Support rod equipped system and method for minimal closure indication of a ride vehicle

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, and system for constraining a passenger in a ride vehicle. The system includes a seating seat and a restraint system configured to restrain an occupant against the seating seat. The restraint system includes: a crossbar for placement against the passenger; a support bar having a first support bar end coupled to the cross bar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted to an upper-rear portion of the seating seat; and a tab coupled to the support rod. The tab is configured to be inserted into or removed from a slot formed within the seat side structure when the support bar is rotated about the pivot, and to indicate whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for constraining an occupant based on a position of an indicia on the tab relative to the slot.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The application date of the parent application of this application is May 11, 2021, the application number is 202180034757.0, and the title is "System and method equipped with support rods for minimum closure indication of riding vehicles".

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Utility Application Serial No. 17 / 316,583, entitled “SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MINIMUM CLOSE INDICATION FOR RIDE VEHICLE” and filed on May 10, 2021, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 023,413, entitled “SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MINIMUM CLOSE INDICATION FOR RIDE VEHICLE” and filed on May 10, 2021. VEHICLE (System and Method for Support Bar Equipped with Minimum Closure Indication for Ride Vehicles)" and filed on May 12, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below in its entirety and for all applicable purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The technology discussed below relates generally to amusement park rides, and more particularly, to a system and method for indicating a minimum closed position of a restraint system to determine whether an occupant is securely restrained in a ride vehicle. Background Art

[0004] Restraint systems are used to safely restrain passengers in amusement park rides. For example, restraint systems are provided to accommodate seated, standing, or prone passengers. For seated rides, the restraint system may take the form of a crossbar (e.g., a knee bar, a T-bar, etc.) that is placed against the torso or thighs of the passengers. In one example, the crossbar may be supported by one or more support bars that are rotatably coupled to a pivot that is mounted at or near the ride floor, in close proximity to the legs of the passengers. In this way, the crossbar may move toward or away from the passenger when the one or more support bars are rotated toward or away from the passenger about the pivot.

[0005] Generally, restraint systems allow the crossbar to be pulled toward the passenger to any relative position, but restrict being pushed in the opposite direction until the bar is unlocked by the operator. Failure to secure the crossbar in a position close enough to the passenger and seat may result in a situation where the passenger's body can move over the crossbar and thus become unrestrained. Therefore, it is important to the safety of the passenger to place the crossbar in a position determined to represent the minimum safe operating position.

[0006] For certain restraint systems, ride operators require some type of minimum closed position indication to ensure that passengers are properly restrained within the ride vehicle, for example, to ensure that the minimum safe operating position of a crossbar restraint has been reached. For most ride vehicles, a physical indicator can be easily mounted to a protective cover or ride vehicle floor, and / or mounted electrically, allowing the ride operator to determine whether the passenger is properly restrained. However, for ride vehicles without a protective cover or ride vehicle floor, or for ride vehicles with minimal electrical connections, installing a non-electrical minimum closed position indicator can be difficult, especially if there are only a limited number of ride vehicle surfaces (e.g., seat backs, seat pans, and / or restraint systems) available for mounting the indicator. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for mounting a non-electrical minimum closed position indicator on a ride vehicle that has a limited number of available mounting surfaces, which allows the ride operator to quickly and safely determine whether the restraint system is in the minimum safe operating position. Summary of the invention

[0007] A simplified overview of one or more aspects of the present disclosure is presented below to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This overview is not a broad overview of all conceptual features of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify the key points (key) or key elements (critical elements) of all aspects of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to outline the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present certain concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form as a preface to a more detailed description presented later.

[0008] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, and system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle. The system includes a ride seat and a restraint system configured to restrain a passenger against the ride seat. The restraint system includes: a crossbar for placement against the passenger; a support rod having a first support rod end coupled to the crossbar and a second support rod end rotatably coupled to a pivot, the pivot being mounted to an upper-rear portion of the ride seat; and a flap coupled to the support rod. The flap is configured to be inserted into or removed from a slot formed in a side structure of the ride seat when the support rod is rotated about the pivot, and to indicate whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining the passenger based on the position of a mark on the flap relative to the slot.

