Lightweight and durable cable

Abstract

The cable includes a plurality of internal cables configured to transmit electrical signals, an outer jacket that houses the internal cables, and circular portions formed in the vicinity of both end regions of the cable. The internal cables are arranged so as to surround the central axis in the circular portions in the circumferential direction. Further, the cable includes flat portions arranged between the circular portions of the cable, and the internal cables are arranged in a row across the flat portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 347,411, entitled "A 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 for introducing the reader to various aspects of the technology that may be related to the various aspects of the technology described and / or claimed below. This discussion is considered to be helpful in showing the reader the background circumstances and facilitating a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, these descriptions should be understood to be read from the above perspective rather than as an admission of prior art.

[0003] Amusement parks include various attractions that provide unique experiences for guests. These attractions can include rides, immersive experiences, or guest - facing areas (e.g., kiosks). In some attractions, guests can utilize accessories (e.g., headsets, handheld devices, or wearable devices) that are coupled to components of the attraction via cables. Since the cables are repeatedly used in an environment with a lot of movement, they can be damaged over time and soon malfunction and / or wear out. Cable damage can prevent the accessories from operating correctly and thus may interfere with the guest experience in the attraction. To avoid cable damage, it is necessary to frequently replace the cables, resulting in increased costs and / or maintenance time. Therefore, it is now recognized that it is desirable to provide a lightweight and durable cable that can withstand the intense use in the high - movement environment of attractions in amusement parks.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following summarizes some embodiments within the same scope as the subject matter of the original claims. These embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, but rather merely outline some of the disclosed embodiments. In fact, the present disclosure can include various forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments shown below.

[0005] In one embodiment, a cable includes a plurality of internal cables configured to transmit electrical signals, an outer jacket that houses the internal cables, and a circular portion formed proximate to both end regions of the cable. The internal cables are arranged to surround a central axis in the circular portion in a circumferential direction. Also, the cable includes a flat portion disposed between the circular portions of the cable, and the internal cables are arranged in a row across the flat portion.

[0006] In one embodiment, a system for an entertainment attraction includes an accessory worn or held by a guest and a cable that connects the accessory to a component. The cable includes a plurality of internal cables surrounded by an outer jacket, a circular portion formed proximate to both end regions of the cable, and a flat portion disposed between the circular portions of the cable.

[0007] In one embodiment, a cable includes an outer jacket that includes a heat - shrinkable fabric and one or more internal cables. The internal cables include one or more conductors, padding that surrounds the one or more conductors to form one or more padded conductors, a shield that surrounds the one or more padded conductors, a filler wound around the perimeter of the one or more padded conductors, and an inner jacket that surrounds the one or more padded conductors, the shield, and the filler. The inner jacket includes plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), another insulating material, or any combination thereof.

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description while referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The following describes one or more specific embodiments. For the sake of brevity in explaining these embodiments, not all implementation features are described herein. It should be understood that in any such implementation development found in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific objectives, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints that may vary depending on the implementation. Further, although such development efforts may be complex and time-consuming, they are understood to be routine endeavors of design, fabrication, and manufacturing for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0011] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, articles such as "a", "an", and "the" shall be taken to mean that these elements are present one or two or three or more. The terms "comprising", "including", and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that additional elements other than the recited elements may exist. Also, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended to be construed as precluding the existence of additional embodiments that also include the recited features. Numerical terms such as "first", "second", and "third" can be used to distinguish components for ease of explanation, and in the claims, these numerical terms may be used in different forms or assigned to different elements. Further, specific numbers (e.g., 90 degrees, 180 degrees) and / or dimensions (e.g., parallel, perpendicular) are used for ease of explanation and are intended to include variations (e.g., taking into account tolerances such as manufacturing tolerances).

[0012] An amusement park features various entertainment attractions such as amusement park rides, performance shows, and immersive experiences (e.g., entertainment activities). In some entertainment attractions, guests or amusement park staff can hold or wear accessories (e.g., headsets, wearable devices, or handheld devices) that are connected (e.g., electrically coupled, communicatively coupled) via a cable to components of the entertainment attraction. For example, a guest can wear an extended reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and / or mixed reality (AR and VR) headset connected via a cable to a vehicle during an amusement park ride.

