SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING MODULAR OMNIDIRECTIONAL ACTUATED FLOORS IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE

Number: 20250114714
Published: 2025-04-10
Filed: 2023-10-05
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Smoot; Lanny S. et al.
CPC: A63G25/00; A63G7/00; A63G31/16
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Actuated-floor ride application hardware (Smoot, lexicon inventor).

Abstract

A system for moving passengers is disclosed. The system includes an auxiliary mobility platform including a plurality of tiles, the plurality of tiles includes a first plurality of tiles defining a loading region and a second plurality of tiles defining an intermediate region. The system also includes a carriage positioned on the auxiliary mobility platform and defining a passenger compartment, the carriage movable by the auxiliary mobility platform, and a carrier vehicle to support the carriage and movable along a predefined ride pathway.

Background

FIELD

The present application relates to systems and methods of moving or positioning objects, such as moving or positioning people or carriages for an amusement or theme park ride. BACKGROUND

Various amusement parks, theme parks, and other entertainment venues often provide rides or immersive experiences to guests. These rides or experiences may include vehicles or other devices to carry passengers, e.g., along a track or other predetermined path. At some point these rides require the passengers to board and deboard the vehicles.

Boarding or deboarding the vehicle may require the vehicle to slow or stop to a speed sufficient for a person to easily exit the vehicle. However, for passengers with disabilities, mobility impairments, or young children, the ride vehicle may need to move slower and/or stop longer to allow those passengers to deboard. For some of these passengers the time to board or deboard may be difficult, stressful, or prohibitive and may prevent some people from attempting the ride. Further, the arrangement of the boarding or deboarding areas may be difficult for passengers with disabilities to maneuver.

To accommodate the increased time to board or deboard the ride vehicles, the ride vehicles must be spaced sufficiently along the ride pathway for other vehicles to board or deboard, or the other ride vehicles must also stop for boarding and deboarding of passengers. However, the spacing of the ride vehicles or stopping ride vehicles

Claims

1. A system for moving passengers comprising: an auxiliary mobility platform comprising: a plurality of tiles, the plurality of tiles including: a first plurality of tiles defining a loading region, and a second plurality of tiles defining an intermediate region; a carriage positioned on the auxiliary mobility platform and defining a passenger compartment, the carriage movable by the auxiliary mobility platform; and a carrier vehicle to support the carriage and movable along a predefined ride pathway. || 13. A ride system for moving passengers comprising: a modular floor including a plurality of tiles providing independent movement, the modular floor including: a first region, and a second region, the second region causing movement at a velocity or in a direction different from the first region; a carriage positioned on the modular floor and defining a passenger compartment, the carriage movable by the modular floor; and a carrier vehicle to support the carriage and movable along a track positioned adjacent the modular floor. || 18. A method for a system transporting passengers to a carrier vehicle of a ride using an auxiliary mobility platform comprising: positioning a carriage at a loading region, the loading region including a first set of active tiles; moving the carriage from the loading region to an intermediate region including a second set of active tiles, the second set of active tiles moving the carriage at a different velocity from the first set of active tiles; and moving the carriage from the intermediate region to carrier vehicle. || 25. A ride system for passengers comprising: a main ride including: a plurality of vehicles including a carrier vehicle, and a ride pathway including a start area, wherein the plurality of vehicles navigate the ride pathway; a modular floor positioned adjacent the start area; a carriage configured to receive passengers and positioned on the modular floor; and wherein the carriage is movable by the modular floor to the start area in alignment with the main ride.