Support bar mounted system and method of minimum close indication for ride vehicle

Abstract

To provide a system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle.SOLUTION: 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 bar having a first support bar end coupled to the crossbar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted on an upper-rear portion of the ride seat; and a flap coupled to the support bar. The flap is configured to: insert into, or extract from, a slot formed within a seat side structure when the support bar is rotated about the pivot; and indicate whether the crossbar has attained a minimum closed position for restraining the passenger based on a position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Utility Application No. 1-7 / 316,583, entitled "SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MINIMUM CLOSE INDICATION FOR RIDE VEHICLE," filed May 10, 2021, which claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 023,413, entitled "SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MINIMUM CLOSE INDICATION FOR RIDE VEHICLE," filed May 12, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below for all applicable purposes.

[0002] The technology described below relates generally to amusement park rides, and more particularly to systems and methods for indicating a minimum closed position of a restraint system in a ride vehicle to determine whether an occupant is safely restrained. [Background technology]

[0003] Restraint systems are used in amusement ride vehicles to safely restrain occupants. For example, restraint systems are provided to accommodate seated, standing, or reclining occupants. In seated ride vehicles, the restraint system may take the form of a crossbar (e.g., a lap bar, T-bar, etc.) positioned against the occupant's torso or thighs. In one example, the crossbar may be supported by one or more support bars rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted on or near the floor of the ride vehicle in close proximity to the occupant's legs. In this manner, the crossbar may move toward or away from the occupant as the one or more support bars rotate about the pivot toward or away from the occupant.

[0004] Typically, restraint systems allow the crossbar to be pulled toward the occupant to any relative position, but are restricted from being pushed in the opposite direction until the bar is unlocked by the operating personnel. Failure to secure the crossbar in a position close enough to the occupant and seat can result in an unrestrained situation where the occupant's body moves past the crossbar. Therefore, it is important to occupant safety that the crossbar be positioned in a position determined to represent the minimum safe operating position.

[0005] In some restraint systems, vehicle operators require some type of minimum closed position indication to ensure that an occupant is properly restrained in the vehicle, e.g., that the minimum safe operating position of a crossbar restraint has been reached. In most ride vehicles, a physical indicator can be easily mounted and / or electrically mounted on the hood or vehicle floor, allowing the vehicle operator to determine whether the occupant is properly restrained. However, in ride vehicles that do not have a hood or vehicle floor, or that minimize electrical connections, mounting a non-electrical minimum closed position indicator can be difficult, especially if only a limited number of vehicle surfaces (e.g., seat back, seat pan, and / or restraint) are 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 ride vehicles that have a limited number of available mounting surfaces that allow the vehicle operator to quickly and safely determine whether the restraint system is in the minimum safe operating position. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the present disclosure or to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0007] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle. The system includes a ride seat and a restraint system configured to restrain an occupant relative to the ride seat. The restraint system includes a support bar having a crossbar for positioning against the occupant, a first support bar end coupled to the crossbar, and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot attached to an upper rear portion of the ride seat, and a flap coupled to the support bar. The flap is configured to be inserted into or withdrawn from a slot formed in a side structure of the ride seat when the support bar rotates about the pivot, and to indicate whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot.

[0008] In one embodiment, a system for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a ride seat disposed within the ride vehicle. The ride seat includes a seat pan, a seat back, and a side structure formed between the seat pan and the seat back. The system further includes a restraint system configured to restrain the occupant against at least one of the seat back or the seat pan. The restraint system includes a cross bar configured to be positioned against the occupant, at least one support bar having a first support bar end coupled to the cross bar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot attached to an upper rear portion of the ride vehicle seat, and a flap coupled to the at least one support bar. The flap extends perpendicular to an orientation of the at least one support bar. The flap is further configured to insert into and remove from a slot formed in an upper portion of the side structure when the at least one support bar rotates about the pivot, and to indicate whether the cross bar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot. The system also includes at least one rotating adapter coupled to a second support bar end of the at least one support bar. The at least one rotating adapter is configured to rotatably couple the second support bar end to the pivot. The system also includes at least one hydraulic cylinder coupled to the at least one rotating adapter. The at least one hydraulic cylinder is configured to actuate the at least one rotating adapter to rotate the at least one support bar relative to the pivot and move the crossbar toward or away from the occupant.

