Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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REAR-ENTRY STYLE SEAT ON MOTION-BASED
ATTRACTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
100011
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 63/193,390, entitled "REAR-ENTRY STYLE SEAT ON MOTION-
BASED AT
________________________________________________________________________
FRACTION" and filed May 26, 2021, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
100021
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of amusement parks.
More
specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and
equipment used
in conjunction with amusement park rides.
[0003]
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art
that may
be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described
below. This
discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background
information
to facilitate a better understanding of the Ovarious aspects of the present
disclosure.
Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in
this light, and not
as admissions of prior art.
[0004]
Since the early twentieth century, amusement parks (or theme parks) have
substantially grown in popularity. Certain amusement park rides have been
created to
provide riders with unique motion and visual experiences. For example,
amusement park
rides can include ride vehicles that travel along a path or that utilize a
motion base.
However, some of these ride vehicles may limit the degree of freedom of the
rider to move
and, thus, the ability of the rider to interact with the ride environment.
Accordingly, it may
be desirable to provide a ride vehicle that provides the rider with a greater
degree of
freedom to interact with the ride environment.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION
100051
Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed
subject
matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the
scope of
the disclosure, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a
brief summary
of certain disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass
a variety
of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth
below.
100061
In an embodiment, 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 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.
100071
In an embodiment, a ride system includes a ride vehicle. The ride vehicle
includes a platform. The ride vehicle also includes multiple seats disposed on
the platform
and oriented in a same direction. Each seat of the multiple seats is
configured so that a
passenger loads from a rear and once seated the passenger faces forward. Each
seat
includes a pad configured to be disposed about a front of the seated passenger
and a back
restraint configured to both contact a back of the seated passenger in a
seating configuration
and translate out of the seating configuration into a loading configuration.
The pad and the
back restraint are configured to enable the seated passenger freedom of
movement with
their arms and upper torso to interact with a ride environment while in the
seating
configuration.
100081
In an embodiment, a method for loading a ride vehicle includes orientating
the
ride vehicle so that each passenger enters the ride vehicle from behind each
seat of multiple
seats. Each seat is oriented in a same direction. Each seat includes a pad
configured to be
disposed about a front of a seated passenger and a back restraint configured
to contact a
back of the seated passenger. The method also includes maintaining a back
restraint of
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each seat in a lowered position as passengers load respective seats from the
rear. The
method further includes raising the back restraint of each seat to contract
the back of the
seated passenger so that the seated passenger is seated in an upright position
between the
pad and the back restraint to enable the seated passenger freedom of movement
with their
arms and upper torso to interact with a ride environment while securing the
seated
passenger to the ride vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure
will
become better understood when the following detailed description is read with
reference
to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts
throughout the
drawings, wherein:
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a ride vehicle
(e.g., dark
ride vehicle) having rear-entry style seats, in accordance with an aspect of
the present
disclosure;
100111
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the ride vehicle of
FIG.
1, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
100121
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the ride vehicle of
FIG.
1 with seated passengers, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0013]
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for loading the ride
vehicle
in FIG. 1, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0014]
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the ride vehicle of
FIG. 1
with passengers on a load platform, in accordance with an aspect of the
present disclosure;
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[0015]
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the ride vehicle of
FIG. 1
with passengers seated (e.g., with rear restraints lowered), in accordance
with an aspect of
the present disclosure;
[0016]
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the ride vehicle of
FIG. 1
with passengers seated (e.g., with rear restraints raised), in accordance with
an aspect of
the present disclosure;
[0017]
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a ride system (e.g., dark
ride
system) in a ride environment (e.g., dark ride environment) with a ride
vehicle utilizing a
track system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0018]
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a ride system (e.g., dark
ride
system) in a ride environment (e.g., dark ride environment) with ride vehicles
including or
using automated guide vehicles, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure; and
[0019]
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the components of a ride
vehicle system (e.g., dark ride system) of an amusement attraction (e.g.,
motion-based dark
ride), in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020]
One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described
below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all
features of
an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should
be
appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in
any
engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must
be made
to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-
related and
business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to
another.
Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be
complex and
time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design,
fabrication,
and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this
disclosure.
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[0021]
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the articles -a," -an," and -the" are intended to mean that there are one or
more of the
elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be
inclusive
and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Additionally, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or
"an
embodiment- of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as
excluding the
existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited
features.
