Water ride flotation device dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751021-B2
Application number	US-201514920654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2015
Priority date	Oct 22, 2015
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A dispenser for a flotation device in accordance with present embodiments may include a housing comprising an aperture. The dispenser may also include a plurality of flotation devices positioned in the housing; and a base positioned in the housing and supporting the plurality of flotation devices, wherein the base is configured to move relative to the housing to move the plurality of flotation devices jointly to position at least one flotation device adjacent to the aperture to permit removal of the at least one flotation device from the housing via the aperture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispenser for a flotation device, comprising:
a housing comprising an aperture;
a plurality of flotation devices positioned in the housing; and
a base positioned in the housing and supporting the plurality of flotation devices, wherein the base is configured to move relative to the housing to move the plurality of flotation devices jointly to position at least one flotation device adjacent to the aperture to permit removal of the at least one flotation device from the housing via the aperture wherein the aperture is configured to be in a default closed position, and wherein the dispenser comprises a mechanical controller configured to receive an input from a reader and open the aperture in response to the input.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising an actuator or biasing member coupled to the base and configured to move the base towards the aperture.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the base comprises a supporting surface in contact with only one of the flotation devices of the plurality of flotation devices and an opposing surface coupled to the biasing member.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the spring, when fully uncompressed and when the plurality of flotation devices have been removed from the housing, is configured to position the base adjacent to or within the aperture.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is between two or more posts of the housing.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising a loading opening or door formed in the housing and configured to permit loading of the plurality of flotation devices.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flotation devices comprise one or more handles positioned on a side wall of each respective flotation device.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising a fluid port formed in the housing and configured to deliver a fluid within the housing to the plurality of flotation devices.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flotation devices comprise inner tubes.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the aperture remains in the default closed position if the input comprises guest identification information from a body-worn device and wherein the guest identification information is associated with a water ride restriction.

12. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide an indication when the dispenser is ready to be reloaded with a second plurality of flotation devices.

13. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the aperture remains in the default closed position that overrides the input if the dispenser is in a cleaning mode, wherein the cleaning mode comprises application of cleaning fluid to the plurality of flotation devices.

14. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising a horizontal ejector configured to push a flotation device at least partially through the aperture.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 , comprising a door closing the aperture, and wherein the horizontal ejector is coupled to the door such that opening the door causes the horizontal ejector to move towards the aperture to push the flotation device.

16. A water park attraction, comprising:
a water circuit; and
an inner tube dispenser for inner tubes configured to be used in the water circuit, wherein the inner tube dispenser comprises:
a housing comprising an aperture;
a plurality of inner tubes; and
a moveable portion coupled to the housing and supporting the plurality of inner tubes, wherein the movable portion is configured to move relative to the housing to move the plurality of inner tubes to position at least one inner tube adjacent to the aperture to permit removal of the at least one inner tube from the housing via the aperture wherein the housing comprises one or more openings positioned within the water circuit and the movable portion is positioned in the water circuit and wherein the water circuit flows through the one or more openings towards the aperture to move the movable portion relative to the housing.

17. The water park attraction of claim 16 , wherein the movable portion comprises a flexible material comprising a plurality of openings that permit flow of water in the water circuit through the housing.

18. The water park attraction of claim 16 , wherein the movable portion comprises an elastic material biased towards the aperture.

19. The water park attraction of claim 16 , wherein the housing is open at a location opposing the aperture to form the one or more openings.

20. The water park attraction of claim 16 , wherein the movable portion comprises a platform having an inner tube supporting surface and an opposing surface, wherein the opposing surface contacts the water circuit to permit water flow to move the platform towards the aperture.

21. The water park attraction of claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises an opening to permit loading of the inner tubes, and wherein the aperture is positioned in or closer to the water circuit than the opening.

22. A water park attraction, comprising:
a water circuit having a flow direction; and
an inner tube dispenser for inner tubes configured to be used in the water circuit, wherein the inner tube dispenser comprises:
a containment area comprising an entry aperture and an exit aperture;
a plurality of inner tubes; and
a plurality of flow ports within the containment area configured to create additional movement of the inner tubes towards the exit aperture, wherein the entry aperture is larger than the exit aperture, and wherein the exit aperture is smaller than at least one dimension of one of the plurality of inner tubes.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Schwartz Justin Michael

Classifications

• A63G3/00 Primary

  Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating · CPC title

• A63G31/007

  involving water · CPC title

• A63G21/18

  Water-chutes · CPC title

• A63G3/02 Primary

  with floating seats · CPC title

• A63G4/00 Primary

  Accessories for roundabouts not restricted to one of groups A63G1/00 or A63G3/00 · CPC title