Dynamically adjustable compliant knee restraint device

Abstract

A restraint system is used to provide dynamically adjustable compliance for an occupant in a seating system. The restraint system includes a strap (118) having an adjustable extension length to surround the occupant. Tension on the strap (118) is measured and used to adjust the length of the strap (118) to provide different levels of restraint. The constraint level is associated with conditions of the occupant (e.g., height, weight, age, shape, size), properties of the ride system (e.g., configuration of the ride vehicle), operational parameters of the ride vehicle (e.g., speed, acceleration, direction of movement), characteristics of the environment in which the ride vehicle travels, or any combination thereof.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to the field of amusement parks. More specifically, embodiments of this disclosure relate to systems and methods for securing visitors inside a ride within an amusement park ride.

[0002] Amusement parks typically comprise a variety of attractions that offer unique experiences to visitors. For example, an amusement park may include a variety of rides and performances. As technology continues to advance, such attractions have become increasingly sophisticated and complex. For instance, some rides offer immersive experiences, such as a series of vehicles that allow riders to travel through rooms with various features, including audio, video, and special effects. A wide variety of amusement park rides have been created to provide riders with unique motion and visual experiences. For example, themed rides may be implemented using single-rider or multi-rider vehicles that travel along a path or utilize a moving base. Stimulation is often generated by changes in the vehicle's speed or direction as it moves along a ride path or follows a movement route. For example, a ride path may include many features, such as, but not limited to, tunnels, turns, inclines, declines, loops, etc. When riders are inside an operating ride, they may experience forces as the ride operates. Therefore, it is desirable to restrain and secure riders within the ride vehicle during an amusement park ride. Different characteristics along the riding path may require different levels of restraint, and riders may have different conditions (e.g., body condition, height, weight, shape, size). Therefore, it is now recognized that improved restraint devices with variability are desirable.

[0003] Furthermore, it is now recognized that a group of passengers with various characteristics (e.g., height, weight, shape, size) (e.g., family members with larger passengers and smaller passengers (e.g., young children)) may ride together in a multi-occupant vehicle and are expected to be restrained using a shared restraint device. Therefore, it is desirable to have improved restraint devices to accommodate such arrangements.

[0004] This section aims to introduce the reader to various aspects of the technology that may relate to the various aspects of the present technology described and / or claimed below. This discussion is intended to help provide the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these statements are to be read from this perspective and not as an admission of prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following provides an overview of certain embodiments disclosed herein. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief overview of these particular embodiments, and these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. In fact, this disclosure may cover various aspects not set forth below.

[0006] In one embodiment, in accordance with the present disclosure, a restraint system for a ride vehicle for providing dynamically adjustable compliance is provided. The restraint system includes a knee bar assembly having a bifurcated knee bar structure. The knee bar assembly is configured to transition between an open configuration and an engaged configuration. In the open configuration, the bifurcated knee bar structure is positioned further away from a seat of the ride vehicle than in the engaged configuration. First and second bifurcations of the bifurcated knee bar structure are configured to be disposed around a rider of the seat in a single locked position for one or more riders in the engaged configuration. The restraint system further includes a harness restraint system having a harness that spans between the first and second bifurcations of the bifurcated knee bar structure. The harness is configured to be extendable from a tensioner such that when the first and second bifurcations of the knee bar structure are positioned around the rider in the engaged configuration of the knee bar assembly, the harness extends from the tensioner to conform around the rider.

[0007] In one embodiment, in accordance with the present disclosure, a ride system having a restraint system for providing dynamically adjustable compliance is provided. The ride system includes a ride vehicle having a seat to support at least one rider. The ride system further includes a knee bar assembly having a neck and a bifurcated knee bar structure. The neck is rotatably coupled to the ride vehicle at a first end of the neck via a pivot and coupled to the bifurcated knee bar structure at a second end of the neck such that the knee bar assembly is configured to rotate about the pivot between an open configuration and an engaged configuration. First and second bifurcations of the bifurcated knee bar structure are configured to be positioned on either side of the at least one rider in the seat when the knee bar assembly is in the engaged configuration. The restraint system further includes a harness that spans between the first and second bifurcations of the bifurcated knee bar structure. The harness is configured to be extendable from a tensioner such that when the first and second bifurcations of the knee bar structure are positioned around the rider in the engaged configuration of the knee bar assembly, the harness extends from the tensioner to conform around the rider.

[0008] In one embodiment, a method of operating a restraint system in a ride environment is provided. The method includes conforming a harness about an occupant positioned in a seat of a ride vehicle, where the harness extends from a tensioner and between a first prong and a second prong of a knee bar structure. Further, the method includes detecting a tension level on the harness with a sensor and receiving, at a processor, data from the sensor indicative of the tension level. Further, the method includes determining, via the processor, a predefined range for the tension level based on a condition of the occupant, an operational parameter of the ride vehicle, a characteristic of the environment, or any combination thereof. In response to determining that the tension level is not within the predefined range, the method includes adjusting a length of extension of the harness from the tensioner to move the tension level within the predefined range. The method further includes sending a notification indicating that the tension level is within the predefined range. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 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: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system in an open configuration according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system in an engaged configuration according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ride system in a Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for operating a tensioner restraint system in a ride system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are 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 developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which can 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.

[0011] 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 can 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.

[0012] As used herein, the terms "connected," "connection relationship," "connected," "connected with," and "connect" are used to mean "directly connected to" or "connected to via one or more elements." In addition, the term "group" is used to mean "one element" or "more than one element." In addition, the terms "coupled," "coupling," "coupled together," and "coupled with" are used to mean "directly coupled together" or "coupled together via one or more elements."

[0013] Further, as used herein, the terms "real-time," "immediate," or "substantially real-time" can be used interchangeably and are intended to describe operations (e.g., computational operations) that are performed without any human perceptible interruption between operations. For example, as used herein, data related to the systems described herein can be collected, transmitted, and / or used for control computations in "substantially real-time" such that data reading, data transmission, and / or data processing steps occur once per second, once per 0.1 seconds, once per 0.01 seconds, or even more frequently during operation of the system (e.g., while the system is operating). Further, as used herein, the terms "continuous," "continuously," or "constantly" are intended to describe operations that are performed without any significant interruption. For example, as used herein, control commands can be sent to a particular device every five minutes, every minute, every 30 seconds, every 15 seconds, every 10 seconds, every 5 seconds, or even more often such that operational parameters of the device can be adjusted without any significant interruption to closed loop control of the device. Further, as used herein, the terms "automatic," "automated," "autonomous," and the like are intended to describe operations that are performed, or caused to be performed, by a computing system (e.g., by a computing system alone, without human intervention). Indeed, although certain operations described herein can not be explicitly described as being performed in substantially real-time, continuously, and / or automatically during operation of a computing system and / or a device controlled by the computing system, it will be appreciated that these operations can in fact be performed in substantially real-time, continuously, and / or automatically during operation of the computing system and / or the device controlled by the computing system to improve functionality of the computing system (e.g., by not requiring human intervention, thereby facilitating faster operational decisions, and by improving accuracy of operational decisions, e.g., by eliminating potential human error), as described in greater detail herein.

