EP1158118A2 - Structure pour jeux aquatiques activée par une corde de traction - Google Patents

Structure pour jeux aquatiques activée par une corde de traction Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1158118A2
EP1158118A2 EP01650066A EP01650066A EP1158118A2 EP 1158118 A2 EP1158118 A2 EP 1158118A2 EP 01650066 A EP01650066 A EP 01650066A EP 01650066 A EP01650066 A EP 01650066A EP 1158118 A2 EP1158118 A2 EP 1158118A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
play
pull
rope
effect
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01650066A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1158118A3 (fr
Inventor
Rick A. Briggs
Carin Brown
Edward James Frantz Iii
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koala Corp
Original Assignee
Koala Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koala Corp filed Critical Koala Corp
Publication of EP1158118A2 publication Critical patent/EP1158118A2/fr
Publication of EP1158118A3 publication Critical patent/EP1158118A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
    • A63G31/00—Amusement arrangements
    • A63G31/007—Amusement arrangements involving water
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B9/00—Climbing poles, frames, or stages
    • A63B2009/006—Playground structures
    • A63B2009/008—Playground structures with water spraying means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
    • A63B2208/12—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player specially adapted for children

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to water play structures and, in particular, to an interactive participatory water play system for entertaining and educating small and intermediate-age children.
  • an object of the present invention to provide an interactive, participatory water play system that allows children of nearly all ages to play together and to combine their creative inspiration and imaginations to achieve various desired water effects. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a play structure that is entertaining for adults as well as children. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single play structure in which the entire family can participate and interact with one another without having to wait in long lines.
  • an interactive, participatory water play system for entertaining one or more play participants
  • the water play system comprises one or more support structures and one or more conduits for supplying water to various water play elements mounted in, on, or adjacent to the support structure.
  • the conduit or conduits may be associated with the support structure, which may comprise a frame.
  • a first interactive participatory water play element comprising a water forming device and a corresponding control actuator for allowing play participants to selectively control the water forming device to create a first water effect.
  • a second participatory water play element receives water from the first water effect to create a second water effect.
  • the actuator which may be accomplished by pulling on one or more ropes and/or by turning one or more valves and/or by moving one or more handles, play participants are able to control the order and magnitude of the water effects.
  • play participants can observe and experiment with various cause-and-effect reactions involving multiple-order water effects. The use of pull-ropes further enhances this cause-and-effect mystery.
  • This invention embodies pull-ropes rigged through one or more ship blocks and routed back and forth through a series of passages, which may include pulleys, so that the effect of each rope is not readily apparent to the play participants.
  • Some valves, handles and/or pull-ropes may be configured to cause one or more local effects, while others may be configured to cause one or more remote effects, thus enhancing the play experience by requiring the participants to experiment to figure out the effect or effects of each valve, handle and/or pull-rope.
  • an exciting new water effect comprising a vessel such as a trough, giant bucket, cauldron, reservoir or other container for collecting water discharged from a water forming device.
  • the vessel may be stationary, may be configured to produce a flow of water when filled to a desired level, and/or may be balanced and conditionally stable so that it spills over when filled to a desired level and/or when a play participant pulls on an associated pull-rope.
  • the vessel may also be configured to create other dramatic visual and sound effects to allow the play participants to surprise, entertain and amuse themselves along with other play participants.
  • a multiple-order water effect for allowing play participants to observe and experiment with various cause-and-effect reactions involving water.
  • the water effect comprises a first participatory water play element having an incoming flow of water controlled by one or more play participants to create a first water effect.
  • a second participatory water play element is provided for receiving water from the first water effect to create yet a second water effect.
  • a structure conveying a them such as resembling a ship complete with a series of ropes and ship blocks, are provided for children to experiment with and control remote effects by pulling on the various ropes.
  • one rope may open the water supply valve which allows a reservoir to be filled with water, the water from the reservoir may then either be selectively or automatically distributed to a number of other water effects which are then, in turn, controlled by corresponding pull-ropes.
  • a play participant may pull a rope which tips and dumps the water contained in the reservoir, pull another rope to actuate a shower of water, or pull yet another rope which causes the water to spill through a water-wheel which turns and may control a number of visual or sound effects.
  • the pull-ropes are designed to be the proper length for small and intermediate-age children to reach them, but no too long so as to pose a hazard.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of the pull-rope actuated play structure.
  • Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure showing various water play elements with their associated pull-rope actuators.
  • Figure 3 is a front elevational view of one mast of the structure showing various water play elements with their corresponding pull-rope actuators.
  • Figure 4 is a front elevational view of another mast of the structure showing other interactive water play elements.
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of one mast of the water play structure in the form of a vessel which spills into a reservoir containing a floating element.
  • Figure 6 is a font elevational view of various interactive participatory water play elements in the form of a rotatable water supply, water-wheel, tipping reservoir, and multiple-order water troughs.
  • Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the water play structure of Figure 6.
  • Figure 8 is a plan view of the water play structure of Figure 6 showing the rotatable water supply which play participants selectively control to provide water to various water play elements.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,194,0408 first disclosed the concept of participatory water play in which play participants can operate any one of a number of valves to adjust the amount of water spraying from one or more associated nozzles. Play participants adjust the various valves and can immediately observe the change in the rate of water flowing from the various associated nozzles. This allows participants to experiment with and learn about first order cause-and-effect reactions using a familiar and entertaining medium, mainly water.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,820,471 improved and expanded upon that theme of participatory water play by introducing second, third, and even higher order water effects which may be created or activated by a particular combination of other water effects. Some water effects may have immediate results, while others may have delayed or require a combination of water effects to have a result. Some water effects may be local, while others may be remote.
