Patents by Inventor Steven C. Blum
Steven C. Blum 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).
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Publication number: 20250117075Abstract: A ride system includes at least one ride vehicle. The at least one ride vehicle is configured to receive a ride passenger. The ride system includes electronic goggles configured to be worn by the ride passenger. The electronic goggles include a camera and a display. The ride system includes a computer graphics generation system communicatively coupled to the electronic goggles, and configured to generate streaming media of a real world environment based on image data captured via the camera of the electronic goggles, generate one or more virtual augmentations superimposed on the streaming media of the real world environment, and to transmit the streaming media of the real world environment along with the one or more superimposed virtual augmentations to be displayed on the display of the electronic goggles.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2024Publication date: April 10, 2025Inventors: Steven C. Blum, Brian B. McQuillian
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Publication number: 20250058738Abstract: A system includes a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride and a restraint system coupled to the ride vehicle and including a lock having a detector that may receive a wireless signal. Receiving the wireless signal causes the lock to lock or unlock and the restraint system may secure a rider within the ride vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2024Publication date: February 20, 2025Inventor: Steven C. Blum
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Publication number: 20250014456Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into an active playing area. The system also includes a sensing device that operates to receive the electromagnetic radiation after being reflected from a retro-reflective material of an article positioned in the active playing area and operable to generate data based on receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from a series of article positions. Further, the system includes a controller that operates to process the data generated by the sensing device to determine whether the series of article positions correlate to a stored gesture and output a control signal to actuate an effect when the series of article positions correlate to the stored gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: Sameer Kawash, Justin Michael Schwartz, Steven C. Blum
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Patent number: 12147594Abstract: A ride system includes at least one ride vehicle. The at least one ride vehicle is configured to receive a ride passenger. The ride system includes electronic goggles configured to be worn by the ride passenger. The electronic goggles include a camera and a display. The ride system includes a computer graphics generation system communicatively coupled to the electronic goggles, and configured to generate streaming media of a real world environment based on image data captured via the camera of the electronic goggles, generate one or more virtual augmentations superimposed on the streaming media of the real world environment, and to transmit the streaming media of the real world environment along with the one or more superimposed virtual augmentations to be displayed on the display of the electronic goggles.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Steven C. Blum, Brian B. McQuillian
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Publication number: 20240375692Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2024Publication date: November 14, 2024Inventors: Luis Carlos Alarcon, Steven C. Blum, Michael David Russell, JR.
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Patent number: 12134366Abstract: A system includes a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride and a restraint system coupled to the ride vehicle and including a lock having a detector that may receive a wireless signal. Receiving the wireless signal causes the lock to lock or unlock and the restraint system may secure a rider within the ride vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventor: Steven C. Blum
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Patent number: 12100292Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into an active playing area. The system also includes a sensing device that operates to receive the electromagnetic radiation after being reflected from a retro-reflective material of an article positioned in the active playing area and operable to generate data based on receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from a series of article positions. Further, the system includes a controller that operates to process the data generated by the sensing device to determine whether the series of article positions correlate to a stored gesture and output a control signal to actuate an effect when the series of article positions correlate to the stored gesture.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Sameer Kawash, Justin Michael Schwartz, Steven C Blum
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Patent number: 12060092Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2023Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Luis Carlos Alarcon, Steven C. Blum, Michael David Russell, Jr.
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Patent number: 11975679Abstract: A harness system configured to facilitate adjustably securing guests with varying body types within a ride vehicle. The harness system may include a harness body configured to releasably couple with the ride vehicle, a waist engagement portion of the harness body, the waist engagement portion including a waist securement mechanism configured to contract or expand a functional length of the waist engagement portion to adjust for engagement with a waist of a guest, a vest portion of the harness body, wherein the vest portion includes a height adjuster configured to extend or retract such that shoulder bands extend or retract relative to the waist engagement portion, and a leg engagement portion comprising a first leg flap configured to adjustably secure about a first leg of the guest and a second leg flap configured to adjustable secure about a second leg of the guest.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Katarina Lin Gosbee, Dionté Omar Henderson, Steven C. Blum
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Publication number: 20240025366Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include an amusement park attraction having a guest restraint device configured to restrain a guest of the amusement park attraction. The amusement park attraction also includes a lower leg restraint system configured to restrain portions of one or more lower legs of the guest relative to the guest restraint device while the guest is restrained by the guest restraint device of the amusement park attraction. The lower leg restraint system may partially or fully surround the one or more lower legs of the guest. In addition, in certain embodiments, a control system is configured to actuate one or more actuators of the lower leg restraint system to cause one or more restraining features of the lower leg restraint system to restrain the portions of the one or more lower legs of the guest relative to the guest restraint device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventor: Steven C. Blum
