Slide entry system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9895617-B2
Application number	US-201615353515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2016
Priority date	Apr 7, 2015
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A water slide entry system in accordance with present embodiments may include an entry platform configured to support a rider above a water slide entry and an enclosure defining an enclosed space about the platform configured to at least partially enclose the rider when the rider is positioned on the entry platform. The water slide entry system may also include a fluid delivery system configured to deliver fluid within the enclosure to a predetermined fill level and a control system configured to receive a signal that the rider is positioned on the entry platform; provide instructions to the fluid delivery system to deliver the fluid within the enclosure when the rider is positioned on the entry platform; and trigger the entry platform to release the rider into the water slide entry.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An entry system for a water slide, comprising:
an entry platform configured to support a rider above a water slide entry;
an enclosure defining an enclosed space about the entry platform configured to at least partially enclose the rider when the rider is positioned on the entry platform;
a fluid delivery system configured to deliver fluid within the enclosure; and
a control system configured to:
receive a signal that the rider is positioned on the entry platform;
provide instructions to the fluid delivery system to deliver the fluid within the enclosure to a predetermined fill level when the rider is positioned on the entry platform;
provide instructions to activate a special effect while the fluid delivery system is delivering the fluid; and
trigger the entry platform to release the rider into the water slide entry.

2. The entry system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to active the special effect cause a light source to turn on.

3. The entry system of claim 2 , wherein the light source is a colored light source.

4. The entry system of claim 2 , wherein the light source is a fluorescent light source.

5. The entry system of claim 1 , wherein the special effect is a sound effect.

6. The entry system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to active the special effect cause the fluid to be agitated within the enclosure.

7. The entry system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a wall having a cavity, and wherein the fluid is delivered into the cavity.

8. The entry system of claim 7 , wherein the cavity is isolated from the entry platform such that the fluid does not contact the rider when the rider is positioned on the entry platform.

9. The entry system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions to active the special effect cause a light source to turn on and illuminate the fluid.

10. A method, comprising:
receiving a signal that a rider is positioned on an entry platform, wherein the entry platform is positioned within an enclosure and above a water slide;
activating a fluid flow in the enclosure to partially fill the enclosure to a predetermined fluid level;
activating one or more special effects to operate during the fluid flow; and
opening the entry platform to release the rider into the water slide when fluid of the fluid flow reaches the predetermined fluid level.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein activating the one or more special effects to operate during the fluid flow comprises causing a light source to turn on.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein a special effect of the one or more special effects is a sound effect.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein activating the one or more special effects to operate during the fluid flow comprises causing the fluid to be agitated within the enclosure.

14. The method of claim 10 , comprising stopping the fluid flow when the fluid has reached a predetermined volume.

15. The method of claim 10 , comprising stopping the fluid flow when a predetermined amount of time has passed.

16. An entry system for a water slide, comprising:
an entry platform configured to support a rider above a water slide entry;
an enclosure defining an enclosed space about the entry platform configured to at least partially enclose the rider when the rider is positioned on the entry platform;
a fluid delivery system configured to deliver fluid within the enclosure comprising a first fluid inlet port and a second fluid inlet port; and
a control system configured to:
receive a signal that the rider is positioned on the entry platform; and
provide instructions to the fluid delivery system to deliver the fluid within the enclosure via the first fluid inlet port and the second fluid inlet port and to a predetermined fill level when the rider is positioned on the entry platform.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control system is configured to control the first fluid inlet port separately from the second fluid inlet port to deliver the fluid at different times via the first fluid inlet port relative to the second fluid inlet port.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first fluid inlet port is coupled to a first fluid source and the second fluid inlet port is coupled to a second fluid source.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first fluid inlet port is positioned at or near a top of the enclosure.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the second fluid inlet port is positioned at or near the entry platform.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Schwartz Justin Michael

Classifications

• A63G21/18 Primary

  Water-chutes · CPC title