Base For Turf System

• US 20200240090A1
• Filed: 03/16/2020
• Published: 07/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brock USA LLC
• Original Assignee: Brock USA LLC
• Inventors: Sawyer, Steven Lee, Sawyer, Daniel C., Runkles, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,982,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/202 Artificial grass
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/02 Foundations, e.g. with drainage or heating arrangements E01C13/003, E01C13/083, E01C13/10 take precedence; drainage of soil E02B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/08 Surfaces simulating grass ; Grass-grown sports grounds grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/083 Construction of grass-grown sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 3/003 characterised by material or composition used, e.g. waste or recycled material E01C3/006, E01C3/04 and E01C3/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 3/006 made of prefabricated single units E01C3/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/003 characterised by material or composition used for beds or joints; characterised by the way of laying
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/16 Two dimensionally sectional layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/169 Sections connected flexibly with external fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/17 Three or more coplanar interfitted sections with securing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/192 Sheets or webs coplanar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23979 Particular backing structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]

Abstract

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of spaced apart, upwardly oriented projections that define channels suitable for fluid flow along the top side of the core when the underlayment layer is positioned beneath an overlying artificial turf assembly.

Claims

1. An artificial turf system comprising:

an artificial turf layer including a turf carpet; and

a turf underlayment layer comprised of an assembly of panels, the panels including a top side having a plurality of projections, a bottom side, and panel edges, the plurality of top side projections supporting the artificial turf layer and forming top side channels that extend across the top side of the panel to allow drainage of fluid across the top side of the panel, and the bottom side having bottom side channels that extend across the bottom side of the panel to allow drainage of fluid across the bottom side of the panel, the panel edges within the turf underlayment layer abutting and interlocking with edges of adjacent panels, the panels further including a plurality of drain holes positioned through the panel to allow fluid to flow from the top side of the panel to the bottom side of the panel, where the panels are made from a plurality of polyolefin beads, the plurality of polyolefin beads bonded together by at least one of pressure and heat to produce a substantially water-impervious surface.

2. The artificial turf system of claim 1 wherein the panels of the turf underlayment layer include a core between the top side and the bottom side, the plurality of top side projections have tapered sides extending from an upper support surface of the core.

3. The artificial turf system of claim 2 wherein the tapered sides of the plurality of top side projections cooperate to form the top side channels.

4. The artificial turf system of claim 3 wherein the panel edges include mating dovetail interlocking elements and projections.

5. The artificial turf system of claim 4 wherein the projections are dovetail projections extending from at least one of a dovetail recess or a dovetail projection.

6. The artificial turf system of claim 4 wherein the projections are dovetail projections extending from at least one of a dovetail recess or a dovetail projection and at least one dovetail hook portion.