JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR ARTIFICIAL TURF SUBSTRATE
An interlocking substrate for artificial turf that includes a base pad having an interlocking tab-and-notch structure that is operable to lock one piece of the base pad to an adjacent piece of the base pad and including channels formed in the upper surface of the substrate to provide drainage and to carry heating and cooling tubes to regulate the temperature of the artificial turf.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/028,014, filed Feb. 12, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to a substrate for artificial turf. More specifically, the invention relates to a joint construction for a substrate for artificial turf and to a construction that provides for drainage and for heating the artificial turf.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSynthetic turf, also known as artificial turf, is a grass-like surface manufactured from synthetic materials. Although items such as floor mats, rugs, and the like, can be produced from artificial turf, it is most often used in stadiums and fields where sports are played. Some of the advantages of using artificial turf are its extended lifetime compared to natural turf and its ability to provide a suitable playing surface in environments that are unsuitable for natural grass. One of the disadvantages of artificial turf can be the tendency for the turf to develop folds or ripples where the turf is not securely attached to or laid upon a substrate underneath. One cause for the development of such folds and ripples can be due to adjacent pieces of the underlying substrate separating from one another. As such, expensive and/or time-consuming methods and mechanisms are used to ensure that substrate pieces beneath the artificial grass remain flat and attached to one another. Therefore, an artificial turf substrate possessing an improved joint construction for attaching one piece of the substrate to another piece would be desirable.
Also such a substrate including means to provide for drainage of the artificial turf and for melting snow that may cover the artificial turf or for cooling the turf in hot weather would improve the playing conditions for those using the artificial turf and therefore would be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed is an interlocking substrate for artificial turf that includes a base pad having an interlocking tab-and-notch structure that is operable to interlock one piece of the base pad to an adjacent piece of the base pad. The interlocking tab-and-notch structure has at least one tab extending from the base pad and at least one notch adjacent to the at least one tab. The interlocking tab has an outer portion and an inner portion, the inner portion proximate to the base pad and the outer portion extending from the inner portion. The outer portion has a width dimension that is greater than a width dimension of the inner portion.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the interlocking tab-and-notch structure has a plurality of interlocking tabs extending from the base pad, the plurality of interlocking tabs being spaced apart from each other and defining a plurality of interlocking notches, a single interlocking notch defined between two adjacent interlocking tabs. The interlocking tabs each have an outer portion and an inner portion, with the inner portion proximate to the base pad and the outer portion extending from the inner portion. The outer portion has a width dimension that is greater than a width dimension of the inner portion. The interlocking notch defined between two of the interlocking tabs has an inner portion and an outer portion also, however, the inner portion has a width dimension that is greater than a width dimension of the outer portion.
The substrate further includes an upper surface upon which the artificial turf lays that is provided with spaced and open channels extending there across to provide the means for drainage and to accommodate tubes or the like to permit the circulation of a heated fluid to melt snow and/or ice from the surface of the turf or the circulation of cooling fluid in a hot environment.
The present invention discloses an interlocking substrate for artificial turf that provides for interlocking attachment of adjacent pieces of the substrate. As such, the present invention has utility as a base material for artificial turf. In addition, the present invention has utility for improving the method in which a substrate for artificial turf is laid down in order for artificial grass to be placed upon. The substrate includes means to provide drainage from the artificial turf and for heating and/or cooling the turf.
The interlocking substrate of the present invention is preferably an elastomeric foam material having an interlocking tab-and-notch structure around the perimeter of the substrate. The interlocking tab-and-notch structure can include a plurality of tabs that are spaced apart from each other, the tabs defining an interlocking notch between adjacent tabs. The placement and spacing of the tabs along the perimeter of the piece of the interlocking substrate of the present invention provides for adjacent pieces of the substrate to be attached together in a generally quick, easy and efficient manner.
Channels are provided in the upper surface of the substrate beneath the artificial turf to promote drainage and to accommodate tubes for the circulation of heated or cooled fluids.
Referring now to
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Located along the perimeter of the base pad 100 is an interlocking tab-and-notch structure 20 (
Still referring to
To install the artificial turf 122 base pads 120 are preferably provided in rolls and are rolled into place one base pad at a time and with adjacent rolls locked together using the tabs 150 and the notches 170 of adjacent base pads 120.
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In this manner, an interlocking substrate for artificial turf that affords for the interlocking attachment of adjacent pieces of substrate is provided. In addition, the foregoing drawings, discussion and description are illustrative of specific embodiments of the present invention, but they are not meant to be limitations upon the practice thereof. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teachings present herein. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A substrate for artificial turf, said substrate comprising:
- a base pad having an interlocking tab-and-notch structure operable to interlock said base pad to an adjacent base pad;
- said interlocking tab-and-notch structure having at least one tab extending from said base pad and at least one notch adjacent to said at least one tab;
- said interlocking tab having an outer portion and an inner portion, said inner portion proximate said base pad and said outer portion extending from said inner portion; said outer portion having a width dimension greater than a width dimension of said inner portion.
2. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said interlocking tab-and-notch structure has two interlocking tabs spaced apart from each other that define an interlocking notch therebetween, said interlocking notch having an inner portion and an outer portion, said interlocking notch inner portion having a width dimension greater than a width dimension of said outer portion.
3. The substrate of claim 2, wherein an interlocking tab of an adjacent base pad fits within said interlocking notch of said base pad.
4. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said base pad includes an upper surface and at least one channel formed in and extending across said upper surface of said base pad to provide drainage for the artificial turf.
5. The substrate of claim 4, wherein said channel is a generally U-shaped in cross-section.
6. The substrate of claim 4, wherein said base pad has a plurality of said channels.
7. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said base pad includes an upper surface and at least one channel formed in and extending across said upper surface of said base pad, a tube disposed in said channel to provide for circulation of a heating or cooling fluid.
8. The substrate of claim 1, wherein said base pad is made from elastomeric foam material.
9. A substrate for artificial turf, said substrate comprising:
- a base pad having a structure operable to interlock said base pad to an adjacent base pad;
- said base pad having a channel extending across an upper surface of said base pad in alignment with a channel formed on said adjacent base pad to provide a path for drainage.
10. The substrate of claim 9, including a tube carried in at least one of said channels.
11. The substrate as defined in claim 9 and including a radiant heating wire carried in at least one of said channels
12. The substrate of claim 9, wherein said base pad is made from elastomeric foam material.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 11, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2009
Inventor: Ronald Wise (Old Hickory, TN)
Application Number: 12/369,434
International Classification: A41G 1/00 (20060101); E02B 11/00 (20060101);