Patents by Inventor Richard D. Hunter

Richard D. Hunter 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: 20190329141
    Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle has a body and at least one of recesses and protrusions on a perimeter surface of body. The at least one of recesses and protrusions defining fluid impact surfaces. The fluid impact surfaces being at an angle to an intended direction of motion of the vehicle. The fluid impact surfaces are adapted to affect motion of the vehicle when the fluid impact surfaces are impacted by a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Richard D. HUNTER, Raymond T. SMEGAL
  • Patent number: 10384138
    Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle has a body and at least one of recesses and protrusions on a perimeter surface of body. The at least one of recesses and protrusions defining fluid impact surfaces. The fluid impact surfaces being at an angle to an intended direction of motion of the vehicle. The fluid impact surfaces are adapted to affect motion of the vehicle when the fluid impact surfaces are impacted by a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ProSlide Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal
  • Patent number: 10369480
    Abstract: A water slide feature comprising a sliding surface concave about three axes. The waterslide feature is sized and adapted to carry one or more riders and/or ride vehicles sliding thereon on anon-predetermined path. The water slide feature has an entry sized and positioned to direct the one or more riders and/or ride vehicles along the sliding surface on a path which is at least partially upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PROSLIDE TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20180214781
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control system comprising: a sliding surface; a vehicle adapted to slide on said sliding surface; and a linear motor associated with the vehicle and the sliding surface for affecting sliding motion of the vehicle on the sliding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Richard D. HUNTER, Andreas TANZER
  • Publication number: 20170106295
    Abstract: A slide feature for an amusement ride adapted to carry a rider or ride vehicle sliding thereon, and a water slide comprising said slide feature are provided. The slide feature has an inrun permitting ingress of the rider or ride vehicle, an outrun permitting egress, and a sliding surface in communication with the inrun and the outrun. The sliding surface may comprise a surface substantially in the shape of a sector of a closed curve and/or may be substantially planar. The slide feature may also include an outer lip and provide that the rider or ride vehicle, at least partially urged by gravity, slides along the sliding surface from the inrun to the out run in an arcuate path at least partially bounded by the outer lip. The sliding surface may be oriented so an elevation of the rider or ride vehicle increases then decreases along the arcuate path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventor: Richard D HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20170043264
    Abstract: An amusement attraction fluid control system comprises a fluid source, at least one pump, at least one fluid feature, a plurality of conduits interconnecting the fluid source and the at least one pump to the at least one fluid feature, and a controller; wherein the at least one pump is configured to pump fluid through the conduits to the at least one fluid feature. The controller is adapted to control the at least one pump to deliver fluid to each respective fluid feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: PROSLIDE TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Richard D. HUNTER, Raymond T. SMEGAL
  • Patent number: 9504924
    Abstract: A slide feature is adapted to carry one or more riders and/or ride vehicles sliding thereon. The slide feature includes a sliding surface having an entry end and an exit end. The sliding surface comprising at least a lower portion of a sideways tilted funnel shape wherein a radius of the sliding surface tapers from the entry end to the exit end. A lowermost surface of the sliding surface is horizontal or slightly inclined from horizontal descending from the entry end to the exit end. The sliding surface comprising side walls each extending upward from the lowermost surface about a longitudinal axis which would be defined by the complete sideways tilted funnel shape through an angle of more than 90°. The entry end is substantially larger in diameter than the exit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Proslide Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20160339348
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control system comprising: a sliding surface; a vehicle adapted to slide on said sliding surface; and a linear motor associated with the vehicle and the sliding surface for affecting sliding motion of the vehicle on the eliding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Richard D. HUNTER, Andreas TANZER
  • Patent number: 9358472
    Abstract: A amusement ride feature comprises a waterslide sliding surface, a vehicle having a vehicle bottom surface adapted to slide on said sliding surface and to convey at least one rider thereon, and at least one reaction plate and at least one permanent magnet each mounted to one of said vehicle and said sliding surface. The at least one reaction plate and the at least one permanent magnet are positioned to affect motion of the vehicle when the motion of the vehicle brings the reaction plate under the influence of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HM Attractions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal
  • Publication number: 20160136527
    Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle has a body and at least one of recesses and protrusions on a perimeter surface of body. The at least one of recesses and protrusions defining fluid impact surfaces. The fluid impact surfaces being at an angle to an intended direction of motion of the vehicle. The fluid impact surfaces are adapted to affect motion of the vehicle when the fluid impact surfaces are impacted by a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Richard D HUNTER
  • Publication number: 20150314203
    Abstract: A water slide feature comprising a sliding surface concave about three axes. The waterslide feature is sized and adapted to carry one or more riders and/or ride vehicles sliding thereon on a non-predetermined path. The water slide feature has an entry sized and positioned to direct the one or more riders and/or ride vehicles along the sliding surface on a path which is at least partially upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9079111
    Abstract: A water slide feature comprising a sliding surface concave about three axes. The waterslide feature is sized and adapted to carry one or more riders and/or ride vehicles sliding thereon on a non-predetermined path. The water slide feature has an entry sized and positioned to direct the one or more riders and/or ride vehicles along the sliding surface on a path which is at least partially upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: PROSLIDE TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20150190721
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control system comprising: a sliding surface; a vehicle adapted to slide on said sliding surface; and a linear motor associated with the vehicle and the eliding surface for affecting sliding motion of the vehicle on the sliding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Richard D Hunter, Andreas Tanzer
  • Patent number: D809618
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ProSlide Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Patent number: D813337
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Proslide Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal
  • Patent number: D819155
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Proslide Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Patent number: D819156
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Proslide Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal
  • Patent number: D844732
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ProSlide Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hunter
  • Patent number: D846479
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ProSlide Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal
  • Patent number: D855727
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ProSlide Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal