Slip 'N Slide

The Slip ’N Slide is a toy manufactured by Wham-O, first introduced in 1961 after being invented by Robert Carrier.[1] Carrier was inspired by his son sliding on wet, painted concrete.[2] Carrier used his job as an upholsterer to obtain a long strip of Naugahyde, to which he sewed a tube to pass a hose into, and punctured the tube intermittently to allow water to spurt out. Carrier sold his invention to Wham-O, which replaced Naugahyde with plastic to cut down on production costs.[3]

A Slip ’N Slide

The toy is a long sheet of thin plastic, flanked lengthwise on one side by a heat-sealed tubular fold. The tube can be connected to any ordinary garden hose. Water runs through the tube and out small perforations, spraying onto the sliding surface. The Slip 'n Slide then becomes very slippery, enabling users to jump onto the plastic and slide the length of the sheet.

Wham-O and makers of similar competitive products later included various enhancements such as an inflatable pool at one end of the sliding surface and spray tubes on both sides. Operation is also vastly improved by any lubrication liquids.

Safety

Both the manufacturer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend that only children use the toy due to the risk of back and neck injuries when it is used by teenagers and adults. Injuries occur because people heavier or taller than children might stop suddenly when diving onto the toy. Between 1973 and 1991, seven adults and a 13-year-old suffered neck injuries or paralysis while using Slip ’N Slides.[4]

References
  1. "Iconic Slip'N Slide® Makes a Big Splash on its 50th Birthday" (Press release). Woodland Hills, California: Wham-O, Inc. 26 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  2. Sexton, Courtney (2 July 2020). "The Accidental Invention of the Slip 'N Slide". Smithsonian. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. Hiebert, Paul. "50 Years Later, The Slip'N Slide Is Still Simple, Speedy Fun (For The Brave) - Wham-O". Wham-o.com. TheDaily.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. "WHAM-O Backyard Water Slides Are Dangerous For Adults And Teenagers - CPSC.gov". CPSC.gov. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 27 May 1993. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. CPSC and Kransco urge adults and teenagers NOT to use the WHAM-O backyard slides. Consumers should read the warnings and instructions on the box and on the toy itself which state that the product is NOT intended for adult use. Adults should instruct children how to use the slides safely.
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