[0009] In one example, a system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a ride seat disposed within the ride vehicle. The ride seat includes: a seat plate, a seat back, and a side structure formed between the seat plate and the seat back. The system further includes a restraint system configured to restrain a passenger against at least one of the seat back or the seat plate. The restraint system includes: a crossbar configured to be placed against the passenger; at least one support rod having a first support rod end coupled to the crossbar and a second support rod end rotatably coupled to a pivot, the pivot being mounted to an upper-rear portion of the ride seat; and a tab coupled to at least one support rod. The tab extends in a perpendicular manner relative to the orientation of at least one support rod. In addition, the tab is configured to be inserted into or removed from a slot formed in an upper portion of the side structure when at least one support rod is rotated about a pivot, and to indicate whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining a passenger based on the position of a mark on the tab relative to the slot. The system also includes at least one rotation adapter coupled to the second support rod end of at least one support rod. The at least one swivel adapter is configured to rotatably couple the second support rod end to the pivot. The system also includes: at least one hydraulic cylinder coupled to the at least one swivel adapter. The at least one hydraulic cylinder is configured to actuate the at least one swivel adapter to rotate the at least one support rod about the pivot, causing the cross bar to move toward or away from the passenger.

[0010] In one example, a method for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle is disclosed. The method includes positioning a ride seat in the ride vehicle. The ride seat includes: a seat panel, a seat back, and a side structure formed between the seat panel and the seat back. The method further includes: restraining the passenger against at least one of the seat back or the seat panel. The restraint includes: rotating at least one support rod about a pivot, the pivot being mounted to an upper-rear portion of the ride seat. At least one support rod includes a first support rod end and a second support rod end, the first support rod end being coupled to a cross bar to be placed against the passenger, the second support rod end being rotatably coupled to the pivot. Rotation of at least one support rod about the pivot causes the cross bar to move toward or away from the passenger. The restraint also includes: inserting a tab into or removing a tab from a slot when at least one support rod is rotated about the pivot, the tab being coupled to at least one support rod, the slot being formed in an upper portion of the side structure. The method also includes indicating whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining an occupant based on the position of a mark on the tab relative to the slot, and indicating whether the crossbar has exceeded a maximum closed position for restraining an occupant based on the position of a second mark on the tab relative to the slot. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 A perspective view of an example of a ride vehicle carrying passengers is shown.

[0012] Figure 2 Schematic views of examples of travel paths for ride vehicles are shown.

[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a front perspective view of a passenger carrier according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a rear perspective view of a passenger carrier according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 6 A first schematic diagram depicting a restraint system failing to reach a minimum closed position according to one aspect of the present disclosure and a second schematic diagram depicting a restraint system reaching a minimum closed position according to one aspect of the present disclosure are shown.

[0017] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle according to one aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to be the only configuration in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. For the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts, the detailed description includes specific details. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid making these concepts unclear. Although aspects and embodiments are described in this application by illustrating some examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additional implementations and use cases may occur in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovations described herein may be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and / or packaging arrangements.

[0020] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to amusement park rides, such as self-guided vehicles used for amusement purposes. Specifically, aspects of the present disclosure relate to ride restraint systems, and more particularly, to a system and method for indicating a minimum closed position of a restraint system to determine whether a rider / passenger is safely restrained in the ride vehicle. In one aspect, a visual indicator for indicating a minimum closed position of a restraint system is non-electrically mounted on a ride vehicle that has a limited amount of available mounting surfaces.

