Patents by Inventor Rick A. Briggs

Rick A. Briggs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6210287
    Abstract: An interactive arena play structure is provided incorporating a plurality of water and non-water play elements for creating various desired water effects. The interactive arena play structure incorporates a centrally disposed target tower which controls various water effects located within or around the play structure. Play participants are encouraged to compete against one another to actuate various water effects such that they stay dry while their opponents get wet. In addition, play participants are encouraged to cooperate to actuate a special progressive water effect located in a centrally disposed region of the play arena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Koala Corporation
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 6186902
    Abstract: A participatory water slide play apparatus is disclosed upon which a ride participant can slide from an upper portion to a lower portion. Sensor/actuator devices are positioned on or adjacent the slide at locations intermediate the upper and lower portions thereof and are linked to associated play elements, such as water forming elements, noise making devices, scoring devices, and the like. While traveling down the slide, the ride participant is able to actuate one or more of the sensor/actuator devices to trigger one or more associated play elements and/or effects. Thus, aside from the enjoyment of the ride itself, ride participants can bring about desired effects and/or actively participate or interact with other ride participants located on or around the slide play structure in a fun and exciting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Koala Corp.
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 6174242
    Abstract: A self-contained interactive play structure is provided having an outer housing and a plurality of towers disposed within the housing. A plurality of play media including impact-safe projectile accelerators are disposed throughout the structure. A central targeting area is provided having targets which, when contacted by a projectile, activate desired play effects. A projectile conveyor system supplies projectiles to be shot from the projectile accelerators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Koala Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Briggs, Mark Weston, Denise Weston, Brendan Cuddihee
  • Patent number: 6132318
    Abstract: An interactive play structure is provided comprising a path defined by the structure along which a plurality of play effects are disposed. As play participants work their way through the structure, they are doused by various water, air and other effects controlled by other play participants. As they continue along the path, participants may discover the controls of these effects and actuate them to douse others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: SCS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 6089987
    Abstract: A low-cost interactive water play structure and method is provided wherein an existing dry play structure is retrofitted or converted to incorporate various interactive water play elements. Water supply conduits are mounted on or in the support members of the dry play structure to provide water to one or more water forming elements and associated control valves. Play participants adjust the various valves and can immediately observe the change in the rate, direction or velocity of water flowing from the various associated water forming elements, allowing play participants to experiment with and learn about various cause-and-effect reactions using a familiar and entertaining play medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5967901
    Abstract: A play structure is provided for use in a playground or park. The play structure includes a wading pool containing a swing with an overhead water spray, a slide, a roof structure over the slide, a waterfall originating on the roof structure and cascading downward onto the slide, a climbing structure to allow access to the slide, a tunnel on rollers underneath the climbing structure, swinging rings with overhead water sprays, water spouts, and faucets for activating the water sprays and spouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5865680
    Abstract: An interactive play structure is provided for facilitating team-oriented or group interactive play to achieve a common desired effect. The play structure includes a number of play elements disposed at various locations and elevations throughout the play structure. Each play element can be activated or operated by one or more play participants to complete one of several necessary steps in a chain of triggering events resulting in energy being transferred from one play element to the next. The overall completion of the chain of events results in a common desired result or effect, such as a domino-like cascade of various mechanisms, balls, water and/or the like. Play participants achieve the final goal through a collective team effort requiring the coordinated completion of several smaller objectives comprising each necessary step in the chain of triggering events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5853332
    Abstract: An interactive play system and method of interactive play is provided in which a plurality of interactive play elements are provided for creating various desired effects utilizing soft foam balls or other suitable play media. The interactive play system comprises a multi-level support structure on which the interactive play elements are disposed. These allow play participants to create desired play effects using a fun and familiar play media. Some of the play elements may be multi-order play elements in that they receive play media from a first effect to create yet another effect. Various play-participant-operated conveyers are provided throughout the structure for transporting play media from a source to the various interactive play elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5820472
    Abstract: A waterplay structure is provided for home use which is easily assembled and which provides a variety of interactive water forming devices and adjustment valves for exciting backyard play. Play participants can assemble the play structure and then control the various water effects to cool and entertain the whole family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5820471
    Abstract: A participatory water play system is provided incorporating a plurality of water play elements for creating various desired water effects. The participatory water play system comprises a plurality of multiple-order water effects. A first participatory water play element may be manipulated to create a first-order water effect. A second participatory water play element receives water from the first water effect to create a second-order water effect. Thus, play participants can observe and experiment with various cause-and-effect reactions involving multiple-order water effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5741189
    Abstract: A low-cost interactive water play structure and method is provided wherein an existing dry play structure is retrofitted or converted to incorporate various interactive water play elements. Water supply conduits are mounted on or in the support members of the dry play structure to provide water to one or more water forming elements and associated control valves. Play participants adjust the various valves and can immediately observe the change in the rate, direction or velocity of water flowing from the various associated water forming elements, allowing play participants to experiment with and learn about various cause-and-effect reactions using a familiar and entertaining play medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5662525
    Abstract: An endoskeletal or exoskeletal participatory water play structure comprised of play elements, water carrying conduits with attached water forming devices, associated valves, and issuing water effects, all of which define a three dimensional structure whereupon participants can manipulate valves to cause controllable changes in water effects that issue from the various water forming devices, and thus, alter the embodiment's overall appearance, sound and feel resulting in participant and observer recreational enjoyment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5649867
    Abstract: A waterplay structure is provided for home use which is easily assembled and which provides a variety of interactive water forming devices and adjustment valves for exciting backyard play. Play participants can assemble the play structure and then control the various water effects to cool and entertain the whole family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5405294
    Abstract: An endoskeletal or exoskeletal participatory water play structure comprised of play elements, water carrying conduits with attached water forming devices, associated valves, and issuing water effects, all of which define a three dimensional structure whereupon participants can manipulate valves to cause controllable changes in water effects that issue from the various water forming devices, and thus, alter the embodiment's overall appearance, sound and feel resulting in participant and observer recreational enjoyment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: D403392
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: SCS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. Briggs, Mark Weston, Denise Weston, Brendon Cuddihee
  • Patent number: D406871
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: SCS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: D407133
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: SCS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: D413957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: D416066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Rick A. Briggs
  • Patent number: D421283
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: SCS Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. Briggs, Mark Weston, Denise Weston, Brendan Cuddihee