[0013] It can be understood that in entertainment attractions, accessories and their respective cables are often placed in a large-motion environment such as a roller coaster ride. The cable is repeatedly used in a large-motion environment and is exposed to rapid movement and strong forces, which can cause it to be damaged quickly and / or malfunction. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to lightweight and durable cables designed to withstand repeated use in a large-motion environment. Specifically, this cable can enable the transmission of electrical signals (e.g., data, control signals, power) between accessories such as headsets (e.g., AR / VR headsets that can include AR, VR, and / or mixed reality headsets) or interaction devices (e.g., blaster guns, batons, crossbows) and components of the entertainment attraction.

[0014] The lightweight and durable cable of the present disclosure can withstand a test cycle count exceeding approximately 150,000 times, which significantly exceeds the number of test cycles that existing cables (e.g., cables used with accessories or similar setups in amusement parks, cables not designed specifically for durability in amusement parks) can withstand. For example, test cycles such as the bending and twisting cycles of the cable performed by a test apparatus. For example, existing cables that have been used in amusement park entertainment attractions could withstand approximately 80 to 800 test cycles. Therefore, the cable of the present disclosure includes a unique specific combination of features arranged in a unique specific shape so as to provide significantly improved characteristics compared to existing cables.

[0015] Based on these, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an amusement attraction 10 (e.g., an amusement ride) including 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 guest 18 (e.g., a passenger on the amusement attraction 10), and the component 16 is a vehicle that transports the guest 18 in the amusement attraction 10 (e.g., along a path). The AR / VR headset enables the guest 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 virtual features 20 on a display (e.g., a transparent display, lens) of the AR / VR headset such that the virtual features 20 overlap and are visible over the physical features 22 visible through the display (e.g., from the perspective of the guest 18 wearing the AR / VR headset).

[0016] In entertainment attraction 10, cable 14 may bend, stretch, and / or twist due to the movement of the vehicle and the movement of guest 18. Also, cable 14 may bend, stretch, and twist when guest 18 attaches or detaches the AR / VR headset. Cable 14 is advantageously designed to withstand bending, stretching, and / or twisting so that cable 14 functions correctly and continues to supply electrical signals even under such conditions. Further, this design enables the AR / VR headset to function correctly and continue to provide high-quality visual effects even under such conditions. It should be understood that the vehicle can include a plurality of cables and a plurality of AR / VR headsets, such as one cable and its connected AR / VR headset for each seat (e.g., two, three, four, or five or more seats) in the vehicle.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of entertainment attraction 10 including cable 14 connected to accessories 12 and components 16 of entertainment attraction 10. Components 16 of entertainment attraction 10 can operate at least in part via instructions from controller 30, which can include memory 32 storing instructions executable by processor 34. For example, if component 16 is a vehicle, controller 30 can control the motors of the vehicle to accelerate and / or decelerate the vehicle. Similarly, accessory 12 can operate at least in part via instructions from accessory controller 40, which can include memory 42 storing instructions executable by processor 44. For example, if accessory 12 is an AR / VR headset, accessory controller 40 can provide instructions to display specific virtual features 20 and / or physical features 22 of entertainment attraction 10 on display 46.

[0018] Processors 34 and 44 can include one or more processing devices, and memories 32 and 42 can include one or more tangible non-transitory machine-readable media. By way of example, such machine-readable media can be random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc 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 hold or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by processors 33 and 34, or a dedicated or programmed computer or other machine including a processor.

[0019] Component 16 can include communication circuitry 38, such as a receiver and a transmitter, that communicates with any other component of entertainment attraction 10 via wired and / or wireless communication paths. I / O port 36 is an interface that can be coupled via cable 14 to other elements of entertainment attraction 10, such as accessory 12 (e.g., input devices such as AR / VR headsets, handheld devices, wearable devices, joysticks or touchscreens, sensors). I / O port 36 can include, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) port, and a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI (registered trademark)) port. Component 16 can include additional components such as a power source 48 (e.g., a battery, a solar panel, a generator) and / or a motor that enables the operation and / or movement of component 16.

[0020] The accessory 12 can include a display 46 (e.g., a transparent display) for displaying the virtual features 20 of the entertainment attraction 10. In certain embodiments, the accessory 12 can include a speaker 52 capable of emitting sounds corresponding to the virtual features 20 and / or physical features 22 of the entertainment attraction 10. The accessory 12 can also include an I / O (input / output) port 36 that can be coupled to the component 16 of the entertainment attraction 10 via a cable 14. Specifically, the cable 14 and the I / O port 36 can 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 can enable the controller 30 to pass on instructions to cause the accessory 12 to display a particular image sequence that can depend on the direction and / or speed of movement of the component 16 (e.g., the vehicle). In another example, information from a sensor 50 can be communicated to the component 16 via the cable 14. The sensor 50 on the accessory 12 can be a camera or a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor that tracks the direction of the guest's line of sight (e.g., to accurately map the virtual features 20 onto the physical features 22 of the entertainment attraction 10).

