U.S. patent application number 11/796955 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for apparatus and method for water sliding.
This patent application is currently assigned to WHAM-O Corporation. Invention is credited to James Douglas Deasy.
Application Number | 20080268970 11/796955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39887649 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080268970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deasy; James Douglas |
October 30, 2008 |
Apparatus and method for water sliding
Abstract
A recreational toy is provided. The toy has a mat for water
sliding. A transparent bumper assembly is coupled to the mat and
contains a liquid having at least one object submerged therein. A
method for water sliding on a recreational toy is provided. A
person slides on a water-supporting mat until the person contacts a
transparent bumper assembly which stops the person from sliding
further on the mat. Further provided is a toy assembly. The toy
assembly comprises a mat and a collapsed transparent bumper
assembly coupled to the mat and having at least one object
within.
Inventors: |
Deasy; James Douglas; (Mill
Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Offices of John W. Carpenter
405 Davis Court, Suite 707
San Francisco
CA
04111
US
|
Assignee: |
WHAM-O Corporation
Emeryville
CA
|
Family ID: |
39887649 |
Appl. No.: |
11/796955 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 21/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/117 |
International
Class: |
A63G 21/04 20060101
A63G021/04 |
Claims
1. A recreational toy comprising: a mat for liquid sliding; and a
transparent bumper assembly coupled to the mat and containing a
liquid having at least one object submerged in the liquid.
2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises water.
3. The toy of claim 1 wherein said bumper assembly comprises a
generally U-shaped structure.
4. The toy of claim 3 wherein said U-shaped structure comprises a
pair of arms.
5. The toy of claim 4 wherein each of said arms terminate in a
generally arcuate-shaped ends.
6. The toy of claim 3 wherein said U-shaped structure comprises a
structure defining a generally sinusoidal surface.
7. The toy of claim 2 wherein said bumper assembly comprises a
structure defining an aperture wherein water is introduced into the
bumper assembly.
8. The toy of claim 4 wherein said arms contain said liquid.
9. The toy of claim 1 wherein said object has the appearance of a
marine animal.
10. The toy of claim 5 additionally comprising a pool of water
disposed between said ends.
11. A method for water sliding on a recreational toy comprising:
sliding on a water-laden mat; contacting a transparent a bumper
assembly to cease water sliding on the water-laden mat.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said transparent bumper assembly
is coupled to said water-laden mat.
13. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising sliding through
a pool of water disposed between a pair of arms of the bumper
assembly.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said transparent bumper assembly
comprise a plurality of objects have the appearance of marine
animals.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of said objects
floats in contact with the under surface of a top of the
transparent bumper assembly.
16. The method of claim 15 additionally comprising propelling the
object away from being in contact with the under surface of the top
of the transparent bumper assembly.
17. An assembly comprising a mat; a collapsed transparent bumper
assembly coupled to said mat and having at least one object within.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention are related to an
assembly (e.g., a toy) which provides a mat and a bumper assembly.
More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide an
assembly and method for water sliding wherein a person slides along
the surface of the mat until coming in contact with a bumper
assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are a number of water-slides available for children's
recreational purposes, such as "Slip N Slide" water slides, etc.
However, none combine the features a slick, aqueous-laden surface
mat which enables a person to slide smoothly along the surface of
the mat, and a water-containing bumper assembly coupled to the mat
to stop the person from sliding.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for
water sliding on a recreational toy. A person slides on a
water-supporting mat until the person contacts a transparent bumper
assembly which stops the person from sliding further on the
mat.
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a
recreational toy comprising a mat for water sliding. A transparent
bumper assembly is coupled to the mat and contains a liquid having
at least one object submerged therein.
[0005] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a toy
assembly comprising a mat; and a collapsed transparent bumper
assembly coupled to the mat and having at least one object
within.
[0006] These provisions, together with the various ancillary
provisions and features which will become apparent to those skilled
in the art as the following description proceeds, are attained by
the methods and assemblies of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention
illustrating a generally U-shaped bumper assembly.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of an embodiment
of the invention having the bumper assembly in a collapsed position
or state and coupled to a mat.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the
invention having the bumper assembly in a collapsed position or
state and coupled to a mat.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the
invention illustrating the bumper assembly in a filled position or
state due to a liquid having been placed in the bumper
assembly.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the
invention illustrating the bumper assembly in a filled position or
state due to the bumper assembly containing a liquid which was
disposed therein.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of
line 6-6 in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of
line 7-7 in FIG. 1 and illustrating a pool of water which has been
accumulated on the mat and between the arms of the generally
U-shaped bumper assembly.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of
line 8-8 in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the
invention taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of
line 9-9 in FIG. 1 illustrating the objects which have floated
against the top of the bumper assembly and which are poised to be
propelled downward in direction of the arrows from the force of a
person hitting the bumper assembly after sliding along the mat and
through the pool of liquid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In the description herein, numerous specific details are
provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide
a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present
invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however,
that an embodiment of the invention may be practiced without one or
more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems,
assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like.
In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations
are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid
obscuring aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
[0017] Referring in detail now to the drawings, wherein similar
parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals,
there is seen in FIG. 1 a mat 10 and a bumper assembly 12
(singularly and/or collectively a "toy") disposed at and/or coupled
to the end of the mat 10. The bumper assembly 12 operationally
stops a person from sliding when the person reaches the end of the
mat 10. A plurality of apertures 16 longitudinally extends along
one of the edges of the mat 10 for dispensing water onto the mat 10
after water passes through a coupling 20 which typically engages a
water hose (not shown). In an embodiment of the invention, as best
shown in FIG. 7, a pool 15 of water forms on the mat 10 contiguous
to the bumper assembly 12.
[0018] The mat 10 and the assembly 12 may be manufactured from any
suitable material. Preferably, the mat 10 and the assembly 12 are
made from plastic (e.g., vinyl or the like). In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the assembly 12 is manufactured from a
transparent plastic to enable a person to see inside the assembly
12, comparable to an aquarium where people view fish swimming.
[0019] The bumper assembly 12 is coupled by any suitable means to
the mat 10 at location 24. The bumper assembly 12 may possess any
suitable structure, preferably a generally U-shaped structure with
respect to a top plan view, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The bumper
assembly 12 also comprises objects 40 (e.g., ornamental three
dimensional-shaped objects). The objects 40 may be any suitable
objects, preferably objects which are capable of being suspended
within water 13 after the water 13 is introduced into the bumper
assembly 12 through a valve 28 positioned on and/or in the skin 34
of the body 24 of the bumper assembly 12. Water 13 is introduced
through the valve 28 by any suitable means, such as engaging the
valve 28 to a garden hose, or the like.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the objects 40
represent marine or sea animals (e.g., fish, sea horses, crabs,
etc.) 41 to simulate swimming when suspended within water 13
contained in the bumper assembly 12. When the bumper assembly 12 is
in a collapsed position (i.e., assembly 12 contains no water 13) as
best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the objects 40 randomly move
(e.g., flip flops) within the bumper assembly 12. The objects 40
may remain in the water 13 totally, constantly suspended. In other
embodiments of the invention, some of the objects 40 float to
and/or against the underside surface of the top of the bumper
assembly 12, as best shown in FIG. 9. The objects 40 floating
against the underside of the top of the bumper assembly 12 are
poised to be propelled downward in direction of the arrows in FIG.
9 from the force of a person hitting the bumper assembly 12 after
sliding along the water-laden mat 10, or after sliding along the
water-laden mat 10 and through the pool 15 of water 13. The pool 15
forms from the mat 10 being positioned such that repetitive slides
through the water 13 towards the bumper assembly 12 causes water to
accumulate contiguous to the bumper assembly 12, more specifically
between the arms (identified below as "60" and "62") of the bumper
assembly 12. As a person slides on the water-laden mat 10, water is
pushed towards the bumper assembly 12, similar to a squeegee
pushing water along a surface. While embodiments of the invention
are being described by the bumper assembly 12 containing water, it
is to be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention
includes the bumper assembly 12 containing any suitable liquid.
[0021] As previously indicated and in a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the bumper assembly 12 has a generally U-shaped
structure with respect to a top plan view, as illustrated in FIG.
1. The U-shaped structure includes a pair of arms 60 and 62
respectively terminating in arcuate shaped, tapering ends 70 and
66. The arms 60 and 62 may flange slightly outwardly to facilitate
a person sliding between the arms 60 and 62 where the pool 15 of
water 13 may form on the mat 10. The U-shaped structure also
includes a generally sinusoidal-shaped rear surface 80.
[0022] Practice of various embodiments of the present invention
provides a water-inflatable bumper assembly 12 which forms a
barrier to stop a person from sliding along a water-coated mat 10.
The bumper assembly 12 comprises a plurality of suspended marine
animals 41 which simulates marine life swimming in an aquarium. In
operation of various embodiments of the invention a pool 15 of
water contiguous to, and/or between the arms 60 and 62 of the
bumper assembly 12, accumulates. When a person slides into the pool
15, water 13 typically splashes and slightly retards the speed that
a person is sliding along the mat 10 and towards the bumper
assembly 12. The arcuate tapering arms 60 and 62 respectively at
arcuate shaped distal ends 70 and 66 of the bumper assembly 12
facilities the sliding of a person between the arms 60 and 62 as
opposed to sliding off the water-coated mat 10 or hitting the ends
of the arms 60 and 62 due to the transverse breadth of same from
the longitudinally edges.
[0023] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment",
"an embodiment", or "a specific embodiment" means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
present invention and not necessarily in all its embodiments.
Therefore, the respective appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in a specific embodiment" in
various places throughout this specification are not necessarily
referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular
features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment
of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner
with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that
other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the
present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in
light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0024] Additionally, any arrows in the drawings/figures should be
considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise
specifically noted. Furthermore, the term "or" as used herein is
generally intended to mean "and/or" unless otherwise indicated.
Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as
being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability
to separate or combine is unclear.
[0025] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, "a", an and "the" includes plural references unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
[0026] The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the
present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the
precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and
examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative
purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within
the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in
the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these
modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the
foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments of the present
invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0027] Therefore, while the present invention has been described
herein with reference to the particular embodiments thereof, a
latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are
intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated
that in some instances some features of the embodiments of the
invention will be employed without the corresponding use of other
features without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made
to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope
and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the
invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following
claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best
mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the
invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents
falling within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *