# US 8,541,530 B2 · Method of manufacturing artificial snow

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- Number: US 8,541,530 B2
- Document ID: US8541530B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/169,372
- Filed: 2011-06-27
- Published: 2012-01-19
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-01
- Assignees: Custompac Limited
- Applicants: Jeremy Edward John Smith
- Inventors: Jeremy Edward John Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541530B2

## CPC

- C09K 3/24: for simulating ice or snow
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A method of manufacturing artificial snow including the steps; a) feeding a bulk material into a first apparatus; b) reducing the particle size of the bulk material in the first apparatus to produce a product; c) sieving the product produced at step b); and d) collecting the product produced at step c) for use as artificial snow.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing artificial snow comprising the steps;
a) feeding a bulk material into a first apparatus wherein the bulk material comprises an expanded closed cell non cross-linked polyethylene foam having a density of 10 to 50 kg/m3;
b) reducing the particle size of the bulk material in the first apparatus to produce a product;
c) sieving the product produced at step b); and
d) collecting the product produced at step c) for use as artificial snow.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyethylene is low density polyethylene (LDPE).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bulk material has a density of about 25 Kg/m3.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product of step d) comprises between 80 and 100% of the bulk material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the product of step d) comprises substantially 100% the bulk material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is operable to granulate the bulk material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first apparatus is a medium duty granulator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sieving assembly is located on the first apparatus, said sieving assembly being operable to sieve the product produced at step b).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sieving assembly comprises at least one sieve member, said sieve member comprising a housing and a screen, the screen comprising a mesh having a plurality of apertures, wherein the apertures or mesh size is between substantially 1 mm and 15 mm in diameter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a mesh size of substantially 2 mm is used when making “Superfine” artificial snow.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a mesh size of substantially 4 mm is used when making “Fine” artificial snow.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a mesh size of substantially 5 mm is used when making “Standard” artificial snow.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a mesh size of substantially 6 mm is used when making “Medium” artificial snow.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a mesh size of substantially 8 mm is used when making “Coarse” artificial snow.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a mesh size of substantially 12 mm is used when making “Oversized” artificial snow.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a device operable to cause a reduction in the fluid flow through the assembly is provided downstream of an exit flow of the first apparatus.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the device is a cyclonic apparatus.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

Artificial snow manufactured according to claim 1.