Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INFLATABLE WATER ATTRACTION AND RIDE
VEHICLE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Serial No.
61/828,607, filed on May 29, 2013, entitled "INFLATABLE WATER ATTRACTION AND
RIDE VEHICLE," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates generally to amusement attractions, such
as wave
machines, or ride vehicles for use on amusement attractions. More
particularly, the present
invention relates to amusement or water attractions or ride vehicles for use
thereon that
incorporate one or more inflatable areas or portions.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Water attractions (e.g., waterslides, surfing slides or machines,
boogie-boarding
slides, etc.) are a popular entertainment activity during periods of warm
weather.
Conventional water attractions are commonly made of fiberglass or other rigid
or semi-rigid
materials that provide a smooth and slippery surface for supporting a flow of
water thereon
to transport a rider from an entrance to an exit. A variety of different types
of ride vehicles
(e.g., inner tubes, body boards, surf boards, floatation devices, etc.) may be
used by the rider
when the rider travels along the water attraction by supporting the rider as
the ride vehicle
slides along the sliding surface.
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[0006] Maintaining low friction between the rider (or a ride vehicle that the
rider rides
upon) and the sliding surface that supports the flow of water helps ensure the
ride is exciting
or thrilling since the lower the friction on the sliding surface of the water
attraction,
typically the greater the speed that the rider may achieve. Lower friction
between the rider
and the sliding surface can also increase the comfort of the rider since it
aids in preventing
undesirable rubbing on the rider's skin or tugging at the rider's swimsuit.
When using a ride
vehicle, low friction can also aid in lengthening the life of the ride vehicle
and the water
attraction due to reduced wear and tear to each of the ride vehicle and the
water attraction as
the ride vehicle travels down the water attraction, which can reduce
maintenance or install
costs.
[0007] One type of water attraction that has proven a popular lure for patrons
to water or
other amusement parks or venues is the surfing machine or simulator. These
machines may
be used both for entertainment purposes as well as training purposes for
helping instruct
individuals that may be wary or otherwise unable to surf out in the open
ocean.
Conventional surf machines utilize water pumps cooperating with nozzles or
jets to flow a
layer of water over a surface that allows riders to skim atop the water flow.
A sliding
surface of the surf machines is conventionally a rigid or semi-rigid, low-
friction surface that
supports maneuvering by riders upon a conventional or modified surfboard or
boogie board.
[0008] Unfortunately, users without much surfing experience, either in the
ocean or upon
surfing machines, commonly fall off of the board during early attempts at
using surfing
machines. The surfaces of these apparatuses make uncomfortable contact with a
rider upon
the rider's falling off of their board. Moreover, the risk of falling while
walking on
conventional surf machines (e.g., when entering or exiting the portion of the
ride to be
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surfed upon) is heightened since the surfing machine surface must commonly be
manufactured to be slippery in order to adequately allow for low-friction
between a rider's
board and the surface of the ride.
[0009] As the surfing machine market becomes more popular, water venues
increasingly
look to new surfing machines that can provide novel experiences to riders or
improve comfort
or safety to riders interacting therewith. Moreover, as the surfing industry
becomes more
sophisticated and the influence of extreme sports becomes more popular, more
extreme
standing waves created by such surfing machines is desired in order to satisfy
the thrill
anticipated by these new generation of users, both adults and children. As new
surfing
machines are developed, particularly those with more extreme characteristics,
safety concerns,
manueverability, and rider comfort must be adequately addressed.
[0010] Thus, an improved water attraction configured to help ensure rider
safety, reduce
rider discomfort, and/or to improve rider maneuverability is desired. Ideally,
the water
attraction would allow a rider to make contact with the surface of the water
attraction, for
example, upon falling off of a ride vehicle, with reduced risk of injury or
discomfort.
Moreover, the water attraction would ideally permit improved control, either
by the rider
themselves, or by the ride designer and/or operator, over the speed, location,
orientation, or
other maneuverability characteristic as the rider uses the water attraction.
SUMMARY
[0011] An
amusement attraction and/or ride vehicle using inflatable materials and/or
coatings are disclosed. In one embodiment, an amusement attraction may include
a sliding
surface configured to support a rider thereon, the sliding surface extending
from a first area to
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a second area and wherein at least a part of the sliding surface includes an
inflatable material,
and a first coating applied to at least a portion of the inflatable material.
