Lightweight and durable cable

Abstract

A cable includes: a plurality of internal cables configured to transmit electrical signals; an outer sheath accommodating the inner cable; and a circular portion formed proximate opposite end regions of the cable, in which the inner cable is arranged circumferentially around a central axis in the circular portion. Further, the cable includes a flat portion positioned between the rounded portions of the cable, where the inner cable is arranged in a row across the flat portion.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 347,411, entitled “LIGHTWEIGHT AND DURABLE CABLE,” filed on May 31, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Background Art

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various technical aspects that may be related to various aspects of the present technology, which are described and / or claimed below. This discussion is considered to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read from this perspective, rather than as an admission of the prior art.

[0003] Amusement parks contain a variety of attractions that provide unique experiences to customers. These attractions may include rides, immersive experiences, or customer-facing areas (e.g., kiosks). In some attractions, customers may utilize accessories (e.g., head-mounted devices, handheld devices, or wearable devices) that are coupled to components of the attractions via cables. Due to repeated use in high-dynamic environments, cables may suffer damage that causes cable failures and / or wear rapidly over time. Damage to the cable may prevent the accessories from operating properly, thereby hindering the customer experience at the attraction. It may be necessary to frequently replace the cable to avoid damage to the cable, resulting in high costs and / or maintenance time. Thus, it is currently recognized that it may be desirable to provide a lightweight, durable cable that can withstand heavy use in the high-dynamic environments of attractions in an amusement park. Summary of the invention

[0004] Some embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief overview of some disclosed embodiments. In fact, the present disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar or different from the embodiments set forth below.

[0005] In an embodiment, a cable includes: a plurality of inner cables configured to transmit electrical signals; an outer sheath housing the inner cables; and a circular portion formed proximate opposite end regions of the cable, wherein the inner cables are arranged circumferentially around a central axis in the circular portion. Additionally, the cable includes a flat portion positioned between the circular portions of the cable, wherein the inner cables are arranged in a row across the flat portion.

[0006] In an embodiment, a system for an amusement attraction includes an accessory that is worn or held by a customer and a cable that connects the accessory to a component. The cable includes a plurality of inner cables surrounded by an outer sheath, a rounded portion formed proximate opposite end regions of the cables, and a flat portion positioned between the rounded portions of the cables.

[0007] In an embodiment, a cable includes: an outer jacket including a heat shrink fabric; and one or more inner cables. The inner cables include: one or more conductors; a gasket surrounding the one or more conductors to form one or more gasketed conductors; a shield surrounding the one or more gasketed conductors; a filler wrapped around the one or more gasketed conductors; and an inner jacket surrounding the one or more gasketed conductors, the shield, and the filler. The inner jacket includes plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), another insulating material, or any combination thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an amusement attraction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the amusement attraction including an accessory coupled to a component of the amusement attraction via a cable; Figure 2 is a block diagram of an amusement attraction having cables connecting accessories to components of the amusement attraction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of a circular portion of a cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of a flat portion of a cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of a flat portion of a cable having an internal partition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 7 is a side view of a head mounted device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, to which a cable is pivotally coupled at a cable interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In order to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, many implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, which may vary from implementation to implementation, such as compliance with system-related constraints and business-related constraints. In addition, it should be appreciated that such development efforts may be complex and time consuming, but will be no more than a routine task of design, fabrication, and manufacturing for a person of ordinary skill who has the benefit of this disclosure.

[0010] When introducing the elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "one", "an" and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive, and mean that there may be other elements in addition to the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that the reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure is not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of other embodiments that also incorporate the described features. Numerical terms such as "first", "second" and "third" can be used to distinguish parts for ease of discussion, and it should be noted that numerical terms can be used or assigned to different elements in the claims in a differentiated manner. In addition, certain numbers (e.g., 90 degrees; 180 degrees) and / or dimensions (e.g., parallel; vertical) are used to facilitate discussion, and are intended to include variations (e.g., to take into account tolerances, such as manufacturing tolerances).

[0011] Amusement parks feature a wide variety of attractions (e.g., entertainment activities) such as amusement park rides, shows, and immersive experiences. Certain attractions may involve patrons or amusement park personnel holding or wearing an accessory (e.g., a head-mounted device, a wearable or handheld device) that is connected (e.g., electrically coupled, communicatively coupled) to a component of the attraction via a cable. For example, during an amusement park ride, a patron may wear an augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and / or mixed reality (AR and VR) headset that is connected to the ride vehicle via a cable.

[0012] It will be appreciated that amusement attractions may often involve placing accessories and their corresponding cables in highly dynamic environments, such as roller coaster rides. Repeated use in highly dynamic environments may subject the cables to rapid movement and strong forces, which may quickly lead to cable damage and / or cause the cables to fail. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a lightweight and durable cable designed to withstand repeated use in highly dynamic environments. In particular, the cable may be capable of transmitting electrical signals (e.g., data, control signals, power) between an accessory, such as a head-mounted device (e.g., an AR / VR head-mounted device, which may include AR, VR and / or mixed reality head-mounted devices) or an interactive device (e.g., a pop effector, a baton, a crossbow) and components of an amusement attraction.

[0013] The light-weight and durable cables of the present disclosure may withstand approximately or more than 150,000 test cycles (e.g., cycles of bending and twisting of the cable performed by a test device), which is significantly more than the number of test cycles that existing cables (e.g., cables used with accessories or in similar settings in an amusement park; cables not specifically designed for durability in an amusement park) withstand. For example, existing cables previously used in amusement park attractions withstand approximately 80 to 800 test cycles. Thus, the cables of the present disclosure include a unique, specific combination of features arranged in a unique, specific manner that results in significantly improved properties of the cable compared to existing cables.

[0014] Considering the above, Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an amusement attraction 10 (e.g., an amusement ride) that includes an accessory 12 coupled to a component 16 of the amusement attraction 10 via a cable 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the accessory 12 is an AR / VR headset worn by a patron 18 (e.g., a passenger of the amusement attraction 10), and the component 16 is a ride vehicle that carries the patron 18 (e.g., along a path) in the amusement attraction 10. The AR / VR headset enables the patron 18 to view virtual features 20 and / or physical features 22 of the amusement attraction 10. For example, the AR / VR headset can provide an AR experience by displaying the virtual features 20 on a display (e.g., a transparent display; a lens) of the AR / VR headset such that the virtual features 20 appear to overlay the physical features 22 viewed through the display (e.g., from the perspective of the patron 18 wearing the AR / VR headset).

[0015] In the amusement attraction 10, the cable 14 may bend, stretch, and / or twist due to the movement of the patrons 18 and due to the movement of the ride vehicle. Additionally, the cable 14 may bend, stretch, and twist when the patrons 18 put on and take off the AR / VR headset. Advantageously, the cable 14 is designed to withstand bending, stretching, and / or twisting, so that the cable 14 can continue to function properly to provide electronic signals even under such conditions. In turn, this enables the AR / VR headset to continue to function properly to provide high-quality visual effects even under such conditions. It should be appreciated that the ride vehicle may include multiple cables and multiple AR / VR headsets, such as one cable and its connected AR / VR headset for each seat in the ride vehicle (e.g., for 2, 3, 4, or more seats).

[0016] Figure 2 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an amusement attraction 10 that includes a cable 14 that connects an accessory 12 and a component 16 of the amusement attraction 10. The component 16 of the amusement attraction 10 may be operated at least in part via instructions from a controller 30, which may include a memory 32 for storing instructions executable by a processor 34. For example, when the component 16 is a ride vehicle, the controller 30 may control a motor of the ride vehicle to accelerate and / or decelerate the ride vehicle. Similarly, the accessory 12 may be operated at least in part via instructions from an accessory controller 40, which may include a memory 42 for storing instructions executable by a processor 44. For example, when the accessory 12 is an AR / VR headset, the accessory controller 40 may provide instructions for causing a display 46 to display certain virtual features 20 and / or physical features 22 of the amusement attraction 10.

