Continuous water ride method and system for water amusement parks

• US 20070197304A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Henry Schooley and Associates
• Inventors: Schooley, John, Henry, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats

Abstract

A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be actively involved in a water attraction. This transportation system comprises at least two water stations and at least one water channel connecting the at least two water stations for the purpose of conveying participants between the at least two water stations. In addition, the water transportation system may include conveyor belt systems and water locks configured to convey participants from a first source of water to a second source of water which may or may not be at a different elevation.

Claims

1. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride; and

a conveyor belt system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from a first point coupled to an end of the first water amusement ride to a second point coupled to a beginning of the second water amusement ride, wherein the first point is at a lower elevation than the second point, and wherein an end of the second water amusement ride and a beginning of the first water amusement ride are coupled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water rides comprises at least one water releasing mechanism configured to inject water onto a surface of the water ride such that a body of flowing water is produced on the surface of the water ride.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an elevation increasing system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from the end of the second water amusement ride to the beginning of the first water amusement ride.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third water amusement ride, wherein a beginning of the third ride is coupled to the end of the second water ride, and wherein an end of the third ride is coupled to the beginning of the first ride.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a floating queue line coupled to a beginning of at least one of the water amusement rides.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the floating queue line comprises a queue line channel wherein the queue line channel is configured to hold water at a depth sufficient to allow a flexible inflated vehicle to float within the queue line channel during use, and wherein the floating queue line is coupled to the water ride such that a flexible inflated vehicle remains in the water while being transferred from the channel along the floating queue line to the water ride.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevation system comprises a conveyor belt system.

225. The system of claim 1, wherein a beginning and/or an end of a conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system extends below a surface of water.

226. The system of claim 1, wherein the end of the second water amusement ride and the beginning of the first water amusement ride are coupled such that at least one participant is conveyed in at least one of the flexible inflated vehicles from the end of the second water amusement ride and the beginning of the first water amusement ride.

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16. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride; and

an elevation increasing system configured to convey a flexible inflated vehicle from an end of the first water amusement ride to a beginning of the second water amusement ride, wherein the end of the first ride and the beginning of the second ride are at different elevation levels;

wherein an end of the second water amusement ride and a beginning of the first water amusement ride are coupled with at least a third water amusement ride.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the water rides comprises at least one water releasing mechanism configured to inject water onto a surface of the water ride such that a body of flowing water is produced on the surface of the water ride.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a second elevation increasing system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle, wherein the second elevation increasing system is positioned between the end of the second water amusement ride and the beginning of the first water amusement ride.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising a floating queue line coupled to an entry point of at least one of the water amusement rides.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the floating queue line comprises a queue line channel wherein the queue line channel is configured to hold water at a depth sufficient to allow a flexible inflated vehicle to float within the queue line channel during use, and wherein the floating queue line is coupled to the water ride such that a flexible inflated vehicle remains in the water while being transferred from the channel along the floating queue line to the water ride.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the elevation system comprises an uphill water slide.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the elevation system comprises a conveyor belt system.

227. The system of claim 16, wherein the end of the second water amusement ride and the beginning of the first water amusement ride are coupled with at least a third water amusement ride such that at least one participant is conveyed in at least one of the flexible inflated vehicles from the end of the second water amusement ride and the beginning of the first water amusement ride.

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30. A method of transporting participants in a water amusement system, comprising:

conveying one or more flexible inflated vehicles from an end of a first water amusement ride to a beginning of a second water amusement ride disposed at a higher elevational level using a conveyor belt system; and

conveying at least one participant in one of the flexible inflated vehicles from a beginning of the first water amusement ride to an end of the second water amusement ride and back to the beginning of the first water amusement ride.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

injecting water onto a surface of at least one of the water amusement rides; and

producing a body of flowing water on the surface of the water amusement ride.

39. The method of claim 30, further comprising controlling a rate of flow of participants into an entry point of the first water amusement ride using a floating queue line.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising maintaining water in a queue line channel at a depth sufficient to allow a flexible inflated vehicle to float within the queue line channel during use.

228. The method of claim 30, wherein a beginning and/or an end of a conveyor belt of the conveyor belt system extends below a surface of water.

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