Thematic tree system

Abstract

A composite tree may include a base having an artificial trunk portion. Living plants may be coupled to the base. Portions of the living plants may form branches of the composite tree. In some embodiments, the living plants are living trees. The base may include one or more openings. A first portion of at least one of the living plants may be coupled in one of the openings such that a second portion of the living plant extends from the opening to form a branch of the composite tree. A first portion of the living plant may include at least a portion of the root system of the living plant. In some embodiments, at least two sets of branch portions may be configured to removably couple to the base. At least one set of branch portions may have a different theme.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 673,326 entitled “WATER RIDE WITH SYNTHETIC TREE LODGING” filed on Apr. 20, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 713,849 entitled “WATER RIDE WITH COMPOSITE TREE FOR ELEVATED STRUCTURE” filed Sep. 2, 2005, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present disclosure generally relates to water amusement attractions and rides. More particularly, the disclosure generally relates to a system and method for a water transportation system. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be actively involved in a water attraction. Certain embodiments include one or more composite trees that may support one or more elevated structures. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] The 1980's witnessed a phenomenal growth...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0038] In some embodiments, a portion of an elevated structure may extend over a water amusement ride. In some embodiments, a portion of a base may extend over a water amusement ride. In one embodiment, a portion of an elevated structure or a base may shade a portion of the water amusement ride from overhead sunlight.

[0039] In some embodiments, an access point for a water amusement ride may couple the water amusement ride to the base such that a participant can move from a structure to the water amusement ride. In an embodiment, the access point includes an opening adjacent to the surface. The opening may provide access through the base to the structure. In one embodiment, the access point allows substantially vertical access to the surface.

[0044] In some embodiments, a structure is coupled to at least two trees. The trees may be coupled to one another to increase structural stability. In some embodiments, the trees may be coupled such that participants can move between the coupled trees.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, traditional downhill water rides are of short duration (normally measured in seconds of ride time) and have limited throughput capacity.

The combination of these two factors quickly leads to a situation in which patrons of the parks typically have long queue line waits of up to two or three hours for a ride that, although exciting, lasts only a few seconds.

Additional problems like hot and sunny weather, wet patrons, and other difficulties may create a poor overall customer feeling of satisfaction or perceived entertainment value in the water park experience.

Additionally, typical downhill water park rides are not designed to transport guests between rides.

These forms of transportation are generally unsuitable for water parks because of high installation and operating costs and poor ambience within the parks.

These types of transportation are often unsuitable for water park guests who, because of the large amount of time spent in the water, are often wet and want to be more active because of the combination of high ambient temperatures in summertime parks and the normal heat loss due to water immersion and evaporative cooling.

Mechanical transportation systems do not fit in well with these types of rides.

For water rides that involve the use of a floatation device (e.g., an inner tube or floating board), the walk back to the start of a ride can be particularly arduous if the rider has to carry the floatation device from the exit of the ride back to the start of the ride.

Floatation devices may be transported from the exit to the entrance of the ride using mechanical transportation devices, but these devices are expensive to purchase and operate.

Using a mechanical transportation device for the floatation device or having the guest walk with the floatation device may reduce guest enjoyment, cause excess wear and tear on the floatation devices, contribute to guest injuries, and make it impossible for some guests to access the rides.

In addition, a park that includes many different non-integrated rides may require guests to use different floatation devices for different rides, which makes it difficult for the park operators to provide the guests with a general purpose floatation device.

Popular rides may be crowded, with guests waiting in queue lines for entry.

This may lead to guest dissatisfaction and general reduction of optimal guest dispersal throughout the park.

The lack of an efficient transportation system between rides accentuates this problem in water parks.

Water parks may close intermittently due to inclement weather.

Water parks may be closed due to uncomfortably low temperatures associated with winter.

Water parks may be closed due to inclement weather such as rain, thunderstorms, and / or any other type of weather conditions that might limit participant enjoyment and / or participant safety.

Reducing the number of days the water park is open may lower the profitability of the water park.

Water parks may encounter problems including issues with transporting people and potential participants to and from locally available temporary accommodations.

Providing temporary accommodations to guests, however leads to additional problems.

When a water park provides guest accommodations, greater amounts of land may be required to build the water park, thereby increasing costs of the water park.

Increasing distances from major metropolitan areas potentially increases time and / or money required of potential guests, consequently reducing potential numbers of guests as well as revenues.

A pump shutdown may have ramifications both for water handling and guest handling throughout the system and may require automated control systems to manage efficiently.

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