Activity System and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an activity system that can be used with a supply of fluid, such as water. In particular, the present invention relates to an activity system that includes a supply unit or station and an activity unit that can be used with the supply unit. The supply unit is configured to supply a fluid to the activity unit station when a user engages the activity unit with the supply unit.

1 . An activity system, comprising:
 a supply unit, the supply unit including a body having an outlet port and a valve proximate to the outlet port, the valve being disposable in an opened position and a closed position, the supply unit being configured to supply a fluid to the outlet port; and   an activity unit, the activity unit including a body with an inlet port and a valve proximate to the inlet port, the valve of the activity unit being disposable in an opened position and a closed position, and the engagement of the valve of the activity unit with the valve of the supply unit causes the valve of the supply unit to move from its closed position to an open position, thereby permitting fluid to flow from the supply unit into the activity unit.   
   
   
       2 . The activity system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve of the supply unit includes a seat and a valve body movable relative to and configured to engage the seat, the valve of the activity unit includes a seat and a valve body, and the valve body of the activity unit is configured to engage the valve body of the supply unit to move the valve body of the supply unit from its closed position to its opened position. 
   
   
       3 . The activity system of  claim 2 , wherein the valve body of the supply unit engages the seat of the supply unit when the activity unit is spaced apart from the supply unit. 
   
   
       4 . The activity system of  claim 2 , wherein the valve body of the activity unit is normally biased to its closed position. 
   
   
       5 . The activity system of  claim 2 , wherein the valve body of the activity unit engages the valve body of the supply unit when the activity unit engages the supply unit. 
   
   
       6 . The activity system of  claim 2 , wherein engagement of the valve body of the activity unit and the valve body of the supply unit causes each of the valve bodies to move from its closed position to its opened position. 
   
   
       7 . The activity system of  claim 6 , wherein disengagement of the valve body of the activity unit from the valve body of the supply unit results in each of the valve bodies moving from its opened position to its closed position. 
   
   
       8 . The activity system of  claim 1 , wherein the activity unit is a bucket that has a body that defines a receptacle in which a fluid can be disposed, the body of the activity unit includes a lower portion, the inlet port being formed in the lower portion, the valve of the activity unit includes a valve body movable relative to the inlet port, the valve body of the activity unit being normally disposed in a closed position. 
   
   
       9 . The activity system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve of the supply unit is moved to its closed position by the presence of fluid in the supply unit. 
   
   
       10 . The activity system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply unit includes a biasing mechanism configured to bias the valve of the supply unit into its closed position in which the valve body of the supply unit engages the seat of the supply unit. 
   
   
       11 . The activity system of  claim 1 , wherein the activity unit includes a biasing mechanism configured to bias the valve of the activity unit into its closed position. 
   
   
       12 . The activity system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the valve body of the supply unit that is contacted by the activity unit is disposed within the valve of the supply unit. 
   
   
       13 . A method of using a activity system, the activity system including a supply unit and an activity unit, the supply unit including an outlet port and a valve body movable relative to the outlet port, the valve body having an opened position and a closed position, the activity unit including an inlet port and a valve body movable relative to the inlet port, the valve body of the activity unit having an opened position and a closed position, the method comprising:
 disposing the activity unit proximate to the supply unit;   aligning the inlet port with the outlet port; and   engaging the activity unit with the valve body of the supply unit to open the outlet port and allow a fluid to flow therethrough.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein engaging the activity unit with the valve body of the supply unit includes moving the valve body of the supply unit from its closed position to its opened position. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein engaging the activity unit with the valve body of the supply unit includes activating the valve body of the activity unit. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein engagement of the valve body of the activity unit with the valve body of the supply unit causes the valve body of the activity unit to move from its closed position to its opened position. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 disengaging the activity unit from the valve body of the supply unit, and thereby allowing the valve body of the supply unit to return to its closed position relative to the outlet port.   
   
   
       18 . An activity system, comprising:
 a supply unit, the supply unit including a body having an outlet port and a valve body proximate to the outlet port, the valve body being disposable in an opened position and a closed position, the valve body being disposed in its closed position when fluid is supplied to the supply unit, the supply unit being configured to supply a fluid to the outlet port; and   an activity unit, the activity unit including a body with an inlet port, the activity unit being configured to engage the valve body of the supply unit to cause the valve body to move from its closed position to its opened position, thereby permitting fluid to flow from the supply unit into the activity unit.   
   
   
       19 . The activity system of  claim 18 , wherein the activity unit includes a locking mechanism coupled to the activity unit, the locking mechanism being operable to releasably couple the activity unit to the supply unit. 
   
   
       20 . The activity system of  claim 19 , wherein the locking mechanism includes an engaging portion, the engaging portion being configured to move relative to the activity unit to decouple the activity unit from the supply unit.