Water ball

This article is about the large inflatable sphere. For the ball thrown on water, see Waterball. For the ball used in water polo, see water polo ball. For the Water Balz expanding toy, see Expandable water toy. For gel balls which absorb a large amount of water, see Water gel (plain).

Children in water balls in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

A water ball being inflated

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 zippered 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 pools, marinas and lakes in an effort to keep children fit.

History

Water cylinder

One of the first water balls appeared in the film Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and in the Beach Boys music video, Getcha Back (1985). Charles Blane Jones designed the first water ball for public distribution in 1998.

Safety

Water balls have been used safely in over 50 countries around the world since 1998; however, there are some serious safety concerns with using the water balls on sea or near the beach. However, 99% of the amusement business uses the water balls in safe confined inflatable swimming pools with water levels that normally do not exceed 2 ft. and are under complete supervision at all times by trained and competent staff.

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.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned of the dangers of the balls being used in a safe manner. The Commission is aware of two unconfirmed incidents involving water balls. In one, a child was found unresponsive after being inside the ball for a very brief period of time. After being examined, the child was found to be suffering from an unrelated ongoing medical problem. In the second incident, a person inside the ball suffered a fracture when it fell out of a shallow, above-ground pool onto hard ground.

Construction

Many water balls are constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 0.8–1.0 mm thick. Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) are the best choice for use in cold weather or on snow. Some water balls are made from a PVC–TPU mix. More expensive balls use 100% TPU. Balls 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.

See also

• Zorbing
• Hamster ball
• List of inflatable manufactured goods