Interactive funhouse play structure

• US 6,132,318 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 07-12690, Inc., WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: SCS Interactive Incorporated (Koala Corporation)
• Inventors: Briggs, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/033,528
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 472/117, 472/128, 482/35, 239/209, 273/395
• US Class Current: 472/128
• 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

An interactive play structure is provided comprising a path defined by the structure along which a plurality of play effects are disposed. As play participants work their way through the structure, they are doused by various water, air and other effects controlled by other play participants. As they continue along the path, participants may discover the controls of these effects and actuate them to douse others.

Claims

1. A delayed water effect for entertaining play participants, said water effect comprising:

a model of a structure that typically holds liquid;

a leak system comprising;

a plurality of pipes, nozzles and valves installed in or around said model such that when said valves are actuated water flows through said nozzles, simulating leaks emanating from said model;

a burst system comprising;

a plurality of pipes, nozzles and valves installed in or around said model of size such that when said valves are actuated water flows through said nozzles in sufficient volumes to simulate a burst of said model;

means for operating said pipes, nozzles and valves;

wherein said valves are progressively actuated in said leak system and then all of said valves to said burst system are actuated concurrently, producing a leak-to-burst effect.

2. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 1 wherein said model simulates a boiler, dam, vat, tank or nuclear reactor.

3. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 1 including a timer, and wherein said leak-to-burst effect is adapted to repeat in accordance with said timer.

4. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 1 including a trigger mechanism, and wherein said trigger mechanism is adapted to actuate said leak-to-burst effect at intermittent unpredictable intervals.

5. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 1 including a trigger mechanism adapted to start said leak-to-burst effect when the trigger is actuated, and wherein actuation of said trigger mechanism can be hastened or delayed by the actions of play participants.

6. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 5, wherein play participants can hasten actuation of the trigger mechanism by operating a trigger-hastening pump.

7. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 5, wherein play participants can delay or hasten actuation of the trigger mechanism by actuating specified trigger-affecting valves.

8. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means to display the status of said leak-to-burst effect.

9. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 1 further comprising sound or vibration effects.

10. A delayed water effect for entertaining play participants, said water effect comprising a plurality of models of structures that typically hold liquid, each of said models comprising:

a leak system comprising;

a plurality of pipes, nozzles and valves installed in or around said model such that when said valves are actuated water flows through said nozzles, simulating leaks emanating from said model;

a burst system comprising;

a plurality of pipes, nozzles and valves installed in or around said model of size such that when said valves are actuated water flows through said nozzles in sufficient volumes to simulate a burst of said model;

means for supplying water to all of said pipes and nozzles; and

means for operating said pipes, nozzles and valves;

trigger means that will determine when operate individual members of said leak and burst systems;

wherein said valves are progressively actuated in said leak system and then all of said valves to said burst system are actuated concurrently, producing a leak-to-burst effect.

11. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said models is adapted to perform said leak-to-burst effect concurrently with others of said models.

12. A delayed water effect in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said models performs said leak-to-burst effect independent of any other of said models.

13. An interactive funhouse play structure for entertaining play participants, said play structure comprising:

a support structure constructed in the theme of a carnival funhouse;

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

a source of pressurized air;

at least one air play element disposed on said support structure;

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

a source of pressurized water;

a path defined by said play structure through which play participants traverse;

a play element disposed on said support structure and adapted to create a desired effect upon a first play participant; and

an actuator and controller for allowing a second play participant to operate said play element;

wherein said controller is positioned such that the first play participant cannot readily determine that the second play participant is responsible for creating the effect experienced by the first play participant.

14. An interactive funhouse play structure for entertaining play participants, said play structure comprising:

a support structure constructed in the theme of a carnival funhouse;

a mirror room play element;

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

a source of pressurized water;

a path defined by said play structure through which play participants traverse;

a play element disposed on said support structure and adapted to create a desired effect upon a first play participant; and

an actuator and controller for allowing a second play participant to operate said play element;

wherein said controller is positioned such that the first play participant cannot readily determine that the second play participant is responsible for creating the effect experienced by the first play participant.

15. A play structure in accordance with claim 14 further comprising:

a conduit system associated with the support structure for supplying air from a pressurized source; and

at least one air play element disposed on said support structure.

16. An interactive funhouse play structure for entertaining play participants, said play structure comprising:

a support structure constructed in the theme of a carnival funhouse;

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

a source of pressurized water;

a gag box play element;

a path defined by said play structure through which play participants traverse;

a play element disposed on said support structure and adapted to create a desired effect upon a first play participant; and

an actuator and controller for allowing a second play participant to operate said play element;

wherein said controller is positioned such that the first play participant cannot readily determine that the second play participant is responsible for creating the effect experienced by the first play participant.

17. A play structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein said gag box comprises:

a one-way mirror;

a graphic effect disposed behind said one-way mirror so as to be hidden from a play participant looking into the mirror;

means for illuminating said graphic; and

means for energizing said means for illuminating said graphic;

wherein a play participant may cause the graphic to be illuminated, thereby causing the graphic to be visible through said one-way mirror.

18. A play structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein the gag box comprises:

a door;

a valve;

a gag box water forming element in communication with the valve; and

an actuator adapted to actuate the valve when the door is opened.

19. A play structure in accordance with claim 18, wherein the gag box water forming element is adapted to direct water at a position immediately adjacent the door.

20. A play structure in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:

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

at least one air play element disposed on said support structure.

21. A method of entertaining play participants by creating a leak-to-burst water effect, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a model of a structure that typically holds liquid;

providing a leak system comprising;

a plurality of pipes, nozzles and valves installed in or around said model such that when said valves are actuated water flows through said nozzles, simulating leaks emanating from said model;

providing a burst system comprising;

a plurality of pipes, nozzles and valves installed in or around said model of size such that when said valves are actuated water flows through said nozzles in sufficient volumes to simulate a burst of said model;

providing means for operating said pipes, nozzles and valves;

progressively actuating said valves in said leak system; and

concurrently actuating all of said valves to said burst system.

22. A play element comprising:

a support structure;

a plurality of valves disposed on said support structure;

hoses connected to individuals of said valves and colored initially to match the color pattern of the valve to which each of said individual hoses is connected, each of said hoses extending into and out of an intertwining area, said intertwining area comprising;

a plurality of hoses, all of said hoses being intertwined with each other and the color pattern of at least one of said hoses varying along the length of the hose so as to no longer match the color pattern of the valve to which it is connected;

said hoses extending from said intertwining area to connect to nozzles, each of said nozzles colored to match the color pattern of the hose to which said nozzle is connected;

wherein actuation of an individual of said valves with a particular color pattern will cause water to flow through an individual of said hoses and emanate from a nozzle whose color pattern does not necessarily match the color pattern of said individual valve.