Spiral wave slide

Abstract

A slide body including an upper segment with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end thereof, and a lower segment with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The lower segment includes a flange at the first end thereof, and the upper segment includes a mating element at the second end thereof. The flange and the mating element are adapted to cooperate to locate the first end of the lower segment adjacent to the second end of the upper segment. Also, the flange includes one or more connector elements adapted to cooperate with the mating element for attaching the first end of the lower segment and the second end of the upper segment to each other.

1 . A slide body for a user to slide thereon, the slide body comprising: 
 an upper segment comprising an upper segment bed portion with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end of the upper segment and a lower surface disposed opposite to the upper surface;    a lower segment comprising a lower segment bed portion with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end of the lower segment and a lower surface disposed opposite to the upper surface, the lower segment comprising a flange at the first end thereof extending from the upper surface past the lower surface;    the upper segment comprising at least one mating element at the second end thereof extending from the upper surface past the lower surface;    the flange and said at least one mating element being adapted to cooperate to locate the first end of the lower segment adjacent to the second end of the upper segment such that the upper surfaces of the upper and lower segments form a substantially continuous surface for sliding thereon; and    one of the flange and said at least one mating element comprising at least one connector element shaped to cooperate with the other of the flange and said at least one mating element to attach the first end of the lower segment and the second end of the upper segment to each other.    
   
   
       2 . A slide body according to  claim 1  in which, upon the flange being received in said at least one mating element, the flange and said at least one mating element cooperate to attach the first end of the lower segment to the second end of the upper segment.  
   
   
       3 . A slide body according to  claim 1  in which the first end of the upper segment comprises an upper end of the slide body and in which the second end of the lower segment comprises a lower end of the slide body.  
   
   
       4 . A slide body according to  claim 1  additionally comprising at least one fastener for securing the flange and said at least one mating element to each other.  
   
   
       5 . A slide body according to  claim 4  in which the lower surfaces of the upper and lower segments are substantially parallel to the upper surfaces of the upper and lower segments respectively, and in which said at least one fastener comprises a screw positioned substantially parallel to said upper and lower surfaces at the first end of the lower segment and the second end of the upper segment.  
   
   
       6 . A slide body according to  claim 2  in which said at least one mating element comprises a downstream wall and an upstream wall which define a slot in which the flange is receivable.  
   
   
       7 . A slide body according to  claim 6  in which the upstream wall includes at least one aperture, and the downstream wall comprises a preselected portion which registers with the aperture, said at least one aperture being at least partially defined by at least one surface disposed in the upstream wall.  
   
   
       8 . A slide body according to  claim 7  in which said flange is connected by said at least one fastener to said at least one preselected portion, to secure the lower segment and the upper segment to each other.  
   
   
       9 . A slide body according to  claim 7  in which the lower segment additionally comprises at least one tab projecting from the lower surface thereof, said at least one tab being substantially aligned with said at least one preselected portion such that said at least one fastener connects said at least one tab, said at least one preselected portion of the downstream wall, and said flange, to secure the lower segment and the upper segment to each other.  
   
   
       10 . A slide body according to  claim 9  in which said at least one tab and the flange define at least one trough in which an upper edge of the downstream wall is receivable.  
   
   
       11 . A slide body according to  claim 7  in which said at least one connector element is configured for engagement with said at least one surface in a snap fit upon the flange being received in the slot, to attach the upper and lower segments to each other.  
   
   
       12 . A slide body according to  claim 11  in which the flange includes a substantially planar face element adapted for engagement with the upstream wall when the flange is received in the slot, and said at least one connector element protrudes from the face element.  
   
   
       13 . A slide body according to  claim 12  in which said at least one connector element comprises a bottom end positioned distal to the upper surface of the lower segment and a top end located between the bottom end and the upper surface, and in which the top end protrudes further from the face element of the flange than the bottom end.  
   
   
       14 . A slide body according to  claim 7  in which said at least one connector element comprises an indented surface for directing said at least one fastener substantially along a predetermined path through said at least one preselected portion upon insertion of said at least one fastener therein.  
   
   
       15 . A slide body according to  claim 7  in which said at least one connector element comprises a ledge with an indented surface for supporting and directing said at least one fastener along the predetermined path upon insertion of said at least one fastener in said at least one preselected portion.  
   
   
       16 . A slide body according to  claim 2  additionally comprising at least one plug positioned at the first end of the lower segment and at least one cup positioned at the second end of the upper segment, said at least one plug being nestable in said at least one cup and supported by said at least one cup when nested therein, said at least one plug being nested in said at least one cup upon the flange being received in said at least one mating element.  
   
   
       17 . A slide body according to  claim 16  in which at least one fastener connects said at least one cup and said at least one plug, to secure the lower segment and the upper segment to each other.  
   
   
       18 . A slide body according to  claim 17  in which said at least one fastener comprises a screw positioned substantially orthogonal to said upper surfaces of the upper and lower segments at the first end of the lower segment and the second end of the upper segment.  
   
   
       19 . A slide body according to  claim 16  in which each of the upper segment and the lower segment additionally comprises sidewalls positioned on opposite sides of the respective bed portions thereof and each of said at least one cup and said at least one plug is positioned on said sidewalls of the upper segment and the lower segment respectively.  
   
   
       20 . A slide body for a user to slide thereon, the slide body comprising: 
 an upper segment comprising an upper segment bed portion with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end of the upper segment, the upper segment bed portion having an upper segment bed profile substantially defining a path taken by the user sliding from the first end to the second end of the upper segment;    a lower segment comprising a lower segment bed portion with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end of the lower segment, the lower segment bed portion having a lower segment bed profile substantially defining a path taken by the user sliding from the first end to the second end of the lower segment;    the first end of the lower segment and the second end of the upper segment being adapted to mate such that the upper surfaces of the lower and upper segments form a substantially continuous surface for sliding thereon;    the first end of the upper segment comprising an upper end of the slide body and the second end of the lower segment comprising a lower end of the slide body; and    the upper segment bed profile and the lower segment bed profile forming a substantially continuous profile between the upper end and the lower end.    
   
   
       21 . A slide body according to  claim 20  additionally comprising: 
 a middle segment positioned between the upper segment and the lower segment, the middle segment comprising a middle bed portion with an upper surface for sliding thereon extending between a first end and a second end of the middle segment, the middle bed portion having a middle bed profile substantially defining a path taken by the user sliding from a first end to a second end of the middle segment; and    the first end of the middle segment and the second end of the upper segment being adapted to mate, and the second end of the middle segment and the first end of the lower segment being adapted to mate, such that the upper surfaces of the upper, middle, and lower segments form a substantially continuous surface for sliding thereon.    
   
   
       22 . A slide body according to  claim 21  in which the upper segment bed profile, the middle bed profile, and the lower segment bed profile form a substantially continuous profile between the upper end and the lower end.  
   
   
       23 . A slide body for a user to slide thereon, the slide body comprising: 
 an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being positioned above the lower elevation such that the user slides from the upper end to the lower end due to gravity;    the slide body comprising a curved portion extending a first predetermined distance from the upper end toward the lower end to an intermediate transition zone;    the slide body additionally comprising a substantially linear portion extending between the lower end and the intermediate transition zone; and    the slide body having a profile substantially defining a path taken by the user sliding from the intermediate transition zone to the lower end, the profile being substantially sinusoidal.    
   
   
       24 . A slide body according to  claim 23  in which the curved portion substantially defines at least a portion of a helical path.