Abstract:
A themed water amusement ride that raises guests in rafts on a lift platform to a dome. The lift platform has bays containing the rafts. The bays have tilting floors. The lift platform rotates, selectively aligning the bays with elevated slide entrances. The floors of the bays tilt the rafts into the slides, where the raft moves down the slide to a pool of water. The platform, dome, slides, lift structure, and pond are further provided with lights, sound production equipment, mechanical figures, water hoses, water outlets, and animation media to produce a show in accordance with the theme.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit to provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/949,047, filed Jul. 11, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention is a water slide and water park ride for use in amusement parks. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The water park industry is in the most prolific growth mode this market has ever experienced. The development of water parks as a major guest feature at hotels, resorts and retail facilities, as well as the ongoing new construction of mega outdoor water parks, continues to fuel the exponential growth of this industry. Due to the proliferation of indoor facilities and opportunities to keep water parks open year round and well past daylight hours, an iconic and completely immersive attraction is needed in the water park industry. 
         [0004]    Water parks are becoming commonplace. Differentiation between facilities and their respective experiences is becoming harder for guests to perceive. Most water parks have a “lazy river”, as well as numerous speed slides, slide tubes and water play structures. As with the theme park industry, guests are becoming accustomed to such attractions. There is, thus, a need for a water park attraction that can be operated day and night and engage guests with not only a slide or ride, but also entertain the guests with audio and visual effects, such that they become engaged in an “event” as well as a ride or slide into water. 
         [0005]    Guests have become accustomed to waiting in lines for opportunities to slide down a tube or play structure, and there is a need for a water ride attraction that not only engages the guests in an event or show, but also transports them in an entertaining and engaging way into the ride itself, thus making the entrance to the slide or ride a part of the event experience. 
         [0006]    Prior art systems do not contain events that can be sequenced unexpectedly or randomly. There is thus a need to be able to sequence the events in the water ride attraction so that the event may be both themed, like a story or connected series of events, and, yet, contain unexpected or random actions that permit the ride or attraction to be unique each time a rider participates, thus making participation new to the guest each time the guest participates in the ride. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    The inventive water ride provides a dramatic iconic structure, along with sounds, visual effects, and moving water. The ride includes a theme, here an alien abduction theme. The guests float in a pond or pool water on rafts before entering the ride itself. The ride superstructure, an alien spacecraft-like structure, may include themed tentacles or water hoses that spay or shoot jets of water at the guests as part of an abduction or alien attack theme. The guests may then enter a channel of water that leads to the ride proper. The channel of water directs or provides a path for the rafts to a platform that contains slots or bays for individual rafts. Upon entry of the raft into a slot or bay, the platform is propelled upward to a dome or housing. Upon reaching the dome, the platform bays tilt downward at one end, causing the rafts to slide into winding tubes or slides, down the inside of the tubes, and back into the water pool from which the guests and rafts initially entered the ride. In the alternative, riders may be loaded into rafts or other conveyances located around the periphery of the platform at ground level. 
         [0008]    In most water ride attractions using water slides or tunnels as an element, guests must walk up flights of steps or steep pathways to the elevated ride entry point. In the invention, there is no need for climbing or walking, because the lift raises the rafts and guests into the dome. Moreover, visual and audio effects entertain the guests as they are lifted into the dome. 
         [0009]    The disclosed structures elevate the guests into the ride entry station on a large-scale, themed platform resting atop a lift structure. The entry station or dome itself is creatively themed as a large alien spacecraft, supposedly sent to Earth to collect and examine human specimens. 
         [0010]    The platform has radially arranged bays with tiltable floors to contain the rafts. The platform may be designed to accept one, two, or three or more person rafts, with the platform diameter reflecting this choice. Conveyances other than rafts may, similarly, hold one or more persons. 
         [0011]    As noted above, the platform features distinct radial bays for each raft, with the orientation of the bays such that the guests are facing outward, toward the circumference of the platform. Floors of the bays are sloped toward the center of the platform, to keep the rafts in a safe position as the platform rises. Additional safety elements may include a retractable railing around the platform and sensors to detect any guest&#39;s egress from a raft during platform operation. 