[0009] In one embodiment, a method for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle is disclosed. The method includes positioning a vehicle seat within the ride vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat pan, a seat back, and a side structure formed between the seat pan and the seat back. The method further includes restraining the occupant against at least one of the seat back or the seat pan. The restraining step includes rotating at least one support bar about a pivot attached to an upper rear portion of the vehicle seat. The at least one support bar includes a first support bar end coupled to a cross bar positioned relative to the occupant and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to the pivot. Rotation of the at least one support bar about the pivot moves the cross bar toward or away from the occupant. The restraining step also includes inserting or extracting a flap coupled to the at least one support bar into or from a slot formed in an upper portion of the side structure when the at least one support bar rotates about the pivot. The method also includes indicating whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot, and indicating whether the crossbar has exceeded a maximum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a second marking on the flap relative to the slot. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a vehicle for transporting passengers; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a travel route of a ride vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a passenger carrier according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic rear perspective view of a passenger carrier according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 6]1A-1C are a first schematic diagram illustrating a restraint system that has not yet reached a minimum closed position and a second schematic diagram illustrating a restraint system that has reached a minimum closed position, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system according to another aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 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 represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. 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 obscuring such concepts. Although aspects and embodiments are described herein by way of example for some examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional implementations and use cases can be realized in many different configurations and scenarios. The innovations described herein can be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and / or packaging arrangements.

[0012] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to amusement park ride vehicles, such as automated guided vehicles, used for entertainment purposes. Specifically, aspects of the present disclosure relate to restraint systems for ride vehicles, and more particularly, to systems and methods for indicating a minimum closed position of the restraint system to determine whether a passenger / occupant is safely restrained in the ride vehicle. In one aspect, a visual indicator for indicating the minimum closed position of the restraint system is non-electrically mounted on a ride vehicle having a limited number of available mounting surfaces.

[0013] Amusement parks may use passenger-carrying ride vehicles to provide immersive entertainment experiences for guests. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example passenger-carrying ride vehicle 100. The ride vehicle 100 may include a base 112 and an arm 114. The configuration of the ride vehicle 100, as shown, is merely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting. The base 112 may include a plurality of drive units 118 that enable the ride vehicle 100 to follow an intended path. The base 112 may further include a central pillar 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. The lower arm portion 114a is further pivotally connected to the turntable 122. The pivotable connection between lower arm portion 114a and upper arm portion 114b, the pivotable connection between lower arm portion 114a and turntable 122, and the pivotable connection between arm 114 and central pillar 120 collectively allow arm 114 to move in multiple directions as indicated by arrows 124, 126, and 128.

[0014] The ride vehicle 100 may further include a passenger carrier 116. The passenger carrier 116 includes a plurality of vehicle seats 130 mounted in a transverse orientation. As shown in FIG. 1 , the passenger carrier 116 includes two seats 130 by way of example, but not by way of limitation, and the passenger carrier 116 may support additional seats (e.g., four seats total). Each seat 130 includes a restraint system 132 configured to ensure that a passenger / occupant 134 remains in the seat 130 when the passenger carrier 116 is moved by the arm 114, and when the arm 114 and 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 arrow 136.

[0015] It will be appreciated that the passenger carrying arrangement of ride vehicle 100 described above is illustrative of one of many different passenger carrying arrangements that may be utilized by ride vehicle 100 for recreational purposes. In one exemplary arrangement, seat 130 is attached to base 112 of ride vehicle 100, and arm 114 may be omitted.

[0016] Passenger-carrying ride vehicles 100 of the type described above are typically used in amusement parks to provide guests with an immersive entertainment experience. The ride vehicle may travel through themed environments related to, for example, movies or video games. The themed environments may include elements such as scenery, props, animated figures, sound effects, visual effects, pyrotechnic effects, and olfactory effects. As the ride vehicle 100 travels through the themed environment, the movement of the vehicle, as well as the movement of the arms 114 and passenger carrier 116, are synchronized with the themed environment elements to provide an immersive entertainment experience. As described in more detail below, because it is important that passengers / occupants are safely restrained within the ride vehicle, systems and methods are provided that indicate a minimum closed position of the restraint system to determine whether, in fact, the passengers / occupants are safely restrained within the ride vehicle.

