Advanced state of the art movie theater

 George Wuu

Patent summary

 Abstract | Drawing | Description | Claims

Abstract
An advanced state of the art movie theater whose building is formed in the shape of a spherical geodesic dome. A platform within the dome is spaced upwardly a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the building. The inside wall surface of the building functions as a motion picture screen having an arc of approximately 300 degrees. Six hydraulically operated telescopic legs each have their top ends pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the platform and their bottom ends are pivotally connected to base plates on the support surface. A motion picture projector having a 300 degree fish-eye lens is oriented within the building to project an image on the motion picture screen. Between 50 to 100 seats are mounted on the platform and oriented toward the motion picture screen to accomodate persons viewing the motion picture. Harness-type seat belts would be attached to these seats. An electronic control system is used to tilt the platform upwardly and downwardly in any...

Patent number: 4885878
Filing date: Sep 8, 1987
Issue date: Dec 12, 1989
Inventor: George Wuu
Primary Examiner: Creighton Smith

Current U.S. Classification
52/6; 52/7; 358/104

International Classification
E04H 310

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Citations

Patent NumberTitleIssue date
3399887VERTICALLY MOVEABLE STAGE AND GUARD RAIL MEANSSep 1968
3945160Building structuresMar 23, 1976
4634384Head and/or eye tracked optically blended display systemJan 6, 1987
4642945Entertainment structureFeb 17, 1987

Referenced by

Patent NumberTitleIssue date
5018322Electrically-operated folding stage systemMay 28, 1991
5130794Panoramic display systemJul 14, 1992
5364270Apparatus having video display and display-synchronizing motion mechanismNov 15, 1994
5558582Rotating motion simulatorSep 24, 1996
5660000Movable two-fold seating assemblyAug 26, 1997
5765314Sensory interactive multi media entertainment theaterJun 16, 1998
5829201Theater with seat and wheelchair platform movementNov 3, 1998
5845434TheatreDec 8, 1998
58579173-D simulator rideJan 12, 1999
5964064Theater with multiple screen three dimensional film projection systemOct 12, 1999
5979116Floor apparatusNov 9, 1999
61135003-D simulator rideSep 5, 2000
6141034Immersive imaging method and apparatusOct 31, 2000
6253494Screen-to-stage and stage-to-screen seamless transition theaterJul 3, 2001
6669346Large-audience, positionable imaging and display system for exhibiting panoramic imagery, and multimedia content featuring a circularity of actionDec 30, 2003
6848219Integrated, adaptable theater, club and multiplexFeb 1, 2005
6905218Panoramic and horizontally immersive image display system and methodJun 14, 2005
7065418Systems and methods for encoding a DMX data stream and decoding an AES digital audio streamJun 20, 2006

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An advanced state of the art movie theater comprising:

a building having walls that form its perimeter, said walls having a bottom edge, said building having a predetermined inner width, said building having an outer configuration that resembles a sphere that is missing its bottom curvature due to a horizontal plane that cuts through the lower half of the sphere and forms its bottom edge, said building is a geodesic dome formed of substantially identical triangular panels;
a platform having a predetermined width that is less than the inner width of said building, said platform having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a concave curved motion picture screen surface upon which a motion picture can be projected, said curved surface encompassing an arc of greater than 180 degrees and less than 310 degrees, said curved motion picture screen surface is the inside wall surface of said building;
said platform being located within said building and having its bottom surface spaced upwardly a predetermined height above the bottom edges of the walls of said building;
support means connected to the bottom surface of said platform for tilting said platform upwardly and downwardly in any direction about its vertical axis about all 360 degrees comprising at least three sets of hydraulically telescopic legs having their top ends pivotally connected to brackets connected to the bottom surface of said platform and their bottom ends are pivotally connected to base plates positioned on the support surface, each of said sets having two telescopic legs having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom ends of each respective set of telescopic legs being pivotally mounted adjacent each other while the respective top ends are pivotally mounted to laterally spaced brackets connected to the bottom surface of said platform such that said telescopic legs have an angular slope to them;
said motion picture screen surface surrounding said platform;
a motion picture projector having a 300 degree fish-eye lens that is oriented to project an image on said motion picture screen;
electronic control means for activating said support means for tilting said platform comprising a controller, at least one joystick, an operator console main computer, and a slave computer; and
at least 10 seats mounted on said platform and oriented toward said motion picture screen to accomodate persons viewing a motion picture to be shown.

2. A movie theater as recited in claim 1 wherein said curved motion picture screen surface is the inside wall surface of said building.

Drawings