         [0012]    Once the guests have been loaded into the rafts or conveyances and all safeties are satisfied, a hydraulic lift slowly and smoothly elevates the platform vertically into the interior of the dome or “alien spacecraft”. 
         [0013]    When the vertical travel has ceased, the platform rotates, bringing each of the bays in turn into alignment with one of several exit water tunnels or slides. When the bay is aligned properly, a mechanism within the platform elevates or tilts the rear portion of the raft bay, changing its center-sloping orientation into an outward slope, and causing the raft to slip smoothly from its bay and into a selected tunnel or slide. Of course, more than one raft or conveyance may be ejected into multiple slides approximately simultaneously. 
         [0014]    The lift may function by means of a large hydraulic cylinder (or group of cylinders), by means of an arrangement of roller chains or cables, or the electrically operated winch system disclosed. The lift system would be contained inside a telescoping housing, with enough space to allow festooning of the platform mechanical and electrical services, as well as for any required safety braking devices. All aspects of the attraction are accompanied by music, light displays, shows, and alien-themed sounds and pictures. The lift itself may be bounded by a curtain of water. The lights allow the ride to be operated day or night. The themed event, accompanied by music, light displays, shows, sounds and pictures make the event unitary, engaging the guests throughout and reducing or eliminating waits in lines and other less engaging or boring delays. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an amusement ride of the invention showing a dome, a lift, slide tubes, water ejectors, and a schematic lake, inlet, and channel for entry into the ride; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of a lift structure and lift platform of the invention showing the lift platform in a raised position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the lift platform showing chute-like bays containing rafts; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the chute-like bay of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the lift platform showing the position and location of the bays; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of lift platform showing the rafts in the bays and schematically showing locations at which the rafts are ejected in the slide tube; perspective view of the waterslide and water ride. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary water ride structure  1  fashioned as an alien spacecraft. The structure comprises an elevated housing or dome  10  having an interior space, water slide tubes  20  forming interior spaces  22  (See  FIG. 4 ), a lift  30 , a platform  33 , and water hoses  35 . The structure is supported on an island  40  in a pond or pool  50  (shown schematically). An inlet  60  of a water channel  70  (both shown schematically) may be used to convey rafts  80  (See  FIG. 3 ) to the lift  30 . 
         [0022]    Although the ride structure  1  shown is constructed to look like a fanciful alien spacecraft to enable an alien abduction theme—i.e., abduction into an alien spacecraft—other themes may be used instead of the alien abduction theme. For example, the structure could use other themes such as a ride to a Mayan mountain top village, a magic tree house, or the moon. Moreover, although this amusement is here described as a water park ride, it can be adapted for use in an amusement park without water as well. 
         [0023]    The water ride  1  starts a group of guests or riders with a “pre-show” experience where the water hoses  35  eject water at or onto the guests while they are in the pool  50 , inlet  60 , or channel  70 . (See  FIG. 1 ) The riders are permitted to observe other guests being “abducted” into an alien space craft or dome  10 . Guests may approach the ride in the rafts  80 , via the inlet  60 , if the ride is associated with or built in or along side of the water pool  50 . If the ride is not associated with water, or is only partly associated with water, it may not be possible to use the rafts  80 . In this case, a conveyance other than a raft may be used to contain and move the guests through the ride. If the amusement system is built on land without the accompanying pool  50 , the riders may simply approach the platform  33  in some other manner, such as walking, climbing, or riding in wheeled conveyances. The attraction may also begin with riders loaded into the rafts  80  and on the platform  33 . 
         [0024]    When inside the housing or dome  10 , the riders or guests may be scanned and/or approached by animated projections or mechanical embodiments of alien figures as the load platform  33  alternatively spins or rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. Working together, projections, lighting effects, mechanical systems, sound effects and scenic treatments are designed to give each guest an “abduction” theme experience. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 , the platform  33  has individual bays  90  to contain the rafts  80 . The rafts  80  may be of various sizes so as to accommodate one or more riders. The bays  80  and their operation are described in more detail below. 