[0017] 2 is a schematic diagram of an example travel path 200 for a ride vehicle (e.g., ride vehicle 100). Travel path 200 has a start point A and an end point B, and extends in a serpentine manner between start point A and end point B. In some aspects, travel path 200 may be in the form of a closed loop such that the ride vehicle circulates around travel path 200. Start point A may be defined by a passenger pickup point on path 200, while end point B may be defined by a passenger drop-off point on path 200.

[0018] In one aspect, the ride vehicle may be configured to travel at a steady speed along a portion of the path 200 between a start point A and an end point B. At predetermined points along the path of travel 200, the ride vehicle may perform dynamic travel maneuvers. Such dynamic travel maneuvers may include, for example, lateral translations, spins, helical spins, slides in or against the direction of travel of the ride vehicle, periods of rapid acceleration and deceleration, transitions into inversions, sharp turns, or combinations thereof.

[0019] To provide the ride vehicle occupants with the desired immersive entertainment experience, the movements of the ride vehicle base 112, arms 114, and occupant carrier 116 are closely synchronized with the aforementioned elements of the themed environment. Therefore, it is important that the occupants are safely restrained in the seats 130 so that they are prevented from being ejected from the seats 130 (e.g., through the restraint system) due to the dynamic movement of the ride vehicle 100.

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram 300 illustrating a front perspective view of a passenger carrier 316 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram 400 illustrating a rear perspective view of a passenger carrier 316 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The passenger carrier 316 may be similar to the passenger carrier 116 shown in Figure 1 and, therefore, may be coupled to the arms 114 of the ride vehicle 100. Additionally, the passenger carrier 316 shown in Figure 3 includes four seats 330 by way of example, but is not intended to be limiting, and the passenger carrier 316 may support more or fewer seats.

[0021] In one aspect, each seat 330 may include a seat back 350, a seat pan 352, and one or more side structures 354 formed between the seat back 350 and the seat pan 352. Additionally, each seat 330 includes a restraint system 332 configured to restrain a passenger / occupant 334 in the seat 330 (e.g., against the seat back 350 and / or seat pan 352) when the passenger carrier 316 is moved by the arms 114 and / or base 112 of the ride vehicle 100. The restraint system 332 may include a cross bar 340 (e.g., a lap bar, a T-bar, etc.) positioned against the torso or thighs of the passenger / occupant 334. In one aspect, the cross bar 340 may be made of a rigid material, a soft material (e.g., foam padding), or a combination thereof. The restraint system 332 may further include one or more support bars 342 (e.g., restraint tubes) to which the cross bar 340 is attached. In particular, support bar 342 has a first support bar end coupled to cross bar 340 and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to pivot 430 (shown in FIG. 4 ), which may be attached to an upper rear portion of seat 330 behind seat back 350 adjacent the occupant's head and shoulders.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4 , the restraint system 332 also includes one or more rotating adapters 442 and one or more hydraulic cylinders 444. Each support bar 342 is attached to a respective rotating adapter 442 that is attached to the pivot 430. In one aspect, the rotating adapters 442 can be considered part of the support bar 342. Each rotating adapter 442 is engaged with a respective hydraulic cylinder 444. Thus, when actuated, the one or more hydraulic cylinders 444 actuate the one or more rotating adapters 442 to rotate the one or more support bars 342 about the pivot 430, thereby causing the cross bar 340 to move / rotate in a downward direction 450 toward the torso / thighs of the occupant 334 or in an upward direction 452 away from the torso / thighs as the one or more support bars 342 rotate. In one aspect, the occupant carrier 316 may include one hydraulic cylinder 444 for each rotating adapter 442 to which a support bar 342 is attached. Thus, for each seat 330 having one crossbar 340 attached to two support bars 342 that are respectively coupled to two rotating adapters 442, two hydraulic cylinders 444 may be provided to rotate each of the two support bars 342 about the pivot 430.

