Abstract:
An annular-shaped waterslide bowl for use as an element of a waterslide apparatus serves to slow a rider down and bring him or her to a stop at the end of the waterslide ride. The bowl has a bowl wall with a rider entry port through which a rider slides from a flume into the bowl. The bottom wall of the bowl has an opening at its center and a low circumferential wall around the opening extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The rider comes to a stop in the bowl and can step over the circumferential wall into the opening. A staircase or slide located within the opening provides means for the rider to exit the bowl. The waterslide bowl provides a compact structure for slowing and stopping the rider and is particularly suitable for waterslide installations having limited space.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part and claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/848,300 entitled “WATERSLIDE RUN-OUT BOWL,” filed on Aug. 31, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,537, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention pertains to waterslides, and, in particular, to a waterslide bowl in which the rider can come to a stop and exit by walking out, or sliding out of the waterslide bowl, leaving the ride. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Waterslides cause a rider to descend and travel through the slide structure at considerable speed and, indeed, the experience of speed is one of the attractions of this type of amusement ride. By the end of the ride, however, the rider must be brought to a full stop. A waterslide must therefore be designed so that a fast-moving rider is safely slowed down and brought to a stop. 
     Waterslides commonly have at their end part an elongated and gently sloping flume, which may be a tube or open channel, to provide a place in which the rider can slow down before coming to a stop, for example by dropping the rider into a pool or onto a soft mat. Flumes for this purpose require considerable space. Where the waterslide is subject to space limitations, for example a waterslide on a cruise ship, such elongated flume may not be feasible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a waterslide bowl for a waterslide, such as a waterslide run-out bowl, which bowl is adapted to slow a rider down and bring him or her to a stop. The bowl occupies substantially less space than an elongated flume and is especially suitable for use in waterslides having limited space, as on a cruise ship or in an indoor water park. 
     The waterslide bowl of the invention is an annular-shaped bowl comprising a bowl wall having a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion. A rider entry port permits sliding entry of a rider into the bowl. The bottom wall portion has an opening at its center. A circumferential wall around this center opening extends upwardly from the bottom wall portion and at least part of it is capable of being stepped over by the rider. A bowl exit means, such as a staircase or slide, is provided for the rider to exit the waterslide from the center opening. The staircase can extend upwardly or downwardly, depending on the desired configuration of the waterslide bowl. 
     The waterslide bowl of the invention is one element in a waterslide apparatus. Such apparatus includes a flume leading into the bowl and other upstream ride elements, depending on the design choices made for a particular application. 
     The waterslide bowl can be used by a rider using no ride-on device (i.e. where the waterslide is a body slide) or by a rider using an inner tube, mat or other device. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention includes a waterslide bowl adapted for use as part of a waterslide apparatus, including a bowl wall having a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion, the bottom wall portion defining a center opening at its center, a rider entry port for sliding entry of a rider into the bowl, a circumferential wall about the center opening extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion, at least part of the circumferential wall being capable of being stepped over by the rider, and a bowl exit means for the rider to exit from the center opening, wherein the bowl exit means comprises a staircase. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is a waterslide bowl adapted for use as part of a waterslide apparatus, including a bowl wall having a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion, the bottom wall portion defining a center opening at its center, a rider entry port for sliding entry of a rider into the bowl, a circumferential wall about the center opening extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion, at least part of the circumferential wall being capable of being stepped over by the rider, and a bowl exit means for the rider to exit from the center opening, wherein the bowl exit means comprises a slide. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a tilted waterslide bowl adapted for use as part of a waterslide apparatus, including a tilted bowl wall having a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion, the bottom wall portion defining a center opening at its center, a rider entry port for sliding entry of a rider into the bowl, a circumferential wall about the center opening extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion, the circumferential wall having an upper edge that is spaced from the bottom wall portion about the entirety of the circumferential wall, at least part of the circumferential wall being capable of being stepped over by the rider, and a bowl exit means for the rider to exit from the center opening. 