[0017] Processors 34 and 44 may include one or more processing devices, and memories 32 and 42 may include one or more tangible, non-transitory machine-readable media. By way of example, such machine-readable media can include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and can be accessed by processors 34 and 44 or by a dedicated or programmed computer or other machine having a processor.

[0018] Component 16 may include communication circuitry 38, such as a receiver and a transmitter, to communicate with any other component of the amusement attraction 10 via wired and / or wireless communication paths. I / O port 36 is an interface that can be coupled to other elements of the amusement attraction 10 (such as accessories 12 (e.g., AR / VR headset; handheld device; wearable device; input device, such as a joystick or touch screen; sensor)) via cable 14. I / O port 36 may include a universal serial bus (USB) port, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, etc. Component 16 may include additional components, such as a power source 48 (e.g., a battery, a solar panel, a generator) and / or a motor that enables operation and / or movement of component 16.

[0019] The accessory 12 may include a display 46 (e.g., a transparent display) for displaying the virtual features 20 of the amusement attraction 10. In an embodiment, the accessory 12 may include a speaker 52 that may emit sounds corresponding to the virtual features 20 and / or physical features 22 of the amusement attraction 10. In addition, the accessory 12 may include an I / O (input / output) port 36 that may be coupled to the component 16 of the amusement attraction 10 via the cable 14. In particular, the cable 14 and the I / O port 36 may enable the transmission of computer-implemented instructions, data, and / or power between the controller 30 of the component 16 and the accessory controller 40 of the accessory 12. For example, the cable 14 may enable the controller 30 to communicate instructions for causing the accessory 12 to display a particular sequence of images that may depend on the direction and / or speed of movement of the component 16 (e.g., a ride vehicle). In another example, information from the sensor 50 may be transmitted to the component 16 via the cable 14. The sensor 50 on the attachment 12 may be a camera or a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor that tracks the direction in which the patron is looking (eg, in order to accurately map the virtual features 20 onto the physical features 22 of the amusement attraction 10).

[0020] Figure 3is a schematic diagram of a cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For ease of discussion, the cable 14 may be described with reference to an axial axis 54, a radial or lateral axis 56, and / or a circumferential axis 58. For example, when the cable 14 is maintained / extended in a straight configuration, as shown, the cable 14 extends generally along the axial axis 54 and has certain features arranged in certain ways relative to the radial or lateral axis 56 and / or the circumferential axis 58. In an embodiment, the cable 14 may include several inner cables 60 enclosed in an outer sheath (e.g., wound in an outer sheath; circumferentially surrounded by an outer sheath). For example, the cable 14 may include three different inner cables 60. However, the cable 14 may include fewer or more inner cables 60 (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, or more). In an embodiment, the inner cables 60 may include a USB cable, an HDMI cable, and / or a sensor cable (e.g., a sensor for detecting a condition and generating an electrical signal indicative of the condition).

[0021] The outer jacket of the cable 14 may include a heat shrink fabric, which is a material that shrinks due to exposure to heat. The purpose of the outer jacket is to protect the inner cable 60 from excessive twisting, bending, stretching, and / or other types of forces. For example, the outer jacket can protect the inner cable 60 (and the conductors inside the inner cable 60) from physical damage, which may result from, for example, the cable 14 being brushed or stepped on along a sharp corner.

[0022] In an embodiment, the cable 14 includes a flat portion 62 in a middle region of the cable 14 and a rounded portion 64 near an end region of the cable 14. The flat portion 62 can have an oval or elongated cross-sectional shape (e.g., elongated compared to the rounded portion 64), and the rounded portion 64 can have a circular cross-sectional shape. In the flat portion 62 of the cable 14, the inner cables 60 can be arranged side by side (e.g., along the lateral axis 56; see Figure 5 ) are arranged in a row. As a result of such an arrangement of the inner cables 60, the flat portion 62 can bend in only one direction (e.g., vertically). This minimizes twisting movement of the flat portion 62 and distributes stress across the inner cables 60 so that each inner cable 60 is subjected to substantially equal or similar amounts of stress during twisting movement. Therefore, each inner cable 60 incurs substantially equal or similar amounts of wear over time. This can present advantages over round cables (e.g., a circle in the middle region) in which any inner cables or wires are arranged in a circle with each inner cable or wire occupying a generally pie-shaped segment of the cable cross-section (e.g., the inner cables or wires extend along the axial axis 54 of the cable and are distributed circumferentially around the axial axis 54 or center axis of the cable; see Figure 4). Round cables can bend in two directions (e.g., vertically and laterally), and the bending of round cables causes stress to be unevenly distributed among the internal cables (e.g., one of the internal cables is subjected to greater stress than the other). This causes some of the internal cables to wear faster than others. Thus, the flat portion 62 of the cable 14 provides durability and long life to the cable 14 (e.g., compared to a round cable).

[0023] At the flat portion 62 of the cable 14, the heat shrink fabric / outer jacket forms a flattened envelope. In an embodiment, heat is not applied to the heat shrink fabric of the flat portion 62 of the cable 14. At the rounded portion 64 of the cable 14, the outer jacket is shrunk using heat to fit tightly around the inner cable 60. In an embodiment, heat is applied to a limited or relatively small portion of the cable 14 (e.g., approximately 6-7 cm long at each rounded portion 64; shorter in length along the axial axis 54 than the flat portion 62 of the cable) because the rounded portion 64 of the cable 14 may be more susceptible to damage from twisting (e.g., compared to the flat portion 62 of the cable 14). However, the rounded portion 64 near the end region of the cable 14 is beneficial for certain reasons, such as to facilitate or enable attachment of the strain relief 66.

[0024] In an embodiment, the outer jacket of the cable 14 may include one or more color segments along a portion of the length of the cable 14. Each color segment may be represented using a color (e.g., red, blue) or a combination of colors to indicate the characteristics of the cable 14 at the location of the color segment. For example, the one or more color segments may provide installation instructions, and the color of each color segment may indicate whether the cable 14 should be tethered to the frame of the amusement attraction 10 and / or how it should be tethered to the frame of the amusement attraction 10. By way of example, a first color segment (e.g., a red segment) at a first location or along a first length of the cable 14 may indicate that the cable 14 should be tethered to the frame using a first type of fastener (e.g., (one or more) zipper tether fasteners) at the first location. Additionally, a second color segment (e.g., a blue segment) at a second location or along a second length of the cable 14 may indicate that the cable 14 should be tethered to the frame using a second type of fastener (e.g., (one or more) hook and loop fasteners) at the second location. In an embodiment, the color segments can indicate the direction in which the cable 14 is configured to bend at certain locations (e.g., the first color segment indicates a first direction, and the second color segment indicates a second direction) and / or the flexibility of the cable 14 at certain locations (e.g., the first color segment indicates a relatively flexible portion, and the second color segment indicates a relatively rigid portion). The color segments can be integrated into the cable 14 by sewing colored filaments into the outer jacket. Additionally or alternatively, the outer jacket can be painted, dyed, or colored by any suitable coloring technique. In an embodiment, the characteristics of the portion of the cable 14 can be indicated by another visual indicator (e.g., text, pattern, shape) printed and / or integrated into the outer jacket of the cable 14.

[0025] In an embodiment, the cable 14 may include strain reliefs 66 each positioned near a respective end region of the cable 14. The purpose of the strain relief 66 is to relieve stress and tension that could damage the conductors inside the inner cable 60 or sever the connection to the connector 68 and the inner cable 60. The strain relief 66 may have any suitable form, such as a right-angle strain relief 66. Portions of the inner cable 60 may be exposed (e.g., the outer jacket may be removed) on the outer edge of the cable 14 (e.g., between the strain relief 66 and the connector 68). In an embodiment, the strain relief 66 may be formed on the cable 14 from a strong but flexible resin using a mold (e.g., overmolding). The strain relief 66 may have a groove to facilitate attachment of the accessory 12 to one side of the cable 14 (e.g., the first set of connectors 68) and to facilitate attachment of the component 16 to the other side of the cable 14 (e.g., the second set of connectors 68). In one embodiment, when accessory 12 and component 16 are attached to cable 14, a portion of internal cable 60 may be contained inside accessory 12 on one side and in component 16 on the other side, such that only strain relief 66 and a central portion of cable 14 between strain relief 66 are exposed (e.g., for Figure 1 18 is accessible and / or visible to customers).

