JPS6110604A - Artificial turf athletic field and its construction and covering method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an artificial turf playing field having an artificial turf layer laid on a support cushion having an underlayer of artificial turf. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for handling large sections of artificial turf on a field pre-installed with artificial turf using a gas cushion.

(Prior Art and Problems) Artificial turf fields for various athletic events in multi-purpose stadiums are arranged with various shaped sided fields having markings on the playing surface to distinguish them from one another. Fields of this type include American football fields, soccer fields, and baseball fields.To change an artificial turf surface from one field configuration to another to suit different athletic events, there are , which requires considerable time and expense.

In some cases, where the same artificial turf is used for another athletic event, the old line markings must be erased before painting new line markings on the artificial turf surface to match the other athletic event. Additionally, when converting a field surface from baseball to football, for example, at the baseball infield location, it is generally necessary to cover the rough surface of each portion of the artificial turf. be.

In other cases, some or all of the artificial turf for athletics may be removed and a separate section of artificial turf may be laid to provide a playing surface for another athletic event. This type of method generally requires considerable effort to resurface the artificial lawn and to unroll the artificial lawn from a large roll. Also, considerable effort is required to secure and untie each roll of artificial turf consisting of a uniform field. This method can be simplified somewhat by using a method and apparatus for handling large sections of artificial turf with an air cushion, such as that disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,899,954.

In other cases, only a portion of the field may be used for another athletic event (
Change it to suit. For example, in order to convert an artificial turf baseball field into an artificial turf football field, it is known to provide an artificial turf overlay over the baseball infield. The overlay of the artificial turf consists of a composite of artificial turf and a polymer foam support which provides an elevation difference from one part of the football field to another part of the football field. As shown in Figure 2, a tapered polymeric foam transition piece 21
By providing the edge 20 of the overlay portion with
An attempt was made to provide some smooth transitions. Such equipment is generally undesirable due to the risk of tripping due to the joints on the sides across the field. (1) is undesirable because it becomes an extremely thick layer. Compared to the field section with a single layer of artificial grass, the base force S is unstable and
It feels extremely soft.

According to the present invention, an artificial lawn device is provided that eliminates the drawbacks associated with the prior art and can quickly change fields.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention relates to an artificial turf playing field having an artificial turf layer laid on a support cushion having an underlayer of artificial turf.

The present invention also provides for: (a) pulling a leading edge from a roll of an impermeable artificial turf overlay across an initial portion of a field of artificial turf, comprising at least one powered roll +2; Support roller [this is supported; inside]
Rotate the roll with the remainder of the overlay section in place in the spreading direction and simultaneously (continue pulling) forcefully to further advance the overlay section across this field; (C) pull the overlay section out of the field within its edges; Lift and pull away (to minimize friction between the field and the overlay)
This generates gas pressure between the field and the overlay; (1) continues to tighten the bow until the field is covered with the overlay; (e) then fixes the overlay on the field; To provide an apparatus for removably covering an artificial turf field with an overlay of impermeable artificial turf, having steps of reducing gas pressure.

(Description of preferred example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

The present invention provides an artificial turf playing field that uses artificial turf laid on a support cushion having an underlayer of artificial turf. In FIG. 1, an overlay l of artificial grass with piles 2 is shown. The pile 2 is woven into the backing 8, stapled at regular intervals, woven or otherwise secured, and consists of a thermoplastic synthetic material in the form of a ribbon, such as nylon or polypropylene. This artificial grass playing surface is laid on a support cushion having an underlay layer 4 of artificial grass.

The underlayer 4 is secured to a backing 6 and consists of a pile 5 of thermoplastic synthetic material in the form of a ribbon, to which a lower layer 7 in the form of an elastic pad with a foam structure is attached, for example by means of a suitable adhesive. Or in place.

, foam and glue.

Since artificial turf overlays do not adhere to hard surfaces, components must be prepared to ensure the dimensional stability of such overlays. Dimensional stability can be provided by various means, for example by coating the underside of the backing 8 with a polymeric material such as polyurethane. This makes it possible to provide stretch resistance and wrinkle resistance without affecting the overlay layer of the artificial grass. Furthermore, since the artificial grass overlay generally has to be secured at its periphery by pins or tension members, each time the artificial grass overlay is unrolled for use, the line markings must be dimensioned to have the same dimensional accuracy. Ensure stability.

If the artificial turf underlayer has a turf-like ribbon extending from the backing at a pile angle of, for example, 80° or less from the horizontal position, the artificial turf overlay will tend to advance in the direction of the pile layer. . This throws off the dimensions of the field,
Create wrinkles on the overlay, or tighten the entire overlay in the lateral direction.
Move this.

It has been found that this type of problem can be avoided by using an underlayer of artificial turf having a grass-like ribbon extending generally vertically from the backing at a pile angle of about 90 degrees from the horizontal position. Maintaining the turf ribbon at such a pile angle is best achieved by using a crimped turf ribbon with a high pile ff1lf.

The preferred underlayer for artificial grass is 800 Lipo/Denier.
~670, pile length 9.7~12.7im (c,
38~0.50 inches], pile density or 1 crrL,! 1193~186 ribbons (600~ per workpiece)
It consists of a grass-like ribbon with a thickness of 1200 mm.

The preferred underlayment layer for this kind of artificial lawn! Because of the pile angle of approximately 90°, which provides stable support for the underlay layer of artificial grass, the blades of artificial grass underlay do not compress even when laid on top, and generally remain upright even when compressed. Still 0
The present invention also provides a complete method for handling large sections of impermeable artificial turf with a gas-cushioned artificial turf surface. The handling of artificial turf in large sections on a smooth hard surface such as a floor and held on a gas cushion to minimize friction marks is described in US Pat. No. Φ, 899,
No. 954. The present invention eliminates the requirement for smooth hard surfaces and provides a significant improvement. In this regard, the present invention is for handling large sections of artificial turf on a gas cushion between the overlay layer of the large section of artificial turf and the fixed support layer of the artificial turf.

The present invention is useful for covering artificial turf playing fields in multipurpose stadiums.

In this regard, FIG. 3 shows a generally circular stadium 32 having an artificial turf playing field 84 of a shape suitable for baseball games. Within a stadium, the seating portions 36 are movable in an arcuate direction within a circular perimeter of the stadium on a generally arcuate track. If the seating portion is moved to provide a generally rectangular playing field for, for example, football, the seating portion may need to be moved to cover a portion of the artificial turf for a baseball playing field. If convenient, the seating section can be moved onto a bow-shaped track and a portion of it can be extended over the outfield section of a baseball field. These tracks can be placed in ditches 38 where there is provision for a removable cover with an artificial grass top surface to provide a smooth playing field.

FIG. 4 shows a stadium with seating portions rotated into position to accommodate a generally rectangular playing field. The playing field 40 according to the present invention has an artificial turf overlay layer provided on the field 34 of the artificial turf underlay layer. The overlay of artificial grass is conveniently stored on a roll in an elongated bit 42. The leading edge 46 of the overlay layer of artificial grass is used to spread out the spreading layer of artificial grass.
pressurized air pen) 444- pull it out of the roll in the focus until it extends beyond. A gas cushion of air is supplied through vent 44 to provide a gas cushion between the overlay and underlay surface of the artificial turf.

The artificial turf overlay supported on the air cushion can then be fully expanded by continuing to pull out the leading edge of the overlay.

If the field is completely expanded, add one layer of artificial grass to the top layer.
The artificial lawn is made of sufficient length so that the sections remain attached to the cylindrical core stored within the bit 42. This cylindrical core supporting a roll of artificial lawn is conveniently attached to the support roll to facilitate rotation of the roll. Advantageously, at least one of the support rollers is powered in such a way as to facilitate rotation of the roll.

To re-tension the artificial grass overlay, air is blown directly under the overlay through vents 44 to provide a gas cushion. When the overlay is separated from the underlay support by the gas cushion, the fully powered support rollers are driven to re-wrap the overlay of artificial grass around the roll wound around the elongated core.

Using the bit 42 and vent 44 located in the baseball outfield,
A playing field can be set up arbitrarily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a part of an artificial grass playing field having an artificial grass layer laid on a support cushion having an artificial grass underlay layer according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 2 shows points at different heights of the artificial grass. Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views illustrating the prior art technique of using an overlay of artificial turf bonded to one support cushion using a tapered section to provide a transition between the layers of artificial turf in a multipurpose stadium. On top of several layers (This is a schematic diagram showing the usefulness of the overlay layer of artificial grass.) ・Overlay layer 2...Pile 3 ・Backing material
4...Underlay layer 5...Vile
6...Backing material 7 Lower layer 20 Edge 21...Transition piece 32 Stadium 34...Field 36...Seat portion 88...Groove 40 Field 42...Bit 414...
...Bent 46...Leading edge FIG, 7゜rtt'=I)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An artificial turf playing field having an artificial turf layer laid on a support cushion having an underlayer of artificial turf. 2. An artificial turf playing field having a layer of artificial turf laid on a support cushion of an underlayer of artificial turf laminated to a polymeric foam pad. 3. An artificial turf playing field having an artificial turf layer laid over a support cushion of an overlay of artificial turf having woven monofilament ribbons extending generally perpendicularly from the backing. 4. The artificial turf playing field of claim 3, wherein the woven monofilament ribbon extends at a pile angle of approximately 90°. 5. A method of installing an artificial turf playing field with an artificial turf layer on a support cushion with an underlayer of artificial turf, comprising preparing an air cushion in such a way as to facilitate handling of said overlaying layer of artificial turf. How to install an artificial grass competition field consisting of: 6. (a) drawing a leading edge from a roll of an impermeable artificial turf overlay across an initial portion of the field of artificial turf, said roll being supported on at least one powered support roller; (b) rotating said roll with the remainder of said overlay portion in place in a spreading direction and simultaneously continuing to pull hard to further advance said overlay portion across the field; (c) said (d) creating a gas pressure between the field and the overlay portion so as to lift the overlay portion away from the field within its edges to minimize friction between the field and the overlay portion; (e) continuing to pull firmly until covered with said overlay; (e) then relieving the gas pressure to secure the overlay on the field; A removable covering method using