[0022]
Present embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods
for
providing passengers on a ride vehicle (e.g., dark ride vehicle) more degrees
of freedom to
interact with the ride (e.g., dark ride). For example, the disclosed systems
and methods
include a ride vehicle that includes a platform with multiple rows of seats
disposed on it,
where each seat is oriented in a same direction (e.g., towards a front portion
of the platform
or the ride vehicle). Each passenger enters the ride vehicle from the rear
before loading a
seat. Each seat includes a pad (e.g., front restraint) that engages a front of
a seated
passenger. Each seat also includes a back restraint that remains in a lowered
position (e.g.,
adjacent the platform) while the passenger loads the seat and then raises
against the
passenger's back once the passenger is seated. The pad and the back restraint
enable a
seated passenger freedom of movement with their arms and upper torso to
interact with the
ride (e.g., virtually or physically). The ride vehicle may include a transport
system (e.g.,
motion base or reaction deck) that enables movements of the ride vehicle in
six degrees of
freedom. The ride vehicle may travel along a track or trackless ride
environment. The
unique seating of the ride vehicle provides the passenger more mobility and,
thus, a greater
degree of freedom to interact with the ride environment.
[0023]
FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of an
embodiment of a ride vehicle 10 (e.g., dark ride vehicle) having rear-entry
style seats or
seat modules 12 (e.g., bike style seats). One or more of the ride vehicles 10
may be utilized
as part of a motion-based attraction in a dark environment. The ride vehicle
10 includes a
platform 14 coupled to a transport system 16. The platform 14 includes a front
portion 18
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and a rear portion 20. Front and rear are defined relative to how a passenger
or rider is
oriented when seated in one of the seats 12. For example, a seated passenger
faces toward
the front portion 18 with their back facing the rear portion 20. As depicted,
a first row 22
of the seats 12 is disposed on the platform 14 adjacent the front portion 18
and a second
row 24 of the seats 12 is disposed on the platform 14 adjacent the rear
portion 20. In the
illustrated embodiment, the platform 14 includes multiple levels or decks
varying in height.
For example, the first row 22 and the second row 24 of the seats 12 are
disposed on decks
26, 28, respectively. Deck 26 is disposed lower than (e.g., beneath) deck 28
to enable
passengers seated within the second row 24 to have an unhindered view.
Passengers
descend steps from the deck 28 to the deck 26 to get to the first row 22 of
the seats 12. The
numbers of rows of seats 12 and the number of decks may vary (e.g., 1, 2, 3,
etc.). The
number of seats 12 per row may also vary (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.). In
certain embodiments,
the number of seats 12 within each row may vary between rows. For example, as
depicted,
the number of seats 12 in the first row 22 and the second row 24 are 6 and 4,
respectively.
In certain embodiments, each row of seats 12 may include a same name number of
seats
12. As depicted, the seats 12 at the end of the rows 22, 24 are flanked by
panels 30, 32.
The platform 14 is open in front of the first row 22 and behind the second row
24. The
openness in front of the first row 22 enables a presentation to be viewed by
all of the
passengers in the ride vehicle 10. For example, a presentation (providing
loading and/or
ride instructions and/or providing content related to the theme of the ride)
may be presented
while the passengers load the ride vehicle 10. The openness behind the second
row 24
enables each passenger to load the ride vehicle 10 from the rear (i.e., rear
portion 20). Thus,
each passenger prior to loading the ride vehicle 10 will be located behind all
of the seats
12.
100241
Each seat 12 includes a front restraint 34, a rear restraint 36, and a seat
portion
38 (shown in FIG. 2). In certain embodiments, each seat 12 may include other
features
(e.g., handle bars, monitors, etc.). The seat portion 38 supports the
passenger upon loading
the seat 12 (e.g., sitting on the seat portion 38). The front restraint 34
(e.g., a padded bar
or structure) extends around a front portion of the seated passenger to
provide stability. As
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depicted, the front restraint 34 has a U-like shape. The shape of the front
restraint 34 may
vary from this. The front restraint 34 may be part of or disposed on a frame
39 defining
the area of the seat 12. The rear restraint 36 (e.g., back restraint) contacts
and supports the
back of the seated passenger to provide seated support. A portion of the rear
restraint 36
(i.e., the portion contacting the passenger's back) may include a padded
structure (e.g.,
padding disposed over metal). During loading of the vehicle 10, the rear
restraint 36 is in
a lowered position adjacent the platform 14 (e.g., loading configuration). In
certain
embodiments, the rear restraint 36 may contact the platform 14 in the lowered
position.
While the rear restraints 36 are in the lowered position, the passengers enter
the ride vehicle
from the rear portion 20 (e.g., via a loading platform). Once at their
respective seat 12,
the passenger straddles the seat portion 38 from the rear to sit. The seat
portion 38 may be
shaped (e.g., as an elongate narrow shape) for this purpose, with dimensions
that allow for
passenger straddling. Once the passengers are seated, the rear restraints 36
are raised until
they contact the passengers' backs (e.g., seating configuration) to facilitate
seated support.
Together, the front restraint 34 and the rear restraint 36 provide the
passenger (while seated
in an upright position) the stability to enable freedom of movement with their
arms and
upper torso to interact with the ride (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 3 with
passengers 56 seated
on the ride vehicle 10). For example, passengers may interact with different
elements of
the ride virtually (e.g., via augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR))
or physically
(e.g., soft robotics or something similar). In certain embodiments, each seat
12 may include
a foot rest 40 on each side of the seating portion 38 for placing a foot
within or on. In some
embodiments, the each seat 12 may include a cup on each side of the seating
portion 38 for
placing a knee within. Each seat 12 may also include ride-themed elements 42
(e.g., wheels
as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2) to enhance the ride environment.
100251
In certain embodiments, each seat 12 may include various transducers
disposed
within various components of the seat 12 (e.g., handle bars, front restraint
34, rear restraint
36, seating portion 38, etc.). For example, an audible output may be provided
to a
passenger via a speaker. The seat 12 may include tactile transducers that
provide stimuli
to different parts of the passenger (e.g., face, hands, back, etc.). For
example, air or water
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may be directed at the passenger. Also, a scent may be released. Also, haptic
stimuli may
be provided by an object pushing against or contacting a portion of the
passenger. Also, a
temperature of a portion of the seat 12 may be adjusted to provide a stimulus.
100261
In certain embodiments, each passenger may be provided an AR or VR headset
that the passenger wears on their head during the ride that enables the
passenger to interact
with an AR or VR environment related to the theme of the ride. The AR or VR
headset
for each seat 12 may be coupled (e.g., physically, electronically,
communicatively, etc.) to
the seat 12 and/or the ride vehicle 10.
100271
In certain embodiments, each seat 12 may include a gesture tracking system
(e.g., within an equipment box incorporated within the seat 12). The gesture
tracking
system may be coupled to a controller of the ride vehicle 10 (e.g., located on
or remotely
from the ride vehicle 10) and track the gestures of the seated passenger. In
response to the
detected gestures of the passenger, a movement of the ride vehicle 10 may be
altered. For
example, the ride vehicle 10 may spin, turn, alter a path, or change
orientation. The ride
vehicle 10 may alter movement based on the gestures of one passenger or
multiple
passengers. In certain embodiments, the detected gestures may alter what the
passenger
sees within their respective AR or VR headset. Similar responses may be
performed based
on or in conjunction with other movements of the one or multiple passengers
detected by
other aspects of the ride vehicle 10, such as detectors in the seat 12 that
track weight shifts
of the one or multiple passengers.
100281
The transport system 16 enables movements of the ride vehicle 10 in at
least
three degrees of freedom (e.g., directions in alignment with the ride vehicle
10 and parallel
to direction 44, direction 46, and direction 48). In certain embodiments, the
transport
system 16 enables movements of the ride vehicle 10 in six degrees of freedom.
For
example, movements of the ride vehicle 10 may occur in parallel with the
direction 44, the
direction 46, the direction 48, roll 50, pitch 52, and yaw 54. The transport
system 16 and
the platform 14 may interact to form a motion base or reaction deck. For
example, the
transport system 16 may include wheels, linkages (e.g., between the transport
system 16
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and the platform 14), and other devices to enable the different movements of
the ride
vehicle 10. The transport system 16 may act as an automated guide vehicle
(AGV) in
moving the ride vehicle 10 along its path through the ride environment (e.g.,
trackless dark
ride environment). As an AGV, the ride vehicle 10 may travel along a
substantially smooth
ride path, for example via the assistance of optics, markers, magnets,
sensors, or a
combination thereof In certain embodiments, the transport system 16 may be
coupled to
a track to enable movement of the ride vehicle 10 along the track in the ride
environment
(e.g., dark ride environment).
