US20030181248A1 - Toboggan and snow tubing slide - Google Patents
Toboggan and snow tubing slide Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030181248A1 US20030181248A1 US10/344,718 US34471803A US2003181248A1 US 20030181248 A1 US20030181248 A1 US 20030181248A1 US 34471803 A US34471803 A US 34471803A US 2003181248 A1 US2003181248 A1 US 2003181248A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- mat
- snow
- water
- slide
- mixing vessel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
- A63G21/00—Chutes; Helter-skelters
- A63G21/18—Water-chutes
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
- E01C13/00—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds
- E01C13/10—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds for artificial surfaces for outdoor or indoor practice of snow or ice sports
- E01C13/12—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds for artificial surfaces for outdoor or indoor practice of snow or ice sports for snow sports, e.g. skiing or ski tow track
Definitions
- THIS INVENTION relates to a toboggan and snow tubing slide.
- the present invention resides in a slide for tobogganing and snow tubing including:
- a mat having a top layer of felt-type material able to hold water and a bottom layer of plastics material able to prevent leakage;
- hose means along the sides of the mat, operable to spray a snow-like foam, artificial snow or water on to the mat to reduce friction to aid sliding on the mat.
- the top layer is constructed from woven polyester or polypropylene fibres or from geotextile materials.
- the top layer is 1 to 5 millimetres thick.
- the bottom layer is constructed from PVC
- the top and bottom layers are sewn or welded together.
- the banking means includes soil or like material provided under the side walls of the mat.
- the banking means includes at least one flexible tube along the sides of the mat, between the top and bottom layers. Where two or more tubes are provided, they are preferably of increasing diameter towards the sides of the mat.
- the flexible tubes are constructed of plastics or like material.
- the tubes are filled with water and/or air.
- the banking material is soil.
- the banking material includes:
- fibrous material such as hay or straw, eg., in bale form.
- the hose means extend along the sides and top of the mat, and has nozzles, eg., spaced every 5 metres, to spray the snow-like foam onto the mat to create a fully-covered sliding area.
- Products such as “SNOFOAM” or “FXSnow” (trade marks) are suitable surfactants for the production of the snow-like foam.
- the surfactant and water are premixed and pumped from a tank, to be mixed with air in a mixing vessel, before being pumped through the hose.
- artificial snow eg., produced by the “PERMASNOW” (trade mark) process
- water may be sprayed onto the mat.
- FIG. 1 is a part-sectional, schematic view of a first embodiment of a slide in accordance with the invention
- FIG. 2 is a part-sectional, schematic view of a second embodiment
- FIG. 3 is a similar view of a third embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the lower end of the slide.
- the slide 20 has a mat 21 (of any length and width) with a top layer 1 , and a bottom layer 2 , which are sewn or welded together.
- the top layer 1 which is preferably white in colour, is 1 to 5 mm thick and is made of woven polyester fibres, woven polypropylene fibres or geotextile fabric, and is designed to hold water.
- the bottom layer 2 is of PVC material and protects the top layer 1 from dirt and leakage.
- banking means comprising flexible tubes 3 (eg., of different diameters), are provided between the top and bottom layers 1 , 2 , to form banked side walls.
- the tubes 3 of plastics or like material, are filled with water and/or air.
- a hose 4 is provided to spray a white, snow-like foam 12 , onto the mat, that simulates snow 13 and reduces friction to avoid sliding on the mat.
- the hose 4 preferably has outlets at, eg., 5 metre spacings to create a fully covered sliding area.
- a tube 5 connects the hose 4 to a mixing vessel 6 .
- Pump 8 introduces a pre-mixture of surfactant (eg., “SNOFOAM” or “FXSnow” (trade marks)) and water from a tank 11 to the mixing vessel 6 , while air line 10 provides compressed air 7 to the mixing vessel 6 .
- the compressed air/surfactant/water mixture is sprayed from the outlets in the hose 4 to produce the simulated snow surface 13 for tobogganing and snow tubing.
- the mat 21 When not in use, the mat 21 can be easily rolled up for transport; and the mat can be fabricated to create bends for undulating ground.
- the flexible tubes 3 are replaced by soil 103 to form the banked side walls.
- bales 203 of fibrous material eg., hay or straw, are used to form the banked side walls.
- the snow as it melts forms to the lower end of the slide 20 , where an end wall 22 (of waterproof, eg., plastics, material) co-operates with the side walls to form a sump 23 .
- the melted liquid drawn-off via a drain pipe 24 to a collection tank 25 , from which it can be pumped by pump 26 , via return line 27 , to the mixing vessel 6 .
