Abstract:
A backyard swimming pool slide includes a 90 degree runway curve, a banked runway rail to offset centrifugal force, and a high volume water diffuser source to enhance the ride. Also disclosed is an integrated ladder, platform and handrail assembly and a center stanchion for cantelever support at the exit end of the slide.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of provisional patent application No. 60/263,614, filed Jan. 23, 2001 now abandoned. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to swimming pool slides. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Swimming pool slides for recreation and amusement are well known and typically comprise a ladder, a platform at the top of the ladder, a runway down which the user slides, and an exit into a pool of water. To decrease friction, between the runway surface and the user, many slides include a source of water flowing from the top of the runway. 
     Recreational pool slides may be configured as large-scale slides for water parks or other public amusement locations. An Example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,733 (Whitehouse). Pool slides may also be scaled for typical backyard use, either in a conventional in-ground swimming pool or a pool that sits above the ground. An example of the former is U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,281 (Forton), while U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,393 (Schmidt) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,898 (Jacober, et al.) are representative of the latter. 
     Various techniques have been developed to provide the desired friction-decreasing water flow from the top of the slide. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,679 (Seabolt, et al.) a tube across the top of the slide, where the platform meets the runway, has multiple sets of openings whereby water is sprayed onto the platform surface and also onto the user. Forton discloses a pair of opposing, slightly offset flow fittings set into the runway rails at the top of the slide so that jets of water blanket the entire runway surface. In Jacober, et al., a tube across the top of the slide, with water spray openings, is used. 
     Pool slides for in-ground background pools are generally adapted to mount on the pool deck. They may be straight slides, in which the ladder and runway are perpendicular to the side of the pool, or curved slides, in which the user starts at an angle to the pool side and is carried along a curved runway that exits perpendicular to the side of the pool. The height of the slide ladder may vary, starting from about three feet. Eight feet is generally the maximum ladder length for home pools, while substantially longer ladders, with higher platforms, are used in community or public recreation pools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the current invention to supply a compact but enjoyable pool slide primarily for backyard pool use. A short elevation, about three feet, enhances safety, particularly for children. A 90° runway curve, whereby the platform is aligned parallel to the side of the pool and the runway exit is perpendicular to the side of the pool, provides the user with a ride-enhancing centrifugal force in a compact space. The tight curvature over a short length also discourages a user from the dangerous practice of sliding headfirst. To lower the friction between user and runway, a high volume distribution of water across the runway is employed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the pool slide invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the slide of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the ladder and platform of the pool slide in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the support stanchion for the slide of the current invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the water distribution system inlet fitting of the current invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a detail of the water distribution system showing the top and the cover plate. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide is a compact, 90° curved slide with a low platform height. In this embodiment, platform  10  is positioned about 3 feet above the ground. Ladder  30  is oriented parallel to the edge of the pool. The runway  20  curves through 90° of arc, so that the runway exit  21  is approximately perpendicular to the runway entrance  22  adjoining platform  10 . The curvature may either be right handed or left handed, depending on the desired positioning with respect to the pool. 
     The slide is fabricated of conventional recreational pool slide materials, such as reinforced fiberglass, acrylic and ABS laminate. For most of the length, the runway rails  23  are of conventional height to provide safe confinement of the user and an optional handhold. The outside runway rail  23  on the convex side of the curve, is substantially elevated at the region  24  of the maximum user velocity. This allows the user under centrifugal force to ride slightly up the wall  25 , as in a banked turn, giving a toboggan-like ride and decreasing the likelihood of falling off the slide. 
     The exit lip  26  of the runway  20  may be slightly higher than the lower point of the slide. This gives the rider a slight upward impetus upon exiting the slide, causing the sensation of being launched outward over the pool rather than directly into the pool. Such a configuration, while not necessarily a good design for the headfirst slider, enhances the ride experience for the seated user. 
     The slide of the present invention also includes an improved ladder and handrail configuration, as shown in FIG.  3 . Ladder  30  is of a standard type, with a pair of rails  31  connected by a plurality of steps  32 . The tubular ladder rails  31  are extended beyond the height of the ladder and are bent to form platform-supporting rails  40  that will be horizontal when the slide is assembled. The body of the slide includes platform  10 , an integral runway portion  41  and platform sides  42 . The platform sides  42  includes apertures  43  that align with apertures  44  in the platform-supporting rails  40 . A pair of handrails  45  for mounting on either side of platform  10  also includes apertures  46  that align with apertures  43  in the platform. Bolts or other fastening means  47  are inserted through the apertures  43 ,  44  and  46  to integrally connect the ladder rails, slide body and handrails for a stable and safe structure. 
     The lower end of the slide is supported by a center stanchion instead of the usual pair of tubular aluminum front legs. See FIG.  4 . Stanchion  50  is a large diameter tube mounted to a base plate  51 . The size, shape and material of the stanchion and base plate may be varied in accordance with the anticipated design load. In one embodiment, the stanchion is a 6 inch thick plastic tube inserted into a fiberglass base plate, which itself is bolted to the pool deck. 
     The stanchion  50  fits into a stanchion receiver  52  of appropriate matching diameter formed integrally with the underside of the slide runway. Placement of the stanchion receiver is at the approximate center of gravity of the slide and user when the user reaches the lowest point of the runway. For a 3 foot slide with a 90° curve and elevated exit lip, the center of gravity is about 17 inches from the exit lip and 4 inches to the convex side of the runway center line. The exit portion of the runway is cantilevered from the support stanchion. 
     Another feature of the invention is the lubricating water delivery system shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A water input aperture  61  is located on the underside of the slide body. In one embodiment, an inlet fitting  71  is a 1½ inch tube, as contrasted with the ¼ inch hose commonly used to supply water to slides. The inlet fitting has a threaded end  72  onto which a lower attachment collar  73  and an upper attachment collar  74  are threaded, with the slide runway firmly sandwiched between the collars. A shallow diffusing cavity  62  is formed in the runway surface during manufacture, and includes a well  63  leading to the input aperture  61  and sized to accept the upper attachment collar  74 . The diffusing cavity  62  is elongated transversely to cross most of the trough of the slide, and is indented to accept a cover. A diffuser cover  64  fits into the cavity  62  and forms a surface flush with the runway surface. Attachment bolts or lugs  65  may be inserted through holes  66  in the diffuser cavity and holes  67  in the cover, or other attachment means may be used. The downward facing edge  68  of the diffuser cover  64  is not sealed against the cavity, so water from the inlet flows into the cavity and past the diffuser cover through the gap between the cover and the cavity. The effect is a high-volume flow of water distributed across and then down the trough of the slide, affording heightened anti-friction lubrication for users and a faster ride. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the inventive concepts may be applied to a variety of configurations including, without limitation, variations in the height and curvature of the slide.