US 4,169,688 · Granted 1979-10-02
The Synthetic Ice Rink Patent That Ditched Real Freezers
Imagine an ice skating rink that doesn't need electricity or constant freezing. This patent describes a fake ice surface made from ultra-slippery plastic sheets laid on a cushioned base, so you can skate on it year-round without the power bill. It's basically a clever shortcut to real ice.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a specific sandwich-style construction for artificial skating surfaces: a cushion layer underneath, topped with floor plates made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (an extremely slippery plastic), all held together with specially designed metal insertion members shaped like plates and U-channels. Anyone manufacturing or selling an ice-substitute rink built this exact way would be infringing the patent's core invention.
Why it matters
Traditional ice rinks require freezing systems that consume massive amounts of electricity and need constant maintenance. This patent offered an alternative that could be installed indoors or outdoors without refrigeration, making skating accessible in warmer climates or reducing operating costs. The polyethylene surface mimics ice's slickness well enough for recreational skating, opening up the sport to communities that couldn't afford or justify a full ice-making facility.
Real-world use
You'd encounter this technology in synthetic skating rinks found in warmer regions or temporary pop-up skating venues that can't justify the expense of mechanical ice-making equipment.
Original USPTO abstract
An artificial ice skating rink floor with a layer of cushion material thereon and a plurality of floor plates formed of ultra-high molecular weight polyethyene laid directly on the layer of cushion material with the floor plates held in position by plate-like and U-shaped insertion members.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 4,169,688
- Filing date
- 1977-11-09
- Grant date
- 1979-10-02
- Assignee
- Sato Toshio
- Inventor(s)
- TOSHIO, SATO
- CPC class
- E01C5/005
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