Control system for water amusement devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a water system configured to produce a water effect;
a control system coupled to the water system, wherein the control system is configured to generate one or more water system control signals to activate the water system to produce the water effect; and
an activation point coupled to the control system comprising an optical touch button, wherein the activation point is configured to receive one or more participant signals and send one or more activation signals to the control system;
wherein the control system is configured to generate the water system control signals in response to the activation signals.
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Abstract
A control system for a water amusement system is described. The control system is configured to operate the water amusement system to produce water effects, sound effects, and/or light effects when the control system receives an activation signal. The activation signal may be sent to the control system by an activation point, such as an optical touch button, or a water target. The control system is further configured to produce water effects, sound effects, and/or light effects in the absence of an activation signal to attract participants to the water amusement system.
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Citations
199 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a water system configured to produce a water effect;
a control system coupled to the water system, wherein the control system is configured to generate one or more water system control signals to activate the water system to produce the water effect; and
an activation point coupled to the control system comprising an optical touch button, wherein the activation point is configured to receive one or more participant signals and send one or more activation signals to the control system;
wherein the control system is configured to generate the water system control signals in response to the activation signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a water system configured to produce a water effect, comprising:
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applying at least one participant signal to an activation point, wherein the activation point comprises an optical touch button;
producing at least one activation signal in response to the at least one participant signal;
sending the at least one activation signal to a control system;
producing at least one water system control signal in the control system in response to the at least one received activation signal;
sending the at least one water system control signal from the control system to the water system, wherein the water system produces a water effect in response to the at least one water system control signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising:
a water system, the water system comprising;
a first hollow member comprising a closed end and an opposite end having an opening therein;
a second hollow member comprising first and second opposing open ends, wherein the second hollow member is of smaller cross-sectional area than the first hollow member, and wherein, during use, the second hollow member is disposed in the opening in the first hollow member to form an airtight seal within the opening, such that the second open end is inside the first hollow member;
a partition member with an opening therein, wherein, during use, the partition member is disposed inside the first hollow member and the second hollow member is disposed in the opening in the partition member, such that the partition member is slidable along at least of portion of the second hollow member, and further wherein the partition member substantially forms a partition from the exterior surface of the second hollow member to the interior surface of the first hollow member;
one or more fluid inlets configured to release fluid into the first hollow member during use;
one or more gas inlets configured to release a gas into the first hollow member during use, and wherein the partition member is disposed between a gas inlet and the closed end of the first hollow member during use;
a flow control device in communication with a gas inlet, wherein the flow control device is configured to control a flow of gas to the gas inlet; and
an activation point comprising an optical touch button coupled to the flow control device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method of operating a water system, wherein the water system comprises:
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a first hollow member comprising a closed end and an opposite end having an opening therein;
a second hollow member comprising first and second opposing open ends, wherein the second hollow member is of smaller cross-sectional area than the first hollow member, and wherein, during use, the second hollow member is disposed in the opening in the first hollow member to form an airtight seal within the opening, such that the first open end is outside the first hollow member, or coplanar with an end of the first hollow member, and the second open end is inside the first hollow member;
a partition member with an opening therein, wherein, during use, the partition member is disposed inside the first hollow member and the second hollow member is disposed in the opening in the partition member, such that the partition member is slidable along at least of portion of the second hollow member, and further wherein the partition member substantially forms a partition from the exterior surface of the second hollow member to the interior surface of the first hollow member;
one or more fluid inlets connected to a fluid source and configured to release fluid into the first hollow member during use;
one or more gas inlets connected to a source of pressurized gas, and configured to release a gas into the first hollow member during use, and wherein the partition member is disposed between a gas inlet and the closed end of the first hollow member during use; and
a flow control device in communication with a gas inlet, the flow control device configured to control a flow of gas to the gas inlet;
at least one activation point comprising an optical touch button;
the method comprising;
applying one or more participant signals to an activation point;
producing one or more activation signals in response to the one or more participant signals; and
producing a water effect in response to the one or more activation signals. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A system comprising:
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a water system, the water system comprising;
a roof having a friction surface;
a support member coupled to the roof, wherein the support member is configured to support the roof such that the roof is movable;
a water source;
a conduit configured to communicate with the water source during use, wherein the conduit is positioned to direct water onto the friction surface to cause the roof to rotate during use;
a flow control device for controlling water flow through the conduit during use; and
an activation point coupled to the flow control device comprising an optical touch button. wherein the activation point is configured to receive one or more participant signals and send one or more activation signals in response to the received participant signals;
wherein the water system is configured to create one or more water effects in response to the one or more activation signals. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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110. A method of operating a water system, the water system comprising:
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a roof having a friction surface;
a support member coupled to the roof, wherein the support member is configured to support the roof such that the roof is movable;
a water source;
a conduit configured to communicate with the water source during use, the conduit positioned to direct water onto the friction surface to cause the roof to rotate during use;
a flow control device for controlling water flow through the conduit during use; and
at least one activation point comprising an optical touch button;
the method comprising;
applying one or more participant signals to an activation point;
producing one or more activation signals in response to the one or more participant signals; and
producing a water effect in response to the one or more activation signals. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132)
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133. A system comprising:
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a water system configured to produce a water effect;
a sound system configured to produce a sound effect; and
an activation point coupled to the water system and the sound system comprising an optical touch button;
wherein the activation point is configured to receive one or more participant signals and send one or more activation signals in response to the participant signals;
wherein the water system is configured to generate at least one water effect in response to an activation signal; and
wherein the sound system is configured to generate at least one sound effect in response to an activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150)
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151. A method of operating an water amusement device, the water amusement device comprising a water system configured to produce a water effect and a sound system configured to produce a sound effect, comprising:
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applying one or more participant signals to an activation point, wherein the activation point comprises an optical touch button;
producing an activation signal in response to the applied participant signal;
wherein the water system produces the water effect in response to the activation signal; and
wherein the sound system produces the sound effect in response to the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167)
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168. A system comprising;
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a first water effect generator a second water effect generator; and
a water target coupled to the second water effect generator, wherein the water target comprises a water retention area, and an associated liquid sensor;
wherein the system is configured such that during use a participant directs the first water effect generator toward the water target in an attempt to strike the water target with water;
wherein upon being hit with water, the water target sends an activation signal; and
wherein the second water effect generator activates in response to the activation signal from the water target. - View Dependent Claims (169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184)
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185. A method of operating an interactive water game, the interactive water game comprising a water target, a first water effect generator, and a second water effect generator;
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directing water from the first water effect generator toward the water target to attempt to strike the water target with water;
producing an activation signal in the water target, if the water target is hit with water; and
producing a water effect in the second water effect generator in response to the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199)
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Specification