Patents Examined by Kien T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11534696
    Abstract: A swimming pool slide comprising a pool slide shell and a slide flume formed in the shell to direct downhill sliding motion of a human rider. An interior water conduit transports water from a water source, through the slide shell to a top end of the flume. A slide shell base may be configured to allow for re-positioning of the slide to a proper/desired position relative to a pool edge after having connected the interior water conduit to a water source fixture in a pool deck. The slide may include a water stream shaper comprising a manifold that receives water from the conduit and re-shapes it into a sheet and redirects it onto the slide flume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Global Pool Products
    Inventor: Joshua Donald Steinman
  • Patent number: 11529565
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for constructing or providing a ride surface for an amusement attraction, such as an inflatable surfing attraction. The ride surface may be formed via the connection of a plurality of ride surface portions or segments. A mechanism may be incorporated to smooth the ride surface and define a more continuous ride surface between the plurality of ride surface portions or segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Whitewater West Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Brad Koide, Marshall Corey Myrman
  • Patent number: 11529566
    Abstract: A resistance control system of an amusement attraction includes a support assembly having a base, a pivot joint, and a support beam extending between the base and the pivot joint. The resistance control system includes a spring plate coupled to the pivot joint of the support assembly, and includes at least one spring engaged with the spring plate. Additionally, the resistance control system includes an actuator plate positioned between the spring plate and the base of the support assembly, as well as at least one actuator coupled between the actuator plate and the base. The at least one actuator is configured to move and secure the actuator plate relative to the pivot joint to adjust a resistance to movement about the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Blum, Mark Allan Stepanian, Jordan Dillon Barner, Tyler James Blankenship
  • Patent number: 11524710
    Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a loading platform. The loading platform includes a rotational portion configured to rotate about a central vertical axis of the loading platform and a stationary portion extending between a first edge and a second edge of the loading platform. The first edge and the second edge of the stationary portion include respective interfaces of the stationary portion with the rotational portion. The rotational portion rotates from the first edge to the second edge. The attraction loading system further includes a loading path disposed about a circumference of the loading platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Robbie Lewis Towns, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11517828
    Abstract: A ride vehicle includes a riding assembly configured to carry a rider, a base configured to couple to the riding assembly, and a control system configured to control the coordination of movements of the ride vehicle with movements of separate ride vehicles. The base includes a surface movement system configured to move the ride vehicle along a surface, a vertical movement system configured to move the riding assembly vertically relative to the base, and a roll system configured to move the riding assembly angularly relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Lara Larberg MacLean, William Dale Mason, Eric Alan Vance
  • Patent number: 11511203
    Abstract: The present invention provides a swing that is operable to promote attunement between a child and caretaker. The swing comprises two seats, one of the two seats being configured to be occupied by a caretaker, such as a parent, and another of the two seats being configured to be occupied by a child. The two seats are arranged so that the caretaker and the child can face one another and comfortably see each other's eyes. The two seats are also configured such that, during operation of the swing, both the caretaker and child share the experience of swinging. Thus, using the swing of at least one embodiment of the present invention, a caretaker and child may share the mutual enjoyment of the swinging action while maintaining eye contact with one another, resulting in attunement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Norquist, Kim Corvin Blackwood, Charles Lebron Griffith, IV
  • Patent number: 11511206
    Abstract: An immersion platform includes a dome configured to display a predetermined scene. The dome includes an outer perimeter. A plurality of sensory accessories are configured to stimulate at least one sense of a user. The sensory accessories include at least one of an air blower module, a lighting module, an audio module, a scent module, a haptic vibration module, a temperature module, a floor module, and brain stimulation features. A controller is configured to display the predetermined scene on the dome and to activate the plurality of accessories according to a predetermined timeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ellie DAO
    Inventors: David Green, Jason Glickman
  • Patent number: 11511204
    Abstract: An amusement device (1) with a central shaft (2) which includes a base structure (2a); and a plurality of arms (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), coupled to the central shaft (2), each of the arms (3a-3d) being rotatable around a relevant arm axis (A2), provided with one or more vehicles (6) having seats for users of the amusement device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ANTONIO ZAMPERLA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Jacobi, Alberto Zamperla
  • Patent number: 11511207
    Abstract: The disclosure provides inflatable attachments for attractions, in addition to attractions and attraction parks having such inflatable attachments. The inflatable attachments represent a significant advancement m safety, and include a central column configured for coupling to a motion base, at least one arm extending away from the central column, and at least one inflatable air chamber extending through the at least one arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventors: Robin Whincup, Michael Robin Whincup
  • Patent number: 11504601
    Abstract: A combination ramp system includes a first ramp, a second ramp, a connecting assembly, and a shelf board assembly. The first ramp has a first connecting portion. The second ramp has a second connecting portion. The connecting assembly includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The first connecting member is provided with a first overlap groove abutting against the first connecting portion and a second overlap groove. The second connecting member is provided with a third overlap groove abutting against the second connecting portion and a fourth overlap groove. The shelf board assembly includes a first shelf board abutting against the second overlap groove, and a second shelf board abutting against the fourth overlap groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Wang-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11504642