[0012] In another embodiment, a water attraction may include a sliding surface
configured
to support a rider thereon, the sliding surface extending from an entry end to
an exit end and
wherein at least a part of the sliding surface is an inflatable material, a
first coating applied to
a first portion of the inflatable material and configured to aid in sliding
the rider from the entry
end to the exit end along the sliding surface, and a second coating applied to
a second portion
of the inflatable material and configured to slow the rider after the rider
slides along the
sliding surface.
[0013] In still another embodiment, a ride vehicle for a rider to use on an
amusement
attraction may include a first material defining a first surface, at least a
portion of the first
surface configured to contact at least a portion of the rider, the first
surface having a front end,
a rear end, and a side end, an inflatable material coupled with the first
material and defining a
second surface, at least a portion of the second surface configured to contact
a sliding surface
of the amusement attraction, and a first flexible coating applied to the
inflatable material for
lowering a frictional force exerted by the sliding surface of the water
attraction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014]
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will
be or
will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the
following figures
and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems,
methods, features, and
advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the
present invention,
and be protected by the accompanying claims. Component parts shown in the
drawings are
not necessarily to scale and may be exaggerated to better illustrate the
important features of
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the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like
parts throughout
the different views, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of a ride vehicle having more than one type
of material
with differing coefficients of friction according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2A shows a top view of a ride vehicle having an inflatable portion
according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2B shows a bottom view of the ride vehicle of FIG. 2A according to
an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2C shows a side view of the ride vehicle of FIG. 2A according to
an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2D shows a front view of the ride vehicle of FIG. 2A according to
an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a water attraction having an
inflatable portion
and side containments according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a water attraction having an
inflatable portion
and a permanent plantroom structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 4B shows a side view of the water attraction of FIG. 4A according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4C shows a top view of the water attraction of FIG. 4A according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a water attraction having an
inflatable portion
and a permanent plantroom structure with water nozzles at an upper elevation
of the plant
room according to an embodiment of the present invention;
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[0025] FIG. 5B shows a top view of the water attraction of FIG. 5A according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 5C shows a side view of the water attraction of FIG. 5A according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 6A shows a rear perspective view of a water attraction having an
inflatable
portion according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6B shows a front perspective view of the water attraction of FIG.
6A according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 6C shows a top view of the water attraction of FIG. 6A according
to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 6D shows a side view of the water attraction of FIG. 6A according
to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes
reference to the
accompanying drawings and pictures, which show the exemplary embodiments by
way of
illustration and its best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are
described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should
be understood that
other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may
be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the
detailed description
herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.
For example, the
steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in
any order and
are not limited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or
steps may be
outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties. Furthermore, any
reference to
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singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one
component may
include a singular embodiment.
100321 Water attractions may incorporate a sliding surface configured to
support a rider
thereon, either upon a ride vehicle or without a ride vehicle, as the rider
travels from one end
or area of the water attraction to another. One type of water attraction is a
downward sloped
water ride that moves a rider at a fast speed from one area to another.
Another type of water
attraction is a body skimming attraction where a flow of water is provided
over a sliding
surface and counteracts the pull of gravity of a user on the sliding surface
such that the user
may skim atop the water, using either their body and/or a ride vehicle. Still
another type of
water attraction is a surfing attraction or simulator that uses a flow of
water over a surface that
a rider may skim on top of. These surfing attractions are products may use a
thin (e.g., sheet)
flow of water or a deeper (e.g., standing wave) flow of water. Riders may skim
or ride on top
of the water using a boogie board, body board, surfboard, or any other type of
riding vehicle,
whether inflatable or not and whether configured to be stood upon, sat upon,
laid upon, or
otherwise in contact with a portion of a body of the rider. Any of these
exemplary water
attractions, and other amusement attractions, may incorporate the concepts
discussed in
greater detail herein.
100331 Turning first to FIG. 1, a bottom view of a ride vehicle 100 having
more than one
type of material is shown. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ride vehicle
100 is in the
form of a body board configured to support a rider thereon for use in a water
attraction.
Alternative embodiments may utilize modified dimensions or different shapes,
sizes, or
configurations other than those explicitly illustrated in the embodiment of
FIG. 1. The ride
vehicle 100 may additionally or alternatively be configured for use in
attractions that use other
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= types of fluid or lubrication for sliding a rider down a portion of a
sliding surface, for
example, snow, air, glycerin, etc.
