CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/825,773 filed May21 , 2014 entitled AXIAL ROTATABLE WATERSLIDE

VEHICLE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present application relates to a waterslide vehicle that typically slides on one surface.

2. Description of Related Art

Water slides are a common and popular recreational activity. Water slides commonly are comprise a track formed of a tubular or contoured track with a flow of water traveling from the top to the bottom to convey a rider. Conventional rely on an open channel in which the rider is conveyed along the bottom of the track. Disadvantageously, such designs rely upon gravity to retain the rider within the track thereby limiting possible designs and layouts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a vehicle for conveying a rider within a tubular track comprising a support portion for supporting the rider and a retaining body adapted to retain the support portion against an interior wall of the tubular track. The retaining body has a sliding surface for slidable engagement with the wall of the tubular track. The support portion and the retaining body have a vehicle axis of movement about which the vehicle may rotate within the tubular track. The support portion may comprise a substantially planar body adapted to support a rider. The support portion may be sized to receive a single prone rider. The planar body may include a barrier extending around a periphery thereof. The barrier may be cushioned. The barrier may be inflatable. The planar body may be inflatable. The planar body may extend substantially parallel to the vehicle axis. The planar body may include a harness means for securing a rider thereto.

The retaining body may comprise a ring extending from the support portion around the vehicle axis. The vehicle may further comprise a plurality of retaining bodies. The ring may comprise a rigid body having a low resistance exterior surface oriented radially outwards. The retaining body may comprise an arcuate member extending along the length of the support portion.

The retaining body may comprise a shell extending from the support portion. The shell may be domed. The shell may comprise a semi-cylindrical shell matable to the support portion. The support portion may comprise a semi- cylindrical body adapted to form a cylinder in cooperation with the shell. The shell and the support portion may be co-formed with each other. The vehicle may further comprise a plurality of support portions operably connected to each other along a common axis such that the retaining body is located on a bottom surface of each support portion wherein the plurality of retaining bodies maintain the plurality of support portions within the tubular track. The retaining body may be formed of an inflatable body.

The vehicle may further comprise a plurality of support portions extending radially from an axis of the vehicle wherein each support portion includes a retaining body located at an outer radial surface thereof. According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for transporting a rider comprising a tubular track having an interior wall and at least one vehicle. Each vehicle comprising a retaining body adapted to retain the support portion against an interior wall of the tubular track, the retaining body having a sliding surface for slidable engagement with the wall of the tubular track. The support portion and retaining body have a vehicle axis of movement about which the vehicle may rotate within the tubular track.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water slide according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a section of the water slide track of Figure

1 with a vehicle according to a first embodiment located therein. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a track vehicle for use in the water slide of

Figure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , water slide according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The water slide 10 comprises an elongate track 12 having a beginning 14 and an end 16. The track 12 is formed of a plurality of tubular track portions 20 as will be more fully described below. As illustrated in Figure 1 , the track 12 includes at least one vehicle 30 operable to be received within the track as will be more fully described below.

Turning now to Figure 2, one track portion 20 is illustrated. Each track portion 20 comprises tubular member having inner and outer surfaces, 22 and 24, respectively wherein the inner surface 22 defines a track path 26. The track 20 is sized to receive a rider located on a vehicle 30 slidably therethrough. Optionally, each track portion 20 may be have an opening slot 23 extending therealong as illustrated in Figure 14. In such embodiments, the vehicle 30 may be supported in the bottom thereof and permitted to rotate therein.

Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, the vehicle 30 for use in the track comprises a support platform 32 sized to receive a rider thereon. The support platform 32 may be formed as a rigid or semi-rigid body of appropriate materials such as, by way of non-limiting example, plastic, composite materials, metals and the like. The support platform 32 may be covered by a cushioning material such as, by way of non-limiting example, foam or the like to aid in rider comfort. The support platform 32 may also be formed of an inflatable body, such as a tube or the like as are commonly known in the art. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the support platform 32 may optionally include a barrier wall or member 34 extending around a periphery thereof. The barrier wall 34 has a height selected to retain a rider upon the support platform 32 during operation and may be formed of a rigid or semi-rigid member of any commonly known material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, plastic, composite materials, metals or may optionally be formed of an inflatable or padded body.

The vehicle 30 includes a retaining member 40 extending over the support platform 32. The retaining member 40 comprises a rigid member having an outer riding surface 42 selected to have a low coefficient of friction. The retaining member 40 extends along an arcuate path around an axis 36 of the vehicle 30 so as to have an outer dimension corresponding to the inner surface 22 of the track 12. As illustrated in Figure 3, the retaining member 40 may be formed of a solid member or may optionally include a gap or break 45 therein as illustrated in Figure 4 to assist a rider entering the vehicle 30. Additionally, although a single retaining member 40 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of retaining members 40 may be provided along the common axis 36 of the vehicle 30 as illustrated in Figure 5. When the vehicle 30 is located within a track 12, it will be observed that the position of the vehicle with the support portion 32 proximate to the inner surface 22 of the track. In such a way, the vehicle may be permitted to rotate about the axis 36 while traveling along the track 12 without the vehicle tipping over or dislodging the rider. Additionally, in some embodiments, the vehicle may be permitted to slidably rest on the riding surface when the vehicle is upside down. It will be appreciated that such a vehicle will permit the design of tracks not previously possible such as, by way of non-limiting example, loops, vertical drops, spirals and the like wherein the support portion 32 may be temporarily or indefinitely located proximate to the top of the track while riding on and being supported by the retaining member 40.

Turning now to Figure 6, an alternative embodiment of the vehicle 30 is illustrated in which the retaining member is formed of a space frame 47 between front and rear loop members, 44 and 46, respectively. The loop members 44 and 46 include a plurality sliding members 48 extending therebetween. The sliding members 48 may be supported on bars extending therethrough. As illustrated in Figure 6, the vehicle may also include a leading retaining member 50 located at a leading edge thereof which is formed of a space frame having a plurality of sliding members therealong as well. As illustrated in Figure 6, the support platform 32 may include one or more harness 52 for restraining the body of a rider which is formed of a selectably fastenable belt or the like. Turning now to Figure 7, the retaining member 40 may optionally comprises a shell 60 having an outline corresponding to the support platform 32 and barrier wall 34. As illustrated in figures 9 and 10, the shell 60 may have a substantially cylindrical outer surface 62 so as to co-operate with a cylindrically shaped outer surface 33 of the support platform 32 so as to provide a cylindrical overall cross section when mated together. Optionally, the outer shell 60 and outer surface 33 of the support platform 32 may be co- formed with each other and an access port 35 provided for a rider to access the interior thereof as illustrated in Figure 10. Additionally, as illustrated in Figure 8, the retaining member 40 may extend lengthwise along the vehicle 30.

Turning now to Figures 11 and 12 an alternative embodiment is illustrated in which a plurality of support platforms 32 are provided each having an outer cylindrical or curved surface 33. A coupling frame 70 is provided between the support platforms 32 so as to space them apart from each other by a distance corresponding to the inner surface of the track 12. As illustrated in Figure 12, when located within the track 12, the support platforms 32 are permitted to rotate about the axis 36 of the vehicle as illustrated generally at 74. Although three support platforms are illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, it will be appreciated that other quantities of support platforms may also be used.

As set out above, the support platform 32 may be sized to receive a single rider thereon. It will also be appreciated that the support platform may also be sized to receive more than one rider. Additionally, more than one support platform 32 may be provided. With reference to Figure 13, a plurality of support platforms may be provided, with one located within each of a plurality of pods 80 arranged radially around the axis 36. Each pod may include the sliding surface 42 on the outer annular surface thereof.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.