Patents by Inventor Eric Allan Vance

Eric Allan 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).

  • Publication number: 20250161830
    Abstract: A fluid bearing system includes a rotor and a linear motor subsystem having a plurality of linear motors that provide a forward thrust to the rotor. The fluid bearing system also includes a fluid bearing subsystem having a plurality of fluid conduits and a pump. Further, the fluid bearing system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fluid outlets and the pump. The control system activates the pump to direct a fluid flow from the plurality of fluid outlets, wherein the provides e a lift force to the rotor via the plurality of fluid outlets that is substantially perpendicular to the forward thrust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventor: Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20250138625
    Abstract: An interactive area includes a first display disposed along a path for a queue for an attraction. The interactive area also includes a recognition and tracking system configured to recognize or to identify a guest upon entering the queue and to track the guest as they move along the path. The interactive area further includes a controller coupled to the recognition and tracking system. The controller is configured to cause first display to exhibit a user interface that moves with the guest along the first display as the guest moves along the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Matthew Freedman, Daniel Patrick Melvold, Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20250010213
    Abstract: A show effect system of an amusement park may include a platform positioned within a reservoir and configured transition between configurations to control submersion and extraction of at least a portion of the platform with respect to a liquid disposed within the reservoir, a fluid source coupled to one or more inflatables and configured to control fluid flow into and out of the one or more inflatables, one or more hinges coupling the first side of the platform to a structure of the reservoir, and a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid source and configured to instruct the fluid source to inject fluid into or extract the fluid from the one or more inflatables to lift or lower the second side and rotate the platform about the one or more hinges such that the platform transitions from a first configuration to a second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Eric Rae Parr, Eric Allan Vance, Sarah Anne Kelley
  • Patent number: 12186679
    Abstract: A ride vehicle includes a platform including a front portion and a rear portion. The ride vehicle also includes a row of seats disposed on the platform. Each seat of the first row of seats is configured so a passenger loads from the rear and once seated the passenger faces the front portion. The ride vehicle is configured so that each passenger enters the ride vehicle via the rear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Clifton Amir Montgomery, Sarah Anne Kelley, Keith Michael McVeen, Eric Rae Parr, Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20240408502
    Abstract: A round ride system includes a center wheel, a first drive system configured to drive rotation of the center wheel, and multiple spokes coupled to the center wheel. The round ride system also includes multiple ride vehicles, wherein each ride vehicle of the multiple ride vehicles is coupled to a respective spoke of the multiple spokes. The round ride system further includes a second drive system configured to independently drive each spoke of the multiple spokes in a circumferential direction relative to the center wheel to adjust respective angles defined between respective pairs of adjacent spokes of the multiple spokes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Keith Michael McVeen, Eric Allan Vance, Eric Rae Parr
  • Publication number: 20240359108
    Abstract: A ride system includes a track, a ride vehicle assembly, a coupling, and an actuation assembly. The ride vehicle assembly includes a first ride vehicle configured to move along the track and a second ride vehicle configured to move along the track. The coupling is configured to block a decoupling of the first ride vehicle from the second ride vehicle in response to the ride vehicle assembly being in a first interval of the track. The actuation assembly may be configured to actuate the coupling to cause a decoupling of the first ride vehicle from the second ride vehicle in response to the ride vehicle assembly being in a second interval of the track, different than the first interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Eric Rae Parr, Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20240269573
    Abstract: An amusement park attraction system includes a first track, a second track configured to move relative to the first track, one or more ride vehicles configured to move along the first track and toward the second track, and one or more carriages coupled to the second track. The one or more carriages are configured to receive the one or more ride vehicles from the first track and to move along and/or about the second track to drive movement of the one or more ride vehicles along and/or about the second track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Lee Marvin Wilson, Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20240189734
    Abstract: A reactive show action equipment system is disclosed, including show action equipment having one or more actuators and a special effects system coupled to the show action equipment. The special effects system includes an effects source and an effect emitter configured to expel a substance from the effects source to provide a special effect. The reactive show action equipment system also includes a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the special effect or a characteristic impactful to the special effect and transmit data indicative of the characteristic. A control system is configured to receive the data indicative of the characteristic and instruct the one or more actuators based on the data indicative of the characteristic. In some embodiments, one or more components of the special effects system may be onboard the show action equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Eric Rae Parr, Gary Lynn Blumenstein, JR., Kimberley Marie Gritzer, Keith Michael McVeen, Elias Varon, Sarah Anne Kelley, Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20240189733
    Abstract: An amusement attraction includes a ride vehicle or show action equipment and an animated figure configured to move along a surface of the ride vehicle or the show action equipment. The animated figure includes at least three points of contact configured to engage with the surface, wherein the at least three points of contact include a first point of contact and a second point of contact configured to be alternately engaged with and disengaged from the surface, and a third point of contact configured to maintain contact with the surface. The amusement attraction includes a fixation system configured to keep the animated figure coupled via the at least three points of contact as the animated figure moves along the surface. The amusement attraction includes a controller configured to provide control signals to the fixation system to facilitate control of engagement of the animated figure along the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Eric Allan Vance, Sarah Anne Kelley
  • Publication number: 20230311011
    Abstract: An attraction system for an amusement park includes an actuator, an enclosure coupled to the actuator and defining an interior space of the enclosure, a display coupled to the enclosure, positioned within the interior space, and configured to output imagery, and a guest area external to the interior space of the enclosure. The actuator is configured to move the enclosure to drive movement of the display relative to the guest area for entertainment of one or more guests in the guest area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Bryan Zebleckes, Heatherlyn Elizabeth Egan, Nathaniel David Helmick, IV, Elizabeth Anne Sutphin, Rebecca Barbara Dean, Andrew E. Nocar, Elias Varon, Keith Michael McVeen, Gary Lynn Blumenstein, JR., Kimberly Marie Gritzer, Eric Allan Vance, Sarah Anne Kelley, Eric Rae Parr
  • Publication number: 20230009457
    Abstract: A ride system includes a ride vehicle and an external sensor assembly disposed along a ride path and configured to measure external parameters. The ride vehicle includes an internal sensor assembly configured to measure internal parameters, a chassis, a cabin, and a motion base disposed between the chassis and the cabin, such that the motion base includes a turntable and a plurality of actuators. The ride vehicle also includes a controller that instructs (i) the turntable to rotate and (ii) the plurality of actuators to rotate, extend, or retract, to control six or more degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion of the cabin relative to the chassis, such that the controller is configured to instruct the turntable and the plurality of actuators based on the external parameters, the internal parameters, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Rae Parr, Keith Michael McVeen, Thierry Jean Andre Coup, Sarah Anne Kelley, Eric Allan Vance
  • Publication number: 20220379228
    Abstract: A ride vehicle includes a platform including a front portion and a rear portion. The ride vehicle also includes a row of seats disposed on the platform. Each seat of the first row of seats is configured so a passenger loads from the rear and once seated the passenger faces the front portion. The ride vehicle is configured so that each passenger enters the ride vehicle via the rear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Clifton Amir Montgomery, Sarah Anne Kelley, Keith Michael McVeen, Eric Rae Parr, Eric Allan Vance