AT405791B - FLOORING, IN PARTICULAR FOR TENNIS COURTS - Google Patents

Description

AT 405 791 B

The present invention relates to a floor covering for sports fields, in particular for tennis courts, consisting of a carpet-like base covering, such as: either a tufted fabric, in particular an LCL velor or a tip-sheared scroll covering, or an artificial turf material, that is to say a tufted or knitted one Ribbon lawn material or a velvety needled pile fleece or needle felt 5 covering or a structured needle felt covering, in particular with knobbed structures, herringbone structures and / or circular structures, and a slip covering consisting of individual, loose particles applied to them.

With floor coverings of this type, running and sliding conditions are to be achieved, in particular in tennis halls, which largely correspond to those of conventional ash places, laid base covering, as described, for example, in a special embodiment in DE-GM 91 09 798.3, sprinkled with individual particles , whose fundamentally loose, movable arrangement should make it possible to slide similarly to an ash place.

In the case of known floor coverings of the generic type, a rubber granulate, which is produced from a block of material - usually from EPDM - by 15 grinds has usually been used as slip sprinkling. The individual particles or granules therefore have completely irregular shapes and sizes with jagged, uneven and " jagged " Surfaces on. It is particularly disadvantageous that very fine particles (grinding dust) also arise, which is the case when using the respective sports or. Tennis court leads to an extremely unpleasant dust formation. The granulate can be sieved to a certain grain size after grinding, but due to the 20 constant running and sliding loads, new dust always arises because the relatively soft, jagged particles are ground (rubbed) by friction. In addition, this well-known slip spreading does not yet guarantee optimal running and sliding properties, because the particles press into the respective base covering over time, so that the floor covering changes its characteristics significantly over time.

Polvlies 25 coverings, needle felts or, more recently, tufting coverings are generally used as the base covering in conjunction with the rubber granulate described.

In addition to DE 32 04 215 A1, it is known to use quartz sand as the slip coating, but it is disadvantageous that a very large amount of sand, namely several kg / m 2, is required. In addition, the base covering is destroyed over time by friction. Therefore, quartz sand can only be used in conjunction with a special artificial turf, which in total 30 leads to very high costs. From GB 21 80 763 A sand-like granulate is known which is applied as a covering layer on a floor covering.

DE 26 52 575 A1 discloses a floor covering made of a knobbed fabric, between the knobs of which a compacted layer of weather-resistant granular mineral material is provided; This mineral can contain particles which consist of a moisture-modifying material, for example foamed vermiculite. The mineral material should be so strongly compressed that a hard playing surface is formed. This is in contrast to the aim of the invention to create a floor covering with slip coating.

CH 61 19 59 A discloses an artificial floor covering for sports fields with a top layer of granules applied. The granulate is preferably made of rubber, but can also be a different material, the only other example being brick powder or the like. These granules or the grains are sieved and used according to appropriate classes, so that the covering in any case has a relatively wide range of grain sizes.

EP 0 063 111 A discloses a non-generic covering for sports fields, in particular for tennis courts, since a loose fill is applied to a solid surface, such as asphalt, and thus not to a carpet-like base covering, this fill consisting of There are particles based on an elastic plastic, which should be cuboid, platelet or scale-shaped in a geometrically defined shape. These platelet-shaped or scale-like particles should have a maximum thickness of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm and perpendicular to them - in the platelet or scale scale - a maximum dimension of 5 mm. Thus the particles in a spatial direction are much larger than in the direction perpendicular to them. Obviously, this is to prevent the slippery surface from being too slippery on the relatively smooth and hard surface, such as asphalt. Such particles would not be suitable in conjunction with a base covering of a generic floor covering.

From EP 0 088 748 A it is known to produce the particles for a floor covering largely corresponding to the above-mentioned EP 0 063 111 A 55 by firstly producing a broad strip of material, and subsequently the particles are each broken down as a fraction of the bandwidth Leading edge of the band-shaped particle material using " comb-like " Cut knives. Here, too, the particles should have a maximum thickness of 1.0 to 1.5 mm and perpendicularly a largest 2

AT 405 791 B

Have a maximum dimension of 5 mm.

DE 33 09 072 A describes a further, to some extent appropriate, sports floor covering, in that a rubber granulate is used here, but which is said to be “embedded” in the “open thread” top made of loops of a base covering designed as a needle fleece. Because of this embedding, the slipping behavior should not be optimal.

From US 44 97 853 A a filling is known which mainly consists of sand granules. The individual grains have irregular shapes. From DE 33 13 329 A1 a floor covering is known in which an elastic layer made of a mixture of grit, rubber particles and binders is provided, over which there is an artificial turf track, in the fiber pile of which a mineral filling is in turn introduced. The mineral filling essentially corresponds to DE 32 04 215 AI cited at the beginning.

The present invention has for its object to improve a floor covering of the generic type so that it ensures consistently optimal performance over a long period of time with low purchase and maintenance costs.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the particles of slip-spreading are each extruded from plastic with a defined cross-sectional shape and a largely defined length, the length in each case being at least approximately equal to a particle width or the particle width running approximately centrally over the cross section. Diameter, the length or approximately the same width of the particles in particular being in the range from 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.4 mm to 0.7 mm, and in particular being approximately 0.5 mm.

By extruding the particles, dust formation is advantageously completely ruled out already during manufacture, since the particles are first extruded as a thin profile strand with a defined profile cross section and then only cut to length. This is preferably done by a rotating cutting knife, so that no unwanted formation of tiny particles occurs. Due to the largely defined spatial shape, the particles have relatively smooth surfaces, which also counteracts friction-related dust formation during practical use.

In a preferred variant, it is provided that the cross section of the particles in the direction of both mutually perpendicular surface coordinates has essentially the same width. This measure further improves the tendency of the particles to curl and thus the tendency of the floor covering to slip.

In a preferred variant it is provided that the particles are circular, oval or polygonal in cross section. This enables a simplified extrusion process and results in particles with particularly smooth surfaces, which counteracts the dust formation caused by friction.

Another preferred development of the invention provides that the particles consist at least partially of a plastic from the group of polyolefins, in particular of polyethylene (PE) or polyropylene (PP). In contrast to the well-known rubber granulate, this material has very good abrasion resistance due to the long molecular chains.

In a further variant, it is advantageously provided that the material of the particles contains an elastic component, in particular a synthetic rubber such as EPDM. Such an addition improves the elasticity of the particles and thus of the soil, the elasticity and the abrasion resistance of the particles being able to be influenced by the proportion of the elastic component.

In an embodiment of the invention, it is advantageously provided that the material of the particles contains an antistatic additive. This avoids electrostatic charges that are harmful both to the user of the floor covering and to the cohesion of the particles and their slipping behavior.

In a further advantageous embodiment it is provided that the sprinkling consists of a mixture of particles which differ in shape, size and / or material. This allows the slip and elastic properties of the floor covering to be influenced within wide limits. consist partly of a plastic from the group of polyolefins, in particular of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). In contrast to the well-known rubber granulate, this preferred material has very good abrasion resistance due to the long molecular chains. The particles of slip scattering according to the invention also ensure optimal running and sliding properties due to their defined or well-definable spatial shape, which can also be adapted to certain requirements in a wide range by a specific selection of the parameters (shape, size and / or material of the particles) can. It should be emphasized in particular that the invention provides the possibility for controlled sliding largely without the risk of unintentional slipping. Finally, with the plastic material used, a precise color design or color adaptation is also possible in a particularly simple manner. 3rd

