Patents by Inventor Mark H. Nicholls

Mark H. Nicholls 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).

  • Publication number: 20230279618
    Abstract: Presented is an apparatus and system for an artificial turf system. The artificial turf system includes a backing layer having a plurality of fibers extending therefrom. The artificial turf system further includes a plurality of impact sensors located at least partially on, in, and/or beneath the backing layer, wherein the plurality of impact sensors are operable to detect a force or pressure applied to the backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 11686052
    Abstract: Presented is an apparatus and system for an artificial turf system. The artificial turf system includes a backing layer having a plurality of fibers extending therefrom. The artificial turf system further includes a plurality of impact sensors located at least partially on, in, and/or beneath the backing layer, wherein the plurality of impact sensors are operable to detect a force or pressure applied to the backing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 10577005
    Abstract: A movable rack system for storing carts or other suitable transports for storing rolls of synthetic turf. Alternatively, the rolls of synthetic turf may be stored directly on the rack systems. A first row of rack systems contains N rack systems. An adjacent row contains N?1 rack systems. The rack systems in the adjacent row can be moved laterally so that access to the first row is available for loading and unloading rack systems contained in that row. In a second moveable rack system, a plurality of satellite hubs rotate about a central hub such that support structures on the satellite hubs are capable of rotating into a loading position and then rotating away from the loading position to a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20200063380
    Abstract: Presented is an apparatus and system for an artificial turf system. The artificial turf system includes a backing layer having a plurality of fibers extending therefrom. The artificial turf system further includes a plurality of impact sensors located at least partially on, in, and/or beneath the backing layer, wherein the plurality of impact sensors are operable to detect a force or pressure applied to the backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20190283789
    Abstract: A movable rack system for storing carts or other suitable transports for storing rolls of synthetic turf. Alternatively, the rolls of synthetic turf may be stored directly on the rack systems. A first row of rack systems contains N rack systems. An adjacent row contains N?1 rack systems. The rack systems in the adjacent row can be moved laterally so that access to the first row is available for loading and unloading rack systems contained in that row. In a second moveable rack system, a plurality of satellite hubs rotate about a central hub such that support structures on the satellite hubs are capable of rotating into a loading position and then rotating away from the loading position to a storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 10351151
    Abstract: A movable rack system for storing carts or other suitable transports for storing rolls of synthetic turf. Alternatively, the rolls of synthetic turf may be stored directly on the rack systems. A first row of rack systems contains N rack systems. An adjacent row contains N?1 rack systems. The rack systems in the adjacent row can be moved laterally so that access to the first row is available for loading and unloading rack systems contained in that row. In a second moveable rack system, a plurality of satellite hubs rotate about a central hub such that support structures on the satellite hubs are capable of rotating into a loading position and then rotating away from the loading position to a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20190177922
    Abstract: A removable artificial turf panel system with an artificial turf panel that has a plurality of upstanding ribbons extending from a backing layer. An infill layer is interspersed between the upstanding ribbons on the backing layer. The outside of the backing layer may be provided with one of a magnet and a ferromagnetic material. The magnet/ferromagnetic material cooperates with a corresponding magnet/ferromagnetic material disposed in a channel on a layer of elastomeric material that supports the artificial turf panel. Accordingly, an artificial turf panel can be removably attached to a section of elastomeric material on an artificial turf playing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 9809242
    Abstract: A cart for use with rolls of synthetic turf comprising a first and second spaced apart longitudinal members; first and second lateral members between the first and second longitudinal members, the lateral members having at least one hitch ball disposed thereon; a plurality of lateral members between the first and second longitudinal members with one or more having an opening sized to receive a fork on a forklift and a hitch ball disposed thereon; first, second, third and fourth swivel casters having at least one wheel and disposed inside a perimeter defined by the first and second longitudinal members and the first and second lateral member; and a support member having at least one curved surface to from a cradle for receiving the one or more rolls of synthetic turf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20170057532
    Abstract: A cart for use with rolls of synthetic turf comprising a first and second spaced apart longitudinal members; first and second lateral members between the first and second longitudinal members, the lateral members having at least one hitch ball disposed thereon; a plurality of lateral members between the first and second longitudinal members with one or more having an opening sized to receive a fork on a forklift and a hitch ball disposed thereon; first, second, third and fourth swivel casters having at least one wheel and disposed inside a perimeter defined by the first and second longitudinal members and the first and second lateral member; and a support member having at least one curved surface to from a cradle for receiving the one or more rolls of synthetic turf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 9308557
    Abstract: A mobile infill reclamation system comprising a mobile platform configured to be readily moved from a first location to a second location in relatively close proximity to an existing synthetic turf surface, a support structure mounted on the mobile platform, multiple processing components supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to process used infill material from the existing synthetic turf surface, an infill intake supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to receive the used infill material, and an infill output supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to discharge infill material processed by the processing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Turf Industry Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
  • Publication number: 20150224542
    Abstract: A mobile infill reclamation system comprising a mobile platform configured to be readily moved from a first location to a second location in relatively close proximity to an existing synthetic turf surface, a support structure mounted on the mobile platform, multiple processing components supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to process used infill material from the existing synthetic turf surface, an infill intake supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to receive the used infill material, and an infill output supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to discharge infill material processed by the processing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
  • Patent number: 9045071