[0034] The ride vehicle 100 has a front end 102 and a rear end 104. A rider
positions
themselves on the ride vehicle 100 with their head positioned near or adjacent
to the front end
102 and their legs or feet positioned near or adjacent to the rear end 104. A
bottom surface
110 is configured to slide along a sliding surface of a water attraction while
a top surface (not
shown) of the ride vehicle 100 makes contact with one or more parts of the
rider's body and
supports the rider as the rider travels along the water attraction. In an
alternative embodiment,
the ride vehicle 100 may be used to support the rider in other positions
(e.g., backwards,
sitting down, standing up, etc.).
[0035]
The bottom surface 110 of the ride vehicle 100 is made up of an
inflatable material.
The bottom surface 110 being made of an inflatable material may provide a
softer and/or more
maneuverable landing to riders if the ride vehicle 100 and the rider go
airborne during travel
along a water attraction. The inflatable material may be any of a variety of
types of materials
and may make up all or a portion of the bottom surface 110. In the preferred
embodiment, the
inflatable material inflates flat or substantially flat. In one embodiment,
the inflatable material
that inflates flat may be a drop stitch material. In certain embodiments, the
inflatable material
may be replaceable on the ride vehicle 100 in order to allow for repair or
replacement when
friction due to the sliding surface of the water attraction wears down the
bottom surface 110 to
undesirable levels. The bottom surface 110 being an inflatable portion that
can be replaced
may reduce cost since only a portion of the ride vehicle 100 need be replaced
due to wear and
tear instead of purchasing an entirely new ride vehicle 100. The replaceable
inflatable portion
may additionally allow individuals or park operators to purchase the ride
vehicle 100 and
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customize it with more costly decals, paintjobs, etc. than might otherwise be
feasible since the
entire ride vehicle 100 need not require replacement when the bottom surface
does. In an
alternative embodiment, the bottom surface 110 need not be inflatable, but may
comprise any
other type of cushioned and/or slippery material.
[0036]
The bottom surface 110 of the ride vehicle 100 is coated with a first flexible
coating
or material 120 and a second flexible coating or material 130. The first
flexible coating or
material 120 has a lower coefficient of friction than the second flexible
coating or material
130. The first flexible coating or material 120 is disposed substantially in a
center or middle
area on the bottom surface 110 of the ride vehicle 100 for promoting increased
speed when
sliding on the sliding surface of the water attraction. The second flexible
coating or material
130 is disposed substantially along the side or perimeter areas on the bottom
surface 110 of
the ride vehicle 100 for promoting increased grip with the sliding surface of
the water
attraction and thereby encourages the board to turn or rotate when in contact
with the sliding
surface. In an alternative embodiment, an inflatable portion of a ride vehicle
may only exist in
areas of the board where low friction is desired (e.g., where the first
flexible coating or
material 120 is to be disposed).
[0037] An alternative embodiment may use greater or fewer flexible coatings or
materials
upon the bottom surface 110 and/or may include the flexible coatings or
materials in
alternative positions or configurations along the bottom surface 110. For
example, a flexible
coating or material with a higher coefficient of friction relative to its
surrounding materials
may be placed on a rear area of a bottom surface of a ride vehicle to allow a
rider to lean
backwards in an attempt to slow or brake the ride vehicle, such as at an
exiting portion of a
water attraction. In another example, a flexible coating or material with a
lower coefficient of
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friction relative to its surrounding materials may be placed on a front area
of a bottom surface
of a ride vehicle to allow a rider to lean forwards in an attempt to increase
the speed of the ride
vehicle.
[0038] FIG. 2A shows a top view of a ride vehicle 200 having an inflatable
portion. The
ride vehicle 200 may include the same or similar features as previously
discussed for FIG. 1.
Similar to the discussion above, the ride vehicle 200 includes a front end 202
and a rear end
204 and is configured to support a rider in contact therewith when traveling
down a sliding
surface of a water attraction. Alternative embodiments may utilize modified
dimensions or
different shapes, sizes, or configurations other than those explicitly
illustrated in the
embodiment of FIG. 2A. A top surface 205 of the ride vehicle 200 is configured
to make
contact with at least a portion of a rider when used to slide upon a sliding
surface of a water or
other amusement attraction. Hand holds (206, 207) are coupled with the top
surface 205 of
the ride vehicle 200 to help the rider maintain contact and/or maneuver with
the ride vehicle
200 during use. The hand holds (206, 207) may be handlebars that extend
outward from the
top surface 205 to allow the rider to hold onto or may be any other type of
hold that allows the
rider improved grip on the ride vehicle 200 (e.g., indentations, pockets, or
cutouts for the rider
to insert one or more fingers). Greater or fewer hand holds may be positioned
on the ride
vehicle 200 in alternative embodiments.
