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).
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Publication number: 20230279618Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Patent number: 11686052Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Patent number: 10577005Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Publication number: 20200063380Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Publication number: 20190283789Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Patent number: 10351151Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Publication number: 20190177922Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Patent number: 9809242Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Publication number: 20170057532Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventor: Mark H. Nicholls
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Patent number: 9308557Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Turf Industry Holdings LLCInventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
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Publication number: 20150224542Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
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Patent number: 9045071Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Turf Industry Holdings LLCInventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
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Publication number: 20130017023Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: TURF ALLIANCE, LLCInventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Michael A. Hartwell
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Patent number: 7874320Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Shaw Contract Flooring Services, Inc.Inventors: Timothy A. Knapp, Mark H. Nicholls, James A. Schinkel
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Publication number: 20100101678Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: SPORTEXE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Timothy A. Knapp, Mark H. Nicholls, James A. Schinkel
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Patent number: 7245815Abstract: Turf comprising a backing and artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending from the backing between the turf fibers.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Triexe Management Group Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
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Patent number: 6950599Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Triexe Management Group Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
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Publication number: 20040141711Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
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Patent number: 6672749Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Turfstore.Com, Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin
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Publication number: 20020159275Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: TurfStore. Com Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Nicholls, Sidney O. Nicholls, Douglas L. Pullin