Intamins next big thing
"Wow! This Vekoma design is JUST like that B&M design, but they called it an SLC instead of an inverted coaster so it must be totally different!" - Patent Lawyer
I did actually hear (for what it's worth) that the SLC has those cylinders coming off at angles between the seat assembly and the car because the seat was designed to have a tiny bit of sway - enough to make it not infringe on the patent. Anyone know if this has any validity?
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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff
http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1169.htm?Picture=12
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-Brian, who enjoys long walks on the beach, wooden coasters, avoiding being called a "jobber" while keeping it real in the 9Quad.
Taipan said:
Once read they're working on a 200mph 'Bullet Coaster' although most likely some sad person made that up! :)
Sure it wasn't 200 km/h? That would equate to about 124 MPH, which is just about what TTD launches at. When it actually launches, of course.
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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002
Intamin said: Intamin ang Geovanola have also made inverted coasters and they are called INVERTED coasters by their makers. And to my knowlege they dont wing or give any bit of sway. Does anybody know why these companys are also infringing on the patent and not getting busted for it
Because they're not building them in the US. You can patent what you want in the States, but that patent *only* applies to what's built in the States. In other words, patents are only recognized in one country, not the entire world.
-Nate
*** This post was edited by coasterdude318 10/16/2003 11:08:10 AM ***
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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002
-Nate
Intamin said:
Intamin ang Geovanola have also made inverted coasters and they are called INVERTED coasters by their makers. And to my knowlege they dont wing or give any bit of sway. Does anybody know why these companys are also infringing on the patent and not getting busted for it
Intamin calls their inverts "Suspended Loopping Coasters." The Launched Inverts are "Suspended Catapult Coasters" and the impulses are "Twisted Impulse Coasters." At least, that's what they say on their site: http://www.intaminworldwide.com/i_products_roller.htm
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Swat at the sun alongside El Diablo in 2003!
Only at Six Flags AstroWorld!
http://www.houstonthrills.com
Stengel Office Project No. 5916: Bullet Roller Coaster for Paramounts Great America.
Around 1994 the Stengel office designed and planned a coaster which was to break the 100 mp/h limit for PGA. The ride was to be built by Premier/S&MC. The speed was to be reached with a lift AND linear propulsion.
Sadly PGA shied away from the project.
Interesting that something called a "100 mp/h coaster" for Kings Island has another project No. than the actually built "Flight of Fear".
Concerning the patents:
If you change significant parts of a design, you can avoid patents. HUSS often tried to sue italian companies who shamelessly ripped off their original ideas and copied rides up to their names! (e.g. "Frisbee" turned "Frisbe" or "Frisby").
Take the Top Spin which was copied instantly by some manufacturers. But the italian designers changed the center of mass in the gondola and used another braking mechanism so they could not be sued.
The same applies to the Vekoma SLCs, they use the tracks which they licensed from Arrow and just turned them around. They even had a history designing regular suspended coasters. By designing their own cars (and most notably DID NOT use four abreast seating) their product is an original. And yes, they use the springs on the cars, which is another unique design factor as well.
The B&M/Giovanola thing is ramified to say the least:
Giovanola patented the boxbeam track in 1982. The first ride using the spline function track bending was Space Diver/Flashback. It is still a subject of speculation that Walter and Claude seperated from Giovanola to form their own comapany, specialising in coasters. But it would make sense: If you are working for a company, all inventions you come up with will belong to the company and not to you. So this would serve as an explanation that the boxbeam is used on G-tec rides and B&Ms as well.
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Its Inquisition time again.
*** This post was edited by tricktrack 10/16/2003 3:36:38 PM ***
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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff
coasterdude318 said:
Intamin said: Intamin ang Geovanola have also made inverted coasters and they are called INVERTED coasters by their makers. Does anybody know why these companys are also infringing on the patent and not getting busted for itBecause they're not building them in the US. You can patent what you want in the States, but that patent *only* applies to what's built in the States. In other words, patents are only recognized in one country, not the entire world.
-Nate
Volcano: The Blast Coaster doesn't count? Someone had better stop payment to Intamin, then.
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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
Hot stuff.
I just figured Intamin would step up and make a statement about folks not spelling out "you" on forums. ;)
And next thing you know, Disney will make a loop shaped like a mouse head or something...
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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza
ApolloAndy said:
A backwards tilt coaster would more or less defeat the point of the tilting....
I dunno... something about being tilted towards the sky and not knowing when you're going to drop backwards... that sounds a little unnerving (and therefore, fun) to me!
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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002
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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza
Intamin said:
I would personnaly like to see them build a tilt coaster, although i am not sure if Vekoma has a patent on it.
I doubt that Vekoma has a patent on the tilt.
Technically Togo built the first tilt coaster with the Ultra Coaster. Here the tilt is used to to reverse the cars direction.
Pinfari used to design an elevator lift with a tilting section to connect to the drop. This was never built , but Maurer Söhne took the same idea and incorporated the tilting lift as well as a vertical- and a sideways tilt in their spinning mouse designs. The only installation using it is the duelling spinning mouse Winjas Fear/Force at Phantasialand. Due to the back2back seating, you will even experience backwards tilting. Its pretty unnerving, but the full sensory thrill is provided by seeing the disconnected track approaching in front of you.
Giovanola never sold their version of the tilt coaster. It was designed to tilt on the vertical and horizontal axis simultaniosly while tilting the train to a 95° angle.
Stengel designed a "tail dive" coaster for Premier Rides. Imagine a vertical spike like Mr. Freeze, but instead of falling backwards, the train will be stopped and the whole track will then spin a full 180° until it connects to the adjacent track section. This was never built until today.
Somehow I guess that the tilt coaster will not have the brightest future. The high maintenance and low reliability overshadow the awesome thrill appeal.
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i was a teenage Schwarzkopf stalker
I'm still waiting on that hydraulic-launched wooden inverted standup with rotating seats...
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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002
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