Patents by Inventor Hugo de Vries

Hugo de Vries has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11230799
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat includes a backing and a number of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected thereto. The mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and amounts to at least 10 mm. Such an artificial turf mat can be used to form artificial turf fields, for example, on which sports, and in particular ball sports, are played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo de Vries
  • Publication number: 20200283965
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat includes a woven backing and a number of artificial grass blades connected thereto. The woven backing includes a leno weave of warp and weft threads where at least some of the warp threads and/or some of the weft threads are formed by melting threads. The artificial grass blades are woven into the woven backing. Each melting thread can include a temperature-resistant thread core and a meltable coating surrounding the thread core. A method for manufacturing an artificial turf mat includes weaving a backing and connecting a number of artificial grass blades thereto. The backing is woven by interweaving a number of warp and weft threads by means of leno weaving, at least some of the interwoven threads are formed by melting threads, and artificial grass blades are woven into the woven backing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventor: Hugo DE VRIES
  • Patent number: 10316473
    Abstract: A modular structure for installing an artificial playing field comprising: a stabilizing layer forming a plurality of compartments for receiving a granular infill; a separation layer for location over the stabilizing layer to retain the infill; a water distributing layer; and an artificial turf layer. The claimed construction allows a stable base layer to be formed using virtually any locally available granular material such as earth, gravel, lava, rock and the like. The compartments ensure that the granular material is held in place and cannot be displaced due to loading or washed away due to rain or flooding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ten Cate Thiolon B.V.
    Inventors: Hein Anton Heerink, Hugo de Vries
  • Patent number: 10227716
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat includes a backing and a plurality of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected to the backing. The mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and is at least 10 mm. The backing and the blades may be formed and mutually connected by weaving. A method for forming an artificial turf mat includes supplying a backing material, supplying an artificial turf material, forming a backing from the backing material, and connecting blades of the artificial turf material divided into rows to the backing. The blades may be connected to the backing such that their mutual spacing in a row is substantially equal to the mutual distance between adjacent rows and is at least 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo de Vries
  • Patent number: 10145062
    Abstract: A damping layer comprises a large number of yarns combined to form a textile, wherein at least some of the yarns are foamed synthetic yarns. Such a textile, which consists of a mix of foamed and non-foamed synthetic yarns, is relatively strong and light and can lead to more efficient use of the foamed material. The foamed synthetic yarn may be formed into upstanding loops which provide additional resiliency and damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ten Cate Thiolon B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Patent number: 10011964
    Abstract: Method for forming a ground-covering layer (1), comprising the steps of providing a sheet (2); forming a number of substantially parallel folds (3) in the sheet; and urging toward each other and connecting to each other adjacent folds at different locations wherein the connections of each fold to an adjacent fold on the one side are offset relative to the connections to an adjacent fold on the other side. Ground-covering layer (1), comprising a sheet (2) with a number of substantially parallel folds (3), which folds are connected at different locations to adjacent folds, wherein the connections of each fold to an adjacent fold on the one side are offset relative to the connections to an adjacent fold on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Publication number: 20180094390
    Abstract: A modular structure for installing an artificial playing field comprising: a stabilising layer forming a plurality of compartments for receiving a granular infill; a separation layer for location over the stabilising layer to retain the infill; a water distributing layer; and an artificial turf layer. The claimed construction allows a stable base layer to be formed using virtually any locally available granular material such as earth, gravel, lava, rock and the like. The compartments ensure that the granular material is held in place and cannot be displaced due to loading or washed away due to rain or flooding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Ten Cate Thiolon B.V.
    Inventors: Hein Anton Heerink, Hugo de Vries
  • Publication number: 20170211242
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat includes a backing and a number of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected thereto. The mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and amounts to at least 10 mm. Such an artificial turf mat can be used to form artificial turf fields, for example, on which sports, and in particular ball sports, are played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo de Vries
  • Publication number: 20170211212
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat includes a backing and a plurality of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected to the backing. The mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and is at least 10 mm. The backing and the blades may be formed and mutually connected by weaving. A method for forming an artificial turf mat includes supplying a backing material, supplying an artificial turf material, forming a backing from the backing material, and connecting blades of the artificial turf material divided into rows to the backing. The blades may be connected to the backing such that their mutual spacing in a row is substantially equal to the mutual distance between adjacent rows and is at least 10 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo de Vries
  • Patent number: 9388536
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming an artificial grass layer on a substrate, comprising the steps of supplying a pack of flat and deformable artificial grass strips, in which the strips are arranged with their flat faces side-by-side and are connected to each other at mutually offset locations, placing the pack of artificial grass strips on or partially in the substrate, pulling apart the artificial grass strips, thus forming a grid, and at least partially filling at least some of the openings in the grid with a stabilizing material. The invention further relates to a method for forming such a pack of flat and deformable artificial grass strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Publication number: 20150345075
    Abstract: A damping layer comprises a large number of yarns combined to form a textile, wherein at least some of the yarns are foamed synthetic yarns. Such a textile, which consists of a mix of foamed and non-foamed synthetic yarns, is relatively strong and light and can lead to more efficient use of the foamed material. The foamed synthetic yarn may be formed into upstanding loops which provide additional resiliency and damping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Hugo DE VRIES
  • Patent number: 9039541
