# US 8,784,223 B2 · Skating training system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,223 B2 - Document ID: US8784223B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/912,205 - Filed: 2004-08-04 - Published: 2005-06-09 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2003-11-03 - Applicants: Dean C. Talafous - Inventors: Dean C. Talafous - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784223B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/0022: {for skating} - A63B 69/0026: {for ice-hockey} - A63C 19/10: Ice-skating or roller-skating rinks; Slopes or trails for skiing, ski-jumping or tobogganing - A63G 21/00: Chutes; Helter-skelters - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) - A63G: MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ## Abstract A system and method for improving skating speed and strength of skaters, particularly ice skaters, employs an inclined skating ramp. The skating surface itself may be any of the conventional or yet-to-be-invented artificial ice surfaces. The inclination of the ramp provides a greater challenge for the skating student than a conventional flat skating surface. While the inclined ramp may have more than one lane, so that more than one student may skate side-by-side in competition with each other, it is preferred to have only a single lane and employ a timing system so that a student is skating “against the clock” and therefore focused on improvement of individual performance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inclined skating ramp, comprising an artificial ice skating surface securely supported by an inclined frame, used to improve the speed and quickness of a skater. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the skating surface is an artificial ice skating surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the skating surface is a roller skating surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which skating surface is supported by the inclined frame at an angle of incline not more than eight degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the inclined ramp has an upper end and a lower end, and the system further comprises a lower platform at the lower end of the inclined ramp. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ramp of claim 5, in which the lower platform further comprises a skating surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the inclined ramp has an upper end and a lower end, and the system further comprises an upper platform at the upper end of the inclined ramp. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ramp of claim 7, in which the upper platform further comprises a skating surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the inclined frame is constructed from one of wood, metal, and plastic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the skating surface has a width of approximately eight feet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the skating surface has a length of approximately forty feet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, further comprising at least one sideline region adjacent the skating surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ramp of claim 12, in which the skating surface is supported by the inclined frame to be flush with the sideline region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, further comprising a railing on an outside face of the inclined ramp. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which there is a single lane of skating surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which there are multiple lanes of skating surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the ramp is permanently affixed to a building. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The ramp of claim 1, in which the ramp is portable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The inclined skating ramp of claim 1, and further comprising at least one sensor attached thereto. ### Claim 20 A system for improving skating skills, comprising an inclined ramp having an artificial ice skating surface securely supported by an inclined frame. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising a performance measurement system to measure performance of a skater within a measurement region of the skating surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, in which the performance measurement system begins measurement of skater performance when the skater crosses a first beam and ends measurement of skater performance when the skater crosses a second beam. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, in which the measurement region extends for approximately twenty feet of the skating surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising a display located above the inclined ramp to display measured performance. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, in which the performance measurement system measures one of elapsed time, beginning speed, ending speed, maximum speed, minimum speed, average speed, beginning acceleration, ending acceleration, maximum acceleration, minimum acceleration, average acceleration, comparison to a baseline value, comparison to a previous value, and comparison to a personal best value. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising sensors in a skater's equipment or mounted underneath the skating surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, in which the sensors measure one of speed, trajectory, and force associated with individual skating steps. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, further comprising an audiovisual recording system to record performance or biomechanics of a skater. ### Claim 29 A method of improving skating speed, comprising skating up an artificial ice skating surface securely supported by an inclined frame. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, and further comprising measuring skating speed using at least one sensor in a skater's equipment or mounted underneath the skating surface. ### Claim 31 A method of teaching improved skating speed, comprising the use of an inclined skating ramp constructed of an artificial ice skating surface securely supported by an inclined frame, to improve the ability of a skater to achieve their fastest possible speed in the shortest possible time from a starting position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, and further comprising measuring skating speed using at least one sensor in a skater's equipment or mounted underneath the skating surface.