[0023] The effectiveness of the restraint system 332 may be limited by the ability to position the crossbar 340 sufficiently close to the seat back 350 and / or seat pan 352 to prevent vehicle-induced forces from ejecting the passenger / occupant 334 over the crossbar 340. In one aspect, the restraint system 332 allows the crossbar 340 to be pulled toward the passenger / occupant 334 to any relative position, but limits the crossbar 340 from being pushed in the opposite direction until the crossbar 340 is unlocked by an operating personnel. If the crossbar 340 cannot be secured in a position close enough to the passenger / occupant 334 and the seat back 350 / seat pan 352, the occupant's body may be able to move beyond the crossbar 340, thus creating an unrestrained situation. This may be the case if the seat 330 cannot safely accommodate a particular occupant size (e.g., a particularly small, large, short, or tall body) or if the restraint system 332 does not operate properly (e.g., a broken, ineffective, or other locking mechanism). Therefore, it is important to occupant safety that crossbar 340 be positioned in a position determined to represent a minimum safe operating position. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to indicating a minimum closed position of restraint system 332 so that a vehicle operator can ensure that passenger / occupant 334 is properly restrained within seat 330, i.e., that the minimum safe operating position of crossbar 340 has been reached.

[0024] 5 is a schematic diagram 500 illustrating a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system 332 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the above-described restraint system 332 further includes a minimum closed position indicator (or flap) 504 coupled (e.g., bonded or bolted) to the rotating adapter 442 and / or support bar 342. The flap 504 extends perpendicular to the direction of the rotating adapter 442 and / or support bar 342. Furthermore, the flap 504 may be formed of metal or any other rigid material that will maintain its shape when the flap 504 is utilized (e.g., inserted into or removed from a slot).

[0025] In one aspect, an upper side portion of the seat 330 (e.g., an upper portion of the side structure 354) includes a slot 506 for receiving the flap 504. Thus, when the hydraulic cylinder 444 actuates the rotation adapter 442 to rotate the support bar 342 about the pivot 430 (moving the cross bar 340 in a downward direction 450 or an upward direction 452), the flap 504 also rotates / moves to insert or extract the support bar 342 into or from the slot 506. In one aspect, the lower portion of the flap 504 is indicated by a marking 508 that is visually distinct from the remainder of the flap 504 (i.e., the portion of the flap not occupied by the marking 508). For example, the marking 508 can be a particular color (e.g., red) while the remainder of the flap 504 is a different color (e.g., green). In another example, the marking 508 may be a pattern of various lines and / or shapes, while the remainder of the flap 504 may be a solid pattern, or vice versa. It should be noted that the above examples for distinguishing the marking 508 from the remainder of the flap 504 are not intended to be limiting, and any other method for visually separating the flap portions may be implemented.

[0026] 6 illustrates a first diagram 600 depicting the restraint system 332 not yet in the minimum closed position and a second diagram 650 depicting the restraint system 332 in the minimum closed position, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the location of the markings 508 and / or the amount of space occupied by the markings 508 on the flap 504 is predetermined based on the minimum safe operating / closed position of the crossbar 340 to safely restrain the occupant 334 (e.g., safely prevent the occupant 334 from being ejected over the crossbar 340 by vehicle-induced forces) when the crossbar 340 engages the torso / thighs of the occupant 334. When the crossbar 340 is lowered onto the occupant 334 and the flap 504 is inserted into the slot 506, the flap 504 can indicate whether the restraint system 332 / crossbar 340 is minimally closed to safely restrain the occupant 334 depending on the location of the markings 508 relative to the slot 506.

[0027] 6, if any portion of the marking 508 is exposed outside the slot 506 (e.g., the marking 508 is visible to the vehicle operator), the flap 504 indicates that the restraint system 332 has not reached its minimum closed and / or minimum safe operating position. Upon seeing the visual indication that minimum closure has not been reached (e.g., by viewing the marking 508), the vehicle operator can quickly determine that the occupant 334 is not sized to be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / occupant carrier 316 (e.g., the occupant 334 is too large to safely ride therein) or that the restraint system 332 is not functioning properly, and can prevent the occupant 334 from entering the ride vehicle. 6, when no portion of the marking 508 is exposed outside the slot 506 (e.g., the marking 508 is fully inserted into the slot 506, making the marking 508 invisible to the vehicle operator), the flap 504 indicates that the restraint system 332 has reached a minimum closed and / or minimum safe operating position. Upon seeing the visual indication that minimum closure has been reached (e.g., the marking 508 is fully inserted into the slot 506 and is not visible), the vehicle operator can quickly determine that the occupant 334 is sized to be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / occupant carrier 316 and allow the occupant 334 to enter the vehicle.

[0028] 7 is a schematic diagram 700 illustrating a perspective view of a portion of a restraint system 332 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, in addition to the lower portion of the flap 504 being indicated by the markings 508 as described above, the upper portion of the flap 504 can be indicated by upper markings 708 that are visually distinct from the remainder of the flap 504 (i.e., the upper markings 708 or the central portion of the flap not occupied by the markings 508), and in some embodiments, can be indicated by markings that are visually distinct from the markings 508. For example, the upper markings 708 can be a particular color (e.g., red), while the central portion of the flap 504 can be a different color (e.g., green). In another example, the upper markings 708 can be a pattern of various lines and / or shapes, while the central portion of the flap 504 can be a solid pattern, or vice versa. In one aspect, the location of the upper markings 708 and / or the amount of space occupied by the upper markings 708 on the flap 504 can be predetermined based on the maximum safe operating / closed position of the crossbar 340 to safely restrain the occupant 334 (e.g., safely prevent the occupant 334 from being ejected beyond the crossbar 340 by vehicle-induced forces) when the crossbar 340 engages the torso / thighs of the occupant 334. When the crossbar 340 is lowered onto the occupant 334 and the flap 504 is inserted into the slot 506, the flap 504 can indicate whether the restraint system 332 / crossbar 340 has exceeded the maximum closed position to safely restrain the occupant 334 depending on the location of the upper markings 708 relative to the slot 506.

[0029] For example, if any portion of upper marking 708 is inserted into slot 506, flap 504 indicates that restraint system 332 has exceeded its maximum safe operating position. When a vehicle operator sees this visual indication that restraint system 332 has exceeded its maximum safe operating position, they can quickly determine that occupant 334 is not sized to be safely accommodated in seat 330 / occupant carrier 316 (e.g., occupant 334 is too small to ride safely) or that restraint system 332 is not functioning properly and prevent occupant 334 from entering the vehicle. Alternatively, if upper marking 708 is exposed entirely outside slot 506 and marking 508 is entirely inserted into slot 506 (e.g., marking 508 is not visible to the vehicle operator), flap 504 indicates that restraint system 332 is within its maximum safe operating position and has reached minimum closure (minimum safe operating position). When the ride operator sees a visual indication that the restraint system 332 is within its maximum safe operating position and has reached minimum closure, the ride operator can quickly determine that the occupant 334 is sized to be safely accommodated in the seat 330 / occupant carrier 316 and allow the occupant 334 onto the ride vehicle.

[0030] 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 800 for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. As described below, some or all of the example features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some example features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, process 800 may be implemented by the ride systems / vehicles shown in FIGS. 1-7. In some examples, process 800 may be implemented by any suitable device or means for implementing the functions or algorithms described below.

[0031] In block 802, the system places a vehicle seat (e.g., vehicle seat 330) in a ride vehicle (e.g., ride vehicle 100). The vehicle seat includes a seat pan (e.g., seat pan 352), a seat back (e.g., seat back 350), and a side structure (e.g., side structure 354) formed between the seat pan and the seat back.

[0032] In block 804, the system restrains an occupant (eg, occupant 334) against at least one of the seat back or the seat pan.

