Trademark: ZAMBONI® Configuration

First Used: April 1978

First Registered: August 2000

Current Owner: FRANK J. ZAMBONI & COMPANY, INC.

Trademark Type: non-traditional trademark; trade dress; configuration mark

Primarily Associated With: ice resurfacing machines

Brief (and likely incomplete) History: [1]

Zamboni® ice resurfacing machines have permeated popular culture, becoming iconic symbols in ice sports and entertainment. In fact, the configuration of a Zamboni® ice resurfacing machine is now a trademark. The look of the modern and iconic Zamboni® ice resurfacing machine dates back to the late 1970s.

In 1978, Zamboni released both the fuel-powered Model 500 and the battery-powered Model 550. The Model 500 introduced a new liquid-cooled engine (compared to previous model’s air-cooled engines) along with several other improvements to deliver an efficient, low emission engine. The Model 550 was the world’s first battery-powered ice resurfacing machine and delivered emission-free electric resurfacing technology. Both models debuted with the classic shape and configuration of Zamboni machine exteriors still known and used today.

The 500 Series is still the world’s most popular ice resurfacing and the model you are most likely to see in NHL games and ice rinks around the world. In 2000, the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine was immortalized as a board game token in the NHL version of the Monopoly board game.