Waterslide

• US 7,361,096 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wham-O Incorporated (Cornerstone Overseas Investments Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wham-O Incorporated (Cornerstone Overseas Investments Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US11/376,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 472116-129, 104/69, 104/70
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes

Abstract

A slide is provided with a sliding surface along which a person may slide. The slide includes a bridging structure spanning the sliding surface and a valve mounted to the bridging structure and coupled to a source of water. A spray nozzle is selectively coupled through the valve to the water source. The spray nozzle is mounted to the bridging structure to spray water toward the sliding surface when the valve couples the nozzle to the water source. A trigger hangs from the bridging structure adjacent the sliding surface and controls the valve to direct water to the spray nozzle when the trigger is contacted and displaced by the user. The nozzle sprays water onto the user as the user activates the trigger by sliding under the bridging structure.

Claims

1. A waterslide for a user to slide on when the waterslide is coupled to a water source, the waterslide comprising:

a sliding surface providing a path along which the user slides in a sliding direction, said sliding surface being configured for use on a substantially flat, soft surface;

a sprinkler tube alongside the sliding surface for spraying water from the water source onto the sliding surface;

a hose coupler for connecting to the water source, and providing water to the sprinkler tube;

a valve coupled to the hose coupler for selectively providing water to a spray nozzle disposed adjacent the path;

a trigger coupled to the valve; and

a bumper disposed near to said valve;

wherein said trigger is disposed adjacent the sliding surface so as to be activated by the user while sliding along the path in said sliding direction, said bumper being disposed between said user and said valve with respect to a user sliding along said sliding surface in a sliding direction, the trigger controlling the valve to direct water through the hose coupler to the spray nozzle to spray water onto the user.

2. The waterslide of claim 1 wherein the spray nozzle is disposed above the sliding surface to spray water downwardly onto the user when the user activates the trigger.

3. The waterslide of claim 1 wherein the sliding of the user along the path activates the trigger.

4. The waterslide of claim 1 further comprising a bridging structure spanning the path of the sliding surface.

5. The waterslide of claim 4 wherein the trigger hangs from the bridging structure.

6. The waterslide of claim 4 wherein the valve is mounted to the bridging structure.

7. The waterslide of claim 4 wherein the bridging structure is inflatable.

8. The water slide of claim 4 wherein the spray nozzle is mounted to the bridging structure.

9. The waterslide of claim 1 wherein the trigger is an inflatable plastic structure.

10. The waterslide of claim 1 wherein the spray nozzle is positioned farther in the direction of the user'"'"'s sliding along the path than the trigger by at least about 10-inches.

11. The waterslide of claim 1 wherein the valve and the trigger include at least one cooperating combination of a slot and a tab, one of the slot and the tab disposed on the valve and the other of the slot and tab disposed on the trigger, whereby the trigger is coupled to the valve.

12. The waterslide of claim 11 wherein the tab has a T-shape, and is received in the slot in a first orientation and is rotated to a second orientation to be retained in the slot.

13. A waterslide for use on a substantially flat, soft surface, the waterslide including a sliding surface configured to be wetted with water, the sliding surface providing a path along which a user slides when the surface is wetted, the waterslide comprising:

a bridging structure spanning the path;

a valve coupled between the trigger and the spray nozzle;

a bumper disposed so as to protect a user from direct contact with said valve;

a trigger mounted to the bridging structure and hanging in the path of the user; and

a spray nozzle mounted to the bridging structure and disposed to spray down onto the path, wherein the trigger causes the spray nozzle to spray the user with water by the trigger'"'"'s being contacted by the user while sliding along the path and the trigger'"'"'s being displaced along the path by the user'"'"'s contact.

14. The waterslide of claim 13 wherein the valve is configured to be coupled to a water source, the trigger controlling the valve to direct water to the spray nozzle when the trigger is displaced along the path.

15. The waterslide of claim 14 wherein the valve and the trigger include at least one cooperating combination of a slot and a tab whereby the trigger is coupled to the valve.

16. The waterslide of claim 15 wherein the tab has a T-shape, and is received in the slot in a first orientation and is rotated about 90-degrees to a second orientation to be retained in the slot.

17. The waterslide of claim 13 wherein the bridging structure is inflatable.

18. The waterslide of claim 13 wherein the trigger is an inflatable plastic structure.

19. The waterslide of claim 13 wherein the spray nozzle is separated from the trigger along the path by at least about 10-inches.

20. The waterslide of claim 13, wherein said bridging structure is removably attached to said sliding surface, effective that said bridging structure may be attached to said sliding surface at a plurality of positions.

21. A slide providing a sliding surface along which a user slides, the slide comprising:

a bridging structure spanning the sliding surface;

a valve for coupling to a source of water, the valve mounted to the bridging structure;

a bumper disposed near said valve effective to prevent direct contact between said user and said valve;

a spray nozzle selectively coupled through the valve to the water source, the spray nozzle mounted to the bridging structure to spray water toward the sliding surface when the valve couples the nozzle to the water source; and

a trigger hanging from the bridging structure adjacent the sliding surface and coupled to the valve, the trigger controlling the valve to direct water to the spray nozzle when the trigger is contacted and displaced by the user.

22. The slide of claim 21, wherein said bridging structure is removably attached to said sliding surface, effective that said bridging structure may be attached to said sliding surface at a plurality of positions.

23. The slide of claim 21, wherein said bridging structure is removably attached to said sliding surface, effective that said bridging structure may be attached to said sliding surface at a plurality of positions.