Water ride and floating vessel

Abstract

 A water ride, comprising: a water route (2) having a meandering and bendy development; a plurality of floating boats (3), moving along the water route and being predisposed each to seat a predetermined number of passengers; at least a fixed viewpoint (4) located by a side of the water route (2) and provided with an orientable water gun (5) which can direct a jet of water towards the water route (2); the floating boats (3) each being provided with at least a water gun (5) which is manoeuvrable by a passenger in order to direct a jet of water towards other boats (3) of the floating boats (3) and towards the fixed viewpoints.

Description

[0001] The invention relates in particular to a water ride comprising a water course developing in a bendy path along which water-borne floating vessels move, which vessels are provided with seats for a certain number of passengers.

[0002] In prior-art water rides, the attraction for the users is essentially constituted by navigating along a water route on board a boat. In some cases elements aimed at disturbing the course of the ride are provided, which might be, for example, water sprays or turbulent phases. These disturbing elements are however rather predictable and repetitive and do not occasion great surprise in the passengers on board the boats. In the known-type boats the passengers are also seated facing towards the inside of the boat, in a position that can be defined as rather passive with respect to the motion of the boats themselves. The rides and boats of known type do not offer the passengers any possibility of interacting with each other (apart from conversation), with the exception of a possible slight collision with other boats during the ride. Even more limited, indeed practically non-existent, is any chance of interaction between the passengers on the boats and people watching the ride from the outside.

[0003] The aim of the present invention is to provide a water ride and floating boats which enable the users to interact with each other and with the ride itself in unpredictable ways.

[0004] Further characteristics and advantages will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, given by way of non-limiting example and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water ride according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a first embodiment of the floating boat of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a second embodiment of the floating boat of the present invention.

[0005] With reference to the figures of the drawings, the ride of the invention comprises a water route 2 which develops in bends and meanderings, constituted by a channel containing either still or running water. In the case of running water, the water can be moved by means of one or more pumps positioned at predetermined points during the water route. A plurality of floating boats 3 move along the water route and are predisposed each to seat a certain number of passengers. In a case where the water route 2 is filled with still water, the boats will be provided with means for propulsion, while in the case of running water the boats can also move only by effect of the current produced.

[0006] The ride further comprises at least a fixed viewing point 4, located by a side of the water route 2 and provided with a swivelling water gun 5 predisposed to direct a jet of water in the direction of the water route 2. The swivelling water gun 5 can be mounted, for example, on a rotating support 6 which enables it to rotate about a vertical axis thereof and about a horizontal axis thereof in order easily to be pointed towards various points of the water route 2. An activating button or trigger can be predisposed on the water gun 5 to activate a command to fire a jet of water. A user, positioned at the controls of the water gun 5, can aim at the floating boats 3 as they move along the water route 2. Preferably several fixed viewing points with water guns 5 are located along the water route 2, so that each boat 3 can be the target of spray from several of the water guns 5. Preferably, for reasons of constructional simplicity and water saving, the ride comprises means for supplying the orientable water guns 5 with water taken from the water route 2 itself.

[0007] The floating boats 3 are also each provided with at least an orientable water gun 5 which can be manoeuvred by a passenger to direct jets of water in the direction of other boats 3 and the fixed viewpoints. The water gun 5 of the boats 3 can also be mounted on a swivelling support 6 of the type described herein above, and can be equipped with a button or trigger to activate the water spray command.

[0008] In particular, a floating boat 3 comprises a small vessel 30, for example constituted by an inflatable part 30a to which a rigid platform 30b is superiorly associated. At least two seats 7 are predisposed each to seat a passenger. Differently to known-type boats, the seats 7 face towards the outside of the boat 3. At least one of the seats 7 is provided with a water gun 5 which can be swivelled and manoeuvred by a passenger, and which is predisposed to send a jet of water towards the outside of the boat 3. The orientable water gun 5 is preferably of the above-described type and is preferably supplied with water coming from the water route 2 in which the boat 3 is floating, using means for supplying provided on board the boat 3 itself. Each seat 7 arranged on the boat 3 is preferably provided with an orientable water gun 5, so that several jets of water can be directed outwardly from each boat 3, both towards other boats 3 and towards the fixed viewpoints.

[0009] The presence of the fixed viewpoints 4 provided with orientable water guns 5 and the presence of more water guns 5 on the floating boats 3, together with the fact that the seats 7 face outwardly of the boats, notably increase the level of attraction of the ride, offering the users the chance to interact among themselves by directing spray at each other.

Claims

1. A water ride, comprising: a water route (2) having a meandering and bendy development; a plurality of floating boats (3), moving along the water route (2) and being predisposed each to seat a predetermined number of passengers, characterised in that it comprises at least a fixed viewpoint (4) located by a side of the water route (2) and provided with an orientable water gun (5) which can direct a jet of water towards the water route (2); the floating boats (3) each being provided with at least a water gun (5) which is manoeuvrable by a passenger in order to direct a jet of water towards other boats (3) of the floating boats (3) and towards the fixed viewpoints.

2. The ride of claim 1, wherein the orientable water guns (5) are mounted on rotating supports (6) and are provided with a button or trigger -for activating the jet of water.

3. The ride of claim 1, comprising means for supplying the water guns (5) with water taken from the water route (2).

4. A floating boat for a water ride, comprising: a floating boat (30); at least two seats (7) each predisposed to seat a passenger; characterised in that the seats (7) face outwards from the floating boat.

5. The boat of claim 4, wherein at least one of the seats (7) is provided with at least an orientable water gun (5) which can be manoeuvred by a passenger and is predisposed to direct a jet of water externally of the boat.

6. The floating boat of claim 5, comprising means for supplying the at least an orientable water gun (5) with water taken from the water route in which the boat is floating.

7. The floating boat of claim 6, comprising means for propulsion for determining a movement of the boat in the water.

Drawing