WET PLAY STRUCTURE INCLUDING A NON-HARNESSED COURSE AND A HARNESSED COURSE

• US 20120083350A1
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ropes Courses Incorporated, WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Ropes Courses Incorporated
• Inventors: Liggett, James A., Frankowski, Hyuma Alexi, Won, Tat K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water

Abstract

A wet play structure including a non-harnessed course and a harnessed course. The wet play structure can be located in an amusement park. The non-harnessed course and the harnessed course can be completely, or partially integrated to increase interaction between users. The wet play structure may include an elevated path configured to allow a user to traverse the elevated path. A track is configured to connect to a harness worn by the user while the user traverses the elevated path. In one aspect, the wet play structure may include a fluid conduit configured to transmit water onto the user while the user traverses the elevated path. In one aspect, a pool positioned beneath the elevated path and configured to contain water.

Claims

1. A wet play structure comprising:

a non-harnessed course; and

a harnessed course connected to the non-harnessed course.

2. The wet play structure of claim 1, further comprising a zip-line section connected to the harnessed course.

3. The wet play structure of claim 2 wherein the harnessed course includes a track configured to connect to a harness, the zip-line section includes a zip-line configured to connect to the harness, and the track and the zip-line are configured to allow the harness to transition from the track to the zip-line.

4. The wet play structure of claim 3 wherein the harness includes a first radio frequency identification unit, and the track includes a second radio frequency identification unit.

5. The wet play structure of claim 1, further comprising a fluid conduit configured to transmit water onto a user traversing at least one of the non-harnesses course or the harnessed course.

6. A wet play structure comprising:

an elevated path configured to allow a user to traverse the elevated path;

a track configured to connect to a harness worn by the user while the user traverses the elevated path; and

a fluid conduit configured to transmit water onto the user while the user traverses the elevated path.

7. The wet play structure of claim 6, wherein the elevated path includes an obstacle, the obstacle selected from a group consisting of a rail for the user to step on to traverse the elevated path, a movable bridge for the user to step on to traverse the elevated path, pods the user steps on to traverse the elevated path, a rope for the user to step on to traverse the elevated path, monkey bars for the user to grip to traverse the elevated path, and combinations thereof.

8. The wet play structure of claim 6, wherein the track is positioned above the elevated path.

9. The wet play structure of claim 6, wherein the fluid conduit is selected from a group consisting of a water shooting device, a water spray device, a water dispersion unit, a tipping bucket, a waterfall, and combinations thereof.

10. The wet play structure of claim 6, wherein the elevated path is configured as a first elevated path and a second elevated path positioned above the first elevated path.

11. The wet play structure of claim 6, wherein the track includes a radio frequency identification unit.

12. The wet play structure of claim 11, wherein the fluid conduit is activated to transmit water onto the user in response to the radio frequency identification unit being activated.

13. The wet play structure of claim 6, further comprising a zip-line coupled to the track.

14. The wet play structure of claim 13, further comprising a fluid conduit configured to transmit water onto a user traveling on the zip-line.

15. The wet play structure of claim 6, wherein the track is tethered to the harness such that the track stops a falling motion of the user if the user falls from the elevated path.

16. A wet play structure comprising:

an elevated path configured to allow a user to traverse the elevated path;

a track configured to connect to a harness worn by the user while the user traverses the elevated path; and

a pool positioned beneath the elevated path and configured to contain water.

17. The wet play structure of claim 16, wherein the elevated path includes an obstacle, the obstacle selected from a group consisting of a rail for the user to step on to traverse the elevated path, a movable bridge for the user to step on to traverse the elevated path, pods the user steps on to traverse the elevated path, a rope for the user to step on to traverse the elevated path, monkey bars for the user to grip to traverse the elevated path, and combinations thereof.

18. The wet play structure of claim 16, wherein the track is positioned above the elevated path.

19. The wet play structure of claim 16, wherein the elevated path is configured as a first elevated path and a second elevated path positioned above the first elevated path.

20. The wet play structure of claim 16, wherein the track includes a radio frequency identification unit.

21. The wet play structure of claim 16, wherein the track is tethered to the harness such that the track stops a falling motion of the user if the user falls from the elevated path.

22. The wet play structure of claim 16, wherein the pool is positioned such that the user contacts water in the pool if the user falls from the elevated path.

23. A wet play structure comprising:

a non-harnessed course;

a harnessed course integrated with the non-harnessed course; and

at least one interactive unit integrated with the non-harnessed course or the harnessed course.

24. The wet play structure of claim 23, wherein the at least one interactive unit is a fluid conduit.

25. The wet play structure of claim 23, wherein the at least one interactive unit is configured to transmit water onto a user of the harnessed course.

26. A wet play structure comprising:

a path configured to allow a user to traverse the path;

a track configured to couple to a harness worn by the user while the user traverses the path; and

at least one interactive unit configured to transmit water onto the user while the user traverses the path.

27. The wet play structure of claim 26, wherein the at least one interactive unit is a fluid conduit.

28. The wet play structure of claim 26, wherein the at least one interactive unit is configured to be operable by a user.