[0026] In an embodiment, each of the internal cables 60 may have a corresponding connector 68 on both ends. In an embodiment, one or more of the connectors 68 of the internal cables 60 may include a repeater to amplify the signal from the internal cable 60. In an embodiment, the internal cable 60 may have a male connector 68, a female connector 68, or both types of connectors on either end of the cable 14. One or more of the connectors 68 on either side of the cable 14 may be a Japanese solderless terminal (JST) connector. In addition, one or more of the connectors 68 on either side may be different versions of the same type of connector 68. For example, one side of the internal cable 60 may have an HDMI connector, and the other side of the internal cable 60 may be a micro HDMI connector.

[0027] Figure 4is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of a circular portion 64 of a cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the circular portion 64 of the cable 14 includes internal cables 60 arranged in a circle such that each internal cable 60 occupies a generally pie-shaped segment of the cable cross-section (e.g., the internal cables 60 extend along the axial axis 54 of the cable 14 and are circumferentially distributed around the axial axis 54 or central axis of the cable 14). In an embodiment, the cable 14 includes three internal cables 60, wherein a first internal cable 60, 82 is an HDMI cable, a second internal cable 60, 84 is a USB cable, and a third internal cable 60, 86 is an Ethernet cable. However, the internal cables 60 may be any suitable type of cable used in any suitable combination.

[0028] As discussed, the cable 14 includes an outer jacket 70 that can be made of a heat shrink fabric. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include an inner jacket 72, which can be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, and / or similar insulating materials. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include a shield 74, which can be made of a metal (e.g., aluminum) (such as a braided metal or metal foil) or another conductive material. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include a conductor 76 (e.g., a metal wire bundle) surrounded by a pad 78, which can be made of PVC, plastic, or other insulating materials. The conductor 76 surrounded by the pad 78 may also be referred to as a "padded conductor 76" herein. In an embodiment, each conductor 76 may include a wire bundle (e.g., a fine gauge wire) made of copper or other conductive materials. At least one of the inner cables 60 can have multiple conductors 76 padded to transmit various electrical signals.

[0029] At least one of the inner cables 60 may include a filler 80 positioned between the padded conductors 76. In an embodiment, the filler 80 may include nylon strands that minimize friction between the padded conductors 76, thereby allowing the padded conductors 76 to slide past each other when the inner cable 60 is bent. It will be appreciated that the inner cable 60 may include additional components and / or alternative materials not mentioned above.

[0030] As shown, the first internal cable 60, 82 can be a USB cable or other type of cable having a plurality of padded conductors 76 (e.g., four padded conductors 76). In an embodiment, one of the internal cables 60 is an HDMI cable or other type of cable having a plurality of padded conductors 76 (e.g., six padded conductors 76), wherein at least some of the plurality of padded conductors 76 have an additional layer of shielding 74. It can be appreciated that a filler 80 made of nylon strands can be positioned between and / or wrapped around all of the padded and / or shielded conductors 76, thereby enabling the padded and / or shielded conductors 76 to twist and slide past each other and distribute the forces that otherwise might damage the wire. For example, the filler 80 can circumferentially surround at least some or all of the padded and / or shielded conductors 76 and / or can be positioned in a central region between the padded and / or shielded conductors 76.