[0014] Creating environments in amusement parks has become more prevalent, including scenery, special effects, audiovisual features, and other media elements that improve the guest experience. Ride vehicles can be used to transport guests (e.g., riders, passengers) in an environment (e.g., a show performance or an attraction), and guests can interact with or have an immersive experience in the environment. Traditionally, guests can be secured to a ride vehicle using a lap bar assembly. However, various guests can have various conditions (e.g., height, weight, age, shape, size), and the lap bar assembly can be rigid and not conform to the guest based on the various conditions of the guest. Guests can require different restraints based on their different conditions. For example, guests that are larger than an average size of guests (e.g., based on historical data) can require larger and / or longer restraints than guests that are smaller than the average size of guests, and guests with different body shapes can require different restraints, especially when the ride apparatus in the environment includes a low minimum height requirement. Therefore, it is desirable to have a restraint system on the vehicle that provides adjustable compliance for the guests.

[0015] As an example of how the present embodiments can operate, we will discuss a scenario in which one or more guests are riding in an environment on a ride vehicle along a ride path. A lap bar assembly can be traditionally used to restrain the one or more guests within the ride vehicle. The guests can have different conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size), and / or different ride apparatuses can have different features or properties. For example, some guests can be smaller in body, and / or some ride apparatuses can include a low minimum height requirement (e.g., for a ride apparatus that includes smaller guests, such as young children). Therefore, the lap bar assembly can not fit the guests differently. Furthermore, the ride path can include many features, such as but not limited to tunnels, turns, hills, dips, loops, etc., and different features can require different levels of restraint. The lap bar assembly can be designed based on predefined data (e.g., provided by a ride apparatus designer) or based on historical data of guest conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size), and can be generally rigid and not adjustable for guests that have different conditions than the predefined data or the historical data. Therefore, different guests can experience different forces (e.g., tension, normal force) and / or pressures caused by the lap bar assembly. For example, some people (e.g., larger individuals) can experience greater forces (e.g., tension, normal force) and / or pressures caused by the lap bar assembly than others (e.g., smaller individuals), and can feel uncomfortable when restrained by the lap bar assembly in a certain lap bar assembly configuration (e.g., an open configuration, a closed configuration). Therefore, some people can not be able to ride certain ride apparatuses that have a lap bar assembly designed based on predefined data (e.g., provided by a ride apparatus designer) or based on historical data of guest conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size).

[0016] In another scenario, a group of riders (e.g., members of a family) having various conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size) can ride a multi-rider vehicle in an environment. A shared knee bar assembly can be used to restrain the group of riders to the multi-rider vehicle. Due to the various conditions between different riders in the group (e.g., a larger rider and a smaller rider), the shared knee bar assembly can not fit all riders in the group the same way due to their different conditions, and different riders can experience different forces (e.g., tension, normal force) and / or pressures caused by the shared knee bar assembly. For example, some people (e.g., larger individuals) can experience greater forces (e.g., tension, normal force) and / or pressures caused by the shared knee bar assembly compared to others (e.g., smaller individuals).

[0017] Current embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for securing riders within a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride using a restraint system having dynamically adjustable compliance that can fit riders having various conditions. For example, the restraint system can include a tensioner restraint system to provide a restraint having adjustable compliance. For example, the tensioner restraint system can include a harness (e.g., a flexible strap, a flexible pad, a series of pads, a rope, a net, parallel ropes, etc.) for restraining a rider to the ride vehicle. The harness can have an adjustable extension length that can be adjusted based on a tension level on the harness. According to the present embodiments, in the above scenario, riders and / or groups of riders having various conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size) can be more stably and properly restrained by the tensioner restraint system. The tensioner restraint system can provide dynamically adjustable compliance that can be adjusted based on various conditions of the riders and / or different features along a ride path. The tensioner restraint system can also provide adjustable compliance for riders in the same group (e.g., a group including riders of different sizes) using a shared restraint assembly.

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ride system 100 having a rider 102 (e.g., a rider, a passenger) positioned in a ride vehicle 104 in an environment 106. The ride vehicle 104 has a knee bar assembly 108 that can transition between an open configuration 90 and an engaged configuration 92. This transition is illustrated by arrow 94.

[0019] The knee bar assembly 108 includes a neck 107 and a bifurcated knee bar structure 109. The neck 107 is rotatably coupled to the ride vehicle 104 at a first end 96 of the neck 107 via a pivot 111 and coupled to the bifurcated knee bar structure 109 at a second end 98 of the neck 107. Thus, the knee bar assembly 108 is operable to rotate about the pivot 111 between an open configuration 90 and an engaged configuration 92. In the open configuration 90, the knee bar assembly 108 is positioned further away from the seat 110 of the ride vehicle 104 to allow loading or unloading of the guest 102 into or from the seat 110 of the ride vehicle 104. In the engaged configuration 92, the knee bar assembly 108 is positioned closer to the seat 110 of the ride vehicle 104 to restrain the guest 102 relative to the ride vehicle 104. The knee bar assembly 108 can include one or more bifurcations 113. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the one or more bifurcations 113 can vary based on one or more fitment requirements. In Figure 1 In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the bifurcations 113 can include a first bifurcation 112 and a second bifurcation 114, and the first bifurcation 112 and the second bifurcation 114 are disposed around the guest 102 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92.

[0020] The tensioner restraint system 116 combines with the knee bar assembly 108 to provide adjustable restraint for the guest 102. For example, the tensioner restraint system 116 includes a strap 118 (e.g., a flexible band, a flexible mat, a series of mats, a rope, a net, parallel ropes, etc.), and a first portion 120 of the strap 118 spans between the first fork 112 and the second fork 114 of the bifurcated knee bar structure 109. The tensioner restraint system 116 can also include a tensioner 122, and the strap 118 can extend from the tensioner 122 and have an adjustable extension length. The tensioner 122 can have a resilient coupling 123 to secure the strap 118 to the knee bar assembly 108. For example, the tensioner 122 can have a spool assembly 119, and a portion of the strap 118 can be wrapped around the spool assembly 119. The tensioner 122 can store a portion of the strap 118 (e.g., a portion of the strap 118 can be wrapped around the spool assembly 119), and can have a tension management system 129 (e.g., a biasing feature) to pull the strap 118 back to the tensioner 122 or release the strap 118 from the tensioner 122. When the tensioner restraint system 116 is not engaged with the guest 102, as in the open configuration 90, the strap 118 can be substantially taut between the first fork 112 and the second fork 114. When the knee bar assembly 108 transitions into the engaged configuration 92, the strap 118 can at least partially loop around and / or extend from the tensioner restraint system 116 to conform to the guest 102, such that the first portion 120 is longer. According to the present embodiment, this dynamic aspect of the knee bar assembly 108 (particularly the tensioner restraint system 116) facilitates providing a desired amount of engagement for guests 102 of any of a variety of different body types.

[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ride system 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the seat 110 includes multiple seats. In this embodiment, a guest 102 (e.g., an adult) and an additional guest 103 (e.g., a child or other guest that is relatively smaller in size compared to the guest 102) are depicted as sitting in the ride vehicle 104 in the environment 106. The ride vehicle 104 has a knee bar assembly 108, which is depicted in the open configuration 90. The knee bar assembly 108 includes a neck 107 and a bifurcated knee bar structure 109. The neck 107 is rotatably coupled to the ride vehicle 104 at a first end 96 of the neck 107 via a pivot 111, and is coupled to the bifurcated knee bar structure 109 at a second end 98 of the neck 107, such that the knee bar assembly is configured to rotate about the pivot 111 between the open configuration 90 and the engaged configuration 92. As previously mentioned, in the open configuration 90, the knee bar assembly 108 is positioned further away from the seat 110 than in the engaged configuration 92. In the engaged configuration 92, the knee bar assembly 108 restrains the guest 102. As in the previous figures, the knee bar assembly 108 is configured to restrain the guest 102 in the engaged configuration 92.Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the bifurcations 113 can include more than two bifurcations. For example, the bifurcations 113 can include a first bifurcation 112, a second bifurcation 114, and a third bifurcation 115, and when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration, two bifurcations (e.g., the first bifurcation 112 and the second bifurcation 114) are disposed around the guest 102. Another combination of bifurcations (e.g., the second bifurcation 114 and the third bifurcation 115) can be disposed around an additional guest 103 in an adjacent portion of the seat 110. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the bifurcations 113 can vary based on one or more ride requirements.

[0022] The tensioner restraint system 116 can be mounted on the vehicle 104 to work with the knee bar assembly 108 to provide adjustable restraint for the guest 102. For example, the tensioner restraint system 116 can include a single strap 118 (e.g., a flexible band, a flexible mat, a series of mats, a rope, a net, parallel ropes, etc.) or multiple straps 118. A first portion 120 of the strap 118 can span between the first bifurcation 112 and the second bifurcation 114 of the knee bar assembly 108. The strap 118 can extend from a tensioner 122 (e.g., a spool assembly 119) and can have an adjustable extension length. The tensioner 122 can use an elastic coupling 123 for securing the strap 118 to the knee bar assembly 108. The tensioner 122 can be mounted inside the knee bar assembly 108 (e.g., inside the first bifurcation 112 or the second bifurcation 114). The tensioner 122 can store a portion of the strap 118 (e.g., a portion of the strap 118 can be wound around the spool assembly 119) and can use a tension management system 129 (e.g., a biasing feature) to pull the strap 118 back to the tensioner 122 or release the strap 118 from the tensioner 122. There can be a second portion 121 of the strap 118 that spans between the second bifurcation 114 and the third bifurcation 115 of the knee bar assembly 108 and can be pulled back to the tensioner 122.

[0023] It should be noted that while in embodiments of the present disclosure the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 can extend from the same tensioner 122 and can be members of the same strap 118, in other embodiments, as Figure 2As illustrated in the inset 80, the features can extend from different tensioners and / or can be members of different straps. The inset 80 shows different embodiments of the knee bar assembly 108 in insets 80A, 80B, 80C, and 80D. For example, in inset 80A, two tensioners can be used in the knee bar assembly 108, where a first tensioner 122A is mounted at the first prong 112 and a second tensioner 122B is mounted at the third prong 115. In inset 80A, the first portion 120 can extend from the first tensioner 122A and the second portion 121 can extend from the second tensioner 122B, and the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 can be members of different straps. In inset 80B, a third tensioner 122C can be used in the knee bar assembly 108, and the third tensioner 122C is mounted at the second prong 114, and the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 can extend from the tensioner 122C. In inset 80C, two tensioners can be used in the knee bar assembly 108, where a first tensioner 122A is mounted at the first prong 112 and a third tensioner 122C is mounted at the third prong 115. In inset 80C, the first portion 120 can extend from the first tensioner 122A and the second portion 121 can extend from the third tensioner 122C, and the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 can be members of different straps. In inset 80D, three tensioners can be used in the knee bar assembly 108, where a first tensioner 122A is mounted at the first prong 112, a second tensioner 122B is mounted at the third prong 115, and a third tensioner 122C is mounted at the second prong 114. In inset 80D, the first portion 120 can extend from the first tensioner 122A and / or the third tensioner 122C, and the second portion 121 can extend from the second tensioner 122B and / or the third tensioner 122C (e.g., both the second tensioner 122B and the third tensioner 122C can control the second portion 121, such that the second portion 121 can have an extended length), and the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 can be members of different straps.

[0024] It should also be noted that although Figure 1 three prongs (e.g., the first prong 112, the second prong 114, the third prong 115) are illustrated in FIG. 1, the knee bar assembly 108 can have more than three prongs. Although Figure 2 two guests are restrained by the shared knee bar assembly 108 and tensioner restraint system 116, in other embodiments, fewer than two or more than two guests can be restrained by the knee bar assembly 108 and tensioner restraint system 116 (or multiple knee bar assemblies 108 and tensioner restraint systems 116).

