System and method for providing individualized virtual reality for an amusement attraction

{
  "publication_number": "US9933624B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "System and method for providing individualized virtual reality for an amusement attraction",
  "abstract": "A system for providing virtual reality imagery to a rider of an amusement attraction, the system having a headgear piece for securing a viewing screen to a head of the rider. The rider rides upon an actuated motion base that moves the viewing screen behind the user until a lap bar is secured over the user's lap.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An amusement attraction, comprising; a display; a headgear piece; and a motion base, comprising; a hanger, configured to support the display over a head of a rider; wherein the display is remove ably attached to the headgear piece wherein the display is tethered to the hanger.",
    "2. The amusement attraction according to claim 1, the motion base further comprising: a restraint system.",
    "3. The amusement attraction according to claim 1, the motion base further comprising: a control input; and a plurality of actuators.",
    "4. An amusement attraction for displaying a virtual reality environment, comprising: a virtual reality controller; a virtual reality display; a headgear piece; configured to releaseably retain the virtual reality display; and a motion base, comprising; a lap bar; a control input; a plurality of actuators; and a hanger rotationally coupled to the lap bar; wherein an end of the hanger is configured to move from in front of and above the user in an initial position to above and behind the initial position in a subsequent position.",
    "5. The amusement attraction for displaying a virtual reality environment according to claim 4, wherein the virtual reality display is retractably tethered to the end of the hanger.",
    "6. The amusement attraction for displaying a virtual reality environment according to claim 4, further comprising: a battery system located on the virtual reality display; wherein the virtual reality display is wirelessly connected to the virtual reality controller."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/057,141 filed 1 Mar. 2016, titled “Head Mounted Display;” which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.\n\nThe present invention relates generally to virtual reality amusement attractions, and more specifically to a system and method for providing individualized virtual reality to amusement park guests comprising a guest worn headset.\n\nVarious amusement attractions have been developed using Virtual Reality (VR) technology allowing patrons to view and interact with a virtual environment. Typical systems in existence are comprised of a VR headgear system and a motion base. Typical VR headgear uses a screen permanently housed within an enclosure worn by a guest. The enclosure typically includes soft materials that are difficult to properly sanitize. The enclosure is affixed to the head of the patron by means of an elastic headband or similar measure. This conventional system of attaching the headgear to the patron is functional, however, it is difficult and time consuming to properly clean and sanitize the headgear after one patron has completed the attraction experience and prior to the next patron beginning the attraction experience. This difficulty leads to a decrease in throughput of the attraction. A potential solution to increase throughput is for the park operator to purchase an additional entire set of VR headgear devices. This potential solution leads to increased Cost Per User and overall Cost Of Operation.",
  "cpc": [
    "G02B 27/0176",
    "A63G 31/02",
    "A63G 31/16",
    "G02B 2027/0138",
    "G02B 2027/0156",
    "G02B 2027/0159",
    "G02B 2027/0169",
    "G02B 27/0093",
    "G02B 27/0172",
    "G06F 3/147",
    "G06T 19/006",
    "G09G 5/003"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A63G 31/02",
    "A63G 31/16",
    "G02B 27/01",
    "G06T 19/00",
    "G09G 5/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Daryl White",
    "Peter R. Schnabel",
    "Christopher David Glen Robertson",
    "Joanne Parker Robertson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-03-28",
  "publication_date": "2018-04-03",
  "grant_date": "2018-04-03",
  "priority_date": "2016-03-01",
  "application_number": "US-201615083257-A",
  "family_id": "61711606",
  "cited_by_count": 19,
  "citations": [
    "US4048653A",
    "US5490784A",
    "US6798493B2",
    "US8241038B2"
  ]
}