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For ease of explanation, cable 14 can be described with reference to an axial axis 54, a radial or transverse axis 56, and / or a circumferential axis 58. For example, cable 14 extends generally along axial axis 54 when held / extended in a straight configuration as shown, and has certain features arranged in a particular shape with respect to radial or transverse axis 56 and / or circumferential axis 58. In certain embodiments, cable 14 can include a plurality of internal cables 60 surrounded (e.g., wrapped, circumferentially surrounded) by an outer jacket. For example, cable 14 can include three different internal cables 60. However, cable 14 can also include fewer or more (e.g., one, two, four, five, six, or seven or more) internal cables 60. In certain embodiments, internal cables 60 can include USB cables, HDMI (registered trademark) cables, and / or sensor cables (e.g., for sensors that detect a state and generate an electrical signal indicative of the state).

[0022] The outer jacket of cable 14 can include a heat shrink fabric, which is a material that shrinks upon exposure to heat. The purpose of the outer jacket is to protect the internal cables 60 from excessive twisting, bending, stretching, and / or other types of forces. For example, the outer jacket can protect the internal cables 60 (and the conductors within the internal cables 60) from physical damage that can result, for example, from cable 14 catching on a sharp corner or being stepped on.

[0023] In one embodiment, the cable 14 includes a flat portion 62 in an intermediate region of the cable 14 and a circular portion 64 near an end region of the cable 14. The flat portion 62 can have an elliptical or elongated (e.g., elongated compared to the circular portion 64) cross-sectional shape, and the circular 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 in a row (e.g., along the lateral axis 56, see FIG. 5). As a result of such an arrangement of the inner cables 60, the flat portion 62 can bend only in one direction (e.g., the vertical direction). For this reason, the twisting movement of the flat portion 62 is minimized, and the stress is distributed over the entire inner cable 60 such that each inner cable 60 receives a substantially equal or similar amount of stress during the twisting movement. Accordingly, each inner cable 60 undergoes substantially equal or similar amounts of wear over time. This arrangement can provide the advantage of outperforming a circular cable in which any inner cable or wire is arranged circularly and each inner cable or wire occupies a generally pie-shaped section 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 axis 54 or the central axis of the cable, see FIG. 4) (e.g., the intermediate region is circular). The circular cable can bend in two directions (e.g., the vertical and horizontal directions), and when the circular cable bends, the stress is unevenly distributed among the inner cables (e.g., one of the inner cables receives a higher stress than the other inner cables). For this reason, some inner cables wear out earlier than the other inner cables. Accordingly, the flat portion 62 of the cable 14 provides durability and a long life to the cable 14 (e.g., compared to a circular cable).

[0024] In the flat portion 62 of the cable 14, the heat shrink fabric / outer jacket forms a flattened envelope. In certain embodiments, heat is not applied to the heat shrink fabric of the flat portion 62 of the cable 14. In the circular portion 64 of the cable 14, heat is used to shrink the outer jacket to fit snugly around the inner cable 60. In certain embodiments, heat is applied to a limited or relatively small portion of the cable 14 (e.g., having a length along the axial axis 54 that is short compared to the flat portion 62 of the cable, such as about 6 - 7 centimeters in length for each of the circular portions 64) because the circular portion 64 of the cable 14 is vulnerable to damage by twisting (e.g., compared to the flat portion 62 of the cable 14). However, the circular portion 64 near the end region of the cable 14 is beneficial for several reasons, such as ease or possibility of attachment of strain relief pieces 66.

