BACKGROUND
People of all ages have come to enjoy games that can be played with water. On hot days, a refreshing run through a sprinkler can prove to be very satisfying. Various sprinkler based toys have previously been developed to enhance water play. However, until now, a satisfactory water toy designed to simulate a jump roping experience has not been developed.
SUMMARY
A water toy is provided for simulating a jump rope with a stream of water. The water toy includes a nozzle configured to orbit a spinning axis to repeatedly spray a stream of water above and below a jumping individual.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an individual playing with a water toy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the water toy of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the water toy of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4-6 show the water toy of FIG. 1 pivoted into three different exemplary orientations for spraying streams of water having three different trajectories.
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the water toy of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the water toy of FIG. 1 showing a representative fluid path through the water toy.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section of the water toy of FIG. 1 showing a representative fluid path through the water toy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-3 show a water toy 10 configured to simulate a jump rope by spraying streams of water that repeatedly loop above and below a jumping area 12. The streams of water can provide a jumping obstacle, similar to that of a jump rope being twirled in circles above and below an individual. As shown in FIG. 1, an individual can stand in jumping area 12, and jump over a stream when it passes near the ground. Similarly, the individual can duck out of the way when a stream passes overhead. Unlike conventional jump ropes, if an individual does not properly jump over the obstacle, the obstacle does not stop twirling. The stream of water continues to pass above and below the individual. An individual can get wet from the stream of water if jumps are not executed with proper timing and technique. Therefore, an individual can strive to stay dry while practicing skills akin to jump roping. Of course, an individual can also get wet to cool down or otherwise have fun in the water.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, water toy 10 includes at least one nozzle 14 on a spinning platform 16. Nozzle 14 can be configured with a nozzle diameter, length, and shape to produce a stream having a desired characteristic. For example, a somewhat coherent stream of water may be desired because it can provide a defined jumping obstacle. In some embodiments, a less coherent stream may be desired because it can provide more splashing for soaking an individual playing with the water toy. Nozzle 14 can be fixed to constantly produce a stream having set characteristics, or in some embodiments, the nozzle can include an adjustment mechanism for changing stream characteristics.
As described in more detail below, spinning platform 16 is designed to rotate about a spinning axis S, as indicated by spinning arrows A in FIG. 2. Nozzle 14 can be located away from the spinning axis on the spinning platform. When the spinning platform rotates about the spinning axis, off-axis nozzle 14 effectively orbits the spinning axis. Therefore, an ejection point from which water sprays circles around a generally circular path C having a radius R equal to a distance separating the nozzle and the spinning axis. The larger the distance between the nozzle and the spinning axis, the larger the circular path defining the ejection point from which water is sprayed.
As shown in FIG. 1, nozzle 14 can be aimed away from spinning axis S by an angle φ. Therefore, when the nozzle is near the top of a rotation, it can spray water higher than if the nozzle was aimed parallel to the spinning axis. Likewise, when the nozzle is near the bottom of a rotation, it can spray water lower than if the nozzle was aimed parallel to the spinning axis. When the nozzle is near the side of a rotation, it can spray water farther to the side than if the nozzle was aimed parallel to the spinning axis. Increasing the angle φ between spinning axis S and nozzle 14 can increase the maximum height of the stream ejected from the top of a rotation and decrease the maximum height of a stream ejected from the bottom of a rotation. Accordingly, an angle φ can be selected to generate a desired jumping area 12. An angle of approximately 15° to 30° may be appropriate in some embodiments, with an angle of approximately 20° to 23° having been found to produce a satisfactory jumping area in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, angle φ is a static angle that cannot be changed. In some embodiments, water toy 10 can be configured with a nozzle aiming mechanism for selectively adjusting angle φ.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, spinning platform 16 can be pivoted about a pivoting axis P, thus changing the angle θ of spinning axis S relative to the ground, which therefore changes the plane in which the nozzle orbits the spinning axis. Pivoting the spinning platform changes the trajectory of the ejected stream. The trajectory can be set to generate a desired jumping area. For example, as indicated by pivoting arrows AP, the spinning platform can be pivoted to increase the angle θ of spinning axis S relative to the ground, thereby increasing the trajectory of an ejected stream. In this manner, an individual can play with a relatively higher jumping obstacle, or otherwise set the height of the ejected stream. FIGS. 4-6 show the spinning platform 16 of water toy 10 set at three different angles to thereby create three different stream trajectories. In each of FIGS. 4-6, a stream corresponding to the high and low ejection points of the rotation of nozzle 14 is illustrated. As shown best in FIG. 2, water toy 10 can include a pivoting knob 18 that can be used to set angle θ.
FIG. 2 also shows an input coupling 20 adapted to selectively receive a water source, such as a garden hose. Input coupling 20 can be configured as a threaded female coupling into which a male hose coupling can be screwed. In some embodiments, input coupling 20 can include a quick release coupling. In general, input coupling 20 can be configured to cooperate with virtually any complementary water source.