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laying a playable surface such as playing field, comprising the steps of forming a hard substrate, arranging on the hard substrate a layer of resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the resilient and/or damping layer, wherein during or after arranging of the hard substrate and/or the reliant and/or damping layer air chambers are formed therein. The behavior of the playing field becomes more natural due to these air chambers, and excessive resilience and energy restitution are avoided. The air chambers can be formed for instance by creating recesses in the relevant layer from the top, or by removing material from the layer at different location after arranging thereof, for instance by melting or biological decomposition of inclusions. The invention also relates to playing field obtain by application of this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventors: Hugo De Vries, Pieter Rook
  • Publication number: 20140147218
    Abstract: Method for forming a ground-covering layer (1), comprising the steps of providing a sheet (2); forming a number of substantially parallel folds (3) in the sheet; and urging toward each other and connecting to each other adjacent folds at different locationsm wherein the connections of each fold to an adjacent fold on the one side are offset relative to the connections to an adjacent fold on the other side. Ground-covering layer (1), comprising a sheet (2) with a number of substantially parallel folds (3), which folds are connected at different locations to adjacent folds, wherein the connections of each fold to an adjacent fold on the one side are offset relative to the connections to an adjacent fold on the other side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Patent number: 8491974
    Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial turf, comprising a backing and a number of artificial grass blades connected to the backing and extending transversely of the surface thereof, which artificial grass blades have an irregular, in particular a locally narrowed, cross-section. Owing to this locally narrowed cross-section in the vicinity of the free end thereof, these artificial grass blades greatly resemble natural blades of grass and also display similar behavior. The invention also relates to a method for forming such an artificial turf and to a device with which this method can be performed. The narrowed cross-section can herein be formed by stretching the artificial grass blades, wherein the artificial grass blades can be plasticized before, during and/or after the stretching, for instance by local heating thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Publication number: 20120301637
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming an artificial grass layer on a substrate, comprising the steps of supplying a pack of flat and deformable artificial grass strips, in which the strips are arranged with their flat faces side-by-side and are connected to each other at mutually offset locations, placing the pack of artificial grass strips on or partially in the substrate, pulling apart the artificial grass strips, thus forming a grid, and at least partially filling at least some of the openings in the grid with a stabilizing material. The invention further relates to a method for forming such a pack of flat and deformable artificial grass strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Publication number: 20120190464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laying a playable surface such as playing field, comprising the steps of forming a hard substrate, arranging on the hard substrate a layer of resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the resilient and/or damping layer, wherein during or after arranging of the hard substrate and/or the reliant and/or damping layer air chambers are formed therein. The behavior of the playing field becomes more natural due to these air chambers, and excessive resilience and energy restitution are avoided. The air chambers can be formed for instance by creating recesses in the relevant layer from the top, or by removing material from the layer at different location after arranging thereof, for instance by melting or biological decomposition of inclusions. The invention also relates to playing field obtain by application of this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Hugo De Vries, Pieter Rook
  • Patent number: 8133123
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laying a playable surface such as a playing field, comprising the steps of forming a hard substrate, arranging on the hard substrate a layer of resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the resilient and/or damping layer, wherein during or after arranging of the hard substrate and/or the resilient and/or damping layer air chambers are formed therein. The behavior of the playing field becomes more natural due to these air chambers, and excessive resilience and energy restitution are avoided. The air chambers can be formed for instance by creating recesses in the relevant layer from the top, or by removing material from the layer at different locations after arranging thereof, for instance by melting or biological decomposition of inclusions. The invention also relates to a playing field obtain by application of this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventors: Hugo De Vries, Pieter Rook
  • Publication number: 20100298073
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat, including a backing and a plurality of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected to the backing. The mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and is at least 10 mm. The backing and the blades may be formed and mutually connected by weaving. A method for forming an artificial turf mat, including supplying a backing material, supplying an artificial turf material, forming a backing from the backing material, and connecting blades of the artificial turf material divided into rows to the backing. The blades may be connected to the backing such that their mutual spacing in a row is substantially equal to the mutual distance between adjacent rows and is at least 10 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Publication number: 20100255223
    Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial turf, comprising a backing and a number of artificial grass blades connected to the backing and extending transversely of the surface thereof, which artificial grass blades have an irregular, in particular a locally narrowed, cross-section. Owing to this locally narrowed cross-section in the vicinity of the free end thereof, these artificial grass blades greatly resemble natural blades of grass and also display similar behaviour. The invention also relates to a method for forming such an artificial turf and to a device with which this method can be performed. The narrowed cross-section can herein be formed by stretching the artificial grass blades, wherein the artificial grass blades can be plasticized before, during and/or after the stretching, for instance by local heating thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries
  • Publication number: 20060204710
    Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial turf mat, comprising a backing and a number of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected thereto, wherein the mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and amounts to at least 10 mm. Such an artificial turf mat has uniform properties in all directions. The backing can be a fabric and the blades can be connected to the backing by tufting, wherein at least one support loop protruding less far from the backing can further be formed in each case between successive blades. The invention also relates to an artificial turf field comprising such an artificial turf mat and a layer of loose filling material arranged thereon, the thickness of which is less than the length of the artificial grass blades. The invention further relates to methods for forming the artificial turf mat and the artificial turf field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventor: Hugo De Vries