Artificial pet grass

Abstract

Artificial pet grass for use by pet owners and pet caregivers to provide a pet with an area of artificial grass. The artificial pet grass includes a pad member having a first predetermined shape and first predetermined thickness and manufactured from a first predetermined material and at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass protruding upwards from and attached to an upper surface of such pad member. The at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass being a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness and manufactured from a second predetermined material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/882,346 filed Dec. 28, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to artificial grass and, more particularly, this invention relates to artificial grass for pets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, artificial grass as is generally well known in the prior art, has been used for golf playing surfaces and sports fields. Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Martino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,541 discloses a artificial athletic turf of a simulated grass surface provided by tufting strips into a backing fabric and holding the tufts in place by a precoat of polyurethane; a reinforcing sheet is embedded within the precoat to provide tear resistance. A hole can be cut into the mat, and the hole reinforced with a sleeve, to receive a tee for use as a golf mat.

Florian, U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,396 discloses a golf practice mat which includes a relatively thick base pad formed of a resilient elastomeric material, e.g. foam rubber, and an artificial grass carpet slidably positioned on the base pad.

Martino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,540, discloses artificial athletic turf which has a simulated grass surface provided by tufting strips into a backing fabric; the tufts are held in place by a precoat of polyurethane, and a reinforcing sheet is embedded within the precoat to provide tear resistance. The turf is cut along lines parallel and perpendicular to the tufting lines to provide tiles, and the tiles are assembled to form the desired turf.

Tomarin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,942, discloses a playing field surface for active running and body contact type sports, such as football and the like, formed of a stabilized, flat base surface covered by an underpad, over which is laid a synthetic pile fiber carpet. A covering of sand-like granules is applied upon the carpet to substantially fill the spaces between the fibers. The underpad is made of reclaimed rubber, sliver-like small particles which are bonded together into a thick, water pervious mat and provides support for lateral foot movements and resiliently absorbs and disperses the forces of foot and body impacts.

Speck, U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0049069 discloses a subsurface golf practice mat having a plurality of resilient substrate emulating natural earth soil which has a frame and can be attached to a contained and recessed below the earth surface to maintain a parallel plane with the natural grass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides artificial pet grass for use by pet owners and pet caregivers to provide a pet with an area of artificial grass. This artificial pet grass comprises a pad member having a first predetermined shape and first predetermined thickness and manufactured from a first predetermined material. At least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass protrude upwards from and are attached to an upper surface of such pad member. The at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass being a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness and manufactured from a second predetermined material.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a pad of artificial grass for pets to sit on, lay on, or roll on that doesn't have to be trimmed and mowed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an artificial turf for a user to place in a pet crate in which a pet travels or spends time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an artificial turf for users to provide their pets where the user and pets reside or are confined to an area that has no yard.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple tool for house-training pets.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide artificial grass for apartment dwellers to provide to their pets that do not have an opportunity to enjoy real grass.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a piece of artificial turf that can sit on decks, on balconies, can be placed in dog runs, and in parks for a user's pet to enjoy.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the artificial pet grass according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the artificial pet grass according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the artificial pet grass according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the artificial pet grass according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-4. According to a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is artificial pet grass, generally designated 10, for use by pet owners and pet caregivers to provide a pet with an area of artificial grass.

The artificial pet grass includes pad member 12 of a first predetermined shape and first predetermined thickness and manufactured from a first predetermined material and at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass 14 protrude upwards from and are attached to an upper surface 16 of such pad member 12. The at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass 14 are a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness and are manufactured from a second predetermined material.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the first predetermined material is plastic.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the second predetermined material is plastic.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention the first predetermined material is fabric.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the second predetermined material is fabric.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention the artificial pet grass 10 includes a base member 18 of a third predetermined shape and a third predetermined thickness and manufactured from a third predetermined material. In this particular embodiment it is preferred that the base member 18 and such pad member 12 are of substantially the same size and that the third predetermined material is selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic. In this particular embodiment it is further preferred that the pad member 12 is engageable at a bottom surface 20 thereof to an upper surface 22 of the base member 18. Furthermore, according to this particular embodiment it is preferred that such pad member 12 is removably secured to the base member 18 and it is most preferred that such pad member 12 is removably secured to the base member 18 by a hook and loop type fastening means 24.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, such pad member 12 is permanently engaged to the base member 18 by an adhesive means 26.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Artificial pet grass for use by pet owners and pet caregivers to provide a pet with an area of artificial grass, said artificial pet grass comprising:

a. a pad member having a first predetermined shape and first predetermined thickness and manufactured from a first predetermined material; and

b. at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass protruding upwards from and attached to an upper surface of said pad member, and said at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass being a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness and manufactured from a second predetermined material.

2. Artificial pet grass for use by pet owners and pet caregivers to provide a pet with an area of artificial grass, said artificial pet grass comprising:

a. a pad member having a first predetermined shape and first predetermined thickness and manufactured from a first predetermined material;

b. at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass protruding upwards from and attached to an upper surface of said pad member, and said at least one of tufts, strands and patches of artificial grass being a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness and manufactured from a second predetermined material; and

c. a base member having a third predetermined shape and a third predetermined thickness and manufactured from a third predetermined material said pad member being engageable at an bottom surface thereof to an upper surface of said base member.

3. Artificial pet grass, according to claim 2, wherein said base member and said pad member are of substantially the same size.

4. Artificial pet grass, according to claim 2, wherein said third predetermined material is selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

5. Artificial pet grass, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material is plastic.

6. Artificial pet grass according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material is fabric.

7. Artificial pet grass according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material is plastic.

8. Artificial pet grass according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material is fabric.

9. Artificial pet grass, according to claim 2, wherein said pad member is permanently engaged to said base member by an adhesive means.

10. Artificial pet grass, according to claim 2, wherein said pad member is removably secured to said base member.

11. Artificial pet grass, according to claim 2, wherein said base member is removably secured to said pad member by a hook and loop type fastening means.