Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WATER PARK PLAY APPARATUS
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a play apparatus for erection in a water,
spray or theme
park environment and more particularly, a water play apparatus which may be
user activated to
vary the pattern and intensity of a cooling water spray on play participants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water based play structures used in water parks are well known. Conventional
water
play structures, such as for example is disclosed in United States Patent No.
5,378,197 to Briggs,
issued January 3, 1995, typically consists of multi-level structures which
have slides and/or user
operated water cannons mounted at various heights thereon.
While conventional water play apparatus are designed to permit interactive
participation
by a user, as for example, by having user activated valves or the like, the
size and complexity of
manufacture makes their manufacture prohibitively expensive for all but the
largest theme parks.
Further, conventional water play apparatus suffer the disadvantage in that
they are both
expensive to maintain and repair should, for example, damage occur to the play
structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of prior
art devices
by providing a water play amusement device which includes an elongated and
generally
vertically extending water spray tube. The tube is characterized by an upper
portion formed
having a semi-rigid wall construction so as to permit its deflection when the
tube is vibrated or
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shaken by a user, and one or more water spray nozzles disposed towards an
upper end of the
tube, from which a participant cooling water spray is emitted.
Another object of the invention is to provide a user actuated water spray
device which
permits participatory play by the user, and which may be inexpensively
manufactured and easily
maintained.
Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement device adapted to
provide a
cooling water spray to play participants and which may be actuated in movement
by a user to
alter the direction or pattern of water flow and/or water spray.
Another object of the invention is to provide a water play apparatus for
installation at a
water park, theme park, spray park or amusement park and which permits
simplified installation
and/or repair.
A participant activated amusement device is adapted for installation in a
water park,
spray park, amusement park, or theme park, hereinafter collectively referred
to as a water park.
The device provides one or more sprays or streams of water used to cool users
or play
participants. The device includes an elongated member which preferably has a
generally tubular
construction, and which is secured in a generally upright orientation. One or
more water nozzles
or outlets are positioned towards the uppermost end of the tubular member from
which the
cooling water spray is emitted. The elongated tubular member is characterized
by a generally
rigid lower portion and a semi-rigid upper portion. The rigidity of the upper
portion is selected
so that the application of a rotational, lateral andlor vibrational force on
the tubular member by a
play participant or user, results in the deflection or vibratory movement of
the nozzle or outlet, so
as to alter the water spray pattern emitted from the device.
The tubular member may, for example, consist of a hollow member which is
coupled to a
base for securement to the ground or an underlying support surface such as a
deck, swimming
pool bottom or the like. Water flow travels beneath the support surface or
ground via a supply
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conduit, and then either along the tubular member or through a centrally
extending bore formed
therein to the nozzle or water outlets.
In a preferred construction, the tubular member consists of a hollow tube
having a length
selected at between about 6 and 30 feet, and more preferably between about 12
and 23 feet,
however, longer or shorter tubes could also be used. In one simplified
construction, the tube is
formed with a tapering or sidewall construction which as a result of its
thinning construction
forms the semi-rigid portion. While the tube may be formed from various
metals, plastics and/or
composites, a tube consisting of filament fiberglass which is wound in a
longitudinal orientation
extending generally in the direction of the elongated axis of the tube has
been found to be highly
preferred.
Preferably, the rigidity of the tube is selected to prevent the downward
deflection or
bending of the uppermost tip of the tube below a height where it might
otherwise strike a play
participant. In a preferred embodiment, a tube having an axial length of
approximately 18 to 22
feet is provided. The tube has a minimum rigidity selected so that when the
tube is mounted in a
vertical orientation and vibrated by the application of a maximum lateral
force, the upper
endmost tip of the tube will deflect or bend downwardly to a height which is a
minimum of at
least 8 feet above the support surface. More preferably, the rigidity of the
tube is selected so as
to limit deflection of the uppermost end to an orientation where the end tip
is at a position
oriented approximately 90 from the axis of the tube when at rest.
In a more preferred embodiment, a user activated valve may be provided which
is
selectively operable to initiate and/or stop water flow from all or individual
water nozzles.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention resides in a user actuated
water park
amusement device comprising,
an elongated tubular member defining an axially extending bore and having an
inlet end,
an outlet end, and a water nozzle being spaced proximate said outlet end,
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a base for securing said tubular member in a generally upright orientation
with said outlet
end spaced vertically above said inlet end,
a water supply conduit for providing water flow vertically along said bore and
outwardly
from said nozzle,
said tube being characterized by a generally rigid lower portion and a semi
rigid upper
portion, the upper portion having a rigidity selected whereby in a relaxed
state the tubular
member maintaining said generally upright orientation aligned with said axis,
and wherein the
application of rotational or vibrational forces on said tube by the user
produces deflection of the
upper portion of the tubular member relative to the axis, without significant
deflection of the
lower end.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in a user actuated water
amusement
device comprising,
an elongated hollow tubular member having a radially extending sidewall
defining a
hollow axially extending bore, in an unbiased position the tube extending
generally vertically
along said axis from a lower inlet end to an upper outlet end,
a water supply conduit for providing water flow vertically along said bore and
outwardly
from said outlet end,
said sidewall including a lower portion having a first minimum radial
thickness and an
upper portion having a second radial thickness selected less than the first
thickness, the first and
second thicknesses selected to permit deflection of the upper outlet end to a
biased position
moved away from the axis upon the application of a manual rotational or
vibrational force by
said user, without significant deflection of the lower portion.
