Abstract:
A participatory water play installation comprises a water play area provided with several water dispensing elements which can be user-activated via a user interface connected to a command center. The command center is preferably located underneath the water play area and further comprises an electronic system controller, electrically actuated solenoid valves and a water distribution manifold. The command center is in fluid communication with the water dispensing elements whereby upon stimulation of the user interface, the command center initiates a predetermined sequence of water dispensing patterns from the activated water dispensing elements, resulting in recreational enjoyment of the participants.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of commonly assigned Canadian Patent Application No. 2,631,252, entitled “WATER PLAY INSTALLATION” and filed at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office on May 13, 2008. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to participatory water play structures, systems, apparatuses and installations where participants can play and/or interact with water dispensing elements for recreational enjoyment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Over the past 15 years, cities, amusement parks, hotels, and other facilities catering to family recreation and leisure have been installing zero-depth aquatic or water play area installations. These installations are generally referred to as splash pads, spray parks, spray grounds and wet decks (hereinafter “water play area installation”). These play area installations are typically provided with water dispensing elements and structure such as, but not limited to, water canons, spray arches, ground sprays, and the like. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,194,048; 5,405,294 and 5,662,525 disclose examples of prior art water play area installations. 
         [0004]    Typically, in prior art water play area installations, the water dispensing elements are generally configured to be activated by participants using one or several user interfaces located in the designated play area as an independent device or integrated into one or several water dispensing elements. In certain of these installations, the user interfaces are in electric communication with a system controller which controls electrically or hydraulically activated solenoid valves connected to a water distribution manifold. 
         [0005]    In use, participants touch, engage or act upon the user interface which sends signals to the system controller which, in response, opens and/or close the valves in accordance with one or more pre-programmed sequences in order to feed the activated water dispensing elements with water. 
         [0006]    In conventional water play area installations, especially those comprising electronic systems, the system controller, the solenoid valves and the water distribution manifold are typically installed in a building, in an underground enclosure, or in an aboveground enclosure installed at a significant distance from the water play area. This configuration is understandable since it is generally most preferable to avoid contact between water and electric and electronic systems. However, in these conventional water play area installations, since the user interfaces are usually located on the water play area, electrical wiring must still be installed between the user interfaces and the system controller. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, conventional water play area installations require the independent installation of the user interfaces, the system controller and the water distribution manifold. Moreover, they require space for the installation of these equipments, which is not always available, and they require the installation of electrical wiring from the system controller to the activation devices, and water piping from the manifold to water dispensing elements. Hence, despite ongoing development, there is still a need for a novel water play installation which mitigates the shortcomings of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The aforesaid shortcomings are generally mitigated by providing a novel water play installation wherein the user interface, the system controller and the water distribution manifold are integrated into a command center generally located in close proximity and preferably underneath the water play area, thereby defining an elegant and compact structure. 
         [0009]    More particularly, a water play installation in accordance with the present invention generally comprises a water play area provided with preferably several water dispensing elements. Though the water dispensing elements may vary in form, shape and configuration, each water dispensing element is adapted to dispense water. Examples of water dispensing elements are water canons, spray arches, ground sprays, water tunnels and water sprinklers. Understandably, the foregoing list is not exhaustive and other forms of water dispensing elements could be provided. The water dispensing elements are generally disposed on the play area such as to define an entertaining and ludic environment. 
         [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, the water dispensing elements are all fluidly connected to a command center preferably located in close proximity of the periphery of the play area and most preferably located underneath the water play area in a central region thereof. The command center generally comprises an enclosure having a bottom wall, one or more side walls and a top cover which define an inner chamber into which are located an electronic system controller, one or more preferably electrically actuated solenoid valves and a water distribution manifold to which is connected a water supply line. Understandably, the water dispensing elements are connected to the water distribution manifold via the solenoid valves. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, the command center further comprises a user interface connected to the system controller and used to activate the water dispensing elements via the system controller. Understandably, different types of user interface could be used; for example, motion detector, pressure sensor, tactile screen, etc. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the command center can contain an integrated drainage system to collect the water dispensed by the water dispensing elements. The enclosure is therefore preferably, though not necessarily, provided with draining pipes preferably connected to a water recovery system. 
         [0013]    In use, participants would go on the water play area and would activate the water play installation by acting upon the user interface of the command center. In response, the user interface would send one or more signals to the system controller which would turn on or off the solenoid valves in order to supply water to the water dispensing elements in accordance with one or more predetermined programs stored in the system controller. 
         [0014]    As the skilled addressee would readily understand, a sound system and/or a lighting system could also be connected to the system controller for providing sound and/or lighting effects for additional enjoyment. 
         [0015]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a water play installation in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the command center of the water play installation of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the command center of the water play installation of  FIG. 1 , with the cover installed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a water play installation in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    A novel water play installation will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. 
         [0022]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a broad perspective view of an embodiment of the water play installation  10  of the present invention is shown. The water play installation  10  typically comprises a water play area  20  generally made from one or more slabs of concrete though other materials could be used. 
         [0023]    Disposed on the water play area  20  are several water dispensing elements  30 . Though only five (elements  30   a,    30   b,    30   c,    30   d  and  30   e ) such water dispensing elements  30  are shown in  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that this number is illustrative and that more or less water dispensing elements  30  could be provided. The number and disposition of the water dispensing elements  30  are generally chosen according to the available space and in order to define an entertaining and ludic environment. Typically, the water dispensing elements  30  are structures of various shapes and configurations which are all adapted to dispense water. 
