Amusement devices – Aquatic
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-24
2001-07-17
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices
Aquatic
C239S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261186
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to water amusement attractions and rides. More particularly, the disclosure generally relates to a system and method in which participants are actively involved in a water attraction. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Water recreation facilities have become a popular form of entertainment in the past few decades. Conventional water attractions at amusement parks typically involve using gravity to make water rides work, or they involve spraying water to create a fountain. The water rides that use gravity typically involve water flowing from a high elevation to a low elevation along a water ride surface. These gravity induced rides are generally costly to construct, and they usually have a relatively short ride time. Conventional fountains in water parks are generally passive attractions for people because guests of the parks usually cannot control the water flow in these fountains.
One water attraction that allows guests to become more actively involved with water spraying objects is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,048 to Briggs. This attraction relates to an endoskeletal or exoskeletal participatory water play structure whereupon participants can manipulate valves to cause controllable changes in water effects that issue from various water forming devices.
A class of water attraction rides which are not gravity induced has been added to the theme park market. U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,547 to Lochtefeld discloses a method and apparatus for controllably injecting a high velocity of water over a water ride surface. A rider that rides into such injected flow can either be accelerated, matched, or de-accelerated in a downhill, horizontal or uphill straight or curvilinear direction by such injected flow. U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,597 to Lochtefeld et al. discloses a method and apparatus for controllably injecting high velocity jets of water towards a buoyant object to direct buoyant object movement irrespective of the motion of water upon which the buoyant object floats. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,194,048, 5,213,547 and 5,503,597 are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I. Water Fountain System
A water fountain system is provided, that is a participatory water play system. The water fountain system may have the operational ability to allow changes to water effects by the physical act of manipulating a valve or valves. The water fountain system may include sound and/or light displays that are controllable by physical acts of a participant. Furthermore, the water fountain system may teach participants, especially children, the cause and effect relationship between action (turning a valve) and reaction (water jets causing a roof to spin).
An embodiment of the water fountain system includes a roof having a friction surface. The roof may have the ability to rotate about a vertical axis when a jet of water hits the friction surface. The friction surface may contain a plurality of protrusions (e.g., rib-like members, indentions, or protruding structures) providing a contact surface for receiving the water. The water fountain system preferably includes a support member connected to the roof and to the ground below. A first conduit preferably directs water from a water source to a first nozzle located near the roof For example, the first nozzle may direct a jet of water in a first direction toward the roof to cause the roof to rotate in a substantially clockwise direction. A second conduit preferably directs water to a second nozzle also located near the roof. The second nozzle may then direct a jet of water in a second direction toward the roof to cause the roof to rotate in a substantially opposite, or a counterclockwise direction.
A diverter valve may be disposed upstream from the first conduit and the second conduit. The diverter valve may direct water to one of the first or second conduits while restricting water flow through the other conduit. The valve may be located near the ground so that it may be adjusted by a participant. In a multi-level system the valve may be located on one or more levels of the system. The valve may also be located near the roof. A control system may be coupled (e.g., electrically, mechanically, or pneumatically) to the valve. The control system may be manipulated by one or more participants to operate the valve from the ground, or on any other level. Operation of the valve may also cause activation of any combination of the sound and/or lighting system.
II. Water Carousel System
A water carousel system is provided, that is a participatory water play system. The water carousel preferably includes a supporting platform configured to float on water, a propulsion device coupled to the supporting platform, and at least one rotatable shaft for driving the propulsion device with respect to the support platform. The shaft may be connected to participant power mechanisms, such as pedals, wheels, and/or handles, that are operable by participants to drive rotation of the shaft. The supporting platform preferably includes a seating device for holding at least one participant. The seating device is preferably configured to facilitate use of the participant power mechanism by the participant.
In one embodiment, the water carousel system preferably includes a platform configured to float on water, a floor positioned above the platform, and at least one rotatable shaft for driving rotation of the floor about the platform. The rotatable shaft may be coupled to participant power mechanisms that are operable by participants to drive rotation of the shaft. The physical act of powering one or more participant power mechanisms may, in some embodiments, cause the floor of the carousel to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. The participants may control the speed of rotation by varying the amount of power being applied to the participant power mechanisms.
The carousel system preferably includes a roof for providing shade to the participants of the carousel. The roof preferably has a friction surface. In one embodiment, the roof may rotate about a vertical axis when water is directed against the friction surface. An elongated support member preferably forms the vertical axis. The support member may extend from the roof, through the platform, and to the ground where it may be anchored. A valve may be manipulated to force water to contact a roof of the carousel to cause the roof to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Further, the carousel system may include a sound system for playing music, and/or a light system for displaying lights, that are preferably controlled by the operation of the participant power mechanisms by one or more participants. The rate, volume, pitch, and/or pattern of the sounds produced by the sound system and/or the intensity, and/or pattern of lights produced by the light system are preferably determined by the rate at which the floor is rotated with respect to the platform. Since the rotational rate of the floor is directly proportional to the power applied by the participants to the participant power mechanisms, the participants are able to control the sounds and/or lights produced by the system. In one embodiment, the application of a predetermined amount of power to the participant power mechanism by the participants will preferably produce a musical tune at the proper pitch and/or rate.
The rotatable shaft is preferably located under the floor. One section of the rotatable shaft is preferably adapted to be powered by either arms or legs of a participant. In one embodiment, a portion of the rotatable shaft is shaped to form pedals and/or handles, and may extend upwardly through the floor. Rotation of the rotatable shaft is preferably caused by imparting a force to the pedals and/or the handles. Rotation of the rotatable shaft in turn preferably powers the propulsion device. The propulsion device preferably imparts a rotational force to the floor, such
Conley Rose & Tayon PC
Meyertons Eric B.
NBGS International Inc.
Nguyen Kien T.
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