[0021] Amusement parks may use ride vehicles that carry passengers to provide immersive entertainment experiences for park visitors. Figure 1 A perspective view of an example of a ride vehicle 100 carrying passengers is shown. The ride vehicle 100 may include a base 112 and an arm 114. As shown, the configuration of the ride vehicle 100 is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting. The base 112 may include a number of drive units 118 that enable the ride vehicle 100 to follow a desired path. The base 112 may further include a central column 120 to which a turntable 122 of the arm 114 is rotatably mounted. The arm 114 may include a lower arm portion 114a and an upper arm portion 114b that are pivotally connected to each other. Further, the lower arm portion 114a is pivotally connected to the turntable 122. The pivotable connection between the lower arm portion 114a and the upper arm portion 114b, the pivotable connection between the lower arm portion 114a and the turntable 122, and the rotatable connection between the arm 114 and the center column 120 together enable the arm 114 to move in multiple directions indicated by arrows 124, 126 and 128.

[0022] The ride vehicle 100 may further include a passenger carrier 116. The passenger carrier 116 includes a plurality of passenger seats 130, and the passenger seats 130 are installed in a side-by-side orientation. Figure 1 As shown in the figure, by way of example, the passenger carrier 116 is provided with two seats 130, but this is not intended to be limiting, as the passenger carrier 116 can support additional seats (e.g., a total of four seats). Each seat 130 is provided with a restraint system 132, which is configured to ensure that the occupant / passenger 134 remains in the seat 130 when the passenger carrier 116 is moved by the arm 114, and further, when the arm 114 and the passenger carrier 116 are moved by the base 112. The passenger carrier 116 is pivotally connected to the upper arm portion 114b and is movable relative to the arm 114 as indicated by the arrow 136.

[0023] It will be appreciated that the passenger mounting arrangement of the ride vehicle 100 described above is illustrative of one of many different passenger mounting arrangements that may be utilized by the ride vehicle 100 for entertainment purposes. In one exemplary arrangement, the seat 130 may be mounted to the base 112 of the ride vehicle 100 and the arm 114 may be omitted.

[0024] Typically, a passenger-carrying ride vehicle 100 of the type described above is used in an amusement park to provide an immersive entertainment experience to park visitors. The ride vehicle may move through a themed environment, such as that associated with a movie or video game. For example, a themed environment may include elements such as scenery, props, animated characters, audio effects, visual effects, pyrotechnic effects, and olfactory effects. As the ride vehicle 100 moves through the themed environment, the movement of the vehicle and the movement of the arms 114 and the passenger carrier 116 are synchronized with the themed environment elements to provide an immersive entertainment experience. As will be described in more detail below, because it is important that the rider / passenger is safely restrained in the ride vehicle, a system and method are provided for indicating a minimum closed position of a restraint system to determine whether the rider / passenger is indeed safely restrained.

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an example of a travel path 200 for a ride vehicle (e.g., ride vehicle 100) is shown. The travel path 200 has a starting point A and an end point B, and extends in a serpentine manner between the starting point A and the end point B. In some aspects, the travel path 200 can be in the form of a closed loop, such that the ride vehicle loops around the travel path 200. The starting point A can be defined by a passenger embarkation point of the path 200, and the end point B can be defined by a passenger disembarkation point of the path 200.

[0026] In one aspect, the ride vehicle may be configured to travel at a steady speed over a portion of the path 200 between a starting point A and an end point B. At predetermined points along the travel path 200, the ride vehicle may take dynamic movement maneuvers. For example, such dynamic movement maneuvers may include lateral translation movement, rotation, spiral rotation, sliding in or against the direction of movement of the ride vehicle, periods of rapid acceleration and deceleration, transition to reverse travel, sharp turns, or combinations thereof.

[0027] In order to provide the desired immersive entertainment experience to the ride vehicle passengers, the movement of the ride vehicle base 112, arms 114, and passenger carriers 116 are closely synchronized with the aforementioned elements of the themed environment. Therefore, it is important that the passengers are safely restrained in the seats 130 so as to prevent the passengers from being ejected from the seats 130 (e.g., overriding the restraint system) due to the dynamic movement operation of the ride vehicle 100.

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram 300 showing a front perspective view of a passenger carrier 316 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram 400 showing a rear perspective view of a passenger carrier 316 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The passenger carrier 316 may be equivalent to Figure 1 , and thus may be coupled to the arm 114 of the ride vehicle 100. In addition, as an example, Figure 3 The passenger carrier 316 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with four seats 330 , but is not intended to be limiting as the passenger carrier 316 may support more or fewer seats.

[0029] In one aspect, each seat 330 may include: a seat back 350, a seat panel 352, and one or more side structures 354 formed between the seat back 350 and the seat panel 354. In addition, each seat 330 is provided with a restraint system 332, which is configured to restrain the occupant / passenger 334 in the seat 330 (e.g., against the seat back 350 and / or the seat panel 352) when the passenger carrier 316 is moved by the arm 114 and / or the base 112 of the ride vehicle 100. The restraint system 332 may include a crossbar 340 (e.g., a knee bar, a T-bar, etc.) that is placed against the torso or thigh of the occupant / passenger 334. In one aspect, the crossbar 340 may be made of: a rigid material, a soft material (e.g., a foam pad), or a combination thereof. The restraint system 332 further includes one or more support bars 342 (e.g., a restraint tube), to which the crossbar 340 is attached. In particular, the support rod 342 has a first support rod end connected to the cross bar 340 and a second support rod end rotatably connected to the pivot 430 (at Figure 4 ). The pivot 430 may be mounted to an upper-rear portion of the seat 330, behind the seat back 350, proximate to the passenger's head and shoulders.

[0030] like Figure 4 As shown in , the restraint system 332 also includes: one or more rotation adapters 442 and one or more hydraulic cylinders 444. Each support rod 342 is attached to a corresponding rotation adapter 442, and the corresponding rotation adapter 442 is mounted to the pivot 430. In one aspect, the rotation adapter 442 can be considered as a part of the support rod 342. Each rotation adapter 442 is engaged with a corresponding hydraulic cylinder 444. Therefore, when activated, one or more hydraulic cylinders 444 actuate one or more rotation adapters 442 to rotate one or more support rods 342 around the pivot 430, and thereby, cause the cross bar 340 to move / rotate in the following directions when one or more support rods 342 rotate: a downward direction 450 towards the torso / thighs of the passenger 334, or an upward direction 452 away from the torso / thighs of the passenger 334. In one aspect, the passenger carrier 316 may include one hydraulic cylinder 444 for each rotation adapter 442, and the support rod 342 is attached to the rotation adapter 442. Therefore, two hydraulic cylinders 444 may be provided for each seat 330 to rotate two support rods 342 respectively about the pivot 430 , and the seat 330 has one cross bar 340 attached to two support rods 342 , which are respectively coupled to two rotation adapters 442 .

[0031] The effectiveness of the restraint system 332 may be limited by the ability to place the crossbar 340 close enough to the seat back 350 and / or seat pan 352 to prevent the occupant / passenger 334 from being ejected over the crossbar 340 by the forces caused by the ride. In one aspect, the restraint system 332 allows the crossbar 340 to be pulled toward the occupant / passenger 334 to any relative position, but is restricted from being pushed in the opposite direction until the crossbar 340 is unlocked by the operator. Failure to secure the crossbar 340 in a position close enough to the occupant / passenger 334 and the seat back 350 / seat pan 352 may result in a situation whereby the passenger's body can move over the crossbar 340 and is therefore not restrained. This may be due to the following situations: for passengers with a specific body type (e.g., a particularly small, large, short or tall body) that the seat 330 may not be able to safely accommodate, or when the restraint system 332 does not work properly (e.g., the locking mechanism is damaged, malfunctioning, etc.). Therefore, it is important to the safety of the passengers that the crossbar 340 is placed in a position determined to represent a minimum safe operating position. Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to indicating the minimum closed position of the restraint system 332 so that the ride operator can ensure that the rider / passenger 334 is properly restrained in the seat 330, i.e., the minimum safe operating position of the crossbar 340 has been reached.

