Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle includes a floor deck assembly slideably mounted inside the body of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion and telescopically extended away from the body toward a loading platform when the vehicle is at rest. A ramp assembly is mounted to the floor deck assembly near the door of the vehicle and foldably extended away from and at an angle to the floor deck assembly when the ramp assembly is deployed to accommodate a guest in a wheelchair. To promote safety, the ramp and vehicle door preferably have automatic latch mechanisms. To maintain the ride capacity at all times, a companion seat is built into the vehicle body and a conversion seat hidden underneath the companion seat can be deployed if no guest in a wheelchair is being accommodated.

Abstract: A simulated weapon creates a muzzle flash and smoke effect. The simulated weapon has an elongated tube portion having a closed end and an open end. A high-intensity light source enters the elongated tube near the closed end. A communication passageway in the elongated tube conducts a pulse of theatrical haze through the weapon. A target illuminator is mounted on the elongated tube. A pressurized pulse of theatrical haze is delivered through a barrel of the weapon. The high-intensity light source is flashed as the pressurized pulse of theatrical haze exits the barrel.

Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle includes a vehicle chassis that rolls on caster wheels. Pinch drive wheels, driven by on-board electric motors, engage a guide rail and propel the vehicle along a rack. A motion base is positioned on top of the vehicle chassis. A yaw ring is rotatably supported on the motion base. A passenger cabin is mounted on to the yaw ring. A slip ring assembly extends from the vehicle chassis to the passenger cabin, to provide electrical power and audio signals to the passenger cabin. A yaw drive motor turns the yaw ring, allowing the passenger cabin to spin on the motion base, and to provide continuous yaw movement. The motion base provides pitch and roll movements, as well as heave, slip and surge movements.

Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle has a seat on a seat chassis. The seat moves up for assisting a physically disabled person to enter or exit the vehicle. The seat moves down before the vehicle begins to ride. A slide is attachable to the vehicle to help a disabled person get into and out of the elevated seat. The seat chassis can pivot forward to provide access to the motor which lifts and lowers the seat.

Abstract: An amusement ride provides an interactive experience to its passengers. The amusement ride includes at least one ride vehicle movable along a track. The amusement ride senses inputs from at least one passenger that affects various elements of the ride. The elements can be the speed of the vehicle, acceleration of the vehicle, direction of travel, orientation of the ride vehicle or the like. The inputs can be audible inputs or optical inputs, water spray, or can be activated manually by the passengers.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for creating a wave or water vortex effect, a bridge or platform is positioned within a semi-cylinder having a downward facing curved inside surface. Nozzles shoot water onto the curved surface, creating a water layer which follows the curved surface up and around the semi-cylinder. The water layer remains against the curved surface via centrifugal force. A spiral flow path is created by declining the semi-cylinder.

Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle with motion controlled seating includes a chassis supporting a platform. Guests are transported through an amusement attraction in seating attached to the platform. Preferably, the guests ride in a chair having a hinged seat pan adapted to effect a bouncing motion or a chair adapted to effect a rocking motion. An actuator is advantageously provided to move the chair at a predetermined time. In a preferred embodiment, a triggering mechanism drops the seat pan from an inclined position to a declined position at a predetermined time, and a reset assembly returns the seat pan to the inclined position.

Abstract: The appearance of fire and flames is simulated using lighting, air pipes, fans, and fog manifolds. Water and air is sprayed into a display area to form a wall of mist which reflects light and light patterns. Air from the air pipes blows the wall of mist upwards. Fans generate a curtain of turbulent, upwardly flowing air that holds up the wall of mist, and makes it appear to flicker. Thematic lighting is projected onto the flickering wall of mist, to color the mist and simulate the flames.

Abstract: A film to live-action theater includes a screen facing an audience seating area. The screen has exit and entrance openings and movable panels to open and close off the openings. A screen elevator lifts the screen from a lowered position, wherein the entrance and exit openings are concealed behind a stage, to an up position, to allow an actor and/or a prop to move through the openings. The audience views a film presentation projected onto the lowered screen. At a predetermined time, the screen is quickly raised and a live actor and/or a prop move through the screen to a front stage area, on a track. The opening of the door panels is preferably partially concealed through special effects such as fog or lighting. As the film presentation is preferably made with three dimensional film technology, the audience perceives a film-to-live transition.

Abstract: An amusement ride attraction has an anti-roll back track with stops or cross bolts covered by a continuous brush material. A vehicle such as a roller coaster car or water flume boat has an anti-roll back pawl which rides above the fiber material on skis, when the vehicle moves forward. If the vehicle begins to move backward, the skis move downwardly through the brush material and the pawl engages a stop on the track, to prevent further reverse movement. The brush material prevents the pawl from banging over each of the stops on the track, thereby reducing noise and wear.

Abstract: A theme park ride attraction includes a flume path having rafts floating on flowing water. The rafts are elevated and enter into a pipe. First and second pivoting ramps are attached to the pipe and supported by an actuator. As the rafts enter onto the first pivoting ramp, the actuator quickly drops the first ramp down, simulating a waterfall event.

Abstract: A ride attraction has vehicles on a vehicle path. An animated figure over or on one side of the vehicle path is concealed from the path, and passengers in the vehicles on the path, by a waterfall. As the vehicles approach the waterfall, a diverter closes off the waterfall or diverts the waterfall into sidewalls creating an opening and exposing the animated figure. Simultaneously, the animated figure moves forward through the waterfall, or the plane of the waterfall, and approaches the oncoming vehicle. The sudden emergence and movement of the animated figure from a concealed position behind the waterfall adds to the excitement of the ride attraction.