AT 405 791 B

According to the invention, it is also essential that the length of each particle is approximately equal to its " extrusion profile width " , the cross-section advantageously also being substantially equal in its two surface coordinates " wide " (or " high ") is formed. By means of this embodiment according to the invention, a " quasi-spherical " The spatial shape of the particles is reached, which means that each particle has essentially the same dimensions in the direction of all of its three spatial coordinates. For example, depending on the shape of the cross section, it can be cubes, cylinders, prisms and / or. Like body act. In connection with a carpet-like base covering, this leads to the desired optimal running and sliding behavior, in that the particles can practically roll to a certain extent on the base covering instead of simply being shifted under friction. To a certain extent, however, there is a " hooking " of the particles in the base material, which advantageously avoids undesired accumulation of the sprinkling at the edge of the square. It has also surprisingly been found that, according to the invention, the spreading nevertheless has very good distribution properties, i.e. the particles can be distributed very well using a so-called pulling broom or pulling net (simple and quick equalization of the sprinkling). All in all, the delight according to the invention thus advantageously has an almost " sand-like " Slip behavior combined with the advantages of good running elasticity and a long shelf life of the sprinkling and also the base material.

Further advantageous design features and advantages of the invention are contained in the subclaims and the following description of the figures.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawing. 1 shows a perspective view of a detail from a floor covering according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows an enlarged side view in the direction of arrow II according to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of a single particle of the slip coating according to the invention (area III in FIG. 2) in one preferred shape and FIGS. 4a to 4c each have a cross section in the sectional plane IV-IV according to FIG. 3, but in different design variants with regard to the particle cross section.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a floor covering 1 according to the invention consists of a carpet-like base covering 2 and a slip coating 6 applied thereon and made up of individual, loose particles 4. Because the particles 4 are essentially loose, lie relatively movably on the base covering 2, a characteristic of the floor covering 1 approximated to ash tennis courts is achieved.

According to the invention, the particles 4 of the slip coating 6 are now extruded from plastic with a largely defined shape and size. Due to the production in the extrusion process or extrusion process, the particles 4 each have a precisely defined or definable cross-sectional shape (profile cross-section). The extruded profile strand then only needs to be cut up (cut or chopped), as a result of which the particles 4 with a length L, which is also largely defined, are formed (see FIG. 3). However, the length L can vary within a certain tolerance, in particular because the profile strand is preferably cut by a rotating cutting or chopping knife, cooled in a water bath and then cut, or the particles 4 are immediately plasticized Condition of the profile strand divided and then fall into a water bath for cooling.

It is essential that the particles 4 can be precisely defined in cross section. A circular cross section is particularly suitable (see FIG. 3), so that the particles 4 are then cylindrical or " barrel-shaped " are trained. As can be seen from FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, however, any other cross-sectional shapes are also possible, for example rectangular or square, triangular or hexagonal or generally polygonal. An oval or elliptical cross section is also suitable, but not shown.

Through a certain choice of the profile cross section and the length L, the running and sliding characteristics of the floor covering 1 can be set very precisely " set " be, because this is essentially dependent on the rolling behavior of the particles, and this rolling behavior is mainly - apart from the type of base 2 - determined by the spatial shape of the particles 4. For setting the floor characteristic, it may be expedient to design all particles 4 identically, or else the sprinkling 6 consists of a mixture of differently designed particles 4. For optimum properties of the floor covering 1, the particles 4 each have a length L, which at least is approximately equal to a particle width B or B ′, which runs approximately centrally over the cross section. The cross-section also has the same width or height B or B ’in the direction of both mutually perpendicular surface coordinates, so that in connection with the length L, which is also at least approximately the same length, an approximate " spherical shape " arises in terms of rolling behavior. In the case of FIG. 3, the width B corresponds to the diameter of the particle 4 which is circular in cross section. In the square cross section shown in FIG. 4a, the width B corresponds to the length of a side edge, while the width B 'results from the diagonal of the square. 4b, the width B is 4

Claims (7)

AT 405 791 B side length of the triangle cross section and the width B 'as the length of the bisector or height of the triangle. Similarly, in the example hexagonal polygon cross section shown in FIG. 4c, there are two slightly different widths B and B \ Hiebei, it is now particularly advantageous if the length L and thus the essentially the same width B or B 'in the range from 0 2.5 mm to 2.5 mm. However, this particle size is preferably in the range from 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, in particular approximately 0.5 mm. The particles 4 preferably consist at least partially of a plastic from the group of polyolefins, in particular of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). The use of polyethylene is particularly advantageous insofar as it is a (health) completely harmless substance that is also unrestrictedly approved for the food sector. Preferably the material has a certain elastic, i.e. added a good elasticity to the particles 4, component, which is preferably a synthetic rubber (rubber), such as EPDM. This feature is also of particular advantage for the running and sliding properties of the floor covering according to the invention. In practice it has been shown that a mixture ratio of approximately 50:50 (PE / PP: EPDM) is particularly advantageous. However, polyurethane (PU), for example, or another material, for example from the group of the polyenes, is also suitable as the material for the particles 4. For the preferred use on tennis courts, it is also particularly advantageous if the material of the particles 4 contains an antistatic additive. Antistatic agents of this type prevent electrostatic charges and thus advantageously cause signs of adhesion. It is hereby prevented that the particles 4 adhere to a tennis ball, for example, so that it is also avoided that the particles 4 fly through the air in an uncontrolled manner during the game. Basically any carpet known for this purpose is suitable for the base covering 2. However, in connection with the particles 4 of the sprinkling 6 according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous to use a tufted fabric, in particular an LCL velor (LCL = "Level Cut Loop"). A tipsheared scroll covering in particular is also very suitable. Here it is a product with cut loops. As an alternative to the preferred embodiment, the base covering 2 can also be formed from an artificial turf material, i.e. from a tufted or knitted ribbon lawn material. In addition, 30 pile fleece or needle felt coverings are also suitable, which are then preferably needled with velor. Structured needle felt coverings can also be used, in particular with nub, herringbone and / or circular structures. Finally, a pile fleece in accordance with DE-GM 91 09 798.3 already mentioned at the outset is also fundamentally suitable, which is why full reference is made to this prior publication at this point. 35 The slip covering 6 is arranged on the base covering 2 with an area distribution density which strongly depends on the type and structure of the base covering 2. In the preferred LCL velor, the surface density of the particles 4 is in the range of approximately 200 g / m2. With needle felts - depending on the structure - the surface density can also reach up to 1,200 g / m2. The floor covering 1 according to the invention is particularly suitable for indoor use in sports or 40 tennis halls, but can also be used outdoors on sports and tennis courts. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described, but also encompasses all embodiments having the same effect in the sense of the invention. Claims 45 1. Floor covering (1) for sports fields, in particular for tennis courts, consisting of a carpet-like base covering (2), such as: either a tufted fabric, in particular an LCL velor or a tip-sheared scroll covering or an artificial turf material , that is a tufted or knitted ribbon turf material or a velvety needle-punched pile fleece or needle felt covering or a structured so needle felt covering, in particular with pimpled structures, herringbone structures and / or circular structures, and one made of individual, loose structures Particles (4) existing slip-sprinkling (6), characterized in that the particles (4) of the slip-sprinkling (6) are each extruded from plastic with a defined cross-sectional shape and a largely defined length (L), the length in each case (L) at least approximately equal to a particle width (B; B ') or the particle major that runs approximately centrally over the cross section chmessers (B), in particular the length (L) or approximately the same width (B; B ') of the particles (4) is in the range from 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.4 mm to 0.7 mm, and in particular is approximately 0.5 mm. 5 AT 405 791 B 2. Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the particles (4) in the direction of both mutually perpendicular surface coordinates each have essentially the same width (B; B '). 3. Floor covering according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the particles (4) are circular, oval or polygonal in cross section. 4. Floor covering according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the particles (4), at least in part, consist of a plastic from the group of polyolefins, in particular re made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). 5. Floor covering according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material of the particles (4) contains an elastic component, in particular a synthetic rubber, such as EPDM. 15 6. Floor covering according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the material of the particles (4) contains an antistatic additive. 7. Floor covering according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the 20 sprinkling (6) consists of a mixture of particles (4) different in shape, size and / or material. Including 1 sheet of drawings 25 30 35 40 45 50 8 6 55