         [0024]    Non limitative examples of water dispensing elements  30  include water canons, water mist generators, ground sprays, water falls, etc. Understandably, water dispensing elements  30  could be more or less complex depending on the desired water effect. The present invention is not so limited. 
         [0025]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , each water dispensing element  30  is fluidly connected to a command center  50  via water feed line  32 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the command center  50  is preferably, but not exclusively, approximately located in a central region of the water play area  20 . The command center  50  is also preferably substantially located underneath the surface of the water play area  20 . Still, in certain embodiments as the one depicted in  FIG. 4 , the command center could possibly be located outside the water play area though near its periphery. In those embodiments, the command center should be located within 10 meters of the periphery, preferably within 5 meters, and most preferably within 1 meter. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the command center  50  generally comprises an enclosure  52  having bottom wall  54 , side wall  56  and preferably removable cover  58 . The enclosure  52  defines an inner space into which is located a water distribution manifold  60 . The manifold  60  is fed with water through a water supply line  62  connected to a water source (not shown). The manifold  60  is further connected to the water feed lines  32  of the water dispensing elements  30  via preferably electrically actuated solenoid valves  64 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , each water feed line  32  preferably has its own valve  64  such that each water dispensing element  30  can independently be fed with water. The present invention is however not so limited. Indeed, a valve  64  could possibly feed more than one water feed lines  32  with the use of appropriate pipes and couplings. 
         [0027]    In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the solenoid valves  64  are in electric communication with an electronic system controller  66  generally mounted near or on the enclosure of the water distribution manifold  60  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The system controller  66  is fed with electricity through an electric cable  63  generally extending along the water supply line  62 . The system controller  66  is in further electronic communication with a user interface  68  preferably, but not exclusively, mounted thereon. The user interface  68 , which can take various configuration (e.g. motion detection, pressure sensor, tactile screen, etc.), allows a participant to activate the water play installation  10 . 
         [0028]    As depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the user interface  68  is preferably integrated in the top of the command center  50  in a manner to make the user interface  68  accessible to participants. Still, the user interface  68  could be located substantially outside of the enclosure  52 . For instance, the user interface  68  could be mounted to a post or structure (not shown) extending outside the enclosure  52  via the opening  57  of the cover  58 . Understandably, the exact configuration of the user interface  68  can vary; the present invention is generally not limited to any particular configuration. 
         [0029]    As a participant interacts with the user interface  68 , the interface  68  will send one or more electric signals to the system controller  66 . The system controller  66  will, in response and according to a predetermined program stored therein, turn on or off the solenoid valves  64  such that the water dispensing elements  30  are selectively provided with water. 
         [0030]    The skilled addressee will understand that the system controller  66  can comprise several predetermined programs which can be run sequentially or randomly. In addition, depending on the user interface  68  and the system controller  66 , the system controller  66  could react differently to different stimuli provided to the user interface  68 . The present invention is not so limited. 
         [0031]    As the skilled addressee will understand, the system controller  66  can be of various configurations. Typically, but not exclusively, the system controller  66  will comprise a processing unit such as a micro-controller in electronic communication with both the user interface  68 , for receiving input signals therefrom, and the solenoid valves  64 , for providing actuation signals thereto. The system controller  66  will also typically comprise data storage units such as electronic memory chips, in electronic communication with the processing unit, for storing one or more predetermined programs of activation of the water dispensing elements  30 . The system controller  66  could also be provided with input/output ports such as USB or RS232 ports and/or with a wireless transceiver, any of which would be in electronic communication with the processing unit. Such ports and/or transceiver would allow the upload and download of data (e.g. new water dispensing programs, maintenance data, system update, etc.) to and from the system controller  66 . The present invention is however not so limited. 
         [0032]    As water is dispensed by the water dispensing elements, water accumulates at the surface of the water play area  20 . In order to prevent dangerous accumulation of water, a drainage system (e.g. drainage holes  59 ) is preferably integrated in the top cover  58  of the enclosure  52 . 
         [0033]    As best depicted in  FIG. 2 , the side wall or walls  56  of the enclosure  52  are also provided with one or more drain pipes  70 . Hence, as water accumulates inside the enclosure  52 , the water flows down the drain pipes to a sewage water collecting pipe or, preferably, to a water treatment system where the water can be treated and preferably recycled back through the installation  10 . 
         [0034]    Understandably, since the user interface  68 , the system controller  66 , the water distribution manifold  60  and the solenoid valves  64  will be exposed to water during normal use of the installation  10 , it is most preferred that these components be made with water and corrosion-resistant materials (e.g. plastics, aluminium, stainless steel, etc.) and/or be made to be water proof with the use of sealed electrical connections and waterproof electrical enclosures (e.g. covered by elastomeric membranes, coated with sealant, etc.). 
         [0035]    By being located close to the water play area  20  and preferably centrally located underneath the water play area  20 , the command center  50  can integrate several functions and requires less water pipes and electrical wiring. Also, the overall water play installation  10  has a smaller footprint. In addition, since most of the components (i.e. user interface  68 , the system controller  66 , the distribution manifold  60  and the valves  64 ) of the installation  10  are located in the command center  50 , maintenance of the installation  10  is simplified since most of the components are accessible through the removable cover  58 . 
         [0036]    While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.