Abstract: A waterslide amusement course proceeds from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, with a water pooling area to produce fluid drag that slows or stops the riders, especially at the end of the course. The course is divided into lanes at the pooling area, for example by curbs protruding above the water level. Arriving riders displace water from their lanes and the lanes are coupled to permit level-equalizing flow. The pooling area can have a weir, lip, upwardly sloping bottom or similar obstruction forming pools in the lanes. Water can pass through gaps in the curbs, around ends of the curb and preferably flows through a connecting conduit that couples between the lanes at an end wall of a box-like enclosure subdivided by lanes in the pooling area.

Abstract: A waterslide amusement course proceeds from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, with a water pooling area to produce fluid drag that slows or stops the riders, especially at the end of the course. The course is divided into lanes at the pooling area, for example by curbs protruding above the water level. Arriving riders displace water from their lanes and the lanes are coupled to permit level-equalizing flow. The pooling area can have a weir, lip, upwardly sloping bottom or similar obstruction forming pools in the lanes. Water can pass through gaps in the curbs, around ends of the curb and preferably flows through a connecting conduit that couples between the lanes at an end wall of a box-like enclosure subdivided by lanes in the pooling area.

Abstract: A flotation device carries two or more people down a waterslide on shaped flotation tubes, coupled by flexible straps into a train. The bows and the sterns of adjacent buoyant bodies are complementarily shaped, preferably the bow being circularly convex and the stern concave as viewed in plan. The straps hold the bow and stern together at a minimal gap, constraining relative rotation by the convex/concave engagement of the bow and stern. In addition, lateral shoulders on the bow abut against the ends of the concave stern to prevent rotation beyond a predetermined angle, for example wherein the bodies in the train are relatively rotated to a bend having about a ten foot radius. This structure provides sufficient flexibility to traverse relatively tight turns in the waterslide course while preventing buckling or accordion-fold collapse when the train of buoyant bodies encounter an obstruction such as a splash down pool.

Abstract: For managing water flow in a waterslide, drains are provided at one or more points between a top and bottom of a course, coupled to conduits providing gravity flow paths bypassing portions of the course. The course is defined by a sluice with a generally downhill gradient and can have at least one point of relatively lower elevation leading into a subsequent uphill run. A water supply is provided to the top of the course and optionally to other points along the course, for example being pumped from a lowermost splashdown pool. The water flows downward toward low points, flowing in the direction of waterslide riders or opposite thereto. The water is collected at one or more of the drains and fed to a lower elevation water emitter in the sluice of the same course or another course, especially at a slope leading or trailing a peak. This reduces pumping requirements because the water is used more than once along the course, and can be used to prevent intermediate pools that would reduce the riders' speed.

Abstract: A waterslide has a controllable weir operable to increase the release of water from an upstream pool upon sensing an approaching rider, and is particularly arranged for riders on flotation devices coupled into arrays. The weir has vertically pivotable damming structure across a local peak in the sluice at the exit point of the pool. Photosensors detect approaching riders and signal a controller to open the weir momentarily to pass the rider and a gush of water, by operation of a pneumatic linkage. Between operations a continuous flow of water increases the depth in the pool. The weir can be high enough to block passage of riders when raised, allowing timed release.

Abstract: A waterslide defined by a trough proceeding generally downhill and carrying water to be skimmed over by a rider, is arranged with successive uphill and downhill sections at a crest. Water injection ports along the uphill section approaching the crest are inclined in the direction of motion and assist slower riders over the crest. The same ports can direct sufficient water over the crest for braking faster riders along the downhill section. A portion of the water injected along the uphill section flows backwards to a low point. An elongated drain at the low point prevents pooling of water tending to slow down the riders. A pad for supporting the rider while traversing the waterslide has a U-shaped bow support web disposed at a front of the apparatus, with spaced legs extending rearwardly and an integral handle graspable by the rider. Two integral web and handle members are wrapped part way around by the leading edge of the pad and attached thereto by push pin fasteners.

Abstract: A flotation apparatus such as an inflatable tube is designed for a wide sluice waterslide. A coupling for the tube has a prong on the bow of the tube, which is V-shaped, the prong extending forward along a handle portion and downward to a distal locking knob with radial fins. A positioning plate reinforces the coupling between the prong and a mounting plate on the tube. A coupling ring is attached to the mounting plate or the positioning plate, laterally of the prong, and a second coupling ring is provided at the stern of the tube, such that the tube can be coupled to other such tubes in single file or face to face arrays. The fins of the prong and the inside diameter of the rings are complementarily conical in the insertion and removal directions. A wide sluice waterslide to be traversed by the tubes as joined in lines or arrays has a generally downhill contour along a sinuous path.

Abstract: A waterslide defined by a trough proceeding generally downhill and carrying water to be skimmed over by a rider, is arranged with successive uphill and downhill sections. An elongated drain at a low elevation between the uphill and downhill sections prevents pooling of water tending to slow down the rider. Water is injected into the trough at relatively higher elevations on both the downhill and uphill sections, establishing a gravity flow of water in a forward direction relative to the rider path along the downhill section and in the reverse on the uphill section. The downhill section and the subsequent uphill section are dimensioned such that kinetic energy accumulated by the rider carries the rider over the uphill section and the arc over the uphill section can be parabolic along a free fall trajectory of the rider.