[0025] In one embodiment, the outer jacket of cable 14 can include one or more color segments along a portion of the length of cable 14. Each color segment can use a color (e.g., red, blue) or combination of colors to represent a characteristic of cable 14 at the location of the color segment. For example, one or more color segments can provide installation guidance, and the color of each color segment can indicate whether and / or how cable 14 should be connected to the frame of entertainment attraction 10. As an example, a first color segment (e.g., a red segment) at a first position of or along a first length of cable 14 can indicate that cable 14 should be connected to the frame using a first type of fastener (e.g., a (single or multiple) zip tie fastener) at the first position. Also, a second color segment (e.g., a blue segment) at a second position of or along a second length of cable 14 can indicate that cable 14 should be connected to the frame using a second type of fastener (e.g., a (single or multiple) surface fastener) at the second position. In one embodiment, the color segments can indicate the direction in which cable 14 is configured to bend at a particular location (e.g., the first color segment indicates a first direction and the second color segment indicates a second direction), and / or indicate the flexibility of cable 14 at a particular location (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 incorporated into cable 14 by sewing colored thread onto the outer jacket. In addition to or instead of this, the outer jacket can also be painted, dyed, or colored by any suitable coloring technique. In one embodiment, some characteristics of cable 14 can be indicated by other visual indicators (e.g., text, pattern, shape) printed on and / or incorporated into the outer jacket of cable 14.

[0026] In one embodiment, the cable 14 can include strain relief elements 66 each disposed near respective end regions of the cable 14. The purpose of the strain relief elements 66 is to relieve stress and tension that could otherwise sever conductors within the inner cable 60 or break the connection between the connector 68 and the inner cable 60. The strain relief elements 66 can have any suitable form, such as right-angle strain relief elements 66. A portion of the inner cable 60 can be exposed at the outer edge of the cable 14 (e.g., between the strain relief element 66 and the connector 68) (e.g., the outer jacket can be removed). In one embodiment, a mold can be used to form (e.g., overmold) the strain relief elements 66 onto the cable 14 from a rigid yet flexible resin. The strain relief elements 66 can have a groove for conveniently attaching the accessory 12 to one side of the cable 14 (e.g., a set of the first connectors 68) and a groove for conveniently attaching the component 16 to another side of the cable 14 (e.g., a set of the second connectors 68). In one embodiment, when the accessory 12 and the component 16 are attached to the cable 14, a portion of the inner cable 60 is housed inside the accessory 12 on one side and inside the component 16 on the other side such that only the central portion of the cable 14 between the strain relief elements 66 and the strain relief elements 66 is exposed (e.g., such that the guest 18 in FIG. 1 can access and / or can see).

[0027] In some embodiments, each of the internal cables 60 can have respective connectors 68 at both ends. In some embodiments, one or more than one of the connectors 68 of the internal cable 60 can include a repeater for amplifying signals from the internal cable 60. In some embodiments, the internal cable 60 can have a male connector 68, a female connector 68, or both types of connectors at either end of the cable 14. One or more than one connector 68 on either side of the cable 14 can be a connector manufactured by Japan Solderless Terminal (JST). Also, one or more than one of the connectors 68 on either side can be different versions of the same type of connector 68. For example, one side of the internal cable 60 can have an HDMI (registered trademark) connector, and the other side of the internal cable 60 can be a micro HDMI (registered trademark) connector.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a circular portion 64 of the 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 circular pattern such that each internal cable 60 occupies a generally pie-shaped section of the cable cross-section (e.g., the internal cables 60 extend along the axial axis 54 of the cable 14 and are distributed circumferentially around the axial axis 54 or the central axis of the cable 14). In some embodiments, the cable 14 includes three internal cables 60, a first internal cable 60, 82 being an HDMI (registered trademark) cable, a second internal cable 60, 84 being a USB cable, and a third internal cable 60, 86 being an Ethernet cable. However, the internal cables 60 can be any suitable type of cable used in any suitable combination.

[0029] As described, cable 14 includes an outer jacket 70 that can be formed of a heat - shrinkable fabric. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include an inner jacket 72 that can be formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, and / or a similar insulating material. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include a shield 74 that can be formed of a metal (e.g., aluminum) such as braided metal or metal foil, or other conductive material. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include a conductor 76 (e.g., a bundle of metal wires) surrounded by padding 78 that can be formed of PVC, plastic, or other insulating material. In this specification, the conductor 76 surrounded by this padding 78 can be referred to as the "padded conductor 76". In certain embodiments, each conductor 76 can include a bundle of wires (e.g., thin - gauge wires) formed of copper or other conductive material. At least one of the internal cables 60 can have a plurality of conductors 76 that are padded to be able to transmit various electrical signals.

