Patents by Inventor Eric Alan Vance

Eric Alan Vance has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12643052
    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: February 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Lara Larberg MacLean, William Dale Mason, Eric Alan Vance, Justin Michael Schwartz, Ross Alan Osterman
  • Patent number: 12043352
    Abstract: A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Byron Thomas Osborn, Eric Alan Vance, Pedro Lopez, Ryan Dale Walton, David Gerard Majdali
  • Publication number: 20240198245
    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: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Lara Larberg MacLean, William Dale Mason, Eric Alan Vance, Justin Michael Schwartz, Ross Alan Osterman
  • Patent number: 11918925
    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: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Lara Larberg MacLean, William Dale Mason, Eric Alan Vance, Justin Michael Schwartz, Ross Alan Osterman
  • Publication number: 20230100263
    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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Lara Larberg MacLean, William Dale Mason, Eric Alan Vance
  • Patent number: 11583781
    Abstract: A ride vehicle system includes a ride track and a ride vehicle. The ride track includes a vehicle rail and an accessory rail. The ride vehicle includes a ride vehicle base, a show element coupled to the ride vehicle base, and a mechanical linkage. The ride vehicle base is configured to interface with the vehicle rail of the ride track and to move along the vehicle rail of the ride track. The show element coupled to the ride vehicle base is configured to actuate with respect to the ride vehicle base. The mechanical linkage includes a first end coupled to the show element and a second end coupled to the accessory rail of the ride track. The mechanical linkage is configured to move along the accessory rail and to actuate the show element based at least in part on a position of the accessory rail with respect to the vehicle rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Scott David Sabens, Christine Marie Sorrentino, Justin Michael Schwartz, Eric Shawn Thomas, Eric Alan Vance
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220281563
    Abstract: A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Byron Thomas Osborn, Eric Alan Vance, Pedro Lopez, Ryan Dale Walton, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 11352101
    Abstract: A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Byron Thomas Osborn, Eric Alan Vance, Pedro Lopez, Ryan Dale Walton, David Gerard Majdali
  • Patent number: 11305202
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems that include bogie systems configured to travel along track members that define a ride path, to detach certain track members from adjacent track members, and to re-attach the detached track members to other track members that may not be orthogonal or coplanar. By employing the embodiments described herein, the system may be able to seamlessly change the direction of travel of a ride vehicle from a lateral direction to a longitudinal direction, from a lateral direction to a vertical direction, or from a vertical direction to the longitudinal direction, to name but a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Eric Alan Vance, Clarisse Marie Vamos
  • Publication number: 20210346814
    Abstract: A ride system includes a ride vehicle made of a buoyant material configured to float in a liquid. A bogie of the ride system includes a vehicle support positioned under the ride vehicle, and the bogie is configured to travel along a track. An extender is coupled to the vehicle support and coupled to the ride vehicle. The extender is configured to transition between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration to allow the ride vehicle to float in the liquid within a range of motion relative to the vehicle support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Sarka Harrington, Eric Alan Vance
  • Publication number: 20200398173
    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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Lara Larberg MacLean, William Dale Mason, Eric Alan Vance
  • Publication number: 20200354028
    Abstract: A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Byron Thomas Osborn, Eric Alan Vance, Pedro Lopez, Ryan Dale Walton, David Gerard Majdali
  • Publication number: 20200122045
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems that include bogie systems configured to travel along track members that define a ride path, to detach certain track members from adjacent track members, and to re-attach the detached track members to other track members that may not be orthogonal or coplanar. By employing the embodiments described herein, the system may be able to seamlessly change the direction of travel of a ride vehicle from a lateral direction to a longitudinal direction, from a lateral direction to a vertical direction, or from a vertical direction to the longitudinal direction, to name but a few.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Eric Alan Vance, Clarisse Marie Vamos
  • Publication number: 20200086220
    Abstract: A ride vehicle system includes a ride track and a ride vehicle. The ride track includes a vehicle rail and an accessory rail. The ride vehicle includes a ride vehicle base, a show element coupled to the ride vehicle base, and a mechanical linkage. The ride vehicle base is configured to interface with the vehicle rail of the ride track and to move along the vehicle rail of the ride track. The show element coupled to the ride vehicle base is configured to actuate with respect to the ride vehicle base. The mechanical linkage includes a first end coupled to the show element and a second end coupled to the accessory rail of the ride track. The mechanical linkage is configured to move along the accessory rail and to actuate the show element based at least in part on a position of the accessory rail with respect to the vehicle rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Scott David Sabens, Christine Marie Sorrentino, Justin Michael Schwartz, Eric Shawn Thomas, Eric Alan Vance
  • Patent number: 10398991
    Abstract: A ride system in accordance with present embodiments includes a flume providing a flow path and one or more vehicles configured to accommodate one or more passengers and configured to move along the flow path in the flume. The ride system also includes one or more objects protruding into the flow path, wherein the one or more objects are positioned in the flow path such that the one or more objects are configured to contact a vehicle of the one or more vehicles as the vehicle moves along the flow path and at a contact location on an exterior of the vehicle, wherein the contact location is spaced apart a distance from a center of mass of the vehicle to change a direction or orientation of the vehicle after the one or more objects contact the vehicle at the contact location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Eric Alan Vance, Michael Davies Habersetzer
  • Publication number: 20180339234
    Abstract: A ride system in accordance with present embodiments includes a flume providing a flow path and one or more vehicles configured to accommodate one or more passengers and configured to move along the flow path in the flume. The ride system also includes one or more objects protruding into the flow path, wherein the one or more objects are positioned in the flow path such that the one or more objects are configured to contact a vehicle of the one or more vehicles as the vehicle moves along the flow path and at a contact location on an exterior of the vehicle, wherein the contact location is spaced apart a distance from a center of mass of the vehicle to change a direction or orientation of the vehicle after the one or more objects contact the vehicle at the contact location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Alan Vance, Michael Davies Habersetzer