     These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a waterslide bowl according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a waterslide bowl according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the waterslide bowl of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the waterslide bowl; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the waterslide bowl; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a tilted waterslide bowl according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a waterslide bowl including a slide according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a waterslide bowl including a slide according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a waterslide bowl including a staircase extending upwardly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the waterslide bowl  20  is an annular-shaped element which forms part of a waterslide ride apparatus having ride elements upstream of the bowl. The waterslide bowl  20  can be, for example, a waterslide run-out bowl. 
     The bowl  20  has a bowl wall  22  having a side wall portion  24  and a bottom wall portion  26 . These portions form a continuous, curved wall structure with no clear line of demarcation between the side wall and bottom wall portions. The side wall portion  24  is relatively steep and curved and includes an inwardly-turning portion  28  at its rim  30 . The bottom wall portion  26  is gently curved and has a shallower angle from the horizontal than the side wall portion  24 . 
     A rider entrance port  32  is in the side wall portion  24  near the rim  30 . A rider  51  slides into the bowl  20  through this entrance from a flume  34  leading from a higher elevation. 
     The bottom wall portion  26  defines an opening  36  at its center, such that the bowl wall  22  forms an annulus around the opening  36 . A circumferential wall  38  about the opening  36  extends upwardly from the bottom wall portion  26 . The wall  38  is low enough that the rider, standing on the bottom wall portion next to the circumferential wall  38 , can step over it into the opening  36 . 
     The bowl  20  is supported above a floor  40  by a support framework  42  which comprises vertical members  44  and bowl-support members  46  which are arranged under the underside of the bowl wall  22 . 
     A circular staircase is arranged within the support framework  42 , extending from the opening  36  in the bottom wall portion  26  to the floor  40 . The staircase comprises a central vertical post  50 , a landing  53  at the top of the staircase and stairs  52 . The landing  53  is at the same height as the bottom wall portion  26  adjacent to the circumferential wall  38 . 
     A guard structure  54  extends upwardly from the circumferential wall  38  around three-quarters of the circumference of the opening  36 , so that only a portion  55  of the wall  38  can be stepped over. The landing  53  is adjacent to this portion  55  so that the rider can step over the wall  38  and onto the landing  53 . The guard  54  is a plexiglass barrier that prevents the rider from stepping over the other portion  56  of the wall where the landing  53  is not adjacent, for reasons of rider safety. 
     Water flows continuously into the bowl through the entry flume  34 , which reduces friction and facilitates the rider sliding through the flume  34 . A water pipe with a plurality of jets (not shown) placed below the rim  30  also provides a continuous supply of water to the bowl to wet its sides, reducing friction between the rider and the walls of the bowl. The water from these sources replenishes a volume of water  64  on the bottom of the bowl, adjacent to and held in by the circumferential wall  38 . It has a depth of about 2 to 4 inches adjacent to the wall  38 . Water drainage openings  39  are provided at the base of the circumferential wall  38  to prevent the water level in the bowl from rising above the desired height. The openings are connected to a trap to regulate the water level and a drainage system (not shown) for removing the water. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the waterslide bowl  200  is positioned on or close to the floor rather than being supported above it as in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 4 , features that correspond to or are the same as features of the bowl  20  are indicated by like reference numerals. The bowl  200  has essentially the same structure as the bowl  20  except that it is adapted for a rider to exit from the opening  36  in the bottom wall portion  26  by traversing over the bowl wall  22 . 
     The bowl  200  is supported on the floor  40  by a suitable support frame (not shown). A walkway  70  extends between the floor  40  inside the opening  36  and the floor radially outward from the bowl  200 . The walkway comprises a first staircase section  72 , a horizontal walkway section  74  and a second staircase section  76 . Since the floor  40  inside the opening  36  is close to the level of the bottom wall portion  26  adjacent to the circumferential wall  38 , the bowl  200  does not require any safety guard around part of the wall  38 . The rider can step over the wall  38  at any point and then exit the waterslide by means of the walkway  70 . 
     The bowl  20  is fabricated from a plurality of sections of a suitable and durable material, such as fiberglass, fastened together to form a strong, rigid structure. A liner may be applied to the inner surface to provide a continuous, smooth interior surface that will facilitate a rider&#39;s sliding movement. 
     The bowl may have a depth of about 5 feet and a diameter of about 30 feet. The height of the center wall  38  is about 2 feet. The inner diameter of the flume  34  is in the range of about 2.5 to 4 feet. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of the run-out bowl (the staircase, guard and supports are not illustrated) which can be used in place of the bowl  20  in the elevated structure of  FIG. 1  or the on-floor structure of  FIG. 4 . The bowl  10  is constructed of a plurality of segments  12 . The bowl wall  23  has an upper side wall portion  25  and a lower side wall portion  29 , and a bottom wall portion  27 . The entry port  33  leading into the bowl  10  from the flume  34  is partly raised above the level of the rim  30  of the bowl. The bowl wall is supported by vertical ribs  14  and a horizontal rib  16 . Water drainage openings  39  are provided at the base of the circumferential wall  38 . A ring of spray holes  37  is provided in the bottom wall portion  27  for spraying water into the bowl. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the waterslide bowl  20  is tilted. The tilted waterslide bowl  20  can have, for example, a titled bowl wall  22 . The tilted waterslide bowl  20  has a high portion and a low portion. The high portion is elevated above the low portion. Thus, the rider  51  moves from the high portion to the low portion and back towards the high portion. However, due to the tilt of the waterslide bowl  20 , gravity slows down the rider  51  as he moves from the low portion back towards the high portion. This can reduce a number of times the rider  51  traverses around the waterslide bowl  20 . In one embodiment, the rider  51  does not completely move from the low portion back to the high portion. Instead, at some point the rider  51  can slide back down towards the low portion due to gravity. In another embodiment, optional nozzles such as nozzle  66  can be used to spray water onto the rider  51 , thereby slowing the rider  51  down further. Any number of nozzles can be used, and they can be strategically placed to slow down the rider  51 . By reducing the number of times the rider  51  traverses around the waterslide bowl  20 , the rider  51  can exit the waterslide bowl  20  in a more expedient manner. This increases a number of people that can utilize the waterslide bowl  20  for a given period of time. 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which the waterslide bowl  20  includes a slide  62  instead of the stairs  52 . In one embodiment, the slide  62  can be a wet slide. In another embodiment, the slide  62  can be a substantially dry slide. A dry slide can slow down a rider  51  faster than a wet slide since the contact of the wet rider with the dry slide can create more friction than the contact of the wet rider with the wet slide. The slide  62  allows the rider  51  to exit the waterslide bowl  20  by sliding down the slide  62  instead of walking down the staircase  52 . Thus, the rider  51  can step over the circumferential wall  38  onto the landing  53  and slide down the slide  62 . Sliding down the slide  62  can reduce the time it takes for the rider  51  to exit the waterslide bowl  20 . This can also increase a number of people that can utilize the waterslide bowl  20  for a given period of time. Furthermore, since the rider  51  is already substantially slowed down through the circular or curved nature of the titled waterslide bowl  20 , the slide  62  can have a shorter length than conventional elongated flumes. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the staircase  52  extends upwards instead of downwards as seen in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, instead of utilizing the horizontal walkway section  74  in the walkway  70  ( FIG. 4 ), only the staircase  52  is utilized. Although the staircase  52  is depicted as extending upwardly in a spiral configuration, it can be formed in a variety of configurations. In one embodiment, the staircase  52  is configured to resemble the first staircase section  72  in  FIG. 4 . By having the staircase extend upwardly instead of downwardly, other configurations are provided for the waterslide bowl  20  which can be utilized, for example, where it may be undesirable for the rider  51  to exit below the bowl  24 . In another embodiment, the staircase  52  can be angled to obviate the need for the walkway  70 . 
     Instead of using a slide  52  or the staircase  52 , the waterslide bowl  20  can also include, for example, a pole such as a fireman&#39;s pole. This can allow the rider to slide down the pole to exit the waterslide bowl  20 . In addition, a ramp can also be used instead of the slide  62  or the staircase  52 . The rider can walk down the ramp or slide down the ramp. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of various embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments. Various modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the bowl exit means can comprise any practical means for a rider to exit the bowl, for example a slide, tube, etc. leading into a pool of water or to a mat. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow.