Children's toy waterslide

Abstract

The present invention includes a children's toy waterslide incorporating a sliding surface, an obstacle region, a splash zone, and an obstacle or obstacles. The sliding surface extends through the obstacle region and into the splash zone. Water may be sprayed along the length of the sliding surface by a sprinkler tube. The obstacle or obstacles may be placed on or over the sliding surface in the obstacle region. The obstacle may be a “limbo stick” bar, a water tunnel with dump bucket, and/or inflatable bowling-pin-type objects.

1 . A children's waterslide comprising: 
 a sliding surface dimensioned with a long dimension for children to slide along having a front end where children enter the waterslide, a middle portion where children slide along the waterslide, and an end portion where children stop;    a sprinkler tube extending along one side of the long dimension configured to spray water along the length of the sliding surface providing a shallow layer of water thereon;    an obstacle region positioned within the middle portion and configured to provide children with a break-away obstacle to contact while sliding along the water slide; and    a splash zone configured to slow a sliding child down.    
   
   
       2 . The children's waterslide of  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler tube includes a hose fitting to attach a water supply.  
   
   
       3 . The children's waterslide of  claim 2 , wherein the includes a series of spaced-apart apertures that allow water to spray of the tube when under pressure and coat the sliding surface with a thin layer of water to enhance the slippery nature of the waterslide.  
   
   
       4 . The children's waterslide of  claim 1 , wherein the splash zone includes a pool of water deeper than the shallow layer along the length of the waterslide.  
   
   
       5 . The children's waterslide of  claim 4 , wherein the splash zone includes an inflatable bumper configured to provide containment for the pool of water and to provide cushion to a sliding child.  
   
   
       6 . The children's waterslide of  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle region includes a tunnel positioned over a part of the middle portion of the sliding surface.  
   
   
       7 . The children's waterslide of  claim 6 , wherein the tunnel includes: 
 a front tunnel support configured to support the tunnel and provide a tunnel entrance for children to slide through;    a rear tunnel support configured to support the tunnel and provide a tunnel exit for children to slide through; and    a plurality of tunnel rails connecting the front tunnel support and the rear tunnel support.    
   
   
       8 . The children's waterslide of  claim 7 , wherein the tunnel includes: 
 a trigger paddle pivotally mounted to the front tunnel support on a pivot rod and configured to extend down into the path of travel of a sliding child;    a dump bucket pivotally mounted on a bucket pivot to the rear tunnel support and configured to store water for dumping on a sliding child as they exit the rear tunnel support; and    a cord connecting a connection point on the trigger paddle above the pivot rod to a connection point on the dump bucket below the bucket pivot configured to cause the dump bucket to pour water out when the cord is pulled.    
   
   
       9 . The children's waterslide of  claim 8 , wherein the cord is dimensioned to include slack between the trigger paddle and the dump bucket and the slack is adjusted to time the dump of the dump bucket to coincide with the sliding child passing beneath the dump bucket.  
   
   
       10 . The children's waterslide of  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle region includes: 
 a pair of vertical supports members positioned on either side of the sliding surface having a plurality of stick holders positioned at discrete location on the supports; and    a horizontal stick configured to rest on the stick holders at a selected discrete location.    
   
   
       11 . The children's waterslide of  claim 10 , wherein the stick holders extend rearward and slightly upward from the vertical support members.  
   
   
       12 . The children's waterslide of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of stick holders includes three stick holders on each vertical support member at different heights above the sliding surface.  
   
   
       13 . The children's waterslide of  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle region includes a plurality of obstacles configured for positioning within the obstacle region at any location therewithin.  
   
   
       14 . The children's waterslide of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of obstacles are inflatable.  
   
   
       15 . The children's waterslide of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of obstacles are bowling-pin-type bodies.  
   
   
       16 . The children's waterslide of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of obstacles include indicia printed thereon to make the obstacles resemble asteroids.  
   
   
       17 . The children's waterslide of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of obstacles include indicia printed thereon to make the obstacles resemble animals.  
   
   
       18 . The children's waterslide of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of obstacles include indicia printed thereon to make the obstacles resemble a fictional character.