Patents Examined by Kien T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11697073
    Abstract: A system may include an inflatable assembly having a plurality of members. The system may also include a plurality of sensors disposed at a plurality of positions inside or around the inflatable assembly, such that the plurality of sensors may acquire data related to a shape of the inflatable assembly. The system also includes one or more valves, each configured to direct a fluid into a corresponding member of the plurality of members of the inflatable assembly. The system also includes a processor that adjusts positions of the one or more valves to cause the fluid to be directed into the corresponding member of the plurality of members of the inflatable assembly based on the data and a desired shape of the inflatable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cortelyou, Ross Osterman, Justin Schwartz, Amanda Zielkowski, Caitlin A. Correll, Darrin Hughes, Anisha Vyas
  • Patent number: 11691087
    Abstract: A system may include a virtual reality system configured to present one or more virtual objects via an electronic display. The system may also include one or more inflatable objects that correspond to the one or more virtual objects, such that the one or more inflatable objects matches one or more shapes of the one or more virtual objects. The system may also include a processor configured to cause at least one of the one or more inflatable objects to inflate based on feedback from the virtual reality system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cortelyou, Ross Osterman, Justin Schwartz, Amanda Zielkowski, Caitlin A. Correll, Darrin Hughes, Anisha Vyas
  • Patent number: 11684814
    Abstract: A playground equipment comprising an array structure of networked ropes arranged in a rectangular array of parallelly arranged first ropes and intersecting second ropes and one or more rolls connected to a first rope, between two neighbouring second ropes wherein each roll comprises an inner clamping part configured for non-slideable fixation to the respective first rope, and an outer part attachable to the inner clamping part wherein the inner clamping part and the outer part are in non-slideable connection relative to each other and wherein the outer part is rotatable relative to the inner clamping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Cathrine Lüttge
  • Patent number: 11684862
    Abstract: A resistance control system for a passenger support of an amusement attraction includes a first foundation, a second foundation, and a support extending between the first foundation and the second foundation. The second foundation is pivotably coupled to the support at a pivot joint. The resistance control system also includes a motor and a linkage system coupled to the motor and to the second foundation such that the motor is configured to output a torque to adjust, via the linkage system, a resistance to movement of the second foundation about the pivot joint and relative to the first foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Mark Allan Stepanian, Jordan Dillon Barner, Tyler James Blankenship, David Boback Moghaddam
  • Patent number: 11684870
    Abstract: A lunging prop apparatus with a stationary base, a linkage, an automation system, and prop mounts for attaching prop head and hand members. The linkage articulates in a lunging direction so that the prop head and hand members are carried in a forward linear direction from home positions to lunged positions, while at the same time being separately tipped back/up from face/palms down to face/palms forward orientations. The automation system suddenly springs the linkage forward in the lunging direction and then to produce gradual controlled movement of the linkage in a return direction back to the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Mitch Maritato
  • Patent number: 11684861
    Abstract: A slide has a metal frame supporting a polymer slide portion. The slide portion has an upper slide section and a lower slide section connected to the upper slide section. The upper slide section and the lower slide section form an interface. The interface includes an interface middle section, an interface right upper extension, and an interface left upper extension. The interface middle section is offset from the interface right upper extension and the interface left upper extension. A left lengthwise interface section extends between the interface middle section and the interface left upper extension. A right lengthwise interface section extends between the interface middle section and the interface right upper extension. The left lengthwise interface section and the right lengthwise interface section are parallel to each other, but perpendicular to the interface middle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Samuel Chen
  • Patent number: 11679337
