Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02348986 2001-05-28 .. ........
PULL-ROPE ACTUATED PLAY STRUCTURE
Inventors: Rick A. Briggs
Carin Brown
Edward James Frantz, III
Cross-Reference to Related An~lication
[001) This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Serial No.
60/207,621, filed May 26, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
I Field of the Invention
[002] The present invention relates to water play structures and, in
particular, to an
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interactive participatory water play system for entertaining and educating
small and
intermediate-age children.
i Background of the Invention
[003] The popularity of family-oriented water theme parks and recreational
water
facilities has increased dramatically in the last decade. Water parks have
proliferated as adults and children alike, seek the thrill and entertainment
of water
parks as a healthy and enjoyable way to cool off in the hot summer months.
[004) Most water them parks, like their dry counterparts, consist primarily of
ride
attractions. The most popular among these are water slides in which
participants
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slide down a wet trough or tunnel and splash down into a pool of water. As
demand
I
for such water amactions has increased, water parks have continued to evolve
ever
larger and more complex water slides to thrill and entertain growing numbers
of
water play participants. Other popular ride attractions include surfing wave
'' simulators, log flumes and white-water rafting. While these water ride
attractions
are very popular, particularly among older children and adults, a common
complaint
is that participants often must spend more time waiting in line for the
various rides
than actually riding on them. Also, many of the most popular water rides are
CA 02348986 2001-05-28
unsuited for small children because of the inherent dangers of drowning or
possible
uncontrolled collision with other ride participants.
[005] As a result, families with small children often have to split their time
between either
participating in the more popular rides or looking after the small children.
While
most water parks have recreational facilities for entertaining small children,
they are
generally limited to small wading pools, miniature water slides, and static
play
structures. While these may be moderately entertaining for small children,
they fail
to entertain parents or provide the creative stimulation and interactive
educational
experience that captivates the imaginations of small and intermediate-age
children.
Summary of the Invention
[006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
interactive,
participatory water play system that allows children of nearly all ages to
play
together and to combine their creative inspiration and imaginations to achieve
various desired water effects. It is a further object of the present invention
to
provide a play structure that is entertaining for adults as well as children.
It is a
further object of the present invention to provide a single play structure in
which the
I
entire family can participate acid interact with one another without having to
wait in
long lines.
[007] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an
interactive,
participatory water play system is provided for entertaining one or more play
participants, The water play system comprises one or more support structures
and
one or more conduits for supplying water to various water play elements
mounted
in, on, or adjacent to the support structure. The conduit or conduits may be
associated with the support structure, which may comprise a frame.
[008] A first interactive participatory water play element is provided
comprising a water
forming device and a corresponding control actuator for allowing play
participants
to selectively control the water forming device to create a first water
effect. A
second participatory water play element receives water from the first water
effect to
create a second water effect. By activating the actuator, which may be
accomplished by pulling on one
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or more ropes and/or by turning one or more valves and/or by moving one or
more
handles, play participants are able to control the order and magnitude of the
water
effects. Furthermore, play participants can observe and experiment with
various
cause-and-effect reactions involving multiple-order water effects. The use of
pull
ropes further enhances this cause-and-effect mystery. This invention embodies
pull-ropes rigged through one or more ship blocks and routed back and forth
through a series of passages, which may include pulleys, so that the effect of
each
rope is not readily apparent to the play participants. Some valves, handles
and/or
pull-ropes may be configured to cause one or more local effects, while others
may
be configured to cause one or more remote effects, thus enhancing the play
experience by requiring the participants to experiment to figure out the
effect or
effects of each valve, handle and/or pull-rope.
[009) In accordance with another embodiment, an exciting new water effect is
provided
comprising a vessel such as a trough, giant bucket, cauldron, reservoir or
other
container for collecting water discharged from a water forming device. The
vessel
may be stationary, may be configured to produce a flow of water when filled to
a
desired level, and/or may be balanced and conditionally stable so that it
spills over
when filled to a desired level and/or when a play participant pulls on an
associated
pull-rope. The vessel may also be configured to create other dramatic visual
and
sound effects to allow the play participants to surprise, entertain and amuse
themselves along with other play participants.
[0010] In accordance with yet another embodiment, a multiple-order water
effect is
provided for allowing play participants to observe and experiment with various
cause-and-effect reactions involving water. The water effect comprises a first
participatory water play element having an incoming flow of water controlled
by
one or more play participants to create a first water effect. A second
participatory
water play element is provided for receiving water from the first water effect
to
create yet a second water effect. By controlling the first and second water
play
elements with hand wheels and pull-rope actuators, play participants can
observe
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and experiment with various multiple-order cause-and-effect reactions
involving
water. Additionally, the use of multiple-pull-rope actuators adds an element
of
mystery and surprise. The play participants can experiment with the different
ropes
to discover what each dues. r,,~rthecmore, ~;;~ause many of the ropes are
rigged
through ship blocks, it may not be readily observable what each rope will do
when
pulled on, thus enhancing the surprise element when a participant discovers
what
effect each rope will have.
[0011] In accordance with yet another embodiment, a structure conveying a
them, such as
resembling a ship complete with a series of ropes and ship blocks, are
provided for
children to experiment with and control remote effects by pulling on the
various
ropes. For example, one rope may open the water supply valve which allows a
reservoir to be filled with water, the water from the reservoir may then
either be
selectively or automatically distributed to a number of other water effects
which are
then, in turn, controlled by corresponding pull-ropes. A play participant may
pull a
rope which tips and dumps the water contained in the reservoir, pull another
rope to
actuate a shower of water, or pull yet another rope which causes the water to
spill
through a water-wheel which turns and may control a number of visual or sound
ettects. It should be appreciated that the pull-ropes are designed to be the
proper
length for small and intermediate-age children to reach them, but no too long
so as
to pose a hazard.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description
of the
preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013] Figure 1 is a plan view of the pull-rope actuated play structure.
[0014] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure showing various
water play
elements with their associated pull-rope actuators.
[0015] Figure 3 is a front elevational view of one mast of the structure
showing various
water play elements with their corresponding pull-rope actuators.
[0016] Figure 4 is a front elevational
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view of another mast of the structure showing other interactive water play
elements.
[0017] Figure 5 is a plan view of one mast of the water play structure in the
form of a
vessel which spills into a reservoir containing a floating element.
iu018] Figure 6 is a front elevational view of various interactive
participatory water play
elements in the form of a rotatable water supply, water-wheel, tipping
reservoir, and
multiple-order water troughs.
[0019) Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the water play structure of
Figure 6.
[0020] Figure 8 is a plan view of the water play structure of Figure 6 showing
the rotatable
water supply which play participants selectively control to provide water to
various
water play elements.
I Detailed Descriution of the Preferred Embodiments
[0021] U.S. Patent No. 5,194,048, which is hereby incorporated by reference,
first
disclosed the concept of participatory water play in which play participants
can
operate any one of a number of valves to adjust the amount of water spraying
from
one or more associated nozzles. Play participants adjust the various valves
and can
immediately observe the change in the rate of water flowing from the various
asscciated nozzles. This allows participants to experiment with and learn
abcut
first order cause-and-effect reactions using a familiar and entertaining
medium,
mainly water.
(0022] In addition, U.S. Patent No. 5,820,471 improved and expanded upon that
theme of
participatory water play by introducing second, third, and even higher order
water
effects which may be created or activated by a particular combination of other
water
effects. Some water effects may have immediate results, while others may have
delayed or require a combination of water effects to have a result. Some water
effects may be local, while others may be remote.
[0023] The present invention improves and expands upon the previous inventions
by
adding the elements of pull-rope actuators and audible effects in additional
to the
visual effects. This improvement not only allows children to control the
beginning
of the chain of events, but to also control the intermediate water effects to
reach the
desired result. Additionally, play
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participants can alter the chain of event by having control of the
intermediate water
effects.
[0024] The following figures illustrate a couple of possible embodiments of a
pull-rope
actuated play structure having features of the p:caent invent~~.-.. This
particular
interactive water play system is provided in the form of a dug-out canoe
situated in
a remote island setting made complete by corresponding island living
amenities.
The first order water elements are located at or along the canoe's mast which,
in
turn, conveys the water to the second and higher-ordered water elements. Of
course, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the
participatory water
play system of the present invention is not limited to this one preferred
embodiment, but may be implemented in accordance with a wide variety of other
possible exciting play themes. For example, a pirate's ship, submarine,
medieval
castle, lost temple, or a fire station, can each provide exciting play themes
for
participatory water play systems having benefits and advantages as taught by
the
present invention.