In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a user actuated water
amusement
device comprising,
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a tubular member elongated along a longitudinally extending axis, and defining
an axially
extending bore, said tubular member having a lower inlet end, an outlet end,
and a water nozzle
being spaced proximate said outlet end
said tubular member secured in a generally vertical orientation with said
outlet end
spaced vertically above said inlet end,
a water supply cotiduit for providing water flow vertically along said member
and
outwardly from said nozzle,
said tube being characterized by a generally rigid lower portion having a
length selected
greater than a height of said user and a semi rigid upper portion spaced above
said lower portion,
the upper portion having a rigidity selected whereby the application of
lateral, rotational or
vibrational forces on said tube produce a maximum downward deflection of the
outlet end to a
position spaced vertically above the lower portion.
In yet a further aspect, the present invention resides in a user actuated
water park
amusement device comprising,
an elongated tubular member defining a centrally exten.ding bore and having an
inlet end,
an outlet end, and a water outlet being spaced proximate said outlet end,
a base for securing said tubular member in a generally upright orientation
with said outlet
end spaced vertically above said inlet end,
a water supply conduit for providing water flow vertically along said bore and
outwardly
fi=om said water outlet,
the tubular member having a rigidity selected whereby in a relaxed state the
tubular
member is in said generally upright orientation, and wherein the application
of rotational or
vibrational forces on said tubular member by the user produces deflection of
the upper portion of
the tubular member and the water outlet to vary the pattern of water flow
therefrom.
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5a
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is now had to the following detailed description taken together with
the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows schematically a water park amusement device in use in
accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the water park
amusement device
of Figure 1 at rest in an unbiased position;
Figure 3 shows a top view of the base structure used in mounting the device of
Figure 1;
Figure 4 illustrates schematically a cross-sectional view of a water outlet
nozzle
construction used in the apparatus of Figure 1 in accordance with another
embodiment of the
invention; and
Figure 5 illustrates a user activated water park amusement device in
accordance with a
third aspect of the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is first made to Figure 1 which illustrates a user interactive water
play device
for use in a water park in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The
device includes a water spray tube 12 which is elongated along a direction of
axis A-Al which,
as will be described, is mounted in a generally vertical orientation to a
concrete pad 14 by means
of a base 16.
Figure 2 shows best the tube 12 as having a radially extending sidewall 18
which extends
about the axis A-Al to define an axially extending hollow bore 24. The
sidewall 18 tapers
inwardly in radial thickness from a lowermost bottom end 20 to an upper end
22. Where
designed for water park applications, tube 12 has an overall length selected
at between about 16
and 24 feet, and more preferably about 20 feet. In a preferred construction,
the outer diameter of
the tube at the bottom end 22 is selected at between about 2 and 4 inches, and
more preferably
about 3 inches. The thickness of the sidewall 18 at the bottom end 20 in the
radial dimension is
most preferably between .25 and 1 inch depending upon the material used in the
manufacture of
the tube 12. Figure 2 shows best the sidewall 18 as tapering in thickness
inwardly towards the
upper end 22, with the bore 24 having a substantially constant cross-sectional
diameter. The
radial thickness of the sidewall 18 adjacent the upper end 22 preferably
reduces to a range of
between about .10 and .25 inches in thickness.
A laminar flow nozzle 26 is positioned at the upper end 22 of the tube 12 to
provide a
cooling water spray downwardly onto a play participant 30 (Figure 1). Figures
1 and 2 show
best the nozzle 26 as being provided in fluid communication with a buried
water supply line 32
by means of a flexible conduit tube 34 (Figure 2) which extends the vertical
length of the bore
24. Water flow is regulated by a remote valve 36 (Figure 1) which is opened or
closed to permit
or prevent a pressurized water flow outwardly through the nozzle 26.
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For strength, the sidewall 18 is more preferably formed from filament strands
of polyester
and resin such as fiberglass or other plastic composites. The strands are
wound generally in the
longitudinal direction of the axis A-Al to allow flexure of the tube 12 at its
uppermost end 22.
The thickness of the sidewall 18 is selected so that when a lateral force is
applied to the
tube 12, a lower portion 42 of the tube 12 which extends approximately the
height of the user 12
does not deflect more than 12 inches, and more preferably, not more than 6
inches, from the
vertical axis A-Al. As a result of the decreasing sidewall thickness, an upper
portion 44 of the
tube 12 which is spaced vertically above the lower portion 42 is generally
semi-rigid, so as to
permit its bending movement or deflection of the end 22 away from the axis A-
Al when the
lateral force is applied. The rigidity of the upper portion 44 is selected so
that the upper end 22
deflects laterally away from the axis A-Al and its rest position a maximum
downward distance
spaced above where the end 22 may otherwise contact any play participants 30
standing in the
proximity of the device 10. Preferably, the rigidity of the upper portion 44
is selected so as to
limit the maximum downward flexure of the end 22 to a height spaced vertically
above the lower
portion 42. More preferably, the rigidity of the upper portion 44 of the
sidewall 18 is selected so
that the application of rotational or vibrational forces by the user 30
produces a maximum
deflection of the upper end 22 to an orientation of approximately 90 from the
vertical axis A-Al.
Figures 2 and 3 show best the base 16 used to secure the tube 12 in its
vertical
orientation. Where a concrete support surface 14 is provided, the base 16 is
secured in place
over an outlet end 38 of the supply line 32 by means of a series of J-anchor
bolts 40. It is to be
appreciated, however, that where the device 10 is to be used on different
supporting surfaces,
such as wooden decks or the like, suitable anchoring fasteners will be used.
Figure 1 shows best the operation of the device 10 by a play participant 30.
With the
valve 36 open, and the tube 12 in an unbiased or rest position, the sidewall
18 has a sufficient
rigidity such that the tube 12 assumes a generally vertical orientation with
the nozzle 26
providing a cooling water stream onto any play participants 30 therebelow. By
the user 30
manually applying a lateral force on the tube 12, as for example, by vibrating
the tube or rotating
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the tube 12 about the vertical axis A-Al with his or her hands, the upper end
22 of the tube 12 is
reciprocally deflected away from the axis A-Al to the positions shown in
phantom in Figure 1.
Further, the increasing thickness of the sidewall 18 towards the bottom end 20
results in the
maximum deflection of the upper portion of the tube 12 adjacent the upper end
22, while the
lower portion of the tube 12 adjacent the bottom edge 20 and user 30 does not
significantly
deflect and remains generally rigid.
Although Figure 1 describes and illustrates the device 10 as having a single
laminar flow
nozzle 26, the invention is not so limited. If desired, the tube 12 could be
provided with two,
three or more outlet nozzles without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
Reference is made to Figure 4 which shows the upper end 22 of the tube 12 in
accordance with a
further embodiment of the invention wherein like reference numerals are used
to identify like
components. In Figure 4, in place of the outlet nozzle 26, the tube 12 is
provided with four
lateral spray nozzles 50a,50b,50c,50d. Each of the spray nozzles
50a,50b,50c,50d are provided
in fluid communication with the water supply line (not shown) by a
corresponding conduit tube
34a,34b,34c,34d.
Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein like reference
numerals
are used to identify like components. In Figure 5, the tube 12 is provided
with an uppermost
laminar flow nozzle 26 and a single lateral spray nozzle 50. The nozzles 26,50
are provided in
fluid communication with the water supply line 32 by means of an associated
conduit tube
34a,34b, respectively, and user actuated valve 52. The valve 52 permits a user
to independently
activate water flow along either or both of the conduit tubes 34a,34b to
selectively emit water
from the nozzle 26 or nozzle 50, depending upon how the tube 12 is to be
vibrated.
To minimize vandalism and the potential for harm, most preferably, the
sidewall 18 is
provided with a smooth outer surface which would discourage climbing.
Optionally, the base 16
could be provided with a quick connect coupler which permits the tube 12 to be
rapidly erected
or disassembled from a vertical orientation.
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Although the preferred embodiment of the invention discloses the use of a
conduit tube
34 as providing fluid communication to the nozzles 26, the invention is not so
limited. If
desired, water could be provided in direct fluid communication with the hollow
bore 24.
Similarly, while the positioning of the conduit tube 34 along the bore 24
provides a more
aesthetically pleasing appearance, in a less preferred embodiment, the conduit
or conduits 34
could be secured to the outer periphery of the sidewall 18.
While the preferred embodiment illustrates the tube 12 as having a tapering
cylindrical
construction, the invention is not so limited. If desired, the tube could be
formed with a
triangular, rectangular or other geometric or irregular profile, either with
or without an axially
extending bore 24.
Although the disclosure describes and illustrates various preferred
embodiments, the
invention is not so limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur
to a person skilled
in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the
appended claims.