100291
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 58 for loading the ride
vehicle 10. The method 58 includes orientating the ride vehicle 10 so that
each passenger
56 enters the ride vehicle 10 from the rear 20 (e.g., behind each seat 12 on
the ride vehicle
10) (block 60) and over the downturned rear restraint 36. As depicted in FIG.
5, the ride
vehicle 10 is oriented so that the rear portion 20 of the platform 14 abuts a
load platform
62 where the passengers 56 are awaiting loading. Prior to loading the ride
vehicle 10,
passengers 56 already on the ride vehicle 10 may have to exit the ride vehicle
10 before
reloading the ride vehicle 10. Disembarking may occur at the load platform 62
or at another
location prior to orientating the ride vehicle 10 relative to the load
platform 62. The method
58 also includes maintaining the rear restraints 36 in a lowered position
(e.g., loading
configuration) adjacent the platform 14 during the loading of the passengers
56 (block 64).
The rear restraints 36 may be lowered or translated from a seating
configuration (e.g.,
contacting the passengers' backs) to a loading configuration (e.g., adjacent
or contacting
the floor of the ride vehicle 10) during the disembarkation of the previous
passengers. The
lowered position of the rear restraints 36 enables the passengers 56 to enter
the ride vehicle
from the rear portion 20 (e.g., via the loading platform 62). A passenger 56,
upon
proceeding to their respective seat 12, passes over a lowered rear restraint
36 and straddles
the seat portion 38 from the rear as depicted in FIG. 6. Once the passengers
56 are seated,
the rear restraints 36 are raised until they contact the passengers' backs
(e.g., in a seating
configuration) (block 66) as depicted in FIG. 7. Together, the front restraint
34 and the
rear restraint 36 provide the passenger (while seated in an upright position)
the stability to
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enable a freedom of movement with their arms and upper torso to interact with
the ride
while in the seating configuration. During loading and/or prior to leaving the
load platform
62, a presentation (providing loading and/or ride instructions and/or
providing content
related to the theme of the ride) may be presented to the passengers 56 (e g ,
before the
open front portion 18 of the ride vehicle 10) on a display (e.g., a flat
screen television,
computer monitor, projection surface) integral with or in front of the ride
vehicle 10.
100301
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a ride system 68 (e.g., dark
ride
system) in a ride environment 70 (e.g., dark ride environment) with the ride
vehicles 10
(e.g., dark ride vehicles) utilizing a track system 72. The ride vehicles 10
are as described
in FIGS. 1-7. As depicted, multiple ride vehicles 10 are moving along a track
74 (e.g.,
path) of the track system 72 through themed elements 75. In certain
embodiments (as
depicted), multiple ride vehicles 10 may be coupled via a linkage 76 as they
move along
the track 74. In other embodiments, multiple ride vehicles 10 may move along
the track
74 independent of each other (i.e., not physically linked). As described
above, each ride
vehicle 10 may be capable of at least three degrees of freedom in movements.
In certain
embodiments, each ride vehicle 10 may be capable of at least six degrees of
freedom in
movements. These degrees of freedom provide a motion-based attraction (e.g.,
in a dark
ride environment). Some of the movements of the ride vehicles 10 may be
determined by
gestures of one or more passengers 56.
100311
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a ride system 78 (e.g., dark
ride
system) in a ride environment 80 (e.g., dark ride environment) with the ride
vehicles 10
(e.g., dark ride vehicles) being or using AGVs. The ride vehicles 10 are as
described in
FIGS. 1-7. As depicted, multiple ride vehicles 10 are moving along a smooth
trackless
surface 82 along a path 84 through themed elements 86. The path 84 may be
predetermined
or partially predetermined based on sensors 88 on the ride vehicles 10
detecting markers
90 disposed throughout the ride environment 80 (e.g., on or near the themed
elements 86)
to guide the vehicles 10. In some embodiments, the sensors 88 and markers 90
may be
swapped so that the markers 90 are disposed on the ride vehicles 10 and the
sensors 88 are
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disposed throughout the ride environment. Further, in some embodiments, the
markers 90
and/or the sensors 88 may be utilized in both ways. In certain embodiments, at
least a
portion of the path 84 or movements of the ride vehicles 10 may be determined
(at least
partially) by one or more of the passengers 56 As described above, each ride
vehicle 10
may be capable of at least three degrees of freedom in movements. In certain
embodiments,
each ride vehicle 10 may be capable of at least six degrees of freedom in
movements. These
degrees of freedom provide a motion-based attraction (e.g., in a dark ride
environment).
