Liftable turfing systems

• US 20060242901A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: StrathAyr Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: StrathAyr Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Casimaty, Frank Gregory, Casimaty, Gabriel, McCullagh, Joseph John, Aisenberg, Yoram
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/65.900
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/033 Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/083 Construction of grass-grown sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2013/006 Transportable sport surfaces for multipurpose stadiums

Abstract

A liftable support structure for a turf system, the support structure comprising a skeletal framework having an open based structure with upstanding sides and at least two parallel spaced cross beams, the framework defining open subsections, each subsection having a base defining a ledge structure, each subsection supporting a latticework panel that sits on the ledge structure, the framework having a plurality of spaced lifting points and the cross beams defining access to forklift tines. A pallet for natural or artificial turf comprising a structure moulded in foamed plastics to have a closed planar top surface supported by a lattice work of mutually perpendicular walls defining a flexible open base, the structure defining a pair of elongate spaced parallel channels extending across each side to facilitate forklift tine entry.

Claims

1. A liftable support structure for a turf system, the support structure comprising a skeletal framework having an open base structure with upstanding sides and at least two parallel spaced cross beams, the framework defining open subsections, each subsection having a base defining a ledge structure, each subsection supporting a latticework panel that sits on the ledge structure, the framework having a plurality of spaced lifting points and the cross beams defining access to forklift tines.

2. The support structure according to claim 1 wherein the latticework panel is injected molded in plastics and sits flush within each subsection.

3. The support structure according to claim 1 wherein the latticework panel comprises a combination of a criss-cross metal structure on which is supported a thin latticework plastics panel so that the combination sits flush within each subsection.

4. The support structure according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of spaced lifting points each comprises an entry point adapted to accommodate a lifting lug which can be inserted into the entry portion from above.

5. The support structure according to claim 4 wherein four lifting points are evenly spaced centrally of the support structure.

6. The support structure according to claim 1 when it is constructed from galvanised steel.

7. The support structure according to claim 1 wherein the cross beams are interconnected by transverse beams to define the plurality of subsections.

8. A modular turf system comprising natural turf positioned on a array of liftable support structures according to claim 1 in abutting contact side to side or end to end.

9. A modular turf system according to claim 8 wherein a fine cloth or mesh is placed between the support structure and the natural turf.

10. A modular turf system according to claim 8 wherein each structure is located in abutting contact on locater plates that engage with the framework of each adjacent structure.

11. A portable tennis court comprising two modular turf systems according to claim 8 joined in abutting contact whereby the line of abutting contact defines the line of the net.

12. A cricket wicket comprising an elongate receptor having an open top and inwardly inclined sides, the receptor being arranged to be located in the ground surface with the top flush with the surface, a modular turf system being positioned with the receptor, the turf system comprising a plurality of rectangular liftable support structures positioned in end to end abutting contact and covered by natural turf, each support structure comprising a skeletal framework having an open based structure with upstanding sides and at least two parallel spaced cross beams, the framework defining open subsections, each subsection having a base defining a ledge structure, each subsection supporting a latticework panel that sits on the ledge structure, the framework having a plurality of spaced lifting points, the longer sides diverging upwardly and outwardly to mate with the inclined sides of the receptor.

13. The cricket wicket according to claim 12 wherein the lifting points are spaced along and adjacent the longer sides of the support structures.

14. A pallet for natural or artificial turf comprising a structure moulded in foamed plastics to have a closed planar top surface supported by a lattice work of mutually perpendicular walls defining a flexible open base, the structure defining a pair of elongate spaced parallel channels extending across each side to facilitate forklift tine entry.

15. The pallet according to claim 14, wherein the pallet has edge strips on the sides of the structure, the edge strips having an upper edge above the top surface of the pallet.

16. The pallet according to claim 15, wherein the edge strips are secured to the structure through use of a plurality of spaced fasteners.

17. The pallet according to claim 15, wherein the structure is moulded so that the edge strips form an integral part of the structure.

18. The pallet according to claim 15, wherein the edge strips comprise thin sheets of plastics that project from elongated slots in the upper surface of the structure, the slots being positioned so that the edge strips diverge outwardly from the sides of the structure.

19. The pallet according to claim 14, wherein the closed planar top surface has specifically positioned drainage holes.

20. The pallet according to claim 14, wherein the structure is moulded in two halves joined to form a square or rectangle, the join being about a diagonal.

21. The pallet according to claim 20, wherein the join between the mould halves includes a plurality of spaced male projections in one mould half that are arranged to be accommodated in a plurality of similarly spaced female recesses in the other mould half.

22. The pallet according to claim 21, wherein fasteners are used to join the male projections to the female projections.

23. The pallet according to claim 14, wherein the structure is constructed from commingled plastics, foamed through the use of Nitrogen gas.

24. The pallet according to claim 23, wherein the plastics is high density polyethylene.

25. The pallet according to claim 14, wherein each corner of the pallet is located on a locator plate that facilitates the location of one corner of four adjacent pallets.

26. The pallet according to claim 14, wherein the structure includes spaced lifting points that are adapted to engage vertically displaceable lifting members.

27. An array of pallets of the kind claimed in claim 14, wherein the pallets abut end to end and side by side and corner locators hold the corners of four adjacent pallets.

28. The array according to claim 27, wherein means is provided to join adjacent pallets to thus prevent the edge of the pallet at the join rising above the edge of the adjacent pallet.

29. A turf module comprising a pallet according to claim 15, wherein the top surface of the pallet supports a slab of natural turf or an area of artificial turf and infill.

30. A sporting or entertaining arena comprising:

a base structure; and

a plurality of turf modules according to claim 29 positioned on the base structure abutted end to end and side by side to define the operative surface of the sporting or entertaining area, the turf modules being removable and interchangeable to accommodate wear of the operative surface.

31. A method of operating a sports or entertainment arena of the kind claimed in claim 30, comprising:

removing the turf modules to facilitate use of the base structure and storing the modules in a location that facilitates efficient storage or provides desired ambient conditions;

replacing the turf modules in a predetermined array on the base structure to allow the arena to be used as a sporting arena; and

interchanging the modules to accommodate wear of the operative surface.