Ride Restraint Support Bar Indicator for Minimum Closed Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park ride vehicles without a hood or minimal electrical connections face challenges in mounting non-electrical minimum closed position indicators due to limited available mounting surfaces, necessitating a system for safely determining if passengers are properly restrained.
Innovation Solution
A non-electrical minimum closed position indicator system using a flap coupled to a support bar of the restraint system, which inserts into a slot on the ride seat, indicating the crossbar's position relative to markings on the flap to ensure safe restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-electrical minimum closed position indicator is mounted on a ride vehicle without a hood or with minimal electrical connections, then the system maintains simplicity and reliability, but the number of available mounting surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flap is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a mechanical component of the restraint system and a visual indicator. The same flap that indicates the crossbar position also serves as the mounting surface for the indicator marking, eliminating the need for separate mounting surfaces on the ride vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap acts as an intermediary element between the crossbar and the visual indicator. By coupling the indicator to the flap rather than directly mounting it on the ride vehicle, the system overcomes the limitation of available mounting surfaces while maintaining reliable indication of the crossbar's minimum closed position.
2Ease of operation
If a physical indicator is mounted on the ride vehicle to indicate minimum closed position, then the indication is visually clear to operators, but the mounting process becomes complex when electrical connections are minimized or eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system components themselves (the flap and crossbar) provide the indication function. The marking on the flap automatically indicates the crossbar position relative to the slot, eliminating the need for separate electrical indicators or complex mounting systems. The system serves its own indication needs through its existing mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The indication function is extracted from the ride vehicle structure and integrated into the restraint system's flap component. This separation allows the indicator to move with the crossbar and provide accurate position indication without requiring complex mounting on the ride vehicle body.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the crossbar can be pulled toward the passenger to any relative position, then the restraint system is flexible and adaptable to various body types, but the passenger may not be properly restrained if the crossbar is not positioned at the minimum safe operating position
Solution Approach 1:
The marking on the flap provides visual feedback to operators about the crossbar's position relative to the minimum safe operating position. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain flexibility for various body types while ensuring safety by clearly indicating when the crossbar has reached the required minimum closed position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a quick visual indication of the crossbar's position, allowing operators to ensure passengers are safely restrained, accommodating various body types and system functionality, enhancing ride safety.
Implementation Method 1
a flap coupled to the support bar. The flap is configured to insert into, or extract from, a slot formed within a side structure of the ride seat when the support bar is rotated about the pivot
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, and system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle. The system includes a ride seat and a restraint system configured to restrain the passenger against the ride seat. The restraint system includes a crossbar for placing 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 to 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.