Water toy

Abstract

A water toy including a nozzle configured to orbit a spinning axis to repeatedly spray a stream of water above and below a jumping individual.

1 . A water toy, comprising: 
 a nozzle aimed to spray a stream of water at an acute angle relative to a spinning axis, wherein the nozzle is configured to orbit the spinning axis to repeatedly spray the stream of water above and below a jumping individual.    
   
   
       2 . The water toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a spinning platform on which the nozzle is positioned, wherein the spinning platform is configured to be selectively pivoted to a desired angle to set a trajectory of the stream sprayed from the nozzle as the nozzle orbits the spinning axis.  
   
   
       3 . The water toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a second nozzle and a valve configured to selectively block water flow through the second nozzle.  
   
   
       4 . The water toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a turbine assembly configured to use energy received via an input water source to move the nozzle in an orbit about the spinning axis.  
   
   
       5 . The water toy of  claim 4 , wherein the turbine assembly includes an impeller.  
   
   
       6 . The water toy of  claim 4 , wherein the turbine assembly includes a drive gear.  
   
   
       7 . A water toy, comprising: 
 a turbine assembly including an impeller mechanically coupled to a drive gear, wherein the impeller is configured to rotate the drive gear responsive to water flow received by the turbine assembly; and    a spinning nozzle assembly mechanically linked to the drive gear, wherein the spinning nozzle assembly rotates in response to a rotating drive gear, and wherein the spinning nozzle assembly includes a nozzle configured to orbit about a spinning axis and spray a stream of water in a twirling path having a substantially conical exit trajectory.    
   
   
       8 . The water toy of  claim 7 , wherein the spinning nozzle assembly is configured to be selectively pivoted to a desired angle to set a trajectory of the stream sprayed from the nozzle.  
   
   
       9 . The water toy of  claim 7 , further comprising a second nozzle configured to orbit about the spinning axis and spray a stream of water in a twirling path having a substantially conical exit trajectory.  
   
   
       10 . The water toy of  claim 9 , wherein the nozzle and the second nozzle are aligned on opposite sides of the spinning axis.  
   
   
       11 . The water toy of  claim 7 , further comprising a valve configured to selectively block water flow through the nozzle.  
   
   
       12 . The water toy of  claim 7 , wherein the nozzle is aimed to spray the stream of water at an acute angle relative to the spinning axis.  
   
   
       13 . The water toy of  claim 7 , wherein the turbine assembly includes at least one intermediate gear mechanically linking the impeller to the drive gear.  
   
   
       14 . A method of providing a jumping obstacle for playing, the method comprising: 
 spraying a first stream of water in a twirling pattern around a jumping area; and    spraying a second stream of water in a twirling pattern around a jumping area, wherein the second stream is aimed to the bottom of the jumping area when the first stream is aimed to the top of the jumping area and the second stream is aimed to the top of the jumping area when the first stream is aimed to the bottom of the jumping area.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein spraying the first and second streams in a twirling pattern includes rotating a nozzle in a circular orbit about a pivoting axis.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the nozzle in a circular orbit includes using an impeller to convert received fluid energy into rotational mechanical energy used to rotate the nozzle.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising setting an ejection trajectory of the first and second streams.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein setting an ejection trajectory of the first and second streams includes adjusting an angle of a spinning platform on which a first and second nozzle orbit a pivoting axis.