INTERACTIVE AMUSEMENT ATTRACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160136529A1
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Inventors: Weston, Denise Chapman, Mendelson, Aaron, Brassard, Daniel, Heaven, Edwin Michael Gyde, Briggs, Rick, Frankowski, Hyuma, Sebulsky, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,764,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water

Abstract

An attraction capable of incorporating user interactivity. The attraction utilizes a slide for supporting a rider, with a ride vehicle or without. The ride vehicle may be a mat or slideboard with handles that allows the user to manipulate its position or other associated elements while on the attraction. Upon manipulating an element, a signal may be transmitted. This signal may aid in determining whether a rider has successfully manipulated the element, for example, at an appropriate time. Sensors along the attraction may also be configured to track the user and/or ride vehicle via determining vicinity of the user and/or ride vehicle at a known location. Various rewards and/or features may be enabled based upon successful manipulation and/or user position. The attraction may include one or more illuminating features. Statistics or other information may be determined, stored, and/or provided (e.g., using mobile applications and/or scoreboards) relating to user performance.

Claims

1. A ride vehicle for an amusement attraction comprising:

a body portion; and

a sensor connected with the body portion and configured to interact with a magnetic element if the sensor enters a vicinity of the magnetic element.

2. The ride vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sensor is disposed within the body portion and adjacent to a bottom surface of the body portion.

3. The ride vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a backrest connected with the body portion and defining an opening therein for housing at least one electrical component.

4. The ride vehicle of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the body portion is inflatable.

5. The ride vehicle of claim 4 wherein the at least a part of the body portion is configured to inflate flat.

6. The ride vehicle of claim 5 wherein the at least a part of the body portion is comprised of a dropstitch material.

7. The ride vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a reed switch.

8. The ride vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an interactive element connected with the body portion and configured to be interacted with by a rider.

9. The ride vehicle of claim 8 wherein the interactive element is a button.

10. A ride vehicle for an amusement attraction comprising:

a body portion;

a backrest connected with the body portion and defining an opening therein for housing at least one electrical component; and

an interactive element connected with the backrest and configured to be interacted with by a rider.

11. The ride vehicle of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrical component is a battery.

12. The ride vehicle of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrical component is a processor.

13. The ride vehicle of claim 10 wherein the backrest is formed of a molded material.

14. The ride vehicle of claim 10 wherein the backrest is at least partially inflatable.

15. The ride vehicle of claim 10 wherein the interactive element is electrically connected with the at least one electrical component via a conductor that is at least partially disposed within the backrest.

16. A ride vehicle for traveling via a flow of water on a waterslide comprising:

an inflatable body portion defining an opening for a rider to sit therein;

a material connected with the body portion and covering the opening for reducing at least some of the flow of water on the waterslide from engaging with the rider as the body portion travels on the waterslide; and

an interactive element connected with the body portion and configured to be interacted with by the rider as the body portion travels on the waterslide.

17. The ride vehicle of claim 16 wherein the material is flush with a bottom surface of the body portion.

18. The ride vehicle of claim 16 wherein the material comprises a plate that is at least semi-rigid.

19. The ride vehicle of claim 16 further comprising a communication component connected with the body portion and configured to wirelessly communicate with a second communication component associated with the waterslide.

20. The ride vehicle of claim 19 wherein the communication component is an infrared sensor.