Lap Bar and Cummerbund Restraint Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Amusement park ride systems face challenges in securely restraining guests of varying sizes and shapes, particularly when they travel along complex paths with high forces, as existing systems are not adaptable enough to accommodate different body types efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a lap bar and cummerbunds that pivot and translate to adjust positions, allowing for secure restraint of passengers by rotating and translating to accommodate passengers of different sizes, with cummerbunds independently adjusting to ensure proper fit and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-position restraint system is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate passengers of different sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different passenger sizesVSAvoidrestraint system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The restraint system incorporates movable components including a lap bar that rotates about pivot points and cummerbunds that translate along the lap bar. These dynamic elements allow the restraint system to adapt its configuration to different passenger body types while maintaining safety, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The restraint system is divided into separate functional components: the lap bar assembly with pivot points and the cummerbund assembly with translation capability along the lap bar. This segmentation allows each component to independently adjust to accommodate different passenger sizes, achieving versatility without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the restraint system is adjusted for each passenger, then comfort and safety improve, but the time required for restraint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestraint securityVSAvoidrestraint adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cummerbunds are pre-configured to translate along the lap bar to predetermined positions. This preliminary positioning capability allows for rapid adjustment to different passenger sizes without requiring complex real-time adjustments, thereby maintaining restraint security while reducing adjustment time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lap bar rotates to different positions, then it accommodates different body types, but the positioning precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebody type accommodationVSAvoidlap bar positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cummerbund acts as an intermediary element between the rotating lap bar and the passenger's body. It translates along the lap bar to fine-tune the positioning, compensating for any imprecision in the lap bar's rotational positioning and ensuring accurate restraint for different body types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3630553B1Systems for ride vehicle restraint

Publication Date: 2022.01.12 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC

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AI summary

A system includes a first cummerbund (26) that includes a slot (38). Furthermore, the system includes a lap bar (46) that couples to first and second pivot points and rotates in a first circumferential direction about the first and second pivot points. The lap bar (46) extends through the slot (38) of the first cummerbund (26) such that the first cummerbund (26) translates in a first lateral direction relative to the lap bar (46) to adjust a position of the lap bar (46) within the slot (38).