Amusement devices: games – Simulated-projectile game – target therefor – or accessory – Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path – or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-08
2001-04-24
Sager, Mark (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Simulated-projectile game, target therefor, or accessory
Electromagnetic ray simulates projectile or its path, or...
C463S053000, C472S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220965
ABSTRACT:
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION IS AMUSEMENT RIDE ATTRACTIONS AND SYSTEMS.
Amusement rides have long been well liked by both children and adults, due to the excitement and thrills created in part by the movement of a ride vehicle through an attraction. Arcade style shooting games have also been a popular game of skill for many years.
Amusement rides and shooting games have been combined into amusement systems. In these systems, passengers sit in a vehicle which moves through a ride attraction. The passengers are provided with simulated weapons, for shooting at various targets within the attraction. The simulated weapons typically project a light beam. When photo sensors in the targets detect the light beam, the target has been “hit” and the player accumulates points.
While these types of amusement ride/shooting games have been successfully used, it has now been discovered that they lack certain design elements which significantly improve the rider's experience. In addition, with the ever increasing sophistication of entertainment provided by home video games, arcade games, motion pictures, and amusement park rides and attractions, there is a need for an improved amusement ride/shooting game system offering greater excitement, thrills, and levels of competition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new amusement system combining features from a ride attraction, and from a shooting game, together with new features, to provide a more exciting and/or challenging experience for riders.
To this end, in a first aspect of the invention, an amusement system includes first and second vehicles moveable along first and second paths. The first and second vehicles, at least initially, advance through the ride attraction adjacent to each other. Consequently, passengers in the first and second vehicles can shoot at targets in competition with each other.
In a second separate aspect of the invention, a vehicles moves on a path through an attraction. Passengers are accommodated in passenger positions on a vehicle body. The vehicle body is rotatably supported on a vehicle chassis. The body spins relative to the moving or stationary chassis, depending on events occurring during the ride.
In a third aspect of the invention, movement of a first or second vehicle along a path is changed depending upon events occurring during the ride. As an example, the “second” vehicle spins around, or slows down, if the points accumulated by passengers in the “first” vehicle exceed a predetermined limit, or if passengers in the first vehicle shoot and hit a vehicle target on the second vehicle.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are provided only for the purpose of illustration of the preferred embodiment, and should not be taken as a limitation of the invention.
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Hanna Craig R.
Hettema Philip D.
Sauer Jennifer K.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Sager Mark
Universal City Studios Inc.
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