# US 2014/0194216 A1 · Amusement ride back shield > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194216 A1 - Document ID: US20140194216A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/847,972 - Filed: 2013-03-20 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-20 - Assignees: Whitewater West Industries Ltd. - Inventors: Daniel P. Brassard; Raymond J. DuBois; Timothy B. Kwasnicki; Richard A. Sebulsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194216A1 ## CPC - A63G 21/18: Water-chutes - A63G 21/00: Chutes; Helter-skelters - A63G: MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ## Abstract A system for shielding a rider's back from a ride surface. The system includes a slide ride having an entrance and an exit and configured such that the riders back slides substantially parallel along a. slide ride surface when the rider slides from the entrance towards the exit. The system includes a plurality of shielding devices disposed relative to the slide ride such that the rider may put on one of the plurality of shielding devices prior to sliding on the slide ride, each of the plurality of shielding devices configured to be worn by the rider such that the shielding device covers the rider's back, and adapted to slide upon the slide ride surface to shield the rider's back from the slide ride surface when the rider slides from the entrance to the exit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for shielding at least a portion of a body of a rider from a ride surface comprising: a board configured to he coupled with the body of the rider, the board having an outer surface configured to slide on the ride surface and having an inner surface, coupled to the outer surface, and configured to cover the at least a portion of the body of the rider when the rider is coupled with the hoard; and a securing mechanism coupled to the hoard for coupling the board to the rider. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device, of claim 1 wherein the at least a portion of the body of the rider is the back of the rider. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the securing mechanism includes a first strap configured to be disposed adjacent to the waist of the rider when the rider is coupled with the board. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the securing mechanism includes a second strap configured to be disposed adjacent to a first shoulder of the rider when the rider is coupled with the board and a third strap configured to be disposed adjacent to a second shoulder of the rider when the rider is coupled with the board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein any of the first strap, the second strap, or the third strap is size adjustable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5 wherein any of the first strap, the second strap, or the third strap is size adjustable via a buckle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the at least a portion of the body of the rider is the back and the legs of the rider. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the hoard and the outer surface of the board are made of two different materials. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a low friction material is disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface or the inner surface of the board. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the board has a first curved portion that raises a first edge of the hoard a distance from a plane containing a flat portion of the board. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10 wherein the hoard has a second curved portion that raises a second edge, opposite the first edge, of the board a distance from the plane containing the flat portion of the board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a protruding element coupled to the outer surface of the board for making contact with the ride surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12 wherein the protruding element comprises a plurality of rails in parallel with one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a grip coupled with the securing mechanism configured to be held by the rider when the board is coupled with the rider. ### Claim 15 A system for reducing friction between a back of a rider and a slide ride, the system comprising: a sliding surface extending from an entrance of the slide ride to an exit of the slide ride, the sliding surface configured to support the hack of the rider as the rider slides along the sliding surface from the entrance towards the exit; and a shielding device disposed adjacent to the slide ride for the rider to wear prior to sliding on the sliding surface, the shielding device configured to cover the back of the rider when worn by the rider and configured to slide upon the sliding surface for reducing friction between the back of the rider and the sliding surface when the rider slides from the entrance towards the exit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the sliding surface includes a loop element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the sliding surface includes a bowl element. ### Claim 18 A method of shielding a body of a rider on a slide ride, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sliding surface, the sliding surface configured to support the body of the rider substantially parallel along the sliding surface when the rider slides on the sliding surface; and providing a shielding device configured to he worn by the rider prior to the rider sliding on the sliding surface, the shielding device having a first surface made of a first material configured to cover a portion of the body of the rider and a second surface made of a second material configured to contact the sliding surface when the rider slides on the sliding surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the first material is a foam material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the second material is a plastic material.