Splash-Pod: The Personal Water Park

Step 13 Modular toys

One of the "killer features" with the Splash-Pod is the ability to add new functions and accessories as time progressed. I thought up all of the current toys in a couple of weekends worth of brainstorming with my wife. I knew that if I left things completely static, I would regret it someday as I thought up new functions. I wanted an easy way to add new features in the future as I thought of them. The external component connections provide this ability. And man am I glad I did this. Since completing the project, I've already come up with some really great toys for the next season.

All of the external connectors use a standard 1/2" FPT connection so that any 1/2" MPT component can easily connect.

The first toy that I knew I wanted was a simple shower head. This was a toy that's basically pre-built, you just have to change the gender. Most of the other toys were equally easy and I'll detail them now.

Shower Head Toy (x2)

• 2x PVC shower heads
• 2x1/2" MPT nylon nipples
• Teflon plumber's tape

Tape up both sides of the nipple and then thread one end into the FPT end of the shower head. We can now install the shower head into any of our accessory connectors.

Expanding Rubber Glove

• 1 yellow rubber kitchen glove.
• 1 1/2" barbed to 1/2" MPT fitting, nylon.
• 1 hose clamp
• Teflon plumber's tape.

First, bunch up the rubber glove's opening and stuff it through the hose clamp. Next, shove the barbed connector into the opening. Tighten the clamp around the barbed fitting. Apply plumber's tape on the threaded end. Snip a small opening on the end of each finger for spray and pressure relief. We can now install this into any of the accessory connectors.

Rubber hose misting squid

• 1 drip-irrigation 6 output vertical manifold
• 4' of surgical rubber tubing, 1/8" ID
• 8 misting nozzle heads for drip-irrigation systems.
• 1 6" length of 1/2" to 1/2" flexible sprinkler neck
• Plumber's tape.

This is another toy that's basically pre-built. Simply cut off six lengths of the surgical tube and install them into the manifold. Next, install the 360 degree misting nozzles into the other ends of the tubing. Apply plumber's tape onto both ends of the flexible sprinkler neck. Install one end into the pipe fitting of the manifold. The other end will plug into any of the accessory connectors.

Water-balloon filler

• 1x 1/2" MPT to 1/2" barbed fitting.
• Plumber's tape.

This is clearly the easiest 'toy' to create. Simply wrap the threaded end with plumber's tape and you're done. Now if the kids want to have an easy place to fill up water balloons, plug this into one of the component connectors and water will shoot out of it into your water balloons when the proper button is pressed.

Vertical 'rain stick' and ring toss

• 8" 1/2" PVC pipe
• 1 1/2" PVC end cap
• 1 1/2" Slip to 1/2" MPT adapter.
• Plumber's tape
• 5/32" Drill bit

Assemble the three components and seal them with PVC cement. Next, drill holes all over the stick to create spray nozzles. You can use larger and smaller drill bits if you want to have variety. I found it easier to just drill like crazy all over the sticks. Apply plumber's tape onto the threaded end. This can now be installed into any of the accessory connectors. If mounted on the outside, it makes a great target for a ring toss.

The next 'toy' was the most ambitious and it all started with a simple idea.