Abstract:
A waterslide bowl has a fixed rider path from entrance to exit. The bowl comprises a trough which is made of a plurality of sets of trough sections, attached together, in which the trough sections of a given set are the same, permitting the rider surface of the bowl to be made from trough sections having a small number of different shapes. This reduces the number of molds that would otherwise be required to make the trough sections. The waterslide bowl may also have two or more separate troughs, nested together.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to waterslides, and, in particular, to a waterslide bowl having a trough to guide a rider in a fixed path from the entrance of the bowl to its exit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the art of waterslide design, it is known to include a bowl as one element of a waterslide apparatus. Such bowls are typically configured so that the rider enters the bowl through a flume on a tangential trajectory and slides around the bowl in a generally spiral path before exiting through an opening at the bottom of the bowl. Examples of such waterslide bowls are disclosed in Stuart et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,372 and GB 2,224,948. 
     In conventional waterslide bowls, riders do not follow a fixed path in the bowl because there is no guiding structure on the rider surface of the bowl. The causes inconsistent performance: a rider may go around the bowl once, twice or more times. Since the rider capacity of a waterslide is limited by the maximum length of time it takes a rider to traverse the waterslide, variability in the length of time that riders spend traversing the bowl reduces the capacity of the waterslide. A fixed path in the bowl would make the rider&#39;s experience of the ride, and the duration of the ride, more uniform. 
     One possible approach to this problem is to mold a continuous trough in the bottom of the bowl to guide the rider from the bowl entrance to its exit in a fixed, approximately spiral path. However, since waterslide bowls are conventionally made by attaching together molded pie-shaped segments, a large number of individually-shaped segments would be required to create such trough by such molding method. 
     Another possible approach is to have elements in the bowl that form a partial trough which captures the riders and guides them to the exit. However, that may introduce a hazard in the form of a fin or edge that divides adjacent parts of the trough. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a waterslide bowl that has a fixed rider path from entrance to exit. The bowl comprises a trough which is made of a plurality of sets of trough sections, attached together, in which the trough sections of a given set are the same, permitting the rider surface of the bowl to be made from trough sections having a relatively small number of different shapes. This reduces the number of molds that would otherwise be required to make the trough sections and accordingly reduces fabrication costs. The waterslide bowl may comprise a single trough, or it may comprise two or more troughs which nest together. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, in which the bowl has a single trough, there is provided a waterslide bowl comprising a rider entrance, a rider exit and a trough to guide the rider in a fixed path from the entrance to the exit. The trough has a width W and comprises a plurality of sets of trough sections, each set comprising one or more of the trough sections. Each set forms one half of a circle and has a respective radius. The sets comprise an inner set adjacent to the rider exit, an outer set, and one or more intermediate sets between the inner and outer sets. The radius of each set that is outward from the inner set is larger than the radius of a respectively adjacent inward set by a distance of W/2. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, in which the bowl has single trough, there is provided a waterslide bowl comprising a rider entrance, a rider exit and a trough to guide a rider in a fixed path from the entrance to the exit. The trough has a width W and comprises a plurality of sets of trough sections. Each set forms one half of a circle and has a respective radius. A first set of trough sections is adjacent to the rider exit and has a radius A. A second set of trough sections is contiguous with the first set and has a radius B approximately equal to A plus W/2. A third set of trough sections is contiguous with the second set and has a radius C approximately equal to B plus W/2. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a waterslide bowl comprising a rider entrance, a rider exit and a trough to guide a rider in a fixed path from the entrance to the exit. The trough comprises a plurality of sets of trough sections, each set forming one half of a circle and having a respective radius. The sets comprise an inner set adjacent to the rider exit, an outer set adjacent to the rider entrance and one or more intermediate sets between the inner and outer sets. The radius of the one-half circle formed by each respective set that is outward from the inner set is larger than the radius of an adjacent inward set such that the fixed path is a continuous curved path. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a waterslide bowl having two troughs which nest together in a side-by-side arrangement, each trough having its own rider entrance and exit, whereby two riders can use the bowl at the same time, each in a separate trough. The first trough comprises a plurality of sets of trough sections, each set forming one-half of a circle and having a respective radius, the plurality of sets comprising an inner set adjacent to the first rider exit, an outer set adjacent to the first rider entrance and one or more intermediate sets, the radius of each respective set that is outward from the inner set being larger than the radius of an adjacent inward set such that the fixed path is a continuous curved path. The radius of each set that is outward from the inner set may be larger than the radius of a respectively adjacent inward set by a distance of about W. The second trough has essentially the same configuration, such that the two troughs fit together to form a rider surface of the bowl. 
     The invention also provides a method of making a waterslide bowl having a single trough to guide a rider in a fixed path from a rider entrance to a rider exit. A first set of trough sections is provided, the sections having a width W, the first set forming one half of a circle having a first radius. A second set of trough sections is provided, the sections of the second set having the same width W, the second set forming one half of a circle having a second radius. The second radius is larger than the first radius by a distance equal to or greater than W/2. The two sets are assembled to form the trough. 
     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 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the waterslide bowl. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view thereof, without the flume. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view thereof, without the flume, showing the bowl partially disassembled, with two sets of trough sections separated from the bowl. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the waterslide bowl, having two troughs. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the waterslide bowl of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description and drawings, corresponding and like parts are referred to by the same reference characters. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the waterslide bowl  60  has a rider entrance  62 , a rider exit  64  and a trough  66  extending in a continuous, curved path between the entrance and the exit. The trough  66  forms the rider surface of the bowl. The bowl  60  is roughly circular with the entrance  66  being at its outer edge and the exit  64  being near the center and at a lower elevation than the entrance. The path described by the trough  66  is accordingly a fixed, continuously curving path that is roughly spiral, and descends from a relatively higher elevation at the entrance  62  to a relatively lower elevation at the exit  64 . The bowl  60  is supported on a floor by the bowl supports  70 . 
     The bowl  60  is one component of a waterslide apparatus. A flume  68  leading from an upstream part of the waterslide apparatus (not shown in the drawings) is affixed to the bowl  60  at the rider entrance  62 . A rider descends through the flume  68  and enters the bowl  60  through the rider entrance  62 . After traversing the bowl, the rider exits the bowl through the exit  64 , which leads by a flume or slide to downstream elements of the waterslide apparatus or to a pool, mat, or other soft landing element which terminates the ride. The waterslide bowl can be used by a rider with or without a ride-on device such as a mat or tube. 
     The trough  66  is made of a plurality of sets of individual trough sections. In the illustrated embodiment, there are five such sets, designated as  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  and  50 . The first set is the innermost set in the bowl, being adjacent to and leading into the rider exit  64 . It comprises three trough sections  11 ,  12  and  13 . Each trough section is an individual component, the sections being affixed together to form a set. The set  10  of trough sections  11 ,  12  and  13  forms a half-circle which has a radius designated A in the drawings. 
     The second set  20  of trough sections continues the trough  66  outwardly in the bowl from the first set  10 , and comprises six trough sections  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26 . This set  20  forms a half-circle which has a radius designated B in the drawings. All of the trough sections of the bowl have the same width, designated W in the drawings. The radius B is longer than the radius A by a distance of W/2. It will be apparent that the diameter of the half-circle formed by the second set  20  of trough sections is greater than the diameter of the half-circle formed by the first set  10  of trough sections by a distance equal to W. The first set  10  and the second set  20  of trough sections fit around and nest against the center member  72  of the bowl. 
     The third set  30  of trough sections continues the trough  66  outwardly in the bowl  60  from the second set  20 , and comprises six trough  30  sections  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  and  36 . This set  30  of trough sections forms a half-circle which has a radius designated C in the drawings. The radius C is longer than the radius B by a distance of W/2. The diameter of the half circle formed by the third set  30  of trough sections is therefore greater than the diameter of the half-circle formed by the second set  20  of trough sections by a distance equal to W. The third set  30  of accordingly fits around and nests against the first set  10  of trough sections. 