  • the present invention improves and expands upon the previous inventions by adding the elements of pull-rope actuators and audible effects in additional to the visual effects. This improvement not only allows children to control the beginning of the chain of events, but to also control the intermediate water effects to reach the desired result. Additionally, play participants can alter the chain of event by having control of the intermediate water effects.
  • the following figures illustrate a couple of possible embodiments of a pull-rope actuated play structure having features of the present invention.
  • This particular interactive water play system is provided in the form of a dug-out canoe situated in a remote island setting made complete by corresponding island living amenities.
  • the first order water elements are located at or along the canoe's mast which, in turn, conveys the water to the second and higher-ordered water elements.
  • the participatory water play system of the present invention is not limited to this one preferred embodiment, but may be implemented in accordance with a wide variety of other possible exciting play themes. For example, a pirate's ship, submarine, medieval castle, lost temple, or a fire station, can each provide exciting play themes for participatory water play systems having benefits and advantages as taught by the present invention.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a dugout canoe 20 theme with its various water play elements.
  • the masts of the boat support some of the water play elements along with their corresponding pull-rope actuators.
  • the pull-rope actuators are routed through a series of ship blocks 22 which make the effect of pulling the rope not visually apparent.
  • a play participant may experiment with each pull-rope to determine its effect. The effect may be to dump water on the play participant, convey water to the next-ordered water element, or have some remote effect away from the play participant.
  • play participants can operate the manual pump 24 defined by the out-rigger structure of the canoe which pumps water to the top of the mast.
  • the water is selectively distributed to a vessel, such as a tipping cauldron 28 , which tips and dumps its contents when a desired level is reached.
  • the water spills through a water wheel gear 32 meshed with another wheel gear 36 which controls a drum beater 40 that beats a thundering drum 44.
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a simulated bamboo mast with various water play elements.
  • This embodiment shows a simulated bamboo pole 120 firmly cemented in the ground by a concrete footer 124 .
  • An underground water supply line supplies water to the structure.
  • Play participants pull on the vessel feed rope 128 which opens the valve on the vessel feed 132 .
  • the vessel feed 132 fills the spouting vessel 136 , which contains exit spouts to allow the water to exit the spouting vessel and spill on the play participants below and fill the tipping vessel clam shell 140 .
  • the play participants can then pull the clam shell tip pull-rope 144 to dump the contents of the tipping vessel clam shell 140 on unsuspecting play participants below.
  • a coconut spouts pull-rope 148 may be pulled to actuate a simulated coconut shower 232.
  • Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the water play structure of Figure 2. This figure adequately represents the relative positioning of the various water play elements. It will be appreciated that the pull-ropes are routed through pulleys simulating ship's blocks 152 to further the theme and to allow the proper directional force to be applied to the corresponding water element to achieve the desired water effect.
  • FIG 4 is a front elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention still carrying the remote island theme.
  • water is supplied to the ground-level tub 220.
  • a play participant must manually operate the 1-man pump 224 which sends water up the interior of the simulated bamboo mast 228 and exits the coconut shower 232. As the water exits the coconut shower 232, it fills a tipping vessel 236.
  • a play participant may then selectively pull the tipping vessel pull-rope 240 which dumps the water into an internal float tank 248 hidden by a bamboo curtain 252.
  • a floating object in this case in the form of a rising tiki 244, rises from behind the bamboo curtain 252 and may trigger sound effects to surprise and entertain the play participants.
  • the water may be emptied from the internal float tank 248 by operation of another coconut shower pull-rope 256 which actuates the coconut shower 260 .
  • the rising tiki 244 disappears behind the bamboo curtain 252 and the process may be repeated.
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 4 showing another view of the described structure. It should be appreciated that a play participant, standing at the base of the bamboo mast, can operate the pump and pull-ropes to remotely raise the rising tiki head to surprise and entertain play participants located near that part of the structure.
  • FIG. 6 is a front elevational view and another embodiment of the present invention.
  • a play participant controls the flow of water by means of a flow control hand wheel 320 .
  • the water supply travels up the bamboo mast and exits the rotating pipe fall 324 , which may be selectively rotated to supply water to either the water wheel 328 or the tipping vessel, in this case a clam shell 332 .
  • As water passes through the water wheel 328 it spills into a tipping trough 336 which automatically tips and dumps the collected water onto the play participants below.
  • a play participant may turn the pipe fall hand wheel 326 , which turns the rotating pipe fall 324 to deliver water to the tipping vessel, in this case the clam shell 332 .
  • tipping vessel clam shell 332 As the tipping vessel clam shell 332 fills with water, it will automatically tip to spill the water into a bamboo trough 344 which contains an exit pipe 348 to deliver the water to a multi-ordered runnel set 340 . The water will spill through the subsequent runnels and eventually onto a waiting play participant below.
  • Figure 7 is a side elevational view of Figure 6 illustrating the structure and sequence of events triggered by the tipping vessel clam shell 332. It should be appreciated that a play participant operating the hand wheel 320 through a chain of events, can cause water to flow through the system and spill remotely from the lower-most runneL
  • Figure 8 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 6 showing the relative orientation of the water play elements. Again, it should be appreciated that a play participant, operating the pipe fall hand wheel can start a sequential chain of events resulting in a remote spilling of water from either the tipping trough 336 or the lower-most runnel.
EP01650066A 2000-05-26 2001-05-28 Structure pour jeux aquatiques activée par une corde de traction Withdrawn EP1158118A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US20762100P 2000-05-26 2000-05-26
US207621P 2000-05-26

Publications (2)

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EP1158118A2 true EP1158118A2 (fr) 2001-11-28
EP1158118A3 EP1158118A3 (fr) 2003-12-10

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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EP01650066A Withdrawn EP1158118A3 (fr) 2000-05-26 2001-05-28 Structure pour jeux aquatiques activée par une corde de traction

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EP (1) EP1158118A3 (fr)
CA (1) CA2348986A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105457283A (zh) * 2015-12-29 2016-04-06 芜湖华强文化科技产业有限公司 一种重力控制水幕帘发生式观光通道
US9480913B2 (en) 2011-01-26 2016-11-01 WhitewaterWest Industries Ltd. Interactive entertainment using a mobile device with object tagging and/or hyperlinking
KR102059797B1 (ko) * 2019-09-20 2019-12-27 한국문화관광경영원 주식회사 물놀이용 워터버킷

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106781805B (zh) * 2017-01-19 2023-04-07 合肥金诺数码科技股份有限公司 一种农田灌溉及插秧体验系统

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5194048A (en) 1989-11-20 1993-03-16 Briggs Rick A Participatory water play apparatus
US5820471A (en) 1989-11-20 1998-10-13 Briggs; Rick A. Participatory water play system

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5662525A (en) * 1989-11-20 1997-09-02 Briggs; Rick A. Participatory water play apparatus
US6132318A (en) * 1997-07-01 2000-10-17 Scs Interactive, Inc. Interactive funhouse play structure

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5194048A (en) 1989-11-20 1993-03-16 Briggs Rick A Participatory water play apparatus
US5820471A (en) 1989-11-20 1998-10-13 Briggs; Rick A. Participatory water play system

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9480913B2 (en) 2011-01-26 2016-11-01 WhitewaterWest Industries Ltd. Interactive entertainment using a mobile device with object tagging and/or hyperlinking
US10518169B2 (en) 2011-01-26 2019-12-31 Whitewater West Industries Ltd. Interactive entertainment using a mobile device with object tagging and/or hyperlinking
CN105457283A (zh) * 2015-12-29 2016-04-06 芜湖华强文化科技产业有限公司 一种重力控制水幕帘发生式观光通道
CN105457283B (zh) * 2015-12-29 2017-08-29 华强方特（芜湖）文化科技有限公司 一种重力控制水幕帘发生式观光通道
KR102059797B1 (ko) * 2019-09-20 2019-12-27 한국문화관광경영원 주식회사 물놀이용 워터버킷

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Publication number Publication date
CA2348986A1 (fr) 2001-11-26
EP1158118A3 (fr) 2003-12-10

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