         [0026]    Ride operators may be stationed in a remote control room and observe and communicate with riders via cameras and microphones. Alternatively, ride operators may be stationed on a central platform in the dome  10 . The operators make sure riders are secure and that guard rails  100  (See  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) have elevated to insure that the riders remain in the rafts  80  and on the platform  33 . 
         [0027]    Once all guests are secured in the rafts  80 , the platform is elevated in a cloud of mechanically generated water vapor or fog. Mechanical sounds emanate from speakers in the dome  10 , and a water curtain may fall from the edge of the platform  33 , making it appear as though water is levitating the platform  33 . As the platform continues to rise and nears the elevated dome  10 , lighting effects, blasts of fog, and visuals in the interior of the housing or dome  10  are used to attract the attention of and entertain the guests. Lighting effects, fanciful mechanical projections, and animated alien figures or forms emanating from a ceiling or circumference of the dome  10  are used to make it appear that various alien forms or creatures are observing and/or selecting guests for abduction. 
         [0028]    After the platform  33  has entered the dome  10 , the platform  33  stops rising and begins to rotate. After a period of rotation, accompanied by visual and mechanical distractions or effects such as those described above, the platform  10  ceases rotating. When the platform stops spinning, one or more of the bays  90  are registered with the water slide tubes  20 , and floors  120  of the bays  90  are tilted to cause one or more of the rafts  80  to slide into the interior spaces  22  of the tubes  20 . The platform  33  may rotate again in the same or opposite direction and register with another of the bays  90 , whereupon the floor  120  of the bay  90  is tilted, causing another of the rafts  80  to slide into the interior space  22  of one of the tubes  20 . Additional spins or rotations of the platform  10  may be used to register additional bays  90  with slide tubes  20  and launch the remainder of the rafts  80  into one of the slide tubes  20 . (See  FIG. 6 ) 
         [0029]    Alternatively, the dome  10  may be constructed on the platform  33  itself, simulating the abduction of the riders at ground level and permitting various lighting, sound, and animated effects during the rising of the dome  10  to the top of the slide area, simulating an ejection of riders down from the interior of the housing or dome  10 . 
         [0030]    The ejection of the rafts  80  and riders may be sequenced in any desired and unexpected order, either by an operator controlling the rotations, alignments, tilting, and slide of the rafts into the slide tubes  20 , or by a computer program using either a random or an ordered sequence. Of course, the sequencing may also be accomplished by a combination of operator or computer control. 
         [0031]    After all of the rafts  80 , or other conveyances, have been launched into the tubes  20  by the tilting of the respective floors  120  of the bays  90 , the platform  33  is lowered so that more rafts  80  may be moved into the bays  90  of the platform  33  and the cycle is repeated. 
         [0032]    The bays  90  may be simple openings in the platform  33  with one end of the floors  120  hinged or levered at an inside end so that the outside radial end of the floor  120  may be lowered or tilted to cause the rafts  80  to slide downward into a registered tube  20 . Of course, the inside end of the floor  120  could also be raised on a piston-like structure or other type of lift so that the inside end is above the outside end, thus tilting the floor  120  and causing the raft  80  to slide downward into the tube slide  20 . 
         [0033]    Preferably, the bays  90  may house chute-like structures  130  having a bottom  140  and opposing sides  150  to house the rafts  80 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The chute structure  130  thus contains the raft  80  and may be shaped or molded such that the inside cross-section of the chute  130  is more square or rectangular, but changes to a circular cross-section at the outside so as to conform to a circular shape of the slide tubes  20 . In the chute structure  130 , the inside end of the chute  130  is hinged or contains an axle, pivot, or other structure permitting the outside end of the chute  130  to be lowered to align with the slide  20  and, at the same time, slope downward so that the raft  80  may move downward to the opening of the slide  20 . See  FIG. 4 . It may also be desirable to have the floors  120  or the chutes  130  initially slope slightly toward the center of the platform  33  to prevent the rafts  80  or riders from inadvertently sliding or moving prematurely toward the slide tubes  20 . 
