Patent Application
20190046887
The present invention relates generally to amusement attractions, such as surfing simulators or other wave machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to mobile or permanently installed water or surfing attractions that incorporate one or more inflatable sections or areas.
Water attractions (e.g., waterslides, surfing slides or machines, boogie-boarding slides, etc.) are a popular entertainment activity during periods of warm weather. Conventional water attractions are commonly made of fiberglass or other rigid or semi-rigid materials that provide a smooth and slippery surface for supporting a flow of water thereon to transport a rider from an entrance to an exit. A variety of different types of ride vehicles (e.g., inner tubes, body boards, surf boards, floatation devices, etc.) may be used by the rider as the rider travels along the water attraction and support the rider as the ride vehicle slides along the riding surface.
One type of water attraction that has proven a popular lure for patrons to water or other amusement parks or venues is the surfing machine or simulator. These machines may be used both for entertainment purposes as well as training purposes for helping instruct individuals that may be wary or otherwise unable to surf out in the open ocean. Conventional surf machines utilize water pumps cooperating with nozzles or jets to flow a sheet or layer of water over a variety of surfaces and allow riders to skim atop the water flow. A riding surface of the conventional surf machine is typically a rigid or semi-rigid, low-friction surface that supports maneuvering by riders upon a conventional or modified surfboard or boogie board (individually and collectively referred to as a “board”). However, users without much surfing experience, either in the ocean or upon surfing machines, commonly fall off of the board during initial attempts at using the surfing machine and the surfaces of these apparatuses can make uncomfortable contact with a rider upon the rider's falling off of their board.
Particularly at competition or sports venues (e.g., surfing competitions, BMX competitions, etc.) located outdoors, such as at or near the beach, surfing simulators have increasingly been in demand as a fun and revenue-generating activity for potential patrons. Surfing simulators also provide onlookers with an additional activity to engage in while present at the venue or event. Unfortunately, given the relatively short duration that many competitions extend, some lasting only a few days in duration, permanent installation of surfing simulators at those locations is not feasible. While some mobile surfing simulators have been developed, the comparably long and typically complex assembly and/or disassembly procedures, oftentimes taking greater time than the entire duration of the event itself, makes such devices undesirable to many potential event holders or organizers. These conventional simulators commonly utilize a large number of component parts that require vast numbers of shipment containers for their assembly, adding significantly to the cost associated with transporting and assembling the simulators at a desired geographic location.
As the sheet flow or standing wave product (collectively “surfing machine”) market becomes more popular, water venues increasingly look to new surfing machines that can provide novel experiences to riders or that are less expensive or time consuming to install. Moreover, as the surfing industry becomes more sophisticated and the influence of extreme sports becomes more popular, more extreme standing waves created by such surfing machines are desired in order to satisfy the thrill anticipated by these new generation of users, both adults and children alike. As new surfing machines are developed, maneuverability, rider comfort, cost, and efficiency in assembly/disassembly should be adequately addressed and improvements to ensure cost effectiveness, particularly in the mobile water attraction market, is desired. Rider comfort and/or improvements to rider maneuverability would also be desired. Ideally, a mobile surfing simulator would be inexpensive to construct and/or transport, quick and/or easy to assemble and/or disassemble, and would allow a rider to make contact with the surface of the water attraction, for example, upon falling off of a ride vehicle, with minimal discomfort.
A water attraction or ride vehicle using inflatable materials is disclosed. In one embodiment, a surfing attraction may include a nozzle for emitting a flow of water, an inflatable ride surface adjacent to nozzle and including a pocket, the ride surface configured to receive the flow of water from the nozzle, an inflatable supporting material positioned beneath the ride surface and configured to have a inclined slope when inflated, an inflatable riser positioned beneath the supporting material and configured to be adjustably inflated for positioning of the ride surface with respect to the nozzle, and a rigid element configured to engage with the pocket of the ride surface, wherein a position of the rigid element is adjustable for maintaining a location of the ride surface with respect to the nozzle.
