Spinning water ride apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A water ride apparatus comprising:
- (a) a flume which defines a ride path, and including water input means associated with the flume for directing a layer of water along a bottom surface of the flume in a ride direction;
(b) a raft adapted to slide through the flume and along the ride path in the ride direction on the layer of water;
(c) a plurality of projection areas, the plurality of projection areas being spaced apart around a periphery of the raft bottom surface, each projection area including a plurality of projections extending downwardly away from the bottom surface of the raft; and
(d) a ridge area located on the bottom surface of the flume, the ridge area extending transversely to the ride path across a portion thereof and including a plurality of upwardly opening depressions, each depression including a depression edge facing substantially transversely to the ride path in position to contact a projection in one of the projection areas as the raft travels along the ride path in the ride direction, said contact causing the raft to spin about a raft center of rotation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A water ride includes a flume (10) defining a ride path. Patrons of the ride travel in rafts (24) along the flume (10) with the rafts riding on a thin layer of water introduced into the flume. To induce the rafts (24) to spin at desired locations in a controlled fashion, the rafts each include raft features (30) located on a bottom surface (32) of the raft. Flume features (34) are positioned at desired locations along the ride path in position to make contact with the raft features (30). This contact between the raft features (30) and the flume features (34) induces a controlled spin to the raft (24). The raft features (30) preferably include projections (36) extending downwardly from the bottom surface (32) of the raft at locations offset from a raft center of rotation. The flume features (34) preferably comprise alternating depressions (38) and ridges (40) extending transversely to the ride path along one side of the flume (10).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A water ride apparatus comprising:
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(a) a flume which defines a ride path, and including water input means associated with the flume for directing a layer of water along a bottom surface of the flume in a ride direction; (b) a raft adapted to slide through the flume and along the ride path in the ride direction on the layer of water; (c) a plurality of projection areas, the plurality of projection areas being spaced apart around a periphery of the raft bottom surface, each projection area including a plurality of projections extending downwardly away from the bottom surface of the raft; and (d) a ridge area located on the bottom surface of the flume, the ridge area extending transversely to the ride path across a portion thereof and including a plurality of upwardly opening depressions, each depression including a depression edge facing substantially transversely to the ride path in position to contact a projection in one of the projection areas as the raft travels along the ride path in the ride direction, said contact causing the raft to spin about a raft center of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a water ride of the type in which a raft travels along a ride path through a flume on a layer of water running along a bottom surface of the flume, the improvement comprising:
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(a) at least one raft feature located on a bottom surface of the raft at a position spaced apart from a raft center of rotation, each raft feature including a raised edge positioned along a line extending generally radially from the raft center of rotation; and (b) at least one flume feature located on the flume bottom surface, in position to contact the raft feature as the raft travels along the ride path, wherein the contact between the raft feature on the raft bottom surface and the flume feature on the flume bottom surface induces the raft to spin about the raft center of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a water ride in which a raft travels on a layer of water along a ride path through a flume, and in which the raft includes at least one raft feature located on a bottom surface of the raft and offset from a center of rotation of the raft, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) aligning at least one raft feature so that it provides a raised edge extending generally transverse to the ride path; and (b) making contact between each said aligned raft feature on one side of the raft and a flume feature located on a bottom surface of the flume as the raft travels along the ride path, such contact causing the raft to spin about the raft center of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification