Water amusement system with elevated structure

• US 7,785,207 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• 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:
  US11/407,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 472/13, 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 472/136, 472/137
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/043 Transplanting devices for grasping, undercutting or transporting the root ball A01G23/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/005 Reservoirs connected to flower-pots through conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/007 Artificial trees
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating

Abstract

A water amusement system may include a composite tree and an elevated structure. A composite tree may include a base having an artificial trunk portion. The base may be coupled to the surface. Living plants may be coupled to the base. Portions of the living plants may form branches of the composite tree. In some embodiments, the living plants are living trees. The system may include at least one structure coupled to the base. At least one of the structures may function to contain one or more persons above the surface. The water amusement system may include a water amusement ride coupled to the base. The water amusement ride may include an access point configured to allow participants to access the water amusement ride from the structure.

Claims

1. A water amusement system, comprising:

a first base coupled to a first surface, wherein the first base comprises one or more receptacles that hold one or more living plants, during use, wherein the first base forms an artificial trunk of a composite tree, and wherein the artificial trunk portion comprises synthetic bark;

a system at least partially disposed in the first base which delivers nutrients, during use, to one or more of the receptacles in order to sustain one or more of the living plants disposed in the receptacle;

a first structure coupled to the first base, the first structure which holds, during use, a participant of a water amusement system, wherein a bottom of the first structure is elevated above the first surface;

a water amusement ride, wherein at least a portion of the water amusement ride is positioned adjacent the first base; and

an access point configured to allow participants to access the water amusement ride from the first structure.

2. The water amusement system of claim 1, further comprising a platform adjacent to the access point.

3. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the first structure is elevated above the first surface such that participants of the water amusement system can walk on a surface directly below at least a portion of the first structure.

4. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the first structure is at least 2 meters above the first surface.

5. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first base extends over the water amusement ride.

6. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first structure extends over the water amusement ride.

7. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first base or a portion of the first structure shades a portion of the water amusement ride from overhead sunlight.

8. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the first structure is configured to accommodate overnight guests.

9. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the first base comprises two or more columns, the water amusement system further comprising a bridge between the columns over a portion of the water amusement ride.

10. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the access point comprises an opening in the first base adjacent to the first surface, and wherein the opening provides access through the first base to the first structure.

11. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plants forms a branch of the composite tree.

12. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plants forms a branch of the composite tree, wherein at least a portion of one of the branches extends over the water amusement ride.

13. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the first structure comprises one or more lodging units.

14. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein a bottom of at least one of the first structures is configured such that a participant positioned on the ground is inhibited from viewing the interior of the first structure.

15. The water amusement system of claim 1, further comprising an interactive control system coupled to one of the first structures, the interactive control system is operable by a participant in or on the first structure to interact with a participant on the water amusement ride.

16. The water amusement system of claim 1, wherein the access point is configured to couple the water amusement ride to the first base such that a participant can move from the first structure to the water amusement ride.

17. The water amusement system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second base coupled to a second surface; and

a second structure coupled to the second base, the second structure configured to hold a participant of the water amusement system above the second surface;

wherein the water amusement ride conveys, during use, a participant from the first base to the second base.

18. The water amusement system of claim 17, wherein the second structure is configured to accommodate overnight guests.

19. The water amusement system of claim 17, further comprising a powered assist system configured to transport a participant at least part of the way from the first structure to the second structure.

20. The water amusement system of claim 17, further comprising a self-powered system configured to transport a participant at least part of the way from the first structure to the second structure.