Continuous water ride

• US 7,229,359 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Henry Schooley and Associates
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery Wayne, Schooley, John
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/693,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20050090318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 472116-129, 104/69, 104/70
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats

Abstract

A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be actively involved in a water attraction. This transportation system comprises at least two water stations and at least one water channel connecting the at least two water stations for the purpose of conveying participants between the at least two water stations. In addition, the water transportation system may include conveyor belt systems and water locks configured to convey participants from a first source of water to a second source of water which may or may not be at a different elevation.

Claims

1. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

an elevation increasing system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from an exit point of the first water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, or a point preceding such entry point, wherein the exit point of the first ride and the entry point of the second ride are at different elevation levels; and

a second elevation increasing system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from the exit point of the second or any subsequent water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to the entry point of the first water amusement ride, or a point preceding such entry point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first water ride and/or the second water ride comprises at least one water releasing mechanism configured to inject water onto a surface of the water ride such that a body of flowing water is produced on the surface of the water ride.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevation increasing system and/or the second elevation increasing system comprises a spiral transport device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an exit point of the second water amusement ride and an entry point of the first water amusement ride are coupled.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third water amusement ride, wherein an exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride, and wherein an entry point of the third or any subsequent ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the exit point of the third or any subsequent ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride with a body of water, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride with a body of water.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a floating queue line coupled to an entry point of at least one of the water amusement rides.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the floating queue line comprises a queue line channel wherein the queue line channel is configured to hold water at a depth sufficient to allow a flexible inflated vehicle to float within the queue line channel during use, and wherein the floating queue line is coupled to the water ride such that a flexible inflated vehicle remains in the water while being transferred from the channel along the floating queue line to the water ride.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevation increasing system and/or the second elevation increasing system comprises a water slide, and wherein at least a portion of the water slide is uphill.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevation increasing system or the second elevation increasing system comprises an uphill water slide.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevation increasing system or the second elevation increasing system comprises a conveyor belt system.

12. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

an elevation increasing system configured to convey a flexible inflated vehicle from an exit point of the first water amusement ride to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, wherein the exit point of the first ride and the entry point of the second ride are at different elevation levels;

wherein the exit point of the second water amusement ride and the entry point of the first water amusement ride are coupled; and

a third water amusement ride, wherein an exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first water ride, the second water ride, and/or the third water ride comprises at least one water releasing mechanism configured to inject water onto a surface of the water ride such that a body of flowing water is produced on the surface of the water ride.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the elevation increasing system comprises a spiral transport device.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second elevation increasing system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from the exit point of the second water amusement ride to the entry point of the first water amusement ride.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride with a body of water, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride with a body of water.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a floating queue line coupled to an entry point of at least one of the water amusement rides.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the floating queue line comprises a queue line channel wherein the queue line channel is configured to hold water at a depth sufficient to allow a flexible inflated vehicle to float within the queue line channel during use, and wherein the floating queue line is coupled to the water ride such that a flexible inflated vehicle remains in the water while being transferred from the channel along the floating queue line to the water ride.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the elevation increasing system comprises a water slide, and wherein at least a portion of the water slide is uphill.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the elevation increasing system comprises an uphill water slide.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the elevation increasing system comprises a conveyor belt system.

22. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

a first elevation increasing system comprising a first end at a lower elevation coupled to an exit point of the first water amusement ride and a second end at a higher elevation coupled to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, wherein the first elevation increasing system is configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle and/or participant from the first end to the second end of the first elevation increasing system; and

a second elevation increasing system comprising a first end at a lower elevation coupled to an exit point of the second water amusement or any subsequent water amusement ride coupled to the second water amusement ride and a second end at a higher elevation coupled to an entry point of the first water amusement ride, wherein the second elevation increasing system is configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle and/or participant from the first end to the second end of the second elevation increasing system.

23. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

an elevation system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from an exit point of the first water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, wherein the exit point of the first ride and the entry point of the second ride are at different elevation levels;

a second elevation system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from the exit point of the second or any subsequent water amusement ride to the entry point of the first water amusement ride; and

a third water amusement ride, wherein an exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride, and wherein an entry point of the third or any subsequent ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride.

24. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

an elevation system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from an exit point of the first water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, wherein the exit point of the first ride and the entry point of the second ride are at different elevation levels;

a second elevation system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from the exit point of the second or any subsequent water amusement ride to the entry point of the first water amusement ride; and

wherein the exit point of the third or any subsequent ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride with a body of water, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride with a body of water.

25. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

an elevation system configured to convey a flexible inflated vehicle from an exit point of the first water amusement ride to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, wherein the exit point of the first ride and the entry point of the second ride are at different elevation levels;

wherein the exit point of the second water amusement ride and the entry point of the first water amusement ride are coupled;

a third water amusement ride, wherein an exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride; and

a second elevation system configured to convey at least one flexible inflated vehicle from the exit point of the second water amusement ride to the entry point of the first water amusement ride.

26. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first water amusement ride;

a second water amusement ride;

an elevation system configured to convey a flexible inflated vehicle from an exit point of the first water amusement ride to an entry point of the second water amusement ride, wherein the exit point of the first ride and the entry point of the second ride are at different elevation levels;

wherein the exit point of the second water amusement ride and the entry point of the first water amusement ride are coupled; and

a third water amusement ride, wherein an exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride;

wherein the exit point of the third ride is coupled to the exit of the second water ride with a body of water, and wherein an entry point of the third ride is coupled to the entry point of the first ride with a body of water.