System and method for sanitizing amusement park items

Abstract

A disinfection system for an amusement park includes a compartment disposed in a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride, wherein the compartment is configured to receive an item of the amusement park ride; a source of ultraviolet light disposed in the compartment, wherein the source of ultraviolet light is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward a surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment; and a nozzle disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a disinfecting fluid toward the surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to the amusement park sector. More specifically, embodiments of this disclosure relate to a disinfection system for amusement parks.

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the technology that may be related to the various aspects of this disclosure described below. It is believed that this discussion will 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 should be read in this regard and not as an admission of prior art.

[0003] Amusement parks comprise a variety of rides and other features that provide a unique experience for each park guest. In some cases, ride cabins, handles, interactive components, or other features and / or items that guests come into contact with may accumulate bacteria or other unwanted substances. Therefore, amusement parks may include processes for removing such substances from surfaces that guests frequently touch. It is now recognized that existing cleaning processes are time-consuming and may therefore increase guest wait times for rides or attractions. Furthermore, it is now recognized that existing cleaning processes may be performed inefficiently, such as removing amusement park items from rides, cleaning items, and returning items to rides. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following summarizes certain embodiments that are proportionate to the subject matter of the original claims. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, but are merely intended to provide a brief overview of some of the disclosed embodiments. In fact, this disclosure may cover a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

[0005] In one embodiment, a disinfection system for an amusement park includes: a compartment disposed in a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride, wherein the compartment is configured to receive items of the amusement park ride; an ultraviolet light source disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment; and a nozzle disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct disinfectant fluid toward the surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment.

[0006] In another embodiment, a system includes an amusement park ride and a disinfection system. The amusement park ride includes a ride path and a ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to transport passengers along the ride path in the direction of the amusement park ride. The disinfection system is disposed within the ride vehicle and includes: a compartment configured to receive items from the amusement park ride; an ultraviolet light source disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment; and a nozzle disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct disinfectant fluid toward the surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment.

[0007] In another embodiment, a system includes: a disinfection system for an amusement park, wherein the disinfection system is disposed within a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride, and wherein the disinfection system includes: a compartment configured to receive items from the amusement park ride; an ultraviolet light source disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the item when the item is positioned in the compartment; and an item rotating device disposed at least partially in the compartment, wherein the item rotating device includes a plurality of containers, and wherein each of the plurality of containers is configured to receive a corresponding item from the amusement park ride. Attached Figure Description

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same characters denote the same parts throughout the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 An embodiment of a disinfection system for amusement park items according to one aspect of the present disclosure is illustrated; Figure 2 The illustration shows a device having, according to one aspect of the present disclosure Figure 1 A front view of an embodiment of a passenger vehicle equipped with a disinfection system; Figure 3 The illustration shows one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 1 and Figure 2 A perspective view of an embodiment of a disinfection system compartment; Figure 4 The illustration shows a bracket for receiving amusement park items according to one aspect of this disclosure. Figure 3 A perspective view of an embodiment of a disinfection system compartment; Figure 5 The illustration shows a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a passenger vehicle with a disinfection system according to one aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 6 The illustration shows a front view of an embodiment of an article rotation device for a compartment of a disinfection system according to one aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 7 The illustration shows one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 6 A perspective view of an embodiment of an article rotating device; Figure 8 The illustration shows a front view of an embodiment of an article rotating device for a compartment in a disinfection system according to one aspect of this disclosure; and Figure 9 The illustration shows one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 8 A perspective view of an embodiment of an article rotating device. Detailed Implementation

[0009] One or more specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described below. In striving to provide a brief description of these embodiments, not all features of the actual implementation may be described in the specification. It should be understood that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, many implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as those related to the system and the business, which may vary from implementation to implementation. Furthermore, it should be understood that such development work can be complex and time-consuming, but it will still be a routine task of design, fabrication, and manufacturing for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0010] Amusement parks are characterized by a wide variety of entertainment, such as rides, shows, and games. As used herein, among other things, rides can include roller coasters, dark rides, themed rides, tower rides, and water rides. Different types of entertainment can include features and / or items that enhance the guest experience at the amusement park. In some cases, rides, games, interactive equipment, and / or other items include surfaces that guests frequently touch or come into contact with (e.g., handles, knobs, handheld or wearable items, goggles, or glasses). In the environment of rides or items, such surfaces can accumulate bacteria and / or other undesirable substances when guests touch them and / or when they come into contact with air, water, mist, and / or splashed solids or liquids. Therefore, amusement parks may have appropriate protocols for the periodic disinfection of surfaces to remove bacteria or other undesirable substances. For example, amusement parks may remove various items from rides (e.g., handheld devices consistent with the theme of the ride, wearable devices worn by guests during the ride, glasses or eyeglasses worn by guests during the ride, interactive devices used by guests during the ride) and clean surfaces with disinfectant sprays (e.g., soap or antibacterial liquids) that may be exposed to bacteria and other undesirable substances during routine maintenance of amusement park rides and / or outside of amusement park operating hours (e.g., when the amusement park is closed).

[0011] In some cases, items for amusement park rides may be relatively expensive, leading the park to purchase a limited quantity for guest use. Park employees can remove such items from rides to clean them between adjacent uses by park guests, removing any bacteria and / or other unwanted substances. It is now recognized that removing items from rides and cleaning them using traditional disinfection methods is time-consuming, thus reducing the number of guests who can experience amusement park rides, games, interactive features, and / or entertainment throughout a given day.