[0033] In block 806, restraining the occupant includes rotating at least one support bar (e.g., one or more support bars 342) about a pivot (e.g., pivot 430) attached to an upper rear portion of the vehicle seat. The at least one support bar includes a first support bar end coupled to a cross bar (e.g., cross bar 340) positioned relative to the occupant and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to the pivot. Rotation of the at least one support bar about the pivot causes the cross bar to move toward (e.g., downward direction 450) or away from (e.g., upward direction 452) the occupant.

[0034] At block 808, restraining the occupant further includes inserting or extracting a flap (e.g., flap 504) coupled to the at least one support bar into or from a slot (e.g., slot 506) formed in the upper portion of the side structure when the at least one support bar rotates about the pivot. In one aspect, the flap extends perpendicular to the orientation of the at least one support bar.

[0035] In block 810, the system indicates whether the crossbar has reached the minimum closed position to restrain the occupant based on the position of the markings on the flap (e.g., marking 508) relative to the slot. In one aspect, the position of the markings and the amount of space occupied by the markings on the flap are predetermined based on the minimum closed position of the crossbar to restrain the occupant. In another aspect, the portion of the flap occupied by the markings is visually distinct from the portion of the flap not occupied by the markings. For example, the portion of the flap occupied by the markings can be indicated by one color (e.g., red) and the portion of the flap not occupied by the markings can be indicated by a different color (e.g., green). In another example, the portion of the flap occupied by the markings can be a pattern of various lines and / or shapes, and the portion of the flap not occupied by the markings can be a solid pattern, or vice versa.

[0036] In one aspect, the system can indicate that the crossbar has not reached the minimum closed position when any portion of the marking is exposed outside the slot, while in another aspect, the system can indicate that the crossbar has reached the minimum closed position when the entire marking is inserted into the slot.

[0037] In block 812, the system optionally indicates whether the crossbar is beyond the maximum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a second marking on the flap (e.g., upper marking 708) relative to the slot. In one aspect, the position of the second marking and the amount of space occupied by the second marking on the flap are predetermined based on the maximum closed position of the crossbar for restraining the occupant. In another aspect, the portion of the flap occupied by the second marking is visually distinct from the portion of the flap not occupied by the second marking (upper marking 708) or marking (marking 508).

[0038] In one aspect, the system can indicate that the crossbar is beyond the maximum closed position when any portion of the second marking is inserted into the slot, and in another aspect, the system can indicate that the crossbar is within the maximum closed position and has reached the minimum closed position when the entire second marking is exposed outside the slot and the entire marking is inserted into the slot.

[0039] Within this disclosure, the term "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation or aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over 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 coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically touches object B, and object B touches object C, objects A and C can be considered coupled to each other even though they are not in direct physical contact with each other. For example, a first object can be coupled to a second object even though the first object is not in direct physical contact with the second object.

[0040] One or more of the components, steps, features, and / or functions illustrated in Figures 1-8 may be rearranged and / or combined into a single component, step, feature, or function, or may be embodied in multiple components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and / or functions may also be added without departing from the novel features disclosed herein. The devices, devices, and / or components illustrated in Figures 1-8 may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described herein. Additionally, the novel algorithms described herein may be efficiently implemented in software and / or embedded in hardware.

[0041] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed methods is an illustration of an example process. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods can be rearranged. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not intended to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented, unless specifically stated herein.

[0042] The above description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Accordingly, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. Reference to a singular element shall mean "one or more," and not "one and only one," unless specifically stated otherwise. Unless otherwise specified, the term "some" means one or more. References to "at least one" of a list of items refer to any combination of those items, including single elements. By way of example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to encompass a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b, and c. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later become known to those skilled in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Furthermore, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be made available to the general public, regardless of whether such disclosure is expressly recited in the claims. No claim element shall be construed under 35 U.S.C. §12(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for," or, in the case of a method claim, the phrase "step for." [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 332 Restraint System 342 Support Bar 442 Rotating Adapter 504 Minimum closed position indicator (or flap) 508 Marking 708 Upper marking

