Patent Application
20150111655
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to recreational games, and more particularly to a portable inflatable obstacle course.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of recreational play structures are available to entertain children and adults. Inflatable playhouses, for example, have become very popular in recent years. For many of these inflatable structures, the primary means of providing entertainment is for children and adults to bounce on the air inflated mattresses. As such, the entertainment value of inflatable structures can be limited for older children or adults.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an inflatable recreational play structure that provides added entertainment for older children and adults and is also cost efficient, easy to construct and disassemble. As used herein, the word “inflatable” has its plain and ordinary meaning as understood by one of skill in the art, including but not limited to the ability to internally receive and retain a fluid filler such as gases (e.g., air, nitrogen, hydrogen) and/or liquids (e.g., water, foam, gel). As used herein, the word “fluid” has its plain and ordinary meaning as understood by one of skill in the art, including but not limited to gases, liquids, plasmas, or any combination thereof.
Accordingly, disclosed herein is an inflatable obstacle water course having a housing comprising a base, one or more inflatable walls extending upwardly from the base, and a functional play feature comprising a shallow layer of water extending throughout the course such that the water's resistance to movement through the course further adds to the fun of the game. The obstacle water course may also include one or more functional play features and an inflatable mattress disposed below the base. In one embodiment, the inflatable walls extend upwardly from the base and form a water seal with the base; and the shallow layer of water is contained within the housing and extends axially along the course. In another embodiment, ground supports can temporarily affix the inflatable mattress and/or inflatable walls to the ground surface.
Also disclosed herein is a portable obstacle hydro course with inflatable features and methods of erecting the play structure. The method comprises placing a flooring in a desired location, placing one or more inflatable walls on top of the flooring to form a housing, adhering the flooring to the inflatable walls to form a sealed water barrier, inflating the walls with water first and then filling the flooring with water. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of laying an inflatable mattress under the flooring. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of staking the inflatable mattress to the ground with one or more ground supports. In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of staking the housing to the ground with one or more ground supports. In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of installing one or more panes into open spaces between the inflatable walls.
Embodiments of the inventions will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosed below, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the inventions described herein extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments, examples and illustrations, and can include other uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the inventions. In addition, embodiments of the inventions can comprise several novel features and no single feature is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.
As will be described, the present application relates to a portable inflatable obstacle course that comprises a water component or other fluid-like substance as one of the obstacles throughout the course. The water or fluid-like substance may impede the movement of people moving through the course, which in turn adds to the fun and/or challenge of the experience.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the housing 12 can also include one or more panes 26. The panes 26 can be used for external walls and/or internal walls to define one or more paths for the obstacle course 10. When water 30, or other fluid, is added to at least part of the obstacle course 10, as described in more detail below, the panes 26 may act to reduce the likelihood that water or fluid leaks out of the housing 12, or relocating within the obstacle course 10. The panes 26 may also be used as ceiling sections to create an environment that may be at least partially insulated from the outside elements. In some embodiments, the panes 26 may be made of a transparent material, a translucent material, or an opaque material. In some embodiments, the panes 26 can be painted or have a tinted color. The panes 26 may be constructed out of plastic, acrylic, thermoplastic materials, plexiglass, glass or other suitable material. In some embodiments, one or more of the panes 26, or some portion thereof, are formed in a lattice or screen pattern. The panes 26 may also include patterns, designs, logos or other function or decorative aspects. In some embodiments, at least part of the housing 12 may have an open-walled frame with few or no panes 26.
As further depicted in
In some embodiments, upon inflation, water 30 may be added to at least some parts of the housing 12. The fluid 30 may act as an obstacle or other impediment to be used in conjunction with one or more play features 16. The fluid 30 may be up to 45 inches deep, or may be deeper, or may be up to 15 inches deep, depending on the fluid used, the application, and the physical properties of the fluid's container. In some embodiments, the fluid 30 may be water, gelatin, foam, mud and other suitable fluids. The viscosity of the fluid 30 may vary greatly and it may be advantageous in different embodiments to use a fluid 30 with a higher or lower viscosity. In some embodiments, the fluid 30 may be initially added to the housing and then re-added as needed. In some embodiments, the fluid may be continuously or intermittently sprayed, e.g. by a sprinkler, hose or other fluid source. In some embodiments, the fluid may be sprayed so as to form a slick or slippery surface on slides or other play features 16. In some embodiments, the inflatable walls 18 of the housing 12 may comprise hoses suitable for transferring fluids (not illustrated) to continuously or intermittently spray the fluid 30. The fluid filled hoses can include one or more apertures extending from the inflatable walls 18 to spray the fluid 30. In such an embodiment, the apertures can protrude from the horizontal inflatable sides 20, the vertical inflatable sides 22, the ceilings 24, and/or other features. As described above, the fluid 30 may be retained within at least part of the housing 12 via the flooring 28 and the inflatable walls 18.
In some embodiments, the flooring 28 may include one or more drainage ports to allow evacuation of fluid from the housing 12 as needed. For example, drainage may be necessary at the conclusion of the use of the obstacle course 10 to facilitate disassembly, to change the type of fluid 30, or to alter fluid 30 levels for different obstacle environments. The one or more drainage ports may be left in a configuration during use allowing for constant or periodic recycling of fluid 30 in the obstacle course. In some embodiments, the one or more drainage ports may be closed during at least part of the use and opened at the user's discretion for disassembly or to facilitate fluid 30 disposal or change.
In one embodiment, the obstacle course 10 can include at least one inflatable mattress 14. As depicted in
With continued reference to
In some embodiments, the obstacle course 10 may be a portable building, such as a playhouse or track, for use in entertaining people, particularly children, for parties or events. The obstacle course 10 may take a variety of forms or configurations. As a non-limiting example, the form may be a straight away, a serpentine or curvy track, a geometric shape, a maze, racetrack, or a combination of these or other configurations. In some embodiments, the obstacle course may have an area as large as 100 feet long by 30 feet wide. In other embodiments, the structure can be larger or smaller as necessary to accommodate the desired number of occupants. In some embodiments, the size of the obstacle course 100, or parts of the obstacle course 100 may depend at least on the location and/or user preference. In some embodiments, the obstacle course 10 may comprise one or more discrete modular components that can be combined or joined together.
In some embodiments, not all of the components of the obstacle course 10 may be inflatable. The non-inflatable components may include one or more of the housing, mattress, play features, walls, sides, supports, and/or ceilings. In some embodiments, inflatable features may be integrated with, or adjacent non-inflatable features. Inflatable play features may be adjacent non-inflatable play features. Non-inflatable play features may comprise Styrofoam, plastics, rubber, wood, etc. In some embodiments, one or more components of the obstacle course 10 may be permanently inflated and may not be deflated upon end of use at the event. As a non-limiting example, one or more play features may be permanently inflated and may not be deflated upon end of use at the event.
Some embodiments of a portable obstacle course may comprise a housing comprising a floor and at least one inflatable wall, each of the inflatable walls comprising an interior and exterior surface, at least one play feature, and a layer of fluid. The floor may be disposed at least partially in the area defined by the interior surface of the inflatable walls and at least one of the inflatable walls may extend upwardly from the floor and form a substantially sealed fluid barrier with the floor. The layer of fluid may be substantially contained within the housing and extend axially along the obstacle course. The obstacle course may further comprise an inflatable mattress, wherein the inflatable mattress may be disposed below at least part of the floor. The obstacle course may further comprise ground supports, which may be securable to at least part of the floor and a ground surface, or may be securable to at least part of the inflatable mattress and a ground surface. The play features may comprise at least one of: slides, pins, tunnels, limbo poles, tire swings, rubber balls, and/or buoyant rafts. The obstacle course may further comprise an inflatable ceiling. The floor may further comprise at least one drainage feature. The layer of fluid may comprise water. One or more of the inflatable walls may at least partially comprise air.
In some cases, an inflatable obstacle course 10 can be assembled in a modular manner. For example, a ramp obstacle 34 (see, e.g.,
In some embodiments, the features disclosed above can be used in a method of erecting an obstacle course. For example, a method of erecting an obstacle course may include laying an inflatable mattress 14 in a desired location. The method may also include placing a flooring 28 on top of the inflatable mattress 14. One or more inflatable walls 18 may be placed on top of the flooring 28 and secured to the flooring 28 at least part of which may form a substantially sealed fluid 30 barrier. Optionally, the method may include securing the inflatable mattress 14 to the ground or other suitable structure. The inflatable walls 18 may be placed at least partially on top of the flooring 28 and at least partially inflated with a first fluid. Inflatable play features 16 may be at least partially inflated along with the inflatable walls 18. Optionally, the inflatable walls 18 may be secured to the ground, or other suitable structure, for additional support. The obstacle course 10 may be used as an open-walled structure or, optionally, panes 26 may be installed. The method can further include at least partially filling the flooring 28 with a second fluid 30.
In some embodiments, a method of erecting an obstacle course 10 includes placing a flooring 28 at a desired location. One or more inflatable walls 18 may be placed on top of at least part of the flooring 28 and secured to at least part of the flooring 28 to form a substantially sealed fluid 30 barrier. The inflatable walls 18 may be placed on top of the flooring 28 and inflated with a first fluid. Any inflatable play features 16 may be inflated along with the inflatable walls 18. Optionally, the inflatable walls 18 may be secured to the ground, or other suitable structure, for additional support. The obstacle course 10 may be used as an open-walled structure or, optionally, panes 26 can be installed. The method may further include at least partially filling the flooring 28 with a second fluid 30.
In some embodiments of erecting an inflatable obstacle course, the method may comprise the steps of placing a floor in a desired location, placing at least one inflatable wall at least partially on top of the floor to form a housing, securing the floor to the inflatable walls to form a substantially sealed fluid barrier, at least partially inflating at least one of the inflatable walls with a first fluid, and at least partially filling the floor with a second fluid. There may be more than one order of the steps in which to accomplish the method. The method may further comprise the steps of disposing an inflatable mattress at least partially under the floor, securing at least part of the inflatable mattress to the ground with at least one ground support, securing at least part of the housing to the ground with at least one ground support, and/or installing at least one pane into at least one open space between the at least one inflatable walls. The first fluid may be air. The second fluid may be water.
Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Additionally, the skilled artisan will recognize that any of the above-described methods can be carried out using any appropriate apparatus. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with an embodiment can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. For all of the embodiments described herein the steps of the methods need not be performed sequentially. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61893018 | Oct 2013 | US |