[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of one embodiment of the present
invention showing
a dugout canoe 20 theme with its various water play elements. The masts of the
boat support some of the water play elements along with their corresponding
pull-
rope actuators. The pull-rope actuators are routed through a series of ship
blocks 22
which make the effect of pulling the rope not visually apparent. Thus, a play
participant may experiment with each pull-rope to determine its effect. The
effect
may be to dump water on the play participant, convey water to the next-ordered
water element, or have some remote effect away from the play participant. In
this
embodiment, play participants can operate the manual pump 24 defined by the
out-
rigger structure of the canoe which pumps water to the top of the mast. The
water is
selectively distributed to a vessel, such as a tipping cauldron 28, which tips
and
dumps its contents when a desired level is reached. The water spills through a
water wheel gear 32 meshed with another wheel gear 36 which controls a drum
beater 40 that beats a thundering drum 44.
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[0026] Figure 2 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present
invention
showing a simulated bamboo mast with various water play elements. This
embodiment shows a simulated bamboo pole 120 firmly cemented in the ground by
a concrete footer-ii4. An underground water supply line supplies water to the
structure. Play participants pull on the vessel feed rope 128 which opens the
valve
on the vessel feed 132. The vessel feed 132 fills the spouting vessel 136,
which
contains exit spouts to allow the water to exit the spouting vessel and spill
on the
play participants below and fill the tipping vessel clam shell 140. The play
participants can then pull the clam shell tip pull-rope 144 to dump the
contents of
the tipping vessel clam shell 140 on unsuspecting play participants below.
Additionally, a coconut spouts pull-rope 148 may be pulled to actuate a
simulated
coconut shower 232.
[0027] Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the water play structure of
Figure 2. This
figure adequately represents the relative positioning of the various water
play
elements. It will be appreciated that the pull-ropes are routed through
pulleys
simulating ship's blocks 152 to further the theme and to allow the proper
directional
force to be applied to the corresponding water element to achieve the desired
water
effect.
[0028] Figure 4 is a front elevational view illustrating another embodiment of
the present
invention still carrying the remote island theme. In this embodiment, water is
supplied to the ground-level tub 220. A play participant must manually operate
the
1-man pump 224 which sends water up the interior of the simulated bamboo mast
228 and exits the coconut shower 232. As the water exits the coconut shower
232,
it fills a tipping vessel 236. A play participant may then selectively pull
the tipping
vessel pull-rope 240 which dumps the water into an internal float tank 248
hidden
by a bamboo curtain 252. As this process is repeated, a floating object, in
this case
in the form of a rising tiki 244, rises from behind the bamboo curtain 252 and
may
trigger sound effects to surprise and entertain the play participants. The
water may
be emptied from the internal float tank 248 by operation of another coconut
shower
pull-rope 256 which acri~ates the
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coconut shower 260. As the coconut shower 260 is actuated, the rising tiki 244
disappears behind the bamboo curtain 252 and the process may be repeated.
[0029] Figure 5 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 4 showing another
view of the
described structure. It should be appreciated that a play pariicipau~~,
standing ~: use
base of the bamboo mast, can operate the pump and pull-ropes to remotely raise
the
rising tiki head to surprise and entertain play participants located near that
part of
the structure.
(0030] Figure 6 is a front elevational view and another embodiment of the
present
invention. In this embodiment, a play participant controls the flow of water
by
means of a flow control hand wheel 320. The water supply travels up the bamboo
mast and exits the rotating pipe fall 324, which may be selectively rotated to
supply
water to either the water wheel 328 or the tipping vessel, in this case a clam
shell
332. As water passes through the water wheel 328, it spills into a tipping
trough
336 which automatically tips and dumps the collected water onto the play
participants below. A play participant may tum the pipe fall hand wheel 326,
which
turns the rotating pipe fall 324 to deliver water to the tipping vessel, in
this case the
clam shell 332. As the tipping vessel clam shell 332 fills with water, it will
automatically tip to spill the water into a bamboo trough 344 which contains
an exit
pipe 348 to deliver the water to a multi-ordered runnel set 340. The water
will spill
through the subsequent runnels and eventually onto a waiting play participant
below.
[0031] Figure 7 is a side elevational view of Figure 6 illustrating the
structure and sequence
of events triggered by the tipping vessel clam shell 332. It should be
appreciated
that a play participant operating the hand wheel 320 through a chain of
events, can
cause water to flow through the system and spill remotely from the lower-most
runnel.
[0032] Figure 8 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 6 showing the
relative orientation
of the water play elements. Again, it should be appreciated that a play
participant,
operating the pipe fall hand wheel can start a sequential chain of events
resulting in
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a remote spilling of water from either the tipping trough 336 or the lower-
most
runnel.
[0033] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain
exemplary
embodiments, it will be understo~u by those skilled in the art that the
present
invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other
alternative embodiments of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope
of the
present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular
disclosed
embodiments described above, and should be determined only by reference to the
following claims.
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