EP0177155A2 - Playing surface for sports - Google Patents
Playing surface for sports Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0177155A2 EP0177155A2 EP85305962A EP85305962A EP0177155A2 EP 0177155 A2 EP0177155 A2 EP 0177155A2 EP 85305962 A EP85305962 A EP 85305962A EP 85305962 A EP85305962 A EP 85305962A EP 0177155 A2 EP0177155 A2 EP 0177155A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- playing surface
- particulate material
- sports
- flexible sheet
- water impermeable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C19/00—Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor
Definitions
- This invention relates to a playing surface for sports, for example for use as the wicket of a cricket pitch.
- the bounce characteristics of a particular artificial turf surface are often extremely important especially for certain types of ball game such as tennis or cricket. It is difficult both indoors and outdoors to produce a surface with desired and substantially constant bounce characteristics and it is an object of the present invention to provide such a surface.
- the present invention provides a playing surface for sports comprising a body of fine particulate material characterised in that the body of fine particulate material is surrounded by and distributed in a layer on water impermeable material and in that the body of fine particulate material is covered with a flexible sheet resting on the upper surface of the layer.
- the flexible sheet may be an artificial turf material, or a resilient pad or mat, with or without an artificial turf layer on top.
- the water-impermeable material may be concrete or tarmac, for example, but the surface may also be provided by cutting a shallow trench or the like out of a natural turf surface, lining the sides and bottom of the trench with an impermeable plastics foam, for example dense polyethylene foam 1 to 5 mm, preferably 3 mm, thick, and then filling the cavity so formed with sand or other particulate material.
- an impermeable plastics foam for example dense polyethylene foam 1 to 5 mm, preferably 3 mm, thick
- Playing surfaces in accordance with the invention are consistent in their bounce characteristics when used for ball games such as cricket, are simple to construct and maintain, and are particularly useful for indoor sports surfaces such as in indoor cricket practice nets.
- a concrete floor 1 has a recess 3 therein, the base of which is lined with a rough membrane 5, for example a bonded fibre film or mat, to reduce the rolling of the sand on the smooth concrete surface.
- a rough membrane 5 for example a bonded fibre film or mat
- the surface of the concrete may be roughened.
- a layer of sand 7, approximately 25 to 50 mm thick, is laid on the membrane 5 and a second membrane 9, similar to the first membrane 5, is laid on the surface of the sand.
- a layer of a resilient material 11 is placed over the second membiane 9.
- the resilient material may be a mat formed of bonded rubber particles, or a bonded fibre felt material.
- the layer of resilient material 11 is preferably pinned to the floor 1 at appropriate spacing distances all round the recess 3 by for example masonary nails 4.
- the thickness of the layer 11 is preferably in the range of 1 to 4 mm, a larger thickness being preferable if no further layer is used on top.
- a final layar 13, which may be an artificial turf material or any other suitable surfacing material is normally laid over the pad 11.
- the final layer may be pinned to the floor 1 at appropriate spacing distances by for example masonary nails 6. It is has been found that this arrangement simulates a natural pitch for cricket practice indoors, the playing characteristics of the surface remaining consistent.
- the surface illustrated in Figure 2 is intended for use as an outdoor surface, for example a cricket pitch or a practice area in nets.
- a shallow trench 20 is cut out of a natural turf surface 22 and the trench 20 is lined with a dense water-impermeable polyethylene foam material 24 having a thickness of approximately 3 mm in the base of the trench and a greater thickness at the sides of the trench.
- the lined trench is filled with a fine dry sand 26, the depth of the sand being approximately 25 mm, and an underlay 28 is then laid over the trench and resting on the upper surface of the sand 26.
- the upper surface 25 of the box formed by material 24 is preferably roughened to prevent undue movement of the particulate material 26.
- the underlay is fastened to the soil surrounding the trench by means of pins 27. Finally, an artificial turf material is laid over the underlay and fastened at the junction with the natural turf 22.
- the underlay may be formed of a bonded particulate rubber mat, or water-impermeable polyethylene foam, or any other suitable resilient water-impermeable material. A preferred thickness range is from 1 to 4 mm for the underlay.
- the artificial turf may be of any known type, for example formed of polypropylene and is preferably fastened to the soil by means of pins 29.
- the playing surface formed is consistent in its bounce characteristics for cricket balls, for example, and requires little or no maintenance, regardless of weather conditions. It is also very simple in construction and may therefore may readily be used in place of natural turf pitches and the like.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Road Paving Structures (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to a playing surface for sports, for example for use as the wicket of a cricket pitch.
- The bounce characteristics of a particular artificial turf surface are often extremely important especially for certain types of ball game such as tennis or cricket. It is difficult both indoors and outdoors to produce a surface with desired and substantially constant bounce characteristics and it is an object of the present invention to provide such a surface.
- Accordingly the present invention provides a playing surface for sports comprising a body of fine particulate material characterised in that the body of fine particulate material is surrounded by and distributed in a layer on water impermeable material and in that the body of fine particulate material is covered with a flexible sheet resting on the upper surface of the layer.
- The flexible sheet may be an artificial turf material, or a resilient pad or mat, with or without an artificial turf layer on top.
- The water-impermeable material may be concrete or tarmac, for example, but the surface may also be provided by cutting a shallow trench or the like out of a natural turf surface, lining the sides and bottom of the trench with an impermeable plastics foam, for example dense polyethylene foam 1 to 5 mm, preferably 3 mm, thick, and then filling the cavity so formed with sand or other particulate material.
- Playing surfaces in accordance with the invention are consistent in their bounce characteristics when used for ball games such as cricket, are simple to construct and maintain, and are particularly useful for indoor sports surfaces such as in indoor cricket practice nets.
- Reference is made to the drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a section through a playing surface in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; and
- Figure 2 is a section through a playing surface in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
- Referring first to Figure 1, a concrete floor 1 has a recess 3 therein, the base of which is lined with a
rough membrane 5, for example a bonded fibre film or mat, to reduce the rolling of the sand on the smooth concrete surface. Alternatively, the surface of the concrete may be roughened. A layer ofsand 7, approximately 25 to 50 mm thick, is laid on themembrane 5 and a second membrane 9, similar to thefirst membrane 5, is laid on the surface of the sand. It will be observed that Figure 1 is not drawn to scale for a surface usable as a cricket practice surface. A layer of a resilient material 11 is placed over the second membiane 9. The resilient material may be a mat formed of bonded rubber particles, or a bonded fibre felt material. The layer of resilient material 11 is preferably pinned to the floor 1 at appropriate spacing distances all round the recess 3 by for examplemasonary nails 4. The thickness of the layer 11 is preferably in the range of 1 to 4 mm, a larger thickness being preferable if no further layer is used on top. Afinal layar 13, which may be an artificial turf material or any other suitable surfacing material is normally laid over the pad 11. The final layer may be pinned to the floor 1 at appropriate spacing distances by for example masonary nails 6. It is has been found that this arrangement simulates a natural pitch for cricket practice indoors, the playing characteristics of the surface remaining consistent. - The surface illustrated in Figure 2 is intended for use as an outdoor surface, for example a cricket pitch or a practice area in nets. A
shallow trench 20 is cut out of anatural turf surface 22 and thetrench 20 is lined with a dense water-impermeablepolyethylene foam material 24 having a thickness of approximately 3 mm in the base of the trench and a greater thickness at the sides of the trench. The lined trench is filled with a finedry sand 26, the depth of the sand being approximately 25 mm, and anunderlay 28 is then laid over the trench and resting on the upper surface of thesand 26. Theupper surface 25 of the box formed bymaterial 24 is preferably roughened to prevent undue movement of theparticulate material 26. The underlay is fastened to the soil surrounding the trench by means ofpins 27. Finally, an artificial turf material is laid over the underlay and fastened at the junction with thenatural turf 22. The underlay may be formed of a bonded particulate rubber mat, or water-impermeable polyethylene foam, or any other suitable resilient water-impermeable material. A preferred thickness range is from 1 to 4 mm for the underlay. The artificial turf may be of any known type, for example formed of polypropylene and is preferably fastened to the soil by means ofpins 29. - The playing surface formed is consistent in its bounce characteristics for cricket balls, for example, and requires little or no maintenance, regardless of weather conditions. It is also very simple in construction and may therefore may readily be used in place of natural turf pitches and the like.
- Although the invention has been described in relation to cricket pitches, it will be understood that surfaces in accordance with the invention may be used for a wide variety of sports where a controlled consistent resilience of the surface is desired.
Claims (9)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB848421660A GB8421660D0 (en) | 1984-08-25 | 1984-08-25 | Playing surface for sports |
GB8421660 | 1984-08-25 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0177155A2 true EP0177155A2 (en) | 1986-04-09 |
EP0177155A3 EP0177155A3 (en) | 1987-08-05 |
Family
ID=10565874
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85305962A Withdrawn EP0177155A3 (en) | 1984-08-25 | 1985-08-22 | Playing surface for sports |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0177155A3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB8421660D0 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2618345A1 (en) * | 1987-07-21 | 1989-01-27 | Ceralit Sarl | Method for making lines on open-air playing surfaces and material for implementing the method |
WO1994012254A1 (en) * | 1992-11-26 | 1994-06-09 | Stephen Dean | A playing surface construction |
WO2024013767A1 (en) * | 2022-07-10 | 2024-01-18 | Priyadarshi Rakesh | Linear in-situ multiple cricket pitch system and method for transitioning between pitches |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT56808B (en) * | 1911-12-09 | 1912-12-27 | Otto Junak | Covering made of stone wood compound for open tennis courts. |
US1699660A (en) * | 1925-09-23 | 1929-01-22 | Barber Asphalt Co | Game court |
US2515847A (en) * | 1945-04-13 | 1950-07-18 | Carl W Winkler | Surfacing material |
US3682476A (en) * | 1969-12-04 | 1972-08-08 | Monsanto Co | Convertible athletic field |
DE1658476B2 (en) * | 1967-06-28 | 1973-03-01 | Hoch, August, 5431 Herschbach | SPORTS AREA FASTENING |
FR2315570A1 (en) * | 1975-06-27 | 1977-01-21 | Becker Jacques | Acrylic resin based top dressings for tennis courts - for a smooth sealed surface of controlled roughness |
GB1539475A (en) * | 1976-07-08 | 1979-01-31 | Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd | Artificial lawn sheet |
-
1984
- 1984-08-25 GB GB848421660A patent/GB8421660D0/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-08-22 EP EP85305962A patent/EP0177155A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT56808B (en) * | 1911-12-09 | 1912-12-27 | Otto Junak | Covering made of stone wood compound for open tennis courts. |
US1699660A (en) * | 1925-09-23 | 1929-01-22 | Barber Asphalt Co | Game court |
US2515847A (en) * | 1945-04-13 | 1950-07-18 | Carl W Winkler | Surfacing material |
DE1658476B2 (en) * | 1967-06-28 | 1973-03-01 | Hoch, August, 5431 Herschbach | SPORTS AREA FASTENING |
US3682476A (en) * | 1969-12-04 | 1972-08-08 | Monsanto Co | Convertible athletic field |
FR2315570A1 (en) * | 1975-06-27 | 1977-01-21 | Becker Jacques | Acrylic resin based top dressings for tennis courts - for a smooth sealed surface of controlled roughness |
GB1539475A (en) * | 1976-07-08 | 1979-01-31 | Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd | Artificial lawn sheet |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2618345A1 (en) * | 1987-07-21 | 1989-01-27 | Ceralit Sarl | Method for making lines on open-air playing surfaces and material for implementing the method |
WO1994012254A1 (en) * | 1992-11-26 | 1994-06-09 | Stephen Dean | A playing surface construction |
WO2024013767A1 (en) * | 2022-07-10 | 2024-01-18 | Priyadarshi Rakesh | Linear in-situ multiple cricket pitch system and method for transitioning between pitches |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0177155A3 (en) | 1987-08-05 |
GB8421660D0 (en) | 1984-09-26 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19880122 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19890224 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19910305 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: DURY, PETER LESLIE KENNAN |