U.S. Patents for Other Rides

Links on the left provide access to roller coaster-related patents on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) server. This content is provided by the USPTO. Links on the right provide access via Google Patents, which may provide easier image viewing as well as serving patent pdfs. For more information, return to the patent home page.

This page contains miscellaneous ride patents in several categories, including alpine slides and some other gravity rides, vertical drop rides, bumper cars, powered rides, and rides propelled by moving floors or tracks. The patents are grouped by types. Most gravity rides are on the Roller Coaster Patent page. Water rides are on the water ride page. Lists of carousels and related rides are on the carousel page, ferris wheels are on the ferris wheel page, and other swinging or rotating rides are on the other rotating rides page. Funhouses, cable swings, and simulators are found on the other amusement devices page.

Each patent link will open in a new window.

The following table contains gravity rides that are not quite roller coasters, such as alpine slides and other slides. Some water slides are listed elsewhere.

on this page

slides and slideways... applications
powered rail rides ... applications
passenger-powered rail rides
vertical drop rides
observation towers
moving track rides ... applications
moving floor rides
bumper cars (etc.) ... applications
misc. rides ... applications

Slides and Slideways

patent number issue date    inventor/ assignee   patent title [comment] google link
318627 5/1885    Keller   Elevated cable gravity road 318627
365535 6/1887    Peeling   Toboggan slide [roller track] 365535
378154 2/1888    Van Zandt   Cable coaster, carrier, and ferrier 378154
387733 8/1888    Pusey   Artifical toboggan or coasting hill [with rollers on trackway] 387733
471510 3/1892    Grantland   Toboggan slide 471510
485495 11/1892    Fralinger   Roundabout 485495
525882 9/1894    Witschold   Gravity railway [helical downtrack]  
552692 1/1896    Moore   Pleasure railway [aquatic slide] 552692
738581 9/1903    Terry & Kirten   Amusement device [helical descent] 738581
803119 10/1905    Logan/ Kirker-Bender Fire Escape   Amusement device [spiral slide] 803119
811315 1/1906    McCabe   Amusement apparatus [slides] 811315
820805 5/1906    Mangels   Amusement device [Tickler, early version with posts] 820805
830853 9/1906    F. W. Thompson   Amusement apparatus [slide] 830853
831012 9/1906    Lanier   Amusement device 831012
833921 10/1906    de Mantz   Apparatus for public amusement 833921
836556 11/1906    Boeck & Müller   Amusement device [slide] 836556
854185 5/1907    Traver   Trolley amusement 854185
861919 7/1907    F. W. Thompson   Amusement device [plural slide] 861919
940664 11/1909    Becker   Amusement device 940664
987029 3/1911    Young   Apparatus for amusement of the public [roller sleds] 987029
997071 7/1911    Mangels   Mechanical toboggan slide 997071
1008518 11/1911    Bailey   Amusement device [ski slide] 1008518
1123676 1/1915    Bule   Wheeled attachment for sleds 1123676
1124629 1/1915    Lilienfeld   Amusement apparatus [slide] 1124629
1302642 5/1919    Doughty   Amusement apparatus [stair-like slideway and vehicle] 1302642
1339502 5/1920    Doughty   Amusement apparatus [stair slide] 1339502
1371887 3/1921    Gass   Amusement device [wheeled sled] 1371887
1417594 5/1922    Coe   Toboggan and slide 1417594
1447522 3/1923    Sellner   Toboggan slide 1447522
1467293 9/1923    Matheson   Toboggan slide [rollers on track]  
1511139 10/1924    Roziger   Amusement device [slide] 1511139
1578893 3/1926    Johnson et al   Toboggan slide 1578893
1594444 8/1926    Bernardy   Toboggan slide 1594444
1698093 1/1929    Hargrave   Slide mat 1698093
1702091 2/1929    Sellner   Toboggan slide and toboggan 1702091
1847250 3/1932    Maynes   Amusement ride 1847250
2705144 3/1955    Ridgway   Amusement slide 2705144
2742288 4/1956    Brunel   Chute for skiing or tobogganing  
2779596 1/1957    Ridgway   Amusement slide [with parachute] 2779596
3362755 1/1968    Macks   Conveying device utilizing pressurized fluid flow [embodied as amusement slide] 3362755
D210298 2/1968    Moulton/ Super Slide   Amusement slide [multi-lane] D210298
3490765 1/1970    Moulton/ Super Slide   Amusement slide 3490765
3858517 1/1975    Luck et al/ Demag   Recreational facility [alpine slide]3858517
3908556 9/1975    Stuhmer   Sledding system 3908556
3970300 7/1976    von Wendt et al/ Demag   Recreational facility slide 3970300
3973785 8/1976    Becker et al/ Demag   Sled [wheeled]3973785
4109904 8/1978    Becker et al/ Demag   Passenger slide 4109904
4145042 3/1979    Becker et al/ Demag   Slide 4145042
4192499 3/1980    Groves   Looped slide 4192499
4196900 4/1980    Becker et al/ Demag   Slide 4196900
4201137 5/1980    Lagsdin/ American Zephyr   Sled and slide construction 4201137
4220326 9/1980    Becker et al   Adjustable support apparatus for segments of an amusement slide 4220326
4221170 9/1980    Koudelka   Monorail mountain slide 4221170
4236454 12/1980    Erickson et al   Mountain monorail slide 4236454
4246846 1/1981    Betschart   Downhill sledding system 4246846
4335658 6/1982    VanderKelen/ Snow Machines   Downhill slide system 4335658
4339122 7/1982    Croul   Surfing slide 4339122
4394173 7/1983    Aste   Sporting and recreational facility slide 4394173
4417740 11/1983    Wechsler   Vehicle for coasting down in a channel-shaped roller slide 4417740
4805898 2/1989    Jacobs et al   Recreational slide system and components thereof 4805898
4821647 4/1989    Powell et al   Downhill tubular guideway having an air suspension system for passenger car 4821647
6413165 7/2002    Crandall & Groover   Intermittenly [sic] wetted sliding amusement ride 6413165

