NL1034781C2 - Sports surface with artificial grass, e.g. tennis court, comprises monofilament fiber pile mat with contrasting pile line markings and covered with colored sand - Google Patents

Abstract

The surface comprises an artificial grass mat covering the entire playing surface area, and line markings formed by a pile having a contrasting color. The markings comprise separate strips of a monofilament fiber pile mat which are laid in slots cut into the artificial grass mat before a material comprising sand or another non-agglomerating, granular material is scattered on top of the surface, forming two layers with different properties in respect of the color, shape and dimensions of the particles. The top layer comprises colored particles prepared by painting or coating and the bottom layer comprises non-colored particles. An independent claim is also included for a tennis court with its entire playing surface area is covered by an artificial grass mat containing 3 blades per linear inch and consisting of a pile of fibrillated synthetic fibers which have a homogenous color and pile height of 20 mm. The line markings are formed by a pile having a contrasting, lighter color and comprising separate strips of a mat with a pile consisting of monofilament fibers. The strips are laid in slots cut into the artificial grass mat before a material consisting of sand or another non-agglomerating, granular, grit-like material is scattered on top of the surface, forming two distinct layers with different properties in respect of the color, shape and dimensions of the particles. The top layer comprises colored particles prepared by painting or coating and the bottom layer comprises non-colored particles. Each layer has a thickness of ca. 5-25 mm and comprises particles having a size of 0.1-1.5 mm. One of the layers comprises a single material and one layer comprises identical size particles. The top layer comprises quarried sand or basalt particles which are at least 5% coarser and more angular than those in the bottom layer, which comprises fluvial or fine sand, in order to avoid a capillary fracture area. The thickness of the two layers is equal to the pile height.

Description

Title: Tennis court with a mat of fibrillated fibers and a line of monofilament fibers and 2-layer infused with the upper infill layer colored (2-ply infill), or another playing field with artificial turf, characterized by fiber and infill layer type.

This invention relates to a playing field, in particular an artificial grass field for, for example, a tennis court, hockey field, korfball field or multifunctional field, more in particular on which official matches can be played, i.e. a field which satisfies the conditions set by the official sports authorities, such as NOC / NSF, standards set, for example regarding dimensions, lines, flatness, sport-technical properties, comfort.

The object of the invention is versatile and involves, inter alia, one or more of the following aspects: extending the life of the playing field or part thereof; reducing investment and / or maintenance costs; improve the playing characteristics; simulating a clay court; extend the playing season; course / field that can be played under all weather conditions (all weather course).

The proposal is to make a field strewn with sand or other incoherent, grainy, stony material that is colored, for example red, green or blue. In addition, the pole (i.e., blade of grass mimicking fiber) of at least the line, or portion thereof, of the field contains monofilament fibers. Although a mixture of monofilament and fibrillated fibers is conceivable, it is preferable to use only monofilament fibers for at least the line. The invention also includes that the pole of the entire field contains monofilament and preferably exclusively monofilament fibers.

Currently fields are known that are made entirely of a pile of monofilament fibers, sprinkled with uncoloured sand in a single layer. Furthermore, fields are known that are made entirely of a pile of fibrillated fibers, sprinkled with colored sand in a single layer.

The color of the infill material can be obtained by a treatment, such as painting or coating. This color treatment can be carried out at an elevated temperature, such as above 500 or 1000 degrees Celsius.

Preferably the field is sprinkled with sand or other incoherent, granular, stony material so that at least two layers of such infusion material are created above one another, said layers having different properties. Preferably, one layer has one color and another has a different color; and / or one layer consists of a size and / or shape and another layer consists of a different size and / or shape. The expression shape and size also means groups, ranges and categories of each.

Preferably, in a multi-layer application system, the top application layer is made of colored material.

An optimum result can thus be achieved with limited additional costs for coated / colored sand and / or fiber type for the pile.

Each layer can have a thickness of around 5 or 10 mm. The layer thickness is preferably in the range between approximately 20 and 25 mm. The infill material is preferably used in exactly two layers. The grain diameter can be between 0 and 1.5 mm, for example between 0.1 and 0.6 mm or between 0.3 and 0.8 mm or between 0.5 and 1.2 mm.

Preferably, no or hardly any elastic material, such as rubber granules, is admixed to the infill material, so that the infiltration layer behaves essentially as a sand layer, in particular. in terms of the technical characteristics. The layer infill material preferably consists of essentially a single material type. The grain size of the infill material of a layer is preferably substantially constant.

The layers may, for example, differ from each other by origin, such as grooved sand, river sand, basalt, quartz crystal, and fine sand. One layer can contain more angular or rounder grains. The layers can differ in fraction. The grain size meets, for example, the Dutch standard ISA-M-4B (for tennis) or ISA-M-4A (for hockey). For a layer 3 at a higher level, a coarser and / or angular grain is preferably used, for example at least 5, 10 or 20% larger grain (based on average diameter). For example, one layer consists of grooved sand or basalt and the layer below consists of river sand or fine sand. Preferably, no capillary fracture surface occurs.

When a single layer is applied, its thickness is approximately equal to the pile height, while material type and properties may correspond to those of one of the layers of the multi-layer application system.

The invention can be used for a mat with a division 3/8 or 5/16 or 5/32 (8, 16 or 32 stitches on respectively 3, 5 or 5 inch mat length) or 5/8 or 3/4 or 3 / 16 (5, 3 or 3 stitches on 8, 4 or 16 inch mat length respectively). Application for the following division margins is conceivable: between 3/4 and 3/12; between 15 5/12 and 5/20; between 5/28 and 5/36; between 3/10 and 3/20; between 3/2 and 3/6; between 5/6 and 5/10. The pile height can be between 10 and 30 mm, such as between 10 and 15 mm (for example approximately 12 mm) or between 20 and 25 mm (for example approximately 20 or 22 mm).

Fibrillated fibers are made by extruding a film of, for example, polypropylene (PP) and / or polyethylene (PE), cutting it into narrow strips and providing each strip with many incisions so that many very narrow strips arise next to each other, two of which are adjacent. strips are still attached to each other at different places along their length. Monofilament fibers are individually extruded threads that may have a round or angular cross-sectional shape in addition to a flat one.

The fibers are tufted into the (flat woven) base mat, so that loops protruding from the base mat are formed, which are then cut open so that blades of grass are simulated. Instead of tufting, the fiber can also be incorporated into the base mat in a different way, for example knotted.

A non-limiting example of the invention is as follows:

A tennis court is constructed on site of artificial grass of fibrillated fibers and of a homogeneous color, for example red or green, that covers the entire playing surface. An inhomogeneous or regionally changing color is also possible. The mat has a 3/8-division and a pile height of approximately 20 mm. Subsequently, uncoloured (ie almost 5 white) fine sand or river sand is sprinkled in a layer thickness of 10 or 15 mm. On top of that, colored grooved sand is sprinkled in a layer thickness of 10 or 15 mm.

The lines are made of artificial grass fiber in a contrasting color. This line is made of individual strips made of a mat with a pile of monofilament fibers which, prior to being sprinkled, are laid in slots cut out for this purpose in the laid grass mat. The individual line of alignment is attached to the substrate and / or the artificial grass next to it with adhesive tape. For example, an adhesive tape is used that is considerably wider than the line of alignment. After the tennis court has been cut out, this adhesive strip is placed in the cut-out so that its longitudinal edges are located under the artificial grass on either side of the cut-out and adhere to it. The line of alignment is then laid on this adhesive tape and adhered to it.

It is possible that the line or part thereof is integrated with the turf. This is particularly possible for the so-called tram rails (the sidelines for singles and doubles). The color-contrasting fiber is then applied during tufting. In that case, according to the invention, the pile of the mat with integrated line will be made entirely of monofilament fibers.

Alternatively, a single, approximately 20 mm thick layer of colored grooved sand is sprinkled.

The invention appears to provide for a reduced wear and contamination of the fiber of the pile. This manifests itself in particular with the lines that are, after all, made in a light color (white or yellow). Presumably compared to a fibrillated fiber, the monofilament fiber is less easily damaged by the colored sand, which is probably more harmful to the fiber than uncoloured sand. A multi-layer system appears to work even better, probably because the infill material is better stabilized.

Claims (5)

A tennis court with a top layer of artificial grass covering the entire playing surface with a mat with a 3/8 division and a pile of exclusively fibrillated synthetic fibers and a homogeneous color and a pile height of 20 mm, and a line with a pile in a contrasting brighter color, which line is made of individual strips of a mat with a pile of exclusively monofilament fibers which, prior to being sprinkled, are laid in slots cut out for this purpose in the laid grass mat, the pile being homogeneously sprinkled with sand or other incoherent material, granular, stony material and exactly two layers of such infill material are located one above the other in the top layer, wherein these layers have different properties regarding the color, shape and size of the material particles and the top infill layer of paints or coatings colored and the bottom infill layer is of uncoloured material, with each infusion layer having a thickness has between approximately 5 and 25 mm and the grain diameter is between 0.1 and 1.5 mm and the layer infill material consists of essentially a single type of material and the grain size of the layer infill material is substantially constant and the upper layer layer has a contains at least 5% coarser and more angular grain of grooved sand or basalt and the lower infill layer consists of river sand or fine sand to avoid a capillary fracture surface and the thickness of the two infill layers together is substantially equal to the pile height. 2. Sports field, such as a tennis court, with a top layer of artificial grass covering the entire playing surface with a line with a pole in a contrasting color, which line is made of individual strips of a mat with a pile of monofilament fibers that are spread before is laid in trenches cut out for this purpose in the laid artificial grass mat, the pole of the field being homogeneously sprinkled with sand or other incoherent granular material and two layers of such infill material being located one above the other in the top layer, said layers having different properties regarding a or more of the color, shape and size of the material particles and the upper infill layer of paint or coating colored and the lower infill layer of uncoloured material. Sports field according to claim 2, with one or more of the following properties: 10. each infill layer has a thickness between approximately 5 and 25 mm; - the grain diameter is between 0.1 and 1.5 mm; - the infill material of a layer consists essentially of a single material type; the grain size of the infill material of a layer is substantially constant; - the upper infill layer contains at least 5% or 10% or 20% coarser and more angular grain compared to the lower infill layer; - the top layer is made from grooved sand or basalt; 20. the bottom layer is made of river sand or fine sand; - the properties of the upper and lower infusion layers are mutually coordinated to avoid a capillary fracture surface; the thickness of the two infill layers together is substantially equal to the pile height; - apart from the line, the pile of the mat contains only fibrillated synthetic fibers; - apart from the lines, the mat has a homogeneous color; the line has a brighter color than the rest of the mat; - the infill material consists exclusively of sand or other incoherent, granular, stony material; - of the line, the pile contains only monofilament fibers. 35 Field according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the mat has a division of 3/8 or 5/16 or 5/32 or 5/8 or 3/4 or 3/16 or a division between 3/4 and 3/12 or between 5/12 and 5/20 or between 5/28 and 5/36 or between 3/10 and 3/20 or between 3/2 and 3/6 or between 5/6 and 5/10. A field according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the pile height is between 10 and 30 mm, such as between 10 and 15 mm (for example approximately 12 mm) or between 20 and 25 mm (for example approximately 20 or 22 mm). 10