Water amusement system with trees

• US 7,921,601 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• 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, TRINH T
• Application Number:
  US11/407,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 47/655, 47/666, 47/39, 47/82, 47/59.R, 47/62.R, 47/79, 47/83
• US Class Current: 47/83
• 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 a 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 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. The access point may be positioned adjacent to the base.

Claims

1. A water amusement and composite tree system, comprising:

a water amusement park;

a composite tree positioned in the water amusement park, wherein the composite tree comprises;

a base comprising an artificial trunk portion coupled to a first surface, wherein the base comprises a plurality of artificial branches;

one or more living plants positioned in at least a portion of the base; and

a structure coupled to at least some of the artificial branches such that the branches support the structure, wherein the structure holds, during use, a participant of the water amusement park, and wherein a bottom of the structure is elevated above the first surface;

a water amusement ride comprising an access point positioned substantially adjacent to the base configured to allow participants to access the water amusement ride, wherein at least a portion of the water amusement ride is positioned in the water amusement park, and wherein the water amusement ride is configured to transport a water amusement park participant from at least a first portion of the water amusement park to the composite tree; and

a delivery system at least partially disposed in the base to deliver nutrients, during use, to at least one of the living plants.

2. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the composite tree extends over the water amusement ride.

3. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the composite tree shades a portion of the water amusement ride from overhead sunlight.

4. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the access point is configured to couple the water amusement ride to the base.

5. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the living plants comprises a living tree.

6. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises one or more openings, wherein a first portion of at least one of the living plants is coupled in one of the openings such that a second portion of the living plant extends from the opening to form a branch of the composite tree.

7. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the living plant comprises the roots of the living plant.

8. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 6, wherein the living plant comprises a living tree, wherein the second portion comprises at least a portion of the trunk of the living tree.

9. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 6, wherein living plant comprises a living tree, wherein the second portion comprises at least one branch of the living tree.

10. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a receptacle, wherein the composite tree further comprises growth media in the receptacle, wherein a portion of the living plant is disposed in the growth media.

11. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, further comprising an irrigation system configured to provide water to at least one of the living plants.

12. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a receptacle, the composite tree further comprising at least one sensor coupled in one of the receptacles, the sensor configured to detect at least one environmental condition in the receptacle.

13. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, further comprising a system for controlling a temperature of at least one of the living plants.

14. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the artificial trunk portion comprises synthetic bark.

15. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises an insulating layer.

16. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises an interior member and an exterior layer, wherein the interior member supports an upper portion of the composite tree, wherein the exterior layer comprises an artificial tree trunk.

17. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a tubular member.

18. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the base is partially hollow.

19. The water amusement and composite tree system of claim 1, wherein the one or more living plants comprise a living tree extending substantially upwardly from the tubular member.