US 11,806,633 B2
Water effect play units and structures
Kevin Brown, Mountain City, TX (US); Chris Thomas, Wimberley, TX (US); Luke Cavanaugh, New Braunfels, TX (US); Matthew Dangle, Gadsden, AL (US); and Thomas Robert Norquist, Fort Payne, AL (US)
Assigned to THE FOUNTAIN PEOPLE, INC., San Marcos, TX (US)
Filed by THE FOUNTAIN PEOPLE, INC., San Marcos, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/556,744.
Application 17/556,744 is a continuation of application No. 16/153,078, filed on Oct. 5, 2018, granted, now 11,202,965.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/569,259, filed on Oct. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176258 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63G 31/00 (2006.01); A63H 23/10 (2006.01)
CPC A63G 31/007 (2013.01) [A63H 23/10 (2013.01); A63F 2250/0421 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A water effect play unit comprising:
a. first and second support posts;
b. a first crossbar having a first end connected to the first support posts and a second end connected to the second support post;
c. a water tank positioned on the first crossbar, such that at least a portion of the first crossbar is positioned in an interior of the water tank; and
d. a water transport system configured to transport water to the water tank;
wherein the water tank comprises a first end having one or more openings and a second end,
wherein the water tank is biased into a filling position in which the first end of the water tank is located above the second end;
wherein upon filling of the water tank with an activating volume of water, the tank rotates from the filling position to a releasing position in which the first end of the tank is located below the second end, such that water is released from the tank through the one or more openings;
wherein the water transport system runs through at least a portion of the first crossbar; and
wherein the portion of the first crossbar positioned in an interior of the water tank comprises one or more apertures through which water is delivered from the water transport system directly to an interior of the water tank; and
further comprising a deflector positioned below the water tank, such that the water hits a surface of the deflector upon being released from the water tank;
wherein the deflector is positioned on a second crossbar, the second crossbar having a first end connected to the first support post and a second end connected to the second support post; and
wherein the deflector is positioned on the second crossbar such that a portion of the deflector is located directly between the first and second crossbars.