Slide apparatus

Abstract

Slide apparatus includes a first slide, which may have a somewhat parabolic configuration having a trough and/or a switchback. The switchback is oriented and configured for changing the direction of travel of a user. Multiple troughs and switchback elements may be provided so as to maximize the length of time during which a user slides, yet without increasing water usage, energy requirements, and space requirements. A switchback element may be configured for reversing the direction of travel of the user from more than 0° to 180° or more. The switchback element may be configured for directing passengers in different directions along different paths, and yet, without a dividing wall therebetween, thanks to the configuration of the switchback elements. One or more partially or completely spiral slides may precede or follow the first slide.

1 . A slide apparatus comprising: 
 a) a partially spiral slide having a slide surface, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a partially spiral path;    b) a further slide, the further slide including a portion of an upwardly open parabolic curve;    c) the portion of the upwardly open parabolic curve defining a further slide surface;    d) said further slide surface being configured so for causing, in use, a user to slide on the further slide surface along a substantially predetermined path, in use;    e) a switchback being provided in said further slide;    f) said switchback being configured for causing, in use, a user traveling along the further slide surface to be switched from a first direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path to a second direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path, the second direction of travel differing from the first direction of travel;    g) said switchback being a portion of the upwardly open parabolic curve; and    h) the substantially predetermined path and the partially spiral path being fluidly connected.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) the substantially predetermined path and the partially spiral path are directly connected.    
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) an entry of the substantially predetermined path is connected to an exit of the partially spiral path.    
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 a) the entry of the substantially predetermined path is located at a lower portion of the upwardly open parabolic curve.    
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback changes the direction of travel of the user by more than 90 degrees.    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback changes the direction of travel of the user by at least about 170 degrees.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback changes the direction of travel of the user by about 180 degrees.    
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback is sufficiently upwardly sloped so that the speed of a user is reduced to substantially 0 miles per hour, in use.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback includes a slide surface defining at least a portion of a hyperbolic paraboloid.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) a second switchback is provided on the further slide surface for changing the direction of a user, in use.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) Said switchback includes at least two first switchbacks, each of said at least two first switchbacks being configured for changing the direction of travel of a user, in use; and    b) at least two second switchbacks are provided, each of said at least two second switchbacks being configured for changing the direction of travel of a user, in use.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) a wall separates said switchback from said second switchback.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback is substantially free of a portion of a spiral, as viewed from a direction transverse to the path of travel.    
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) said switchback is disposed substantially adjacent said second switchback.    
   
   
       15 . A slide apparatus comprising: 
 a) a partially spiral slide having a slide surface, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a partially spiral path;    b) a further slide, the further slide including a portion of an upwardly open substantially parabolic curve;    c) the portion of the upwardly open substantially parabolic curve defining a further slide surface;    d) said further slide surface being configured for causing a user to slide on the further slide surface along a substantially predetermined path;    e) said further slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the further slide surface to be switched from a first direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path to a second direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path, the second direction of travel differing from the first direction of travel; and    f) the substantially predetermined path being adjacent to the partially spiral path.    
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) the substantially predetermined path and the partially spiral path are directly connected.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a) an entry of the substantially predetermined path is connected to an exit of the partially spiral path.    
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 a) the entry of the substantially predetermined path is located at a lower portion of the upwardly open parabolic curve.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) said further slide surface changes the direction of travel of the user by more than 90 degrees.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) said further slide surface is sufficiently upwardly sloped so that the speed of a user is reduced to substantially 0 miles per hour, in use.    
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) the partially spiral slide includes two at least partially spiral slides; and    b) an exit of each of the two partially spiral slides is connected to an entry of the substantially predetermined path.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) said further slide surface is substantially free of a portion of a spiral, as viewed from a direction transverse to the substantially predetermined path.    
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) said first direction of travel is disposed substantially adjacent said second direction of travel.    
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) said first direction of travel and said second direction of travel are substantially free of walls disposed between them.    
   
   
       25 . A slide apparatus comprising: 
 a) a substantially straight slide having a slide surface, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a substantially straight travel path, as viewed from a direction transverse to the travel path;    b) a further slide, the further slide including a portion of an upwardly open parabolic curve;    c) the portion of the upwardly open parabolic curve defining a further slide surface;    d) said further slide surface being configured for causing, in use, a user to slide on the further slide surface along a substantially predetermined path, in use;    e) a switchback being provided in said further slide;    f) said switchback being configured for causing, in use, a user traveling along the further slide surface to be switched from a first direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path to a second direction of travel along the substantially predetermined path, the second direction of travel differing from the first direction of travel;    g) said switchback being a portion of the upwardly open parabolic curve; and    h) the substantially predetermined path being disposed adjacent the substantially straight path.    
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 a) the substantially predetermined path and the substantially straight path are directly connected.    
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 a) an entry of the substantially predetermined path is connected to an exit of the substantially straight path.    
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 a) a second substantially straight slide having a slide surface is provided, the slide surface being configured for causing a user traveling along the slide surface to travel along a second substantially straight travel path, as viewed from a direction transverse to the travel path; and    b) the substantially straight slide and the second substantially straight slide each exit into an entry of the further slide.    
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as in  claim 28 , wherein: 
 a) a control is provided for directing a user to enter the substantially straight slide or the second substantially straight slide.    
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 a) the substantially straight path is substantially straight as viewed from the above the substantially straight path.