- This enables the water/surfactant mixture to be recycled—to both minimise operating costs and prevent/minimise environmental damage.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Road Paving Structures (AREA)
- Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
- Suspension Of Electric Lines Or Cables (AREA)
Abstract
A slide for tobogganing or snow tubing has a mat, with a top layer (1) of felt-like material to hold water, and a bottom layer (2) of plastics material to protect the top layer (1) from dirt and leakage. Tubes (3) along the sides of the mat form banked side walls. A hose (4) with spaced outlets, sprays a compressed air/surfactant/water snow-like foam over the mat to produce a simulated snow surface (12).
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- THIS INVENTION relates to a toboggan and snow tubing slide.
- 2. Prior Art
- When natural snow conditions are poor, it can be difficult to maintain toboggan and snow tubing slides at ski resorts.
- In addition, there is no simple, efficient means for providing such slides on a temporary basis or where natural snow is not available.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved slide for tobogganing and snow tubing which can be used in a wide range of climate conditions without the requirement for snow. It is a preferred object to provide a slide which performs and looks like a snow-covered slope.
- It is a further preferred object to provide a slide which employs a mat and a foaming product to produce the simulated snow surface. Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description.
- In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a slide for tobogganing and snow tubing including:
- a mat having a top layer of felt-type material able to hold water and a bottom layer of plastics material able to prevent leakage;
- banking means along the sides of the mat, to form respective banked side walls in the mat; and
- hose means along the sides of the mat, operable to spray a snow-like foam, artificial snow or water on to the mat to reduce friction to aid sliding on the mat.
- Preferably, the top layer is constructed from woven polyester or polypropylene fibres or from geotextile materials. Preferably, the top layer is 1 to 5 millimetres thick.
- Preferably, the bottom layer is constructed from PVC Preferably, the top and bottom layers are sewn or welded together.
- Preferably, in one embodiment, the banking means includes soil or like material provided under the side walls of the mat. In a second embodiment, the banking means includes at least one flexible tube along the sides of the mat, between the top and bottom layers. Where two or more tubes are provided, they are preferably of increasing diameter towards the sides of the mat.
- Preferably, the flexible tubes are constructed of plastics or like material. Preferably, the tubes are filled with water and/or air.
- In a second embodiment, the banking material is soil.
- In a third embodiment, the banking material includes:
- fibrous material such as hay or straw, eg., in bale form.
- Preferably, the hose means extend along the sides and top of the mat, and has nozzles, eg., spaced every 5 metres, to spray the snow-like foam onto the mat to create a fully-covered sliding area.
- Products such as “SNOFOAM” or “FXSnow” (trade marks) are suitable surfactants for the production of the snow-like foam.
- Preferably, the surfactant and water are premixed and pumped from a tank, to be mixed with air in a mixing vessel, before being pumped through the hose.
- In alternative embodiments, artificial snow (eg., produced by the “PERMASNOW” (trade mark) process) or water may be sprayed onto the mat.
- To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is a part-sectional, schematic view of a first embodiment of a slide in accordance with the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a part-sectional, schematic view of a second embodiment;
- FIG. 3 is a similar view of a third embodiment; and
- FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the lower end of the slide.
- Referring to FIG. 1, the
slide 20 has a mat 21 (of any length and width) with a top layer 1, and abottom layer 2, which are sewn or welded together. The top layer 1, which is preferably white in colour, is 1 to 5 mm thick and is made of woven polyester fibres, woven polypropylene fibres or geotextile fabric, and is designed to hold water. - The
bottom layer 2 is of PVC material and protects the top layer 1 from dirt and leakage. - Along the sides of the
mat 21, banking means, comprising flexible tubes 3 (eg., of different diameters), are provided between the top andbottom layers 1, 2, to form banked side walls. Thetubes 3, of plastics or like material, are filled with water and/or air. - Along the sides, and top, of the
mat 21, ahose 4 is provided to spray a white, snow-like foam 12, onto the mat, that simulatessnow 13 and reduces friction to avoid sliding on the mat. Thehose 4 preferably has outlets at, eg., 5 metre spacings to create a fully covered sliding area. - A
tube 5 connects thehose 4 to amixing vessel 6.Pump 8 introduces a pre-mixture of surfactant (eg., “SNOFOAM” or “FXSnow” (trade marks)) and water from atank 11 to themixing vessel 6, whileair line 10 providescompressed air 7 to themixing vessel 6. The compressed air/surfactant/water mixture is sprayed from the outlets in thehose 4 to produce the simulatedsnow surface 13 for tobogganing and snow tubing. - When not in use, the
mat 21 can be easily rolled up for transport; and the mat can be fabricated to create bends for undulating ground. - Referring to FIG. 2, the
flexible tubes 3 are replaced bysoil 103 to form the banked side walls. - In FIG. 3,
bales 203 of fibrous material, eg., hay or straw, are used to form the banked side walls. - As shown in FIG. 4, the snow as it melts forms to the lower end of the
slide 20, where an end wall 22 (of waterproof, eg., plastics, material) co-operates with the side walls to form asump 23. The melted liquid drawn-off via adrain pipe 24 to acollection tank 25, from which it can be pumped bypump 26, viareturn line 27, to themixing vessel 6. This enables the water/surfactant mixture to be recycled—to both minimise operating costs and prevent/minimise environmental damage. - Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.
