Inflatable car-wash-configured water toy and method

Abstract

A method for preparing an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly for recreational purposes. The method includes inflating a deflated car-wash-configured slide assembly to produce an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly comprising a tunnel including a tunnel side wall; passing a slide mat through the tunnel such that after the slide mat passes through the tunnel, the slide mat is detached from the tunnel side wall; and dispersing water inside the tunnel onto the detached slide mat. An inflated car-wash-configured water slide assembly comprising an inflated climb section; an inflated platform section coupled to the inflated climb section; and an inflated slide section coupled to the inflated platform section. The inflated car-wash-configured water slide assembly further comprises an inflated pool section coupled to the inflated slide section and a tunnel assembly having a tunnel which extends through the inflated car-wash-configured water-slide assembly. The tunnel has a tunnel side wall. The inflated car-wash-configured water slide assembly also further comprises a detached slide mat disposed within the tunnel such as to remain detached from the tunnel side wall; and a water-dispersing member which contacts the detached slide mat and passes into the tunnel for dispersing water onto the slide mat.

1 . A method for preparing an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly for recreational purposes comprising:
 (a) inflating a deflated car-wash-configured slide assembly to produce an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly comprising a tunnel including a tunnel side wall;   (b) passing a slide mat through the tunnel such that after the slide mat passes through the tunnel, the slide mat is detached from the tunnel side wall; and   (c) dispersing water inside the tunnel onto the detached slide mat.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said dispersing of water inside the tunnel onto the detached slide mat comprises dispersing water through a plurality of apertures. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly comprises the tunnel and a pair of side walls, said tunnel extends through the inflated slide assembly from one side wall to the other side wall. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly comprises the tunnel and a pair of side walls, said tunnel extends through the inflated slide assembly from one side wall to the other side wall. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said dispersing of water inside the tunnel onto the detached slide mat comprises dispersing water through a plurality of apertures of a tubular member inside the tunnel. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said dispersing of water inside the tunnel onto the detached slide mat comprises dispersing water through the plurality of apertures of a tubular member inside the tunnel. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2  additionally comprising dispersing water onto the detached slide mat outside of the tunnel. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  additionally comprising dispersing water onto the detached slide mat outside of the tunnel. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising dispersing water onto the detached slide mat outside of the tunnel through a plurality of apertures of a tubular member extending from inside of the tunnel to outside the tunnel. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said tubular member inside the tunnel extends from inside of the tunnel to outside of the tunnel, and said additional dispersing of water onto the detached slide mat outside of the tunnel comprises additional dispersing water through the plurality of apertures of the tubular member. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said detached slide mat has an end wall connected to an end of the detached slide mat, and said end wall is situated beyond a side wall of the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said end wall comprises a section that is wider than the width of the slide mat and wider than a tunnel opening of the tunnel. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said detached slide mat has an end wall connected to an end of the detached slide mat, and said end wall is situated beyond one of the side walls of the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said end wall comprises a section that is wider than the width of the slide mat and wider than a tunnel opening of the tunnel. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising passing water into a hose member supported by an arch of the inflated slide assembly for dispersing water onto a slide ramp of the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  additionally comprising passing water into a hose member supported by an arch of the inflated slide assembly for dispersing water onto a slide ramp of the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising flowing water into a perforated tubular member for dispersing water onto the detached slide mat inside the tunnel while simultaneously flowing water into a hose member supported by an arch of the inflated slide assembly for dispersing water onto a slide ramp of the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  additionally comprising flowing water into the tubular member for dispersing water onto the detached slide mat inside the tunnel, while simultaneously flowing water into the hose member supported by an arch of the inflated slide assembly for dispersing water onto a slide ramp of the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tunnel side wall of said produced inflated slide assembly terminates at a surface which supports the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising withdrawing the detached slide mat from the tunnel. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said tunnel side wall terminates at a surface which supports the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  additionally comprising exposing a tunnel opening of the tunnel to a surface which supports the inflated slide assembly by withdrawing the detached slide mat from the tunnel. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  additionally comprising withdrawing the detached slide mat from the tunnel. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said withdrawing of the detached slide mat exposes a tunnel opening of the tunnel to a surface that supports the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said tunnel side wall terminates at a surface which supports the inflated slide assembly. 
   
   
       26 . An inflated car-wash-configured water-slide assembly comprising:
 an inflated climb section;   an inflated slide section coupled to the inflated climb section;   an inflated pool section coupled to the inflated slide section;   a tunnel assembly having a tunnel extending through the inflated car-wash-configured water-slide assembly, said tunnel having a tunnel side wall;   a detached slide mat disposed within said tunnel such that after the detached slide mat is disposed with said tunnel, said detached slide mat remains detached from the tunnel side wall; and   a member contacting the detached slide mat and passing into the tunnel for dispersing water onto the slide mat.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said passing a slide mat includes disposing the slide mat through the tunnel. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said passing a slide mat includes disposing the slide mat through the tunnel. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said tubular member contacts said slide mat. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tubular member contacts said slide mat. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 5  additionally comprising introducing water, prior to dispersing the water, into the tubular member at an intermediate section thereof. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  additionally comprising introducing water, prior to dispersing the water, into the tubular member at an intermediate section thereof. 
   
   
       33 . A method for preparing an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly for recreational purposes comprising:
 (a) inflating a deflated car-wash-configured slide assembly to produce an inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly comprising a pair of side walls, a tunnel having a tunnel side wall and extending through the inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly from one side wall to the other side wall;   (b) disposing a detached slide mat through the tunnel and beyond the pair of side walls of the inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly;   (c) introducing water into a perforated tubular member at an intermediate section thereof, said perforated tubular member is in contact with the detached slide mat and extends along with the detached slide mat through the tunnel and beyond the pair of side walls of the inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly;   (d) dispersing water onto the detached slide mat through apertures of the perforated tubular member; and   (e) passing water into a hose member for dispersing water onto a slide ramp of the inflated car-wash-configured slide assembly.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said detached slide mat remains detached from the tunnel side wall after being disposed.