Some of the movements of the ride vehicles 10 may be determined by gestures of
one or
more passengers 56.
100321
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the components of a ride
vehicle system 92 (e.g., dark ride vehicle system) of an amusement attraction
(e.g., motion-
based dark ride). The ride vehicle 10 includes the platform 14 and transport
system 16 as
described in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also, the ride vehicle 10 includes the plurality
of seat modules
12 as described in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, each seat module 12 includes
the front
restraint 34, the rear restraint 36, and the seat or seat portion 38 as
described above.
100331
Each seat module 12 may include one or more transducers 94. The transducers
94 may be disposed within various components of the seat 12 (e.g., handle
bars, front
restraint 34, rear restraint 36, seating portion 38, etc.). For example, an
audible output may
be provided to a passenger via a speaker. The seat module 12 may include
tactile
transducers that provide stimuli to different parts of the passenger (e.g.,
face, hands, back,
etc.). For example, air or water may be directed at the passenger. Also, a
scent may be
released. Also, haptic stimuli may be provided by an object pushing against or
contacting
a portion of the passenger. Also, a temperature of a portion of the seat
module 12 may be
adjusted to provide a stimulus.
100341
Each seat module 12 may also include a gesture tracking system 96 (e.g.,
within
an equipment box incorporated within the seat module 12). The gesture tracking
system
96 may be coupled to a controller 98 of the ride vehicle 10 (e.g., located on
or remotely
from the ride vehicle 10) and track the gestures of the seated passenger. In
response to the
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detected gestures of the passenger, a movement of the ride vehicle 10 may be
altered. For
example, the ride vehicle 10 may spin, turn, alter a path, or change
orientation. The ride
vehicle 10 may alter movement based on the gestures of one passenger or
multiple
passengers. Tn certain embodiments, the detected geshires may alter what the
passenger
sees within their respective AR or VR headset 100. The gesture tracking system
96 may
also represent a system that operates to track movement of the passenger
(e.g., leaning in
the seat module 12) and control based on such movement in conjunction with or
separately
from other forms of gesturing.
100351
The ride vehicle 12 may also include AR or VR headsets 100 for each
passenger
to wear on their head during the ride that enables the passenger to interact
with an AR or
VR environment related to the theme of the ride. The AR or VR headset 100 for
each seat
12 may be coupled (e.g., physically, electronically, communicatively, etc.) to
the respective
seat 12 and/or the ride vehicle 10. Each AR or VR headset 100 may be coupled
to the ride
controller 98.
100361
The ride controller 98 may be disposed within the ride system 92 (e.g., in
each
ride vehicle 10 (as depicted), or somewhere throughout the ride environment),
or may be
disposed outside of the ride system 92 (e.g., to operate the ride system 92
remotely). The
controller 98 may include a memory 101 with stored instructions for
controlling
components in the ride system 92 (e.g., AR or VR headsets 100, transducers 94,
gesture
tracking system 96, rear restraint 36, transport system 16, etc.). In
addition, the controller
98 may include a processor 102 configured to execute such instructions. For
example, the
processor 102 may include one or more application specific integrated circuits
(ASICs),
one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more general
purpose
processors, or any combination thereof Additionally, the memory 101 may
include
volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and/or non-volatile
memory,
such as read-only memory (ROM), optical drives, hard disc drives, or solid-
state drives.
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[0037]
In certain embodiments, the ride system 92 includes a track system 104
(e.g.,
similar to track system 72 in FIG. 8) for transport of the ride vehicles 10.
In other
embodiments, the ride system 92 includes a trackless system 106 (as described
in FIG. 9)
for transport of the ride vehicles 10 (e g., utilizing AGVs)
[0038]
The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to
material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably
improve the
present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely
theoretical.
Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one
or more
elements designated as "means for [perform]ing [a function]..." or "step for
[perform]ing
[a function]...-, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted
under 35 U.S.C.
112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other
manner, it is
intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(t).
100391
While only certain features of the disclosed subject matter have been
illustrated
and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those
skilled in the
art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended
to cover all
such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosed
subject matter.
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