Abstract:
A vehicle for conveying a rider within a tubular track comprises a support portion for supporting the rider and a retaining body adapted to retain the support portion against an interior wall of the tubular track. The retaining body has a sliding surface for slidable engagement with the wall of the tubular track. The support portion and the retaining body have a vehicle axis of movement about which the vehicle may rotate within the tubular track. An apparatus for transporting a rider comprises a tubular track having an interior wall and at least one vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/825,773 filed May 21, 2014 entitled AXIAL ROTATABLE WATERSLIDE VEHICLE. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    1. Field of Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a waterslide vehicle that typically slides on one surface. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Water slides are a common and popular recreational activity. Water slides commonly comprise a track (commonly also referred to as a water slide) formed of a substantially tubular, tubular section, or contoured track with a flow of water therein. The water slide traveling from the beginning or top (uppermost region) to the end or bottom (lowermost region) to convey a rider for the enjoyment of the rider. Conventional water slides rely on a substantially open-topped channel (tube) in which the rider is conveyed. Disadvantageously, such designs rely upon gravity to retain the rider within the water slide thereby limiting possible designs and layouts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    In one example, there is disclosed a vehicle for conveying a rider within a substantially tubular track comprising a support portion for supporting the rider and a retaining body adapted to retain the support portion against an interior wall (surface) of the tubular track. The retaining body has a sliding surface for slidable engagement with the wall of the tubular track. In one example, the support portion and the retaining body have a vehicle axis of movement about which the vehicle may rotate within the tubular track. 
         [0007]    The support portion in one example may comprise a substantially planar (flat) body adapted to support a rider thereon. The support portion may be sized to receive a single prone rider. 
         [0008]    The substantially planar body may include a barrier extending around a periphery thereof. The barrier may be cushioned. The barrier may be inflatable. The planar body may be inflatable. 
         [0009]    The planar body may extend substantially parallel to the vehicle axis. The planar body may include a harness means for securing a rider thereto. 
         [0010]    The retaining body may comprise a ring extending from the support portion around the vehicle axis. The vehicle may further comprise a plurality of retaining bodies. The ring may comprise a rigid body having a low resistance exterior surface oriented radially outwards. The retaining body may comprise an arcuate member extending along the length of the support portion. 
         [0011]    The retaining body may comprise a shell extending from the support portion. The shell may be domed. The shell may comprise a semi-cylindrical shell mateable to the support portion. The support portion may comprise a semi-cylindrical body adapted to form a cylinder in cooperation with the shell. The shell and the support portion may be co-formed with each other. 
         [0012]    The vehicle may further comprise a plurality of support portions operably connected to each other along a common axis such that the retaining body is located on a bottom surface of each support portion wherein the plurality of retaining bodies maintain the plurality of support portions within the tubular track. The retaining body may be formed of an inflatable body. 
         [0013]    The vehicle may further comprise a plurality of support portions extending radially from an axis of the vehicle wherein each support portion includes a retaining body located at an outer radial surface thereof. 
         [0014]    According to a further embodiment of the disclosure there is disclosed an apparatus for transporting a rider comprising a tubular track having an interior wall and at least one vehicle. Each vehicle comprising a retaining body adapted to retain the support portion against an interior wall of the tubular track, the retaining body having a sliding surface for slidable engagement with the wall of the tubular track. The support portion and retaining body have a vehicle axis of movement about which the vehicle may rotate within the tubular track. 
         [0015]    Other aspects and features of the disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific examples of the disclosed apparatus in conjunction with the accompanying Figs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In the drawings which illustrate examples of the disclosed apparatus wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the disclosed water slide. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a section of the water slide track of  FIG. 1  with one example of a vehicle located therein. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of Fig. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one example of the disclosed vehicle for use in the water slide of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , is shown one example of the disclosed water slide  10 . The water slide  10  comprises an elongate track  12  (water slide) having a beginning  14  and an end  16 . The track  12  in one example is formed of a plurality of substantially tubular track portions  20  as will be more fully described below. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the track  12  includes at least one vehicle  30  operable to be received within the track as will be more fully described below. 
         [0032]    In this disclosure, specific examples of a structure will have an alphabetic suffix attached to the label. For example, specific examples of the vehicle  30  may be denoted  30   a,    30   b,    30   c,  etc. 
         [0033]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , one cylindrical (tubular) track portion  20  (section) is illustrated. Each track portion  20  comprises one or more substantially tubular member(s) having inner and outer surfaces,  22  and  24 , respectively wherein the inner surface  22  defines a track path  26 . The track  20  is sized to receive a rider located on a vehicle  30  which slidably traverses the water slide  10 . Optionally, each track portion  20  may be have surfaces defining an opening slot  23  extending therealong as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . In such examples, the vehicle  30  may be supported in the bottom thereof and permitted to rotate therein. 
         [0034]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the vehicle  30   b  and  30   c  respectively for use in the track is shown comprising a support platform  32  sized to receive a rider thereon. The support platform  32  may be formed as a rigid or semi-rigid body of appropriate materials such as, by way of non-limiting example, plastic, composite materials, metals and the like. The support platform  32  may be covered by a cushioning material such as, by way of non-limiting example, foam or the like to aid in rider comfort. The support platform  32  may also be formed of an inflatable body, such as a tube or the like as are commonly known in the art. As illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the support platform  32  may optionally include a barrier wall or member  34  extending around a periphery thereof. The barrier wall  34  has a height selected to retain a rider upon the support platform  32  during operation and may be formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, plastic, composite materials, metals or may optionally be formed of an inflatable or padded body. 
         [0035]    This example of the vehicle  30  includes a retaining member  40  extending over the support platform  32 . The retaining member  40  of this example comprising a rigid member having an outer riding surface  42  selected to have a low coefficient of friction. The retaining member  40  substantially extends along an arcuate path around an axis  36  of the vehicle  30  so as to have an outer dimension substantially corresponding to the inner surface  22  of the track  12 . As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 3 , the retaining member  40  may be formed of a solid member or may optionally include a gap or break  45  therein as illustrated in  FIG. 4  to assist a rider entering the vehicle  30 . Additionally, although a single retaining member  40  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a plurality of retaining members  40  may be provided along the common axis  36  of the vehicle  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0036]    When the vehicle  30  is located within a track  12 , it will be observed that the position of the vehicle  30  with the support portion  32  is adjacent to or in contact with the inner surface  22  of the track. In such a way, the vehicle may be permitted to rotate about the axis  36  while traveling along the track  12  without the vehicle tipping over or dislodging the rider. Additionally, in some examples, the vehicle  30  may be configured to slidably rest on the retaining surface(s)  40  when the vehicle  30  is upside down (inverted). It will be appreciated that such a vehicle  30  will permit the design of waterslides  10  not previously possible such as, by way of non-limiting example, loops, vertical drops, spirals and the like wherein the support portion  32  may be temporarily or indefinitely adjacent to the top of the track while the vehicle  30  and rider are riding on and may be supported by the retaining member  40 . 
         [0037]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an alternative embodiment of the vehicle  30   e  is illustrated in which the retaining member  40  is formed of a space frame  47  supported between front and rear loop members,  44  and  46 , respectively. The loop members  44  and  46  of this example include a plurality sliding members  48  extending between loop members  44  and  46 . The sliding members  48  may be supported on rigid bars extending through the sliding members  48  and supported on opposite ends by the loop members  44  and  46 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the vehicle may also include a leading retaining member  50  located at a leading edge thereof which is formed of a space frame having a plurality of sliding members  48  there along as well. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the support platform  32  may include one or more harnesses  52  for restraining the rider within the vehicle. The harness  52  may be is formed of a selectably fastenable belt or the like. 
         [0038]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the retaining member  40  may optionally comprises a shell  60  having an outline substantially corresponding to the support platform  32  and barrier wall  34 . 
         [0039]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the shell  60  may have a substantially cylindrical outer surface  62  so as to co-operate with a substantially cylindrically shaped outer surface  33  of the support platform  32  so as to provide a cylindrical overall cross section when mated together. Optionally, the outer shell  60  and outer surface  33  of the support platform  32  may be co-formed with each other as shown in  FIG. 10  with an access port  35  provided for a rider to access (enter) the interior of the vehicle  30   i.    
         [0040]    Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the retaining member  40  may extend lengthwise along the vehicle  30   g.    
         [0041]    Turning now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; an alternative example is illustrated, in which a plurality of support platforms  32  are provided. Each support platform of this example has an outer cylindrical or curved surface  33 . In one example, a coupling frame  70  is provided between the individual support platforms  32  so as to radially space them apart from each other by a distance, with the outer diameter of the overall vehicle  30   j  corresponding to the inner diameter of the inner surface  22  of the track  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , when the vehicle  30   j  is positioned within the track  12 , the support platforms  32  are permitted to rotate about the axis  36  of the vehicle as illustrated generally at  74 . Although three support platforms are illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , it will be appreciated that other numbers of support platforms may also be used. 
         [0042]    As disclosed above, the support platform  32  may be sized to receive a single rider thereon. It will also be appreciated that the support platform(s) may also be sized to receive more than one rider. Additionally, more than one support platform  32  may be provided. 
         [0043]    With reference to the example of  FIG. 13 , a plurality of support platforms may be provided, with one located within each of a plurality of pods  80  arranged radially around the axis  36 . Each pod may include the sliding surface  42  on the outer annular surface thereof. 
         [0044]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.