Abstract: A personalized audio system for an amusement ride includes an audio selection system, a guest identification system and a ride vehicle enabled to reproduce audio selections made using the selection system in a specific seat of the ride vehicle corresponding to the seat occupied by the guest who selected the audio during that guest's ride on the amusement ride.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 29, 2005
Date of Patent:
August 31, 2010
Assignee:
Universal City Studios LLP
Inventors:
Scott R. Trowbridge, Steven C. Blum, Brian McQuillian, Justin M. Schwartz
Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle includes a first vehicle section, a second vehicle section, and an articulation joint connecting, and providing rotational movement between, the first and second vehicle sections. The articulation joint comprises a first shaft for bearing loads during normal operation of the joint, and a second shaft within the first shaft for bearing loads when the first shaft is inoperable. A test element, such as a lever, is attached to the second shaft. The second shaft is rotatable via the test element during normal operation of the joint. When the first shaft is inoperable, the second shaft handles loads acting on the articulation joint, and is not rotatable via the test element, thus indicating a failure of the first shaft.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2004
Date of Patent:
January 9, 2007
Assignee:
Universal City Studios LLP
Inventors:
Joseph Casey, Cindy Emerick, Ben Lovelace, Frank Weigand, Bill Whitcomb, Jim Seay, Glen Hartung