Inflatable water attraction and ride vehicle

Abstract

A water or other amusement attraction or ride vehicle that includes an inflatable portion or material. A coating or sheet is applied to at least a part of the inflatable portion for achieving a desired amount of friction between the inflatable portion and a sliding surface and/or a rider that makes contact therewith. More than one coating or sheet may be disposed on varying portions of the inflatable portion with greater or less frictional coefficients configured to alter rider movement. The inflatable portion inflates flat and the coating or sheet may be a flexible coating or sheet that is configured to allow for movement of the inflatable portion during use. A rider may travel from an entry area to an exit area along the sliding surface that incorporates inflatable portions. A plantroom for housing equipment, such as water pumps, may make up a portion of the entry end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An amusement attraction comprising:
 a sliding surface configured to support a rider thereon, the sliding surface extending from a first area to a second area and wherein at least a part of the sliding surface includes an inflatable material; and   a first coating applied to at least a portion of the inflatable material.   
     
     
         2 . The water attraction of  claim 1  wherein the inflatable material is configured to inflate flat. 
     
     
         3 . The water attraction of  claim 2  wherein the inflatable material comprises a drop stitch material. 
     
     
         4 . The water attraction of  claim 3  wherein the first coating is a flexible coating configured to allow for flexing of the inflatable portion. 
     
     
         5 . The water attraction of  claim 4  wherein the first coating comprises a polymer coating. 
     
     
         6 . The water attraction of  claim 4  wherein the first coating comprises at least one aliphatic compound. 
     
     
         7 . The water attraction of  claim 3  wherein the first coating applied to the inflatable material has a lower coefficient of friction than the inflatable material for helping the rider to slide along the sliding surface from the first area to the second area. 
     
     
         8 . The water attraction of  claim 7  further comprising a second coating applied to at least a portion of the inflatable material adjacent to the second area, the second coating having a higher coefficient of friction than the first coating for slowing the rider as the rider nears the second area. 
     
     
         9 . The water attraction of  claim 1  wherein the sliding surface defines at least one hill that extends to an elevation higher than an adjacent elevation of the sliding surface. 
     
     
         10 . A water attraction comprising:
 a sliding surface configured to support a rider thereon, the sliding surface extending from an entry end to an exit end and wherein at least a part of the sliding surface is an inflatable material;   a first coating applied to a first portion of the inflatable material and configured to aid in sliding the rider from the entry end to the exit end along the sliding surface; and   a second coating applied to a second portion of the inflatable material and configured to slow the rider after the rider slides along the sliding surface.   
     
     
         11 . The water attraction of  claim 10  further comprising at least one side containment positioned at a perimeter edge of the sliding surface for aiding in keeping the rider on the sliding surface. 
     
     
         12 . The water attraction of  claim 10  further comprising at least one nozzle positioned adjacent to the entry end and configured to provide a flow of water onto the sliding surface, the flow of water flowing from the entry end to the exit end. 
     
     
         13 . The water attraction of  claim 12  further comprising a plantroom having a roof for housing a water pump connected with the at least one nozzle, the roof of the plantroom being at least a portion of the entry end. 
     
     
         14 . The water attraction of  claim 13  wherein the flow of water is configured to exit the nozzle and flow to a lower elevation on the sliding surface before flowing to a higher elevation on the sliding surface. 
     
     
         15 . The water attraction of  claim 14  further comprising a reservoir disposed beneath the sliding surface, wherein water is configured to flow from the at least one nozzle onto the sliding surface, onto the exit end, and into the reservoir via the exit end. 
     
     
         16 . A ride vehicle for a rider to use on an amusement attraction comprising:
 a first material defining a first surface, at least a portion of the first surface configured to contact at least a portion of the rider, the first surface having a front end, a rear end, and a side end;   an inflatable material coupled with the first material and defining a second surface, at least a portion of the second surface configured to contact a sliding surface of the amusement attraction; and   a first flexible coating applied to the inflatable material for lowering a frictional force exerted by the sliding surface of the water attraction.   
     
     
         17 . The ride vehicle of  claim 16  further comprising at least one hand hold. 
     
     
         18 . The ride vehicle of  claim 17  wherein the hand hold is a handlebar coupled with the first material or a depression in the first material 
     
     
         19 . The ride vehicle of  claim 16  further comprising a second flexible coating applied to the inflatable material, the second flexible coating having a higher coefficient of friction than the first flexible coating. 
     
     
         20 . The ride vehicle of  claim 19  wherein:
 the first flexible coating is disposed a first distance from a perimeter edge of the inflatable material, 
 the second flexible coating is disposed a second distance from the perimeter edge of the inflatable material, and 
 the second distance is less than the first distance.