[0039] An inflatable portion 209 of the ride vehicle 200 is coupled or
fastened with the top
surface 205. In certain embodiments, the inflatable portion 209 may be
integrally formed with
the top surface 205. The inflatable portion 209 extends beneath the top
surface 205 and out to
the side, for example around a perimeter of the top surface 205 as
demonstrated in FIGS. 2A-
2D. The inflatable portion 209 may be filled with air or other fluids (e.g.,
helium, water, etc.),
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for example, via an opening 212 that is covered by a cap 208 after fill in
order to maintain the
air or other fluid within the inflatable portion 209. As shown in FIG. 2B,
which shows a
bottom view of the ride vehicle 200 of FIG. 2A, at least a part of the
inflatable portion 209
forms a bottom surface 210 of the ride vehicle 200. The bottom surface 210 is
configured to
slide upon a sliding surface of a water or other amusement attraction. Similar
to the previous
discussion above for FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the inflatable portion
209 may inflate
flat or substantially flat, may be a drop stitch material, and may be
replaceable on the ride
vehicle 200. An alternative embodiment may use other materials for the
inflatable portion
209.
[0040] FIG. 2C shows a side view of the ride vehicle 200. As demonstrated, the
inflatable
portion 209 may make up sidewalls of the ride vehicle 200 in addition to being
disposed along
a bottom of the ride vehicle 200. The front end 202 of the ride vehicle 200 is
curved upwards
by an angle 225 from the plane 227 that substantially lies along at least part
of the bottom
surface 210. This curvature may help increase the speed that the ride vehicle
200 can travel
down a water attraction or may increase rider comfort by helping eliminate
splashes of water
from hitting the rider's eyes or face. The angle 225 can be any desired angle
from the plane
227. In alternative embodiments, no angle 225 from the plane 227 may be used
(e.g., 0 deg.).
[0041] FIG. 2D shows a front view of the ride vehicle 200 and demonstrates the
inflatable
portion 209 coupled to the top surface 205 to make up the bottom surface 210
and sidewalls of
the ride vehicle 200. In addition to the curvature of the inflatable portion
209 at the front end
202, as shown and discussed above for FIG. 2C, the inflatable portion 209 may
also be curved
upward at the sides by angles (235, 237) with respect to the plane 227 that
substantially lies
along at least part of the bottom surface 210. Angles (235, 237) may be equal
to each other or
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may be different from one another. Angles (235, 237) may be constant or may
change along
the curvature (e.g., the inflatable portion 209 may be formed with an
increasing curvature).
These curvatures that form a rounded underside may help in the maneuverability
or
steerability of the ride vehicle 200 by the rider, for example, when the rider
pulls or pushes on
one or more of the hand holds (206, 207).
[0042] A coating may be disposed upon all or some of the inflatable portion
209, for
example, the bottom surface 210. The coating may be a flexible coating that is
applied to the
inflatable portion 209, for example, to aid in obtaining a low friction ride
surface on the
bottom surface 210 of the ride vehicle and/or to help cover seams or joints
that may be present
on the ride vehicle 200. Preferably, the coating bonds or keys properly to the
inflatable
portion 209 while accommodating movement. In a preferred embodiment, the
flexible coating
may be a polymer coating and/or aliphatic compounds that is applied to the
inflatable portion
209.
[0043] The application of the coating may be performed by any of a number of
techniques,
including spraying on the coating, rolling on the coating, brushing on the
coating, etc. In one
embodiment, the coating may be applied to the inflatable portion 209 that is
fully inflated or
substantially inflated and is allowed to cure prior to substantial deflation
of the inflatable
portion 209. The coating may additionally or alternatively be applied to areas
of the ride
vehicle 200 that are not inflatable. In still other embodiments, the coating
may be applied to a
sliding surface of the water attraction itself. In a preferred embodiment, the
coating will be
resistant to chlorine or otherwise compatible with the chlorine levels that
are typical or
expected in a water attraction where the ride vehicle 200 will be used. The
coating may
additionally or alternatively be resistant to ultraviolet ("UV") damage from
the sun.
