Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Snow and water sliding carrier for amusement center
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to amusement devices but more
particularly to a snow and water sliding carrier for amusement center.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Current devices of this type are inflatable and lack a means to control
rotation of the device as it slides down. There are also issues with
weight. For example, there are carriers wherein the device consists in a
generally circular shaped hull fabricated in two sections with a
surrounding flotation bumper and separate redundant flotation material
in the bottom of the hull. A multiplicity of inwardly facing high-backed
seats are disposed around the inner periphery of the hull with a circular
hand-hold in the center.
15[003] Another prior art consists in a ride having a spin mechanism which
makes use of elements of the slide, or water course wherein the spin
mechanism includes a movement retarding surface along one wall of the
water course and a movement expediting surface along an opposite wall
of the water course. The movement retarding surface is provided with a
high friction coating which retards sliding movement in a downstream
direction of the surface of the raft which contacts the movement
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retarding surface, and induces rotation of the raft and movement
towards the opposite wall. As the raft rotates into contact with the
movement expediting surface it encounters no frictional resistance, and
the spin is accelerated by the force of gravity acting on the mass of the
raft as it moves downhill.
[004] Yet another prior art ride includes a motor intended to be used for
motorized boating and for forming-up with adjacent similar boats to form
a continuous and contiguous mat of boats for socializing, fishing etc.
The adjacent boats interlock and form an array of such boats all
interlocked with one another. The boats may be shaped in planform as
hexagons or other polygons but are preferably regular polygons which
interlock without leaving gaps between adjacent boats. Each boat has a
center well in which is mounted a motor.
[005] The prior art uses many different components which make them heavy,
cumbersome and costly to manufacture. Also, their complicated designs
requires extensive maintenance and may make them unreliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices
now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be
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described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and
advantages which are:
[007] To provide for an economical, lightweight sliding device.
[008] Another advantage of this invention is to provide for a device that has
fewer components than current devices.
[009] Yet another advantage of this invention is to provide for a device that
has a rotation means that is simple and that can be easily adjusted so
as to control its rotation speed.
[0010] To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises a body
having a general shape of a torus having a central opening, a floor
member that closes the central opening, and has an opposite side
defining a bottom member, such that the floor member is concave and
the bottom member is convex.
[0011] An outside perimeter of the body defining an outside wall, and an
inside
perimeter including a plurality of integral seat, seat bottom, and seat
back portions, such that each of the seat bottom extends upwardly from
the floor member and connects with each respective seat, each of the
seat then connects with a respective seat back, and then each of the
seat back connects with the outside wall, thereby forming a single
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monolithic structure. The bottom member extends beyond the floor
member and is co-joined with the outside wall, and includes a plurality of
threaded receptacles adapted to receive respective threaded nipples,
wherein each threaded nipple is adapted to be threaded into a
respective receptacle in varying amounts, such that a predetermined
rotation of the sliding carrier is induced and controlled.
[0012] The snow and water sliding carrier has its body formed including
flexible
portions and rigid portions.
[0013] The handles are attached to the sides of each seat.
10[0014] The backs and bottoms of each of the seat are molded in a shape
having curvatures to increase the friction between each seat and a user,
and to increase comfort to each the user.
[0015] The nipple includes a threaded stem and a head at a distal end thereof,
and the diameter of each respective head is determined by the amount
and type of rotation desired of the sliding carrier.
[0016] The head of each the nipple is formed such that a predetermined
amount of friction is created between the nipple and a sliding surface to
thereby create a desired rotation of the sliding carrier with respect to the
sliding surface.
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[0017] The head of each the nipple is shaped such that a variety of tools can
be used to rotate them appropriately; and wherein the tools are chosen
from a list of tools including screw drivers, Allen keys, and wrenches.
[0018] The invention is an amusement center ride comprising a sliding surface
5 and a sliding carrier, the sliding surface adapted to hold and allow
sliding and rotational motions of a sliding carrier down an inclined and
twisting path, and the sliding carrier has a body having a size adapted to
fit within the sliding surface, and general shape of a torus having a
central opening, a floor member that closes the central opening, and
has an opposite side defining a bottom member, such that the floor
member is concave and the bottom member is convex.
[0019] An outside perimeter of the body defining an outside wall, and an
inside
perimeter including a plurality of integral seat, seat bottom, and seat
back portions, such that each the seat bottom extends upwards from the
floor member and connects with each respective seat, each the seat
then connects with a respective seat back, and then each the seat back
connects with the outside wall, thereby forming a single monolithic
structure. The bottom member extends beyond the floor member and is
co-joined with the outside wall, and includes a plurality of threaded
receptacles adapted to receive respective threaded nipples, wherein
each threaded nipple is adapted to be threaded into a respective
receptacle in varying amounts, such that a predetermined rotation of
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the sliding carrier with respect to the sliding surface is induced and
controlled.
[0020] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0021] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0022] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
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should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Fig. 1 Isometric view of the invention.
5[0024] Fig. 2 Top view.
[0025] Fig. 3 Side view.
[0026] Fig. 4 Isometric view of a nipple.
[0027] Fig. 5 Plan view of the invention in combination with a slide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
10[0028] A snow and water sliding carrier (10) for amusement center has a
rigid
but flexible body (12). The body (12) has the general shape of a torus but
with a floor member (13) which closes a central opening (15). The floor
member (13) has its opposite side defining a bottom member (11). The
bottom member (11) is concave which makes the floor member (13)
15 convex.
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[0029] The body (12) has an outside perimeter which defines an outside wall
(17) while a plurality of seats (14) form an integral part of an interior
perimeter wherein the seat's back (19) represents an interior wall and the
seat's bottom (21) extends integrally and upwardly from the floor (13),
connect with the seat's back (19) which itself connects with the outside
wall (17) in a single monolithic structure. On the side of each seat (14)
are handles (16). The seats (14) are configured so as to be ergonomic
in the sense that the back (19) and the bottom (21) are molded to have a
degree of curvature for comfort as well as to reduce slipping of the
occupants.
[0030] The bottom member (11) extends beyond the floor (13) and is co-joined
with the outside wall (17) which extends vertically therefrom.
[0031] The bottom (11) has a plurality of nipples (18) used for inducing
rotation
to the sliding carrier (10) as it slides down a hill. The nipples (18) are
threadable means having a head (19) of any of a variety of diameters,
and a threaded stem (23). Depending upon the quantity of nipples (18)
used, their head (19) diameter and the degree to which they are
threaded in, in other words, to what length they perpendicularly extend
from the bottom (11), determines the rotation speed.
20[0032] Since they are threadably engaged, the nipples (18) are easy to
remove,
replace, extend or protract by how much the threaded stem (23) is
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threaded into its threaded receptacle (25) which is embedded into the
bottom (11). A tool such as an alien key, for example, can be used for
threading and unthreading the nipple (18).
[0033] In use, the now and water sliding carrier (10) slides down a path (26)
which can be either a water slide or a snow covered slope. The nipples
(18) create varying degrees of friction, by a combination of exposed
length (how much they are threaded in) and the size and shape of the
head (19).
[0034] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided.
[0035] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
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[0036] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
5 described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents
may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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