[0032] Figure 5 5 is a schematic diagram 500 showing a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system 332 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 5 , the restraint system 332 as described above further includes a minimum closed position indicator (or tab) 504 that is coupled to (e.g., bonded or bolted to) the rotation adapter 442 and / or the support rod 342. The tab 504 extends in a perpendicular manner relative to the orientation of the rotation adapter 442 and / or the support rod 342. In addition, the tab 504 can be formed of metal or any other rigid material that will maintain its shape when the tab 504 is utilized (e.g., inserted into or removed from the slot).

[0033] In one aspect, the upper side portion of the seat 330 (e.g., the upper portion of the side structure 354) includes a slot 506 for receiving the tab 504. Thus, when the hydraulic cylinder 444 actuates the rotation adapter 442 to cause the support rod 342 to rotate about the pivot 430 (and cause the cross bar 340 to move in the downward direction 450 or the upward direction 452), the tab 504 also rotates / moves with the support rod 344 to be inserted into or removed from the slot 506. In one aspect, the lower portion of the tab 504 is represented by a marking 508 that is visually different from the rest of the tab 504 (i.e., the portion of the tab not occupied by the marking 508). For example, the marking 508 can be a particular color (e.g., red), while the rest of the tab 504 is a different color (e.g., green). In another example, the marking 508 can be a pattern of various lines and / or shapes, while the rest of the tab 504 is a solid pattern, or vice versa. It is worth noting that the above examples for distinguishing the marking 508 from the rest of the tab 504 are not intended to be limiting, as any other method for visually distinguishing the tab portion can be implemented.

[0034] Figure 6 A first schematic diagram 600 and a second schematic diagram 650 are shown, the first schematic diagram 600 depicting a restraint system 332 that has failed to reach a minimum closed position according to one aspect of the present disclosure, and the second schematic diagram 650 depicting a restraint system 332 that has reached a minimum closed position according to one aspect of the present disclosure. In one aspect, the position of the indicia 508 and / or the amount of space occupied by the indicia 508 on the tab 504 is predetermined based on a minimum safe operating position / minimum closed position of the crossbar 340, which is used to safely restrain the passenger 334 when the crossbar 340 is engaged to the torso / thighs of the passenger 334 (e.g., safely prevent the passenger 334 from being ejected over the crossbar 340 by forces caused by the ride). When the crossbar 340 is lowered onto the passenger 334 and the tab 504 is inserted into the slot 506, the tab 504 can indicate whether the restraint system 332 / crossbar 340 is minimally closed to safely restrain the passenger 334, based on the position of the indicia 508 relative to the slot 506.

[0035] For example, refer to Figure 6In the first schematic diagram 600, if any portion of the indicia 508 is exposed outside of the slot 506 (e.g., the indicia 508 is visible to the ride operator), the tab 504 indicates that the restraint system 332 has failed to achieve minimum closure and / or a minimum safe operating position. Upon seeing a visual indication that minimum closure has not been achieved (e.g., seeing the indicia 508), the ride operator can quickly determine that the passenger 334 is not of a body type that can be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / passenger carrier 316 (e.g., the passenger 334 is too large to be safely seated), or quickly determine that the restraint system 332 is not operating properly and is preventing the passenger 334 from riding in the ride vehicle. Alternatively, referring to Figure 6 In the second schematic diagram 650, if no portion of the indicia 508 is exposed outside of the slot 506 (e.g., the indicia 508 is entirely inserted into the slot 506 such that the indicia 508 is not visible to the ride operator), the tab 504 indicates that the restraint system 332 has reached the minimum closure and / or minimum safe operating position. Upon seeing the visual indication that the minimum closure has been reached (e.g., the indicia 508 is completely in the slot 506 and is not visible), the ride operator can quickly determine that the body type of the passenger 334 can be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / passenger carrier 316 and allow the passenger 334 to ride in the ride vehicle.

