Inclined slide structure

• US 5,427,574 A
• Filed: 03/24/1994
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drusilla J. Donnelly-Weide
• Original Assignee: Drusilla J. Donnelly-Weide
• Inventors: Donnelly-Weide, Drusilla J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/217,501
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/136, 52/183, 52/184, 182/48, 182/49, 182/129, 104/69, 104/70, 403/220, 403/223, 403/291, 403/50, 403/51
• US Class Current: 472/116
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/00 Chutes; Helter-skelters

Abstract

This invention concerns an inclined slide structure for placement onto an inclined surface or a set of stairs for amusement purposes. The inclined slide structure is comprised of a series of generally U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections to be assembled in end-to-end relation, an uppermost U-shaped inclined slide section, a lowermost U-shaped inclined slide section, connectors for joining opposed ends of the U-shaped inclined slide sections in quick-connect and quick-disconnect end-to-end assembly together, a first U-shaped expandable connector section joining the uppermost U-shaped inclined slide section to an uppermost of the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections, and a second U-shaped expandable connector section joining the lowermost U-shaped inclined slide section to a lowermost of the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections. The first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections have expandable pleats that can be expanded and contracted longitudinally on a top portion and on a bottom portion thereof to provide an inclined and a declined section in an angled relation for attachment between the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections and the uppermost and lowermost U-shaped inclined slide section. The inclined slide structure also providing a water hose port to make the inclined slide structure into an inclined water slide structure. An angular turn section can also be added for inclines or stairways that have a turn mid-way down the incline.

Claims

1. An inclined slide structure comprised of a series of generally U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections to be assembled in end-to-end relation, an uppermost U-shaped inclined slide section, a lowermost U-shaped inclined slide section, means for joining opposed ends of the U-shaped inclined slide sections in quick-connect and quick-disconnect end-to-end assembly together, a first U-shaped expandable connector section joining the uppermost U-shaped inclined slide section to an uppermost section of the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections, and a second U-shaped expandable connector section joining said lowermost U-shaped inclined slide section to a lowermost section of the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections.

2. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections have expandable pleats that can be expanded and contracted longitudinally on a top portion and on a bottom portion thereof to provide an inclined and a declined section in an angled relation for attachment between said U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections and the uppermost and lowermost U-shaped inclined slide sections, whereby a downwardly angled expandable section is created when the top portion of the first U-shaped expandable connector section is expanded while the bottom portion of the first U-shaped expandable connector section is contracted, and an upwardly angled expandable section is created when the bottom portion of the second U-shaped expandable connector section is expanded while the top portion of the second U-shaped expandable connector section is contracted.

3. The inclined slide structure of claim 2 wherein said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections are made of a semi-flexible blow molded hollow plastic material.

4. The inclined slide structure of claim 2 wherein said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections have an accordion type configuration for expansion and contraction.

5. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein each of said U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections, said uppermost and lowermost U-shaped inclined slide sections, and said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections has a gripping means on a bottom surface thereof.

6. The inclined slide structure of claim 5 wherein said gripping means is comprised of a rubberized coating.

7. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein hand ports extend through opposite sides of the uppermost U-shaped inclined slide section.

8. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein an angular U-shaped inclined slide section having a 90 degree turn and means for joining ends of said angular U-shaped inclined slide section can be connected and placed between two U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections whereby said inclined slide structure can extend down inclines that have corners mid-way through the incline.

9. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped intermediate inclined sections have different lengths so that the length of said inclined slide structure can be customized to accommodate a specific inclined length.

10. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections have section locating pins and section locating slots located in different locations on each U-shaped intermediate inclined slide section to permit the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections to be assembled in a predetermined prescribed order thereby preventing the U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections from being assembled in an interchangeable manner.

11. The inclined slide structure of claim 1 wherein a water hose port is placed into an outer side of the uppermost U-shaped inclined slide section and water holes are positioned in the uppermost U-shaped inclined section slide so that water can exit the water holes and flow down the inclined slide.

12. The inclined slide structure of claim 11 wherein said means for joining the sections provides a tight fit and coacts with said U-shaped inclined slide sections to provide a water tight seal when the U-shaped inclined slide sections are connected together, said U-shaped expandable connectors also providing water tight seals.

13. An inclined water slide structure comprised of a series of generally U-shaped intermediate inclined water slide sections to be assembled in end-to-end relation, an uppermost U-shaped inclined water slide section, a lowermost U-shaped inclined water slide section, means for joining opposed ends of the U-shaped inclined water slide sections in water tight quick-connect and quick-disconnect end-to-end assembly together, a first U-shaped expandable connector section joining the uppermost U-shaped inclined water slide section to an uppermost section of the U-shaped intermediate inclined water slide sections in water tight assembly, a second U-shaped expandable connector section joining said lowermost U-shaped inclined water slide section to a lowermost section of the U-shaped intermediate inclined water slide sections in water tight assembly, and a water hose port is being positioned into the uppermost U-shaped inclined water slide section and water holes are positioned in the uppermost U-shaped inclined water slide section so that water can exit the water holes and flow clown the inclined water slide.

14. The inclined water slide structure of claim 13 herein said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections have expandable pleats that can be expanded and contracted longitudinally on a top portion and on a bottom portion thereof to provide an inclined and a declined section in an angled relation for attachment between said U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections and the uppermost and lowermost U-shaped inclined slide sections, whereby a downward angled expandable section is created when the top portion of the first U-shaped expandable connector section is expanded while the bottom portion of the first U-shaped expandable connector section is contracted, and an upward angled expandable section is created when the bottom portion of the second U-shaped expandable connector section is expanded while the top portion of the second U-shaped expandable connector section is contracted.

15. The inclined water slide structure of claim 14 wherein said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections are made of a semi-flexible blow molded hollow plastic material.

16. The inclined water slide structure of claim 14 wherein said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections have an accordion type configuration for expansion and contraction.

17. The inclined water slide structure of claim 13 wherein each of said U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections, said uppermost and lowermost U-shaped inclined slide sections, and said first and second U-shaped expandable connector sections has a gripping means on a bottom surface thereof.

18. The inclined water slide structure of claim 13 wherein an angular U-shaped inclined slide section having a 90 degree turn and means for joining ends of said angular U-shaped inclined slide section can be connected and placed between two U-shaped intermediate inclined slide sections whereby said inclined water slide structure can extend down inclines that have corners mid-way through the incline.