Amusement water rides involving interactive user environments

• US 7,758,435 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• 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:
  US11/512,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 472/13, 463/7, 463/52, 463/53, 473/466, 473/472, 473/479, 473/481, 473/483, 473/485, 473/487
• 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 33/00 Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 5/00 Games on roundabouts

Abstract

An interactive water amusement ride may include a water amusement ride, a competition area located in the water amusement ride, and a participant identifier coupled to a participant in the water amusement ride. The participant may participate in a competition in the competition area. An automated system assesses a status of the participant in the competition. In some embodiments, an automated system for an interactive water amusement ride includes sensors coupled to a competition area. The sensors may detect participant identifiers in the competition area. The sensors may be coupled to a control system. The control system may assess a status of each participant individually and/or a status of the teams in the competition area. Status of participants and/or teams in the competition area may be displayed on a display (e.g., a scoreboard) located at or near the competition area.

Claims

1. An interactive water amusement ride, comprising:

a water amusement ride;

a participant identifier coupled to a participant in the water amusement ride;

a competition area located in the water amusement ride, wherein the participant participates in a competition in the competition area;

one or more sensors coupled to the competition area, wherein at least one of the sensors is configurable to detect the participant identifier in the competition area; and

one or more control systems coupled to the sensors, wherein at least one of the control systems is configurable to assess a status of the participant in the competition;

wherein the competition comprises one or more objectives for the participant to attempt, wherein at least one of the objectives comprises a first opening configured to accept one or more objects directed to the first opening by the participant, and wherein the first opening is coupled to a second opening downstream from the first opening, wherein the objects are transported from the first opening to the second opening, wherein the participant retrieves at least one of the objects from the second opening downstream of the first opening, wherein at least one of the objectives comprises at least a third opening downstream from the second opening, and wherein the third opening is configured to accept the object retrieved from the second opening.

2. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein at least one of the objectives comprises an objective identifier, wherein the objective identifier is detected by one or more of the sensors.

3. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein at least one of the objectives comprises the participant performing a physical test of skill.

4. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein at least one of the objectives comprises the participant directing an object to an opening.

5. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein at least one of the objectives comprises the participant hitting one or more targets.

6. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 5, wherein at least one of the targets comprises an electronic target coupled to at least one of the sensors.

7. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control systems is configurable to assess the status of the participant in the competition by comparing the performance of the participant relative to one or more other participants.

8. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein the participant is a member of a team of participants, and wherein the team is configured to compete against another team of participants in the competition area.

9. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control systems is configurable to assess the status of the participant in the competition by assessing a score for the participant during a specified period of time.

10. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein the competition area comprises a display configured to display the status of the participant in the competition.

11. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, further comprising one or more cameras configured to monitor the participant in the competition area, wherein the cameras are coupled to at least one control system.

12. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein the competition area comprises a channel of water which runs in a continuous loop.

13. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein the participant is configured to move through the competition area on a flotation device.

14. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein the water amusement ride is coupled to a water amusement system.

15. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein the competition area comprises an observation area configured for observation of the competition by one or more non-participants.

16. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, further comprising a first elevation increasing system configured to convey a participant from an exit point of the water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to an entry point of a second water amusement ride, or a point preceding such entry point, wherein the exit point of the water amusement ride and the entry point of the second water amusement ride are at different elevation levels.

17. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 16, further comprising a second elevation increasing system configured to convey a participant from an exit point of the second water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to another area of a water park.

18. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein one or more of the control systems is configured to enforce compliance with one or more competition rules.

19. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 1, wherein assessing a status of the participant in the competition comprises monitoring compliance with competition rules.

20. An interactive water amusement ride, comprising:

a water amusement ride;

a participant identifier coupled to a participant in the water amusement ride;

a competition area located in the water amusement ride, wherein the participant participates in a competition in the competition area;

one or more sensors coupled to the competition area, wherein at least one of the sensors is configurable to detect the participant identifier in the competition area; and

one or more control systems coupled to the sensors, wherein at least one of the control systems is configurable to assess a status of the participant in the competition;

wherein at least one of the objectives comprises a first opening configured to accept one or more objects directed to the first opening by the participant, and wherein the first opening is coupled to a second opening downstream from the first opening, wherein the objects are transported from the first opening to the second opening such that one or more of the objects are available to the participant when the participant floats down to the second opening.

21. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein at least one of the control systems is configurable to assess the status of the participant in the competition by comparing the performance of the participant relative to one or more other participants.

22. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein the participant is a member of a team of participants, and wherein the team is configured to compete against another team of participants in the competition area.

23. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein at least one of the control systems is configurable to assess the status of the participant in the competition by assessing a score for the participant during a specified period of time.

24. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein the competition area comprises a display configured to display the status of the participant in the competition.

25. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein the competition area comprises a channel of water which runs in a continuous loop.

26. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein the participant is configured to move through the competition area on a flotation device.

27. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein the water amusement ride is coupled to a water amusement system.

28. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, further comprising a first elevation increasing system configured to convey a participant from an exit point of the water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to an entry point of a second water amusement ride, or a point preceding such entry point, wherein the exit point of the water amusement ride and the entry point of the second water amusement ride are at different elevation levels.

29. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 20, wherein one or more of the control systems is configured to enforce compliance with one or more competition rules.

30. The interactive water amusement ride of claim 29, further comprising a second elevation increasing system configured to convey a participant from an exit point of the second water amusement ride, or a point subsequent to such exit point, to another area of a water park.