[0031] As shown, the third inner cable 60, 86 includes padded conductors 76 that are twisted in pairs to form unshielded twisted pairs 88 (e.g., four unshielded twisted pairs 88). The unshielded twisted pairs 88 can reduce the effects of noise currents induced on the third inner cable 60, 86 by electric or magnetic fields. For example, an interference source (e.g., an electromagnetic field) can affect the current in the two padded conductors 76 of the unshielded twisted pair 88. Because the two padded conductors 76 are twisted together, the interference source can affect the two padded conductors 76 equally, thereby generating noise as a common mode signal that can be eliminated by the receiver. The third inner cable 86 further includes a filler 80 to reduce friction between the unshielded twisted pairs.

[0032] It should be appreciated that the cable 14 may include any variations and combinations of inner cables 60. For example, another inner cable 60 may include a greater number (e.g., 5, 10, 20) of conductors 76 with or without a pad 78 and a filler 80 filled throughout the cross-section of the inner cable 60. Additionally, other embodiments of the cable 14 may include any number of inner cables 60 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more).

[0033] Figure 5 1 is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of a flat portion 62 of a cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the flat portion 62 of the cable 14, as shown, the inner cables 60 are arranged side by side in a row.

[0034] As discussed, the cable 14 includes an outer jacket 70 that can be made of heat shrink fabric. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include an inner jacket 72 that can be made of PVC, plastic, and / or other insulating materials. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include a shield 74 that can be made of metal (e.g., aluminum) (such as braided metal or metal foil) or another conductive material. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include a conductor 76 that is surrounded by a pad 78 made of PVC, plastic, or other insulating material. In an embodiment, each conductor 76 can include a wire bundle (e.g., fine gauge wire) made of copper or other conductive material. At least one of the inner cables 60 can pad multiple conductors 76 to transmit various electrical signals. At least one of the inner cables 60 can include a filler 80 placed between the padded conductors 76. In an embodiment, the filler 80 can include nylon strands that minimize friction between the padded conductors 76, thereby allowing the padded conductors 76 to slide over each other when the inner cable 60 is bent. It will be appreciated that the inner cable 60 may include additional components and / or alternative materials not mentioned above.

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the flat portion 62 of the cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cable 14 may include a divider 90 that separates the inner cables 60 along at least a portion of the length of the cable 14. For example, the divider 90 may prevent or inhibit the inner cables 60 from tangling or twisting around each other to thereby improve cable management. In an embodiment, the divider 90 may be formed of a filament sewn through the outer jacket 70 between the inner cables 60. Alternatively, the divider 90 may be a fixture or structure in the cable 14 that is inserted between the inner cables 60.

[0036] In an embodiment, the dividers 90 may be present in selected sections of the cable 14, such as sections expected to be subjected to high levels of strain or torsion. That is, some cross sections taken at certain locations along the length of the cable 14 may be as follows: Figure 5 , while other cross sections taken at other locations along the length of the cable 14 may appear like Figure 6 . Additionally, the divider 90 can be formed of a material that varies in rigidity within a certain range, and thus can increase or decrease the rigidity of the cable 14 at certain locations. For example, the divider 90 can stiffen the cable 90, where the cable is configured to be attached to the frame of the amusement attraction 10. In some embodiments, varying the material, placement, and / or arrangement of the divider 90 can provide controlled flexing of the cable 14. Furthermore, the filaments used to create the divider 90 can be colored and externally visible along the outer sheath 70, such that, as described above with reference to Figure 3As discussed, the filaments provide color segments that indicate characteristics of the cable 14 (eg, flexural characteristics).

[0037] Figure 7 1 is a side view of a head mounted device 100 (i.e., accessory 12) coupled to a cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The head mounted device 100 may be an AR / VR head mounted device that is worn by a patron 18 to enable the patron 18 to view virtual features 20 and / or physical features 22 of the amusement attraction 10. The head mounted device 100 may include a display 102 on which the virtual features 20 may be displayed. Additionally, the head mounted device 100 may include a housing 104 that forms an exterior structure of the head mounted device 100 and contains an interior portion of the head mounted device 100. An end portion (e.g., an end portion) of the cable 14 may be coupled to the head mounted device 100 via a cable interface 106 of the head mounted device 100. The cable interface 106 may receive the end portion of the cable 14, securely attach to the end portion of the cable 14, and feed the internal cable 60 through the housing 104 to a receiver (e.g., a mating component) housed within the head mounted device 100.

