Wakeboarding Pool With Floating Pad and Artificial Wake Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The activity of wakeboarding is hindered by factors such as location, accessibility to suitable water bodies, weather conditions, and the size and experience of the rider, making it inconvenient and inaccessible to many.
Innovation Solution
A wakeboarding system comprising a deck, a pool of water, a floating pad with a semi-circular configuration, and a towing mechanism that simulates a motorboat wake using a flow of water directed over the pad, allowing riders to perform tricks and jumps in a controlled environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wakeboarding is performed on a natural body of water with a motorboat, then the wake boarder can perform tricks and jumps, but the activity is hindered by location, weather, and accessibility constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a controlled environment that copies the essential elements of natural wakeboarding (water flow, wake structure, towing mechanism) without requiring actual natural water bodies or motorboats, thereby eliminating weather and location constraints while maintaining the core wakeboarding experience
Solution Approach 2:
The wakeboarding pool system is designed to provide wakeboarding functionality in a controlled indoor or outdoor facility, making the sport accessible regardless of external weather conditions, location availability, or seasonal variations, thus achieving universal accessibility
2Ease of operation
If a motorboat is used to tow the wake boarder, then speed and force are provided for wakeboarding, but accessibility to suitable boats and water bodies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of the motorboat (providing towing force and creating wake) and replicates it using a controlled water flow system and artificial wake structure, eliminating the need for actual boats and large water bodies while maintaining the wakeboarding experience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an artificial wake structure and controlled water flow system as intermediaries between the towing mechanism and the wake boarder, replacing the direct boat-water-boarder interaction with a controlled facility-based system that is easier to access and operate
3Reliability
If natural water conditions are used, then wakeboarding can be performed, but the activity is prohibited by water conditions and rider experience factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls water flow parameters (velocity, volume, direction) and wake structure characteristics to create optimal and consistent conditions for wakeboarding, eliminating dependence on variable natural water conditions and ensuring reliable availability regardless of external factors
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a convenient and accessible wakeboarding experience by replicating the motorboat wake, enabling riders to perform maneuvers similar to those on a natural body of water, regardless of external conditions, with adjustable water flow and safety features like a soft impact zone.
Implementation Method 1
a water pump, piping, and a water propellant unit, the water pump being configured to pump water from the water reservoir through the piping to the water propellant unit, the water propellant unit being configured to direct the flow of water over the top surface of the pad
Implementation Method 2
the pad being configured to float on the pool of water
Data Source
AI summary
A wakeboarding system and pool are provided. The wakeboarding system includes a deck, a pool of water adjacent the deck, a pad having a top surface and a bottom surface, the pad being fixedly coupled to the deck and protruding therefrom over a portion of the pool of water, the bottom surface of the pad being in contact with the pool of water and the pad being configured to float, and a flow of water over the top surface of the pad. The pad has an outer edge that opposes the deck, the outer edge being configured in a semi-circle. The pad further includes protrusions on the pad, the protrusions being configured on the top surface of the pad to allow a wake boarder to engage the protrusions. The apparatus further includes a towing mechanism and a tow device coupled thereto for towing the wake boarder.