THEMED AMUSEMENT RIVER RIDE SYSTEM

• US 20100160054A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 27/00 Russian swings; Great wheels, e.g. Ferris wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel

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 at least two of the water stations for the purpose of conveying participants between at least two of the 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 waterpark attraction system, comprising:

at least one ride feature configurable in two or more modes of operation, wherein at least one of the ride features is configurable in one of the two or more modes of operation based on at least one characteristic of an attraction participant.

2. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant comprises a number of times the participant has used the ride.

3. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant comprises one or more modes of operation previously experienced by the participant.

4. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant comprises an access level.

5. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant comprises a type of transportation vehicle used by the participant.

6. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant is based on a selection made by the attraction participant.

7. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ride features comprises one of a router, a wave generator, a sprayer, a video display, a speaker, a light, or a game.

8. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ride features comprises a router comprising a first mode of operation that is configured to direct the participant toward a first path and a second mode of operation that is configured to direct the participant toward a second path.

9. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ride features is automatically configurable between modes of operation.

10. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, further comprising an identification device.

11. The waterpark attraction system of claim 10, wherein the identification device is associated with one or more of the characteristics of an attraction participant.

13. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor device configured to sense an identification device.

14. The waterpark attraction system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sensor devices comprises an RFID scanner.

15. The waterpark attraction system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sensor devices comprises a biometric sensor.

19. The waterpark attraction system of claim 1, further comprising an identification device configured to couple to a participant, and a sensor device configured to sense the identification device, wherein the sensor device is located proximate and preceding at least one of the ride features, and wherein the sensor device is configured to sense a signature signal of the identification device, wherein the signature signal is associated with a characteristic of an attraction participant, and wherein at least one of the ride features is configurable in a mode of operation based on the characteristic when the participant is at or near the ride feature.

12. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20. A method of operating a theme park attraction, comprising:

determining a characteristic associated with a participant; and

configuring an attraction ride feature in one of a plurality of modes of operation based on the characteristic associated with a participant.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a characteristic associated with a participant comprises:

sensing an identification device;

assessing one or more characteristics associated with the identification device; and

determining a mode value based on the one or more characteristics associated with a participant.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a characteristic associated with a participant comprises:

sensing biometric participant identifier;

assessing one or more characteristics associated with the biometric participant identifier; and

determining a mode value based on the one or more characteristics associated with a participant.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein configuring an attraction ride feature in one of a plurality of modes of operation based on the characteristic associated with a participant comprises:

receiving a mode value based on the characteristic associated with a participant;

determining a mode of operation based on the mode value; and

configuring an attraction ride feature in one of a plurality of modes of operation based on the determined mode of operation.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a characteristic associated with a participant comprises determining an access level associated with the participant, and configuring an attraction ride feature in one of a plurality of modes of operation based on the characteristic associated with a participant comprises enabling or disabling the ride feature based on the determined access level.

25. A modular attraction system, comprising:

a module system, comprising;

a module; and

ride features configurable in two or more modes of operation, wherein at least one of the ride features is configurable in one of the two or more modes of operation based on at least one characteristic of an attraction participant.

26. The modular attraction system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant comprises a number of times the participant has passed through the module system.

27. The modular attraction system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the characteristics of an attraction participant comprises one or more modes of operation previously experienced by the participant.

28. The modular attraction system of claim 25, wherein the module system is couplable to one or more other module systems.

29. The modular attraction system of claim 28, further comprising a series of modular systems coupled end to end to form at least a portion of a ride system.

30. The modular attraction system of claim 25, wherein the modular system is configured to be interchanges with one or more other module systems.

31. The modular attraction system of claim 25, wherein the modular system is disposable over at least a portion of a ride system.

32. The modular attraction system of claim 25, wherein the modular system is disposable over an area of a water park frequented by pedestrian participants.

33-247. -247. (canceled)