[0030] At least one of the internal cables 60 can include a filler 80 disposed between the padded conductors 76. In certain embodiments, the filler 80 can include nylon strands that enable the padded conductors 76 to slide past each other by minimizing the friction between the padded conductors 76 when the internal cable 60 is bent. It will be understood that the internal cable 60 can also include additional components and / or alternative materials other than those described above.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the first internal cables 60, 82 can be a USB cable or other type of cable having a plurality of conductors 76 with pads (e.g., four conductors 76 with pads). In certain embodiments, one of the internal cables 60 is an HDMI (registered trademark) cable or other type of cable having a plurality of conductors 76 with pads (e.g., six conductors 76 with pads), and at least some of the plurality of conductors 76 with pads have an additional layer of shield 74. Note that by placing a filler 80 formed of nylon strands between all of the conductors 76 with pads and / or shields and / or winding it around them, the conductors 76 with pads and / or shields can twist and slide past each other, and it can be understood that a force that might otherwise break the wire can be dispersed. For example, the filler 80 can circumferentially surround at least a portion or all of the conductors 76 with pads and / or shields and / or be disposed in the central region between the conductors 76 with pads and / or shields.

[0032] As shown in the figure, the third internal cables 60, 86 include conductors 76 with pads that are twisted together in pairs of two to form unshielded twisted pairs 88 (e.g., four unshielded twisted pairs 88). The unshielded twisted pairs 88 can reduce the effect of noise currents induced on the third internal cables 60, 86 by an electric or magnetic field. For example, an interference source (e.g., an electromagnetic field) may affect the currents in the two conductors 76 with pads within the unshielded twisted pair 88. Since the two conductors 76 with pads are twisted together, the interference source affects the two conductors 76 with pads equally and generates noise as a common-mode signal, which can be eliminated by a receiver. The third internal cable 86 further includes a filler 80 that reduces friction between the unshielded twisted pairs.

[0033] It should be understood that the cable 14 can also include any variations and combinations of the internal cables 60. For example, another internal cable 60 can include more (e.g., 5, 10, 20) conductors 76 with or without padding 78, and can also include a filler 80 filled throughout the cross-section of the internal cable 60. Further, other embodiments of the cable 14 can include any number (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 or more) of internal cables 60.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flat portion 62 of the cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the flat portion 62 of the cable 14, the internal cables 60 are arranged side by side in a row as shown in the figure.

[0035] As described, cable 14 includes an outer jacket 70 that can be formed of a heat - shrinkable fabric. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include an inner jacket 72 that can be formed of PVC, plastic, and / or other insulating materials. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include a shield 74 that can be formed of a metal (e.g., aluminum) such as braided metal or metal foil, or other conductive materials. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include a conductor 76 surrounded by padding 78 formed of PVC, plastic, or other insulating materials. In certain embodiments, each conductor 76 can include a bundle of wires (e.g., thin - gauge wires) formed of copper or other conductive materials. At least one of the internal cables 60 can have a plurality of conductors 76 padded to transmit various electrical signals. At least one of the internal cables 60 can include a filler 80 disposed between the padded conductors 76. In certain embodiments, the filler 80 can include nylon strands that allow the padded conductors 76 to slide past one another by minimizing the friction between the padded conductors 76 when the internal cable 60 is bent. It will be understood that the internal cable 60 can also include additional components and / or alternative materials other than those described above.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a flat portion 62 of cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Cable 14 can include dividers 90 that separate the internal cables 60 along at least a portion of the length of cable 14. For example, the dividers 90 can improve cable management by suppressing or preventing the internal cables 60 from becoming entangled or twisted around one another. In certain embodiments, the dividers 90 can be formed of threads sewn between the internal cables 60 through the outer jacket 70. Alternatively, the dividers 90 can be a fixing piece or structure inserted between the internal cables 60 of the cable 14.

