Water ball
Encyclopedia
A water ball or water walking ball is a large inflatable
sphere that allows a person inside it to walk across the surface of a body of water. The giant ball is usually two metres in diameter and has a zipper
ed entrance to allow for easy entry and exit. The water ball is similar to the zorb, but it has only one layer and is designed for water travel rather than down-hill rolling. In the United Kingdom, the balls have been used at swimming pool
s, marinas and lakes in an effort to keep children fit.
in 1985. Charles Jones from Oklahoma
developed a water ball commercially in 1998. He was invited by a British reporter to visit London
to demonstrate the ball on a lake. As soon as he attempted to walk across the water, he lost his balance and fell. The ball deflated and filled rapidly with icy water. He was saved from sinking below the surface when an assistant dragged the ball back to dry land using a safety line, witnessed by a crowd of tourists.
has warned of the dangers of using the balls, saying it "does not know of any safe way" to avoid the dangers of suffocation and drowning, among other hazards. There are recorded instances of children fainting and crashing onto hard surfaces while inside the balls, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has encouraged amusement ride officials not to allow their use. The Commission chairman declared an intention to pursue the safety investigation further.
Charles Jones from Oklahoma
developed a water ball commercially in 1998. He was invited by a British reporter to visit London
to demonstrate the ball on a lake. As soon as he attempted to walk across the water, he lost his balance and fell. The ball deflated and filled rapidly with icy water. He was saved from sinking below the surface when an assistant dragged the ball back to dry land using a safety line, witnessed by a crowd of tourists.
(PVC) 0.6–0.7mm thick. Thermoplastic polyurethanes
(TPU) are the best choice for use in cold weather or on snow. Some lower priced water balls are made from a PVC–TPU mix. More expensive balls use 100% TPU. They are typically made in China
, and come in various sizes. A typical water ball stores flat and weighs 15 kilograms, and can be inflated in under a minute with a good air pump. Some models also have hand grips on the inside or outside, and the surface can be printed on.
Inflatable
An inflatable is an object that can be inflated with a gas, usually with air, but hydrogen, helium and nitrogen are also used. One of several advantages of an inflatable is that it can be stored in a small space when not inflated, since inflatables depend on the presence of a gas to maintain their...
sphere that allows a person inside it to walk across the surface of a body of water. The giant ball is usually two metres in diameter and has a zipper
Zipper
A zipper is a commonly used device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric...
ed entrance to allow for easy entry and exit. The water ball is similar to the zorb, but it has only one layer and is designed for water travel rather than down-hill rolling. In the United Kingdom, the balls have been used at swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
s, marinas and lakes in an effort to keep children fit.
History
A water ball appeared in the Beach Boys music video Getcha BackGetcha Back
"Getcha Back" is a song written by Mike Love and Terry Melcher for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1985 album The Beach Boys. It was the band's first release since the tragic drowning death of Dennis Wilson in 1983. The song peaked at number 26 nationally, and...
in 1985. Charles Jones from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
developed a water ball commercially in 1998. He was invited by a British reporter to visit London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to demonstrate the ball on a lake. As soon as he attempted to walk across the water, he lost his balance and fell. The ball deflated and filled rapidly with icy water. He was saved from sinking below the surface when an assistant dragged the ball back to dry land using a safety line, witnessed by a crowd of tourists.
Dangers
The United States GovernmentFederal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
has warned of the dangers of using the balls, saying it "does not know of any safe way" to avoid the dangers of suffocation and drowning, among other hazards. There are recorded instances of children fainting and crashing onto hard surfaces while inside the balls, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has encouraged amusement ride officials not to allow their use. The Commission chairman declared an intention to pursue the safety investigation further.
Charles Jones from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
developed a water ball commercially in 1998. He was invited by a British reporter to visit London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to demonstrate the ball on a lake. As soon as he attempted to walk across the water, he lost his balance and fell. The ball deflated and filled rapidly with icy water. He was saved from sinking below the surface when an assistant dragged the ball back to dry land using a safety line, witnessed by a crowd of tourists.
Construction
The best water balls are constructed from polyvinyl chloridePolyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
(PVC) 0.6–0.7mm thick. Thermoplastic polyurethanes
Thermoplastic polyurethanes
Thermoplastic polyurethanes are a class of polyurethane plastics with many useful properties, including elasticity, transparency, and resistance to oil, grease and abrasion...
(TPU) are the best choice for use in cold weather or on snow. Some lower priced water balls are made from a PVC–TPU mix. More expensive balls use 100% TPU. They are typically made in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and come in various sizes. A typical water ball stores flat and weighs 15 kilograms, and can be inflated in under a minute with a good air pump. Some models also have hand grips on the inside or outside, and the surface can be printed on.
See also
- ZorbingZorbingZorbing is the recreation of rolling downhill in an orb, generally made of transparent plastic. Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope, but can also be done on a level surface, permitting more rider control. In the absence of hills some operators have constructed inflatable, wooden or...
- Hamster ballHamster ballHamster balls are hollow spheres made of clear plastic into which hamsters, gerbils, degus and other small rodent pets are placed, allowing them to run around outside their cages without the risk of running away, getting lost under furniture or in walls...
- Human Hamster BallHuman Hamster BallA Human Hamster Ball is similar to an ordinary hamster ball but much larger, so that a person can get inside. The game is played to test your ability to keep balance in the ball while running. Most of the time, this game is played in a pool of water. To get in you have to hurry and jump in before...