Improvements in and relating to the Production of Surfaces for Skating Rinks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Production of Surfaces for
Skating Rinks.
I, EMIL EUGEN DOWALD, of 19 Blumenstrasse, Elberfeld, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the production of surfaces for skating rinks.
Skating has heretofore been confined to countries where in winter the atmospheric
temperature is so low as to cause the production of ice adapted for skating purposes.
However, for enabling the sport to be practised also in other seasons and in other
countries endeavours have been made to replace ordinary skates by roller skates
used for skating on rinks of asphaltum. But as the use of roller skates affords far
less pleasure than that of ordinary skates this substitute has not met with abiding
success.
For this reason I retain the ordinary skates and produce in lieu of a surface of
ice a surface on which such skates may be used in the well-known manner.
To form a skating surface which as far as practicable is equal to that of ice in
respect of smoothness and other desirable properties I make use of paper or paste-
board tablets or plates of about fifteen millimetres thick, and also thinner or thicker
according to requirements. These tablets or plates are immersed in very hot
linseed oil varnish with which glue is mixed. The tablets or plates must remain in
the varnish until they are perfectly permeated, the length of time depending upon
their thickness. After the permeation the tablets or plates are immediately
subjected to a powerful pressure, preferably by means of hydraulic presses, to
squeeze out the excess of oil and to give the tablets or plates greater strength.
Then the tablets or plates are dried, immersed in hot paraffin and again subjected
to a powerful pressure for the purpose of preventing them from taking up any more
moisture and of making them stronger.
To the side of these tablets or plates which is turned upwards is then applied
parchment of about 1 millimetre in thickness by rolling.
Such tablets or plates are then coated below and on the sides with gypsum
and tar. This coating with gypsum and tar is effected with the object of rendering
the tablets or plates absolutely resistant against outer influences. They are then
carefully juxtaposed and united by cement for the formation of an even surface.
The finished surface of the rink is coated with a material consisting of one part
of glycerine, two parts of wax and three parts of oil, this material being rubbed in
as well as possible. This material, which is applied in a cold state to the surface
of the rink and must be renewed if necessary, is prepared by melting the aforesaid
parts of glycerine wax and olive oil together and allowing the same to cool.
On the rink thus produced skates must be used with blades from which the
sharp edges of the under surface are removed, and the under surface is ground
smooth, in order that the surface of the rink may not be seriously injured by the
skating.
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Production of Surfaces for...
Skating Rinks.
I, EMIL EUGEN DOWALD, of 19 Blumenstrasse, Elberfeld, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the production of surfaces for skating rinks.
Skating has heretofore been confined to countries where in winter the atmospheric
temperature is so low as to cause the production of ice adapted for skating purposes.
However, for enabling the sport to be practised also in other seasons and in other
countries endeavours have been made to replace ordinary skates by roller skates,
used for skating on rinks of asphaltum. But as the use of roller skates affords far
less pleasure than that of ordinary skates this substitute has not met with permanent
success.
For this reason I make use of the ordinary skates and produce, in lieu of a
surface of ice, a surface on which such skates may be used in the well-known
manner.
To form a skating surface which as far as practicable is equal to that of ice in
respect of smoothness and other desirable properties I make use of paper or paste-
board tablets or plates of about fifteen millimetres thick, which however can be
made thinner or thicker according to requirements. These tablets or plates are
immersed in very hot linseed oil varnish with which glue is mixed. The tablets
or plates must remain in the varnish until they are perfectly permeated, the length
of time depending upon their thickness. After the permeation the tablets or plates
are immediately subjected to a powerful pressure, preferably by means of an
hydraulic press, to squeeze out the excess of oil and to give the tablets or plates
greater strength. The tablets or plates are then dried, immersed in hot paraffin
and again subjected to a powerful pressure for the purpose of preventing them from
taking up any more moisture and of making them stronger.
To the upper side of these tablets or plates is then applied a layer of parchment
of about 1 millimetre in thickness by rolling.
Such tablets or plates are then coated below and on the sides with gypsum and
tar, the said coating being effected with the object of rendering the tablets or
plates absolutely resistant against outer influences. They are then carefully juxta-
posed and united by cement for the formation of an even surface. The finished
surface of the rink is coated with a material consisting of one part of glycerine;
two parts of wax and three parts of oil, this material being rubbed in as well as
possible. The said material, which is applied in a cold state to the surface of the
rink and must be renewed if necessary, is prepared by melting the aforesaid parts
of glycerine, wax and olive oil together and allowing the same to cool.
•
On the rink thus produced skates must be used with blades from which the sharp
edges of the under surface are removed, and the under surface is ground smooth, in
order that the surface of the rink may not be seriously injured by the skating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
:-
First. A surface for skating rinks adapted for ordinary skates, which consists of
paper or pasteboard tablets or plates permeated with varnish and paraffin, and
coated with glycerine, wax and oil, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.

page_text: Second. A material for coating surfaces of skating rinks, consisting of glycerine,
wax and oil, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
Dated this 10th day of August 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.