[0037] In one embodiment, the partition 90 can be present in select sections of the cable 14, such as portions where high levels of strain or twist are expected. That is, a cross-section taken at a particular location along the length of the cable 14 may appear as shown in FIG. 5, while a cross-section taken at other locations along the length of the cable 14 may appear as shown in FIG. 6. Also, the partition 90 can be formed of materials of various rigidities, and thus can increase or decrease the rigidity of the cable 14 at a particular location. For example, in a location where the cable is configured to be attached to the frame of the entertainment attraction 10, the partition 90 can strengthen the cable 90. In some embodiments, the deflection of the cable 14 can be controlled by varying the material, placement, and / or configuration of the partition 90. Further, by coloring the yarn used to form the partition 90 so that it is visible from the outside along the outer jacket 70, a color segment can be provided that indicates the properties (e.g., deflection properties) of the cable 14 as described above with reference to FIG. 3.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a side view of a headset 100 (i.e., accessory 12) coupled to the cable 14 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The headset 100 can be an AR / VR headset worn by a guest 18 that enables the guest 18 to view the virtual feature 20 and / or physical feature 22 of the entertainment attraction 10. The headset 100 can include a display 102 capable of displaying the virtual feature 20. Also, the headset 100 can include a housing 104 that forms the external structure of the headset 100 and includes the internal components of the headset 100. An end portion (e.g., a distal portion) of the cable 14 can be coupled to the headset 100 via a cable interface 106 of the headset 100. The cable interface 106 can receive the end portion of the cable 14, securely attach to the end portion of the cable 14, and feed an internal cable 60 through the housing 104 to a receiver (e.g., a mating component) housed within the headset 100.

[0039] In some embodiments, the cable interface 106 can allow the end of the cable 14 to pivot (e.g., rotate) with respect to the headset 100. By doing so, when the orientation of the headset 100 dynamically changes with respect to the component 16 of the entertainment attraction 10, the stress applied to the cable 14 can be suppressed. For example, when the guest 18 changes the orientation of their head to view the physical feature 22, the end of the cable 14 can pivot at the cable interface 106 to suppress the bending of the cable 14. As shown, the cable interface 106 can include a keyhole opening 108 within the housing 104 through which the end of the cable 14 can be inserted, clipped, or otherwise engaged with the headset 100. The keyhole opening 108 can include a circular portion 110 that defines a passage for the end of the cable 14 to reach within the headset 100. The internal cable 60 is connected to a receiver within the headset 100 through the passage of the circular portion 110. The keyhole opening 108 can also include a cable exit portion 112 that extends from the circular portion 110. The cable exit portion 112 defines a space through which the cable 14 extends (e.g., perpendicularly) across the insertion portion of the end of the cable 14 from the cable interface 106 into the circular portion 110. In other words, the end of the cable 14 can be inserted into the headset 100 in a first direction (e.g., along the lateral axis 56) through the circular portion 110, and the cable 14 can extend out of the headset 100 in a second direction that crosses the first direction (e.g., along the axial axis 54) through the cable exit portion 112. Also, the cable exit portion 112 can include tapered walls that provide a clearance angle for various ranges (e.g., about 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, or 120 degrees, 15 degrees to 120 degrees, 30 degrees to 90 degrees, or 15 degrees to 45 degrees, less than 360 degrees, less than 180 degrees, less than 90 degrees, or less than 45 degrees of a limited range of movement) for the cable 14.That is, the cable 14 is inserted into the cable interface 106 and can extend therefrom within a variety of angular clearances. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable exit portion 112 slopes outwardly and downwardly from the circular portion 110 to form an angular sector corresponding to the movement of the cable 14 and provides a limited range of motion by preventing or restricting the movement of the cable 14 outside the cable exit portion 112 (e.g., while allowing the cable 14 to bend by allowing movement of the cable 14 within the cable exit portion 112, the twist or wear at the cable interface 106 is also suppressed by restricting the movement of the cable 14 within the cable exit portion 112) including a tapered wall. In this way, the cable 14 can pivot as shown by the arrow 114 within the cable exit portion 112 while the end of the cable 14 is inserted into the circular portion 110 of the cable interface 106. In certain embodiments, in addition to the end of the cable 14, other elements of the cable interface 106 can also rotate. For example, a receiver within the headset can rotate with the end of the cable 14 to further enable the limited pivoting of the cable 14.

[0040] The cable interface 106 can also be reproduced (e.g., mirrored) on the side of the headset 100 opposite (i.e., the right side with respect to the user). That is, the headset 100 can include two cable interfaces 106, either of which can receive the cable 14. In this way, by attaching the cable 14 to either side of the headset 100, it is possible to reduce the obstruction caused by the cable 14 extending laterally across the body of the guest 18 for attachment to the headset 100. For example, in a vehicle, a guest 18 sitting on the left side of the vehicle can connect each cable 14 to the left side surface of each headset 100, and another guest sitting on the right side of the vehicle can connect each cable 14 to the right side surface of each headset 100. By doing so, the cable 14 can be placed close to the outer edge of the vehicle, away from adjacent guests, and access for maintenance and inspection by the vehicle operator can be enabled. As another example, in a vehicle, a guest 18 sitting on the left side of the vehicle can connect each cable 14 to the right side surface of each headset 100, and another guest sitting on the right side of the vehicle can also connect each cable 14 to the left side surface of each headset 100. In this way, by placing the cable 14 close to the inside of the vehicle and away from the outer edge of the vehicle, the cable 14 can be protected from contact with objects outside the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the guest 18 can select whether to connect the cable 14 to the left side surface or the right side surface of each headset 100 based on preference (e.g., a right-handed guest can choose to connect to the right side surface).