FIGS. 7-8 show a turbine assembly 30 that is adapted to convert fluid energy received from a water source into mechanical energy in the form of a rotating spinning platform 16. Turbine assembly 30 can include an impeller 32 positioned in a fluid path of the input water source. As water from the input water source passes by the impeller, the impeller is rotated. The impeller can include a gear mechanism that can cause a drive gear 34 to rotate, which in turn can mechanically link to a gear of the spinning platform, thereby causing the spinning platform to rotate. The relative size of each of the gears of impeller 32, drive gear 34, and/or spinning platform 16 can be selected so that the spinning platform rotates at a desired rate and/or to accommodate different flow rates and/or pressures of the input water source. As illustrated, it should be understood that one or more intermediate gears can be operatively positioned between impeller 32 and drive gear 34, although such intermediate gears may not be necessary in some embodiments.
In addition to powering rotation of spinning platform 16, the input water source provides water for ejection though nozzle 14. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, water travels through input coupling 20, by impeller 32, through a body 40 of the water toy, and through nozzle 14. Body 40 is substantially sealed, thereby ensuring that water is forced to exit through a nozzle. As best shown in FIG. 7, water toy 10 can include one or more gaskets or similar structures to improve the seal of the water toy. An inner cavity of body 40 can be sized and shaped to enhance pressure of fluid within the body, thereby improving ejection energy of the fluid out of a nozzle.
Body 40 can be configured to cooperate with spinning platform 16 (and/or one or more intermediate pieces) to form a reasonably tight seal therebetween. As shown in cross-section in FIG. 9, spinning platform 16 can include a nozzle plate 50 and a seating plate 52 that collectively provide an ejection path from an inner cavity of body 40 out through nozzle 14. Nozzle plate 50 and seating plate 52 are configured to mate with a receiving portion 54 of body 40. Impeller 32 can cause the drive gear to rotate within receiving portion 54. At receiving portion 54, the drive gear 34, spinning platform 16, nozzle plate 50, and seating plate 52 are mechanically linked so that rotation of the drive gear effectuates rotation of the spinning platform. The receiving portion is configured to allow the drive gear and the seating plate/nozzle plate assembly to rotate therein. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiment is provided as a nonlimiting example. In some embodiments, other arrangements can be used to provide an orbiting nozzle configured to repeatedly loop a jumping stream above and below an individual.
In some embodiments, water toy 10 can include one or more additional nozzles, such as nozzle 60. Such an additional nozzle can be configured similar to nozzle 14. In particular, a nozzle 60 can orbit a spinning axis S and spray a water stream above and below an individual. Adding additional nozzles to spinning platform 16 increases the frequency at which a stream of water passes below an individual jumping the streams without having to increase the revolution rate of the spinning platform. Nozzles can be arranged in virtually any pattern on a spinning platform, and each nozzle can be set with an angle φ to produce a desired jumping obstacle. In the illustrated embodiment, nozzle 14 and nozzle 60 have the same angle φ, and the nozzles are aligned on opposite sides of the spinning axis. Therefore, when nozzle 14 is at a low point of the rotation of the spinning platform, nozzle 60 is at a high point of the rotation of the spinning platform, and vice versa. This arrangement produces a pair of jumping obstacles such that when one stream is below a jumping individual, another stream will be above the jumping individual.
One or more nozzles of water toy 10 can be associated with a valve mechanism for selectively blocking flow of water through the nozzle. For example, in a two-nozzle water toy, one nozzle can be blocked while an individual is learning how to use the toy. Because jumping a single stream of water may be easier than jumping two streams of water, blocking one of the nozzles can help an individual practice jumping skills without becoming frustrated with the difficulties of learning to jump multiple streams. This is analogous to an individual learning to jump rope with a single rope before trying to jump two ropes at the same time.
As best shown in FIG. 9, nozzle 60 is associated with a ball valve 62. As depicted, ball valve 62 is in an open position in which water can spray out nozzle 60. Ball valve 62 defines a passage 64 through which the water can spray. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the ball valve can include a switch 66 that can be moved to adjust the orientation of passage 64. In particular, the passage can be moved so that it does not fluidically link nozzle 60 with an input water source. In this manner, the switch can be moved to effectively turn-off nozzle 60. In some embodiments, an adjustable nozzle can be configured with an inner ball seal that can be selectively positioned within the nozzle, thereby changing characteristics of an ejected stream. In such embodiments, the ball seal may be positioned to completely seal the nozzle, thereby closing the nozzle. The above are provided as nonlimiting examples. Other mechanisms for selectively engaging and disengaging a nozzle may be used.
Although the present disclosure has been provided with reference to the foregoing operational principles and embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. Where the disclosure or claims recite “a,” “a first,” or “another” element, or the equivalent thereof, they should be interpreted to include one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Patent Application
20050181700