In another embodiment, a surfing attraction may include a first inflatable ride surface section, a second inflatable ride surface section positioned adjacent to the first inflatable ride surface section and forming a gap between the first inflatable ride surface section and the second inflatable ride surface section, a protective sheet covering at least a portion of the first inflatable ride surface section and the second inflatable ride surface section, and a filling element positioned within a gap.
In still another embodiment, a surfing attraction may include a nozzle for emitting a flow of water, a drainage section for draining the flow of water emitted by the nozzle, the drainage section including a grating having a texture for increasing turbidity of water flowing over the grating, and a ride surface positioned between the nozzle and the drainage section,
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Component parts shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be exaggerated to better illustrate the important features of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the different views, wherein:
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings and pictures, which show the exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and its best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or steps may be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component may include a singular embodiment.
Turning first to
A first inflatable wall 110 is connected with the base 105 (and/or potentially the contact walls 125) and includes extending or protruding portions 112 for helping maintain balance of the surfing apparatus 100, for example, in an upright orientation. In one embodiment, the contact walls 125 may be a part of the first inflatable wall 110. A second inflatable wall 115 is connected with the first inflatable wall 110 and/or the base 105. The first inflatable wall 110 and the second inflatable wall 115 may be made of different materials (e.g., the first inflatable wall 110 may be made of a stronger or less cushioned material in order to better stabilize the surfing apparatus 100. In an alternative embodiment, the first inflatable wall 110 and the second inflatable wall 115 may be made of the same material or may be the same inflatable wall. Any combination of sectioned walls may be connected to one another and/or to other components to form a structure for supporting a surface that may be ridden by a rider upon a flow of water or a single, non-sectioned structure may be used in different embodiments.
A pump and nozzle assembly 150 (e.g., discussed in greater detail herein) is connected at a front end of the surfing apparatus 100 and is configured to supply a flow (e.g., a sheet flow and/or deep flow) of water or other fluid onto the riding surface 120 in a direction leading away from the front end of the surfing apparatus 100 to a back end of the surfing apparatus 100. A drain portion 130, located at the back end of the surfing apparatus 100, drains the water or other fluid after it travels on the riding surface 120. The pump and nozzle assembly 150 may include one or more pumps 152 that operate to recirculate fluid drained at the drain portion 130 back to nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 of the pump and nozzle assembly 150. These nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 provide a predetermined amount, volume, and/or flow of fluid onto the riding surface 120. In certain embodiments, the amount, volume, or flow of fluid may be variable.
A cover or planar portion 155 extends over or is connected with the nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 of the pump and nozzle assembly 150, for example, to help prevent riders on the riding surface 120 from getting too close and/or colliding or interfering with the nozzles or other fluid directing elements 153. This cover or planar portion 155 made be rigid or semi-rigid, and/or may be made or covered with a padded or soft material to aid in rider comfort in case of a collision therewith. The nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 may be disposed or connected adjacent to a bottom surface 154 of the cover or planar portion 155 and near the front side of the riding surface 120 for flowing the flow of water onto the riding surface 120. In an alternative embodiment, the cover or planar portion 155 may be any of a variety of shapes or dimensions as desired and/or the nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 may be disposed in any of a variety of numbers or positions in order to flow fluid onto the riding surface 120 as desired for a particular ride application.
Thus, as shown, water (or any other fluid) is configured to flow from the nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 at the front end of the surfing apparatus, onto the riding surface 120, which may include a sloped (e.g., upwardly extending planar or curved section) portion that can be ridden or surfed by a rider, and subsequently onto the drain portion 130 where the water is drained and recirculated back to the nozzles or other fluid-directing elements 153 via the one or more pumps 152 for repeated flow onto the riding surface 120. The drain portion 130 drains the water into a cavity or reservoir beneath the riding surface 120, for example, as discussed in greater detail herein. The riding surface 120 and/or the drain portion 130 may be configured to float upon the body of water in the cavity. In certain embodiments, the riding surface 120 and/or drain portion 130 may be attached to the base 105, inflatable walls (110, 115), and/or other components of the surfing apparatus 100 (e.g., a structure holding or connected with the nozzles or other fluid directing elements 153) for stabilizing and/or maintaining the floating riding surface 120 and/or drain portion 130 in a desired position or orientation with one another. In one embodiment, the reservoir cavity may be capable of holding 54,000 liters of fluid.