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= [0044] Turning next to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a water attraction
300 having an
inflatable portion and side containments is shown. The water attraction 300
includes an entry
or starting area 302, an exit area 304, and a sliding surface 310 disposed
therebetween. In one
embodiment, the sliding surface 310 may be approximately 6 meters in width W.
The exit
area 304 may merely be a surface positioned at the end of the sliding surface
310 for allowing
a rider to stand and walk away (e.g., may have a lower frictional coefficient
than the sliding
surface 310) from the sliding surface 310 or may be any of a variety of other
exiting designs
(e.g., a splash pool, a beach, etc.). In use, a rider enters the water
attraction 300 via the entry
area 302, travels along the sliding surface 310 towards the exit area 304, and
subsequently
exits via the exit area 304. The water attraction 310 may be ridden by a rider
using their body
alone or by incorporating a ride vehicle (e.g., the ride vehicle 100 or the
ride vehicle 200
previously discussed in FIGS. 1 - 2D.
[0045]
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the entry area 302 is
positioned at a higher
elevation than the exit area 304, such that the sliding surface 310 is sloped
downward from the
entry area 302 to the exit area 304. Alternative embodiments may position an
entry area lower
than the exit area, or at the same level as the exit area. One or more nozzles
312 are
positioned near or adjacent to the entry area 302 for supplying a flow of
water onto the sliding
surface 310. The flow of water travels from the nozzles 312 and along the
sliding surface 310.
Thus, the movement of water and/or gravity acts to transfer a rider on the
water attraction 300
from the entry area 302 to the exit area 304. Any number of nozzles 312 may be
used in a
particular embodiment (e.g., one or more nozzles). Any of a variety of devices
or means may
be used in addition to or in replacement of the nozzles 312 for providing
water onto the sliding
surface 310, for example, a sluice, water jets, water pumps, etc. The nozzles
312 may be
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=
= directional nozzles that are positioned to direct water flow in a
specific, desired direction or
orientation along the sliding surface 310.
[0046] A plurality of side containments 330 are positioned along outer edges
of the sliding
surface 310 and define a plurality of auxiliary exit locations (320, 321, 322,
323) at the sides
of the water attraction 300. The side containments 330 may be any of a variety
of heights in
order to help keep the rider within a desired riding area along the sliding
surface 310 and
prevent the rider from unintentionally falling off the side of the water
attraction 300. The side
containments 330 may define greater or fewer exit locations (or may be
continuous along
outer edges of the sliding surface so as not to define any exit locations) in
an alternative
embodiment.
[0047]
The sliding surface 310 incorporates a plurality of humps or hills (340,
342, 344).
The first hill 340 has a first elevation H1 that may be 3 meters in one
embodiment. The
second hill 342 has a second elevation H2 that may be 2 meters in one
embodiment. The third
hill 344 has a third elevation 113 that may be 1.5 meters in one embodiment.
Thus, a rider on
the sliding surface 310 will experience a series of rises and drops as they
travel down the
sliding surface 310 from the entry area 302 to the exit end 304. In an
alternative embodiment,
any number of humps or hills with varying elevations may be used or no humps
or hills may
be incorporated. In certain embodiments, additional nozzles may be placed
along the sliding
surface 310 to move or direct a rider in varying directions. For example, in
one embodiment,
one or more nozzles may be placed near or adjacent to the exit area 304 for
moving or
directing a rider back towards the entry area 302 and/or for allowing a rider
to remain near one
of the heights (H1, 112, 113) and skim laterally along the sliding surface
310. In another
example embodiment, one or more nozzles may be placed adjacent to the sides to
move or
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direct the rider in alternative directions along the rider's travel from the
entry area 302 to the
exit area 304 in order to provide a more thrilling or enjoyable ride
experience.
[0048] All or a portion of the sliding surface 310 may be formed using an
inflatable
structure or material that is covered with a coating, the features of which
are the same or
similar to the inflatable features and coatings as previously discussed for
FIGS. 1 ¨ 2D. In a
preferred embodiment, the inflatable structure or material will inflate
substantially flat (e.g.,
may comprise a drop stitch material) and may be 50mm in thickness when
inflated. In certain
embodiments, the entry area 302 and/or the exit area 304 may also comprise an
inflatable
structure or material that is covered with a coating. In one example, a
coating with a higher
frictional coefficient may be used on the entry area 302 and/or the exit area
304 when
compared with the coating used on the sliding surface 310 in order to lessen
the risk of
slipping or falling of riders as they attempt to enter or exit the ride.
Moreover, portions of the
sliding surface 310 may have applied coatings with varying frictional
coefficients (e.g., a
higher frictional coefficient near, on, or adjacent to the exit locations
(320, 321, 322, 323)
and/or the side containments 330 to help slow down riders that get undesirably
close to the
side edges of the sliding surface 310. In addition, areas of the sliding
surface 310 near or
adjacent to the exit area 304 may have applied a coating with a higher
frictional coefficient to
similarly reduce the speed of a rider traveling on the sliding surface 310 as
they near the exit
area 304.
[0049] Turning next to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C a perspective view, a side view
and a top
view, respectively, of a water attraction 400 having an inflatable portion and
without side
containments is shown. The water attraction 400 may include the same or
similar features as
previously discussed. The water attraction 400 is shown without side
containments and
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= includes a water reservoir 460 (see FIG. 4B) disposed beneath at least a
part of an entry area
402, an exit area 404, and a sliding surface 410. Similar to the water
attraction 300, the water
attraction 400 flows 405 water or another fluid (e.g., via nozzles or another
water delivery
method) along the surface of the sliding surface 410. In one embodiment, the
flow 405 should
be sufficiently fast to reach the exit area 404.
[0050]
The sliding surface 410 is formed of an inflatable structure or material
and coated
with a flexible coating and includes a plurality of humps or hills (440, 442,
444) at a variety of
heights (e.g., 3 meters, 2 meters, and 1.5 meters, respectively). In one
embodiment, one or
more of the humps or hills (440, 442, 444) may be an individual section or
component such
that they can be removed or replaced, for example with other sections or
components, such as
obstacles, while the remainder of the ride remains intact. Using the exit area
404 as the base
elevation (e.g., 0 meters), the entry area 402 may be at a respective 3 meter
height and the
water reservoir 460 may extend 0.5 meters lower than the exit area 404. In an
alternative
embodiment, any of a variety of differing dimensions may be used.
[0051] A plantroom 480 is housed beneath, near, or adjacent to the entry area
402 for
housing water pumps, piping, or other assorted equipment used for transporting
the water or
other fluid from the water reservoir 460 to the sliding surface 410. The
plantroom 480 may be
a permanent concrete structure in one embodiment, the top or roof of which
serves as the entry
area 402 of the water attraction 400. In this fashion, sealing problems of the
plantroom 480
and/or improved energy efficiency in supplying water by equipment in the
plantroom 480 may
be minimized, as discussed in greater detail for FIGS. 5A ¨ 5C. A plurality of
exit locations
(420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425) (see FIG. 4C) (e.g., at a 0 meter height with
respect to the exit
end 404) are positioned along the sides of the sliding surface 410.
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[0052] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show a perspective view, a top view and a side
view,
respectively, of a water attraction 500 having an inflatable portion with side
containments and
a plantroom structure. The water attraction 500 may include the same or
similar features as
previously discussed. The water attraction 500 is shown with an option for
side containments
595 (e.g., walls, railings, and/or other barriers) that operate to help keep a
rider on a sliding
surface 510. In one embodiment, the side containments may be 500 meters high.
A water
reservoir 560 is disposed beneath at least a part of an entry area 502, an
exit area 504, and the
sliding surface 510. Similar to the water attractions 300 and/or 400 (see
FIGS. 3 ¨ 4C), the
water attraction 500 flows 505 water or another fluid along the sliding
surface 510. Water
nozzles 512 or another type of water delivery mechanism may be used to provide
the flow 505
in a desired direction or path along the water attraction 500. In one
embodiment, the flow 505
should be sufficiently fast to reach the exit area 504 without substantially
spilling or draining
of the sides of the sliding surface 510.
[0053]
Similar to the previous discussions, the sliding surface 510 is formed of an
inflatable
structure or material and coated with a flexible coating and includes a
plurality of humps or
hills (540, 542, 544) of a variety of heights (e.g., 3 meters, 2 meters, and
1.5 meters,
respectively). An alternative embodiment may use different dimensions. Located
at the base
of one or more of the hills are side exits (520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525) that
allow a rider to
exit from the sliding surface at those locations prior to traveling all the
way to the exit end
504. A grated surface or drain (e.g., constructed of fiberglass) covering may
be used at the
side exits (520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525) and/or the exit area 504 to help
drain water that drips
from an exiting rider or that spills off from the flow 505 on the sliding
surface 510 into the
water reservoir 560. This may help reduce the amount of water depleted from
the ride during
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operation and/or help increase ride safety by making the side exits (520, 521,
522, 523, 524,
525) and/or the exit area 504 less slippery for riders walking thereon.
Greater or fewer side
exits may be utilized in an alternative embodiment. In one embodiment, one or
more of the
humps or hills (540, 542, 544) may be an individual section or component such
that they can
be removed or replaced, for example with other sections or components, such as
obstacles,
while the remainder of the ride remains intact.
[0054] A plantroom 580 makes up at least a part of the entry area 502 and is
used for
housing water pumps, piping, and other assorted equipment used for
transporting the water or
other fluid from the water reservoir 560 to the sliding surface 510. The
plantroom 580 may be
a permanent concrete structure in one embodiment, the top or roof of which
serves as the entry
area 502 of the water attraction 500. As shown, the nozzles 512 are attached
onto or are
adjacent, but not attached, to the roof of the plant room 580 and direct the
flow 505 away from
the plant room 580 and onto the sliding surface 510, thus providing reduced
sealing problems
from the plant room 580 since little to no water will be present on the roof
of the plant room
580.
[0055] A cover or flap 590 extends over a portion of the sliding surface 510
near the entry
area 502 and extends to and/or attaches to the plant room 580 (e.g. to the
concrete roof of the
plant room 580) in front of the nozzles 512 in order to provide a smooth
and/or safe surface
connecting the entry area 502 to the sliding surface 510. In an alternative
embodiment, the
cover or flap 590 may extend over all or a portion of the nozzles 512 to
prevent rider
interference with the nozzles 512.
[0056] The plant room 580 is configured to contain equipment (e.g., water
pumps, piping,
etc.) for providing water from the water reservoir 560 to the nozzles 512. In
one embodiment,
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= one water pump 596 may be used for operating five nozzles 512. In an
alternative
embodiment, two smaller water pumps may be used. With the nozzles 512 located
on or
adjacent to the roof of the plant room 580 and directing water immediately
downward or
horizontally onto the sliding surface 510, and not up in upwardly sloping
direction, the
necessary water velocity when exiting the nozzles 512 may be reduced or lower
than would
otherwise be required, thus providing energy savings during ride operation.
The height 562
(see FIG. 5C) of the water reservoir 560 depends upon the suction head and/or
sizing of the
water pump 596 and may be adjusted as desired in different embodiments. For
example, in
one embodiment, if greater suction head is desired, the height 562 of the
water reservoir 560
may be increased at only the side of the reservoir 560 that is near or
adjacent to the plantroom
580.
[0057] FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate an alternative embodiment of a water attraction
600 using an
inflatable structure or material, the same or similar as previously discussed.
The water
attraction 600, however, is configured to provide water uphill over an
inflatable structure, for
example, for surfing upon the flow of water on an inclined area. FIG. 6A shows
a rear
perspective view of the water attraction 600 and includes a ride surface 605,
sidewalls 610,
access areas 615, and a dewatering zone 620. Similar to previous discussions,
the ride surface
605 may be formed, at least in part, by an inflatable material (e.g., a drop
stitch or drop thread
material). The sidewalls 610 may also be formed, at least in part, via the
inflatable material.
A lacing cover 630 is coupled between the ride surface 605 and the sidewalls
610 for covering
the seam and/or joints at the perimeter of the ride surface 605. In an
alternative embodiment,
a coating or other barrier may be provided in addition to or in replacement of
the lacing cover
630. The sidewalls 610 at the access areas 615 are lowered to support ease of
access onto or
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off of the ride surface 605. The dewatering zone 620 may be formed by a high
tensile mesh
material, for example, to allow water to flow or drain through the surface at
the dewatering
zone 620 and into a reservoir or piping system below (e.g., a reservoir
disposed beneath the
ride surface 605).
