Method and system of positionable covers for water amusement parks

• US 7,762,900 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• 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:
  US11/375,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 472/136, 472/13, 449/8
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats

Abstract

A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be actively involved in a water attraction. This transportation system may include a plurality of covers forming a covering system over at least a portion of the water transportation and/or amusement system. In some embodiments, at least one of the covers may be positionable. In addition, the water transportation system may include conveyor belt systems and water locks configured to convey participants from a first source of water to a second source of water which may or may not be at a different elevation.

Claims

1. A convertible water amusement system, comprising:

at least one water amusement area;

one or more support elements; and

at least two flexible covers positionable to at least partially cover at least one participant positioned in at least a portion of at least one water amusement area, wherein at least two of the flexible covers are independently positionable, wherein at least two of the flexible positionable covers are coupled to one or more of the support elements, wherein at least a first flexible cover is configured to inhibit a participant'"'"'s exposure to at least a first element while allowing exposure to at least a second element when the first flexible cover is positioned over the portion of the water amusement area the participant is positioned in, wherein at least a second flexible cover is configured to inhibit a participant'"'"'s exposure to at least the second element while allowing exposure to at least the first element when the second flexible cover is positioned over the portion of the water amusement area the participant is positioned in, and wherein the first element and the second element are different, wherein at least one of the first elements comprises precipitation and at least one of the second elements comprises at least a portion of sunlight, and wherein at least one of the second flexible covers is formed at least in part from a woven material which allows at least some precipitation to pass through and provides at least some shade to the participant positioned in the portion of the water amusement area the second flexible cover is positioned over.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to position at least one of the flexible covers using power from an engine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement areas comprises a water amusement ride.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement areas comprises a water channel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement areas comprises a pool.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement areas comprises a water amusement game.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement areas comprises a water amusement interactive game.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises polycarbonate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises polyethylene.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises polypropylene.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers is coupled to one or more of the support elements such that at least a portion of the flexible cover is positionable relative to the support element.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers is configured such that at least a portion of the cover allows an image to be projected onto the surface of the flexible cover.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises a system of visual effects.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises a system of visual effects, and wherein the water amusement area comprises a system of sounds effects which correspond with the visual effects.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises two or more independently positionable flexible covers.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises two or more independently positionable flexible covers configured to couple to one another such that at least a first element is inhibited from conveyance through a coupling point between two or more of the independently positionable flexible covers.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein upon positioning the first flexible cover and the second flexible cover over the portion of the water amusement area in which the participant is positioned, the first flexible cover and the second flexible cover are configured to inhibit the participant'"'"'s exposure to the first element and the second element.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first flexible cover is configured to inhibit a participant'"'"'s exposure to precipitation while allowing exposure to sunlight in at least one of the water amusement areas.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second flexible cover is configured to provide shade to participants by inhibiting sunlight while allowing exposure to precipitation in at least one of the water amusement areas.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible covers comprises two or more independently positionable flexible covers configured to couple to one another.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first flexible covers insulates the water amusement area the first flexible cover is positioned over by inhibiting air circulation and heat from escaping and at least one of the second flexible covers allows air circulation and heat to escape the water amusement area the second flexible cover is positioned over.

22. A method of enclosing at least a portion of a water amusement system, comprising:

positioning at least a first flexible cover to substantially enclose at least a portion of a water amusement area;

inhibiting a participant'"'"'s exposure to at least a first element while allowing exposure to at least a second element using at least one of the first flexible covers when the participant is positioned in the portion of a water amusement park;

positioning at least a second flexible cover to substantially enclose at least the portion of the water amusement area; and

inhibiting a participant'"'"'s exposure to a second element using at least one of the second flexible covers when the participant is positioned in the portion of a water amusement park, and wherein the first element and the second element are different;

wherein at least one of the flexible covers is coupled to one or more support elements.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising positioning at least one of the flexible covers using power from an engine, wherein the engine is coupled to a control system.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising positioning at least a portion of at least one of the flexible covers relative to one or more support elements to which the portion of the flexible cover is coupled.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising projecting an image on a surface of at least a portion of at least one of the flexible covers.

26. The method of claim 22, inhibiting a participant'"'"'s exposure to precipitation in at least the portion of the water amusement area using at least one of the first flexible covers.

27. The method of claim 22, inhibiting a participant'"'"'s exposure to sunlight in at least the portion of the water amusement area using at least one of the second flexible covers.

28. The method of claim 22, coupling two or more independently positionable third flexible covers to one another to form at least a portion of the first flexible cover or the second flexible cover.

29. A convertible water amusement system, comprising:

at least one water amusement ride;

one or more support elements;

at least two flexible covers positionable to at least partially cover at least one participant positioned in one or more portions of at least one water amusement ride, wherein at least two of the positionable covers is coupled to one or more of the support elements, wherein at least a first flexible cover is configured to inhibit a participant'"'"'s exposure to a first element while allowing exposure to a second element when the first flexible cover is positioned over the portion of the water amusement area the participant is positioned in, and wherein at least a second flexible cover is configured to inhibit a participant'"'"'s exposure to the second element while allowing exposure to the first element when the second flexible cover is positioned over the portion of the water amusement area the participant is positioned in;

a control system configured to position at least one of the flexible covers using power from an engine; and

at least one sensor coupled to the control system, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to send a signal in response to a change in a weather condition in an area associated with one or more of the portions of at least one of the water amusement rides, and wherein the signal prompts the control system to appropriately position at least one of the flexible covers.