# Early Roller Coaster Design for Thrill Rides

> This 1885 patent describes an early roller coaster structure designed to provide thrilling rides by using gravity and a specific track layout.

- **Patent:** US 310966
- **Original title:** Roller coasting structure
- **Owner:** LaMarcus A. Thompson
- **Granted:** 1885
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 0
- **Field:** automotive

## What it does

The patent details a structure for a roller coaster, specifically focusing on the track's design. It outlines a track that descends from a high point, using gravity to propel a car. The design emphasizes a layout that creates a thrilling experience for riders, likely through drops and turns, without specifying the exact mechanisms for propulsion beyond the initial climb and subsequent descent.

## What it does NOT cover

- Roller coaster designs that require continuous powered propulsion throughout the ride.
- Specific safety features like restraints or harnesses.
- The design of the individual roller coaster cars.
- The method of initially loading passengers onto the ride.
- Indoor amusement park structures.

## The clever bit

The novelty lies in the systematic application of gravity-driven descent as the primary means of amusement, captured in a specific track layout, distinguishing it from simpler gravity-powered rides.

## Real-world examples

1. The Switchback Railway at Coney Island (circa 1884, predates patent but similar concept)

## Why it matters

This patent represents one of the earliest documented attempts to patent a roller coaster structure. It signifies the beginning of formalized intellectual property for amusement rides, laying groundwork for future innovations in the industry.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does Early Roller Coaster Design for Thrill Rides cover?

This 1885 patent describes an early roller coaster structure designed to provide thrilling rides by using gravity and a specific track layout.

### Who owns patent US 310966?

LaMarcus A. Thompson owns this patent, granted in 1885.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent represents one of the earliest documented attempts to patent a roller coaster structure. It signifies the beginning of formalized intellectual property for amusement rides, laying groundwork for future innovations in the industry.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Roller coaster designs that require continuous powered propulsion throughout the ride.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/310966/roller-coaster-thompson

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US310966

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How the First Modern Water Slide Was Designed](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2982547/slip-n-slide-carrier) — A 1960 patent for a water-based amusement structure featuring a sloped surface and a water supply system to create a sliding experience.
- [Leamon Souder's 1903 Design for a Spiral Escalator](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/723325/escalator-moving-stairway) — A 1903 patent for a mechanical staircase that moves in a circular, spiraling path to transport people between floors.
- [Early Car Wheel Traction Device](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1141798/zipper-slide-fastener) — A 1915 patent for a metal device clamped to a car wheel to improve traction on slippery surfaces.
- [George Selden's 1895 Patent for a Road Engine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/549160/selden-automobile-patent) — George Selden's 1895 patent describes a 'road engine,' a precursor to the automobile, focusing on a combined engine and vehicle design.
- [How Joseph-Armand Bombardier Designed the Modern Snowmobile](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3023824/snowmobile-bombardier) — A 1962 patent by Joseph-Armand Bombardier describing a lightweight, engine-driven vehicle using an endless track system for travel over snow.