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Patent number: 11731058Abstract: A ride system includes a base, a ride vehicle, a platform assembly positioned between the base and the ride vehicle, and an extension mechanism coupled to the platform assembly and positioned between the base and the ride vehicle. The platform assembly includes a first platform, a second platform, and six legs extending between the first platform and the second platform, and the platform assembly is configured to actuate each of the six legs so as to move the first platform relative to the second platform in different configurations based on which of the six legs is actuated. The extension mechanism is configured to extend and contract so as to move the ride vehicle away from and toward, respectively, the base of the ride system.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Steven C. Blum, Steven King
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Publication number: 20230195115Abstract: An amusement park attraction system includes a plurality of autonomous vehicles configured to accommodate one or more guests and located in an attraction dispatch area. An individual autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle controller including a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the vehicle controller to receive an indication that the individual autonomous vehicle is loaded at capacity within the dispatch area and drive autonomous operation of the individual autonomous vehicle from the dispatch area to enter the ride path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Steven C. Blum, Justin M. Schwartz, Christopher Oliver
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Publication number: 20230185367Abstract: A ride system includes at least one ride vehicle. The at least one ride vehicle is configured to receive a ride passenger. The ride system includes electronic goggles configured to be worn by the ride passenger. The electronic goggles include a camera and a display. The ride system includes a computer graphics generation system communicatively coupled to the electronic goggles, and configured to generate streaming media of a real world environment based on image data captured via the camera of the electronic goggles, generate one or more virtual augmentations superimposed on the streaming media of the real world environment, and to transmit the streaming media of the real world environment along with the one or more superimposed virtual augmentations to be displayed on the display of the electronic goggles.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Steven C. Blum, Brian B. McQuillian
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Publication number: 20230166779Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Luis Carlos Alarcon, Steven C. Blum, Michael David Russell, JR.
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Patent number: 11619938Abstract: An amusement park attraction system includes a plurality of autonomous vehicles configured to accommodate one or more guests and located in an attraction dispatch area. An individual autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle controller including a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the vehicle controller to receive an indication that the individual autonomous vehicle is loaded at capacity within the dispatch area and drive autonomous operation of the individual autonomous vehicle from the dispatch area to enter the ride path.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Steven C. Blum, Justin M. Schwartz, Christopher Oliver
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Patent number: 11584406Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Luis Carlos Alarcon, Steven C. Blum, Michael David Russell, Jr.
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Patent number: 11586277Abstract: A ride system includes at least one ride vehicle. The at least one ride vehicle is configured to receive a ride passenger. The ride system includes electronic goggles configured to be worn by the ride passenger. The electronic goggles include a camera and a display. The ride system includes a computer graphics generation system communicatively coupled to the electronic goggles, and configured to generate streaming media of a real world environment based on image data captured via the camera of the electronic goggles, generate one or more virtual augmentations superimposed on the streaming media of the real world environment, and to transmit the streaming media of the real world environment along with the one or more superimposed virtual augmentations to be displayed on the display of the electronic goggles.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Steven C. Blum, Brian B. McQuillian
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Publication number: 20230050566Abstract: A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into an active playing area. The system also includes a sensing device that operates to receive the electromagnetic radiation after being reflected from a retro-reflective material of an article positioned in the active playing area and operable to generate data based on receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from a series of article positions. Further, the system includes a controller that operates to process the data generated by the sensing device to determine whether the series of article positions correlate to a stored gesture and output a control signal to actuate an effect when the series of article positions correlate to the stored gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Sameer Kawash, Justin Michael Schwartz, Steven C. Blum
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Publication number: 20230029482Abstract: A harness system configured to facilitate adjustably securing guests with varying body types within a ride vehicle. The harness system may include a harness body configured to releasably couple with the ride vehicle, a waist engagement portion of the harness body, the waist engagement portion including a waist securement mechanism configured to contract or expand a functional length of the waist engagement portion to adjust for engagement with a waist of a guest, a vest portion of the harness body, wherein the vest portion includes a height adjuster configured to extend or retract such that shoulder bands extend or retract relative to the waist engagement portion, and a leg engagement portion comprising a first leg flap configured to adjustably secure about a first leg of the guest and a second leg flap configured to adjustable secure about a second leg of the guest.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Katarina Lin Gosbee, Dionté Omar Henderson, Steven C. Blum
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Patent number: 11529566Abstract: A resistance control system of an amusement attraction includes a support assembly having a base, a pivot joint, and a support beam extending between the base and the pivot joint. The resistance control system includes a spring plate coupled to the pivot joint of the support assembly, and includes at least one spring engaged with the spring plate. Additionally, the resistance control system includes an actuator plate positioned between the spring plate and the base of the support assembly, as well as at least one actuator coupled between the actuator plate and the base. The at least one actuator is configured to move and secure the actuator plate relative to the pivot joint to adjust a resistance to movement about the pivot joint.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Steven C. Blum, Mark Allan Stepanian, Jordan Dillon Barner, Tyler James Blankenship