[0025] In one embodiment, one or more sensors 99 (e.g., force or torque sensors, pressure sensors, touch sensors, resistance sensors, voltage sensors, current sensors) can be used to monitor the level of normal force on each portion (e.g., first portion 120, second portion 121) of the harness 118, and the tensioner restraint system 116 can use the force levels measured by the one or more sensors 99 to control the operation of the tensioner 122. For example, when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration, the portion 120 of the harness 118 that spans between the first and second diverging portions 112, 114 of the knee bar assembly 108 is looped around the guest 102 to provide adjustable restraint to the guest 102. Depending on the guest conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size), the force level on the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can vary. For example, when the exposed length of the first portion 120 of the harness 118 (e.g., as was the case prior to the knee bar assembly transitioning to the engaged configuration) is not sufficient to loop around the guest 102 without exerting more than a threshold pressure on the guest 102, the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can need to be stretched or extended (e.g., from a biased spool) in order to conform around the guest 102. A relatively consistent pressure can be applied by using a biased spooling mechanism, or an increasing application of pressure can also be employed. For example, an elastic style harness 118 or a calibrated style tensioner 122 can gradually increase the applied force as the harness 118 is extended (e.g., stretched or unspooled). For example, the pressure can be measured directly (e.g., by a pressure sensor) or based on the amount of extension of the harness 118. The one or more sensors 99 can measure the force level on the first portion 120, and the tensioner restraint system 116 can adjust the length of the first portion 120 of the harness 118 based on the value of the force level on the first portion 120. When the force level on the first portion 120 is greater than a predefined maximum value (e.g., provided by the ride designer or determined based on historical data), the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can be extended from the tensioner 122 to reduce the force level to equal or less than the predefined maximum value. Accordingly, the corresponding force applied by the first portion 120 to the guest 102 can be controlled to be less than a value corresponding to the predefined maximum value of the force level on the first portion 120. When the existing length of the first portion 120 of the harness 118 prior to the knee bar assembly transitioning to the engaged configuration is at a length such that the force level on the first portion 120 of the harness 118 when looped around the guest 102 has a value less than a predefined minimum value (e.g., provided by the ride designer or determined based on historical data), the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can be retracted by the biased feature of the tensioner 122 to the tensioner 122 to increase the force level to equal or greater than the predefined minimum value. Accordingly, the corresponding force applied by the first portion 120 to the guest 102 can be controlled to be greater than a value corresponding to the predefined minimum value of the force level on the first portion 120.The predefined range of force levels (e.g., between a predefined minimum value and a predefined maximum value) can be associated with the condition of the guest 102, the nature of the ride system 100 (e.g., the configuration of the vehicle 104), the operating parameters of the ride vehicle 104 (e.g., speed, acceleration, direction of movement), the characteristics of the environment 106, or any combination thereof. When the force level on the harness 118 cannot be adjusted to be within the predefined range of force levels (e.g., below a threshold or above a threshold level), the tensioner restraint system 116 can output an alert. For example, when the guest has a shape such that the force level on the first portion 120 cannot be adjusted to be equal to or less than the predefined maximum value even if the maximum length of the first portion 120 is extended from the tensioner 122, then the tensioner restraint system 116 can output an alert (e.g., to an operator) to indicate this condition. In another example, when the guest has a particular size or shape such that the force level on the first portion 120 cannot be adjusted to be greater than the predefined minimum value even if the maximum length of the first portion 120 is retracted to the tensioner 122, then the tensioner restraint system 116 can output an alert (e.g., to an operator) to indicate this condition. The working mechanism is similar for adjusting the force level on the second portion 121 of the harness 118. The force level on the first portion 120 can be different from the force level on the second portion 121 based on the condition of the corresponding guest (e.g., the guest 103). In certain embodiments, the force level on the first portion 120 can be the same as the force level on the second portion 121.

[0026] In one embodiment, one or more sensors 124 (e.g., force or torque sensors, touch sensors, resistance sensors, voltage sensors, current sensors) can be used to monitor the level of tension on each portion (e.g., first portion 120, second portion 121) of the harness 118, and the tensioner restraint system 116 can use the level of tension measured by the one or more sensors 124 to control the operation of the tensioner 122. For example, when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration, the portion 120 of the harness 118 that spans between the first fork 112 and the second fork 114 of the knee bar assembly 108 can at least partially wrap around and / or encircle the guest 102 to provide adjustable restraint to the guest 102. Depending on the guest conditions (e.g., height, weight, shape, size), the level of tension on the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can vary. For example, when the existing length of the first portion 120 of the harness 118 is insufficient to encircle the guest 102 without applying any tension to the first portion 120 before the knee bar assembly transitions to the engaged configuration, the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can need to stretch in order to conform around the guest 102. In the above case, the level of tension on the first portion 120 of the harness 118 has a non-zero value. The one or more sensors 124 measure the level of tension on the first portion 120, and the tensioner restraint system 116 adjusts the length of the first portion 120 of the harness 118 based on the value of the level of tension on the first portion 120. When the level of tension on the first portion 120 is greater than a predefined maximum value (e.g., provided by the ride designer or determined based on historical data), the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can be extended from the tensioner 122 to reduce the level of tension to equal or less than the predefined maximum value. When the existing length of the first portion 120 of the harness 118 is at a length such that the level of tension on the first portion 120 of the harness 118 has a value less than a predefined minimum value (e.g., provided by the ride designer or determined based on historical data) when encircling the guest 102 before the knee bar assembly transitions to the engaged configuration, the first portion 120 of the harness 118 can be retracted into the tensioner 122 by the biasing feature of the tensioner 122 to increase the level of tension to equal or greater than the predefined minimum value. The predefined range of tension levels (e.g., between the predefined minimum value and the predefined maximum value) can be associated with the conditions of the guest 102, the nature of the ride system 100 (e.g., configuration of the vehicle 104), the operating parameters of the ride vehicle 104 (e.g., speed, acceleration, direction of movement), the features of the environment 106, or any combination thereof. When the level of tension on the harness 118 cannot be adjusted to be within the predefined range of tension levels (e.g., below a threshold or above a threshold level), the tensioner restraint system 116 can output an alert.For example, when a guest has a size such that the tension level on the first portion 120 cannot be adjusted to be equal to or less than a predefined maximum value even if the maximum extendable length of the first portion 120 is extended from the tensioner 122, the tensioner restraint system 116 can output an alert (e.g., to an operator) to indicate this situation. In another example, when a guest has a size such that the tension level on the first portion 120 cannot be adjusted to be greater than a predefined minimum value even if the maximum extendable length of the first portion 120 is retracted to the tensioner 122, the tensioner restraint system 116 can output an alert (e.g., to an operator) to indicate this situation. The working mechanism is similar for adjusting the tension level on the second portion 121 of the harness 118. Based on various guest conditions, the tension level on the first portion 120 can be different from the tension level on the second portion 121, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. In certain embodiments, the tension level on the first portion 120 can be the same as the tension level on the second portion 121, as illustrated in FIG. 8B. Figures 2 to 5 Figures 6 to 7

[0027] In one embodiment, the ride vehicle 104 can have a guest condition sensor 125 (e.g., a weight sensor, a force or torque sensor, a motion sensor, an image sensor, a touch sensor) for measuring the guest condition (e.g., body condition, height, weight, shape, size). The tension level on different portions of the harness 118 can be adjusted according to the condition of the corresponding guest. For example, a first guest can receive a different tension level than a second guest who has a different size than the first guest. Thus, the tensioner restraint system 116 can provide an adjustable restraint that can be adjusted based on the condition of the guest.

