US20090286019A1

US20090286019A1 - Device comprising a mat and use of the device

Info

Publication number: US20090286019A1
Application number: US12/312,192
Authority: US
Inventors: Stefan Bihl
Original assignee: BIHLTEX AB
Current assignee: BIHLTEX AB
Priority date: 2006-10-30
Filing date: 2007-10-30
Publication date: 2009-11-19
Also published as: WO2008054316A1; EP2081657A1; EP2081657A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device comprising a mat (1, 2), which has at least one through clearance (1.1) so that a remaining part constitutes an outer mat (1), at least one inner mat (2) being arranged in said at least one clearance (1.1) and said outer mat (1) having at least one first device-attributed, upper layer (1.4) provided with at least one non-rigid pile (1.5) of plastic in the form of artificial turf. Said inner mat (2) has at least one second device-attributed, upper layer (2.4) consisting of a material having a substantially smooth upperside and that is denser than the material of the first upper layer (1.4) of the outer mat (1). The present invention also relates to the use of the device.

Description

The present invention relates to a device comprising a mat, which has at least one through clearance so that a remaining part constitutes an outer mat, at least one inner mat being arranged in said at least one clearance and said outer mat having at least one first device-attributed, upper layer provided with at least one non-rigid pile of plastic in the form of artificial turf. The present invention also relates to the use of the device.

PRIOR ART

Loosely lying, movable mats having a surface of artificial turf are usually intended to be used as door mats and have upper layers having essentially upright, resilient piles of plastic blades having the appearance of grass. Mats of this type do not necessarily have to have the appearance of a lawn, i.e., be green, but may have different colours and also different appearance of the pile. However, common to these mats is that they do not allow text and illustrations, e.g., advertisements, to be attached to the upright artificial turf.
By the Swedish patent specification 518 311, it is known to provide a floor mat having an upper layer of dense piles with advertising leaflets by removing the pile within a certain area and there attach leaflets including text and illustrations. The pile intended here is simpler to remove than the above-mentioned artificial turf, and therefore the known solution is not applicable to mats having an artificial turf.
In a particular application, mats having an artificial turf are used as tee mats for golf training. A tee mat of this type is intended to protect the ground surface at the tee from being poached, particularly in rainy weather, and give the golfer a cleaner surface to stand on. The tee mat usually has a plurality of layers of materials of different hardnesses, preferably at least one layer of foam rubber on the upperside of which a pile in the form of artificial turf is arranged. Such a tee mat, most often of the dimension 1.5×1.5 m, is easy to keep clean by the fact that it is simple to flush with water. However, a disadvantage of the known tee mat is that it does not offer a sufficiently stable support for the golfer's feet during tee training, as the artificial turf springs in different directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a device having an artificial turf and that simultaneously comprises an inner mat having an upperside that is smoother and denser than the artificial turf. A second object of the present invention is to provide a device having an artificial turf and that simultaneously comprises an inner mat that is entirely or partly fire-proof. A third object of the present invention is to provide a device that does not spring to the same extent as the artificial turf, but where it yet is possible to utilize the positive properties of the artificial turf as regards cleaning, wear resistance etc. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a device that allows mats having an artificial turf to be provided with text and/or illustrations and/or different colours. Additional objects of the present invention are to provide each one of a number of uses of the device according to the invention.
Thus, the invention embraces a device comprising a mat, which has at least one through clearance so that a remaining part constitutes an outer mat, at least one inner mat being arranged in said at least one clearance and said outer mat having at least one first device-attributed, upper layer provided with at least one non-rigid pile of plastic in the form of artificial turf. Said inner mat has at least one second device-attributed, upper layer consisting of a material having a substantially smooth upperside and that is denser than the material of the first upper layer of the outer mat.
Said material may consist of nylon, polyamide, wool, polyester, polypropylene or any other similar known material, wherein each one of the materials may be used alone or in combination with one or more other materials. Said material may consist of twisted nylon, so-called “high twist”.
Said material may have a water-absorption capacity of approx. 3.5-approx. 7.5 l/m², preferably approx. 4.5-approx. 6.5 l/m², and most preferably approx. 5.5 l/m². Said material may have a pile weight of approx. 500-approx. 900 g/m², preferably approx. 600-approx. 800 g/m², and most preferably approx. 700 g/m². Said material may have a pile thickness of approx. 5.0-approx. 9.0 mm, preferably approx. 6.0-approx. 8.0 mm, and most preferably approx. 7.0 mm.
Said second upper layer may lie on at least one lower layer in the form of nitrile rubber or any other similar known material. Said lower layer may have a thickness of approx. 0.7-approx. 1.9 mm, preferably approx. 1.0-approx. 1.6 mm, and most preferably approx. 1.3 mm. Said second upper layer and said lower layer may together and when interconnected have a total thickness of approx. 4.5-approx. 12.5 mm, preferably approx. 6.5-approx. 10.5 mm, and most preferably approx. 8.5 mm. Said second upper layer and said lower layer may together and when interconnected have a total weight of approx. 1.7-approx. 3.7 kg/m², preferably approx. 2.2-approx. 3.2 kg/m², and most preferably approx. 2.7 kg/m². Said at least one lower layer may lie on at least one additional lower layer in the form of foam rubber, foamed PVC or any other similar known material.
Said second upper layer and said lower layer of said inner mat may, under normal conditions, be fire-proof, i.e., non-inflammable. Said second upper layer and said lower layer of said inner mat may, if they together and when interconnected are exposed to an average heat radiation that is greater than or equal to 8.0 kW/m², preferably approx. 8.0-approx. 10.6 kW/m², in connection with a test for 30 minutes according to EN ISO 9239-1, have a smoke production that represents an average total light attenuation that is smaller than or equal to 750%·min, preferably approx. 343-approx. 750%·min, upon testing for fire classification according to EN 13501-1 (2002), wherein this part of the mat, under given conditions, may be fire-proof, i.e., non-inflammable. Said second upper layer and said lower layer of said inner mat may, if they together and when interconnected are exposed to an average heat radiation that is approx. 10.6 kW/m²in connection with a test for maximum 30 minutes according to EN ISO 9239-1, have a smoke production that represents an average total light attenuation that is approx. 343%·min upon testing for fire classification according to EN 13501-1 (2002), wherein this part of the mat, under given conditions, may be fire-proof, i.e., non-inflammable.
Said at least one clearance may entirely be surrounded by the outer mat. The upperside of the second upper layer of the inner mat may be provided with printing in the form of text and/or illustration and/or colour. Said printing may be made using the Chromojet method. The mat may be a tee mat for golf training.
Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of golf, preferably on one or more spots on the course particularly subjected to wear, e.g., at least one tee point and/or within putting distance from at least one hole, and upon training and/or competition. Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of tennis, preferably on one or more spots on the court particularly subjected to wear, e.g., at least one baseline within an area that is used for serving and/or at the net, and upon training or competition. Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of football or soccer, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear, e.g., in and around at least one penalty spot and/or around at least one corner flag/corner spot, and upon training or competition.
Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of rugby, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition. Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of cricket, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition. Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of baseball, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition. Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support for games of field hockey, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition.
Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention as a support in sports grounds, parks and/or gardens, preferably on one or more spots particularly subjected to wear, e.g., below and/or near at least one litterbin. Thus, the invention also embraces the use of the device according to the invention to communicate information and/or advertisements.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows, in a top view, a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows, in a section along the line I-I in FIG. 1 and in principle, the device according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows, in a cross-section, an outer part of the device.

FIG. 4 shows, in a cross-section, an inner part of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A device in the form of a tee mat for golf training according to FIG. 1 comprises an outer mat 1 of a rectangular shape, which has a rectangular opening 1.1 extending right through the outer mat 1. In the opening 1.1, an inner mat 2 is arranged so that it entirely fills up the opening 1.1.
As is seen in FIG. 3, the outer mat 1 comprises a first layer 1.2 of foam rubber, intended to be laid in direct contact with the support, i.e., the ground, a second layer 1.3, also of foam rubber, arranged on the upperside of the first layer 1.2, and a third layer 1.4 of vinyl plastic, which carries a pile 1.5 in the form of an artificial turf of plastic. The mat may be entirely detached or placed in a surrounding frame.
As is seen in FIG. 4, the inner mat 2 comprises a first layer 2.1 of foam rubber, a second layer 2.2 of foam rubber arranged on the upperside of the first layer 2.1, and a third layer 2.3 of rubber or vinyl, preferably nitrile rubber, which carries a pile 2.4 consisting of a tuff material of twisted nylon, so-called “high twist”, which is considerable denser than the artificial turf 1.5 of the outer mat 1. The total thickness of the layers is equal for the two mats 1, 2. The tuff pile has the same or somewhat smaller thickness than the artificial turf so that one should not stumble when passing between the outer mat 1 and the inner mat 2. By virtue of the dense surface on the tuff pile 2.4, this may be provided with, e.g., advertisements in the form of text and/or illustrations and/or colour.
The tuft pile may be replaced by a layer of a hard plastic or rubber material that also may have text and/or illustrations and/or different colours. This layer may also be provided with groovings or the like to decrease the risk of slipperiness, particularly in humid weather.
The upperside of the respective mat 1, 2 is situated in approximately the same plane in order to avoid protruding edges that may cause users to stumble. In the described embodiment, the clearance is entirely surrounded by the outer mat, whereby the inner mat easier is kept in place if the mat is entirely detached.
The device according to the invention allows, in addition to said freedom of choice to provide the inner mat with, e.g., illustrations and different colours, also a possibility of replacing, e.g., information that is on the inner mat more often than what would be the case if the outer and the inner mat constituted a unit. The inner mat is also easier to lift and clean separately than what is the case with a continuous mat of the same size. For golf tee mats formed according to the invention, the advantage also applies that the inner mat, which usually becomes worn faster than the outer mat, can be replaced more often than the outer mat. This advantage applies even if the inner mat would be provided with an upper layer of artificial turf.
The tuff pile 2.4, i.e., the second device-attributed upper layer 2.4, consists of, as mentioned, twisted nylon, so-called “high twist”, having a water-absorption capacity of approx. 5.5 l/m²of mat and a pile weight of approx. 700 g/m²of mat. The third layer 2.3, i.e., the lower layer 2.3, preferably consists of, as mentioned, nitrile rubber having a thickness of 1.3 mm, which makes the second upper layer 2.4 and the lower layer 2.3 as a unit to lie still also on slippery supports, which in turn may consist of additional lower layers 2.1, 2.2, if the same are not integrated into one unit with the second upper layer 2.4 and the lower layer 2.3. The second upper layer 2.4 and the lower layer 2.3 may as a unit also be placed on other supports such as directly on the ground, floor or the like.
There is a border around the inner mat 2 that is approx. 20 mm wide, i.e., the tuff pile 2.4 does not go all the way out to the edge of the lower layer 2.3. However, this border is not required. Both the tuff pile 2.4 and the lower layer 2.3 are completely recyclable, and said layers together and when interconnected have a total weight of approx. 2.7 kg/m²of mat and are washable in 60° C. The pile surface may be printed by the Chromojet method in at least 48 standard colours.
Under normal conditions, the pile 2.4 and the lower layer 2.3 are non-inflammable. The two layers 2.4, 2.3 have, together and when interconnected, been fire-classified according to EN 13501-1 (2002) and the classification may be expressed as B_fl/s1 where B_flrepresents a heat flow in the form of radiation that is greater than or equal to 8.0 kW/m²of mat according to EN ISO 9239-1 for 30 minutes, and s1 represents a smoke production that represents an average total light attenuation that is smaller than or equal to 750%·min. In the test in question, which was the basis for the classification, the two layers 2.4, 2.3 were exposed to an average heat flow in the form of radiation of 10.6 kW/m²of mat according to EN ISO 9239-1 for maximum 30 minutes, which caused a smoke production representing an average total light attenuation of 343%·min.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown here, but may be varied within the scope of the subsequent claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising a mat, which has at least one through clearance so that a remaining part constitutes an outer mat, at least one inner mat being arranged in said at least one clearance and said outer mat having at least one first device-attributed, upper layer provided with at least one non-rigid pile of plastic in the form of artificial turf, that said inner mat has at least one second device-attributed, upper layer consisting of a material having a substantially smooth upperside and that is denser than the material of the first upper layer of the outer mat, characterized in that said material consists of twisted nylon with a water-absorption capacity of approx. 3.5-approx. 7.5 l/m²and a pile weight of approx. 500-approx. 900 g/m², that said second upper layer lies on at least one lower layer and that said second upper layer and said lower layer of said inner mat under normal conditions are fire-proof, i.e., non-inflammable.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said material further comprises polyamide, wool, polyester, polypropylene or any other similar known material, wherein each one of the materials may be used alone in combination with the twisted nylon or in combination with one or more other materials in combination with the twisted nylon.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said material has a water-absorption capacity of preferably approx. 4.5-approx. 6.5 l/m², and most preferably approx. 5.5 l/m².

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said material has a pile weight of preferably approx. 600-approx. 800 g/m², and most preferably approx. 700 g/m².

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said material has a pile thickness of approx. 5.0-approx. 9.0 mm, preferably approx. 6.0-approx. 8.0 mm, and most preferably approx. 7.0 mm.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one lower layer is in the form of nitrile rubber or any other similar known material.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower layer has a thickness of approx. 0.7-approx. 1.9 mm, preferably approx. 1.0-approx. 1.6 mm, and most preferably approx. 1.3 mm.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second upper layer and said lower layer together and when interconnected have a total thickness of approx. 4.5-approx. 12.5 mm, preferably approx. 6.5-approx. 10.5 mm, and most preferably approx. 8.5 mm.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second upper layer and said lower layer together and when interconnected have a total weight of approx. 1.7-approx. 3.7 kg/m², preferably approx. 2.2-approx. 3.2 kg/m², and most preferably approx. 2.7 kg/m².

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one lower layer lies on at least one additional lower layer in the form of foam rubber, foamed PVC or any other similar known material.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second upper layer and said lower layer of said inner mat, if they together and when interconnected are exposed to an average heat radiation greater than or equal to 8.0 kW/m², preferably approx. 8.0-approx. 10.6 kW/m², in connection with a test for 30 minutes according to EN ISO 9239-1, have a smoke production that represents an average total light attenuation that is smaller than or equal to 750%·min, preferably approx. 343-approx. 750%·min, upon testing for fire classification according to EN 13501-1 (2002), said part of the mat, under given conditions, being fire-proof, i.e., non-inflammable.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that said second upper layer and said lower layer of said inner mat, if they together and when interconnected are exposed to an average heat radiation that is approx. 10.6 kW/m²in connection with a test for maximum 30 minutes according to EN ISO 9239-1, have a smoke production that represents an average total light attenuation that is approx. 343%·min upon testing for fire classification according to EN 13501-1 (2002), said part of the mat, under given conditions, being fire-proof, i.e., non-inflammable.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one clearance is entirely surrounded by the outer mat.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upperside of the second upper layer of the inner mat is provided with printing in the form of text and/or illustration and/or colour.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that said printing is made by the Chromojet method.

16. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mat is a tee mat for golf training.

17. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of golf, preferably on one or more spots on the course particularly subjected to wear, e.g., at least one tee point and/or within putting distance from at least one hole, and upon training and/or competition.

18. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of tennis, preferably on one or more spots on the court particularly subjected to wear, e.g., at at least one baseline within an area that is used for serving and/or at the net, and upon training or competition.

19. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of football or soccer, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear, e.g., in and around at least one penalty spot and/or around at least one corner flag/corner spot, and upon training or competition.

20. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of rugby, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition.

21. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of cricket, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition.

22. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of baseball, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition.

23. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support for games of field hockey, preferably on one or more spots on the ground particularly subjected to wear and upon training and/or competition.

24. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used as a support in sports grounds, parks and/or gardens, preferably on one or more spots particularly subjected to wear, e.g., below and/or near at least one litterbin.

25. The use of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is used to communicate information and/or advertisements.