Chutes and ladders water ride

• US 6,569,023 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Koala Corporation
• Inventors: Briggs, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/550,469
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116,117,136,137,128 482/35,36 104/69,70,53
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/006 Playground structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/008 with water spraying means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 9/00 Climbing poles, frames, or stages climbing walls for mountaineering training A63B69/0048; endless loop ladders A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water

Abstract

A multi-level play structure is provided for entertaining play participants. The play structure comprises multiple play levels at various elevations, including an upper play level, a lower play level, and one or more intermediate play levels. Multiple gravity induced rides and climbing structures connect two or more of the play levels. At least one of the intermediate play levels is connected to two or more other play levels by at least one gravity induced ride and at least one climbing structure, thereby allowing play participants to choose between two or more different paths to other play levels upon reaching the intermediate play level.

Claims

1. A multi-level play structure for entertaining play participants, comprising:

plurality of multiple play level sets, each multiple play level set including an upper play level, a lower play level, and one or more intermediate play levels, said upper level, lower level and one or more intermediate levels having various elevations;

multiple rides connecting two or more of said play levels;

multiple rides connecting two or more of said play level sets;

multiple climbing structures connecting two or more of said play levels; and

multiple climbing structures connecting two or more of said play level sets;

wherein at least one of said intermediate play levels is connected to two or more other play levels by at least one ride and at least one climbing structure, thereby allowing play participants to choose between two or more different paths to other play levels upon reaching said intermediate play level.

2. The multi-level play structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said rides is a gravity induced ride.

3. The multi-level play structure of claim 2, wherein said gravity induced ride is a water slide, dry slide, fire pole, swing, or any combination of these.

4. The multi-level play structure of claim 2, wherein said play structure includes one or more play element which can be activated by play participants while riding said gravity induced rides to create desired play effects.

5. The play structure of claim 4, wherein the play elements are a waterfall, a trough dump, a geyser jet, a bucket dump, a rope and pulley, a wheel, a mist sprayer, a fog sprayer, a splash pool, or any combination of these.

6. The multi-level play structure in claim 1, wherein at least one of said rides is an elevator, conveyor, uphill water slide, or any combination of these.

7. The multi-level play structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said climbing structures is a stairway, climbing net, ladder, ramp, bridge, crawl tunnel, rope, climbing bars, or any combination of these.

8. The multi-level play structure of claim 1, wherein said play structure includes one or more play elements which can be activated by play participants on said climbing structures or play levels to create desired play effects.

9. The play structure of claim 8, wherein the play elements are a waterfall, a trough dump, a geyser jet, a bucket dump, a rope and pulley, a wheel, a mist sprayer, a fog sprayer, a splash pool, or any combination of these.

10. The multi-level play structure of claim 1, wherein said play structure is made to resemble a cruise ship.

11. The multi-level play structure of claim 1, wherein said play structure is made to resemble a mining tower.

12. A multi-level play structure for entertaining play participants, comprising:

a plurality of multiple play level sets, each play level set including at least one intermediate play level;

a first ride connecting said intermediate play level to a play level at a higher elevation or at another play level set;

a second ride connecting said intermediate play level to a play level at a lower elevation or at another play level set;

a third ride connecting said intermediate play level to a play level at another play level set either at a higher, lower, or equal elevation;

a climbing structure connecting said intermediate play level to a play level at either a higher or lower elevation; and

,

a climbing structure connecting said intermediate play level to another play level set at either a higher, lower, or equal elevation.

13. The multi-level play structure of claim 12, wherein at least one of said first and second rides is a gravity induced ride.

14. The multi-level play structure of claim 13, wherein said gravity induced ride is a water slide, dry slide, fire pole, swing, or any combination of these.

15. The multi-level play structure of claim 12, wherein at least one of said rides is an elevator, conveyor, uphill water slide, or any combination of these.

16. The multi-level play structure of claim 12, wherein at least one of said climbing structures is a stairway, climbing net, ladder, ramp, bridge, crawl tunnel, rope, climbing bars, or any combination of these.

17. The multi-level play structure of claim 12, wherein said play structure includes one or more play elements which can be activated by play participants while riding said gravity induced rides to create desired play effects.

18. The multi-level play structure of claim 12, wherein said play structure includes one or more play elements which can be activated by play participants on said climbing structures or play levels to create desired play effects.

19. The play structure of claim 18, wherein the play elements are a waterfall, a trough dump, a geyser jet, a bucket dump, a rope and pulley, a wheel, a mist sprayer, a fog sprayer, a splash pool, or any combination of these.

20. A multi-level play structure for entertaining play participants, comprising:

a plurality of sets, each set comprising a plurality of platforms located at various elevations and including an intermediate platform;

a climbing structure connecting said intermediate platform to a higher platform;

a first ride connecting said intermediate platform to a higher platform; and

a second ride connecting said intermediate platform to a lower platform;

whereupon reaching said intermediate platform, play participants can choose either to climb said climbing structure to said higher platform or ride said second slide to said lower platform; and

wherein said first and second rides are water slides.