[0028] In one embodiment, the ride system 100 can have an operation sensor 126 for monitoring an operation parameter (e.g., speed, acceleration, direction of movement) of the ride vehicle 104 in the environment 106. The operation sensor 126 can be placed on the vehicle 104 or in the environment 106. The tension level on the harness 118 can be adjusted according to the operation condition of the ride vehicle 104. For example, when the ride vehicle 104 is stopped or moving at a speed that is lower than a predefined minimum value (e.g., associated with the environment 106), the tension level on the harness 118 can be adjusted to be within a predefined range for slow motion. When the ride vehicle 104 is moving or accelerating at a speed or acceleration that is greater than a predefined maximum value (e.g., associated with the environment 106), the tension level on the harness 118 can be adjusted to be within a predefined range for faster motion. Depending on the conditions of the ride system 100, the ride vehicle 104, the environment 106, the guest 102, etc., the predefined range for slow motion and the predefined range for faster motion can be substantially the same, or different, or different but have overlapping values.​​

[0029] In one embodiment, a predefined range of tension levels (e.g., between a predefined minimum and a predefined maximum) along with corresponding weights of the guest 102, corresponding sizes of the guest 102, corresponding properties of the ride system 100, corresponding operating parameters of the ride vehicle 104, and / or corresponding features of the environment 106 can be stored in a lookup table 127 associated with the ride system 100.

[0030] In one embodiment, the tensioner restraint system 116 can include a locking system 128 to lock the strap 118 in place. For example, the locking system 128 can lock the first portion 120 of the strap 118 at a desired extension length that spans between the first fork 112 and the second fork 114 of the knee bar assembly 108. For example, when the knee bar assembly is in the engaged configuration, after the length of the first portion 120 of the strap 118 is adjusted by the tensioner restraint system 116 to be within a predefined range, the locking system 128 can be automatically enabled (e.g., based on the tension level on the first portion 120) or enabled by an operator, such that the length of the first portion 120 of the strap 118 cannot be adjusted until the locking system 128 is disabled (e.g., automatically or by an operator). The locking system 128 can be operable such that after the locking system 128 is enabled, the guest 102 is prevented from adjusting the length of the first portion 120 of the strap 118. For example, the locking system 128 can require a key for operation. The locking system 128 can be disabled automatically (e.g., when a signal is received) or by an operator. For example, the locking system 128 can be disabled when the tension level on the strap 118 needs to be adjusted based on sensor feedback, etc. The locking system 128 can also be disabled in some specific instances when the guest 102 needs to exit the vehicle 104, such as when an obstruction occurs in the environment 106 or at some specific attraction / show (e.g., something is detected on the ride track or attraction route). An operator can disable the locking system 128 when deemed appropriate or necessary, such as when the guest 102 wants to exit the ride vehicle 104 and the circumstances allow. The locking system 128 can be disabled before the ride vehicle 104 completes a ride in the environment 106, and the tension level on the strap 118 can be dynamically adjusted based on various features in the environment 106. After the length of other portions (e.g., the second portion 121) of the strap 118 are adjusted by the tensioner restraint system 116 to be within a desired (e.g., predefined) range, the corresponding portions can also be locked. The locking system 128 can be enabled to lock the respective lengths of each portion of the strap 118 simultaneously, or to independently lock the corresponding lengths of at least two portions of the strap 118 (e.g., for a ride vehicle equipped with more than one tensioner).

[0031] The controller 130 can be configured to receive and analyze data from one or more sensors 124. For example, the controller 130 can be configured to instruct an adjustment in the level of tension on the first portion 120 of the strap 118 based on data received from one or more sensors 124. The controller 130 can also be configured to activate / deactivate the locking system 128. The controller 130 can include various types of components that can assist the controller 130 in performing various types of computer tasks and operations. For example, the controller 130 can include a communication component 132, a processor 134, a memory 136, a storage device 138, an input / output (I / O) port 140, a display 142, etc.

[0032] The communication component 132 can be a wireless or wired communication component that can facilitate communication between the controller 130 and various other controllers and devices via a network, the Internet, etc. For example, the communication component 132 can include a transceiver, receiver, and / or transmitter to facilitate communication to and / or from the controller 130. For example, the communication component 132 can allow the controller 130 to obtain data from various data sources. The communication component 132 can use various communication protocols, such as Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), TCP / IP protocols, Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA) protocols, Database Change Protocol (DCP), HTTP protocols, other suitable current or future protocols, or combinations thereof. Further, in one embodiment, the communication component 132 can not be onboard the controller (e.g., a wireless communication component).

[0033] The processor 134 can process instructions for execution within the controller 130. The processor 134 can include single-threaded processor(s), multi-threaded processor(s), or both. The processor 134 can process instructions stored in the memory 136. The processor 134 can also include hardware-based processor(s) each including one or more cores. The processor 134 can include general-purpose processor(s), special-purpose processor(s), or both. The processor 134 can be communicatively coupled to other internal components, such as the communication component 132, the storage device 138, the I / O port 140, and the display 142.

[0034] The memory 136 and storage 138 can be any suitable article of manufacture that can be used to store processor-executable code, data, etc. that can be used by the processor 134 to perform the presently disclosed technology. As used herein, an application can include any suitable computer software or program that can be installed onto the controller 130 and executed by the processor 134. The memory 136 and storage 138 can represent non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., any suitable form of memory or storage) that can store processor-executable code used by the processor 134 to perform the various techniques described herein. It should be noted that non-transitory merely indicates that the media is tangible, as opposed to a signal. For example, the lookup table 127 can be stored in the memory 136 and / or storage 138.

[0035] The I / O ports 140 can be interfaces that can be coupled to other peripheral components such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, joystick), sensors, input / output (I / O) modules, etc. The display 142 can operate as a human-machine interface (HMI) to depict visualizations associated with software or executable code processed by the processor 134. In one embodiment, the display 142 can be a touch display capable of receiving input from an operator of the controller 130. The display 142 can be any suitable type of display such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. Further, in one embodiment, the display 142 can be provided in conjunction with a touch-sensitive mechanism (e.g., a touch screen) that can be used as part of the control interface for the controller 130. Further, in one embodiment, the display 142 can not be onboard the controller (e.g., a wireless display). It should be noted that the components described above with respect to the controller 130 are examples, and the controller 130 can include additional or fewer components relative to the illustrated embodiment.

[0036] Further, the ride system 100 can include network features that facilitate data communication within the ride system 100 and with external devices. The network can include transceivers, receivers, and / or transmitters to facilitate data communication to and / or from the controller 130. For example, data collected by sensors (e.g., one or more sensors 124 on the ride vehicle 104 and / or in the environment 106, guest condition sensors 125, operation sensors 126, other sensors) (e.g., force data, pressure data, size data, image data, video data, sound data, location data, and weight data) can be transmitted to the controller 130 through the network 144. Further, external data (e.g., data about a particular user, local weather / news) can be gathered from remote systems and transmitted to the controller 130 via the network 144. However, in some embodiments, data collected by sensors can be transmitted directly from the sensors (e.g., one or more sensors 124) to the controller 130. Indeed, in accordance with the present embodiments, the controller 130 can communicate directly with sensors or other devices and / or through the network 144.

