Interactive Play Center with Interactive Elements and Consequence Elements

Abstract

An entertainment venue, amusement attraction, or interactive play center configured to provide a variety of activities for users. The play center may include at least one interactive element (such as a button, handle, pull-rope, switch, etc.) that is configured to be interacted with by a user. The play center may also include at least one consequence element (such as a water nozzle, tipping bucket, etc.) that is configured to provide a consequence (such as a spray of water) based upon interaction by a user with the at least one interactive element. In certain embodiments, it may not be apparent, for example via visual, audible, or other indications to a user which consequence element, or how a given consequence element will respond, in response to an interactive element, lending to a sense of surprise and/or need for experimentation on the play center.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interactive play center comprising:
 a first interactive element configured to be interacted with by a user; and   a first consequence element configured to activate based upon the first interactive element being interacted with by the user,   wherein, prior to interaction by the user with the first interactive element, there is no indication to the user that the first consequence element is configured to activate based upon the first interactive element being interacted with by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The interactive play center of  claim 1  wherein the first interactive element comprises a button configured to be pressed by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The interactive play center of  claim 2  wherein the first consequence element comprises a nozzle configured to emit a fluid therefrom based upon the button being interacted with by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive play center of  claim 3  wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive play center of  claim 3  further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the first consequence element, wherein the valve is configured to flow the fluid therethrough based upon the button being pressed by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The interactive play center of  claim 5  wherein the first interactive element further comprises a pedestal and wherein the button is connected with the pedestal. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive play center of  claim 6  wherein the first interactive element further comprises:
 a housing; and 
 a turbine blade located within the housing and configured to rotate based upon the flow of the fluid. 
 
     
     
         8 . The interactive play center of  claim 7  wherein the housing is transparent such that the turbine blade can be viewed by the user through the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The interactive play center of  claim 1  further comprising a second consequence element configured to activate based upon the first interactive element being interacted with by the user. 
     
     
         10 . An interactive play center comprising:
 a first interactive element configured to be activated;   a first consequence element configured to activate based upon activation of the first interactive element;   a pipe connected with the first consequence element and configured to provide a flow of fluid to the first consequence element; and   a valve configured to reduce the flow of fluid to the first consequence element if the first interactive element is not activated,   wherein, prior to activation of the first interactive element, there is no indication that the first consequence element is configured to activate based upon the first interactive element being activated.   
     
     
         11 . The interactive play center of  claim 10  further comprising a pedestal connected with the first interactive element and wherein the pipe extends from the pedestal to the first consequence element. 
     
     
         12 . The interactive play center of  claim 11  wherein the valve is located within the pedestal. 
     
     
         13 . The interactive play center of  claim 11  wherein the first interactive element comprises a selectable lever configured to be moved between at least two positions. 
     
     
         14 . The interactive play center of  claim 10  further comprising a column connected with the first consequence element and wherein the column has a hollow inner cavity such that it forms the pipe along the length of the column. 
     
     
         15 . The interactive play center of  claim 10  further comprising a reservoir disposed underneath a ground level, the reservoir in fluid communication with the pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The interactive play center of  claim 10  wherein the first consequence element is configured to spray water onto the user when the first interactive element is interacted with by the user. 
     
     
         17 . A structure for an interactive play center for providing a flow of fluid therethrough comprising:
 a ground surface having a reservoir of fluid stored thereunder;   a first plate having a first opening therein, the first plate connected with the ground surface; and   a second plate having a second opening therein, the second plate connected with the ground surface,   wherein at least a portion of the first opening and at least a portion of the second opening overlap such that at least some of the fluid from the reservoir is configured to travel through the overlapping portion of the first opening and the second opening.   
     
     
         18 . The structure of  claim 17  wherein the ground surface comprises a concrete flooring. 
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 18  wherein the first plate or the second plate is permanently fastened to the concrete flooring. 
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 17  wherein the first plate is rotatable with respect to the second plate such that the overlapping portion of the first opening and the second opening is configured to change based upon the rotation of the first plate with respect to the second plate.