Water Slide and Pool With Water Curtain and Pool Replenishment System

Preferably, the water slide toy 20 (FIG. 1) is an all plastic member which is integral with a pool and which includes an elongated generally lubricous slide portion 22 connected via a ramp/bump portion 23 to a pool portion 24. Slide 22 is staked to the surface of the earth. The pool portion 24 includes a generally planar base element 26. Surrounding and forming the perimeter wall for the pool base 26 is a toroidal, hollow wall 28 enclosing base 26. A broader transverse portion 30 extends between the two longer arms of wall 28. One side of the transverse portion 30 is adjacent a smaller ramping section 32 facing the slide portion 22. The ramp or slanted wall 32 blends into the transverse portion 30 to give a ramp/bump. The ramping wall 32 is curved to give a sloped, generally semi-circular concave configuration facing the slide 22 in order to guide and direct anyone who may be sliding into the pool.

A child, for example, who uses the slide is confronted by the ramp/bump 23 which propels him upwardly into the air and then into a shallow splash down pool 24. More particularly, a plurality of bumps "A" through "C" (FIG. 2) are of graduated height progressively forming a ramp 23. The various bumps also add additional areas to act as a shock absorber and to absorb energy from the sliding person. The tubular members forming these bumps are made by sealing together plastic sheets forming base 26.

At opposite ends of the pool portion 24 are inlet/outlet tubes 40 and 42, which have several functions. First, it is desirable to have two tubes, as opposed to a single tube, in order to facilitate emptying. This is especially important since emptying the water could prove to be very cumbersome if there is only one opening and the slide is on an incline with the one opening on the high side of the incline.

The water slide is deployed by being unrolled and staked onto a cleaned, pre-wetted, and preferably grassy area. The inlet and outlet tubes 40, 42 generally communicate with the interior of the pool wall. Except while open for filling or emptying the pool walls, these tubes 40, 42 are sealed by any suitable clamping means.

FIG. 3 shows a hollow pipe, curved to form a U-shaped hoop or arch 60 for supporting a curtain-like member 62, as by threading hoop 60 through a plurality of spaced loops 64 attached to the hoop 60 or by wrapping straps around member 60. The hoop 60 is a hollow pipe or tube which has holes distributed along its length in order to issue a spray or shower of water. The curtain-like member 62 is slit along spaced parallel lines 66 to provide a plurality of flexible flaps 68, preferably having indicia 69 imprinted thereon for give a child a sense of added adventure. In the example shown in the drawing, the indicia is a crocodile. The motif could be changed completely by changing the indicia 69 and any other related theme element.

The hardware for mounting hoop 60 is shown in FIG. 4 and the steps followed to for installing the hoop member 60 and to set up the inventive fountain are shown in FIGS. 5-11. In greater detail the hardware includes two members 70, 72 (FIG. 5) each of which has a stake 74 on the bottom, a thread coupler 76, and an outlet 78, 80 in communication with the coupler 76. The outlet 78 supplies water to the hoop 60 and outlet 80 sprays the slide 22. A threaded end coupler 82 is fitted into each of the sockets 76 on the members 70 or 72 for receiving water. Member 82 may be either the threaded coupler on the end of a garden hose or an adapter having a barbed insert 83, 85 to receive a special hose (FIG. 9). In this particular case, an adapter is used.

On the stake member 70, the barbed end 78 fits into the end of the pipe forming hoop member 60 (FIG. 5). Another stake member 70 is placed in the other end of the hoop 60 (FIG. 6) and the socket 76 in such other stake is plugged with a solid member. Alternatively, the other stake may be simply a solid member since it is not part of any water delivery system. The choice between a water delivery stake and a solid stake is based upon the cost and convenience of two different or one type of piece part.

Next, O-rings 88, 90 are placed over the ends of each of the tubes 84, 86, as shown in FIG. 7. One end of each of the tubes 84, 86 is slipped onto the barbed ends 85, 83 (respectively) of the adapters 82, 87. Then, the O-rings 90 are rolled down over the hose at the barbed ends (FIG. 8). The opposite ends of the hoses 84, 86 are fitted (FIG. 10) over barbed ends 92, 94 of a "Y" adapter 96 that fits onto a garden hose 97. Then, the two stake ends 74 of the hoop 60 are ready to be placed in the earth. The member 72 is staked near the slide 22 (FIG. 14) so that water issues from slot 99 and member 80 showers slide 22 and makes it lubricous.

Means are provided for giving the child an adventuresome episode as he encounters the pool. More particularly, when the water is turned on, the holes in the pipe forming hoop 60 deliver twin sprays or sheets 98, 100 (FIGS. 12, 13) .of water focused toward both ends of the pool 24. As best seen in FIG. 13, the child hits two "walls of water" as he enters the pool and comes to rest at the end of the pool. Since the hoop 60 is directly over the pool, even water dripping from the hoop 60 and the curtain 62 is deposited into the pool. Hence, although the child "splashes down" into the pool, there is plenty of replenishing water to keep the pool full.

FIG. 17 shows a second embodiment for giving the child an adventuresome episode. Here two nozzles 110 and 112 are staked into the earth at 114 and 116 and directed toward the pool. Thus, the child sliding into the pool first encounters a spray 120 and then a spray 122.

The assembly described above takes place prior to filling the pool walls 28. When the walls 28 are filled, they preferably expand outwardly and embrace the ends of arch member 60 with a clamping-like action. In addition, the weight of the pool walls 28 exert a downward and anchoring pressure. This design is important because it holds the hoop 60 and curtain 62 in a proper vertical orientation, while being sufficiently flexible and yielding to avoid injuries if a sliding person impacts them. The soft side walls 28 also act as a cushion to prevent the user from impacting hard plastic parts.

Preferably, means are provided for filling the pool walls and the ramp/bump with water. However, it should be understood that other fluids may also be used. For example, the pool walls may be inflated with air.

The weight of the water within the walls 28 insures a proper positioning of the pool 24 during its use. The slide 22 is manually pulled taut, extending longitudinally from its juncture with the base portion 26 of the pool 24. After the slide 22 is taut, suitable stakes are used to secure it in place. The pool cavity 27 is filled with water 90. The slide 22 is covered with a film of water sprayed from sprinkler member 80 to make it more lubricous. The sprinkler 80 (FIG. 14) may be fixed to the earth a safe distance (approximately 3 feet) from the slide 22. The sprinkler has a nozzle 99 (FIG. 9) which provides a wide fan-shaped cascade of water 101 for maintaining a film of water on the slide 22. Other lubricous materials, such as soap or silicone, can also be used.

In use, a person runs toward the slide 22 and bellyflops on it, as seen in FIG. 15. Upon impacting the angled ramp/bump wall 32 (FIG. 16), the body of the sliding person is angled upwardly by bumps A-D (FIG. 12). The momentum raises him over the bumps which further increases the body's upward angle where he encounters the first wall of water spray at 98 (FIG. 13). On the last bump, the body is catapulted upwardly and forwardly so that the sliding person's arms and body move through the flaps 68 of the curtain means 62. Then, he drops into the water in the pool cavity 27 where he is sprayed by the second wall of water spray 100. The person's forward motion is slowed by the water and bumps F and G at the far side of the pool.

If the sliding body does not have sufficient momentum to carry it into the pool, the soft, water or air filled bumps act as a shock absorber.

The slide portion 22, pool and other parts are preferably fabricated from a linear low density virgin polyethylene with slip additives. The pool portion is also made of a polyethylene material, preferably with elastomeric blends for added strength. While other materials, such as vinyl, may be substituted. The hardware 70, 72 may be injection molded from any suitable plastic material that has the necessary strength and rigidity.

Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive how to modify the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures which fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.