Half-pipe water ride

• US 8,088,016 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surf Waves Limited
• Original Assignee: Murphys Waves 2012 Limited
• Inventors: Murphy, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/427,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 472/13, 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 104/69, 104/70, 104/53
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a half-pipe water ride for use by a rider. The half-pipe water ride includes an activity section with a substantially flat middle section, a first curved sidewall, and a second curved sidewall opposite the first curved sidewall. Water flows from a water delivery section through the middle section to a dewatering section. The rider can ride on the half-pipe water ride substantially perpendicular to the water flow from the first curved sidewall across the middle section to the second curved sidewall.

Claims

1. A water ride for use by a rider, the water ride comprising:

an activity section including

a substantially flat middle section,

a first curved sidewall extending substantially upwardly from an edge of the middle section, and

a second curved sidewall extending substantially upwardly from another edge of the middle section opposite the first curved side;

a water delivery section coupled to a side of the middle section; and

the water delivery section configured and arranged to deliver water up the middle section in a direction substantially opposite the rider'"'"'s direction of travel along the middle section;

a dewatering section coupled to another side of the middle section opposite the water delivery section and located at an elevation higher than the water delivery section; and

a rider exit located adjacent the water delivery section.

2. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the water delivery section includes a water delivery tank and a delivery ramp.

3. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the water delivery section includes a nozzle.

4. The water ride of claim 1 and further comprising a water retrieval section that carries water from the dewatering section back to the water delivery section.

5. The water ride of claim 4 wherein the water retrieval section is positioned under at least one of the dewatering section, the activity section, and the water delivery section.

6. The water ride of claim 1 wherein additional water flows from top portions of the first curved sidewall and the second curved sidewall toward the middle section.

7. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the first curved sidewall and the second curved sidewall have a substantially equal radius of curvature.

8. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the first curved sidewall and the second curved sidewall have different radii of curvature.

9. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the first curved sidewall and the second curved sidewall are curved about an axis parallel to water flow, and are connected by a substantially flat activity section.

10. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the rider exit comprises stairs.

11. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the water delivery section delivers water toward the activity section at a speed between about 10 miles per hour and about 20 miles per hour.

12. The water ride of claim 1 wherein a depth of water in the middle section is between about 1 inch and about 12 inches.

13. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the activity section is constructed of fiberglass panels.

14. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the activity section is constructed of concrete covered by a soft padding.

15. The water ride of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first curved sidewall and the second curved sidewall is curved at an angle of at least one of greater than ninety degrees, about ninety degrees, and less than ninety degrees.

16. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the dewatering section is substantially flat and includes at least one of a grate and a soft mat.

17. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the activity section is about eight meters wide.

18. The water ride of claim 1 wherein the middle section is about four meters wide.

19. The water ride of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first curved sidewall and the second curved sidewall is about two meters wide.

20. A water ride for use by a rider, the water ride comprising:

an activity section including

a substantially flat, inclined middle section,

a first curved sidewall extending substantially upwardly from an edge of the middle section, and

a second curved sidewall extending substantially upwardly from another edge of the middle section opposite the first curved side;

a water delivery section coupled to a side of the middle section;

the water delivery section including at least one nozzle configured and arranged to deliver water up the entire length of the middle section;

a dewatering section coupled to another side of the middle section opposite the water delivery section and located at an elevation higher than the water delivery section; and

a rider exit located adjacent the water delivery section.