Patent Application
20170072326
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to amusement rides and more particularly to a water amusement assembly and more specifically to a stable, mobile, floating amusement apparatus.
Description of the Background Art
In hot summer weather, it is common to undertake water-based amusement activities. For example, swimming pools, oceans and lakes are typically enjoyed on hot weather days. Often it is desirable to use water-based amusement features such as rope swings, diving boards, water slides, etc. Often these amusement features can be found at a specific location, such as a water park. It is sometimes desirable, however, to have such amusement features at a personal location. For example, inflatable water slides are commonly rented for outdoor home or community parties.
Certain conventional systems are known for providing mobile, floating water parks. These conventional systems allow a user to set up a floating water park in, for example, a lake, bay or water front area.
Conventional floating water parks, however are not easily moved, if movable at all. Additionally, conventional floating water parks are not stable, and can be easily damaged, as they are often inflated. The conventional floating water parks must be inflated before and delfated after each use. Additionally, the individual amusement features must be individualy attached to the floating water park for each use. Thus, the conventional floating water parks are less durable and require increased setup and take down time.
In view of the foregoing and other exemplary problems, drawbacks, and disadvantages of the conventional methods and structures, an exemplary feature of the present invention is to provide a stable, floating water park apparatus including a plurality of amusement features that is easily mobile.
According to a first non-limiting, exemplary aspect of the invention a floating amusement apparatus includes a base, at least one elevated platform secured to and supported above the base and a plurality of user-interactive amusement accessories secured to the base or the at least one elevated platform. The base includes a modular floating dock. The floating amusement apparatus is adapted to be mobile.
According to a second non-limiting, exemplary aspect of the invention a floating amusement apparatus includes a base, comprising a modular floating dock, a first elevated platform having a first height secured to and supported above the base, the first elevated platform having an end portion extended beyond an outermost edge of the base, a second elevated platform having a second height secured to and supported above the base, a third elevated platform having a third height secured to and supported above the base, a slide having a first end secured to the third elevated platform; a rope swing mounted on the third elevated platform and a pair of trampolines mounted on the base adjacent to the second platform, each of the trampolines being positioned at a different height. The third height is greater than the first height and the second height. The floating amusement apparatus is adapted to be mobile.
As indicated above, conventional floating water parks are not easily moved, if movable at all. The present invention, according to the above exemplary aspects, provides an improved floating amusement apparatus that is completely mobile in a single unit. That is, the floating amusement apparatus described herein can either be self-propelled by a motor or easily towed. The floating amusement apparatus is easily driven, manuevered and anchored and can, thus, be easily moved into most slips, docks or marinas.
Additionally, conventional floating water parks are not stable as they are often inflated. The present floating amusement apparatus is not an inflatable apparatus. Instead, the base of the apparatus is made of a durable plastic modular floating dock, thus providing a stable, rigid unit that can support up to 16 tons of weight. Thus, all of the other components of the floating amusement apparatus can be built and secured to the base (permanently or semi-permanently) in a self-contained unit that can be moved together, further increasing the overall mobility of the floating amusement apparatus. Additionally, the support members and platforms are made from aluminum, further improving the durability and stability of the floating amusement apparatus.
The conventional floating water parks must be inflated before and delfated after each use. Additionally, the individual amusement features must be individualy attached to the floating water park for each use. Thus, the conventional floating water parks are less durable and require increased setup and take down time. The present floating amusement apparatus can fit on standard trailers and can be easily removed from the water at access ramps and driven on the road in its completely assembled configuration. Accordingly, no on-site assembly is required by the user and the floating amusement apparatus can be left in the water year-round.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, do not limit the present invention, and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
The floating amusement apparatus 100 includes at least one elevated platform. In the embodiment illustrated in
The first platform 120 has a first, closed end, positioned above an interior of the base 110, and a second, open, end 123, which extends beyond an outer edge of the base 110, a first side 125 and a second side 127. A closed railing 129 extends along the first end 121. A similar closed railing 129 is disposed along a portion of the first side 125. The closed railing 129 extends along the first side 125 from the first end 121 to a point above the edge of the base 110. With this construction, a user is able to run and jump from the platform 120 into the water, while being prevented from jumping or falling and landing on the base 110.
Additionally, a first staircase 130 (see
Turning to
The first side 143 of the second platform 140 is also open. A first trampoline 150 is positioned on the top surface 116 of the base 110 adjacent to and below the second platform 140. The open first side 143 of the second platform 140 is configured to allow a user to jump from the top surface 140a of the second platform 140 onto the first trampoline 150 to then propel the user into the water.
A third platform 160 is disposed in a generally center portion of the base 110. The third platform 160 is supported above the base 110 by a plurality of support poles 166. The third platform 160 has four sides 161, a flat bottom surface 164 and a flat top surface 162. Similar to the first platform 120 and the second platform 140, the top surface 162 is covered with artificial/synthetic turf. A plurality of closed railings 164 are disposed on and extend along the four sides 161 of the third platform 160.
A first opening 163 is disposed on a side 161 of the third platform 160 adjacent an outermost edge of the base 110. A high-dive extension portion 165 extends from the side 161 of the third platform 160 in the first opening 163. A second opening 166 is disposed on another of the sides 161 of the third platform 160. A second trampoline 170 is positioned on the top surface 116 of the base 110 adjacent to and below the third platform 160. The second opening 166 of the third platform 160 is configured to allow a user to jump from the top surface 162 of the third platform 160 onto the second trampoline 170 to then propel the user into the water. Additionally, a third opening 167 is disposed along another side 161 of the third platform 160. Furthermore, a slide 180 extends from the side 161 of the platform along which the third opening 167 is disposed. Lastly, a rope swing assembly 190 is positioned along another side 161 of the third platform 160.
The floating amusement apparatus 100 may include any number of platforms. For example, an embodiment of the floating amusement apparatus 100 may include one, two or three platforms. Though any number or combination of platforms may be used. The platforms are disposed at different heights. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
As identified above, the floating amusement apparatus includes several amusement accessories secured to either the base 110 or one of the plurality of elevated platforms. The slide 180, above, is attached at a top end 182 to a portion of the railing 164 along the third elevated platform 160 and attached at a bottom end 184 to the base 110 by a mounting beam assembly 186. The bottom end 184 extends out beyond an outermost edge of the base 110 to allow a user to drop into the water. The slide 180 is illustrated herein as a curved and closed slide. Any size or shaped slide, however, may be used in its place.
Additionally, the floating amusement apparatus may include one or more trampolines. In the embodiment illustrated in
Furthermore, the floating amusement apparatus may include the rope swing assembly 190. The rope swing assembly 190 includes a support frame 192 mounted to the top surface 162 of the third platform 160, a support arm 194 pivotably attached to and extending outwardly from the support frame 192, a pivot mount 193, which pivotably attaches the support arm 194 to the support frame 192, and a hook 196 or other fastener disposed at a distal end of the support arm. The hook 196 is configured to receive and support a rope 195 (illustrated in
Moreover, the amusement accessories may include one of more of the diving area/platforms detailed above. That is, the first platform 120 includes the open end 123 extending beyond the outer edge of the base 110, the second platform 140 includes the first end 142 extending beyond the outermost edge of the base 110 and the third platform 160 includes the high-dive extension portion 165. This allows the user to jump/dive into the water from multiple varying heights.
The support poles 122/147/166 for each of the platforms and the mounting beams 152/172/186 for the amusement attractions are each connected to the top surface 116 of the base 110 through support plates 198. The support plates 198 are load distributing plates adapted to distribute the load from the support poles and mounting beams to the modular floating dock/base 110. The support plates 198 are of varying shape and size. In general, the support plates 198 have an amorphous shape to imitate puddles on the top surface 116 of the base 110. The support plates 198 are attached directly to the top surface 116 of the base 110, for example, using bolts. The support plates 198 have holes 199 adapted to receive the support poles. The support plates 198 span a wide area of holes to properly disperse the load from the support poles. Since the support pole and mounting beams are connected to the support plates 198, instead of directly to the base 110, stability is increased and less force is applied to the plastic floating modular dock.
According to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, a motor 191 is mounted on the base 110. In the present illustration, the motor 191 is illustrated in the embodiment in
The floating amusement apparatus 100 includes one or more staircases for accessing each of the elevated platforms. A first staircase 130 is disposed between the base 110 and the first platform 120. A second staircase 132 is disposed between the base 110 and the second platform 140. A third staircase 134 is disposed between the first platform 120 and the third platform 160. The number and configuration of the staircases is merely exemplary and will vary depending on the number and configuration of elevated platforms.
The above configurations of the floating amusement apparatus 100/200 are merely exemplary. Any combination of elevated platforms and amusement accessories may be used. Additionally, the size of the base and the size and height of the elevated platforms may be adjusted based on user need. The following Table 1 illustrates some exemplary configurations for the floating amusement apparatus.
In accordance with certain other embodiments of the invention, the floating amusement apparatus may also be designed as a stationary dock model. This would allow the user to permanently or semi-permanently install the floating amusement apparatus at their home or other location. Additionally, the base 110 could be designed a permanent dock having the amusement accessories positioned at one end while allowing boats to be docked at an opposite end.
Moreover, certain other embodiments of the invention may include a seating area having seats, tables, coolers, etc.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
This present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/216,873, which was filed on Sep. 10, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62216873 | Sep 2015 | US |
