Method and apparatus for controlling break points and reducing rip currents in wave pools

• US 6,738,992 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Lochtefeld
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Lochtefeld
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US10/243,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 448/8, 449/1, 490/4, 405/79
• US Class Current: 4/491
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125

Abstract

The invention relates to a wave pool wherein a portion of the floor and/or beach is provided with a grated section. With the grated section extending along the beach, the grates will allow water to pass into a cavity, wherein backflows are eliminated and rip currents are avoided. With the grated section extending along the floor, the grated section is able to change the effective depth of the pool floor at that location, thereby altering the wave formation characteristics. One or more channels can be provided to circulate water away from the cavity toward the other end of the pool, which helps keep the pool in substantial equilibrium.

Claims

1. A method of producing various wave effects in a wave pool, comprising:

providing a wave pool having a body of water therein with a wave generating device located at a first end or portion thereof;

providing a floor in said wave pool having at least one inclined section followed by at least one declined section located substantially remotely from said wave generating device;

providing a beach area extending above said floor;

providing a cavity beneath said floor for circulating water from above said floor to said wave generating device;

using said wave generating device to create said wave effects in said body of water; and

using said at least one inclined section followed by said at least one declined section to substantially alter the wave effects within said body of water.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises providing a grated section on said at least one declined section, wherein said grated section helps to change the effective depth of said body of water at that location, such that the wave effects produced in said body of water can be altered thereby.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein water passing through said grated section can enter into said cavity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one inclined section and said at least one declined section extend parallel to each other, and either parallel, or diagonally, with respect to the direction of said beach area.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said beach area is provided with an inclined grated section for allowing water to pass through, and said cavity is extended under said inclined grated section such that water passing through said inclined grated section can enter into said cavity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said cavity forms at least one channel to circulate water toward said wave generating device, and wherein a pump is used to circulate water through said channel, and water is drawn from said channel and used by said wave generating device to create additional wave effects in said wave pool.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the method comprises the step of extending said inclined grated section down onto a part of said floor and extending a secondary grated section over a portion of said inclined grated section to provide footing for users in that portion of said wave pool.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the method comprises the step of extending said floor above the standing mean water level of said wave pool, such that as waves are created by said wave generating device, water flows over an upper edge of said floor and onto said inclined grated section.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said beach area is provided with an inclined grated section for allowing water to pass through, and said cavity is extended under said inclined grated section into which water passing through said inclined grated section can enter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a grated surface is extended substantially over said floor, to provide footing for users in said wave pool, without substantially affecting the wave effects in said wave pool.

11. A wave pool comprising:

a container for holding a body of water, said container having a floor with at least one inclined section, followed by at least one declined section, followed by a second inclined section, extending in a direction from a first end to a second end of said container;

a wave generating device for creating waves in said body of water located at or near said first end, and an inclined beach extending above said second inclined section of said floor located at or near said second end; and

wherein at least a portion of said floor and/or beach comprises a grated section through which water and wave energy can pass, wherein said grated section is sufficient in size to alter the wave characteristics of said body of water in said container.

12. The wave pool of claim 11, wherein at least one grated section is located on said beach, and a cavity is provided under said at least one grated section into which water can enter.

13. The wave pool of claim 12, wherein at least one channel is operatively connected to said cavity and extends substantially between said first and second ends of said container, said channel enabling water passing through said at least one grated section and into said cavity to be circulated substantially from said second end to said first end, wherein said circulation helps to maintain the revel of water in said body of water in substantial equilibrium.

14. The wave pool of claim 13, wherein a pump is provided to circulate water in said channel from said second end to said first end.

15. The wave pool of claim 12, wherein said at least one grated section begins above the standing mean water level of said body of water, wherein water that flows through said at least one grated section is able to flow into said cavity, and be substantially prevented from flowing in a reverse direction back onto said floor.

16. The wave pool of claim 12, wherein at least one second grated section is located on said at least one declined section, and said cavity is extended below said at least one second grated section such that water from above said floor can enter into said cavity through said at least one second grated section, and wherein said at least one second grated section helps to change the effective depth of the body of water at that location to alter the wave effects created therein.

17. The wave pool of claim 16, wherein said at least one inclined section and said at least one declined section extend parallel to each other, and either parallel, or diagonally, with respect to the direction of said beach area.

18. A wave pool comprising:

a container with a wave generating device for creating wave effects in said wave pool;

a floor having at least one inclined section followed by at least one declined section located substantially remotely from said wave generating device for substantially altering said wave effects within said wave pool;

a beach area extending above said floor; and

a cavity beneath said floor for circulating water from above said floor to said wave generating device.

19. The wave pool of claim 18, further comprising a grated section on said at least one declined section, wherein said grated section helps to change the effective depth of said body of water at that location, such that the wave effects produced in said body of water can be altered thereby, wherein water passing through said grated section can enter into said cavity.

20. The wave pool of claim 19, wherein said cavity forms at least one channel to circulate water toward said wave generating device, and wherein a pump is used to circulate water through said channel, and water is drawn from said channel and used by said wave generating device to create additional wave effects in said wave pool.