Slide Patent Applications

application number publication date    inventor/ assignee   patent title [comment]
2007/0072689 3/2007    Osler-Weppenaar   Human free-fall slide

Dark Rides, Powered Rail Rides, Tracked Cars, etc.

patent number issue date    inventor/ assignee   patent title [comment] google link
422466 3/1890    Thompson   Pleasure railway [endless train: Serpentine Railway] 422466
461102 10/1891    Gerber   Hippodrome aerial railway [externally or occupant powered] 461102
468792 2/1892    Critchlow   Tower [with helical track] 468792
472211 4/1892    Fralinger   Cable roundabout 472211
511910 1/1894    Schaphirt   Roundabout [tracked horse race ride] 511910
525596 9/1894    Gordon & Gordon   Riding, amusement, and instructing device 525596
579147 3/1897    Harman   Suspension railway [utility or amusement] 579147
639692 12/1899    Woods   Amusement apparatus [racing ride with blind speed controller] 639692
639787 12/1899    Stenning   Railway for recreation 639787
652872 7/1900    Wishart   Elevated pleasure railway [suspended, powered] 652872
655255 8/1900    Lyouns   Elevated Exhibition structure [incorporating powered scenic railway] 655255
690215 12/1901    Wilson   Recreation submarine boat or boat vehicle [cable driven] 690215
693581 2/1902    Biddle   Amusing apparatus 693581
710044 9/1902    Davidson   System of submarine transportation [cable driven] 710044
720838 2/1903    Needham   Aerial device [wind-propelled] 720838
737190 8/1903    Wright   Amusement device 737190
737257 8/1903    Manjo   Electric field game [powered steeplechase] 737257
743816 11/1903    Brady/ Electric Boat   Recreation submarine boat device [tracked] 743816
772570 10/1904    Martin/ Globe Amusement   Moving spiral cyclorama 772570
775234 11/1904    Carr   Elevator [archimedes screw lift for passenger vehicle] 775234
778325 12/1904    McKay   Amusement device [dark ride] 778325
786117 3/1905    Hagen   Observation train 786117
789973 5/1905    Hartung   Pleasure railway [motorized racing]789973
795347 7/1905    Fitch & Graham   Cyclorama 795347
798615 8/1905    Mayhew   Pleasure railway [racing, third rail]798615
798979 9/1905    Reckweg   Pleasure railway [cable drive]798979
811284 1/1906    Gaynor/ Electric Amusement   Electric race track 811284
822302 6/1906    Rice   Amusement vehicle 822302
824305 6/1906    Maguire   Amusement apparatus 824305
825130 7/1906    Jurgens   Amusement apparatus 825130
834016 10/1906    May   Amusement apparatus 834016
852184 4/1907    Hunt   Pleasure railway 852184
853898 5/1907    Rice   Amusement device 853898
867180 9/1907    Woods   Vehicle controlling apparatus 867180
868369 10/1907    Stewart & Greer   Amusement device [illusion/ride] 868369
868564 10/1907    Hübsch   Mechanical animal [for railed ride] 868564
881637 3/1908    Van Sant   Amusement device [cable-driven dark ride]881637
886627 5/1908    Neebe   Amusement device 886627
896944 8/1908    Skinner   Amusement railroad device [twisting tunnel illusion for tracked ride] 896944
898674 9/1908    O'Donnell   Amusement device 898674
901435 10/1908    Fuller   Amusement device 901435
903208 11/1908    Leonard   Amusement device [powered ride with slide portion] 903208
909500 1/1909    Woerth   Amusement apparatus 909500
910702 1/1909    Marshall et al   Railway and vehicular device for purposes of amusement [motorized, racing]910702
912004 2/1909    Lehman et al   Racing amusement apparatus 912004
912005 2/1909    Lehman et al   Racing amusement apparatus 912005
921750 5/1909    Strauss   Observation railway for parks, &c. 921750
935780 10/1909    Dahlin & Carlson   Aerial railway 935780
943007 12/1909    Dahlin & Carlson   Car [for amusement railway] 943007
946200 1/1910    Bragg   Amusement apparatus [dark ride]946200
952242 3/1910    Foans   Merry-go-round [convoluted path on rotating platform] 952242
952886 3/1910    Dressler   Amusement flying machine 952886
965768 7/1910    Van Sant   Amusement apparatus 965768
972750 10/1910    Budge/ Aerial Amusement   Amusement apparatus [airplane-simulating] 972750
982269 1/1911    Grunwald   Amusement device [tracked airplane ride] 982269
995175 6/1911    Pongo   Amusement apparatus [powered horse race ride]995175
1000742 8/1911    McKay   Pleasure railway1000742
1018315 2/1912    Harling   Mechanical amusement apparatus [racing railed roundabout] 1018315
1030024 6/1912    Smith   Cable or rack controlled hydroaeroplane 1030024
1037973 9/1912    Pages   Aeroplane suspension railway [utility or amusement] 1037973
1041299 10/1912    Kiralfy   Amusement device 1041299
1042066 10/1912    Zsinko   Single track railway 1042066
1058466 4/1913    Ray   Aerial amusement apparatus [cable car airplane ride] 1058466
1062314 5/1913    Wittich   Amusement device 1062314
1064681 6/1913    Cawthon & Thornton   Racing amusement apparatus 1064681
1083308 1/1914    Thurston   Amusement apparatus 1083308
1086349 2/1914    Carter   Amusement apparatus [rotating car]1086349
1092740 4/1914    Muller   Amusement railway 1092740
1093506 4/1914    Wade   Aerial amusement apparatus [captive airplane] 1093506
1096119 5/1914    Myers/ Anglo-California   Miniature Panama Canal [passenger conveying system for display] 1096119
1099951 6/1914    Thurston   Amusement apparatus 1099951
1099952 6/1914    Thurston   Amusement apparatus 1099952
1107115 8/1914    Ryan   Carousel [portable; chain-driven; oval path] 1107115
1133623 3/1915    Dreifuss   Amusement apparatus [rotating car]1133623
1141431 6/1915    Steinmann   Flying machine [utility or amusement]1141431
1188116 6/1916    Tittle   Scenic railway and carousel 1188116
1195707 8/1916    Miller   Amusement device [racing boat ride] 1195707
1306706 6/1919    W. E. Miller/ Gliding Waltz   Amusement device [note: figures missing]1306706
1329856 2/1920    Roman   Amusement device [suspended cable ride] 1329856
1336082 4/1920    Klein   Amusement device 1336082
1350873 8/1920    Lombardo   Amusement device [cable-driven]1350873
1351658 8/1920    Johnson   Pleasure railway [powered]1351658
1365984 1/1921    Guild   Amusement device 1365984
1367417 2/1921    Moore   Amusement apparatus 1367417
1372542 3/1921    Peterson   Amusement device [powered]1372542
1379185 5/1921    Healy   Amusement apparatus 1379185
1395657 11/1921    Schmidt   Pleasure railway [third rail]1395657
1397009 11/1921    Maynes   Amusement apparatus [tracked ride with canopy; Rainbow Tunnel (?)] 1397009
1398514 11/1921    Healy   Amusement apparatus [oval roundabout with endless chain of cars]1398514
1413891 4/1922    Beech   Traction device [with separate rail to guide elevation of suspended car] 1413891
1433135 10/1922    Hoch   Amusement device 1433135
1447895 3/1923    Schafer   Amusement device [powered monorail]1447895
1455390 5/1923    Davino & Schoberle   Aerial railway for amusement purposes 1455390
1462560 7/1923    Langlume et al   Mechanical racing course 1462560
1474335 11/1923    Lalle & Fowler   Amusement apparatus [horse racing ride] 1474335
1479753 1/1924    Stafford   Amusement apparatus [racing]1479753
1485839 3/1924    Dye   Scenic railway1485839
1487274 3/1924    Schafer   Amusement device [endless train]1487274
1491238 4/1924    Johnson   Monorail amusement apparatus 1491238
1507723 9/1924    Avery   Speedway 1507723
1508905 9/1924    Vaszin   Amusement device [Rumpus dark ride]1508905
1527893 2/1925    Mangels   Pleasure railway 1527893
1535237 4/1925    Maynes   Amusement apparatus 1535237
1546031 7/1925    Schofield  Aquatic amusement device 1546031
1555028 9/1925    Roth   Amusement device [third rail]1555028
1558133 10/1925    Whiteley/ Maynes   Amusement device [enclosed by dragon structure]1558133
1590934 6/1926    Feltner   Vehicle for amusement parks 1590934
1603170 10/1926    Vaszin   Electric locomotive and train 1603170
1603254 10/1926    Mangels   Amusement device [umbilicus for powered rail rides: Brownie Coaster] 1603254
1628827 5/1927    Custer   Aerial cable transportation means 1628827
1636481 7/1927    Newsbaum & Lonn/ International Amusement   Racing amusement device 1636481
1670992 5/1928    Schafer   Mountain ride [powered horse ride]1670992
1675165 6/1928    Custer   Automatic starting and stopping device for motor propelled vehicles 1675165
1702136 2/1929    Sawers et al   Amusement apparatus [endless train]1702136
1712353 5/1929    Meling   Amusement apparatus 1712353
1740496
=RE18544
12/1929  
7/1932  
  Cassidy & Rempfer   Amusement railway [pretzel dark ride] 1740496
RE18544
1741245 12/1929    Maynes   Amusement ride 1741245
1745241 1/1930    Bartlett   Amusement device 1745241
1748210 2/1930    Custer   Amusement apparatus [powered]1748210
1758123 5/1930    McFalls & Brown   Miniature interurban train 1758123
1762507 6/1930    Custer   Aerial amusement device [Zoomer: suspended monorail in form of airplane]1762507
1773636 8/1930    Spillman   Driving mechanism for amusement devices 1773636
1775988 9/1930    Custer   Safety retaining means 1775988
1781464 11/1930    Johnson   Amusement ride apparatus 1781464
1783268 12/1930    Traver   Amusement ride and car therefor [powered]1783268
1785989 12/1930    Traver   Car for amusement rides 1785989
1789140 1/1931    Kahl   Amusement car 1789140
1815860 7/1931    Mayberry   Amusement ride 1815860
1833540 11/1931    Scott & Stoneback/ Humphrey   Amusement device [dark ride]1833540
1838227 12/1931    Kahn   Truck for amusement cars [powered]1838227
1840988 1/1932    Traver   Amusement ride and vehicle therefor [motorized] 1840988
1844141 2/1932    Atwater   Amusement device 1844141
1885206 11/1932    Kahl   Passenger car for amusement parks 1885206
1890137 12/1932    Traver   Amusement railway [powered dark ride]1890137
1906763 5/1933    Maynes   Amusement ride 1906763
1916999 7/1933    Traver   Amusement ride and vehicle [Auto Race]1916999
1940233 12/1933    Traver   Amusement ride 1940233
1952273 3/1934    Mecchi   Amusement apparatus 1952273
1960395 5/1934    Phillips   Amusement device 1960395
2081261 5/1937    Bartlett   Amusement device 2081261
2090409 8/1937    Vaszin   Amusement device [Rumpus dark ride] 2090409
2093795 9/1937    Bartlett   Amusement device [device for stopping powered vehicle]2093795
2095413 10/1937    Harrison   Means for arresting amusement cars 2095413
2137839 11/1938    Hanna   Amusement devices 2137839