US 2025/0029516 A1Published application

Interactive rip current simulator

OwnerJeff Wheatinventor

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Abstract

A simulator apparatus has a vessel configured to provide a predefined fluid level and having a contoured bottom surface between a beach end wall and an opposing deep end wall, and between first and second side walls. The bottom surface defines a shoreline boundary at the fluid level between the first and second side walls, a beach shoreline region above the fluid level, an underwater region, extending from the shoreline boundary toward the deep end wall, with a shallow bleach floor region. First and second ridged features define corresponding shoal regions between the ridged features and the shoreline boundary. A gap between the first and second ridged features, provides a back channel that redirects fluid toward the deep end wall. One or more fluid outlets direct fluid toward the first and second ridged features of the bottom surface, forming a simulated rip current.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A simulator apparatus comprising:

an open-topped vessel configured to provide a fluid reservoir with a predefined fluid level, the vessel having a contoured bottom surface featured to emulate a sloped beach floor extending between a beach end wall of the vessel and a deep end wall of the vessel opposite the beach end wall, and between first and second side walls that extend between the beach end and deep end walls,
wherein the bottom surface defines:
(a) a shoreline boundary that extends at the fluid level between the first and second side walls of the vessel;
(b) a beach shoreline region, above the fluid level and extending from the shoreline boundary toward the beach end wall of the vessel;
(c) an underwater region, below the fluid level and extending from the shoreline boundary toward the deep end wall, and that comprises a shallow bleach floor region that slopes away from the shoreline boundary,
wherein first and second ridged features define corresponding first and second shoal regions within the beach floor region, between the ridged features and the shoreline boundary,
wherein a gap, formed between the first and second ridged features, is configured to provide a back channel that redirects fluid that collects within the beach floor region toward the deep end wall;
and
one or more fluid outlets configured to direct a stream of fluid within the vessel toward the first and second ridged features of the bottom surface, forming a simulated rip current through the back channel.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.