[0037] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ride system 100 when the knee-bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. As Figure 3 illustrated in FIG. 1 1 1, the strap 1 18 can at least partially wrap around and / or encircle the guest 102 and / or the guest 103 when the knee-bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. Further or alternatively, the strap 188 can conform to the guest 102 and / or the guest 103 when the knee-bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. It should be noted that, although in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 FIG. 1 1 1, the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 of the strap 1 18 wrap around the knees of the guest 102 and the guest 103, in other embodiments, the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 of the strap 1 18 can wrap around other body parts of the guests (e.g., the chest, the arms, or the legs), and / or each portion can wrap around more than one body part of the corresponding guest, as described in Figures 4 to 6 FIG. 1 1 2. In such embodiments, the knee-bar assembly 108 can be replaced by a shoulder or torso-bar assembly that can operate in a manner similar to the configuration of Figures 1 to 3 FIG. 1 1 1, or can translate (e.g., rotate from the top down, slidable translation, linear translation) into the engaged configuration 92.

[0038] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ride system 100. In Figure 4In the illustrated embodiment, the crotch portion 113 includes two crotch portions: a first crotch portion 112; and a second crotch portion 114. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the crotch portion 113 can vary based on one or more positioning requirements. The first crotch portion 112 and the second crotch portion 114 can be disposed about the guest 102 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. The first portion 120 of the harness 118 can span between the first crotch portion 112 and the second crotch portion 114 of the knee bar assembly 108 and at least partially encircle the guest 102 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. The harness 118 can extend from a tensioner 122 (e.g., a reel assembly 119) and can have an adjustable length of extension. The tensioner 122 can be mounted inside the knee bar assembly 108 (e.g., inside the first crotch portion 112 or the second crotch portion 114). One end 145 of the harness 118 can be coupled to the seat 110 at a first location 146, and a third portion 148 of the harness 118 can span between the second crotch portion 114 and the first location 146. The third portion 148 can be pulled back to the tensioner 122 (or a separate tensioner 122) that can be mounted inside the knee bar assembly 108 (e.g., inside the first crotch portion 112 or the second crotch portion 114) or inside the seat 110. The third portion 148 can at least partially encircle certain body parts (e.g., a chest, an arm, or a leg) of the additional guest 103 and can at least partially encircle more than one body part (e.g., an arm and a chest) when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. Thus, the harness 118 can at least partially encircle and / or encircle about the guest 102 and / or the guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. Additionally or alternatively, the harness 118 can conform to the guest 102 and / or the guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92.

[0039] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ride system 100. In Figure 5In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the ride system 100 can include the first split 112 and the second split 114. The first split 112 can be positioned between the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the first split 112 can vary based on one or more restraint requirements. The second split 114 can be positioned between the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the second split 114 can vary based on one or more restraint requirements. The third portion 148 of the harness 118 can at least partially encircle certain body parts (e.g., chest, arms, or legs) of the additional guest 103 and can at least partially encircle more than one body part (e.g., arms and chest) when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. The third portion 148 can extend from the tensioner 122 (e.g., the spool assembly 119) and can have an adjustable length of extension. The tensioner 122 can be mounted inside the seat 110 or inside the second split 114. One end 150 of the harness 118 can be coupled to the seat 110 at a second location 152, and a fourth portion 154 of the harness 118 can span between the second split 114 and the second location 152. The fourth portion 154 can at least partially encircle certain body parts (e.g., chest, arms, or legs) of the guest 102 and can at least partially encircle more than one body part (e.g., arms and chest) when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration. The fourth portion 154 and / or the third portion 148 can be pulled back to the tensioner 122 or a separate tensioner 122 (e.g., inside the second split 114 or inside the seat 110). Thus, the harness 118 at least partially encircles and / or encloses the guest 102 and / or the guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. Additionally or alternatively, the harness 118 can conform to the guest 102 and / or the guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92.

[0040] Figure 6is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ride system 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the ride system 100 can include only the first diverging section 112. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the first diverging section 112 can vary based on one or more ride requirements. The end 145 of the harness 118 can be coupled to the seat 110 at the first location 146. The fifth portion 156 of the harness 118 can span between the first diverging section 112 and the first location 146. When the knee-bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration, the fifth portion 156 of the harness 118 can at least partially encircle certain body parts (e.g., chest, arms, legs) of the guest 102 and the additional guest 103, and can at least partially encircle more than one body part (e.g., arms and chest). The harness 118 can extend from the tensioner 122 (e.g., spool assembly 119) and can have an adjustable length of extension. The tensioner 122 can be mounted inside the knee-bar assembly 108 (e.g., the first diverging section 112). Thus, when the knee-bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92, the harness 118 at least partially encircles and / or encircles around the guest 102 and / or the additional guest 103. Additionally or alternatively, when the knee-bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration, the harness 118 can conform to the guest 102 and / or the additional guest 103. In Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 can be at least partially encircled by the same fifth portion 156 of the harness 118. Thus, the level of tension on the fifth portion 156 is the same for the guest 102 and the additional guest 103. As previously mentioned, the corresponding forces exerted by the fifth portion 156 onto the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 can be related to the corresponding body shapes and / or sizes of the guest 102 and the additional guest 103, respectively. Thus, when the body shapes of the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 are different, the corresponding forces exerted by the fifth portion 156 onto the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 can be different. Thus, the level of tension on the fifth portion 156 can be adjusted to be within a range suitable for both the guest 102 and the additional guest 103.

[0041] Figure 7is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ride system 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the bifurcation 113 includes two bifurcations, a first bifurcation 112 and a third bifurcation 115. The placement, size, and / or orientation of the bifurcation 113 can vary based on one or more ride requirements. A sixth portion 158 of the harness 118 can span between the first bifurcation 112 and the third bifurcation 115. The sixth portion 158 of the harness 118 can at least partially loop around the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 around certain body parts (e.g., the chest, arms, or legs) when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration, and can loop around more than one body part (e.g., the arms and the chest). The harness 118 can extend from a tensioner 122 (e.g., a spool assembly 119) and can have an adjustable extension length. The tensioner 122 can be mounted inside the knee bar assembly 108 (e.g., the first bifurcation 112 or the third bifurcation 115). Thus, the harness 118 can at least partially loop over and / or around the guest 102 and / or the additional guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. Additionally or alternatively, the harness 188 can conform to the guest 102 and / or the additional guest 103 when the knee bar assembly 108 is in the engaged configuration 92. In Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 can be at least partially looped by the same sixth portion 158 of the harness 118. Thus, the tension level on the sixth portion 158 is the same for the guest 102 and the additional guest 103. As previously mentioned, the corresponding forces exerted by the sixth portion 158 onto the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 can be related to the corresponding body shapes and / or sizes of the guest 102 and the additional guest 103, respectively. Thus, the corresponding forces exerted by the sixth portion 158 onto the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 can be different when the body shapes and / or sizes of the guest 102 and the additional guest 103 are different. Thus, the tension level on the sixth portion 158 can be adjusted to be within a range suitable for both the guest 102 and the additional guest 103.