Claims

1. 1. A system for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle, comprising: a vehicle seat disposed within the vehicle, the vehicle seat including a seat pan, a seat back, and a side structure formed between the seat pan and the seat back; a restraint system configured to restrain the occupant against at least one of the seat back or the seat pan; Equipped with The restraint system comprises: a cross bar configured to be positioned relative to the occupant; at least one support bar having a first support bar end coupled to the cross bar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot attached to an upper rear portion of the vehicle seat; a flap coupled to the at least one support bar, the flap extending perpendicular to an orientation of the at least one support bar; Equipped with The flap is inserting or removing the at least one support bar into or from a slot formed in an upper portion of the side structure as the at least one support bar rotates about the pivot; indicating whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot; The system is configured as follows:

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location of the markings on the flap and the amount of space occupied by the markings are predetermined based on the minimum closed position of the crossbar for restraint of the occupant.

3. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flap is configured to indicate that the crossbar has not reached the minimum closed position when any portion of the marking is exposed outside the slot.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flap is configured to indicate that the crossbar has reached the minimum closed position when the marking is fully inserted into the slot.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the flap occupied by the marking is visually distinct from the portion of the flap not occupied by the marking.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the flap occupied by the marking is shown in one color and the portion of the flap not occupied by the marking is shown in a different color.

7. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flap is further configured to indicate whether the crossbar is beyond a maximum closed position for restraining the occupant based on a position of a second marking on the flap relative to the slot.

8. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the location of the second marking and the amount of space occupied by the second marking on the flap are predetermined based on the maximum closed position of the crossbar for restraining the occupant.

9. The flap is When any portion of the second marking is inserted into the slot, it indicates that the crossbar is beyond the maximum closed position; and the second marking is entirely exposed outside the slot, and when the marking is entirely inserted into the slot, it indicates that the crossbar is in the maximum closed position and has reached the minimum closed position. The system of claim 7 , configured to:

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the portion of the flap occupied by the second marking is visually distinct from the portion of the flap not occupied by the second marking or the marking.

11. the restraint system at least one rotation adapter coupled to the second support bar end of the at least one support bar, the at least one rotation adapter configured to rotatably couple the second support bar end to the pivot; at least one hydraulic cylinder coupled to the at least one rotating adapter, the at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to actuate the at least one rotating adapter to rotate the at least one support bar about the pivot and move the cross bar toward or away from the occupant; The system of claim 1 further comprising:

12. 1. A method for restraining an occupant in a ride vehicle, comprising: placing a vehicle seat within a ride vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising a seat pan, a seat back, and a side structure formed between the seat pan and the seat back; restraining the occupant against at least one of the seat back or the seat pan; Including, The step of restraining includes: rotating at least one support bar about a pivot attached to an upper rear portion of the vehicle seat, the at least one support bar having a first support bar end coupled to a cross bar positioned relative to the occupant and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to the pivot, wherein rotating the at least one support bar about the pivot moves the cross bar toward or away from the occupant; inserting a flap coupled to the at least one support bar into or removing the flap from a slot formed in an upper portion of the side structure when the at least one support bar rotates about the pivot; Including, The method further comprises: indicating whether the crossbar has reached a minimum closed position for restraining the occupant based on the position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot. method.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the flaps extend perpendicular to the direction of the at least one support bar.

14. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the location of the markings and the amount of space occupied by the markings on the flaps are predetermined based on the minimum closed position of the crossbar to restrain the occupant.

15. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indicating step includes the step of indicating that the crossbar has not reached the minimum closed position when any portion of the marking is exposed outside the slot.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the indicating step includes indicating that the crossbar has reached the minimum closed position when the marking is entirely inserted into the slot.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the flap occupied by the marking is visually distinct from the portion of the flap not occupied by the marking.

18. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of indicating whether the crossbar is beyond a maximum closed position for restraining the occupant based on a position of a second marking on the flap relative to the slot.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the location of the second marking and the amount of space occupied by the second marking on the flap are predetermined based on the maximum closed position of the crossbar for restraining the occupant.

20. The steps shown above are: indicating that the crossbar is beyond the maximum closed position when any portion of the second marking is inserted into the slot; the second marking is exposed entirely outside the slot, indicating that the crossbar is in the maximum closed position and has reached the minimum closed position when the marking is entirely inserted into the slot; 20. The method of claim 18, comprising:

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