Water amusement system and method including a self-contained floating marine park

• US 7,811,177 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• 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:
  US11/512,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 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. At least a portion of a floating marine park may be coupled to at least a water amusement ride.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a water amusement ride; and

a floating marine system comprises two or more floating containers configured to float in 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 one or more participants in water amusement activities, and wherein the water amusement ride is coupled to the floating marine system such that one or more participants are conveyed to and/or from the floating marine system via the water amusement ride.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a channel configured to convey a participant through at least a portion of a water amusement system by using water flowing through the channel, wherein the water amusement system comprises the water amusement ride and at least a second water amusement ride, and wherein the channel is coupled to at least the two water amusement rides.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the water amusement system further comprises:

a first elevation system configured to convey at least one participant from an exit point of the 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 water amusement ride and the entry point of the second water amusement ride are at different elevation levels; and

a second elevation system configured to convey at least one participant from the exit point of the second or any subsequent water amusement ride to the entry point of the water amusement ride.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first elevation system and/or the second elevation system comprises a conveyor belt system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein two or more of the floating containers are coupled to one another.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a channel is coupled to the water amusement ride and the floating marine system.

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

9. 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.

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

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

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

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

14. 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.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein water amusement activities comprises a water slide.

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

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

18. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers comprises one or more watercraft docking systems such that one or more watercraft configured to convey participants are couplable to one or more of the floating containers using one or more of the watercraft docking systems.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the floating containers is configured to contain a second fluid such that the majority of the second fluid is substantially isolated from the first fluid.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the water amusement ride is coupled to the floating marine system such that one or more participants are conveyed between the floating marine system and a land-based facility via the water amusement ride.

23. A method, comprising:

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

containing one or more participants in water amusement activities in one or more of the floating containers;

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

coupling a water amusement ride to the floating marine system; and

conveying one or more participants to and/or from the floating marine system using the water amusement ride.