[0058] A tensioning tube 630 or other mechanism for tightening or tautening
the ride
surface 605 may be provided, either along an exterior of the water attraction
600 or contained
within an interior of the water attraction 600 (e.g., within a reservoir
disposed beneath the ride
surface 605). As seen in FIG. 6B, which demonstrates a front perspective view
of the water
attraction 600, water pump connections 640 are provided for connecting the
water pump,
nozzle, and/or jet system to the water attraction 600. The water pump
connections 640 may be
standardized across a product line in order to support a variety of water
flows (e.g., faster or
slower, greater volume or less volume, etc.) upon the ride surface 605 based
on the size or
capability of the water pumps, nozzles, and/or jets that are connected.
[0059] FIGS. 6C and 6D show the water attraction 600 from a top view and a
side view,
respectively. As illustrated in the embodiment shown, the ride surface 605 may
have three
different zones, a delivery zone 650 where water is provided onto the ride
surface 605, an
entry/exit zone 655 where riders may enter or exit the ride surface 605, and a
riding zone 660
where riders may ride or maneuver upon the ride surface 605. A structure 670
that houses or
is coupled with water pumps and/or nozzles (681, 682, 683, 684) is positioned
near or adjacent
to the delivery zone 650 for the flowing of water from the water pumps and/or
nozzles (681,
682, 683, 684) onto the ride surface 605. The water pumps and/or nozzles (681,
682, 683,
684) may interface with the water pump connections 640 shown on FIG. 6B. A
reservoir 690
for receiving water from the dewatering zone 620 prior to its provision onto
the ride surface
CA 02852868 2014-05-29
605 via the water pumps and/or nozzles (681, 682, 683, 684) is located below
the ride surface
605.
[0060] Although the embodiments shown and described above feature water
attractions
having particular configurations or shapes, an inflatable portion and/or
coating applied to the
inflatable portion may be implemented on any of a variety of water or other
attractions. In one
example, entry and/or exit areas or locations for a water ride may differ from
those explicitly
shown in the embodiments illustrated (e.g., an entry location may be above,
below, or at the
same level as one or more exit locations). In another example, a water
attraction, such as a
standing wave surfing ride, may have its entire main structure or sliding
surface as an
inflatable structure or made from an inflatable material. Alternatively, a
water attraction, such
as a standing wave surfing ride, may only be constructed with partially
inflatable structures
(e.g., at the entry and exit points and/or the sliding surface or riding
area). In dewatering areas
of a water attraction, such as at the exit points, an integral netting or
grating may be used in
place of, or in conjunction with, the inflatable materials at those locations.
[0061] The
inflatable portion or portions may be used to help increase rider speed (e.g.,
via
a low coefficient of friction coating applied to the inflatable portion),
reduce rider speed (e.g.,
via a high coefficient of friction coating applied to the inflatable portion),
or aid in changing
the orientation of a rider or ride vehicle (e.g., via a combination of a low
coefficient of friction
coating and a high coefficient of friction coating applied to the inflatable
portion in proximity
to one another). In an alternative embodiment, instead or in addition to a
coating applied to
the inflatable material, a separate material or surface (e.g., a polyvinyl
chloride ("PVC")
sheet) may be coupled or fastened on top of the inflatable material. Materials
or surfaces
other than PVC may be used in an alternative embodiment. The inflatable
portion may be
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= positioned at any desired location along the water attraction, for
example, to provide a less
rigid surface for more comfortably supporting riding thereon and/or to absorb
an impact of the
rider or a ride vehicle. For example, the inflatable structure may be
completely above ground,
completely below ground, or partially above and below ground. In some
embodiments, a
water reservoir of the water attraction may be made of the inflatable
material.
100621 A water attraction using an inflatable portion or portions may be
modular in nature
such that it may be more easily manufactured, transportable, and/or
constructed on a given
location. For example, a water attraction using an inflatable portion or
portions may be
designed to be portable such that it is intended to be used at a given
geographic location for a
short period and then deflated and/or deconstructed and shipped to a new
location.
100631 The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to
enable any person
of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosed methods and
apparatus. Accordingly,
the terminology employed throughout should be read in a non-limiting manner.
Various
modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in
the art, and the
principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing
from the spirit
or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The described embodiments are
to be
considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the
scope of the invention
is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description. All
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims
are to be
embraced within their scope. Skilled artisans may implement the described
functionality in
varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation
decisions should not be
interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the disclosed apparatus
and methods. The
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steps of the method or algorithm may also be performed in an alternate order
from those
provided in the examples.
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