Attraction Prop Joint Assembly With Mesh Biasing Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing amusement park attractions face challenges in controlling the desirable movement of props, leading to undesirable stress and positioning issues, which affect the immersive experience.

Innovation Solution

A prop system with a joint assembly featuring plates coupled via actuators and biasing supports, including a mesh structure, to facilitate controlled movement and stability, using actuators to adjust extension lengths and biasing supports to dampen unwanted forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional ride sharing services are used, then users can share rides and reduce costs, but the system lacks integrated attraction information and cannot provide optimized routing that combines multiple attractions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of attraction informationVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges ride sharing functionality with attraction information by integrating a database of attractions, routes, and pricing information directly into the ride sharing platform. This allows the system to simultaneously handle ride coordination and attraction scheduling, providing comprehensive services without requiring separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ride sharing service is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it not only coordinates rides but also provides attraction information, optimized routing, and coordination with multiple attractions. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to serve both transportation and tourism needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If users visit multiple attractions independently, then they can explore each attraction, but the total travel time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetourism efficiencyVSAvoidtotal travel time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating optimized routes that combine multiple attractions based on user preferences and location. Attraction information is pre-loaded into the system, allowing users to receive customized itineraries before their trips, thereby reducing on-site decision-making time and travel delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The routing system dynamically adjusts travel plans based on real-time conditions, user preferences, and attraction locations. The system can adapt routes on the fly to optimize travel time and efficiency, providing flexible solutions that respond to changing circumstances while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If ride sharing services operate independently from attraction systems, then each system can function simply, but coordination between rides and attractions becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride coordination easeVSAvoidcoordination reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor ride status, attraction visits, and user preferences. This feedback loop allows the system to automatically adjust future rides and routes based on actual performance, improving coordination reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4577320B1Prop for an attraction system
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4577320B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4577320B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4577320B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An prop of an attraction system includes a first plate, a second plate coupled to the first plate and configured to move relative to the first plate, and a biasing support coupled to and extending between the first plate and to the second plate. The biasing support includes a mesh structure and is configured to deform during relative movement between the first plate and the second plate, and the biasing support is configured to apply a force onto the first plate, the second plate, or both upon deformation.