Water Slide Branching Section for Feet-First Landing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water slides pose a risk of injury as sliders enter the landing zone head-first, unable to see if others are present, due to varying kinetic energy affecting sliding direction.
Innovation Solution
A water slide design featuring multiple slide sections connected by branching sections with elevated third slide connectors, ensuring sliders enter the landing zone feet-first, regardless of kinetic energy, by orienting first and second connectors adjacently and the third connector oppositely, allowing controlled direction changes and safe landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sliders are allowed to slide with varying kinetic energy through conventional slide sections, then the slide experience becomes more dynamic and exciting, but the sliding direction becomes unpredictable causing head-first entry into the landing zone creating injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The slide path is divided into multiple discrete slide sections (first slide section, second slide section, third slide section) connected by branching sections. Each section has a defined orientation and function, allowing the slider to experience directional changes and varying thrill levels while the overall system ensures safe feet-first landing through the structured sequence of sections
Solution Approach 2:
The branching section with elevated third slide connector inverts the conventional slide path logic. Instead of allowing free directional variation, the elevated connector design forces the slider to reverse direction and exit through the second slide connector, ensuring feet-first orientation. The inversion of expected sliding direction through the elevated connector resolves the contradiction between dynamic experience and safe landing
2Device complexity
If the slide path uses simple linear connections between slide sections, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control sliding direction and ensure feet-first landing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The branching section introduces a vertical dimension to the otherwise horizontal slide path. The elevated third slide connector creates a height difference that forces directional control without complex mechanical elements. This dimensional addition allows the slide to control sliding direction through gravity and geometry rather than complex mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and controllability
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
Ensures sliders enter the landing zone feet-first, enhancing safety by maintaining a visible path and controlling direction changes through branching sections, regardless of kinetic energy.
Implementation Method 1
the opposite or remote third slide connector is elevated relative to the first and second slide connector when viewed in the vertical direction
Data Source
AI summary
Slide, in particular a water slide, with a take-off zone and a landing zone, between which at least one slide path with a slide surface extends, which includes a run-up section leading away from the take-off zone and a run-out section leading into the landing zone, with a plurality of slide sections of the slide path provided between the run-up and run-out sections, with at least one branching section arranged in the slide path, by which branching section an incoming slide section is divided into a plurality of outgoing slide sections or a plurality of incoming slide sections are combined into one outgoing slide section, wherein the branching section has a first slide connector and, adjacently thereto, a second slide connector, both of which are opposite or remote from a third slide connector. A mouth region is formed between the first and second slide connector and the third slide connector.