[0041] In this specification, only some features of the present invention have been illustrated and described, but many modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations that fall within the true spirit of the present invention. Further, although a cable as used in the context of an amusement park and / or an attraction has been disclosed, it should be understood that the cable can also be used to communicatively couple components in any of a variety of other contexts.

[0042] The technology shown and claimed in this specification refers to and applies to tangible articles and specific examples of a practical nature that surely improve the art and are thus not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Further, if any claim appended at the end of this specification includes one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] [function]" or "step for [performing] [function]", such elements should be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). On the other hand, for any claim that includes elements designated in any other form, such elements should not be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

Description of the Reference Numerals

[0043] 10 Entertainment attraction 12 Accessories 14 Cable 16 Component 18 Guest 20 Virtual feature 22 Physical feature

Claims

1. It is a cable, Multiple internal cables configured to transmit electrical signals, An outer jacket configured to house the aforementioned plurality of internal cables, One or more partitions within the outer jacket are configured to separate a first internal cable from a second internal cable among the plurality of internal cables, A circular portion formed adjacent to both ends of the cable, wherein the plurality of internal cables are arranged so as to surround the central axis of the circular portion in the circumferential direction; A flat portion arranged between the circular portions of the cable, wherein the plurality of internal cables are arranged in a line across the flat portion; A cable characterized by including [this].

2. Includes a tension-relieving element positioned to cover the circular portion of the cable, The cable according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned multiple internal cables include Universal Serial Bus (USB) cables, sensor cables, High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI®) cables, and Ethernet cables, or any combination thereof. The cable according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned multiple internal cables include male connectors, female connectors, or any combination thereof. The cable according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned multiple internal cables include one or more connectors, including repeaters. The cable according to claim 1.

6. The outer jacket includes a heat-shrinkable fabric. The cable according to claim 1.

7. The circular portion of the cable includes a heat-shrinkable fabric that is in a shrinkable configuration via heat application to fit snugly around the plurality of internal cables. The cable according to claim 1.

8. The flat portion of the cable has an elongated cross-sectional shape. The cable according to claim 1.

9. The one or more partitions are located along a portion of the length of the cable, and the one or more partitions are not located along another portion of the length of the cable. The cable according to claim 1.

10. A system for entertainment attractions, Accessories configured to be worn or held by the guest, A cable configured to connect the aforementioned accessory to the component, The cable includes Multiple internal cables configured to transmit electrical signals, An outer jacket configured to house the aforementioned plurality of internal cables, A circular portion formed adjacent to both ends of the cable, wherein the plurality of internal cables are arranged so as to surround the central axis of the circular portion in the circumferential direction; A flat portion arranged between the circular portions of the cable, wherein the plurality of internal cables are arranged in a line across the flat portion; A system characterized by including

11. The accessory is an augmented reality / virtual reality headset, and the component is a vehicle configured to transport the guests within the entertainment attraction. The system according to claim 10.

12. The cable comprises a memory for storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions, and the cable is configured to transmit the instructions from the component to the accessory. The system according to claim 10.

13. The command is configured to cause the accessory's display to show virtual features for visualization by the guest. The system according to claim 12.

14. It is a cable, Outer jacket including heat-shrinkable fabric, One or more internal cables, The one or more internal cables include, One or more conductors, A padding that surrounds the one or more conductors and forms one or more padded conductors, A shield surrounding the one or more padded conductors, A filler material wrapped around the one or more padded conductors, The inner jacket surrounding the one or more padded conductors, the shield, and the filler, The inner jacket includes plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), another insulating material, or a combination thereof. A cable characterized by the following features.

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

16. The cable includes a circular portion and a flat portion. The cable according to claim 14.

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

18. The padding includes plastic, PVC, another insulating material, or a combination thereof. The cable according to claim 14.

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

20. The aforementioned filler includes nylon strands. The cable according to claim 14.

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