Methods and systems for modular self-contained floating marine parks

• US 7,766,753 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Schooley, John Timothy, Henry, Jeffery Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kien T
• Application Number:
  US11/512,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 472/13, 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 114/61, 114/66, 114/70, 104/53, 104/69, 104/70
• US Class Current: 472/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/06 Submarine roundabouts
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. 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, a floating water park positioned in a body of water is described, as well as, a floating marine park. A floating marine/water park may include one or more floating containers positioned in a body of a first fluid. One or more of the floating containers may function to hold a second fluid, marine life, and/or participants in water amusement activities. A floating marine park may include two or more of the floating containers, which may be assembled and used at a first site, dissembled, and then assembled and used at a second site.

Claims

1. A floating marine life and water amusement system, comprising:

two or more floating containers configured to float in a first body of a first fluid, wherein one or more of the floating containers is configured to contain marine life, and one or more of the floating containers is configured to contain a second fluid and one or more participants in water amusement activities using at least the second fluid, and wherein at least one water amusement activity comprises a water amusement ride which uses the second fluid; and

wherein two or more of the floating containers are configured to be assembled and used at a first site, dissembled, and then assembled and used at a second site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein two or more of the floating containers are configured to be coupled such that the floating marine park system is assembled at a first site, and wherein the coupled floating containers are configured to be decoupled such that the decoupled floating containers are transportable to a second site where the decoupled floating containers are coupled such that the floating marine park system is reassembled at the second site.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers allow marine life and one or more participants to interact in a controlled environment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers allow one or more participants to observe marine life in a controlled environment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises fresh water.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises salt water.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers is configured to contain fresh water.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers comprise one or more floatation devices coupled to the floating containers.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers comprise one or more positionable floatation devices coupled to the floating containers, and wherein the position of the positionable floatation devices relative to the floating containers determines the position of the floating containers relative to the surface of the first fluid.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers comprise one or more positionable floatation devices coupled to the floating containers, wherein the position of the positionable floatation devices relative to the floating containers determines the position of the floating containers relative to the surface of the first fluid, and wherein the positionable floatation devices are adjusted such that a majority of one or more of the floating containers extends above the surface of the first fluid.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein water amusement activities comprise a water slide.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein water amusement activities comprise an uphill water slide.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein water amusement activities comprise an elevation system configured to transport one or more participants from a lower elevation to a higher elevation.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein two or more floating containers are coupled by a system configured to transport participants from a first floating container to a second floating container.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein two or more of the floating containers are coupled to one another with a water amusement ride.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers is coupled to one or more watercraft docking systems.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a waterbreak configured to dissipate at least a portion of the energy contained within an incoming waves.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more anchor devices configured to couple at least one of the floating containers to the ground.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a view window coupling two or more of the floating containers, wherein the view window is configured to allow participants in a first floating container to view marine life in a second floating container.

20. A method, comprising:

assembling two or more floating containers of a floating marine system in a first body of a first fluid;

containing a third fluid and one or more participants in water amusement activities using at least the third fluid in one or more of the floating containers;

containing marine life in one or more of the floating containers;

dissembling two or more of the floating containers of the floating marine system;

transporting two or more of the floating containers of the floating marine system to a second body of a second fluid; and

assembling two or more of the floating containers of the floating marine system in the second body of the second fluid.