Water amusement system with elevated structure

• US 20070033868A1
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery, Schooley, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/40.500
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/043 Transplanting devices for grasping, undercutting or transporting the root ball A01G23/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/005 Reservoirs connected to flower-pots through conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/007 Artificial trees
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating

Abstract

A water amusement system may include a composite tree and an elevated structure. A composite tree may include a base having an artificial trunk portion. The base may be coupled to the surface. Living plants may be coupled to the base. Portions of the living plants may form branches of the composite tree. In some embodiments, the living plants are living trees. The system may include at least one structure coupled to the base. At least one of the structures may function to contain one or more persons above the surface. The water amusement system may include a water amusement ride coupled to the base. The water amusement ride may include an access point configured to allow participants to access the water amusement ride from the structure.

Claims

1-95. -95. (canceled)

96. A water amusement system, comprising:

a base coupled to a surface;

a structure coupled to the base, the structure configured to hold a participant of a water amusement system, wherein a bottom of the structure is elevated above the surface;

a water amusement ride, wherein at least a portion of the water amusement ride is positioned adjacent the base; and

an access point configured to allow participants to access the water amusement ride from the structure.

97. The water amusement system of claim 96, further comprising a platform adjacent to the access point.

101. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the bottom of the structure is elevated above the surface such that participants of the water amusement system can walk on a surface directly below at least a portion of the structure.

102. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the bottom of the structure is at least 2 meters above the surface.

103. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein at least a portion of the base extends over the water amusement ride.

104. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein at least a portion of the structure extends over the water amusement ride.

105. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein at least a portion of the base or a portion of the structure shades a portion of the water amusement ride from overhead sunlight.

106. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the structure is configured to accommodate overnight guests.

107. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the base comprises two or more columns, the water amusement system further comprising a bridge between the columns over a portion of the water amusement ride.

109. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the access point comprises an opening in the base adjacent to the surface, and wherein the opening provides access through the base to the structure.

113. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the base comprises one or more receptacles configured to hold one or more living plants.

114. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the base comprises one or more receptacles configured to hold one or more living plants, wherein the base forms a trunk of a composite tree, wherein at least one of the plants forms a branch of the composite tree.

115. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the base comprises one or more receptacles configured to hold one or more living plants, wherein the base forms a trunk of a composite tree, wherein at least one of the plants forms a branch of the composite tree, wherein at least a portion of one of the branches extends over the water amusement ride.

116. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein the structure comprises one or more lodging units.

117. The water amusement system of claim 96, wherein a bottom of at least one of the structures is configured such that a participant positioned on the ground is inhibited from viewing the interior of the structure.

118. The water amusement system of claim 96, further comprising an interactive control system coupled to one of the structures, the interactive control system is operable by a participant in or on the structure to interact with a participant on the water amusement ride.

98. (canceled)

99. (canceled)

100. (canceled)

108. (canceled)

110. (canceled)

111. (canceled)

112. (canceled)

119-157. -157. (canceled)

158. A system, comprising:

a first base coupled to a first surface;

a first structure coupled to the first base, the first structure configured to hold a participant of a water amusement system above the first surface;

a second base coupled to a second surface;

a second structure coupled to the second base, the second structure configured to hold a participant of the water amusement system above the second surface; and

a body of water, at least a portion of the body of water coupling the first base to the second base, the body of water comprising a water amusement ride.

161. The system of claim 158, wherein the body of water comprises a water channel coupling the first base to the second base.

162. The system of claim 158, wherein the bottom of the at least one of the structures is elevated above the surface such that participants of the water amusement system can walk on a surface directly below at least a portion of the structure.

167. The system of claim 158, wherein at least one of the structures is configured to accommodate overnight guests.

159. (canceled)

160. (canceled)

163-166. -166. (canceled)

168-375. -375. (canceled)