[0012] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to an enhanced disinfection system for articles, which may be included on a ride vehicle of an amusement park ride, the ride utilizing disinfectant spray or ultraviolet light, or both, to periodically remove bacteria and other unwanted substances from articles on the ride vehicle that are frequently touched by guests. In some embodiments, at the end of the ride (e.g., when the ride vehicle arrives at the unloading area where guests have left the ride vehicle), a designated guest may place the articles from the ride vehicle into a compartment of the ride vehicle. The compartment may include an ultraviolet light source, spray nozzles, and / or a dryer to disinfect the articles from the ride vehicle as the ride vehicle is transported from the unloading area to the loading area (e.g., part of the ride vehicle's path where guests enter the ride vehicle). Thus, guests entering the ride vehicle at the loading area can then utilize the disinfected articles from the ride vehicle for the entire duration of the ride (e.g., as the ride vehicle travels along the ride path from the loading area to the unloading area).

[0013] In other embodiments, the ride-on vehicle may include multiple compartments that allow a first item of the amusement park ride to be disinfected throughout the duration of the ride, while a second item of the amusement park ride is used by passengers riding in the ride-on vehicle. For example, a first compartment may contain and disinfect the first item of the amusement park ride. Alternatively, a second compartment may be empty for the entire duration of the ride and then open when the ride-on vehicle reaches an unloading area to prompt passengers to return the second amusement park item to the second compartment. Thus, subsequent passengers riding the ride-on vehicle can use the first item of the amusement park ride while the second item of the amusement park ride is disinfected. In another embodiment, the compartment may include an item rotating device, which may include multiple rotating, movable, or otherwise actuated containers, each configured to receive items from the amusement park ride. The actuated containers may alternately cycle through disinfection for corresponding items in containers located within a single compartment of the ride-on vehicle.

[0014] In this embodiment, the disinfection system is configured to at least partially remove bacteria and other unwanted substances from the surfaces of items on amusement park rides carried by the vehicle. Therefore, the frequency and efficiency of disinfection of amusement park rides are increased, which can enhance the guest experience when visiting the amusement park.

[0015] Switch to the attached image. Figure 1 An embodiment of a disinfection system 10 for cleaning items 12 on amusement park rides on a ride vehicle 14 is illustrated. Figure 1 As shown in the illustrated embodiments, the disinfection system 10 may include a compartment 16, which is included within the ride vehicle 14, for disinfecting the item 12. In some embodiments, the item 12 includes a pair of glasses or eyepieces (e.g., glasses for viewing 3D videos, short films, or effects, virtual reality eyepieces, augmented reality eyepieces) worn by guests experiencing the amusement park ride. In other embodiments, the item 12 may include interactive components of the amusement park (e.g., handheld components configured to communicate with the structure or actuation devices of the amusement park ride), wearable devices associated with a guest's guest profile, or another suitable component held or otherwise touched by guests of the amusement park ride. While the illustrated embodiments of this disclosure show the item 12 as a pair of glasses or eyepieces, it should be understood that the item 12 may include any suitable component frequently touched by guests of the amusement park.

[0016] The compartment 16 is configured to receive and disinfect items 12 as the passenger vehicle 14 travels along the passenger path 18. The compartment 16 may include an ultraviolet (UV) light source 20 configured to emit UV light 22 toward the items 12 to remove bacteria and other unwanted substances from surfaces of the items 12 that are frequently touched by passengers. The UV light 22 contacts the surface of the items 12 and removes bacteria and other unwanted substances (e.g., viruses) that may be present on the surface. In some embodiments, the compartment 16 also includes nozzles 24 configured to spray the items 12 with a disinfectant mist or liquid 26 (e.g., a cleaning solution). For example, the nozzles 24 receive fluid (e.g., a cleaning solution) from a fluid source and spray the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward the items 12 before, after, or simultaneously with the UV light 22. Thus, the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 can be combined with the UV light 22 to further disinfect the items 12. In some embodiments, the nozzles 24 may also represent a dryer that operates to dry the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 after it is discharged from the nozzles 24.

[0017] In some embodiments, the UV light source 20 and / or nozzle 24 are activated when the passenger carrier 14 travels between the passenger unloading area and the passenger loading area (e.g., when the passenger carrier 14 includes a single compartment 16). Therefore, the speed of the passenger carrier 14 can be slowed or reduced to provide sufficient exposure of the articles 12 to the UV light source 20 for cleaning purposes. As a non-limiting example, the movement of the passenger carrier 14 can be reduced to ensure that the articles 12 are exposed to the UV light source 20 for a duration between 1 second and 5 minutes, between 5 seconds and 45 seconds, or between 10 seconds and 20 seconds, or any other suitable duration. In other embodiments, the UV light source 20 and / or nozzle 24 are activated when the passenger carrier 14 travels between the passenger loading area and the passenger unloading area (e.g., when the passenger carrier 14 includes multiple compartments 16 and / or an article rotating device for a single compartment 16). In another embodiment, the ultraviolet light source 20 and / or nozzle 24 are activated as the ride vehicle 14 travels substantially along the entire ride path 18 (e.g., when compartment 16 is in the closed position). Therefore, the disinfection of item 12 is systematically performed during the operating hours of the amusement park ride (e.g., while guests are riding the amusement park ride on other rides). Alternatively, the disinfection of item 12 can be performed at times outside the operating hours of the amusement park ride (e.g., when guests are not inside ride vehicle 14 of the amusement park ride).

[0018] Ultraviolet light source 20 emits ultraviolet light 22, which cleans the surface of article 12. In some embodiments, ultraviolet light 22 may include a predetermined wavelength suitable for removing common bacteria and / or other unwanted substances present on the surface of article 12. The wavelength of ultraviolet light 22 may be between 122 and 200 nanometers, thereby emitting far-ultraviolet (“FUV”) light to clean the surface of article 12. FUV may be beneficial in killing common bacteria or unwanted substances on the surface of article 12. In other embodiments, ultraviolet light 22 may include any suitable wavelength (e.g., between 10 and 400 nanometers).