[0036] Figure 7700 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system 332 according to another aspect of the present disclosure. In one aspect, in addition to the lower portion of the tab 504 being represented by the indicia 508 as described above, the upper portion of the tab 504 can also be represented by an upper indicia 708 that is visually distinct from the remainder of the tab 504 (i.e., the central portion of the tab not occupied by the upper indicia 708 or the indicia 508), and in some aspects, visually distinct from the indicia 508. For example, the upper indicia 708 can be a particular color (e.g., red) while the central portion of the tab 504 is a different color (e.g., green). In another example, the upper indicia 708 can be a pattern of various lines and / or shapes while the central portion of the tab 504 is a solid pattern, or vice versa. In one aspect, the position of the upper indicia 708 and / or the amount of space occupied by the upper indicia 708 on the tab 504 can be predetermined based on the maximum safe operating position / maximum closed position of the crossbar 340 for safely restraining the occupant 334 when the crossbar 340 is engaged to the torso / thighs of the occupant 334 (e.g., safely preventing the occupant 334 from being ejected over the crossbar 340 by forces caused by the ride). When the crossbar 340 is lowered onto the occupant 334 and the tab 504 is inserted into the slot 506, the tab 504 can indicate whether the restraint system 332 / crossbar 340 has exceeded the maximum closed position to safely restrain the occupant 334, based on the position of the upper indicia 708 with respect to the slot 506.

[0037] For example, if any portion of the upper indicia 708 is inserted into the slot 506, the tab 504 indicates that the restraint system 332 exceeds the maximum safe operating position. Upon seeing the visual indication that the restraint system 332 exceeds the maximum safe operating position, the ride operator can quickly determine that the passenger 334 is not of the body type that can be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / passenger carrier 316 (e.g., the passenger 334 is too small to safely ride), or can quickly determine that the restraint system 332 is not working properly and is preventing the passenger 334 from riding in the ride vehicle. Alternatively, if the upper indicia 708 is entirely exposed to the exterior of the slot 506 and the indicia 508 is entirely inserted into the slot 506 (e.g., the indicia 508 is not visible to the ride operator), the tab 504 indicates that the restraint system 332 is within the maximum safe operating position and has also reached minimum closure (minimum safe operating position). Upon seeing the visual indication that the restraint system 332 is in the maximum safe operating position and has reached minimum closure, the ride operator can quickly determine that the body type of the passenger 334 can be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / passenger carrier 316 and allow the passenger 334 to ride in the ride vehicle.

[0038] Figure 8800 for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle according to one aspect of the present disclosure. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, process 800 may be performed by Figures 1 to 7 In some examples, process 800 may be performed by any suitable device or means for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

[0039] At block 802, the system places a passenger seat (e.g., passenger seat 330) in a ride vehicle (e.g., ride vehicle 100). The passenger seat includes a seat plate (e.g., seat plate 352), a seat back (e.g., seat back 350), and a side structure (e.g., side structure 354) formed between the seat plate and the seat back.

[0040] At block 804 , the system restrains an occupant (eg, occupant 334 ) against at least one of a seat back or a seat pan.

[0041] At box 806, restraining the passenger includes: rotating at least one support rod (e.g., one or more support rods 342) about a pivot (e.g., pivot 430) mounted to an upper-rear portion of the passenger seat. The at least one support rod includes a first support rod end and a second support rod end, the first support rod end being coupled to a crossbar (e.g., crossbar 340) to be placed against the passenger, and the second support rod end being rotatably coupled to the pivot. Rotation of the at least one support rod about the pivot causes the crossbar to move toward (e.g., downward direction 450) or away from (e.g., upward direction 452) the passenger.

[0042] At block 808, restraining the passenger further includes inserting a tab (e.g., tab 504) coupled to the at least one support bar into or removing the tab from a slot (e.g., slot 506) formed in an upper portion of the side structure as the at least one support bar pivots. In one aspect, the tab extends in a perpendicular manner relative to the orientation of the at least one support bar.

[0043] At box 810, based on the position of the mark (e.g., mark 508) on the tab relative to the slot, the system indicates whether the crossbar has reached the minimum closed position for restraining the passenger. In one aspect, the position of the mark and the amount of space occupied by the mark on the tab are predetermined based on the minimum closed position of the crossbar for restraining the passenger. In another aspect, the portion of the tab occupied by the mark is visually different from the portion of the tab not occupied by the mark. For example, the portion of the tab occupied by the mark can be represented by a color (e.g., red), and the portion of the tab not occupied by the mark is represented by a different color (e.g., green). In another example, the portion of the tab occupied by the mark can be a pattern of various lines and / or shapes, and the portion of the tab not occupied by the mark can be a solid pattern, or vice versa.

[0044] In one aspect, when any portion of the marker is exposed to the outside of the slot, the system can indicate that the crossbar has failed to reach the minimum closed position. In another aspect, when the marker is entirely inserted into the slot, the system can indicate that the crossbar has reached the minimum closed position.

[0045] At box 812, optionally, based on the position of a second mark (e.g., upper mark 708) on the tab relative to the slot, the system indicates whether the crossbar exceeds a maximum closed position for restraining a passenger. In one aspect, the position of the second mark and the amount of space occupied by the second mark on the tab are predetermined based on the maximum closed position of the crossbar for restraining a passenger. In another aspect, the portion of the tab occupied by the second mark is visually distinct from the portion of the tab not occupied by the second mark (upper mark 708) or the mark (mark 508).

[0046] In one aspect, when any portion of the second marker is inserted into the slot, the system can indicate that the crossbar is beyond the maximum closed position. In another aspect, when the second marker is entirely exposed outside the slot and the marker is entirely inserted into the slot, the system can indicate that the crossbar is in the maximum closed position and has reached the minimum closed position.

[0047] Within this disclosure, the word "exemplary" is used to express "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation or aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or superior to other aspects of the disclosure. Likewise, the term "aspect" does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation. The term "coupled" is used herein to refer to a direct or indirect connection between two objects. For example, if object A physically contacts object B, and object B contacts object C, object A and object C may still be considered to be coupled to each other - even if they are not in direct physical contact with each other. For example, a first object may be coupled to a second object even if the first object has never been in direct physical contact with the second object.

[0048] Figures 1 to 8 One or more of the components, steps, features, and / or functions illustrated in the drawings may be rearranged and / or combined into a single component, step, feature, or function, or may be embodied in several components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and / or functions may also be added without departing from the novel features disclosed herein. Figures 1 to 8 The devices, means and / or components illustrated in the drawings may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features or steps described herein. The novel algorithms described herein may also be effectively implemented in software and / or embedded in hardware.

[0049] It will be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed methods is an illustration of an exemplary process. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods may be rearranged. The attached method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and unless specifically stated therein, are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0050] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but will be given the entire scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein, unless specifically so stated, elements mentioned in the singular are not intended to mean "one and only one", but "one or more". Unless otherwise specifically stated, the term "some" refers to one or more. The phrase "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of these items, including single members. As an example, "at least one of a, b or c:" is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. All structures and functions that are known or will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are equivalent to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, none of the contents disclosed herein are intended to be donated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly stated in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for" or, in the case of a method claim, the phrase "step for."

Claims

1. A system for indicating a restraint system configuration, the system comprising: A passenger seat of a passenger vehicle; as well as A restraint system configured to restrain a passenger in the passenger seat, the restraint system comprising: Restraints; a restraint support rotatable relative to the passenger seat and configured to transition the restraint between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration; and a position indicator coupled to the restraining support, wherein the position indicator includes a visual indicia configured to transition between: a visible position which is not obstructed by a covering structure in the disengaged configuration of the restraint, and A covering position is behind the covering structure in the engaged configuration of the restraint.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The visual marker is sized and positioned on the position indicator so that in the covering position, the visual marker is completely covered by the covering structure, the covering position corresponding to a minimum closed position of the restraint system for restraining the passenger in the seating seat.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein: The position indicator is configured to indicate that the restraining support has failed to reach the minimum closed position when a portion of the visual indicia is exposed in the visible position.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein: The position indicator includes a second visual indicia, and wherein an additional position and an additional size of the second visual indicia on the position indicator is based on a maximum closed position of the restraint system for restraining the occupant in the seating seat.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein: The covering structure includes a slot formed in the ride seat or a portion of the ride vehicle; and The position indicator includes a key configured to slide into and out of the slot.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein: The key and the slot are configured as follows: indicating that the restraining support is positioned beyond the maximum closed position when a portion of the second visual indicia is inserted into the slot; and When the second visual mark is entirely exposed outside the slot and the visual mark is entirely inserted into the slot, it indicates that the restraint support is positioned within the maximum closed position and has reached the minimum closed position.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The visual indicia includes a coating disposed on a portion of the position indicator.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of restraining supports coupled directly or indirectly to the position indicator.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The restraint includes a crossbar coupled to the restraint support, and wherein the crossbar is configured to move toward the seating seat or away from the seating seat as the restraint support rotates relative to the seating seat.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The visual indicia is visually distinct from the portion of the position indicator not occupied by the visual indicia.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein: The visual indicia has a first color, and the portion of the position indicator not occupied by the visual indicia has a second color that is different from the first color.

12. A method for indicating a position of a restraint system, the method comprising: rotating the restraint support relative to the seating seat via a rotatable coupling of the restraint support to the seating seat; as well as A position indicator coupled to the restraint support is used to indicate the position of the restraint support, wherein the position indicator is configured to be inserted into and extracted from an opening formed within the passenger seat and to visually indicate the position of the restraint support based on the position of a mark on the position indicator relative to the opening.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising: By integrally receiving the indicia into the opening, it is indicated that the restraint support has reached a minimum closed position of the restraint system for restraining an occupant.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising: By exposing a portion of the marking outside the opening, it is indicated that the restraining support has failed to reach the minimum closed position.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising: The position of the restraining support is visually indicated based on the additional position of the second marking relative to the opening.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising: indicating that the restraint support is beyond a maximum closed position for restraining the occupant by receiving a portion of the second indicia in the opening; as well as By exposing the second mark entirely outside the opening and receiving the mark entirely in the opening, it is indicated that the restraining support is within the maximum closed position and has reached the minimum closed position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The second marking is visually distinct from portions of the position indicator not occupied by the second marking or the marking.

18. The method according to claim 16, comprising: A plurality of restraining supports are rotated, and at least one position of the plurality of restraining supports is indicated with the position indicator.

19. A system for indicating the position of a restraint, the system comprising: A passenger seat of a passenger vehicle; as well as A restraint system configured to restrain a passenger in the passenger seat, the restraint system comprising: a support member configured to rotate relative to the seating seat; a crossbar coupled to the support member, wherein the crossbar is configured to move toward the seating seat or away from the seating seat as the support member rotates relative to the seating seat; and a tab coupled to the support member and comprising a visual indicia, wherein the tab is configured to: indicating an engaged position of the restraint system based on the visual indicia being obscured within a slot in the ride seat or ride vehicle; and Based on the visual indicia being visible on the exterior of the slot, a disengaged position of the restraint system is indicated.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein: The engaged position corresponds to a minimum closed position of the restraint system for restraining the occupant in the seating seat, and wherein the disengaged position corresponds to a failure to reach the minimum closed position of the restraint system.

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