Claims (7)
1. A slide for tobogganing and snow tubing including:
a mat having a top layer of felt-type material able to hold water and a bottom layer plastics material able to prevent leakage; banking means along the sides of the mat, to form respective banked side walls in the mat; and
hose means along the sides of the mat, operable to spray a snow-like foam, artificial snow or water on to the mat to reduce friction to aid sliding on the mat.
2. A slide as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the top layer is constructed from woven polyester or polypropylene fibres or from geotextile materials, and is 1 to 5 millimetres thick; and
the bottom layer is constructed from PVC material.
3. A slide as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein:
the hose means extends along the sides and top of the mat, and has spaced nozzles to spray the snow-like foam, artificial snow or water onto the mat to create a fully-covered sliding area.
4. A slide as claimed n any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein:
the banking means include flexible tubes, soil or bales of fibrous material, interposed between respective side portions of the top and bottom layers of the mat.
5. A slide as claimed in claim 3 wherein:
a bottom wall, of waterproof material, co-operates with the banked side walls to form a sump at a lower end of the mat for the collection of the snow-like foam, artificial snow or water when the foam, snow or water melts.
6. A slide as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 , and further including:
a tank for a mixture of water and surfactant;
a source of compressed air;
a mixing vessel;
pump means connecting the tank to the mixing vessel;
an air line connecting the source of compressed air to the mixing vessel; and
means interconnecting the mixing vessel to the hose means, to enable the mixture to be aerated or foamed in the mixing vessel before being sprayed onto the mat by the hose means.
7. A slide as claimed in claim 6 , further including:
tank means operable to collect water, or melted foam or snow as a water/surfactant mixture, from the sump; and
second pump means operable to return the water, or mixture, to the mixing vessel.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPQ8801 | 2000-07-17 | ||
AUPQ8801A AUPQ880100A0 (en) | 2000-07-17 | 2000-07-17 | Toboggan and snow tubing slide |
AU48000/01A AU736389B3 (en) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-05-23 | Toboggan and snow tubing slide |
AU48000/01 | 2001-05-23 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030181248A1 true US20030181248A1 (en) | 2003-09-25 |
Family
ID=25628080
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/344,718 Abandoned US20030181248A1 (en) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-07-16 | Toboggan and snow tubing slide |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20030181248A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1305092A1 (en) |
AU (2) | AU736389B3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002005912A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2007003067A1 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-11 | Jingming Lang | Artificial snow, and artificial ski slope or ground |
US20080293506A1 (en) * | 2007-05-23 | 2008-11-27 | Northam Christopher Dale | Hydroplane sporting environment and devices and methods therefor |
EP2990743A2 (en) | 2014-08-07 | 2016-03-02 | Alfio Bucceri | Snow making method and apparatus |
CN107992042A (en) * | 2017-12-07 | 2018-05-04 | 苏州诚满信息技术有限公司 | One kind is based on polar intelligent snowfield repair system |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2869382B1 (en) | 2004-04-23 | 2007-12-21 | Eaton Sa Monegasque | VALVE FOR MONITORING THE INTERNAL GAS PRESSURE OF A RESERVOIR |
FR2869383B1 (en) | 2004-04-23 | 2008-03-21 | Eaton Sa Monegasque | VALVE FOR MONITORING THE INTERNAL GAS PRESSURE OF A RESERVOIR |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2982547A (en) * | 1960-09-02 | 1961-05-02 | Robert D Carrier | Aquatic play equipment |
US3473483A (en) * | 1966-10-06 | 1969-10-21 | Ruth S York | Conveyance and track |
US3858517A (en) * | 1972-08-18 | 1975-01-07 | Demag Ag | Recreational facility |
US3908556A (en) * | 1972-10-28 | 1975-09-30 | Stuehmer Rolfherbert | Sledding system |
US4345439A (en) * | 1980-02-20 | 1982-08-24 | Vencraft Corp. | Snowmaking method and apparatus |
US4790531A (en) * | 1985-11-19 | 1988-12-13 | Kajima Corporation | Indoor ski slope and apparatus for making snow thereon |
