction 2 from the closed position to the open position.
That is, the wheel 60 may facilitate the movement of the gate 16 and its gate rails 40, 42, and 44 along the lateral direction 2, such that when the gate 16 moves along the lateral direction 2 from a closed position (e.g., as illustrated in
While the illustrated gate system 14 includes one gate, in an embodiment, the gate system 14 may include gates 16 that may each slide into respective fixed rails 70, 72, and 74 along the lateral direction 2. In an embodiment, the respective fixed rails 70, 72, and 74 may define respective passageways 76, 78, and 86 that receive the respective gate 16, thereby allowing the gates 16 to slide from the closed position to the open position. Such a configuration may provide a compact gate system 14 that does not interfere in travel through the queue 10 and/or exit from the queue 10 (e.g., the gate(s) 16 do not rotate or swing into the path of the park guests 12).
Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment includes a locking member 80 (e.g., lock), which may exert a force opposite of the illustrated lateral direction 2 to maintain the gate system 14 in the closed position. The locking member 80 may be an electromagnetic lock that may receive a supply of current (e.g., alternating current at a suitable frequency) via the power source 36, as discussed in more detail below. In an embodiment, the magnitude of the force that the electromagnetic lock may exert is related to the current supplied by the power source 36. For example, the higher the magnitude of the current supplied by the power source 36 to the locking member 80 (e.g., the electromagnetic lock), the higher the magnitude of the force exerted by the locking member 80 on the gate 16 in the direction opposite of the lateral direction 2.
The locking member 80 may have any suitable configuration. For example, the locking member 80 may be a latch system that includes a hook on the gate 16 that may engage with a hook opening on a second fixed support structure 100. As such, when the gate system 14 is in the closed position, the hook on the gate 16 may couple to an opening on the illustrated second fixed support structure 100, such that the gate system 14 remains in the closed position (e.g., as illustrated in
Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment includes a biasing system 90 that may couple to one or more gate rails 40, 42, and 44 via a first coupling element 94. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the first passageway 76 of the first fixed rail 70, the second passageway 78 of the second fixed rail 72, and the third passageway 86 of the third fixed rail 74 each include a respective biasing member 92. The biasing member 92 includes the first coupling element 94 and a second coupling element 96. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second coupling elements 94 and 96 may be any suitable coupling elements such as a hook and latch system, chains, weldments, and the like. In more detail, the first coupling element 94 couples the biasing member 92 to the respective gate rail 40, 42, and/or 44. Furthermore, the second coupling element 96 couples the biasing member 92 to a fixed passageway structure 98 (e.g., fixed relative to the floor 66). In an embodiment, the fixed passageway structure 98 may be positioned inside the passageway formed by a fixed rail, may be a fixed rail, or may be a wall, such that the second coupling element 96 engages directly with the wall to couple the wall to the biasing member 92. It should be noted that while the illustrated embodiment includes the biasing member 92 corresponding to each fixed rail 70, 72, and 74, in an embodiment, some fixed rails include biasing members, while others do not.
The illustrated embodiment includes a spring as the biasing member 92, such that when the gate system 14 is in the closed position, the spring is stretched because the spring is fixed to the fixed passageway structure 98 and the gate 16. Therefore, the biasing member 92 exerts a force (e.g., according to Hooke's law) that may drive the gate 16 into the open position discussed below with regards to
In an embodiment, the locking member 80 may exert a force opposite of the force exerted by the biasing member 92. In an embodiment, the force exerted by the locking member 80 (e.g., in the direction opposite of the illustrated lateral direction 2) may be greater than the force (e.g., along the lateral direction 2) exerted by the biasing member 92, such that the gate system 14 remains in the closed position, as illustrated in
Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment includes the compressible sheets 50 that are uncompressed (e.g., unfolded and/or extended) when the gate system 14 is in the closed position. Furthermore, when the gate system 14 is in the closed position, the gate 16 is positioned to abut the locking member 80 or the second fixed support structure 100. As mentioned above, when the gate system 14 is in the closed position, the force exerted by the locking member 80 may be in the opposite direction and greater than the force exerted by the biasing member 92 of the biasing system 90.
Turning to
Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment includes the biasing system 90 that biases the gate 16 toward the open position. The biasing system 90 includes the biasing members 92, the respective first coupling elements 94 that couples corresponding biasing members 92 to the corresponding gate rail 40, 42, and/or 44, the respective second coupling elements 96 that couple the corresponding biasing members 92 to the fixed passageway structure 98. As mentioned above, in an embodiment the biasing member 92 may be a spring, such that a force is always applied to the gate rails 40, 42, and/or 44 when the spring is extended (e.g., when the gate 16 is not in the illustrated open position). When the gate 16 is in the illustrated open position, the spring (e.g., biasing member 92) may be compressed (e.g., retracted).
When the gate 16 transitions from the closed position to the open position, the gate rails 40, 42, and 44 may slide along the lateral direction 2 into their respective passageways 76, 78, and 86, defined by corresponding fixed rails 70, 72, and 74. This motion is facilitated by the wheel(s) 60. Furthermore, when the gate 16 is in the open position, the compressible sheets 50 are compressed (e.g., folded) along the direction of movement (e.g., the lateral direction 2). In an embodiment, the compressible sheets 50 may include the clips 56 that may couple the compressible sheets 50 to the vertical support beam 45 of the gate 16 and the first fixed support structure 69. In an embodiment, the clips 56 may prevent the compressible sheet from sliding along respective gate rails 40, 42, and 44 while the gate 16 is in the open position.
Furthermore, the second compressible sheet 53 between the third gate rail 44 and the second gate rail 42 has a height of H1. The first compressible sheet 51 between the first gate rail 40 and the second gate rail 42 has a height of H2. It should be noted that, in an embodiment, H1 may be the same as H2, while in other embodiments, H1 and H2 may differ. Furthermore, in an embodiment, H1 may also be the distance between the third gate rail 44 and the second gate rail 42. As such, H2 may also be the distance between the first gate rail 40 and the second gate rail 42. Furthermore, the height of the gate 16 H3 may be any suitable height from the floor 66.
The illustrated embodiment further depicts a cross-sectional view of the sheet opening 52 that may receive the clasp 54. In more detail, the sheet opening 52 may include a fabric eyelet 114 (e.g., grommet) that traces the circumference of the sheet opening 52. In an embodiment, the fabric eyelet 114 may be of a metallic material that may add strength to the sheet opening 52, thereby increasing the durability of the compressible sheets 50. The illustrated embodiment depicts the clip 56 that may fix the compressible sheets 50 to the perimeter of the gate 16.
In addition, the illustrated embodiment includes the wheel 60 which may roll along the linear opening 64 to facilitate the movement of the gate 16 from the closed position to the open position. Furthermore, the wheel 60 includes the protective members 62 located forward and behind the wheel 60 along the forward direction 1. Furthermore, the protective members 62 may include openings configured to receive a hub of the wheel 60. It should be noted that in additional embodiment, the wheel 60 may be omitted. In further embodiments, the wheel 60 may be replaced by any element that may facilitate the movement of the gate along the lateral direction 2.
Further, the illustrated embodiment includes the locking member 80 that is an electromagnetic lock communicatively coupled to the controller 30. The controller 30 includes the processor 34 that may execute instructions stored in the memory 32 to control the position of the gate 16 of the gate system 14. For example, the processor 34 may receive a user input to move the gate 16 from the open position to the closed position. In addition, or alternatively, the controller 30 may execute an automated control scheme to send control signals to the locking member 80 that may control the position of the gate 16 (e.g., between a closed and open position). In an embodiment, the controller 30 may control the current supplied from the power source 36 to the locking member 80.
More specifically, the locking member 80, includes an electromagnetic portion 82 of the electromagnetic lock attached to the second fixed support structure 100 and an armature plate 84 attached to the gate 16. When the gate 16 is in the closed position, as depicted in the current embodiment, the electromagnetic portion 82 (e.g., electromagnet) and the armature plate 84 may be in contact with one another. Alternatively and/or additionally, when the gate 16 is in the open position, the electromagnetic portion 82 (e.g., electromagnet) and the armature plate 84 may not be in contact with one another. Furthermore, when the electromagnetic portion 82 (e.g., electromagnet) is energized (e.g., via the current supply form the power source 36), a current passing through the electromagnetic portion 82 creates a magnetic flux that causes the armature plate 84 to attract the electromagnetic portion 82, creating a force (e.g., locking action) that may hold the gate 16 in the closed position. In an embodiment, the mating area of the electromagnetic portion 82 (e.g., electromagnet) and the armature plate 84 may be relatively large. As such, the force (e.g., locking action) associated with the magnetic flux may be strong enough to keep the gate 16 in the closed position, even under the stress (e.g., axial force) created by the biasing member 92.
While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.