[0042] Figure 8A method 200 for operating a harness restraint system 116 can be illustrated. At block 201, the harness 118 can be unlocked (e.g., at a loading station). At block 202, the controller 130 can receive data from one or more sensors 124 indicative of a tension level of each portion (e.g., first portion 120, second portion 121) of the harness 118. At block 203, the controller 130 can receive data from one or more sensors 99 indicative of a measured value of a pressure level on each portion (e.g., first portion 120, second portion 121) of the harness 118. The controller can also receive a condition of a guest (e.g., guest 102, additional guest 103) from a guest condition sensor 125 and / or other sources (e.g., storage 138, database, external source), an operating parameter of the vehicle 104 from an operation sensor 126, data associated with a configuration of the vehicle 104 (e.g., from storage 138, database, external source), data associated with the environment 106 (e.g., features in the environment 106, local weather / news), etc. At block 204, the controller can analyze the data collected in block 202 to determine a corresponding predefined range for a corresponding tension level on each portion of the harness 118 based on a condition of the corresponding guest, a nature of the ride system 100 (e.g., configuration of the vehicle 104), an operating parameter of the ride vehicle 104 (e.g., speed, acceleration, direction of movement), a feature of the environment 106, or any combination thereof. At block 205, the controller can analyze the data collected in block 203 to determine a corresponding predefined range for a corresponding pressure level on each portion of the harness 118 based on a condition of the corresponding guest, a nature of the ride system 100 (e.g., configuration of the vehicle 104), an operating parameter of the ride vehicle 104 (e.g., speed, acceleration, direction of movement), a feature of the environment 106, or any combination thereof. The controller 130 can determine the corresponding predefined range for a tension level or pressure level on a portion of the harness 118 by implementing a lookup table 127 or by using a predetermined algorithm. At block 206, the controller 130 can compare the measured pressure level on each portion of the harness 118 to the corresponding predefined range. If the measured pressure level on a portion of the harness 118 is not within the corresponding predefined range, at block 207, the controller 130 can determine whether a length of extension of the harness 118 can be adjusted. If the controller 130 determines that the length of extension of the harness 118 can be adjusted, at block 208, the length of the corresponding portion of the harness 118 can be adjusted (e.g., pulled out from or retracted into the tensioner 122) based on the measured pressure level. If the controller 130 determines that the length of extension of the harness 118 cannot be adjusted, at block 209, the controller 130 can send an alert.For example, when the time taken to adjust the length of the extension of the harness 118 is greater than a threshold value, the controller 130 can determine that the length of the extension of the harness 118 cannot be adjusted. At block 210, the controller 130 can compare the measured tension level on each portion of the harness 118 to the corresponding predefined range. If the measured tension level on a portion of the harness 118 is not within the corresponding predefined range, the controller 130 can repeat blocks 202-208. At block 211, when the tension and pressure levels on all portions of the harness 118 are adjusted to be within the corresponding predefined ranges, the controller 130 can send a notification indicating the status of the tension and pressure levels (e.g., to an operator of the ride system), and at block 212, can enable the locking system 128 to lock the corresponding length of each portion of the harness 118.

[0043] It should be noted that the references to "first," "second," "third," "fourth," "fifth," and "sixth" with respect to portions 120, 121, 148, 154, 156, and 158 are merely for ease of discussion and differentiation, but the terms can be interchangeable.

[0044] While only certain features of the application have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the application.

[0045] The technology presented and claimed herein is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, such that it is not intended to be limited to only those embodiments that are described in the specification. Any recitation of the phrase "comprising" is intended to be open-ended and to mean the described structure or method includes, but is not limited to, the structure or method having additional structure or methods. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially to those of ordinary skill in the art, are to be interpreted not only in the specific context as used, but also in the general context of well understood related terms. However, specific contexts can provide more in depth descriptions to aspects that can apply to those with average skill in the art, and, accordingly, the disclosure of a specific context can be interpreted where necessary to apply to other technology areas. In addition to the common meaning of the words used, the disclosure also includes definitions that can be specific to a particular context, and in that specific context, the disclosure includes not only the words as specifically defined, but also what the term specifically excludes. In addition, if any claim contains an element designated as "means" or "step" for performing a specific function, it will be understood that such element is to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) as being a specific integration of the structure and steps for performing the function.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a passenger vehicle, the restraint system comprising: The seating of the vehicle includes one or more seats; as well as A knee bar, wherein the knee bar is configured to switch between an open configuration and an engaged configuration, wherein the knee bar includes: One or more bifurcations, wherein: The one or more forked portions include a first forked portion; and The one or more bifurcations are configured to surround one or more occupants of the seat of the vehicle when the knee bar is in the engagement configuration; and The restraint device includes one or more straps, wherein, in the case of the knee bar in the engagement configuration, the one or more straps conform to at least a portion of each of the one or more occupants.

2. The restraint system of claim 1, comprising a first tensioner and a first strap of the one or more straps, wherein, First tensioner: It is connected to the seat of the riding vehicle, and the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner to the first fork of the one or more forks; or It is connected to the first branch of one or more of the branches, and the first strap of one or more of the straps extends from the first branch of one or more of the branches to the seat of the vehicle.

3. The restraint system of claim 2, comprising a second tensioner and a second strap of the one or more straps, wherein, Second tensioner: It is connected to the seat of the riding vehicle, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first branch of the one or more branches; The first branch of the one or more branches is connected to the first branch, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the seat of the riding vehicle; It is connected to the seat of the riding vehicle, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the second branch of the one or more branches; It is connected to the second branch of one or more of the branch portions, and the second strap of one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the seat of the riding vehicle; It is connected to the first branch of one or more branches, and the second strap of one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the second branch of one or more branches; or It is connected to the second branch of one or more branches, and the second strap of one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first branch of one or more branches.

4. The restraint system according to claim 1, comprising a first tensioner, wherein, First tensioner: It is connected to a first seat in one or more of the seats, and a first strap in one or more of the straps extends from the first tensioner to the first fork in one or more of the forks; or It is connected to the first branch in one or more of the branch portions, and the first strap in one or more of the straps extends from the first tensioner to the first seat in one or more of the seats.

