Amusement Ride Restraint Sensor for Form Fit Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional amusement ride restraint systems fail to ensure a secure form fit between the passenger and the restraint system, particularly for varying body dimensions and when bulky objects or clothing are present, leading to safety concerns and incorrect seating positions.

Innovation Solution

A sensor device is integrated into the restraint system to monitor the form fit between the passenger and the holder, using a combination of sensors such as temperature, pressure, and optical scanners to detect body dimensions and positions, ensuring the movable bracket is in close contact with the passenger's body, and adjusting the holder accordingly before allowing ride initiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional restraint systems rely on operator checking and passenger self-positioning, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of ensuring correct form fit is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of form fit assuranceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual operator checking and passenger self-positioning with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors detect the presence and position of passengers, automatically verifying form fit between the restraint system and passenger body, thereby eliminating reliance on human judgment while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The restraint system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the form fit between the movable bracket and passenger body. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about positioning accuracy, enabling the system to detect incorrect seating or objects interfering with form fit, and preventing ride operation until proper form fit is achieved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If maximum position of movable mounting is detected by sensors, then the adaptability to different body dimensions is improved, but the measurement precision for detecting correct form fit is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different body dimensionsVSAvoidmeasurement precision of form fit
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple sensors positioned at different locations to detect specific local characteristics of the passenger body. Rather than relying on a single maximum position detection, the system uses distributed sensors to measure form fit at critical contact points between the restraint system and passenger body, ensuring precise local measurement for accurate form fit verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If no sensors are used to detect objects between restraint bar and passenger, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of detecting incorrect form fit is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of detecting form fitVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection by operators with automated sensor detection. Sensors positioned between the restraint bar and passenger body detect the presence of objects or incorrect positioning, automatically verifying form fit without requiring human intervention, thereby significantly improving detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The sensor device enhances safety by ensuring a secure form fit and preventing ride initiation if the restraint system is not correctly positioned, reducing human error and ensuring passenger safety by detecting incorrect seating and bulky objects.

Implementation Method 1

using a combination of sensors such as temperature, pressure, and optical scanners to detect body dimensions and positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

using a combination of sensors such as temperature, pressure, and optical scanners to detect body dimensions and positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

using a combination of sensors such as temperature, pressure, and optical scanners to detect body dimensions and positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical scanning: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3197729B1Mechanism for restraining a passenger in a restraint system of an amusement ride
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 MACK RIDES GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3197729B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3197729B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a mechanism (10) for restraining a passenger (20) restrained in a restraint system (40) of an amusement ride (10), comprising at least one sensor device (30) which includes means (34) for verifying whether there is a form-fit between the passenger (20) and the mechanism (10).