Any of a variety of portions (e.g., any or all of the components making up the support and riding surfaces) may be inflatable. For example, the base 105, first inflatable wall 110, second inflatable wall 115, riding surface 120, and inflatable contact walls 125 may all be fully inflatable. In an alternative embodiment, any of these components may not be inflatable or may only be partially inflatable (e.g., the riding surface may merely be a fiber, mesh, membrane, etc. material attached, stretched, and/or tensioned as desired, but not comprising an inflatable surface and/or may have certain portions configured to inflate and other portions that do not inflate). Additional or fewer elements or components may be added or removed from the surfing apparatus 100 in an alternative embodiment. Alternative embodiments may utilize modified or different shapes, sizes, or configurations other than that explicitly illustrated in the embodiment of
In one embodiment, the riding surface 120 and/or other surfaces (e.g., inflatable components) of the surfing apparatus 100 may be formed of a drop-stitch material. Drop-stitch material may allow such surfaces to be safe and flexible when accommodating riders or other load-bearing elements, but without tensioning. The surfing apparatus 100 may be modular such that various components can be easily connected or attached to other components (e.g., inflatable slides or other amusement features may be attached to the surfing apparatus 100 to create a larger or more varied amusement or play structure). For example, various padding or pillowed elements may be connected in a modular fashion to form a recovery system for maintenance of a rider within a desired area of the surfing apparatus 100. In this fashion, if a rider falls off their surfboard, boogie board, or other ride vehicle, or otherwise loses control when using the surfing apparatus 100, rider comfort may be increased in the case of a contact with a surface of the surfing apparatus 100. Any of a variety of additional or alternative parts may be used in conjunction with the illustrated components of
Turning next to
The stairs 240 may be formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material (e.g., inflatable, partially inflatable, or non-inflatable) and include sidewalls 245 (e.g., inflatable, partially inflatable, or non-inflatable) to help prevent a rider from falling off the side of the stairs 240 when ascending or descending. The base 205 may be inflatable and include extending or protruding portions 207 to aid in supporting the surfing apparatus 200 in the desired, upright orientation when inflated. A platform 262 is disposed adjacent to the pump/nozzle assembly 250 and configured to fit beneath a portion of the pump/nozzle assembly 250 for providing a surface for the portion of the pump/nozzle assembly 250 to mate therewith and/or flow water thereon from the pump/nozzle assembly 250 before the water flows onto the riding surface 220. Drains 260 are positioned on either side of the platform 262 to drain water that is not desirably transmitted onto the riding surface 220 from the pump/nozzle assembly 250 back to the water reservoir.
In the exploded configurations shown by
A back portion 330 of the pump and nozzle assembly 300 includes a curved segment 335 wherein the fluid flows within from the connector 322, through the container or tube 320, and to a planar portion 340 of the nozzle assembly. One or more nozzles or other fluid-directing elements may be disposed within or connected with the planar portion 340, for example as previously discussed, for directing the fluid onto an adjacent riding surface at a desired velocity, flow rate, or orientation, etc. The planar portion 340 may be configured to connect or otherwise be disposed adjacent to the riding surface of the surfing apparatus (e.g. centered along a width of the riding surface). The pump and nozzle assembly 300 may be configured to interface or connect with an inflatable attraction from outside of the inflatable attraction, for example, in a modular nature.
Turning next to
An inflatable structure 470 is disposed on top of certain of the plurality of beams 460 and provides a stable structure for supporting riders as they enter or exit the surfing apparatus 400 while also providing a porous structure for water to drain through after the water flows across the upper surface of the surfing apparatus 400. Thus, after draining through the inflatable structure 470, the water arrives in a water reservoir 430 or cavity formed via the base 405, the floor 480, and underneath the inflatable structure 470 and upper surface (e.g., riding surface) of the surfing apparatus 400. When water is within the water reservoir 430 it may be pumped through a suction inlet 410 and directed via nozzles in a pump and nozzle assembly 450 back to a riding or upper surface of the surfing apparatus 400. As shown in
A plurality of attachment mechanisms 462 are disposed in the base 405, inflatable structure 470, and/or beams 460 that are configured to connect with a plurality of stabilizing elements (464, 466) that extend between attachment mechanisms 462 on opposite sides of the surfing apparatus 400. For example, the attachment mechanisms 462 may be openings in the base 405 and the stabilizing elements (464, 466) may be rigid rods that are received by the openings. Certain of the stabilizing elements (464, 466) may be configured to engage with one or more beams 460 or other components of the surfing apparatus 400 (e.g., the inflatable structure 470) in order to stabilize multiple components of the surfing apparatus 400 together. Certain of the stabilizing elements may cross one another at a perpendicular orientation, or may be positioned as parallel elements, as illustrated. In an alternative embodiment, any number of stabilizing elements (464, 466) and/or attachment mechanisms 462 may be used, in any of a variety of positions or orientations.
In an alternative embodiment, the inflatable pad 421 may not be inflatable and/or may be disposed with other thicknesses (e.g., a constant thickness) or configurations. For example, to generate alternative water flow paths, the inflatable pad 421 and/or upper surface 420 may be configured or oriented to have ridges, valleys, or other shapes in other locations from those explicitly illustrated to create desired waveforms or water-flow characteristics. In still another embodiment, the inflatable pad 421 and/or upper surface 420 may be configured to be modular and/or easily replaceable such that a ride operator can quickly and/or easily alter the surfing apparatus 400 to have different surfing waveform characteristics.
Turning next to
The surfing apparatus 500 includes an inflatable structure 515 making up one or more walls or exterior surfaces. In an alternative embodiment, protruding elements or arms (not shown) may extend from the inflatable structure 515 on any side of the inflatable structure 515 in order to provide increased stability, balance, or support for the surfing apparatus 500 during use. A riding surface 520 connects with the inflatable structure 515 and provides a surface upon which a rider may surf, skim, or otherwise ride, either with a ride vehicle, such as a surfboard, or without a ride vehicle. In one embodiment, the riding surface may be a sheet or other fabric or material that is tensioned across or otherwise attaches to the inflatable structure 515.
Two layers of material are located beneath the riding surface 520. A first layer 545 may be a thin layer (e.g., 8 cm thick) of material. In one embodiment, the first layer 545 may be a drop stitch material that inflates flat. A second layer 550 may be a layer with a varying thickness (e.g., thicker near a rear portion of the surfing apparatus 500 and thinner near a front portion of the surfing apparatus 500 in order to provide an inclined shape for the riding surface 520. In one embodiment, the second layer 550 may be a non-drop stitch inflatable material. A dewatering area 530 is located adjacent to the riding surface 520 for draining water that flows across the riding surface 520 from a pump and/or nozzle assembly 555 to a water reservoir located beneath the dewatering area 530 and/or riding surface 520. In one embodiment, the riding surface 520, the first layer 545, and/or the second layer 550 may be configured to float upon a body of water that is contained within the reservoir located beneath the dewatering area 530 and/or riding surface 520.
A plurality of cylinders or columns 540 are located underneath the second layer 550 and operate to support the second layer 550, the first layer 545, the riding surface 520, and/or the dewatering area 530. One or more of the plurality of cylinders 540 may be configured to be anchored to the inflatable structure 515 via straps 516. In one embodiment, the straps 516 may be heat-welded vinyl that secures to the inflatable structure 515 and/or the cylinder 540. In one embodiment, the plurality of cylinders 540 may be PVC pipes. The plurality of cylinders 540 may be configured to be filled with water (e.g., water that is circulated through the water reservoir). For example, each of the plurality of cylinders 540 may be covered such that water is contained therein or each of the plurality of cylinders 540 may be uncovered and/or have one or more holes disposed therein so that water in the water reservoir is capable of flowing into and/or out of each of the plurality of cylinders 540.
A staircase 525 may be formed as part of the inflatable structure 515 or connected to the inflatable structure 515 for allowing riders to enter and/or exit the riding surface 520. In an alternative embodiment, the staircase 525 and/or additional staircases or other entry or exit means (e.g., slides, ladders, etc.) may be disposed at any desired location to permit entrance or exit by riders (e.g., near the pump and/or nozzle assembly 555).
Connected with the suction inlet 588 is a pump tube 587 that houses or otherwise interfaces with pumping equipment for the movement of water from the reservoir, into the suction inlet 588, and through the pump tube 587. The pump tube 587 of the pump and nozzle assembly 555 may be configured to be partially submerged (e.g., a portion of the pump tube 587 at an end closest to the suction inlet 588 may be located within a water reservoir of the inflatable surfing apparatus 500 and thus submerged in water while a portion of the pump tube 587 at an end furthest from the suction inlet 588 may be located outside of the water reservoir of the inflatable surfing apparatus 500 and thus not submerged in water.
As illustrated, a wall of the inflatable surfing apparatus 500 may be configured to extend along a plane 594 and define an opening therein for accommodating the pump tube 587, thus disposing a portion of the pump and nozzle assembly 555 within 595 the inflatable surfing apparatus 500 and a portion of the pump and nozzle assembly 555 outside 596 of the inflatable surfing apparatus 500. A sleeve or other gasket may extend around all or a portion of the pump tube 587 within this plane 594 in order to provide a watertight seal such that water cannot leak from the area within 595 the inflatable surfing apparatus to outside 596 of the inflatable surfing apparatus through the opening defined by the wall. In an alternative embodiment, the pump tube 587 may be fully submerged or fully not submerged.
One or more nozzles 592 are connected to the pump tube 587 via piping or plumbing 598 such that water pumped through the suction inlet 589 is delivered to the one or more nozzles 592 and may then be delivered to a riding surface of the inflatable surfing apparatus. In one embodiment, the one or more nozzles 592 may be connected in a side-by-side configuration (e.g., extending 2.3 meters in length or less) so as to conveniently fit within a standard shipping container. Cables for providing electrical signals to operate one or more of the components of the pump and nozzle assembly 555 may be connected to motors, generators, computer systems, etc. in order to control the one or more components of the pump and nozzle assembly 555 for providing a desired rate of water flow or quantity of water to a riding surface of the inflatable surfing apparatus. In one embodiment, the cables are not submerged (e.g., are positioned outside 596 of the inflatable surfing apparatus).
Although the embodiments shown and described above feature water attractions having particular configurations or shapes, an inflatable material or inflatable components may be implemented on any of a variety of water or other attractions. In one example, entry and/or exit locations for a rider to enter and/or exit from a water ride may differ from those explicitly shown in the embodiments illustrated (e.g., a staircase may be located at an alternative position or no staircase may be used). In another example, a water attraction, such as a standing wave surfing ride, may have its entire main structure or riding surface as an inflatable structure or made from an inflatable material. Alternatively, a water attraction, such as a standing wave surfing ride, may only be constructed only partially with inflatable structures and other components of the ride being non-inflatable, for example, to aid in stability or to increase the load-bearing characteristics of the ride. Although the various embodiments illustrated and described incorporate a variety of features, components, and/or operation, not all such features, components, and/or operation may be utilized within a desired embodiment. Instead, certain, but not all, of the features, components, and/or operation may be chosen for a particular embodiment.
The inflatable portion may be positioned at any desired location along the water attraction, for example, to provide a less rigid surface for more comfortably supporting riding thereon and/or to absorb an impact of the rider or a ride vehicle. For example, the inflatable structure may be completely above ground, completely below ground, or partially above and below ground. In some embodiments, a water reservoir of the water attraction may be made of the inflatable material. A water attraction using an inflatable portion or portions may be modular in nature such that it may be more easily manufactured, transportable, and/or constructed on a given location. For example, a water attraction using an inflatable portion or portions may be designed to be portable such that it is intended to be used at a given geographic location for a short period and then deflated and/or deconstructed and shipped to a new location.
Turning to
An inflatable riding surface 630 is positioned on top of the inflatable base 602 and defines a surface for riders to slide or surf upon, with or without a ride vehicle. The rigidity of the inflatable riding surface 630 may be adjusted by adjusting the inflation level of the inflatable riding surface 630. The inflatable riding surface 630 may also include one or more connectors 625 for connecting one or more vertical walls (which may be inflatable, non-inflatable, or may include cushioned material) as further described in connection with
In one embodiment, the inflatable surfing apparatus may include one or more vertical walls that may be inflatable, non-inflatable, or may include cushioned material. As shown in
Any of a variety of embodiments of a surfing apparatus may be made using some or all of the features previously disclosed herein. As previously discussed, a supporting material, pad, or structure (e.g., an inflatable kicker, such as a drop-stitch material or other material capable of sealing air, a rigid material, etc.) may be provided beneath a riding surface (e.g., a protective sheet, or other inflatable, such as drop-stitch material, or non-inflatable material). During construction, a temporary sheet may be placed between the supporting material, pad, or structure and the riding surface, such temporary sheet removed after construction so that the supporting material, pad, or structure and the riding surface are directly adjacent. Water flowing over the riding surface is permitted to drain at a rear of the surfing apparatus into a reservoir for recirculation. As discussed, for example in
In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to drain water as quickly and/or in as short a distance as possible in order to aid in slowing a rider down once the rider has traveled into the drainage area of a surfing apparatus and/or shorten the recovery footprint and, therefore, associate ride space required to recover outflows of water. The grating or rods may have a textured or contoured surface that increases their coefficient of friction and/or effect the flow characteristics of the passing water in order to help drain water quicker. In an exemplary embodiment, the grating or rods include a surface configured to increase water turbidity and create a non-laminar flow. In an exemplary embodiment, the grating or rods include a surface configured to aid in stopping a rider's movement (e.g., due to increased friction acting upon a rider or the rider's board) should a rider be sliding on top of the grating or rods. In an exemplary embodiment, the grating or rods may have a thin diameter and/or be spaced apart from one another to support additional drainage of water therebetween. In an exemplary embodiment, the grating or rods may have an increased textured surface and reduced diameter size as compared to conventional structures. In an exemplary embodiment, the recovery area may be reduced or shortened and/or the grating space between adjacent rods or grates may be reduced as compared to conventional systems. In an exemplary embodiment, the grating or rod includes a helical or spiral protrusion extending around and along a length of the grate and/or rod of a recovery area. The protrusion may be positioned under a sealant and/or covering, such that the protrusion's outer surface in contact with the water flow is either a continuous/gradual contour of the outer surface of the grating/rod, or discontinuous/step-wise extension from the outer surface of the grating/rod. The outer surface of the protrusion and/or grating/rod surface may be textured, such as roughened, patterned, printed, indented, protuberant, or otherwise provide a non-smooth, non-uniform surface contact. In certain embodiments, flaps (e.g., vinyl) or other components may be positioned adjacent to the drainage area to help direct water that does not drain through the drainage area into the reservoir of the surfing apparatus.
The supporting material, pad, or structure may be positioned and/or fastened with other components of the surfing apparatus, such as the substructure, base or other support beams (e.g., stainless steel beams that extend across a top of a water reservoir) of the surfing apparatus. The riding surface may be fastened, such as with Velcro, to the supporting material, pad or structure. In this way, as previously discussed, the supporting material, pad, or structure can provide overall shape (e.g., provide an inclined slope) for riders that are riding upon a flow of water that is provided from water delivery components, such as nozzles, of the surfing apparatus onto the riding surface.
For example, as illustrated in the embodiment shown in
In the example shown in
A rigid element 1120 (e.g., a pipe) that is connected 1122 with a stable portion of the surfing apparatus 1100 (e.g., the substructure or base of the surfing apparatus 1100, the one or more nozzles 1105 of the surfing apparatus 1100, etc.) may interact with a portion 1150 of the ride surface 1140 that forms a pocket 1155. Accordingly, the rigid element 1120 may be adjustably located in order to position and/or maintain the ride surface 1140 at a desired location (e.g., with respect to the one or more nozzles 1105) despite the flow of water 1110 being disposed onto the ride surface 1140. In one embodiment, the portion 1150 may be a vinyl material as illustrated that is connected with the ride surface 1140 and forms the pocket 1155. In another embodiment, the portion 1150 or pocket 1155 may be integral with the ride surface 1140 such that the rigid element 1120 is directly disposed into the ride surface 1140. In an alternative embodiment, any of a variety of possible connections may be made (e.g., adhesives, bolts, screws, etc.) other than through the use of elements with a pocket for positioning and/or maintaining the ride surface 1140 at a desired location. The rigid element 1120 may be adjustably tensioned with the ride surface 1140 (e.g., by adjusting a position of the rigid element 1120 once connected with the ride surface via the portion 1150 or pocket 1155).
The gap 1250 may undesirably cause water flow disturbances or turbulence, or otherwise impact the unimpeded riding upon the ride surface formed by at least the first and/or second ride surface sections (1210, 1220). As previously discussed, a sheet or other material 1230 may be positioned and/or fastened with the ride surface. Because the gap 1250 may still impact water or rideability of the surfing apparatus 1200, even with the presence of the sheet or other material 1230, a filling element 1240 may be fully or partially disposed into a pocket, cavity, or other portion of the sheet or other material 1230. In an alternative embodiment, the filling element 1240 may not be disposed within the sheet or other material 1230, but instead may be fully or partially disposed within a pocket, cavity, or other portion of the first ride surface section 1210 and/or the second ride surface section 1220. In still another embodiment, the filling element 1240 may merely be fastened or connected (e.g., using an adhesive) to an outside surface of the sheet or other material 1230, the first ride surface section 1210 and/or the second ride surface section 1220. The filling element 1240 may be a soft material, such as foam or other padding, or, in an alternative embodiment, be a more rigid material, such as fiberglass, plastic, metal, or other such composite.
Filling elements may be used in other areas of the surfing apparatus 1200, for example in connecting surfaces (e.g., inflatable surfaces) that are not both ride surface sections. For example, as previously discussed, slides or other amusement features (e.g., inflatable features) may be connected as part of a surfing apparatus, for example, to provide an exit for a rider to slide or travel along when exiting from the surfing apparatus (e.g., an inflatable slide or stairs leading from a drain portion of a surfing attraction). Accordingly, one or more filling elements may be positioned at connection locations between such inflatable surfaces. Non-inflatable surfaces of a surfing apparatus that similarly form gaps when placed adjacent one another may also utilize filling elements therebetween in certain embodiments as desired.
The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosed methods and apparatus. Accordingly, the terminology employed throughout should be read in a non-limiting manner. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the disclosed apparatus and methods. The steps of the method or algorithm may also be performed in an alternate order from those provided in the examples.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/421,097, filed on Jan. 31, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/238,094, filed on Aug. 16, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/528,801, filed on Oct. 30, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,463,390, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/897,696, filed on Oct. 30, 2013.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61897696 | Oct 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14528801 | Oct 2014 | US |
| Child | 15238094 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15421097 | Jan 2017 | US |
| Child | 16163810 | US | |
| Parent | 15238094 | Aug 2016 | US |
| Child | 15421097 | US |
