Methods and systems for viewing marine life from self-contained floating marine parks

• US 8,663,023 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery Wayne, Schooley, John Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/941,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 472/13, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 114/61, 114/66, 114/270
• US Class Current: 472/128
• 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 container may include a view window configured to allow participants (e.g., below the surface of water) in a first floating container to view marine life or participants in a second floating container.

Claims

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

two or more floating containers configured to float in a first fluid, wherein two or more of the floating containers are coupled to one another, 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 the second fluid, and wherein two or more of the floating containers are coupled to one another with a water amusement ride such that the water amusement ride conveys at least one participants between two or more of the floating containers; and

a view window configured to allow participants below a surface of the second fluid in a first floating container to view marine life or participants in a second floating container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the view window is configured to allow fluid transfer between the first floating container and the second floating container, and wherein the view window is configured to inhibit marine life and/or participants from moving between the first floating container and the second floating container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the view window is configured to inhibit fluid transfer between the first floating container and the second floating container, and wherein the view window is configured to inhibit marine life and/or participants from moving between the first floating container and the second floating container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more portions of one or more of the floating containers is substantially transparent and wherein one or more of the floating containers comprising a substantially transparent portion floats above a bottom surface of a first body of the first fluid such that participants may view marine life within the first body of the first fluid.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

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

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

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid functions as a heat sink.

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

13. 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 a surface of the first fluid.

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, wherein the position of the positionable floatation devices relative to the floating containers determines the position of the floating containers relative to a 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.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement activities comprises a water slide.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the 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, further comprising a waterbreak configured to dissipate at least a portion of the energy contained within an incoming wave.

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. A method, comprising:

floating two or more containers in a first fluid, wherein two or more of the floating containers are coupled to one another;

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

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

conveying at least one participant between two or more of the floating containers with a water amusement ride; and

allowing participants below a surface of the second fluid in a first floating container to view marine life and/or participants in a second floating container using a view window.