    Abstract: The wheelchair accessible seating locations provide new immersive experiences to people using wheelchairs in viewing an event at a venue while being ADA-compliant. These wheelchair accessible seating locations can be moved along one or more principal axes, such as the x-axis, the y-axis, and/or the z-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system to provide some examples, as the people using wheelchairs is viewing the event. These wheelchair accessible seating locations can oscillate along the one or more principal axes to generate vibrations to create the experience of touch to the people using wheelchairs to provide these new immersive experiences to the people using wheelchairs in viewing the event. These movements of the wheelchair accessible seating locations can coincide with, for example, be synchronized to, the event to provide the people using wheelchairs with a substantially similar immersive experience as other spectators of the event that are seated in the seats within the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MSG Entertainment Group, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Kenneth Anderson
  • Patent number: 11673065
    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: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Norquist, Kim Corvin Blackwood, Charles Lebron Griffith, IV
  • Patent number: 11673066
    Abstract: A hotel or motel room incorporates special effects in accordance with a particular theme (e.g., haunted room). A control room provides a concealed area for personnel and/or automated systems to trigger the special effects which may include, but are limited to shaking, rattling, rumbling, pepper ghosts, water fixtures being activated, thunder and lightning, swapping tiles with digital graphics, turning on a TV, clock or light, etc. Heat sensors, weight sensors, floor mats and/or other sensors determine positions of guests in the hotel and hotel rooms thereby allowing the automatic or manual triggering of the special effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Adrenalin Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott D'Avanzo, Ashton D'Avanzo
  • Patent number: 11666833
    Abstract: A ride attraction system includes a tower track and a ride vehicle configured to accommodate one or more riders. The ride vehicle is coupled to and configured to move relative to the tower track and the ride vehicle includes one or more user input devices. The ride attraction system further includes an image system configured to display a ride environment, wherein the user input devices are configured to enable the one or more riders to interact with elements of the ride environment via the one or more user input devices. The ride attraction system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the ride vehicle and the image system and configured to control movement of the ride vehicle relative to the tower track based on signals from the one or more user input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Hall, Keith Michael McVeen, Michael Tresaugue
  • Patent number: 11666832
    Abstract: A support construction for a transportable attraction for amusement rides is provided with a base, at least two masts that are moveable between a folded and stretched position, and a main shaft that is intended to be supported by the masts in the stretched position of the masts. Each mast comprises a base mast segment, which is hingedly attached to the base, and a top mast segment, which is hingedly connected with the base mast segment and is attachable to the main shaft. The base comprises at least two trailers and trailer coupling means for coupling the trailers. On each of the trailers a base mast segment of one of the masts is mounted. The support construction further comprises first mast coupling means for the coupling of a first pair of masts in folded position. A method for raising the support construction is set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: K.I.G. Heerenveen B.V.
    Inventor: Hette Knijpstra
  • Patent number: 11654374
    Abstract: An amusement park ride vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin, a slider, and a rotator. The chassis is configured to direct the ride vehicle along a ride path in a direction of travel. The cabin is configured to hold one or more passengers. The slider is configured to translate between a neutral position and a cantilevered position relative to the chassis in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and to carry the rotator and the cabin along the direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel. The rotator is coupled between the slider and the cabin, and is configured to rotate the cabin relative to the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Michael Keith Brister, Clarisse Marie Vamos, Michael Joseph Tresaugue
  • Patent number: 11642601
    Abstract: A folding play structure is provided. The play structure is convertible between a storage position and a use position, and has first, second, third and fourth sidewalls. A center beam is positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A first foldable frame structure joins one end of the first sidewall to one end of the second sidewall, and a second foldable frame structure joins the other end of the first sidewall to the other end of the second sidewall. A frame lock is provided and is prevented from moving when the play structure is in the use position to retain the structure in the use position. The structure has legs, a slide and a ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Young, Kyle Kenagy, Collin Ostergaard, Jacob Swan
  • Patent number: 11642600
    Abstract: A swing system may include a bucket-style swing seat, with a front support portion and a back support portion. A grip may be provided at the top edge of the outer face of the swing. The back support portion of the swing may have a height greater than the front support portion, and this high molded backing may also be provided with a top edge that curves outwardly. The high-molded backing may provide additional comfort for a child in the swing, as well as a grip for the caregiver pushing the swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FRUSTRATION FREE SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Thompson, Jimmy Morrison
  • Patent number: 11628377
    Abstract: The present invention is a bubble, fog, haze, and fog-filled bubble machine. In particular, the present invention is directed to a single unit machine that can produce bubbles, fog, fog-filled bubbles or haze. The machine preferably comprises a housing having a front portal, a bubble section, a fog section, and a control interface, where the housing is connected to a power source. The bubble section is located behind the front portal and has a bubble wand motor attached to a rotatable wheel with a number of bubble wands. The bubble wands pass through a bubble fluid reservoir. The fog section is located behind the bubble section and comprises a fog outlet in front of a fan, where the fog outlet is connected to a fog heater core and a fog pump is in turn connected to a fog fluid reservoir. The control interface controls the selection of effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Adam G Pogue, Christopher E Markgraf
  • Patent number: 11623155
    Abstract: A swing seat assembly, including a seat portion and a support portion, a lower support bar and an upper support bar, a lower set of elongate cables having first ends coupled with the lower support bar and second ends coupled with the seat portion, and an upper set of elongate cables having first ends coupled with a stationary support structure and second ends coupled with the upper support bar. The lower support bar is rotatably coupled with the upper support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Brian Gilmartin
  • Patent number: 11623162
    Abstract: An unfolding springing apparatus comprises a base, an apparatus linkage comprising cranks and coupler links connected to the base, a biasing element, a drive motor, a transmission, and a prop mount. The apparatus linkage includes one or a plurality of opposed pairs of cranks, each pair of cranks being connected to each other at their respective ends by a pair of pivotally connected coupler links. The biasing element is operative to bias the apparatus linkage to fold or unfold. The drive motor is operative to unfold or fold the apparatus and to reenergize the biasing element. The transmission includes a linear extension module. When engaged, the transmission transmits displacement of the drive motor to the apparatus linkage to unfold or fold the linkage. When disengaged, the transmission releases the apparatus linkage to be folded or unfolded by the biasing element. The transmission includes a motorized clutch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Tekky
    Inventor: Mitch Maritato
  • Patent number: 11617938
    Abstract: Devices and methods for dasher board assemblies for sports such as hockey. The dasher board assemblies of various embodiments are configured to reduce impact forces when a user collides with the assembly by increasing the flexibility of the dasher board, which allows for a more gradual deceleration. In some embodiments, the dasher board assembly defines a gap behind the dasher board to allow space for deceleration. In certain embodiments, a foam material is placed between the dasher board and a frame of the assembly. In embodiments, a spline connects adjacent dasher boards without rigid connection to adjacent vertical frame elements. In embodiments, the assembly is configured to provide puck play characteristics that are comparable to conventional dasher board assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Covestro LLC, Athletica Sports Systems Inc., Pittsburgh Penguins LP
    Inventors: Jim Lorenzo, Jacob Moore, Mark Bondi, Bruce W. Irving, Brandon Radeke
  • Patent number: 11613278
    Abstract: A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: James Anthony Bertoncello, Michael David Russell, Jr., Fred Calvin Wainwright, Jr., Brad Borgman, Daniel Coats, Michael Gordon, Kenneth D. Salter, Frank Weigand
  • Patent number: 11612823
    Abstract: This waterslide system or assembly that may allow for easy expansion of waterslides and more particularly an assembly and method for fixing a waterslide to a planar surface, or ground. The assembly may include reinforced portions of the waterslide which include apertures are allow for piercing of the reinforced portions to create apertures. The system may include a first sheet of material and subsequent sheets of material that may be the same or separate materials. A plurality of anchors may pass through the reinforced portions including the first sheet and subsequent sheets and fix the sheet(s) to the planar surface. The reinforced portions may be fixed to the sheet(s) through adhesion, sewing, weaving, welding, or other means. The reinforced portions may further include a flap that may comprise the same material as the reinforced portion itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Frustration Free Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Thompson, Jimmy Morrison