Patent Publication Number: US-2017368463-A1

Title: Splat H2O

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     Splat H2O is an invention generally relating to a portable outdoor water and snow activity station for children comprising of a rectangular shape frame of PVC, mesh screen panels, slingshots, water hose, and holding pouch for water balloons and snowballs. The portable activity station allows multiple players to launch water balloons or snowballs at opposing players while being partially shielded by the mesh screened station. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Currently there are a number of toy solutions for providing outdoor water and snow fun for children and adults; however current outdoor water toy and water activity station solutions lack the ability to be used for both water and snow or to be easily set up, taken down, and transported. Splat H2O provides a unique portable outdoor water and snow activity station that may be used in all seasons. In addition, generally current water toys and snow toys are for single person use. Splat H2O is designed to be used by multiple children and or adults with both water and snow. Splat H2O has a detachable hose that allows users to fill water balloons, soak or fill other water toys and remove the hose during freezing temperatures. Splat H2O&#39;s lightweight tri-fold compact design allows for ease of setup, take down, portability and storage. 
     EXAMPLE A 
     As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,071, some water games available in the market make use of a water gun which includes a main liquid reservoir and a pressurized liquid reservoir contained within the main liquid reservoir. A trigger-actuated pump is used with a manually operated three way valve to selectively supply liquid: (a) from the pump to the pressurized reservoir; (b) from the pump to the nozzle; or (c) from the pump to both the pressurized liquid reservoir and the nozzle. The water gun is limited in many ways as compared to Splat H2O. This type of water gun requires manual valve switching with complicated steps not easily performed by young children. Splat H2O only requires that the user place the snowball or water balloon in the slingshot, pull and release. Splat H2O can be easily operated by children 5+ and requires no pumping, triggering, or switching on or off. 
     EXAMPLE B 
     As described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,333, there are currently snowball launchers and snowball slingshot products that allow users to place snow in or on the products, aim, launch or shoot a snowball. In general, these products can only be used for snowballs or can only be used by one person at a time. Splat H2O is a portable outdoor water and snow activity station that can be used with both water and snow by multiple people simultaneously to launch snowballs; water balloons, water sponge or other projectiles and therefore overcomes prior art patents limitations. 
     EXAMPLE C 
     As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,396, there are currently water balloon launchers available that allow an individual to place a water balloon in or on the toy, aim and launch by pulling a trigger or releasing a sling. These products can only be used by one person at a time, often requiring additional persons to stabilize the sling for use and water balloons are not consistently interchangeable with snowballs. The current water balloon launcher slingshots require 1 person hold each end of the slingshot (2 people in total) while a third person places the water balloon in the sling, pulls and releases. Splat H2O does not require multiple persons to launch a snowball, water balloon, water ball sponge or other projectile. Splat H2O is a freestanding portable outdoor water and snow activity station that is secured to the ground by the use of standard sod staples allowing users to launch a snowball, water balloon, or water ball sponge without the assistance of any additional people. Splat H2O overcomes the limitations of current slingshot launchers by allowing a single user to operate with ease while providing a mesh shield for protection from opponents. Prior art require multiple people and do not have a means of providing a shield for users. 
     EXAMPLE D 
     Water target games have long been a source of entertainment at carnivals, fairs, amusement parks, circuses and the like. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,518, there are water balloon games available that allow participants to stand inside an enclosure and launch water balloons. However, in general, current outdoor water activity stations are freestanding oversized air filled, semi-permanent or permanent frame structures that are not intended for personal use. Also, current products are only used for water activity and not for snow activity. Current products are intended for commercial use in a permanent or semi-permanent assembly. The current products also require assembly by multiple persons to make operational and safe for use. The Splat H2O portable outdoor water and snow activity station&#39;s freestanding design allows users to launch water balloons, snowballs, and other toys while hiding behind the station during play. Splat H2O further overcomes current art limitations with its lightweight tri-fold structure design that allows the unit to be easily set up, taken down, or transported as its joint hinges allow it to be folded into a compact carrying position. Unlike current outdoor water activity stations, Splat H2O can be setup or taken down by a single person and transported in a standard size vehicle. 
