Slide apparatus
AssigneeWater Fun Products, Corp.
InventorDavid J. Dubeta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Slide apparatus includes a first slide, which may have a somewhat parabolic configuration having a trough and/or a switchback. The switchback is oriented and configured for changing the direction of travel of a user. Multiple troughs and switchback elements may be provided so as to maximize the length of time during which a user slides, yet without increasing water usage, energy requirements, and space requirements. A switchback element may be configured for reversing the direction of travel of the user from more than 0° to 180° or more. The switchback element may be configured for directing passengers in different directions along different paths, and yet, without a dividing wall therebetween, thanks to the configuration of the switchback elements. One or more partially or completely spiral slides may precede or follow the first slide.
Claims30
A slide apparatus comprising:
- a) a partially spiral slide having a slide surface, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a partially-spiral path;
- b) a further slide, the further slide including a portion of an upwardly open curved surface;
- c) the portion of the upwardly open curved surface defining a further slide surface;
- d) said further slide surface being configured so for causing, in use, a user to slide on the further slide surface along a substantially predetermined path, in use;
- e) a switchback being provided in said further slide;
- f) said switchback being configured for causing, in use, a user traveling along the further slide surface to be switched from a first direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path to a second direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path, the second direction of travel differing from the first direction of travel;
- g) said switchback being a portion of the upwardly open curved surface;
- and
- h) the substantially predetermined path and the partially spiral path being fluidly connected.
A slide apparatus comprising:
- a) a partially spiral slide having a slide surface, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a partially spiral path;
- b) a further slide, the further slide including a portion of an upwardly open substantially curved surface;
- c) the portion of the upwardly open substantially curved surface defining a further slide surface;
- d) said further slide surface being configured for causing a user to slide on the further slide surface along a substantially predetermined path;
- e) said further slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the further slide surface to be switched from a first direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path to a second direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path, the second direction of travel differing from the first direction of travel;
- and
- f) the substantially predetermined path being adjacent to the partially spiral path.
A slide apparatus comprising:
- a) a substantially straight slide having a slide surface, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a substantially straight travel path, as viewed from a direction transverse to the travel path;
- b) a further slide, the further slide including a portion of an upwardly open curved surface;
- c) the portion of the upwardly open curved surface defining a further slide surface;
- d) said further slide surface being configured for causing, in use, a user to slide on the further slide surface along a substantially predetermined path, in use;
- e) a switchback being provided in said further slide;
- f) said switchback being configured for causing, in use, a user traveling along the further slide surface to be switched from a first direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path to a second direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path, the second direction of travel differing from the first direction of travel;
- g) said switchback being a portion of the upwardly open curved surface;
- and
- h) the substantially predetermined path being disposed adjacent the substantially straight path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.