US1763411A

US1763411A - Artificial golf-course covering

Info

Publication number: US1763411A
Application number: US450798A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grady R Swope
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-05-08
Filing date: 1930-05-08
Publication date: 1930-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-10

Description

June 10, 1930. SWOPE I 1,763,411

ARTIFICIAL GOLF COURSE COVERING Original Filed Jan. 15, 1.930

gwuentw Graqy .2, 520670 (2 Mar/W door and outdoor Patented June 10, 1 930 1'- OFFICE- GRADY R. SWOPE, OF ST. PETERSB'URG, FLORIDA nn'rrrrcmr. GOLF-COURSE COVERING I Substitute torapp lication Serial No. 421,049, filed January '15, 1930. This Serial No. 450,798.

The present invention relates to an improved artificial covering or matting for ingolf courses, and is a sub stitute for allowed application 421,049,1iled Jan. 15, In localities where to grow, because of climatic or soil conditions, golf courses in such places have their putting greens covered with artificial sub- 10 stances to simulate, as closely as possible, the conditions met withwhen playing over a grass green. Moreover, due tothe increasing popularity of golf and the large number of players using the links, it is quite diflicult to keep the grass on the put-ting green in proper playing condition, and consequently it is o'ften necessary to employ an artificial green which will not become worn under constant usage. r

The artificial greens heretofore employed have been usually composed of short fibers of material held togethercb a suitable binder. Themain difliculty with these v greens has been that the fibers soon become loose, and when walked on leave indentations which constantly require them to be leveled and. re-

rolled,- I

An essential object of the present invention is,to 3 cut fibers of a substance which, when the fibers are mixed and secured by a viscousbinder, forms a matted surface which, in properties and characteristics, very closely simulates the turf used on natural greens.

A further object consists in using feathersas'the main ingredients in the construction of the artificial green. Preferably, the feathers :are cut into short pieces and mixed together, and then secured bya suitable binder. Due to the tenacious and flexible character of the barbs, the cut pieces tend to cling .or adhere to one another, so that in its final form, the matted surface constitute s a homogeneous mass, the parts of which are so intertwined as to be capableof-resisting any force or pressure tending to separate them. The intertwined barbs provide a soft surface resembling, vin many respects, an ordinary Serial No.

it is diflicult for grass so grass gr en nd suitable trea m nt thereof as by including another the ball when moved the'reover. provide an artificial green composedof composedfof feathers will economically produced,

application fi led ua' s, 1930.

substance, such as sand, sawdust or otherdivided material will give weight to the mass; Moreover, it will ordinarlly be'desired to employ a suitable binder. I

Preferably the feathers are comminuted or cut so that the particles are relatively small, although if extremely small feathers are used thiswould be an equivalent of comminution, and the invention as disclosed and claimed with respect to comminution or cutting of the feathers is to be so interpreted. If desired, small pieces of the stems may be retained with some barbs attached thereto, but, if retained, the stem pieces must be extremely small, since large ieces would form surface projections of undesirable character and interfere-with the movement of a ball. However, equally good, ifnot better results are obtained when the stem pieces are substantially eliminated. f

' It has been found that an artificial green constructed in accordance with the present invention possesses characteristics and features very closely simulating a turf putting green, since the exposed barbs tend to assume positions similar to short'blades of grass and offer a certain degree of resistance to an artificialgreen not rot as quickly so the green coloring It has beenv found that as other-substances, while mlxed with the binder does not easily lose- -its shade whensubj ect to the elements. As all parts of the green maybe very and its wearing qualities are materially enhanced due to the tenacious character of the barbs which have a tendency to felt and cling together and'willnot tear or separate under ordinary use.

A further object consists in a new and novel process of constructing an artificial green.

Another object of the invention' consists in adding sawdust to the feathers so as to in:- crease the bulk of the matted surface, and 95 also lessen the cost of production. Additionally, sand may be addedto give weight to the mass. I

Further objects and'advanta es of the invention will become apparent feathers may be obtained in country, t-h1s artificial 1 1. the =1ou i lowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings in which is disclosed several preferred embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is asectional view of the ground around a putting green with my artificial covering applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the intertwining relation existing between the barbs of the feathers, certain stem particles being retained in the form illustrated,

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, 10 denotes the ground surrounding one of the holes 11 of a golf course, which is commonly referred to as the putting green.

In order that the putting green in localities where it is difficult to grow grass may simulate as closely as possible the conditions 1 existing on a grass golf course, I have provided an artificial covering or matting surface 12 which is preferably composed of cut feathers that are first graded according to size, and then reduced to small pieces. The cut feathers 13 are then treated as by mixing with a suitable liquid substance such as oil or the like, so as to give weight to the mass, said substance also acting as aviscous binder. The oil may first be mixed with a green or other coloring matter and then mixed with the feathers, so as to form a composite mass capa ble of being readily applied to the ground surface. The mixture is then ready to be laid on the green and when rolled out, presents a surface ,very closely approximating in characteristics a grass green. Refuse oil from cylinder crank cases has been found to be very satisfactory and gives the desired weight to the mixture. Moreover, oil-paint or tarmay also be used as a binder.

In order to give bulk and weight to the mass and also reduce the cost of producing the artificial green, a divided substance, such as sawdust or sand, or both, may be added to the mixture in varying proportions.

I have found a mixture of two portions of sawdust to one of feathers'to be very satisfactory and efficient in use. .The sawdust, in addition to giving bulk to the mass, also tends to smooth out to a certain-degree the exposed surface and fill up any interstices that might otherwise be formed therein. Sand may be added so as to give weight to the mass.

An artificial coveringcomposed of the following ingredients by volume has been found to be very satisfactory: three portions of feathers, six portions of sawdust, about one portion of sand and one-fifth portion of oil. Of course, the ingredientsmay be mixedin varying proportions as determined by the best working conditions.

Feathers have been found to be admirably suited for making artificial putting greens,

because of the fact that when the feathers derstood that the covering includes barbs which are free from the stem ieces, as well as the stem attached barbs of igure 2.

An important and desirable feature of the invention resides in the fact that, in its final form, my artificial covering, when rolled, assumes a shape that allows the exposed barbs to protrude or project upwardly to retard the movement of a ball thereover, and thus very closely simulates the turf of a grass green. Moreover, any retained short stem pieces 15 are of flexible and yieldable character, and may be bent to assume various shapes, but are not easily broken. Even when transversely cracked the parts remain jointed and will not separate. Consequently, the composite mass when walked on or distorted by a ball has a tendency to immediately return to its normal shape when the pressure is released, and does not leave imprints or indentations therein. While my artificial covering is particularly adapted for use on the putting green, it is quite obvious that it may also be efiiciently employed as a covering on the fairway or any other parts of both indoor and outdoor golf courses, croquet, tennis courts and other games, and the term. golf courses as used throughout the specification and claims is to be so intermerely illustrative of a preferred embodiment, and that the artificial covering and method of producing the same may assumesuch other forms as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surface composed. of intertwined feathers and a binder for the mixture,

2. An artificial covering for golf courses com risin a matted surface com osed of 1 their stems, and a binder for the mixture.

,to' the feathers to atQAnartificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surface composed of intertwined feathers, a finely divided substance added to the feathers to give weight to the mass, and a binder for the mixture.

-5. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a mat-ted surface composed of feather barbs detached from their stems and intertwined the stems being substantially removed, a finely divided substance added give weight to the mass, and a binder for the mixture.

6. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surface composed of feathers treated to give additional weight thereto and having their barbs intertwined.

7. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a mat-ted surface composed of feathers cut and mixed so that their barbs areyintertwined, sand mixed. with said." feathers, and a binder securing the mixture together.

8. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a mat-ted surface composed of feathers cut and mixed 'so that their barbs are detached from their stems and intertwined, sand mixed with said feathers, and a bindersecuring the mixture together.

. 9. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surface composed, of feathers cut and mixed so that their barbs are intertwined, a finely divided substance mixed with said feathers, and a binder securing the mixture together.

10.- An artificial covering for igolf courses feathers with a liquid binder so as to cause the-barbs to be intertwined, adding a finely divided substance to the mixture, and rolling the mixture over a surface to which it is applied. 4

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GRADY R. SWOPE.

comprising a mat-ted surface composed of feathers cut and mixed so that their barbs;

are detached'from their stems and intertwined the stems? being substantially re-' moved, sand mixed with said feathers, and a binder securing the mixture together.

11. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a'matted surface composed of cut feathers connected by their barbs, saw

dustmixcd with said feathers, sand added to said mixture, and a binder securing the mixture together. 7 12. An artificial cgvering' for golf courses comprising amass composed of cut feathers mixed so that their barbs are intertwined, whereby the, mass tends to resist pressure causing the separation of the feathers, and a colored oil bindersecurin'g the feathers to' gether. 13. The method of making an artificial cover for golf courses which consists in cutting feathers into small pieces, mixing the i