Participatory water play system

• US 5,820,471 A
• Filed: 03/23/1995
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 07-12690, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rick A. Briggs
• Inventors: Briggs, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aubrey, Beth
• Application Number:
  US08/409,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 472/117, 472/128, 482/35-37
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/002 Flat climbing nets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/008 with water spraying means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 9/00 Climbing poles, frames, or stages climbing walls for mountaineering training A63B69/0048; endless loop ladders A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water

Abstract

A participatory water play system is provided incorporating a plurality of water play elements for creating various desired water effects. The participatory water play system comprises a plurality of multiple-order water effects. A first participatory water play element may be manipulated to create a first-order water effect. A second participatory water play element receives water from the first water effect to create a second-order water effect. Thus, play participants can observe and experiment with various cause-and-effect reactions involving multiple-order water effects.

Claims

1. A participatory water play structure for cooling and entertaining play participants, said water play structure comprising:

a support structure;

a conduit system associated with said support structure for supplying water from a pressurized source;

a plurality of first-order participatory water play elements disposed on said support structure and comprising at least one water forming device and a corresponding control actuator for allowing play-participants to create a first water effect; and

a plurality of second-order participatory water play elements disposed on said support structure, at least one of said second-order water play elements being adapted to receive water from said first water effect and to store or impart energy thereto to create a second water effect;

whereby play participants can observe and experiment with various multiple-order cause-and-effect reactions utilizing water.

2. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a frame formed from a plurality of interconnected conduits forming said conduit system.

3. A play structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said conduits comprise galvanized steel pipe having an outer diameter of between about 4 and 8 inches.

4. A play structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said frame further comprises a plurality of non-water carrying framing elements.

5. A play structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein said framing elements comprise PVC pipes or beams.

6. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support structure is formed substantially entirely from non-water carrying framing elements covered in a suitable surfacing material.

7. A play structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein said surfacing material comprises fiberglass or gunite.

8. A play structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein said surfacing material comprises cement or stucco.

9. A play structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein said conduit system comprises conduits or tubing disposed within said support structure.

10. A play structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support structure is formed in the shape of a play object such as an animal, dwelling or vehicle.

11. A play structure in accordance with claim 10 wherein said support structure is formed in the shape of an island wilderness treehouse.

12. A play structure in accordance with claim 10 wherein said support structure is formed in the shape of a pirate ship or pirate'"'"'s village.

13. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first-order participatory water play elements comprises a water spigot and an associated control valve actuator for allowing play participants to fill a basin or other water receptacle.

14. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first-order participatory water play elements comprises a spray hose and an associated control valve actuator.

15. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first-order participatory water play elements comprises a spiraling water spout and an associated control valve actuator.

16. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first-order participatory water play elements comprises a conduit having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings formed in the outer wall thereof and an associated control valve actuator for allowing play participants to selectively spray streams of jetted water.

17. A play structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein said longitudinally spaced openings comprise recessed nipple nozzles.

18. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a giant spilling bucket adapted to be filled or emptied by play participants via one or more associated control actuators.

19. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a pump operated geyser adapted to pump water from an associated water basin.

20. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a pump operated water gun adapted to pump water from an associated water basin.

21. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a spinning water tray adapted to be operated via a hand-crank actuator.

22. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a plurality of interconnected tipping trays and rotatable troughs adapted to selectively channel a flow of water from a first water effect to produce a second delayed water effect.

23. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a crank-operated bucket conveyer adapted to lift water from an associated water basin.

24. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a crank-operated water screw adapted to lift water from an associated water basin.

25. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said second-order participatory water play elements comprises a spinning water wheel adapted to produce a second water effect when impinged upon by a stream of water from a first water effect.

26. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a third-order participatory water play element adapted to receive water from a second water effect to create a third water effect.

27. A play structure in accordance with claim 26, further comprising higher-order participatory water play elements.

28. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising one or more non-water play elements for entertaining play participants.

29. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a water slide which play participants may enter from said support structure.

30. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of decorative panels for providing shelter and/or simulating a desired play theme.

31. A play structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a recirculation pump for delivering water under pressure to said first-order participatory water play elements.

32. A play structure in accordance with claim 31, wherein said recirculation pump comprises an end-suction vertical turbine type pump having a capacity of between about 1000 and 3000 gpm and a maximum head of between about 30 and 60 feet of water.

33. A play structure in accordance with claim 31, further comprising a control valve manifold for regulating a balanced flow of water to said plurality of first-order participatory water play elements.

34. A play structure in accordance with claim 33, wherein said control valve manifold comprises a manifold housing having at least one inlet for receiving water from said recirculation pump and a plurality of outlets each having a corresponding control valve for delivering a substantially balanced flow of water to said plurality of first-order participatory water play elements.

35. A participatory water play apparatus for allowing play participants to observe and experiment with various cause-and-effect reactions involving water, said water play apparatus comprising:

a first-order participatory water play element connected to a source of water under pressure adapted to be controlled by one or more play participants to create a first water effect; and

a second-order participatory water play element disposed proximate said first participatory water play element for receiving water from said first water effect and storing or imparting energy thereto to create a second water effect.

36. A participatory water play apparatus for allowing play participants to observe and experiment with various multiple-order cause-and-effect reactions involving water, said water play apparatus comprising a plurality of tipping trays at least one of which is tilted such that water will flow from one end to the other and adapted to be positioned by one or more play participants to selectively channel a flow of water in either one of two directions depending upon the position of said tipping tray from a first elevation to a second elevation lower that said first elevation.

37. A participatory water play apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein at least one of said tipping trays comprises a swivel base such that said tipping tray is adapted to tip as well as rotate about said swivel base.

38. A delayed reaction water effect for cooling and entertaining play participants, said water effect comprising:

a large water container adapted to receive and accumulate substantial quantities of water, said water container being bistably pivotably mounted such that when said water container accumulates more than a predetermined quantity of water it spills over cooling and entertaining play participants; and

means for filling said water container with water.

39. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said water container has a capacity of between about 100 and 3000 gallons of water.

40. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said water container has a capacity of about 1000 gallons of water.

41. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said water container is provided in the shape of a giant bucket.

42. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said water container is provided in the shape of a giant skull.

43. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said means for filling said water container comprises an adjacent open pipe or other water forming element for providing a substantially continuous flow of water into said water container.

44. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said means for filling said water container comprises an adjacent open pipe or other water forming element for providing a substantially intermittent flow of water into said water container.

45. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 wherein said means for filling said water container comprises an adjacent participatory water play element for allowing play participants to selectively fill said water container.

46. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 45 further comprising an adjacent participatory water play element for allowing play participants to draw water from said water container so as to prevent it from spilling.

47. A delayed reaction water effect in accordance with claim 38 further comprising means for indicating the level of water in said water container.

48. A delayed reaction water effect for cooling and entertaining play participants, said water effect comprising:

a large water container adapted to receive and accumulate substantial quantities of water, said water container being bi-stably pivotably mounted such that when said water container accumulates more than a predetermined quantity of water it spills over cooling and entertaining play participants; and

a water forming element mounted adjacent to said water container for delivering a flow of water to said water container so as to cause said water container to periodically spill over.