US 12,134,366 B2
Passive restraint techniques for amusement park rides
Steven C. Blum, Orlando, FL (US)
Assigned to Universal City Studios LLC, Universal City, CA (US)
Filed by Universal City Studios, LLC, Universal City, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/221,134.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/607,770, filed on Dec. 19, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0184935 A1, Jun. 20, 2019
Int. Cl. B60R 22/00 (2006.01); A63G 7/00 (2006.01); B60R 21/02 (2006.01); B60R 22/48 (2006.01); B60R 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 22/48 (2013.01) [A63G 7/00 (2013.01); B60R 21/02 (2013.01); B60R 2021/0097 (2013.01); B60R 2021/022 (2013.01); B60R 2022/4816 (2013.01); B60R 2022/4866 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride;
a restraint system coupled to the ride vehicle and comprising a lock having a detector configured to receive a locking signal or an unlocking signal, wherein the locking signal and the unlocking signal are wireless signals, wherein receiving the locking signal or the unlocking signal causes the lock to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the restraint system is configured to secure a rider within the ride vehicle in the locked configuration, and wherein the restraint system is configured to release the rider in the unlocked configuration;
a lock control point comprising a first transmitter configured to transmit the locking signal to cause the lock of the restraint system to transition to the locked configuration, wherein the lock control point is located at a load zone for the ride vehicle; and
an unlock control point comprising a second transmitter configured to transmit the unlocking signal to cause the lock of the restraint system to transition to the unlocked configuration.