Patent Application
20240075401
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In many entertainment venues and settings, there is a desire for costumed and themed character outfits for entertainers. These costumes can range from a simple paper mask to a fully customized themed performer suit requiring prosthetics and extensions to a performer's limbs to closely mimic the desired character. Many times, these costumes limit the entertainer's ability to utilize the costume's or character's appendages (e.g., hand) to realistically interact with their surroundings. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a system to improve the costumed entertainer's interaction with their surroundings.
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 disclosure, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of certain disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.
In an embodiment, a system for controlling costumed character interaction includes a character costume configured to be worn by a user. The character costume includes an electromagnet integrated into the character costume. The system also includes a stage prop including a magnetic piece integrated into the stage prop. The system further includes a control interface coupled to the electromagnet. The control interface is configured, via a control signal, to activate and to deactivate the electromagnet to control interaction between the character costume and the stage prop via magnetic interaction between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece.
In an embodiment, a system for controlling costumed character interaction includes a character costume configured to be worn by a user. The character costume includes magnetic piece integrated into the character costume. The system also includes a stage prop including an electromagnet integrated into the stage prop. The system further includes a control interface coupled to the electromagnet. The control interface is configured, via a control signal, to activate and to deactivate the electromagnet to control interaction between the stage prop and the character costume via magnetic interaction between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece.
In an embodiment, a method for controlling costumed character interaction includes providing, via a control interface, a control signal to an electromagnet integrated into a character costume worn by a user. The method also includes in response to the control signal, causing the electromagnet either to activate or to deactivate to control interaction between the character costume and a stage prop including a magnetic piece via magnetic interaction between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece.
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:
The present disclosure relates generally to costumed or themed character outfits for entertainers. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to utilization of electromagnetic locks for costumed character interaction.
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.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.
Present embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for controlling costumed character interaction, in particular, utilizing electromagnetic locks (e.g., formed between electromagnets and magnetic pieces) for costumed character interaction. For example, a character costume worn by a person (e.g., entertainer) may include an electromagnet integrated in the character costume. A complementary magnetic piece (e.g., permanent magnet or ferromagnetic material) integrated into a stage prop (e.g., theatrical property) or show piece. In certain embodiments, the stage prop or show piece (e.g., gate to a fence, door on a house, gear attached to a wall, etc.) may be part of the scene or stage. In response to a control signal from a control interface (e.g., switch, sensor, or device having circuitry or other hardware providing control signal) communicatively coupled (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection) to the electromagnet, the electromagnet may be activated or deactivated (e.g., turned on or off) to control interaction between the character costume (e.g., an appendage of the character costume) and the stage prop or show piece via the magnetic interaction between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece. In certain embodiments, the arrangement may be reversed, where the stage prop or show piece has the electromagnet and the character costume includes the complementary magnetic piece. When engaged together, the electromagnet and the complementary magnetic piece form an electromagnetic lock. In certain embodiments, a combination of electromagnets and complementary magnetic pieces may enable interaction between multiple props and interaction between the multiple props and the character costume. In certain embodiments, the character costume and/or the stage prop or show piece may include more than one of the electromagnets and/or magnetic pieces. In certain embodiments, the character costume and/or the stage prop or show piece may include at least one each of an electromagnet and a magnetic piece. The disclosed systems and methods will make it easier for the entertainer (e.g., within the character costume) to interact with their surroundings. In addition, the disclosed systems and methods broaden the types of interactions the entertainer may have with their surroundings.
As depicted in
The electromagnet 14 is integrated within the character costume 12. The electromagnet 14 may be disposed in an appendage of the character costume 12 (e.g., hand, foot, arm, leg) or another portion of the character costume 12 (e.g., torso, head, etc.). In certain embodiments, the character costume 12 may include multiple electromagnet 14 located in different locations of the character costume 12.
As depicted, the electromagnet 14 is coupled to a control interface 20 (e.g., a switch). In certain embodiments, the electromagnet 14 may be coupled to the control interface 20 via a wireless connection. In certain embodiments, the electromagnet 14 may be coupled to the control interface 20 via a wired connection. As depicted, the control interface 20 (e.g., switch, sensor, or device having circuitry or other hardware providing control signal) is disposed in the character costume 12. In certain embodiments, the control interface 20 may be a switch or sensor, integrated into a portion of the character costume 12 where a particular movement may cause the control interface 20 to provide control signals to turn the electromagnet 14 on or off. For example, a switch or sensor(s) may be integrated in the fingers or grip of a hand where movement of the hand and/or fingers (e.g., clenching) that mimics gripping may trigger a control signal. In another embodiment, a switch or sensors, may be integrated in a neck or head region and may be activated by moment of the head. In certain embodiments, the control interface 20 is located outside or remote from the character costume 12. For example, the control interface 20 may be part of a device controlled by a handler of the entertainer. The control interface 20 is configured (via a control signal) to activate and to deactivate the electromagnet 14 to control interaction between the character costume 12 and the stage prop 16 via magnetic interaction between the electromagnet 14 and the magnetic piece 18. In certain embodiments, upon activation of the electromagnet 14, the electromagnet 14 of the character costume 12 and the magnetic piece 18 of the stage prop 16 engage each other forming an electromagnetic lock (while deactivation disengages the electromagnet 14 and the magnetic piece 18). In certain embodiments, upon activation of the electromagnet 14, the electromagnet 14 of the character costume 12 and the magnetic piece 18 of the stage prop 16 disengage from each other.
When disposed within the character costume 12, the control interface 20 may be generally located in the same location as the electromagnet 14. For example, if the electromagnet 14 is located in the hand of the character costume 12, the control interface 20 may be located near the hand region in the arm. In certain embodiments, the control interface 20 may be located in the character costume 12 in a different location from the electromagnet 14. For example, if the electromagnet 14 is located in the hand of the character costume 12, the control interface 20 may be located in the torso region or the neck region. In certain embodiments, the control interface 20 may be directly manipulated by a hand or foot of the person within the character costume 12. In certain embodiments, the control interface 20 may be manipulated by the entertainer externally pressing a portion of the character costume 12 where the control interface 20 is located (e.g., chest, forearm, etc.). In certain, embodiments, the control interface 20 is located in a region where movement enables sending control signals to the electromagnet 14. For example, the control interface 20 may be located in the neck region of the character costume 12 and rotation of the head or nodding of the head may enable the sending of control signals from the control interface 20.
The electromagnet 14 is integrated within the stage prop 16. The electromagnet 14 may be disposed in or on a location of the stage prop 16 that enables normal interaction (or the appearance of normal interaction) of the character costume 12 with the stage prop or show piece 16. For example, if the stage prop 16 is a baseball bat, the electromagnet 14 may be located in the handle of the baseball bat. In certain embodiments, the stage prop 16 may include multiple electromagnets 14 located in different locations of the stage prop 16.
As depicted, the electromagnet 14 is coupled to the control interface 20 (e.g., a switch). In certain embodiments, the electromagnet 14 may be coupled to the control interface 20 via a wireless connection. In certain embodiments, the electromagnet 14 may be coupled to the control interface 20 via a wired connection. As depicted, the control interface 20 is disposed in the stage prop 16. In certain embodiments, the control interface 20 is located outside or remote from the stage prop 16. For example, the control interface 20 may be part of a device controlled by a handler of the entertainer. The control interface 20 is configured (via a control signal) to activate and to deactivate the electromagnet 14 to control interaction between the character costume 12 and the stage prop 16 via the magnetic interaction between the electromagnet 14 and the magnetic piece 18. In certain embodiments, upon activation of the electromagnet 14, the electromagnet 14 of the stage prop 16 and the magnetic piece 18 of the character costume 12 engage each other (e.g., forming an electromagnetic lock). In certain embodiments, upon activation of the electromagnet 14, the electromagnet 14 of the stage prop 16 and the magnetic piece 18 of the character costume disengage from each other.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the magnetic piece 18 made of ferromagnetic material (e.g., a piece of metal such as a plate that is ferromagnetic). However, in certain embodiments, the magnetic piece 18 may be a permanent magnet. In certain embodiments, a permanent magnet may not be strong enough on its own to interact with the electromagnet 14 (e.g., in the character costume 12) and the activation of the electromagnet 14 would generate a greater attraction between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet to generate an electromagnetic lock. In certain embodiments, due to permanent magnets typically having two poles, the permanent magnet may be arranged in the costume and/or stage prop 16 so that a particular pole is oriented to generate a specific action (e.g., repulsion or attraction) between stage props 16 or between the stage prop 16 and the character costume 12. In certain embodiments, due to a thickness of the character costume 12, a couple of electromagnets 14 may be utilized to form an electromagnetic lock 14 with the magnetic piece 18. In certain embodiments, the magnetic piece 18 itself may be an electromagnet.
As depicted in
The system 10 may include one or more control interfaces 20. As depicted in
In certain embodiments, as noted above, a special effect generator may be coupled to an electromagnet (e.g., via a switch). In certain embodiments, upon the electromagnet forming a connection with a magnetic piece, the connection or the detection of the connection may provide a secondary activation of the special effect generator. For example, upon magnetic coupling a near field signal may be provided to cause the special effect generator to generate a special effect (e.g., ignite a flame effect or turn on a light). In another example, induction may power the generation of the special effect (via the special generator) due to electricity provided from the powered side (i.e., where the electromagnet is located) (e.g., either the character costume or the stage prop). In a further example, a pressure switch or some other sensor could be activated by the connection between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece to initiate the special effect via the special effect generator. In certain embodiments, a slight delay may occur (e.g., after the coupling between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece) before the special effect is generated. In certain embodiments, a simple communication link may be powered or established that enables a person in the character costume to activate the special effect when desired. In certain embodiments, the electromagnet may be directly coupled to the electromagnet (e.g., via the switch) and activation of the electromagnet may cause the special effect to be generated by the special effect generator.
The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).
While only certain features of the disclosed subject matter 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 disclosed subject matter.