[0019] Figure 2 The illustration shows a front view of a passenger transport vehicle 14 having two of its compartments 16 configured to receive and ultimately sterilize one or more of the items 12. Figure 2As shown in the illustrated embodiment, a compartment 16 is disposed within a portion 50 of the ride-on vehicle 14. For example, the compartment 16 may be located in the seat back 52 of the ride-on vehicle 14 and / or in the body 54 of the ride-on vehicle 14 (e.g., when the seat back 52 is unavailable, such as for the front seats of the ride-on vehicle 14). Therefore, the compartment 16 is configured to disinfect items 12 on the ride-on vehicle 14 without removing items 12 from the ride-on vehicle 14, thereby reducing the amount of time required to complete the disinfection of items 12. Furthermore, performing disinfection of items 12 on the ride-on vehicle reduces the number of items 12 purchased and / or made available to the amusement park, as the increased speed of the disinfection process allows the cleaned items 12 to be available to guests more frequently. Additionally, items 12 on the ride-on vehicle do not need to be transported to cleaning facilities remote from the ride-on vehicle. Therefore, the costs associated with transferring items 12 to remote cleaning facilities are reduced and / or eliminated. In addition, it reduces the risk of damage to item 12 during transport to a remote cleaning facility.

[0020] like Figure 2 As illustrated in the embodiments, each compartment 16 may include an ultraviolet light source 20 and a nozzle 24. In some embodiments, the nozzle 24 is configured to direct a disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward the corresponding article 12 before the ultraviolet light source 20 emits ultraviolet light 22 toward the article 12. Thus, the ultraviolet light source 20 can function to dry the article 12 and / or remove any residual disinfectant mist or liquid 26 that may be present on or within the article 12. Alternatively or additionally, the compartment 16 may include a fan, dryer, or heater 56 that further removes residual disinfectant mist or liquid 26 from the article 12. In other embodiments, the nozzle 24 may direct the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward the article 12 after the ultraviolet light source 20 emits ultraviolet light 22 toward the article 12. In yet another embodiment, the nozzle 24 directs the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward the article 12, and the ultraviolet light source 20 emits ultraviolet light 22 toward the article 12 substantially simultaneously.

[0021] Figure 3 The illustration shows a perspective view of compartment 16 within passenger vehicle 14. Figure 3As illustrated in the embodiments, the compartment includes one or more of the ultraviolet light sources 20 and one or more of the nozzles 24. In some embodiments, the one or more nozzles 24 are fluidly coupled to a storage tank 70 that receives and stores disinfectant mist or liquid 26. For example, a pump 72 is disposed along a conduit 74 (e.g., a pipe or tube) that fluidly couples the storage tank 70 to one or more nozzles 24. The pump 72 can draw disinfectant mist or liquid 26 from the storage tank 70 and direct the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward one or more nozzles 24. In some embodiments, the pump 72 directs the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward each of the one or more nozzles 24 included in the compartment 16. In other embodiments, each of the one or more nozzles 24 includes a corresponding pump 72 that draws disinfectant mist or liquid 26 from the storage tank 70.

[0022] The storage tank 70 may be disposed within the ride vehicle 14 (e.g., the body 54 of the ride vehicle 14) so ​​that guests experiencing the amusement park ride are unaware of it. Alternatively, the storage tank 70 may be used to supply disinfectant mist or liquid 26 to multiple compartments 16 included in the ride vehicle 14. For example, the ride vehicle 14 may include a compartment 16 for each seat of the ride vehicle 14. Therefore, the storage tank 70 may be configured to supply disinfectant mist or liquid 26 to any number of compartments 16 included in the ride vehicle 14. In other embodiments, each compartment 16 included in the ride vehicle 14 has a corresponding storage tank 70 for supplying disinfectant mist or liquid 26.

[0023] In any case, when the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 is sprayed from one or more nozzles 24 toward the article 12, the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 may accumulate in the bottom 76 of the compartment 16. Therefore, the compartment 16 may include an outlet 78 for accumulating residual disinfectant mist or liquid 26. In some embodiments, the outlet 78 is fluidly coupled to the storage tank 70 via a conduit 80 (e.g., a pipe or conduit). A pump 82 (e.g., a second pump) directs the residual disinfectant mist or liquid 26 from the outlet 78 toward the storage tank 70, allowing the residual disinfectant mist or liquid 26 to be repeatedly circulated (e.g., used in multiple disinfection processes for cleaning the article 12). To remove any particles and / or unwanted substances accumulated by the disinfectant mist or liquid 26, a filter 84 (e.g., a mesh screen, filter, adsorption filter, absorption filter) may be disposed along the conduit 80 between the outlet 78 and the storage tank 70. The filter 84 can then remove any unwanted substances from the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 before it is directed back to one or more nozzles 24.

[0024] In other embodiments, the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 may not be repeatedly circulated or reused for subsequent disinfection processes. Instead, the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 is directed to a waste reservoir 86, which is fluidly coupled to a drain outlet 78 via a conduit 88 (e.g., a pipe or conduit). A pump 90 (e.g., a second pump 82 or another pump) may be positioned along the conduit 88 to direct the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 toward the waste reservoir 86. In other embodiments, the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 flows from the drain outlet 78 to the waste reservoir 86 by gravity due to the arrangement of the components (e.g., the waste reservoir 86) relative to the compartment 16. Similar to the storage tank 70, the waste reservoir 86 may be positioned within the ride-on vehicle 14 so that it is not noticeable to passengers. Additionally, the waste reservoir 86 may receive disinfectant mist or liquid 26 from multiple compartments 16 of the ride-on vehicle 14. In other embodiments, the waste reservoir 86 receives disinfectant mist or liquid 26 from a single compartment 16.

[0025] In some embodiments, the storage tank 70 can be periodically replenished as the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 is utilized, evaporated, and / or otherwise not recycled back to the storage tank 70. Therefore, the amusement park ride may include a refueling station 92 that replenishes the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 in the storage tank 70. For example, the refueling station 92 may be located at the unloading area of ​​the ride path 18 and / or between the unloading and loading areas of the ride path 18 (e.g., relative to the direction of travel of the ride vehicle 14). The refueling station 92 is configured to fluidly couple a source of disinfectant mist or liquid 26 to the storage tank 70 and to direct fresh disinfectant mist or liquid 26 into the storage tank 70. The source of the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 may be manually (e.g., by the operator of the amusement park ride) and / or automatically (e.g., via an actuated member that moves along the ride path 18 with the ride vehicle 14) coupled to the storage tank 70. In other embodiments, the storage tank 70 may be refilled as part of the routine maintenance of the ride vehicle 14, during periods outside of the operating hours of the amusement park rides (e.g., when guests are not using the rides), and / or at other suitable times (e.g., manually or automatically).

[0026] Furthermore, the storage tank 70 may include a heating element 93 configured to transfer heat energy (e.g., heat) to the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 stored in the storage tank 70. Thus, the warm disinfectant mist or liquid 26 can be directed toward the surface of the article 12 via a nozzle 24. Heating the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 can enhance the disinfection process of the article 12 because the warm fluid can be more effective in removing solids and / or killing bacteria present on the surface of the article 12. For example, increasing the temperature of the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 can break down a larger amount of solidified material present on the surface compared to a lower temperature disinfectant mist or liquid 26. Additionally, bacteria may not be able to survive in high-temperature environments. Therefore, increasing the temperature of the disinfectant mist or liquid 26 can effectively kill more bacteria compared to a lower temperature disinfectant mist or liquid 26.

[0027] like Figure 3 As illustrated in the embodiments, one or more ultraviolet light sources 20 and pumps 72, 82 and / or 90 are coupled to a power source 94. The power source 94 may be a single power source 94 used to power multiple compartments 16 and / or other components (e.g., lamps, actuated components, detectors, displays) of the passenger carrier 14. In other embodiments, the power source 94 is configured to power components of a single compartment 16. The power source 94 may include a battery, a generator, and / or another suitable power source. In any case, the power source 94 may be controlled by a control system 96. In some embodiments, the control system 96 is configured to selectively operate one or more ultraviolet light sources 20 and pumps 72, 82 and / or 90 via the power source 94. Thus, a disinfectant mist or liquid 26 may be sprayed toward the article 12 while one or more ultraviolet light sources 20 are deactivated (e.g., not emitting ultraviolet light 22), and vice versa. In other embodiments, the control system 96 is communicatively coupled to one or more actuators configured to adjust the position of valves disposed along conduits 74, 80 and / or 88. In such an embodiment, the control system 96 can control the flow of disinfectant spray or mist 26 via the position of such a valve.

[0028] In any case, the control system 96 may include instructions stored on a machine-readable medium 97 (e.g., memory) and executable by a processor 98. The instructions are configured to activate and / or deactivate one or more ultraviolet light sources 20 and / or pumps 72, 82 and / or 90. In some embodiments, the control system 96 is configured to receive feedback indicating the position of the passenger vehicle 14 and / or indicating the position of the door 100 of the compartment 16 (see, for example, Figure 5Therefore, when the transport vehicle 14 arrives at the predetermined location along the transport path 18 and / or when it is determined that the door 100 of the compartment 16 is in the open or closed position, the control system 96 can activate and / or deactivate one or more ultraviolet light sources 20 and / or pumps 72, 82, 90. Thus, when the compartment 16 is sealed (e.g., the door 100 is in the closed position) and the control system 96 determines that the transport vehicle 14 is in the position where the item 12 is placed within the compartment 16, the disinfection process can be activated.

[0029] Figure 4 The illustration shows a perspective view of a compartment 16 with a support 120 configured to position an item 12 within the compartment 16 in a location where a predetermined surface of the item 12 (e.g., a surface frequently touched by guests riding in an amusement park ride) is exposed to ultraviolet light 22 and a disinfectant mist or liquid 26. Figure 4 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the support 120 may include a pair of protrusions 122 extending along the bottom 76 of the compartment 16. In other embodiments, the support 120 may include another structural component disposed within the compartment that is complementary to or adapted to the shape of the article 12 and positions the article 12 at a location that enhances the exposure of a predetermined surface of the article 12 to the ultraviolet light 22 and / or the disinfectant mist or liquid 26. For example, the support 120 may include a conical platform configured to receive and hold the article 12, a wire support configured to receive and hold the article 12, a perforated shelf configured to receive and hold the article 12, or a combination thereof. In addition to positioning the article 12 to enhance the exposure of a predetermined surface to the ultraviolet light 22 and / or the disinfectant mist or liquid 26, the support 120 also allows the article 12 to be offset from the bottom 76 of the compartment 16. Thus, residual disinfectant mist or liquid 26 may not accumulate on or within the article 12, but instead drip downward toward the outlet 78 onto the bottom surface 76.

[0030] As described above, in some embodiments, the ride-on vehicle 14 includes a single compartment 16 for corresponding items 12. In such embodiments, guests can place items 12 into compartment 16 upon completion of their ride (e.g., when the ride-on vehicle 14 arrives at the unloading area along the ride path 18). The ride-on vehicle 14 can then travel along the ride path 18 from the unloading area to the loading area, while the items 12 are disinfected within compartment 16. Thus, guests entering the ride-on vehicle 14 at the loading area can then remove the cleaned items 12 from compartment 16 for use throughout the duration of their ride (e.g., as the ride-on vehicle 14 travels along the ride path 18 from the loading area to the unloading area). In other embodiments, the ride-on vehicle 14 includes multiple compartments 16 (e.g., a disc conveyor belt of compartments 16 rotating relative to the entrance point), wherein each compartment 16 is configured to receive and disinfect a corresponding item 12. In yet another embodiment, a single compartment 16 is configured to receive and / or disinfect multiple items 12.