5. The restraint system according to claim 4, further comprising a second tensioner, wherein, Second tensioner: It is connected to the second seat of the one or more seats, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first fork of the one or more forks; It is connected to the first branch of the one or more branches, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the first branch to the second seat of the one or more seats; It is connected to the second seat of the one or more seats, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second seat of the one or more seats and the second fork of the one or more forks; It is connected to the second branch of the one or more branches, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the second seat of the one or more seats; It is connected to the first branch of the one or more branches, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the second branch of the one or more branches; or It is connected to the second branch of the one or more branches, and the second strap of the one or more straps extends from the second tensioner to the first branch of the one or more branches.

6. The restraint system according to claim 1, comprising a first tensioner, wherein, First tensioner: It is connected to a first seat in one or more of the seats, and the first strap in one or more of the straps extends from the first tensioner through the first branch in one or more of the branches to a second branch in one or more of the branches or a second seat in one or more of the seats; It is connected to the first branch of one or more branches, and the first strap of one or more straps extends from the first tensioner through the second branch of one or more branches to the third branch of one or more branches or the second seat of one or more seats; or It is connected to the first branch of the one or more branches, and the first strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner to the second branch of the one or more branches.

7. The restraint system of claim 1, comprising one or more tensioners, wherein, At least one of the one or more tensioners includes: A reel, with a portion of a respective strap from the one or more straps wrapped around the reel; and A bias feature is configured to pull the respective strap of the one or more straps toward the reel.

8. The constraint system according to claim 7, wherein, The respective strap of the one or more straps extends from the first tensioner of the one or more tensioners to conform at least partially around at least a first occupant and at least a second occupant of the one or more occupants in the engagement configuration.

9. The constraint system according to claim 1, wherein, The knee bar includes a second fork and a third fork of the one or more forks, wherein at least one fork of the one or more forks includes a tensioner, and wherein, in the engagement configuration, the first fork and the second fork of the one or more forks are configured to at least partially surround a first occupant of the one or more occupants of the seat, and the first fork and the third fork of the one or more forks are configured to surround a second occupant of the one or more occupants of the seat.

10. The restraint system of claim 9, comprising a single strap engaging with each of the first branch, the second branch, and the third branch of the one or more branches.

11. The constraint system according to claim 9, wherein, Each of the first branch and the second branch in the one or more branch segments includes a corresponding tensioner.

12. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor system configured to detect the tension level of at least one of the one or more straps.

13. The restraint system according to claim 12, comprising: One or more tensioners; as well as A tension management system configured to control at least one of the one or more tensioners to adjust the length of the extension of the at least one of the one or more straps based on the tension level of the at least one strap among the one or more straps.

14. The restraint system of claim 12, further comprising a locking system configured to lock at least one of the one or more straps in place in response to tension of at least one of the one or more straps being within a defined range.

15. The constraint system according to claim 14, wherein, The defined range is selected based on the weight of at least one of the one or more occupants, the size of the at least one of the one or more occupants, the nature of the vehicle, the operating parameters of the vehicle, the characteristics of the environment in which the vehicle travels, or any combination thereof.

16. The restraint system according to claim 15, wherein, The defined range is stored in a lookup table having corresponding values ​​for the weight of at least one of the one or more occupants, the size of at least one of the one or more occupants, the properties of the vehicle, the operating parameters of the vehicle, the characteristics of the environment in which the vehicle travels, or any combination thereof.

17. The constraint system according to claim 14, wherein, The length of at least one of the one or more straps is not adjustable when it is locked by the locking system.

18. The restraint system according to claim 12, wherein, The sensor system includes weight sensors, force or torque sensors, motion sensors, image sensors, touch sensors, or any combination thereof.

19. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm system configured to send an alarm when the knee bar is in the engagement configuration, the alarm system being configured to send an alarm when a tension sensor detects that the tension value on at least one of the one or more straps is below a threshold.

20. The constraint system according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more straps include flexible straps, flexible pads, a series of pads, ropes, nets, parallel ropes, or any combination thereof.

21. A riding system, comprising: A passenger vehicle, including a seat configured to support at least one passenger; A knee bar assembly comprising a neck and a forked knee bar structure, wherein the neck is coupled to the riding vehicle at a first end of the neck and to the forked knee bar structure at a second end of the neck, such that the knee bar assembly is configured to be actuated between an open configuration and an engaged configuration; A first fork and a second fork of one or more forks in the forked knee bar structure, the first fork and the second fork being configured to be positioned on either side of the at least one occupant in the seat when the knee bar assembly is in the engagement configuration; as well as A strap, spanning between the first and second forks, is configured to extend from the tensioner such that when the first and second forks are rotated to a position corresponding to the engagement configuration of the knee bar assembly, the strap extends from the tensioner to conform at least partially around the at least one occupant.

22. The riding system according to claim 21, wherein, The neck: The knee bar assembly is rotatably connected to the riding vehicle via a pivot at the first end of the neck, such that the knee bar assembly is configured to rotate about the pivot between the open configuration and the engaged configuration; or The knee bar assembly is slidably coupled to the riding vehicle at the first end of the neck, such that the knee bar assembly is configured to translate between the open configuration and the engaged configuration.

23. The riding system according to claim 21, wherein, The tensioner includes a resilient connector for securing the strap to the knee bar assembly.

24. The riding system of claim 21, comprising a sensor system and a tension management system, the sensor system being configured to detect tension levels on the straps, and the tension management system being configured to control the tensioner to adjust the length of the strap extension based on the tension levels on the straps.

25. A method for operating a restraint system in a riding environment, the method comprising: The straps conform to at least partially one or more occupants positioned in a seat of the vehicle, wherein: The strap extends from the tensioner and extends between the first and second bifurcations of the knee bar structure; or The strap extends from the tensioner and extends between the first fork and the seat of the riding vehicle; The force level on the straps is detected using one or more sensors; Receive, at one or more processors, data indicating the force level from at least one of the one or more sensors; The predefined range for the force level is determined by at least one of the one or more processors based on the conditions of at least one of the one or more occupants, the operating parameters of the vehicle, the characteristics of the riding environment, or any combination thereof. In response to determining that the force level is not within the preset range, the extension length of the strap is adjusted from the tensioner to adjust the force level to within the preset range; and Send a notification indicating that the force level is within the predefined range.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, The force level includes tension level or pressure level.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein, The one or more sensors include torque sensors, touch sensors, resistance sensors, voltage sensors, current sensors, or any combination thereof.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein, The conditions are associated with the riding parameters.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein, The conditions include the size of the strap.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising monitoring the time period required to adjust the force level to the predetermined range.

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