    Abstract: A mobile infill reclamation system comprising a mobile platform configured to be readily moved from a first location to a second location in relatively close proximity to an existing synthetic turf surface, a support structure mounted on the mobile platform, multiple processing components supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to process used infill material from the existing synthetic turf surface, an infill intake supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to receive the used infill material, and an infill output supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to discharge infill material processed by the processing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Turf Industry Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
  • Publication number: 20130017023
    Abstract: A mobile infill reclamation system comprising a mobile platform configured to be readily moved from a first location to a second location in relatively close proximity to an existing synthetic turf surface, a support structure mounted on the mobile platform, multiple processing components supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to process used infill material from the existing synthetic turf surface, an infill intake supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to receive the used infill material, and an infill output supported by the support structure and configured and arranged to discharge infill material processed by the processing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: TURF ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
  • Patent number: 7874320
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is a method which includes providing a plurality of warp yarns; providing a plurality of fill yarns; providing a plurality of pile yarns of a first type; providing a plurality of pile yarns of a second type; providing a plurality of dummy yards; weaving the plurality of pile yarns of the first type with the plurality warp yarns and the plurality of fill yarns for a first predetermined distance to form a backing; weaving the plurality of pile yarns of the first type with the plurality of dummy yarns to form a plurality of short hoops for a second predetermined distance; cutting the plurality of pile yarns of the first type to form a first plurality of upstanding ribbons representing grass to produce a synthetic field surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Shaw Contract Flooring Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Knapp, Mark H. Nicholls, James A. Schinkel
  • Publication number: 20100101678
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described relating to method of producing a synthetic field surface. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of warp yarns; providing a plurality of fill yarns; providing a plurality of pile yarns of a first type; providing a plurality of pile yarns of a second type; providing a plurality of dummy yards; weaving the plurality of pile yarns of the first type with the plurality warp yarns and the plurality of fill yarns for a first predetermined distance to form a backing; weaving the plurality of pile yarns of the first type with the plurality of dummy yarns to form a plurality of short hoops for a second predetermined distance; cutting the plurality of pile yarns of the first type to form a first plurality of upstanding ribbons representing grass to produce a synthetic field surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: SPORTEXE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Knapp, Mark H. Nicholls, James A. Schinkel
  • Patent number: 7245815
    Abstract: Turf comprising a backing and artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending from the backing between the turf fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Triexe Management Group Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
  • Patent number: 6950599
    Abstract: Turf comprising artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending between the turf fibers. The present invention also provides a method of marking a surface comprising the steps of providing a light source, providing a surface to be marked, providing an optical material capable of illumination by the light source, configuring and arranging the optical material, the surface, and the light source such that illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface, and illuminating the optical material. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing turf comprising the steps of providing a turf surface, providing optical material capable of illumination by a light source, and threading the turf surface with the optical material whereby illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Triexe Management Group Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
  • Publication number: 20040141711
    Abstract: Turf comprising artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending between the turf fibers. The present invention also provides a method of marking a surface comprising the steps of providing a light source, providing a surface to be marked, providing an optical material capable of illumination by the light source, configuring and arranging the optical material, the surface, and the light source such that illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface, and illuminating the optical material. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing turf comprising the steps of providing a turf surface, providing optical material capable of illumination by a light source, and threading the turf surface with the optical material whereby illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
  • Patent number: 6672749
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an optically marked surface. In the preferred embodiment, the optically marked surface (15) comprises a light source (16), a surface to be marked (18), optical material (19) capable of illumination by the light source, the optical material, the surface and the light source being so configured and arranged that illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface. The present invention also discloses turf comprising artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending between the turf fibers. The present invention also provides a method of marking a surface comprising the steps of providing a light source, providing a surface to be marked, providing an optical material capable of illumination by the light source, configuring and arranging the optical material, the surface, and the light source such that illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface, and illuminating the optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Turfstore.Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
  • Publication number: 20020159275
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an optically marked surface. In the preferred embodiment, the optically marked surface (15) comprises a light source (16), a surface to be marked (18), optical material (19) capable of illumination by the light source, the optical material, the surface and the light source being so configured and arranged that illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface. The present invention also discloses turf comprising artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending between the turf fibers. The present invention also provides a method of marking a surface comprising the steps of providing a light source, providing a surface to be marked, providing an optical material capable of illumination by the light source, configuring and arranging the optical material, the surface, and the light source such that illumination of the optical material is visible on the surface, and illuminating the optical material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: TurfStore. Com Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin