EP3374567B1 - Riding surface and method for constructing a riding surface - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an irrigable riding surface and a method for its construction.

In practice, riding surfaces and systems for irrigating riding surfaces in various forms are known both for the free riding arena and for the riding arena. In particular, a large number of floors and systems are known, including with a so-called underfloor irrigation, which are intended to ensure a uniform moistening of the space. On the mostly grown floor, drip pipes or hoses and above them floor grids are laid out to protect the drip hoses against damage from horse hooves. The floor grids are usually lattice-shaped so that the sand of the footing can be irrigated and, if necessary, drained. For this, the floor grids are filled with sand and completely covered to form a footing. Due to the physical properties of the sand, especially due to the capillary action of the sand particles, moisture is transported from the drip hoses upwards into the footing. By using such a riding surface with integrated moistening, the step resistance is increased while the risk of slipping for the horse is largely eliminated. Furthermore, the time for a separate moistening of the floor is saved. To loosen the soil, chopped textiles or fleece are regularly added to the sand.

A major problem of the riding floors known from practice is that the drip hoses are laid out directly on the floor and a not inconsiderable part of the amount of water does not wet the footing, for example, but rather seeps away or runs off into the floor. Furthermore, the recesses of the mostly thick and open floor grids for irrigation and drainage of the riding arenas are extremely large. An extremely large amount of sand is required because the sand must also be filled into the floor grid in addition to the footing layer. In other words, the volume of the known floor grids to be filled with sand is extremely large. This increases the amount of sand required. Another disadvantage of the known riding floors is their construction, which is quite complex to manufacture, in particular in the case of a large-area design. In addition, handling during storage, construction and transport is easy the riding surface - depending on size or area - quite cumbersome. Another disadvantage is that in order to achieve a shock-absorbing floor or a suitable damping to protect the horses, appropriate additives, for example in the form of textile or fleece chops, are usually required, but the effect alone is insufficient.
A riding floor with drip hoses embedded in a mat is already out of the US 2003/0056432 A1 known.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of offering a riding surface which, with a robust and simple construction while largely eliminating the risk of injury to the horse, ensures optimum irrigation and drainage. In addition, an improved method for the construction of a corresponding riding surface is to be specified.

The above object is achieved in relation to the riding surface by the features of claim 1.

With regard to the method according to the invention, the underlying object is achieved by the features of claim 13.

In the manner according to the invention, it has been recognized that it is of particular advantage not to arrange the drip hoses on the floor and to protect them by means of complex and voluminous floor grids, which in turn are used to fill and cover the floor grids with a large volume of sand and damping Additives need to be replenished. On the contrary, the invention takes a completely different path, namely a mat is laid directly or indirectly on the floor and the drip hoses are embedded on the side of the mat facing the footing layer. Specifically, the drip hoses can be embedded in grooves on the side of the mat facing the footing layer. Through the grooves, the drip hoses are firmly arranged on the mat and largely protected from damage, and at the same time an unwanted seepage of the water coming out of the drip hoses can be avoided. The Drip hoses can be assigned to the mat, for example, by press fitting. It may be necessary to embed or pinch the drip hoses into the mat using a step or a light hammer blow. A locking mechanism and / or groove and / or tongue-like features are also conceivable. According to the invention, the footing layer therefore lies directly or indirectly on the mat and the drip hoses. This means that an extremely thin riding surface and yet a robust structure can be achieved. The required volume of the footing can be reduced to a minimum. Any risk of injury due to recesses in the floor grid that are too deep is also eliminated. The drip hoses have a fixed position due to the embedding in the grooves of the mat and cannot easily slip during the construction of the riding surface or over time. Another advantage is that due to the simple structure, in particular due to the predefined embedding of the drip hoses, the riding surface can also be built without any special knowledge.

Consequently, the riding floor according to the invention and the method for constructing a riding floor according to the invention provide a possibility of ensuring optimal irrigation and drainage with a robust and simple construction while largely eliminating the risk of injury to the horse.

According to the invention, the mat is made of a solid material, preferably PVC. This ensures increased stability and protection of the drip hoses. Furthermore, the use of a solid material has the advantage of a certain pressure distribution. It is conceivable that the mat is made of water-impermeable material, at least in some areas, in particular in the area of the grooves, in order to largely avoid unwanted infiltration of the water emerging from the drip hoses. The mat can be made extremely thin, namely just so thick that protection and possibly pressure distribution is ensured.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that individual mat elements can be plugged together on site and / or can be expanded as desired. The riding surface can thus be extended to any surface, namely by lining up several mats and, if necessary, intermediate mats. For this purpose, connection areas for connecting a further mat could be formed at the ends of the mat. A simple stacking and / or overlapping of several mats is also conceivable. An outside mat could be cut to size. A mat thickness of just 25 mm to 30 mm is sufficient to embed the drip hoses in the mat and to form a stable and damping basis for the footing. Extremely high floor structures, as are known from practice when building riding surfaces with floor grids, can be omitted.

It is a further advantage if the grooves are milled into the mat and / or if the mat is manufactured, in particular by injection molding. The width and depth of the grooves can be adapted to the hoses used. The grooves for embedding the drip hoses preferably run at regular intervals and parallel to one another. A distance of 30 cm between the drip hoses is conceivable.

In the case of water-permeable mats in particular, part of the water escaping from the drip hoses can seep through the mat and remains unused for irrigation. In order to avoid this, at least the surface of the grooves oriented toward the footing layer is advantageously largely impermeable to water, in particular with a water-impermeable material coated and / or the grooves formed in a water-impermeable mat or at least one water-impermeable area of the mat.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the mat has passages, preferably holes, at certain intervals, which allow water to penetrate and / or largely prevent the penetration of larger amounts of sand and other particles. In this way, dewatering, for example in heavy rain, can be guaranteed without losing water that comes out of the drip hoses. At the same time, ideally almost no sand seeps away from the footing below the mat. A round and / or square design of the passageways is conceivable. It is conceivable that the passages are linear and parallel to the grooves and have a certain distance from the grooves, so that the water coming out of the drip hoses does not at least largely seep through the passages.

In order to prevent the sand of the footing layer from slipping, it is particularly advantageous if the mat has a mesh or grid structure at least on its side facing the footing layer. A corresponding structure of the surface of the mat can also prevent the water emerging from the drip hoses from seeping through the passages, for example by arranging the grooves and the passages in different recesses or separating them from one another at least in regions by means of raised areas of a structure. It is important here that the water coming out of the drip hoses does not seep back directly through the passages, but rather gets into the footing. The passages are intended to prevent an excessive amount of water from being present in the footing and to drain it below the separating layer.

In a further advantageous manner, the drip hoses, which are preferably made of plastic, have valves and / or membranes oriented towards the tread layer for irrigating the bottom. These are thus oriented upwards when the pedal tubes are embedded. This enables an ideal transport of moisture to the footing layer. A diameter of is conceivable 16 mm drip hoses. The drip hoses are preferably arranged at regular intervals, for example parallel to one another.

For increased stabilization and protection of the pedal tubes, as well as for pressure distribution, it is conceivable to arrange an intermediate net between the mat and the pedal layer. An intermediate network can advantageously have passages, preferably holes, at certain intervals. These passages can allow water to penetrate from the drip hoses to the tread layer, but can prevent larger amounts of sand and other particles from penetrating from the tread layer to below the intermediate layer.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the mat is arranged directly or indirectly on grown soil and / or a drainage, in particular gravel. Despite its small thickness, the mat can be made so robust that it can withstand a rough surface, even compensates for certain unevenness in the floor.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the mat is arranged on grown soil and / or a drainage, in particular gravel. Despite its small thickness, the mat can be made so robust that it can withstand a rough surface, even compensates for certain unevenness in the floor.

According to the invention, the footing consists essentially of sand and aggregates, in particular of geotextile, and lies directly or indirectly on the mat and the drip hoses. Filling and covering a volume-rich floor grid is not necessary here. The footing layer advantageously has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm in order to optimally moisten it the footing and to ensure a reduced risk of injury for horse and rider.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that a protective mat is arranged below the mat, which is made of a water-permeable and / or soft and / or damping material. PU foam rubber, which is preferably pressed and / or baked under the influence of heat, is particularly suitable for this. The use of rubber granulate, in particular from recycled car tires, is also conceivable. The protective mat can be largely solid or have a lattice structure. The formation of the protective mat from a soft or damping material is particularly health-promoting or gentle for horses and can save the addition of soft additives in the sand to a certain extent.

In principle, it is conceivable that moisture sensors / sensors are integrated in the riding surface, in particular in the footing layer, which measure the moisture of the footing layer. A controller can regulate the amount and / or the time of the water supply via the drip hoses.

The riding floor according to the invention and the method according to the invention for building up such a riding floor are suitable for all areas of application, including riding arenas, outdoor riding arenas and racetracks. Even excessive bends, such as at racetracks, can be realized with the riding surface according to the invention and the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Ansicht ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel des Aufbaus eines erfindungsgemäßen Reitbodens.

Fig. 2

in einer schematischen Ansicht ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel des Aufbaus eines erfindungsgemäßen Reitbodens,

Fig. 3

in Explosionsansicht den Gegenstand aus Fig. 2 und

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht der Matte aus den Figuren 2 und 3.

There are various possibilities for advantageously developing and developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and on the other hand to the following explanation of two preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred refinements and developments of the teaching are also explained. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

in a schematic view, a first embodiment of the construction of a riding surface according to the invention.

Fig. 2

a schematic view of a second embodiment of the construction of a riding surface according to the invention,

Fig. 3

exploded view of the item Fig. 2 and

Fig. 4

a top view of the mat from the Figures 2 and 3rd .

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a variant of a riding surface not according to the invention, with a footing layer 1, a mat 2 arranged between the floor and footing layer 1, here called lower mat 2, and drip hoses 3 which are in grooves 4 on the bottom layer facing the footing layer 1 Mat 2 are embedded.

The lower mat 2 is made of a water-permeable, soft and damping material, namely of PU foam rubber. The damping property of the mat 2 is particularly health-promoting for the horses moving on the riding surface. It is also conceivable here to produce the lower mat 2 from a rubber granulate from recycled car tires. The lower mat 2 can be provided as a roll, the individual roller tracks of the lower mat 2 can be plugged together and expanded as desired. The thickness of the lower mat 2 is approximately 25 to 30 mm. She is on one in the Fig. 1 not shown, preferably grown soil and / or a drainage, for example gravel, can be arranged. Due to the water permeability of the lower mat 2, an optimal drainage of excess water can be realized. The soft, yet stable material of the lower mat 2 offers an ideal base for the riding surface, even on coarser ground.

The drip hoses 3 are made of plastic and have valves 5 oriented at regular intervals for watering the bottom to the footing. The drip hoses can have a diameter of 16 mm and are embedded in parallel tracks in the lower mat 2.

An intermediate mat 6 made of PVC is arranged above the lower mat 2 and the drip hoses 3 to stabilize and protect the drip hoses 3 and to distribute pressure between the lower mat 2 and the footing layer 1. The intermediate mat 6 has a plurality of holes 7 arranged at a distance of 10 cm from one another. These holes 7 allow water to penetrate from below the intermediate mat 6 to the footing layer 1, but prevent larger quantities of sand and other particles from penetrating from the footing layer 1 to below the intermediate mat 6. On the side of the intermediate mat 6 facing the footing layer 1 the intermediate mat 6 has a lattice structure that prevents the footing from slipping. Instead of an intermediate mat 6, an intermediate network is also conceivable.

The footing layer 1 consists essentially of sand and aggregates, namely geotextile and lies on the intermediate mat 6. It has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

Fig. 2 , 3rd and 4th each show a schematic view of an embodiment of a riding floor according to the invention, with a footing layer 1 and a mat 2 arranged between the floor 8 and footing layer 1 in the sense of a separating mat, with drip hoses 3 for irrigation in grooves 4 on the side of the mat facing the footing layer 1 the footing 1 are embedded.

The mat 2 is made of a solid material, namely PVC and can be put together from individual mat elements 2. The grooves 4 on the side of the mat 2 facing the footing layer 1 are milled into the mat 2 and each have a width and a depth of 18 mm. The grooves 4 and thus the drip hoses 3 are arranged parallel and at equal distances from one another.

Square holes 7 are provided between the drip hoses 3 in a line and parallel to the drip hoses 3, which allow water to penetrate and largely prevent sand and other particles from penetrating. The holes 7 are dimensioned just so large that unwanted amounts of water seep into the footing, for example. in heavy rain, but not the amount of water that comes out of the pedal tubes 3 to irrigate the footing.

The mat 2 has a lattice structure on its side facing the footing layer 1, which on the one hand contributes to the stability of the mat 2 and on the other hand prevents water that inadvertently seeps out of the pedal tubes 3 through the holes 7. In other words, the areas of the drip hoses 3 and those of the holes 7 are separated from one another at least to some extent by a grid structure.

The drip hoses 3 are made of plastic and have valves 5 oriented at regular intervals for watering the footing 1 toward the footing 1. The drip hoses are dimensioned such that they can be ideally embedded or clamped in the grooves.

The mat 2 is arranged on a grown floor 8, namely gravel. Due to the water permeability of the mat 2, an optimal drainage of excess water can be realized.

The footing layer 1 consists essentially of sand and aggregates, namely geotextile and lies on the mat 2. It has a thickness of 10 to 12 cm.

With regard to further advantageous refinements of the riding surface according to the invention and the method for building a riding surface, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments of the riding floor according to the invention described above and the method for building a riding floor serve only to discuss the teaching claimed, but do not restrict the teaching to the exemplary embodiments.

Reference list

1

Footing

2nd

(Lower) mat

3rd

Drip hoses

4th

Grooves

5

Valves

6

Intermediate mat

7

Holes

8th

Soil / gravel

Claims (13)

1. Riding surface having a tread layer (1) and a mat (2) which is arranged between a base and the tread layer (1), wherein the tread layer (1) substantially comprises sand with aggregates and drip tubes (3) for watering the tread layer (1) are preferably embedded in grooves (4) at the side of the mat (2) facing the tread layer (1), characterised in that the mat (2) is produced from a solid material, whereby a pressure distribution is ensured and the tread layer (1) is positioned directly on the mat (2) and the drip tubes (3) so that the volume of the tread layer (1) is minimised.
2. Riding surface according to claim 1, characterised in that the mat (2) is produced from PVC at least in regions.
3. Riding surface according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that individual mat elements (2) can be fitted together.
4. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the grooves (4) are milled in the mat (2) and/or are produced during production of the mat (2), in particular using injection-moulding technology.
5. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the grooves (4) are water-impermeable to the greatest possible extent, in particular coated with a water-impermeable material, and/or the grooves are formed from a water-impermeable material.
6. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the mat (2) has passages, preferably holes (7), which permit penetration of water and/or prevent penetration of relatively large quantities of sand and other particles to the greatest possible extent.
7. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the mat (2) has a net or grid structure at least at the side thereof facing the tread layer (1).
8. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the drip tubes (3) which are preferably produced from plastics material have valves which are orientated in the direction towards the tread layer (1) and/or membranes (5) for the discharge of water.
9. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that an intermediate net is arranged in order to stabilise and protect the drip tubes (3).
10. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the riding surface, in particular the mat (2), can be arranged on grown soil (8) and/or a drainage system, in particular ballast (8).
11. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the tread layer (1) comprises geotextile in addition to aggregates.
12. Riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that below the mat (2) there is arranged a protective mat which is produced from a water-permeable and/or soft and/or damping material, preferably comprising polyurethane foam rubber and/or rubber granulates, in particular recycled car tyres.
13. Method for constructing a riding surface according to any one of claims 1 to 12, having a tread layer (1), a mat (2) which is arranged between the base and tread layer (1) and drip tubes (3), wherein the tread layer substantially comprises sand with aggregates and the mat (2) is produced from a solid material, whereby a pressure distribution is ensured, wherein drip tubes (3) for watering the tread layer are preferably embedded in grooves (4) at the side of the mat (2) facing the tread layer (1), and the tread layer (1) is positioned directly on the mat (2) and the drip tubes (3) so that the volume of the tread layer (1) is minimised.

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