US5184980A (en) * | 1987-09-22 | 1993-02-09 | Ferris Kevin S | Sports apparatus |
US5230218A (en) * | 1988-06-22 | 1993-07-27 | Clulow Malcolm G | Snow making equipment |
US5241830A (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1993-09-07 | Taikisha Ltd. | Method of forming and maintaining artificial snow layer |
US6488590B2 (en) * | 2001-03-09 | 2002-12-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Piste Snow Industries | Indoor skiing ground facilities having lighting fixtures |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2722996B2 (en) * | 1993-02-15 | 1998-03-09 | 巖 茅野 | Artificial ski resort and manufacturing method thereof |
JP3743938B2 (en) * | 1996-03-12 | 2006-02-08 | 萩原工業株式会社 | Snow keeping mat for ski laying |
JPH10192475A (en) * | 1997-01-09 | 1998-07-28 | Toyo Sprinkler Kk | Artificial ski field and method of constructing it |
JP3903353B2 (en) * | 1997-08-07 | 2007-04-11 | 内田工業株式会社 | Artificial grass runway |
-
2001
- 2001-05-23 AU AU48000/01A patent/AU736389B3/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-07-16 US US10/344,718 patent/US20030181248A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-07-16 AU AU2001272213A patent/AU2001272213A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-07-16 EP EP01951230A patent/EP1305092A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-07-16 WO PCT/AU2001/000863 patent/WO2002005912A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2982547A (en) * | 1960-09-02 | 1961-05-02 | Robert D Carrier | Aquatic play equipment |
US3473483A (en) * | 1966-10-06 | 1969-10-21 | Ruth S York | Conveyance and track |
US3858517A (en) * | 1972-08-18 | 1975-01-07 | Demag Ag | Recreational facility |
US3908556A (en) * | 1972-10-28 | 1975-09-30 | Stuehmer Rolfherbert | Sledding system |
US4345439A (en) * | 1980-02-20 | 1982-08-24 | Vencraft Corp. | Snowmaking method and apparatus |
US4790531A (en) * | 1985-11-19 | 1988-12-13 | Kajima Corporation | Indoor ski slope and apparatus for making snow thereon |
US5184980A (en) * | 1987-09-22 | 1993-02-09 | Ferris Kevin S | Sports apparatus |
US5230218A (en) * | 1988-06-22 | 1993-07-27 | Clulow Malcolm G | Snow making equipment |
US5241830A (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1993-09-07 | Taikisha Ltd. | Method of forming and maintaining artificial snow layer |
US5327738A (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1994-07-12 | Taikisha Ltd. | Method of forming and maintaining artificial snow layer |
US6488590B2 (en) * | 2001-03-09 | 2002-12-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Piste Snow Industries | Indoor skiing ground facilities having lighting fixtures |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2007003067A1 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-11 | Jingming Lang | Artificial snow, and artificial ski slope or ground |
EP1918347A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2008-05-07 | Jingming Lang | Artificial snow, and artificial ski slope or ground |
EP1918347A4 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2009-11-11 | Jingming Lang | Artificial snow, and artificial ski slope or ground |
US20080293506A1 (en) * | 2007-05-23 | 2008-11-27 | Northam Christopher Dale | Hydroplane sporting environment and devices and methods therefor |
US20080293505A1 (en) * | 2007-05-23 | 2008-11-27 | Northam Christopher Dale | Hydroplane sporting environment and devices and methods therefor |
WO2008148070A3 (en) * | 2007-05-23 | 2009-01-22 | Christopher Dale Northam | Hydroplane sporting environment and devices and methods therefor |
EP2990743A2 (en) | 2014-08-07 | 2016-03-02 | Alfio Bucceri | Snow making method and apparatus |
US9909796B2 (en) | 2014-08-07 | 2018-03-06 | Alfio Bucceri | Snow making method and apparatus |
CN107992042A (en) * | 2017-12-07 | 2018-05-04 | 苏州诚满信息技术有限公司 | One kind is based on polar intelligent snowfield repair system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2001272213A1 (en) | 2002-01-30 |
EP1305092A1 (en) | 2003-05-02 |
WO2002005912A1 (en) | 2002-01-24 |
AU736389B3 (en) | 2001-07-26 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BUCCERI TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BUCCERI, ALFIO;REEL/FRAME:014153/0978 Effective date: 20030210 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SNOW FACTORIES PTY LTD., AUSTRALIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BUCCERI TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD;REEL/FRAME:014199/0717 Effective date: 20030528 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |