Inflatable water attraction

Abstract

A water or other amusement or surfing attraction that includes an inflatable portion or material. A variety of different waveforms, such as curling waves, may be generated. The inflatable portion or material may be inflated to different pressures, or multiple inflatable portions or materials may be coupled with the attraction such that the shape of a riding surface can be manipulated by modifying the amount of air or fluid used to inflate the inflatable portions or materials. Contouring elements that exhibit a force upon a sliding surface of an attraction may be used to form a desired contour in the sliding surface. Various riding configurations may be used as part of the attraction, including sidewalls that taper inward or flare outward, bowl-shaped riding surfaces, and half-bowl-shaped riding surfaces. Staircases that are inflatable or non-inflatable may be used as entry and/or exit points for riders to interact with the riding surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water attraction comprising:
 a source of water for providing a flow of water;   a sliding surface configured to direct the flow of water thereon;   a draining surface coupled with the sliding surface and configured to drain at least a portion of the flow of water therethrough; and   a contouring element disposed adjacent to the sliding surface, the contouring element configured to be modified to produce a force upon the sliding surface.   
     
     
         2 . The water attraction of  claim 1  wherein the contouring element is inflatable, the contouring element configured to inflate to produce a force upon the sliding surface. 
     
     
         3 . The water attraction of  claim 2  wherein the force upon the sliding surface is configured to create a wave of water in at least a portion of the flow of water. 
     
     
         4 . The water attraction of  claim 3  wherein the contouring element is configured to be inflated to a first pressure or to a second pressure, the wave of water being different when the contouring element is inflated to the first pressure compared to the second pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The water attraction of  claim 1  further comprising a staircase coupled with the draining surface, at least a part of the staircase being made of an inflatable material. 
     
     
         6 . The water attraction of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first sidewall coupled with a first side of the sliding surface; and 
 a second sidewall coupled with a second side, opposite the first side, of the sliding surface, 
 wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall form a tapered area therebetween such that the sliding surface is wider at a first end than at a second end. 
 
     
     
         7 . The water attraction of  claim 1  wherein the sliding surface forms the shape of a half-bowl. 
     
     
         8 . The water attraction of  claim 1  further comprising a coating applied to the sliding surface for achieving a desired frictional coefficient for the sliding surface. 
     
     
         9 . The water attraction of  claim 1  further comprising a lifting pallet coupled with the draining surface, the lifting pallet configured to interface with a fork-lift for portability between geographic locations. 
     
     
         10 . The water attraction of  claim 1  wherein the source of water is a water nozzle or a water jet. 
     
     
         11 . The water attraction of  claim 1  wherein the sliding surface comprises a tensioned sheet. 
     
     
         12 . A water attraction comprising:
 a first inflatable bladder;   a sliding surface coupled with the first inflatable bladder and configured to support a user thereon, the sliding surface having a first contour if the first inflatable bladder is inflated to a first pressure; and   a source of water configured to provide a flow of water onto the sheet for a user to ride thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The water attraction of  claim 12  further comprising a second inflatable bladder, wherein the sliding surface is coupled with the second inflatable bladder and having a second contour, different from the first contour, if both the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder are inflated. 
     
     
         14 . The water attraction of  claim 12  wherein the first inflatable bladder may be inflated to a second pressure, greater than the first pressure, to form a second contour for the sliding surface, the second contour having a higher elevation than the first contour. 
     
     
         15 . The water attraction of  claim 12  wherein the first inflatable bladder is configured to be inflated with air. 
     
     
         16 . The water attraction of  claim 12  wherein the first inflatable bladder is formed integrally with the sliding surface. 
     
     
         17 . The water attraction of  claim 12  wherein the first inflatable bladder is formed separately from the sliding surface and coupled beneath the sliding surface. 
     
     
         18 . A method of creating a wave of water for riding by a user, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sliding surface, the sliding surface configured to support the user thereon;   providing an inflatable element positioned beneath the sliding surface;   inflating the inflatable element to a first pressure; and   flowing a flow of water onto the sliding surface, at least a portion of the flow of water forming a first wave shape based upon a contour of the sliding surface due to the inflatable element being inflated to the first pressure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 inflating the inflatable element to a second pressure; and   flowing a flow of water over the sliding surface, at least a portion of the flow of water forming a second wave shape based upon a contour of the sliding surface due to the inflatable element being inflated to the second pressure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second inflatable element positioned beneath the sliding surface;   inflating the second inflatable element;   flowing a flow of water onto the sliding surface, at least a portion of the flow of water forming a second wave shape, different from the first wave shape, based upon a contour of the sliding surface due to the first inflatable element and the second inflatable element being inflated.   
     
     
         21 . A water attraction for riding thereon by a rider comprising:
 a source of water for providing a flow of water;   a sliding surface configured to direct the flow of water thereon, the sliding surface forming the shape of a bowl;   a draining surface coupled with the sliding surface and configured to drain at least a portion of the flow of water therethrough; and   a path extending from a center of the bowl shape formed by the sliding surface to an area outside of the bowl shape formed by the sliding surface for allowing the rider to enter or exit from the sliding surface.