[0038] In some embodiments, the cable interface 106 can enable the end of the cable 14 to swivel (e.g., rotate) relative to the head mounted device 100. In this way, stress on the cable 14 can be reduced when the orientation of the head mounted device 100 changes dynamically relative to the component 16 of the attraction 10. For example, when the customer 18 turns their head to view the physical feature 22, the end of the cable 14 can swivel at the cable interface 106 to reduce bending of the cable 14. As shown, the cable interface 106 can include a keyhole opening 108 in the housing 104 through which the end of the cable 14 can be inserted, clamped, or otherwise engaged with the head mounted device 100. The keyhole opening 108 can include a circular portion 110 that defines a passage for the end of the cable 14 to enter the head mounted device 100. The internal cable 60 can be fed through the passage of the circular portion 110 and connected to a receiver inside the head mounted device 100. The keyhole opening 108 can also include a cable exit portion 112 extending from the circular portion 110. The cable exit portion 112 defines a space through which the cable 14 extends laterally (e.g., vertically) out of the cable interface 106 to an insertion portion of the end of the cable 14 into the circular portion 110. In other words, the end of the cable 14 can be inserted into the head mounted device 100 via the circular portion 110 in a first direction (e.g., along the lateral axis 56), and the cable 14 can extend out of the head mounted device 100 in a second direction (e.g., along the axial axis 54) transverse to the first direction via the cable exit portion 112. Additionally, the cable exit portion 112 can include a tapered wall extending from the circular portion 110 to provide an angular clearance range (e.g., a limited range of motion; approximately 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, or 120 degrees; between 15 and 120 degrees, 30 and 90 degrees, or 15 and 45 degrees; less than 360 degrees, 180 degrees, 90 degrees, or 45 degrees) for the cable 14. That is, the cable 14 can be stuffed into the cable interface 106 and extend from the cable interface 106 within the angular gap. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable exit portion 112 includes a tapered wall that slopes outward and downward from the circular portion 110 to form an angular sector that accommodates the movement of the cable 14 and also prevents or limits the movement of the cable 14 outside the cable exit portion 112 to thereby provide a limited range of motion (e.g., reducing bending of the cable 14 by enabling movement of the cable 14 within the cable exit portion 112, and also reducing twisting or wear at the cable interface 106 by limiting the movement of the cable 14 within the cable exit portion 112). In this way, when the end of the cable 14 is stuffed into the circular portion 110 of the cable interface 106, the cable 14 can be rotated within the cable exit portion 112 as indicated by the arrow 114. In an embodiment, other elements of the cable interface 106 can rotate in addition to the end of the cable 14.For example, a receiver within the head mounted device may rotate with the end of the cable 14 to further enable limited rotation of the cable 14 .

[0039] The cable interface 106 can be replicated (e.g., mirrored) on the opposite lateral side of the head mounted device 100 (i.e., the right side relative to the user). That is, the head mounted device 100 can include two cable interfaces 106, either of which can receive the cable 14. In this way, the cable 14 can be attached on either side of the head mounted device 100, thereby reducing the obstruction caused by the cable 14 extending laterally across the body of the patron 18 to attach to the head mounted device 100. For example, in a ride vehicle, a patron 18 on the left side of the ride vehicle can connect his or her respective cable 14 to the left lateral side of his or her respective head mounted device 100, and another patron on the right side of the ride vehicle can connect his or her respective cable 14 to the right lateral side of his or her respective head mounted device 100. In this way, the cables 14 can be positioned close to the outer edge of the ride vehicle and away from neighboring patrons, as well as being accessible to the ride operator for maintenance and inspection. As another example, in a ride vehicle, a customer 18 on the left side of the ride vehicle may connect their respective cables 14 to the right-facing side of their respective head mounted device 100, and another customer on the right side of the ride vehicle may connect their respective cables 14 to the left-facing side of their respective head mounted device 100. In this way, the cables 14 may be positioned close to the interior of the ride vehicle and away from the outer edge of the ride vehicle, which may protect the cables 14 from contact with objects outside of the ride vehicle. In an embodiment, a customer 18 may select whether to connect the cables 14 to the left-facing side or the right-facing side of their respective head mounted device 100 based on preference (e.g., a right-handed customer may choose to connect to the right-facing side).

[0040] Although only certain features of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood, therefore, that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. Furthermore, although the cable is disclosed as being used in the context of an amusement park and / or attraction, it should be appreciated that the cable may be used in any of a wide variety of other contexts to communicatively couple components to one another.

[0041] The technology presented and claimed herein is cited and applied to substantial objects and specific examples that demonstrably improve the practical nature of the art, and as such is not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. In addition, if any claim attached 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 are to be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Claims

1. A cable, comprising: a plurality of internal cables configured to transmit electrical signals; an outer jacket configured to house the plurality of inner cables; a circular portion formed proximate opposite end regions of the cables, wherein the plurality of inner cables are arranged circumferentially around a central axis in the circular portion; and A flat portion is positioned between the round portions of the cables, wherein the plurality of inner cables are arranged in a row across the flat portion.

2. The cable of claim 1, comprising a strain relief positioned on the circular portion of the cable.

3. The cable according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of internal cables include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, a sensor cable, a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, and an Ethernet cable, or any combination thereof.

4. The cable according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of internal cables include male connectors, female connectors, or any combination thereof.

5. The cable according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of internal cables include one or more connectors, and the one or more connectors include a repeater.

6. The cable according to claim 1, wherein: The outer jacket comprises a heat shrink fabric.

7. The cable according to claim 1, wherein: The circular portion of the cable includes a heat shrink fabric that is placed in a shrunk configuration via the application of heat to fit tightly around the plurality of inner cables.

8. The cable according to claim 1, wherein: The flat portion of the cable includes an elongated cross-sectional shape.

9. The cable of claim 1, comprising one or more dividers sewn into the outer jacket, the one or more dividers configured to separate the inner cables.

10. A system for an amusement attraction, the system comprising: accessories that are configured to be worn or held by a customer; as well as A cable configured to connect the accessory to a component, wherein the cable includes a plurality of inner cables surrounded by an outer sheath, and the cable includes rounded portions formed proximate opposite end regions of the cables and a flat portion positioned between the rounded portions of the cables.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein: The accessory is an augmented reality / virtual reality headset and the component is a ride vehicle configured to carry patrons within the amusement attraction.

12. The system of claim 10, comprising a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, wherein: The cable is configured to transmit the instructions from the component to the accessory.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein: The instructions are configured to cause a display of the accessory to display a virtual feature for visualization by a customer.

14. A cable, comprising: an outer sheath comprising a heat shrink fabric; as well as One or more internal cables, including: one or more conductors; a gasket surrounding the one or more conductors to form one or more gasketed conductors; a shield surrounding the one or more gasketed conductors; a filler wrapped around the one or more cushioned conductors; and An inner jacket surrounds the one or more gasketed conductors, the shield, and the filler, wherein the inner jacket comprises plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), another insulating material, or any combination thereof.

15. The cable according to claim 14, wherein: The one or more internal cables include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, a sensor cable, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, or any combination thereof.

16. The cable according to claim 14, wherein: The cable includes a round portion and a flat portion.

17. The cable according to claim 16, wherein: The cable comprises a further circular portion, and the flat portion is positioned between the circular portion and the further circular portion.

18. The cable according to claim 14, wherein: The liner includes plastic, PVC, another insulating material, or any combination thereof.

19. The cable according to claim 14, wherein: The shield includes metal foil, braided metal, another conductive material, or any combination thereof.

20. The cable according to claim 14, wherein: The filler includes nylon strands.

Images