A waterslide feature for providing a looping or arcuate travel path for a rider traveling thereon and method for making the same. The waterslide feature may have an entrance, an exit, and a surface (e.g., a ride surface, such as a bottom surface and/or a wall surface) therebetween comprising a transparent and/or semi-transparent surface configured to permit the rider to see through the surface and experience an exterior environment. Spectators or bystanders to the waterslide feature may be able to see through the surface and to witness riders riding upon the waterslide feature. The waterslide feature may be oriented at an angle to horizontal (e.g., tilted) and/or may be positioned within a defined exterior environment contained within an exterior wall. The exterior wall may be configured to retain water such that at least a portion of the waterslide feature is below the height of the water.

A ground-mounted soap injection system that can be used with a SLIP 'N SLIDE or other similar device needing the addition of a lubricating agent. The invention includes a liquid reservoir connected to a metering valve and an injection venturi. A hose is connected to the device and water passing through an internal passage draws the lubricating agent into the moving stream in a controlled fashion. Spikes are provided to secure the device to the ground.

A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.

A drag-inducing mat includes a main body configured to accommodate a rider. The main body includes a rider surface configured to face the rider and an opposing surface configured to face a slide surface. The drag-inducing mat also includes a sipe array defined within the opposing surface. The sipe array includes a plurality of sipes that extends from a first lateral edge of the main body to a second lateral edge of the main body to selectively induce friction between the main body and the slide surface based on force applied to the sipe array by the rider.

An acceleration section for a water slide, comprising: —a sliding trail in which a person can slide, —a pusher inside the sliding trail, the pusher being configured to accelerate the person inside the sliding trail, —an accelerator track outside of the sliding trail, —an accelerator car miming on the accelerator track and configured to be accelerated along the accelerator track, and —a coupling unit mechanically coupling the pusher and the accelerator car.

An acceleration section for a water slide, comprising: —a sliding trail in which a person can slide, —a pusher inside the sliding trail, the pusher being configured to accelerate the person inside the sliding trail, —an accelerator track outside of the sliding trail, —an accelerator car miming on the accelerator track and configured to be accelerated along the accelerator track, and —a coupling unit mechanically coupling the pusher and the accelerator car.

A water ride including vehicles that ride on a track and using water for braking. A run-out section of the track is provided after a drop or down chute section, and the track in the run-out section runs through a pool of water at a depth causing at least a portion of a vehicle riding on the rails to contact a depth of the water to achieve vehicle braking. Significantly, the new water ride is adapted to adjust or set a variable height of the rails in the run-out chute or pool to adjust the depth of water providing water drag on a vehicle traveling through the run-out section based on the vehicle weight. A braking force is applied by the water that is proportional to vehicle weight, and the water ride may be thought of as slowing vehicles with a range of weights at about the same deceleration rate.

A water ride including vehicles that ride on a track and using water for braking. A run-out section of the track is provided after a drop or down chute section, and the track in the run-out section runs through a pool of water at a depth causing at least a portion of a vehicle riding on the rails to contact a depth of the water to achieve vehicle braking. Significantly, the new water ride is adapted to adjust or set a variable height of the rails in the run-out chute or pool to adjust the depth of water providing water drag on a vehicle traveling through the run-out section based on the vehicle weight. A braking force is applied by the water that is proportional to vehicle weight, and the water ride may be thought of as slowing vehicles with a range of weights at about the same deceleration rate.

A face orientation system of a ride that includes one or more sensors and a controller. The controller receives ride cart data from the one or more sensors indicative of a presence and position of the ride cart on the ride. Further, the controller determines the ride cart's orientation based on the ride cart's data and receives position data of a guest from the one or more sensors indicative of a position of a body, a face, or a combination thereof, of the guest. Additionally, the controller determines the face orientation, the face rotation, or a combination thereof, of the guest based on the ride cart's orientation and the position data. Finally, the controller transmits data indicative of the determined face orientation, face rotation, or a combination thereof, to a downstream controller for subsequent control based upon the determined face orientation, face rotation, or the combination thereof.

A face orientation system of a ride that includes one or more sensors and a controller. The controller receives ride cart data from the one or more sensors indicative of a presence and position of the ride cart on the ride. Further, the controller determines the ride cart's orientation based on the ride cart's data and receives position data of a guest from the one or more sensors indicative of a position of a body, a face, or a combination thereof, of the guest. Additionally, the controller determines the face orientation, the face rotation, or a combination thereof, of the guest based on the ride cart's orientation and the position data. Finally, the controller transmits data indicative of the determined face orientation, face rotation, or a combination thereof, to a downstream controller for subsequent control based upon the determined face orientation, face rotation, or the combination thereof.