         [0034]    It is anticipated that water may be used to reduce the friction between the bottom of the raft  80  and the floor of the chute  130  and hasten the movement of the raft  80  into the slide  20 ; water may also be used in the slide interior  22  to expedite the movement of the raft  80  down the slide  20 . Nevertheless, the use of suitable raft and/or slide materials, or a steep enough slope to the slide  20 , may make the use of water unnecessary. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bays  90  are arranged and aligned radially around the platform  33  to permit the platform  33  to be rotated in counterclockwise and/or clockwise directions and register the bays  90  with the slide tubes  20 . 
         [0036]    The rafts may be of any size that can be accommodated by the bays  90 , chutes  130 , and platform  33 , and, of course, the platform may be made with different radii to accommodate greater or fewer bays  90  and rafts  80 . It is anticipated the rafts may hold at least one rider, but may be sized to accommodate groups of more than one rider consistent with the overall size of the platform  33  and the rafts  80 . The rafts  80  could also be eliminated, allowing riders to sit in the bay  90  itself and slide down the slide tubes  20  without rafts  80 . 
         [0037]    The platform  33  is rotatingly secured to the top of a lift structure  160  so that the platform  33  may be rotated via motor driven gearing, or some other suitable means, in alternative clockwise or counterclockwise directions. The platform  33  is also equipped with guard rails  100  that may be either stationary or raised or lowered. The guard rails  100  prevent riders from accidentally exiting or falling from the platform  33 . The platform  33  is also secured to the lift structure by members  162  secured to counterweights  164  which move along or around structural supports  165  to support the platform  33 . 
         [0038]    The lift structure  160  may be a hydraulic cylinder or, in a preferred embodiment, electrically operated with a winch  170  and cables  180 . In the electrically operated lift structure the winch  170  is electrically activated. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the winch  170  is turned so as to wind or move cables  180  around the winch  170 . The cables  180  are further wound around wheels  190  to change the direction of their movement. As the cables  180  are wound around the winch  170 , the extended length of the cables  180  is reduced, causing the cables  180  to pull the platform  33  upward and into the interior space of the dome or housing  10 . As the cables  180  are unwound, the platform  33  is lowered downward from the dome  10  to ground level. The platform  33  may be rotated as it ascends to the interior of the dome  10 , as well as when it is inside of the dome  10 . 
         [0039]    The lifting, lowering, and rotation of the platform  33 , the tilting of the floors  120  or chutes  130  of the bays  90 , the sequencing of the tilting of the floors  120  or chutes  130 , and the lighting, visual lighting displays, mechanical figures, water spays and jets, and sounds used in the attraction may be automated via use of a computer program that starts and stops such actions. These actions may also be manually initiated by the operator or controlled by a combination of computer programs and manual operator control. 
         [0040]    Each slide tube  20  may contain lighting effects and a multitude of projected images so that guests will slide though images of fanciful alien creatures with gaping mouths, pulsing walls, or alien-like symbols, all while alien sounds echo through the slide tubes  20 . Since much of the imagery is randomly produced using digital media, each slide tube  20  will provide a different and changing guest experience such that no two rides are the same. 
         [0041]    Guests exit the slide tubes  20  in a rush of generated water vapor or fog, lights, and sound. At the conclusion of the slide down the tubes  20 , the riders and their rafts land in the pool  50  or other body of water. The pools  50  may contain additional effects such as bubbling, color change, waves, or water pulsations. 
         [0042]    The area surrounding the lift structure  160  may feature fog/steam/smoke effects, used in conjunction with up-lighting from high brightness beam fixtures in a lift pit and down-lighting instruments on the lift platform  33 , to add additional visual “kick” to the experience. 
         [0043]    Obviously, there are many other options for themes, lighting, and effects that may be used to magnify the experience of the invention. 
         [0044]    Although the ride described above is designated as a water ride, it is understood that the rafts could be cars, gondolas, or other conveyances movable on tracks or wheels that move down sloped ramps or tubes to a cushioned landing or other stopping area.