     Examples of slingshots similar to Example C may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,396 issued to Randoll on Dec. 23, 1980, and other game devices, similar to Example D may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,220 issued to Shelley on Jan. 6, 1981; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,137 issued to Armer, Jr. et al. on Aug. 4, 1987. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     As discussed above, it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved game apparatus is needed to overcome these limitations. What is needed is a all season portable outdoor activity station and method for providing an improved activity station that is lighter, smaller, foldable, easily set up, easily taken down and easily transportable, for playing water and snow launching games. None of the prior art particularly describes an apparatus designed for outdoor use that may be used simultaneously by multiple players in all seasons with either water or snow, that contains a detachable water hose for filling or soaking multiple water toys at a time, such that it is easily set up, taken down, transported and stored by a single person. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is currently a need in the market for a inexpensive all season portable outdoor water and snow activity station with a mesh screen structure that may be used to shield users from opponents, that has a detachable water filling hose with on/off nozzles, with multiple slingshot launchers for water and snow. The tri-fold design of the Splat H2O is constructed to be lightweight, set up, taken down and transported by a single person. Splat H2O is fully portable, and easily stabilized by standard U-shape sod staples or similar. It would be advantageous, as described herein, to have a portable outdoor water and snow activity station that can be used in all seasons. Furthermore, it would also be beneficial, as described herein, to have a portable outdoor water and snow activity station that is not inflatable, semi permanent or permanent. Still further, it would be expedient, as described herein, to have a portable outdoor water and snow activity station that may be used for personal or non-commercial use. 
     Splat H2O fills the aforementioned deficiencies in the current water and snow toy industry by providing a portable all season outdoor water and snow activity station with a structure that may be used to shield users from opponents, has detachable water filling hose and multiple slingshots. 
     Splat H2O tri-fold design allows for easy set up, take down, portability, and storage. The portable outdoor water and snow activity station has a detachable hose, which may be easily attached to a water source, and has on/off valve quick hookup nozzles for simultaneously filling multiple balloons, soaking sponge balls or refilling water toys. The activity station has multiple sling shot launchers that can be used for both water and snow. The invention fulfills the need for a portable multi-seasonal water and snow activity station. 
     Among other things, it is an advantage of the invention to provide a portable outdoor water and snow launching activity station for use by children and adults. It is still further an advantage of the invention to come in a set of two structures with the intent of competition. It is auspicious that the invention&#39;s tri-fold design is constructed to be lightweight, fully portable, easily set up, easily taken down, and easily secured while in use by standard sod staples or similar. 
     Other uses of Splat H2O will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification and various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  Front View of the portable outdoor water and snow activity station 
         FIG. 2  Rear View of the portable outdoor water and snow activity station 
         FIG. 3  Top View of the portable outdoor water and snow activity station 
         FIG. 4  Side View of the portable outdoor water and snow activity station 
         FIG. 5  Opposing Units View of the portable outdoor water and snow activity station 
         FIG. 6  Sling Shot Sub Assembly— FIG. 6A  slingshot window,  FIG. 6B  exploded view of slingshot,  FIG. 6C  back of slingshot nylon panel,  FIG. 6D  elastic rubber band 
         FIG. 7  Screen Sub Assembly— FIG. 7A  mesh screen panel,  FIG. 7B  close up of how mesh screen panel attaches to structure 
         FIG. 8  Joint Hinges Sub Components— FIG. 8A  90 degree T joint hinge bottom of structure,  FIG. 8B  cross joint hinge,  FIG. 8C  90 degree T joint top of structure 
         FIG. 9  Detachable Hose Sub Assembly— FIG. 9A  elevated side angle of activity station,  FIG. 9B  close up of detachable water hose 
         FIG. 10  Collapsed Assembly— FIG. 10A  elevated side angle of collapsed activity station,  FIG. 10B  side view of collapsed activity station,  FIG. 10C  front view of collapsed activity station,  FIG. 10D  elevated horizontal view of partially collapsed activity station 
         FIG. 11  Exploded View— FIG. 11A  elevated side angle view of activity station,  FIG. 11B  elevated side angle exploded view of activity station 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
           10 —Portable Outdoor Water and Snow Activity Station 
           12 —screen panel 
           14 —frame support piping 
           16 —standard sod staple 
           18 —detachable water hose 
           20 —nozzle 
           22 —slingshot window 
       
    
       22 A—elastic rubber band 
       22 B—nylon fabric
       26 —T-Joint Hinge     28 —Cross Joint Hinge     30 —elbow Joint     32 —snap bracket   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Following are more detailed descriptions of the invention embodiments. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the invention introduced above and discussed in greater detail below, may be implemented in numerous ways and is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided for illustrative purposes only. Well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures arid techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obfuscate the description. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame of the invention is comprised of a series of polyvinyl chloride pipes (PVC) and sections arranged to form an elongated rectangle that may be folded and stacked upon itself. The frame contains five total panels with the three center panels containing polyvinyl mesh screen at the bottom and open windows with elastic rubber bands attached to nylon fabric at the top, while each of the panels on either end of the frame act as support for the structure that is held in place by standard sod staples. 
     The various embodiments of the invention are directed to be an all season portable outdoor water and snow activity station. The invention is a set of three adjoined panels and two end support panels that allow it to be set up as a tri-fold structure for use and collapsed into a single stack of panels for ease of portability and storage. The particular configuration of the framework is unimportant to the invention except that it provides sufficient support for the elements necessary for use. Consequently, it may take on different shapes than specifically illustrated and described herein. 
     The portable all season outdoor water and snow activity station otherwise referred to above as Splat H2O in its entirety will be referenced as “structure” for the purposes of the detailed description of the invention. 
       FIG. 11A  shows an example embodiment of a structure  10 . Structure  10  includes a mesh screen panel  12  and piping supports  14 . Piping supports  14  may be located on at least all four sides of mesh screen panel  12 . In an embodiment, piping supports  14  may also be located at rear right and rear left to function as leg supports for the entire structure. Standard stakes  16  may be located at the bottom of the structure on at least three sides to secure the structure to the ground while in use. 
     Structure  10  may comprise at least one detachable filling hose  18  with at least three outlet nozzles  20  that may be used to fill or soak multiple objects with water simultaneously. Structure  10  may also comprise at least three slingshot windows  22  and at least one holding pouch (not shown). In this example embodiment, slingshot windows  22  are located above each of the three mesh screen panels  12 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front view structure  10  comprising three mesh screen panels  12  at the bottom of the structure and three slingshot windows  22  at the top of the structure with supports  14  on all four sides of each mesh screen panel  12  and with supports on all four sides of the structure  10  with stakes  16  on at least 3 sides of the structure. 
       FIG. 2  shows a rear view of structure  10 . Structure  10  may be set up by supports  14  on the rear right and rear left while being stabilized by standard stakes  16  on at least three sides of the structure. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of structure  10  with supports  14  on at least three sides of the structure. 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of structure  10  with supports  14 . 
       FIG. 5  shows structure  10  as opposing stations for competition with both a rear view of structure  10  and a front view of structure  10  with supports  14  and stakes  16  securing the structure to the ground for use.  FIG. 5  shows structure  10  with three mesh screens  12  and three slingshot windows  22  which may used to launch snowballs or water balloons at opposing players. 
       FIG. 6A  shows slingshot window  22  magnified to show how the slingshot attaches to support  14 . The slingshot window  22  has at least four elastic rubber bands  22 -A that attach to at least all four corners of the launching pad  22 -B on one end of the elastic rubber band  22 -A while connecting to support  14  on at least all four sides. 
       FIG. 7A  shows mesh screen panel  12  magnified.  FIG. 7B  shows how mesh screen panel  12  attaches to supports  14  on at least all four sides. 
     Structure  10  is capable of folding into a single stack of panels for transporting or storage.  FIG. 8A  is a magnified view of 90 degree T joint hinge  28  at top of structure  10  attached to support  14  which allows structure  10  to become foldable for ease of portability and storage.  FIG. 8B  is a magnified view of cross joint hinge  26  which also allows structure  10  to become foldable for ease of portability and storage.  FIG. 8C  is a magnified view of 90 degree T joint hinge  28  at bottom of structure  10  attached to support  14  which further allows structure  10  to become foldable for ease of portability and storage. 
       FIG. 9A  shows an elevated side angle view of structure  10  to show water hose  18  attached to supports  14  by the use of snap brackets  32 . Water hose  18  contains at least one outlet nozzle  20  allowing users to soak or fill objects with water.  FIG. 9  shows the detachable water hose  18  and outlet nozzle  20  which may be used for soaping or filling objects with water. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a vertical view of structure  10  in folded state.  FIG. 10B  shows a side vertical view of structure  10  in a folded state.  FIG. 10C  shows a front view of structure  10  in a folded state while  FIG. 10D  shows a horizontal view of structure  10  in a partially folded position. 
     While the invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.