[0031] For example, Figure 5 This is a partial view of an embodiment of a ride-on vehicle 14 having adjacent compartments 16 for individual seats. Thus, a guest positioned in the ride-on vehicle 14 can utilize the first item 12 throughout the entire duration of their ride (e.g., as the ride-on vehicle 14 travels along the ride path 18 from the loading area to the unloading area). Furthermore, while the guest utilizes the first item 12, the second item 12 can be disinfected in the first compartment 140 throughout the entire duration of the ride. Upon completion of the ride (e.g., when the ride-on vehicle 14 arrives at the unloading area), the door 100 of the second compartment 142 can be opened (e.g., the control system 96 controls actuators 143, such as motors for opening and closing the door 100). Thus, the guest can place the first item 12 into the second compartment 142 for disinfection. The door 100 of the second compartment 142 can then be closed (e.g., the control system 96 controls actuators 143 for opening and closing the door 100). In some embodiments, the control system 96 may be configured to open and / or close the door 100 when the ride vehicle 14 arrives at a predetermined location along the ride path 18. Alternatively, the control system 96 may be configured to open and / or close the door 100 when (e.g., via a load sensor) an item 12 has been placed in the compartment 16. In other embodiments, the door 100 is manually opened and / or closed by guests and / or operators of the amusement park ride.

[0032] In any case, for example, when a subsequent guest enters the ride vehicle 14 at the loading area, the door 100 of the first compartment 140 can be opened (e.g., the actuator 143 of the control system 96 controls the opening and closing of the door 100). The subsequent guest can then remove the second item 12 from the first compartment 140 and use the cleaned second item 12 for the entire duration of the ride in the amusement park. Furthermore, while the subsequent guest uses the second item 12, the first item 12 is simultaneously disinfected in the second compartment 142.

[0033] In one embodiment, item 12 must be placed in a suitable storage container to release the seating facility restraint 144 (e.g., seating facility limiter) of the passenger vehicle 14. For example, the passenger vehicle 14 may include the seating facility restraint 144 to substantially prevent movement of passengers within the passenger vehicle 14. At the loading area of ​​the seating path 18, the seating facility restraint 144 may be secured (e.g., locked) in place such that as the passenger vehicle 14 travels from the loading area to the unloading area, the passenger in the passenger vehicle 14 does not substantially move the seating facility limiter 144. When the passenger vehicle 14 arrives at the unloading area, the passenger may place item 12 into the first compartment 140 and / or the second compartment 142 depending on which of the compartments 140 or 142 is empty (e.g., a suitable compartment without item 12). In some embodiments, the control system 96 (e.g., via a load sensor) detects items 12 within appropriate compartments 140 and / or 142 and releases a ride restraint 144 to allow a passenger to exit the ride vehicle 14. Furthermore, the control system 96 may close the doors 100 of appropriate compartments 140 and / or 142 via actuator 143 when items 12 are detected within the appropriate compartments 140 and / or 142. Additionally, the control system 96 may (e.g., via actuator 143) open the doors 100 of a first compartment 140 and / or a second compartment 142, which includes items 12 that have been disinfected during a previous ride cycle.

[0034] In some embodiments, the ride restraint 144 is coupled to the door 100 of the first compartment 140 and / or the second compartment 142 via a gear system or other physical connection, such that the ride restraint 144 is released simultaneously with the closing and / or opening of the door 100 of the first compartment 140 and / or the second compartment 142. In other embodiments, the ride restraint 144 is released when the door 100 is manually closed. For example, the control system 96 may detect that the door 100 of the appropriate compartment 140 and / or 142 has been closed by a guest and / or operator, and subsequently release the ride restraint 144. In other embodiments, the physical connection between the door 100 of the first compartment 140 and / or the second compartment 142 and the ride restraint 144 may be released when the door 100 of the appropriate compartment 140 and / or 142 is closed.

[0035] exist Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the passenger carrier 14 includes multiple compartments 16, which may consume a relatively large amount of space within the passenger carrier 14. Therefore, it is now recognized that it may be desirable to include a device that enables rotation between multiple articles 12 within a single compartment 16. For example, Figure 6 A plan view of an embodiment of a compartment 16 having an article disc conveyor or rotating device 160 is shown. Figure 6 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the article rotating device 160 includes a plurality of containers 162, wherein each of the plurality of containers 162 is configured to receive and secure articles 12 relative to compartment 16. Although Figure 6 The illustrated embodiment shows an item rotating device 160 having four items in containers 162; however, it should be noted that the item rotating device 160 may include two, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more than ten items in containers 162. In some embodiments, engaging or disengaging a seating facility limiter 144 (e.g., a connecting rod) may cause the item rotating device 160 or the associated entrance door to rotate and / or otherwise open to allow guests to access the sterilized items 12.

[0036] In any case, the item rotating device 160 allows multiple items 12 to alternate between the disinfection process and use by guests of the amusement park ride. For example, a first item 164 (previously disinfected in compartment 16) is placed in a first container 166 located outside compartment 16. Guests can remove the cleaned first item 164 from the first container 166 and use it throughout the duration of the amusement park ride (e.g., as the ride vehicle 14 travels along the ride path 18 from the loading area to the unloading area). At the end of the amusement park ride (e.g., when the ride vehicle 14 arrives at the unloading area), guests can be prompted to return the first item 164 to the first container 166. The control system 96 can then (e.g., via a motor) cause the item rotating device 160 to rotate about axis 168 in the circumferential direction 170. Thus, a second container 172 with a second item 174 can be positioned outside compartment 16 so that subsequent guests can use the cleaned second item 174.

[0037] like Figure 6 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, when the first container 166 is located outside the compartment 16, the surfaces 176 of the second container 172 and 178 of the third container 180 seal the compartment 16. Therefore, ultraviolet light 22 and disinfectant mist or spray 26 can be directed toward the second item 174, the third item 182, and / or (located in the fourth container 186) the fourth item 184, each positioned inside the compartment 16, while the ultraviolet light 22 and / or disinfectant mist or spray 26 do not exit from the interior portion 188 of the compartment 16. In other words, surfaces 176 and 178 block the ultraviolet light 22 and / or disinfectant mist or spray 26 from leaving the compartment 16 and reaching the portion of the passenger-carrying vehicle 14. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the ultraviolet light 22 and / or disinfectant mist or spray 26 can be configured to exit the compartment 16.

[0038] In some embodiments, compartment 16 includes a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 20 and a plurality of nozzles 24 to expose items 164, 174, 182, and / or 184 to ultraviolet light 22 and disinfectant mist or spray 26, respectively, as containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186 rotate within compartment 16. For example, compartment 16 may include a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 20 and nozzles 24 (e.g., three) corresponding to the number (e.g., three) of containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186 positioned within compartment 16 at any given time. Thus, items 164, 174, 182, and / or 184 undergo multiple disinfection processes before being positioned outside compartment 16 and ultimately used by guests of amusement park rides. In other embodiments, compartment 16 may have a smaller number of ultraviolet light sources 20 and nozzles 24 than the number of containers 162 on item rotating device 160 (see, e.g., Figure 8 and 9 In another embodiment, compartment 16 may include a greater number of ultraviolet light sources 20 and nozzles 24 than the number of containers 162 included on the article rotating device 160.

[0039] like Figure 6 As shown in the illustrated embodiments, containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186 may each include a curved surface 190 configured to facilitate rotation of the article rotating device 160. In other embodiments, containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186 include other structural configurations that facilitate rotation of the article rotating device 160 while providing sufficient space to accommodate the respective articles 164, 174, 182, and / or 184 within containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186.

[0040] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A perspective view of an article-rotating device 160, illustrating a motor 210 coupled to an actuator 212 that drives the rotation of the article-rotating device 160. Figure 7 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, actuator 212 is coupled to the body 214 of article rotating device 160. Body 214 is driven about axis 168 in the circumferential direction 170. Furthermore, each of containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186 is coupled to body 214 via fasteners, adhesives, welding, or another suitable technique. In other embodiments, containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186 are integral with body 214 (e.g., formed from a single or shared sheet of material). In any case, rotation of body 214 driven by motor 210 causes rotation of containers 166, 172, 180, and / or 186.

[0041] In some embodiments, motor 210 is communicatively coupled to control system 96, such that control system 96 controls the rotation of item rotating device 160. As described above, control system 96 can receive feedback indicating the position of ride vehicle 14 along ride path 18. Therefore, control system 96 can be configured to cause rotation of item rotating device 160 based on the position of ride vehicle 14. For example, when control system 96 determines that ride vehicle 14 is at the unloading area and / or between the unloading area and the loading area (e.g., a portion of ride path 18 where no passenger is on ride vehicle 14), control system 96 can actuate motor 210 to rotate item rotating device 160 approximately one-quarter turn (e.g., within 10%, 5%, or 1% of the one-quarter turn range). Thus, first item 164 disposed in first container 166 becomes positioned within compartment 16, wherein first item 164 is disinfected during the next cycle of amusement park ride. Similarly, second item 174 disposed in second container 172 is positioned outside compartment 16. Therefore, guests can remove the second item 174 from the second container 172 for use during the next cycle of the amusement park ride. As used herein, a cycle of the amusement park ride refers to the journey of the ride vehicle 14 from the loading area of ​​the ride path 18 to the unloading area of ​​the ride path 18 and back to the loading area of ​​the ride path 18 (e.g., a single completion of the full length of the ride path 18 in the direction of the ride vehicle 14).

[0042] Therefore, when the vehicle 14 travels along the travel path 18, Figure 6 and 7 The rotating item device 160 allows four of the items 12 to rotate between guest uses. In other words, three of the four items 12 are disinfected, while one of the four items 12 is used by a guest in the ride vehicle 14 to experience the amusement park ride. Therefore, items 12 do not need to be removed from the ride vehicle 14 for disinfection, thereby reducing the time spent disinfecting items 12 and / or reducing the number of items 12 purchased and / or made available by the amusement park. Consequently, more guests can experience the amusement park rides within a given operating time, and the amusement park's capital costs can be reduced.

[0043] Figure 8 This is a plan view of an embodiment of an article rotating device 230, which is at least partially disposed in compartment 16. Figure 8As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the article rotating device 230 includes a plurality of containers 232 disposed around a body 234 of the article rotating device 230. The body 234 of the article rotating device 230 may include a reduced size compared to the body 214 of the article rotating device 160, because the smaller surfaces 236 of the plurality of containers 232 abut the outer surfaces of the body 234. However, the plurality of containers 232 may further extend into the space 238 of the passenger carrier 14. In other embodiments, the plurality of containers 232 include different shapes (e.g., pyramidal, spherical, or polygonal) to allow for the utilization of other sizes and / or configurations of the body 234. As described above, the surfaces 240 of the plurality of containers 232 form a seal for the compartment 16, allowing the sterilization process to occur as the passenger carrier 14 travels along the passenger path 18.

[0044] Compartment 16 includes one or more of ultraviolet light sources 20 and one or more of nozzles 24. In some embodiments, one or more ultraviolet light sources 20 and one or more nozzles 24 are shared between adjacent containers 232 of a plurality of containers 232. For example, a first ultraviolet source 242 is shared between a first container 244 and a second container 246 adjacent to the first container 244. Similarly, a first nozzle 248 is shared between the first container 244 and the second container 246. Furthermore, a second ultraviolet source 250 and / or a second nozzle 252 may be shared between the second container 246 and a third container 254. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of containers 232 is disposed within compartment 16 for multiple cycles (e.g., three times) of an amusement park ride prior to a guest's use of a corresponding item 12 disposed in the respective container 232. Thus, compartment 16 can be configured to provide each container 232 with slightly less exposure to ultraviolet light 22 and / or disinfectant spray or mist 26 compared to an embodiment where the corresponding item 12 is used every other cycle of an amusement park ride.

[0045] Figure 9 The illustration shows a perspective view of an article-rotating device 230, in which an actuator 270 is driven by a motor 272 to rotate the article-rotating device 230. Figure 9As illustrated in the embodiment, actuator 270 is coupled to the body 234 of the item rotating device 230. Body 234 is driven about axis 168 in the circumferential direction 170. In some embodiments, motor 272 is communicatively coupled to control system 96, such that control system 96 controls the rotation of item rotating device 230. As described above, control system 96 can receive feedback indicating the position of passenger carrier 14 along passenger path 18. Therefore, control system 96 can be configured to actuate the rotation of item rotating device 230 based on the position of passenger carrier 14. For example, when control system 96 determines that passenger carrier 14 is at the unloading area and / or between the unloading area and the loading area (e.g., a portion of passenger path 18 where no passenger is on passenger carrier 14), control system 96 can actuate motor 272 to rotate item rotating device 230 approximately one-quarter of a turn (e.g., within 10%, 5%, or 1% of the one-quarter-turn range). In other embodiments, control system 96 can actuate motor 272 to rotate item rotating device 230 by another suitable amount. For example, the amount of rotation of the item rotating device 230 may depend on the number of containers 232 among the plurality of containers 232 and / or the spacing of the plurality of containers 232 around the body 234. In any case, at least one of the plurality of containers 232 may be outside the compartment 16 so that a guest can remove the item 12 from at least one container 232 and utilize the item 12 for the entire duration of the ride in the amusement park (e.g., one cycle), while at least one other container 232 of the plurality of containers 232 is disposed within the compartment 16 and is subject to a sterilization process. In some embodiments, the actuation of the ride limiter 144 may depend on the position of the item rotating device 230. For example, rotation of the item rotating device 230 driven by the motor 272 may release the ride limiter 144 and allow the guest to exit the ride carrier 14. In other embodiments, release of the ride limiter 144 may cause actuation of the motor 272 to drive the rotation of the item rotating device 230.

[0046] While only certain features of this disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and alterations 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 alterations falling within the true spirit of this disclosure. The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced to and applied to objects of practical nature and specific examples that explicitly improve upon the art, and are therefore not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Furthermore, if any claim appended at the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as “means for [performing] [function]…” or “steps for [performing] [function]…”, it is intended that such elements be interpreted according to 35U.SC112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements not be interpreted according to 35U.SC112(f).

Claims

1. A disinfection system for amusement parks, comprising: A compartment located within a ride-on vehicle of an amusement park ride, wherein the compartment is configured to receive items of the amusement park ride; An ultraviolet light source is disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment; A nozzle disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct disinfectant fluid toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment, and wherein the disinfectant fluid is configured to discharge into a storage tank within the vehicle and separate from the compartment; as well as A control system configured to detect the position of the ride vehicle along a ride path of the amusement park ride, wherein the control system is configured to activate the ultraviolet light source, the nozzle, or both when the control system determines that the ride vehicle is positioned at a particular location along the ride path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the compartment includes a door configured to seal the compartment when the ultraviolet light source, the nozzle, or both are activated, and wherein the control system is configured to actuate the door based on a sensed position of the vehicle along the riding path.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfection system includes an item rotating device at least partially disposed in the compartment, wherein the item rotating device includes a plurality of containers, and wherein each of the plurality of containers is configured to receive a corresponding item from the amusement park ride.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of containers are coupled to the body of the article rotating device, wherein an actuator is coupled to the body, and wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the body and the plurality of containers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a motor is coupled to the actuator and configured to drive rotation of the actuator, wherein a control system is communicatively coupled to the motor, and wherein the control system is configured to control the operation of the motor based at least on the position of the ride vehicle along the ride path of the amusement park ride.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfection system includes a bracket disposed in the compartment, and wherein the bracket is configured to position the article of the amusement park ride such that when the article is positioned in the compartment, the surface of the article is exposed to the ultraviolet light and the disinfection fluid.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the support includes a pair of protrusions extending from the bottom surface of the compartment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compartment includes a drain outlet configured to direct residual disinfectant fluid toward a storage tank, a waste storage container, or both.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the disinfection system includes a pump configured to direct the disinfection fluid from the storage tank to the nozzle, to direct the disinfection fluid from the outlet to the storage tank, to direct the disinfection fluid from the outlet to the waste storage tank, or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfection system includes a fan, a dryer, or a heater configured to remove residual disinfectant fluid from the surface of the item on the amusement park ride.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the articles of the amusement park ride include: A pair of glasses for viewing 3D videos, short films, or effects; virtual reality black glasses; Augmented reality black glasses or a combination thereof.

12. An amusement park ride system, comprising: An amusement park ride includes a ride path and a ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to transport passengers along the ride path in the direction of the amusement park ride. as well as A disinfection system, wherein the disinfection system is disposed within the passenger vehicle, and wherein the disinfection system comprises: A compartment configured to receive items from the amusement park rides; An ultraviolet light source, disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment; and A nozzle disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct disinfecting fluid toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment. The compartment includes a door, and the amusement park ride system includes a control system that, when the ultraviolet light source is activated, configures the door to seal the compartment and the control system to reduce the speed of the ride vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the travel path includes an unloading area for the passenger to leave the vehicle and a loading area for the passenger to enter the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control system is communicatively coupled to the ultraviolet light source and the flow control device of the disinfectant fluid, wherein the control system is configured to receive feedback indicating the position of the passenger vehicle along the passenger path, and wherein the control system is configured to activate the ultraviolet light source, the flow control device of the disinfectant fluid, or both, when it is determined that the passenger vehicle is traveling from the unloading area to the loading area of ​​the passenger path.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second compartment configured to receive a second item of the amusement park ride, wherein the second compartment includes a second ultraviolet light source, a second nozzle, or both.

16. A disinfection system for an amusement park, wherein the disinfection system is installed within a passenger vehicle of an amusement park ride, and wherein the disinfection system comprises: A compartment configured to receive items from the amusement park rides; An ultraviolet light source is disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment; as well as An item rotating device, at least partially disposed in the compartment, wherein the item rotating device comprises a plurality of containers, and each of the plurality of containers is configured to receive a corresponding item from the amusement park ride to enable alternation between a disinfection process and use by a guest, wherein the item rotating device is configured to rotate the plurality of containers based on the position of the ride.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of containers are coupled to the body of the article rotating device, wherein an actuator is coupled to the body, and wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the body and the plurality of containers.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a control system configured to rotate a portion of the actuator one revolution after each cycle of the amusement park ride.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the rotation of the article rotating device is configured to release the passenger facility limiter of the passenger carrier.

20. An amusement park ride for an amusement park, the amusement park ride comprising: Passengers ride in a transport vehicle, which includes a disinfection compartment. The disinfection compartment is configured to disinfect the surface of an item positioned inside the disinfection compartment, wherein the disinfection compartment includes a door, and the amusement park ride includes a control system that, when the disinfection is activated, the door is configured to seal the disinfection compartment and the control system is configured to reduce the speed of the ride.

21. The amusement park ride of claim 20, comprising an ultraviolet light source disposed in the disinfection compartment of the ride vehicle, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the article.

22. The amusement park ride facility according to claim 21, wherein, The control system is configured to detect the position of the ride vehicle along the ride path of the amusement park ride, wherein the control system is configured to activate the ultraviolet light source in response to the control system detecting that the ride vehicle is positioned at a particular location along the ride path.

23. The amusement park ride according to claim 22, comprising a disinfectant fluid source, wherein the disinfectant fluid source comprises: A nozzle disposed in the disinfection compartment and configured to direct disinfection fluid toward the surface of the article positioned in the disinfection compartment; as well as A pump communicatively coupled to the control system, wherein the control system is configured to actuate the pump in response to detecting that the passenger vehicle is positioned at the particular location along the passenger path to direct the disinfectant fluid from the storage tank to the nozzle.

24. The amusement park ride of claim 23, comprising an outlet configured to direct the disinfectant fluid from the disinfection compartment to the storage tank, waste storage container, or both.

25. The amusement park ride of claim 23, comprising a dryer disposed in the disinfection compartment, wherein the dryer is configured to evaporate residual disinfectant fluid from the surface of the article.

26. The amusement park ride of claim 23, comprising a power source configured to supply power to the ultraviolet light source and the pump.

27. The amusement park ride of claim 20, comprising a bracket disposed in the disinfection compartment, wherein the bracket is configured to position the article such that when the article is positioned in the disinfection compartment, the surface of the article is exposed to a disinfection source.

28. The amusement park ride according to claim 27, wherein the disinfection source includes an ultraviolet light source, a disinfection fluid source, or both.

29. The amusement park ride according to claim 20, comprising the article, wherein the article comprises: A pair of glasses for viewing 3D videos, short films, or effects; virtual reality black glasses; Augmented reality black glasses or a combination thereof.

30. An amusement park ride system, comprising: An amusement park ride includes a ride path and a ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to transport passengers along the ride path in the direction of the amusement park ride. as well as A disinfection system, wherein the disinfection system is disposed within the passenger vehicle, and wherein the disinfection system comprises: A compartment configured to receive items from the amusement park rides; and An ultraviolet light source is disposed in the compartment, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment. The compartment includes a door, and the amusement park ride system includes a control system that, when the ultraviolet light source is activated, configures the door to seal the compartment and the control system to reduce the speed of the ride vehicle.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the travel path includes an unloading area for the passenger to leave the vehicle and a loading area for the passenger to enter the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the control system is communicatively coupled to the ultraviolet light source, wherein the control system is configured to receive feedback indicating the position of the passenger vehicle along the passenger path, and wherein the control system is configured to activate the ultraviolet light source in response to feedback indicating that the passenger vehicle travels from the unloading area to the loading area of ​​the passenger path, from the loading area to the unloading area of ​​the passenger path, or both.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the control system is further configured to reduce the speed of the passenger vehicle in response to additional feedback indicating that the ultraviolet light source is active from the unloading area to the loading area of ​​the passenger path.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the passenger transport includes a passenger facility limiter configured to block movement of a passenger positioned within the passenger transport, wherein the control system is configured to detect that the item is positioned in the compartment at the unloading area of ​​the passenger path, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the passenger facility limiter to an unlocked position in response to detecting that the item is positioned in the compartment at the unloading area of ​​the passenger path.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the disinfection system includes a nozzle and a dryer disposed in the compartment, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct disinfectant fluid toward the surface of the article when the article is positioned in the compartment, and wherein the dryer is configured to evaporate residual disinfectant fluid from the surface of the article.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the compartment is positioned in the seat back of the passenger vehicle.

37. A method for disinfecting wearable items in an amusement park ride system, comprising: The position of the ride vehicle along the ride path of the amusement park is detected by the controller, wherein the ride vehicle includes a compartment configured to receive wearable items; In response to detecting that the passenger vehicle is at a target position along the passenger path, the ultraviolet light source is activated via the controller; as well as Ultraviolet light is emitted from the ultraviolet light source toward the surface of the wearable item to disinfect the item.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising, in response to detecting that the vehicle is at an additional target location along the riding path that is different from the target location, actuating the door of the compartment via the controller to allow entry into the compartment.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising, in response to detecting that the carrier is at an additional target position along the riding path that is different from the target position, actuating an article rotating device disposed in the compartment via the controller.

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