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a mouth-operated moveable apparatus are described. The apparatus may include a case, a mechanism coupled to the case, and a curved band having a first end coupled to the mechanism and a free second end, wherein the mechanism includes a biasing element automatically holding the band in a first position, wherein the case and mechanism are configured such that when the apparatus is placed in the mouth of a user the mechanism is actuatable by a jaw movement of the user, and where the actuation of the mechanism moves the band from the first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Scarecrow, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur H. Goldiner, Saundra Clay, Linda B. Camplese
  • Patent number: 11505232
    Abstract: A drive mechanism which is adapted for use with a swing device includes at least one electromagnetic driving unit and a control unit. The at least one electromagnetic driving unit is adapted to be pivotally connected to a bottom of the swing device. The control unit is electrically connected to the at least one electromagnetic driving unit for controlling the at least one electromagnetic driving unit to be activated and deactivated, so as to generate an intermittent magnetic force to drive swinging movement of the swing device. The swing device including the drive mechanism is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Lei-Lei Zheng
  • Patent number: 11498013
    Abstract: Provided is a self-propelled reading device to read cards more reliably. Each of the cards includes a first end part configured to be adjacent to another card in a predetermined direction; a second end part configured to be on the opposite side of the first end part and adjacent to another card different from the first end part; and a surface printed with a pattern in which are coded coordinates indicating a positional relation relative to a reference line extended in the predetermined direction indicative of a region in which a self-propelled device is to travel. Each of the first and the second end parts has a positioning part regulating how the other card adjacent to the end part is to be placed. The positioning parts and the reference line have a predetermined positional relation therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsunori Nakayama, Ayako Kochu, Yoshinori Kotsugai
  • Patent number: 11498008
    Abstract: A water ride includes ride vehicles and spectator areas for allowing interaction between ride vehicles and/or between a ride vehicle and spectators to the ride. The water ride may include engagement components (e.g., water guns) located on the ride vehicle and/or at spectator areas. Users of the engagement components may therefore interact with other users operating other engagement components. Activators and corresponding reactors may be triggered by users and/or automatically providing additional entertainment and interaction for the water ride. Various charging capabilities may be used for powering one or more components, activators, and/or reactors of the ride, ride vehicle, and/or spectator areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Whitewater West Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kelly Sall, Rick Briggs, Mark Weston
  • Patent number: 11498010
    Abstract: A water attraction having one or more inflatable areas and/or features for reducing turbulence of water flow over a ride surface is disclosed. The water attraction includes a ride surface, a water delivery section, and a recovery section. The water delivery section provides water flow on the ride surface. The ride surface may include the assembly of multiple segments and may be fully or partially inflatable. The water delivery section may include one or more water delivery mechanisms, for example, nozzles. A water delivery mechanism may deliver a water flow different from the water flows from other water delivery mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: WHITEWATER WEST INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Brad Jiro Koide, Danny Philp
  • Patent number: 11491409
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle for an amusement facility has a chassis, a passenger accommodation and a connecting element in the form a pendulum bar. The lower end of the pendulum bar is rigidly connected to the passenger accommodation; the upper end is connected to the chassis via a joint such that it can be rotated and/or swivelled. The pendulum is connected to the chassis via a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Joerg Beutler
  • Patent number: 11484804
    Abstract: Techniques for improving ride experience provided by a virtual reality ride system, which includes an electronic display that presents virtual reality image content to a rider of a ride vehicle, sensors that measure sensor data indicative of movement characteristics of the ride vehicle, and virtual reality processing circuitry. The virtual reality processing circuitry determines a predicted movement profile of the ride vehicle based on the sensor data, in which the predicted movement profile indicates that the ride vehicle is expected to move a predicted movement magnitude during a predicted movement duration, determines a target perceived movement magnitude greater than the predicted movement magnitude by applying a movement-exaggeration factor to the predicted movement magnitude, and determines movement-exaggerated virtual reality image content to be presented on the electronic display at least in part by adapting default virtual reality image content to incorporate the target perceived movement magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventor: Akiva Meir Krauthamer
  • Patent number: 11486551
    Abstract: Wands of the present disclosure have features that increase entertainment value, improve portability, durability, and balance, making the wands especially well-suited for use in creative routines. The wands include a middle section or an end section that at least partially houses a light engine, and at least one pole configured to couple to the middle section or end section in an axially-aligned assembly. The light engine causes the pole to transmit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin D. Schlapik
  • Patent number: 11484759
    Abstract: A basketball goal system comprising a backboard assembly and suspension frame affixed to the back surface, a suspension structure connected to the suspension frame of the backboard and a goal indication system which interfaces to at least one of the suspension structure or backboard to cause an indication (of various colors) to be presented via the suspension system and/or the backboard which indication relates to the shot points associated with a shot attempted at the goal. The goal indication system causes presentation of a cue on a front surface of the backboard, which cue is of a color corresponding to shot points. The backboard elements and light emission of the suspension frame can be controlled synchronously or asynchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin J. Brody
  • Patent number: 11478718
    Abstract: A boat motion simulator or system configured specially to impart boat-type motions (e.g., roll, sway, heave, pitch, surge, and yaw) to a passenger boat. The simulator or system is also configured to use buoyancy or buoyant forces to vertically support the boat such that the system's components imparting the boat motions do not provide vertical support of the boat, which, instead, floats naturally in a volume of water provided within the simulator or system while or concurrently with motions being imparted upon the boat by a drive or motion assembly. The simulator or system may also include a display and sound system operable with this drive or motion assembly to display imagery and a soundtrack that are synchronized with the motions imparted upon the boat by the drive or motion assembly to provide a unique and realistic boat simulator or boat ride experience for passengers in the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristopher M. Laffin