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 Title: |
US3933326:
Observation/interpretation system
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Schauffler, Peter P.; Bethesda, MD 20014
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1976-01-20
/ 1975-05-01
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| Application Number: |
US1975000573749
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B64B 1/50;
Core:
B64B 1/00;
IPC-7:
B64B 1/50;
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| ECLA Code: |
B64B1/50;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
244/118.5;
434/030;
472/060;
Original:
244/033;
244/118.P;
272/018;
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| Field of Search: |
244/17.27,25,26-31,33,5,118 P
046/088,89
272/016-18
104/083,84
350/117
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| Priority Number: |
| 1975-05-01 |
US1975000573749 |
| 1973-08-09 |
US1973000386935 |
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| Abstract: |
An integrated all-weather observation/interpretation system in which a lighter-than-air vehicle ascends to a stationary position above the surface with a suspended gondola which carries passengers so that they can observe the surrounding area and experience a directly related interpretation program. The gondola includes a suitable observation window as well as a slide or motion-picture projection device, with audio and olfactory accompaniment, to provide a juxtaposed interpretation. The vehicle is raised, lowered and rotated through strategically placed electrically powered rotors and/or ground-based electric winches and elevation lines and/or a pantograph operating from a turntable inside the vehicle's ground nest. Screens on the ground are also provided for slide or motion-picture projection to simulate the view under weather conditions when the vehicle cannot be elevated.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Woodcock, Washburn, Kurtz & Mackiewicz ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Blix, Trygve M.; Barefoot, Galen L.
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| Parent Case: |
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 386,935, filed Aug. 9, 1973, now abandoned.
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 8 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. An integrated all-weather observation/interpretation system comprising:
- a lighter-than-air observation vehicle for transporting passengers above a scene of interest to provide said passengers with an advantageous vantage point for the observation of said scene,
- means for lifting said vehicle vertically, maintaining it at a point above the surface from which said scene can be viewed, rotating it for viewing various sectors of this scene, and returning it to the surface,
- an insulated cable for continuously providing electric power to said vehicle from the surface,
- a gondola under said vehicle which includes a plurality of seats facing an observation window extending from a horizontal plane substantially coincident with the passengers' normal view downward almost to a vertical plane and positioned so that said passengers can view said scene of interest therethrough,
- a darkened screen positioned directly above said horizontal plane and oriented with the direction of observation so that the passengers can observe both said screen and said window,
- means for internally projecting supplementary and interpretive images specifically related to the scene of interest onto said screen, with said images programmed and coordinated so as to coincide with said observation, and
- means for presenting audio programs coordinated with said observed scene of interest as supplemented with said images.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
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| Description: |
Show description
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| Forward References: |
Show 9 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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