Surf toy action figure and simulated surfing game

• US 20020180155A1
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/441
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/0414 in motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/0428 being squirted
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/14 Racing games, traffic games, or obstacle games characterised by figures moved by action of the players racing games using dice A63F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 23/10 Other water toys, floating toys, or like buoyant toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 19/006 Puppets or marionettes therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a miniature live-action surfing attraction and associated surf game specifically adapted for use with one or more surf toy action figures. The surf toy action figures are mountable to a surf board appropriately sized and weighted to provide relatively stable or semi-stable surf-riding action upon a sheet flow of water flowing up an inclined ride surface of the reduced scale attraction. Various surf action figures may be set free upon the ride surface, or they may be constrained or partially constrained by wires, strings, magnets or the like, as desired. Alternatively, or in addition, they may be controlled via a remote control, or radio control transmitter, as desired. Thus, a fun and entertaining game is created that provides realistic live-action surfing within a relatively small or confined area.

Claims

1. A surf-action game comprising:

an inclined ride surface having a lower base portion and an upper ridge portion;

at least one nozzle disposed at or near said ride surface, said nozzle being sized and configured to receive a flow of water from a source and to inject said water as a sheet flow upward onto said ride surface; and

one or more toy surf-action figures adapted to ride and/or perform water skimming maneuvers upon said sheet flow of water.

2. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein said inclined surface is bounded by side walls having a height above the ride surface sufficient to substantially contain the sheet flow of water thereon.

3. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein said inclined surface is substantially containerless and without side walls.

4. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein the inclined surface has side edges and wherein drains, grates and/or channels are provided adjacent said side edges for allowing water to drain from the ride surface.

5. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein said at least one nozzle comprises an elongated nozzle or series of nozzles extending substantially the width of said ride surface.

6. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein said at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles spaced throughout the ride surface.

7. The surf action game of claim 1 further comprising a reservoir for containing a body of water at a desired height and an opening at the base thereof forming said nozzle.

8. The surf action game of claim 7 wherein said reservoir is connected to said source of water.

9. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein said source of water comprises a recirculating pump.

10. The surf action game of claim 5 wherein said source of water comprises a garden hose.

11. The surf action game of claim 1 further comprising a grate or net on or adjacent the base portion of the ride surface.

12. The surf action game of claim 11 further comprising a recovery pool disposed substantially under said grate or net.

13. The surf action game of claim 12 wherein said source of water comprises a garden hose.

14. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said toy surf action figures comprises a miniature molded human figure in a surfing pose.

15. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein at least on of said toy surf action figures comprise a molded figure mounted on a miniature surf board.

16. The surf action game of claim 1 wherein at least one of said toy surf action figures comprises a control mechanism adapted to enable a play participant to control the location and/or orientation of the surf action figure in relation to the injected sheet flow.

17. The surf action game of claim 16 wherein said control mechanism comprises a movable weight.

18. The surf action game of claim 16 wherein said control mechanism comprises a magnet.

19. The surf action game of claim 16 wherein said control mechanism comprises a radio controlled transmitter and receiver/actuator.

20. A surf-action figure comprising an action figure mounted to a surf ride vehicle, said surf action figure being sized and configured to perform water skimming maneuvers on an uphill sheet flow of water and having one or more control mechanisms for controlling the position or orientation of said surf-action figure relative to the sheet flow of water.

21. The surf action figure of claim 20 wherein said control mechanism comprises a movable weight.

22. The surf action figure of claim 20 wherein said control mechanism comprises a magnet.

23. The surf action figure of claim 20 wherein said control mechanism comprises a radio controlled transmitter and receiver/actuator.

25. The riding surface of claim 24 wherein said inclined surface is bounded by side walls having a height above the inclined surface sufficient to substantially contain the flow of water thereon.

26. The riding surface of claim 24 wherein said inclined surface is substantially containerless and without side walls.

27. The ride surface of claim 24 wherein the inclined surface has side edges and wherein drains, grates and/or channels are provided adjacent said side edges for allowing water to drain from the surface.

28. The ride surface of claim 24 wherein said one or more nozzles comprise an elongated nozzle or series of nozzles extending substantially the width of said inclined surface.

29. The ride surface of claim 24 wherein said at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles spaced throughout the ride surface.

30. The ride surface of claim 24 further comprising a reservoir for containing a body of water at a desired height and an opening at the base thereof forming said nozzle.

31. The ride surface of claim 30 wherein said reservoir is connected to said source of water.

32. The ride surface of claim 30 wherein said source of water comprises a recirculating pump.

33. The ride surface of claim 30 wherein said source of water comprises a garden hose.

34. The ride surface of claim 24 further comprising a grate or net on or adjacent the base portion of the inclined surface.

35. The ride surface of claim 34 further comprising a recovery pool disposed substantially under said grate or net.

36. The ride surface of claim 24 in combination with at least one toy surf action figures.

37. The combination of claim 36 wherein at least on of said toy surf action figures comprise a miniature molded human figure in a surfing pose.

38. The combination of claim 36 wherein at least on of said toy surf action figures comprise a molded figure mounted on a miniature surf board.

39. The combination of claim 36 wherein at least one of said toy surf action figures comprises a control mechanism adapted to enable a play participant to control the location and/or orientation of the surf action figure in relation to the injected sheet flow.

40. The combination of claim 39 wherein said control mechanism comprises a radio controlled transmitter and receiver/actuator.

24. A riding surface for a simulated surf action game comprising:

an inclined surface having a width, a lower base portion and an upper ridge portion; and

one or more nozzles disposed on or near the inclined surface, said one or more nozzles being configured to introduce a flow of water upward onto said ride surface.