     The fourth set  40  of trough sections continues the trough  66  outwardly in the bowl  60  from the third set  30 , and comprises six trough sections  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45  and  46 . The set  40  of trough sections forms a half-circle which has a radius designated D in the drawings. The radius D is longer than the radius C by a distance of W/2. The diameter of the half circle formed by the fourth set  40  of trough sections is therefore greater than the diameter of the half-circle formed by the third set  30  of trough sections by a distance equal to W. The fourth set  40  accordingly fits around and nests against the second set  20  of trough sections. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , due to the vertical descent of the trough going from the entrance to the exit, a vertical gap  74  is formed between the edges of radially-adjacent trough sections. This gap  74  corresponds to the height of the inner wall  76  of the trough sections (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). The gap may optionally be covered by suitable detail pieces (not shown) so that the inner surface of the bowl is unbroken and smooth. 
     The fifth set  50  of trough sections continues the trough  66  outwardly in the bowl  60  from the fourth set  40  to the rider entrance  62 , and comprises six trough sections  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55  and  56 . This set  50  of trough sections forms a half-circle which has a radius designated E in the drawings. The radius E is longer than the radius D by a distance of W/2. The diameter of the half-circle formed by the fifth set  50  of trough sections is therefore greater than the diameter of the half-circle formed by the fourth set  40  of the trough sections by a distance equal to W. The fifth section accordingly fits around and nests against the third set  30  of trough sections. 
     The trough sections of a given set are substantially identical to each other in shape and size. For example, each of trough sections  11 ,  12  and  13  are the same as each other; and each of trough sections  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26  are the same as each other; and so on for the other sets. As a result, the riding surface of the trough  66  can be made from only five different shapes of trough sections. The trough sections are made of molded plastics material, so only five different molds are required to form the trough sections. 
     An upwardly-extending sidewall  58  is provided on the outer side of sets  40  and  50  of the trough sections to retain the rider in the trough after entering the bowl. For clarity of illustration, the sidewall is not shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     It will be apparent that the waterslide bowl can be made larger or smaller than the illustrated bowl  60 , providing more or fewer revolutions about the bowl for a rider, by having more or fewer sets of trough sections. For example, the bowl could be made smaller, providing a path one revolution less around the bowl, by omitting the outer sets  40  and  50  and affixing the flume  68  to trough section  36 . Similarly, the bowl could be made larger, providing a path, for example, one-half revolution longer around the bowl, by adding an additional set of trough sections to continue the path outward from trough section  56 , the additional set forming a half half-circle with a radius longer than the radius E of the half-circle formed by the set  50  by a distance equal to W/2. 
     It will be apparent that the modular construction of the bowl also permits the rider entrance and the rider exit of the bowl to be located at any selected radial position. For example, referring to the  FIG. 1  orientation, the rider entrance could be located at the six o&#39;clock position rather than the three o&#39;clock position by omitting the outer three trough sections  54 ,  55  and  56 , and attaching the flume  68  to trough section  53 . 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a waterslide bowl  100  comprises two nesting troughs. The waterslide bowl  100  has two rider entrances  150 ,  152  and two rider exits  154 ,  156 . A first trough  140  extends in a continuous, curved path between one entrance  150  and one exit  154 , and a second trough  142  extends between the other entrance  152  and other exit  156 , the two troughs  140 ,  142  nesting together, as described below, and forming the rider surface of the bowl  100 . The paths defined by the two troughs descend from a relatively higher elevation at the entrances  150 ,  152  to a relatively lower elevation at the exits  154 ,  156 . The bowl  100  is supported on a floor by bowl supports  70 . A flume  144  is affixed to the bowl at one rider entrance  150  and a second flume  146  is affixed to the bowl at the other rider entrance  152 . 
     The first trough  140  is made of three sets  110 ,  120 ,  130  of individual trough sections. The first set  110  is the innermost set, being adjacent to and leading into the first rider exit  154 . It comprises three trough sections  111 ,  112  and  113 . Each trough section is an individual component, the sections being affixed together to form a set. All of the trough sections of the bowl  100  have the same width, designated W in the drawings. The set  110  of trough sections  111 ,  112  and  113  forms a half-circle which has a radius designated F in the drawings. 
     The second set  120  of trough sections continues the first trough outwardly in the bowl from the first set  110 , and comprises six trough sections  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124 ,  125  and  126 . This set  120  forms a half-circle which has a radius designated G in the drawings. The radius G is longer than the radius F by a distance of W. 
     The third set  130  of trough sections continues the trough  140  outwardly in the bowl  100  from the second set  120 , and comprises six trough sections  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  and  136 . This set  130  forms a half-circle which has a radius designated H in the drawings. The radius H is longer than the radius G by a distance of W. 
     It will be apparent that the configuration of the first trough  140 , by reason of the relationship between the respective radii of the three sets  110 ,  120  and  130 , forms a space in which the second trough  142 , identical in configuration to the first trough  140 , can interfit in a nesting, side-by-side arrangement, with the first trough. 
     The second trough  142  comprises three sets  210 ,  220 ,  230  of individual trough sections. The first set  210  is the innermost, being adjacent to and leading into the second rider exit  156 . It comprises three trough sections  211 ,  212  and  213 . This set  210  forms a half-circle which has a radius I, this radius I being the same as the radius F of the half-circle formed by the trough set  110 . 
     The second set  220  of trough sections of the second trough  142  continues the trough outwardly in the bowl from the first set  210  and comprises six trough sections  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 ,  225  and  226 . This set  220  forms a half-circle which has a radius J, this radius J being the same as the radius G of the half-circle formed by the trough set  120 . Accordingly, the radius J is longer than the radius I by a distance of W. 
     The third set  230  of trough sections continues the second trough  142  outwardly in the bowl  100  from the second set  220  and comprises six trough sections  231 ,  232 ,  233 ,  234 ,  235  and  236 . This set  230  of trough sections forms a half-circle which has a radius K, this radius K being the same as the radius H of the half-circle formed by the set  130  of trough sections. Accordingly, the radius K is longer than the radius J by a distance of W. 
     The trough sections of a given set are substantially identical to each other in size and shape. Thus, each of the trough sections  111 ,  112  and  113  are the same as each other, and also the same as each of the trough sections  211 ,  212  and  213 ; and so on for the other sets. As a result, the riding surface of the two troughs can be made from only three different shapes of trough sections. 
     The bowl  100  can be ridden in by two riders at the same time, each rider being in his or her own trough  140  or  142 . 
     As with the first embodiment of the waterslide bowl  60 , the second embodiment of the bowl  100  can be made larger or smaller than the illustrated bowl, and the rider entrances and exits can be located at any selected radial positions. 
     The invention is not limited to waterslide bowls having a single trough (as exemplified by bowl  60 ) or having two nesting troughs (as exemplified by bowl  100 ), but includes bowls having three or more nesting  30  troughs. Three troughs will fit together in a nesting configuration to form a bowl, similar to bowl  100 , where the incremental increase in the size of the radii of adjoining sets of trough sections is 3/2 W (rather than W, for two troughs, as in bowl  100 ; or W/2 for one trough, as in bowl  60 ). Similarly, four troughs will fit together in a nesting configuration where the incremental increase is 2 W; five troughs will fit together in a nesting configuration where the incremental increase is 5/2 W, and so on. 
     EXAMPLE 
     A waterslide bowl made in accordance with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  comprises five sets of trough sections. The outer diameter of the outer set is 13.695 m. The vertical drop from the rider entrance to exit is 1.592 m. The width of the trough is 1.676 m. The radii of the half-circles formed by the five sets of trough sections, from inner to outer, are respectively 2.662 m, 3.500 m, 4.338 m, 5.175 m and 6.013 m. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of specific 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 radius of the half-circle formed by each successively outward set of trough sections can be larger than the radius of a respectively adjacent inward set by a distance that is greater than W/2; however, that results in spaces between radially-adjacent sets of trough sections rather than the snug nesting that results when the distance is W/2, which is the preferred configuration. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow.