WO1995033890A1

WO1995033890A1 - Utility surface

Info

Publication number: WO1995033890A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001308
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Anthony Kohler
Original assignee: Luton Town Football And Athletic Company Limited
Priority date: 1994-06-08
Filing date: 1995-06-06
Publication date: 1995-12-14
Also published as: AU2625995A; GB2290239A; GB2290239B; GB9511428D0

Abstract

A utility surface such as an activity surface for playing a sport, for example embodied as a football pitch, consists of or comprises an element (1) having a body providing an upper surface intended for use and hover means disposed in or on the body at or adjacent an underside thereof, the hover means being constructed and arranged so that, when connected to a supply of a pressurized fluid, the hover means will create and sustain at the underside of the body a film of the said pressurized fluid, the presence and effect of such film being to raise the utility surface above an underlying support surface, and to enable the utility surface to be moved laterally across such underlying surface. The body may comprise a tray member (2), containing a filling of soil (7) in which is growing natural grass (8). The hover means may comprise a plurality of air bearing elements.

Description

UTILITY SURFACE

This invention relates to a utility surface, that is a surface of considerable area offering functional utility, for example, for use in playing sports, for use as a support surface for the display, storage, or stacking of articles, for use as a transportation surface such as a car park or temporary roadway, or multifarious other commercial and/or recreational uses.

Although the utility surface to which the invention is directed is of broad conception, as outlined in the foregoing paragraph, this invention is particularly concerned with such a form of utility surface which shall herein be known as an activity surface. By "activity surface" is meant an area constructed and arranged for the performance of a particular human activity, especially the playing of a sport or game. The invention will particularly be exemplified in relation to a football pitch.

A football pitch is an example of an activity surface which, by virtue of its intended use and disposition, is of large surface area and subject to extreme wear and tear both by the users and by exposure to the natural elements. Traditionally, a football pitch comprises an area of natural living grass, although artificial pitches have been known for some time. This traditional type of football pitch suffers from a number of disadvantages. The material of the playing surface, whether it be natural or artificial grass, is normally permanently disposed on an area of ground where it is intended for its planned use. In εuch a disposition, unless it is covered by some protective means, such as a tarpaulin, it will be exposed to the natural elements. Whether or not temporarily covered by a protective cover, this permanent disposition complicates the procedures of normal maintenance and incurs a high background cost element. Further, the underlying area of ground is not usable for any other activity. Regular maintenance of the material of the playing surface needs to be carried out regardless of prevailing weather conditions and there will often be a need for a protective covering in order, for example, to reduce the risk of waterlogging due to excessive precipitation. The labour costs incurred in the overall management and care of such a pitch are considerable. Moreover, should a specific proportion of the playing area require longer term or more intensive maintenance, complications may arise from the need to continue to provide the playing area for use, in which case it may be difficult or impossible to provide an optimum condition of playing surface overall throughout the entirety of the normal football season. Clearly, in certain areas of the pitch, such as the goalmouths, a worsening condition of the playing surface may pose serious problems of pitch management.

The present invention starts from a recognition of these and other disadvantages of the traditional football pitch, and also recognises the need for more cost effective, more readily manageable and efficient construction and arrangement of such a pitch. Accordingly, the present invention aims to eliminate or at leaεt substantially reduce these and other disadvantages of the prior art.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a utility εurface comprising a body affording an upper surface intended for use and operable hover means associated or associable with the body at or adjacent an underside thereof, the hover means being arranged such that, when operated, it creates and sustains at the underside of the body a fluid cushion, the presence and effect of the air fluid cushion being to raise the body above an underlying support surface, thereby enabling the utility surface to be moved laterally across said underlying εurface.

Preferably, the hover means comprises at least one fluid bearing element, especially at least one air bearing or air εkate, εuch aε that εold under the Trade Mark HOVAIR available from Air-Log Limited. However, any other suitable hover means for generating an air cushion may be used.

A source affording a supply of presεurised fluid for the hover eanε may be mounted on the body, εuch a εource preferably being of compressed air.

Preferably also, the body of the utility surface comprises an element of generally tray-shape, having upstanding side walls and intended to receive a filling material or materials to an appropriate depth, εuch material or aterialε when so-received, providing the upper, useful surface of the body.

More preferably, the generally tray-shaped element iε lined internally with a flexible membrane, optionally porous, which asεists in the retention and general maintenance of the material or materialε providing the upper εurface. In the case of a football pitch comprising soil and naturally growing graεε, the internally lined tray-shaped element receiveε a layer of soil to a suitable depth, with an upper εurface layer of grass growing in the εoil, in which case, the height of the grass may be greater than that of the flexible membrane, to provide a grass-to-grasε joint(ε) when two or more of the elements are brought into juxtaposition.

Where, as in the case with a football pitch, for example, the utility εurface has a very large surface area, it will be necessary or desirable to sub- divide it into a plurality of smaller elements. Each such element will normally be independent of all εuch other elements, will be identical or εimilar to each other such element, and may, in itself, be constructed and arranged as already outlined in the first aspect of the invention as set forth above. In the case where the utility εurface is composed of a plurality of εuch elements, it will be necesεary to conεtruct the elementε εuch that when they are juxtapoεed with one another, in a condition of use, the upper, playing surface iε εeen and experienced to be continuouε.

In a εecond aspect, the present invention provides an element for use in constructing a utility εurface, the element compriεing a generally tray- shaped member having at least one upεtanding εide wall, an upper portion of the or at leaεt one of εaid εide walls being detachable or otherwise movable, and a flexible lining diεposed within the interior of the tray-shaped member, and having a portion thereof lying adjacent the or each εide wall.

In the caεe of a utility εurface comprising εoil and naturally growing grass, εoil may be placed within the internally lined tray member to a level terminating at approximately the lower edge of the or each detachable upper portion of εide wall(s). Grass which is seeded and allowed to grow within the soil, is permitted to attain a height just above the upper edge of the detachable or otherwise movable upper portion(ε) of the εide wall(ε). The peripheral edge of the area of growing graεs is thuε contained within the upper region of the flexible member and that iε, in turn, at least supported externally by the upper, detachable or otherwiεe movable portions of the side walls.

When a plurality of utility εurface elements are aεsembled side by side to form a complete utility surface, the detachable or otherwise movable side wall portion(s) of adjacent elementε are detached or otherwiεe moved, and the thuε-expoεed upper portionε of the flexible memberε of the adjacent elements are presεed laterally into mutual engagement. The natural εpringineεs of the growing grass ensureε that the graεε at the peripheral regionε of adjacent elementε expands or springs slightly laterally, so as to give the appearance and experience of a continuous surface.

Each element may be provided with legs of adjustable height, to facilitate itε being brought into juxtaposition with another element, as will be deεcribed in more detail hereinbelow.

A third aεpect of the invention provideε a method of preparing a utility εurface for use, wherein a source of compresεed air iε energised in order to provide a continuous supply of compresεed air to hover meanε aεεociated or aεεociable with a body of the εurface, εuch as to create and sustain at the underside of the body a cuεhion of compreεεed air, which raiεeε the utility εurface above an underlying εupport εurface, and traversing the utility surface laterally relative to the underlying support εurface from a storage poεition to a position of use, and de- energizing εaid εource of preεsurized air whereby the utility surface comes to rest under its own weight upon the underlying support surface.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of preparing a games pitch for use, comprising providing a plurality of pitch elements at a storage position, moving a εelected number of the plurality of pitch elementε from the εtorage position to a position of use in which the elementε are arranged in juxtaposition to afford a surface area corresponding to at least the required dimensions of the pitch, and securing such pitch elements in such juxtaposition, movement of such pitch elements from the storage poεition being performed by traversing each such element over an underlying support surface whilst being supported from said support surface by a cushion of a pressurized fluid.

A fifth aspect of the invention resideε in a method of preparing a gameε pitch for uεe, comprising providing a plurality of pitch elements at a storage poεition, each pitch element having a length εubεtantially equal to the intended εize of the gameε pitch in a first dimension and a width substantially equal to an exact sub-multiple of the intended size of the games pitch in a second dimenεion at right angleε to the firεt dimension, moving a εelected member of the plurality of pitch elementε from the storage position to a position of use in which the elementε are arranged in juxtaposition in a two-dimensional linear array which has one dimension substantially equal to the elemental length and another dimension εubstantially equal to a multiple of the elemental width, and εecuring εuch pitch elementε in εuch juxtaposition, movement of the pitch elements from the εtorage position being performed by transversing each εuch element over an underlying εupport εurface whilεt being εupported from εaid εupport surface by a cushion of a pressurized fluid.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to particular embodimentε of a utility surface deviεed, constructed, and arranged aε a football pitch. The following, non-limitative deεcriptive example of the invention is given in relation to the accompanying drawingε which diagrammatically illustrate a utility surface element and a utility surface in accordance with the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a utility surface element illustrating the concept of the present invention;

Figure 2a is a detailed partial elevation of a first practical form of utility εurface element in accordance with the present invention; Figureε 2b, 2c and 2d are diagrammatic viewε εhowing a pair of utility surface elements of Figure 2a in various relative configurations;

Figureε 2e and 2£ are diagrammatic views showing a modified utility surface element in different configurations;

Figure 3 is a detailed partial elevation of a second practical form of utility surface element in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 iε a diagrammatic view εhowing a pair of utility εurface elements of Figure 3 in juxtaposition;

Figure 5 iε a diagrammatic view εimilar to Figure 4, but showing the relative configuration of the two utility εurface elements prior to achieving the juxtapoεed state shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a football pitch in accordance with the present invention and in a state of disassembly.

With reference first to Figure 1, a utility surface element 1 compriseε a body including a generally tray-εhaped member 2.

Aε can be seen, the member 2 compriseε a base 10 and upstanding side walls 11. The tray member 2 is of generally square or rectangular shape, when seen in plan view, and is made of any εuitable material, for example steel. An upper portion 5 of each side wall 11 is a detachable therefrom and, in the example shown, iε slightly inset relative to the fixed portion of the side wall.

Mounted in or on the underside of the base 10 of the tray member 2 is hover means 3 which, when connected to a supply of a pressurized fluid, is capable of creating and sustaining a film of pressurized fluid beneath the underside of the tray member base. The hover meanε may be of any convenient form, εelected from among the known alternativeε aε will be apparent to a skilled reader knowledgeable in the arts of air cushion vehicles and fluid bearings. In a particular embodiment, the hover means compriseε a plurality of air bearing elementε or air εkate elementε together with their aεsociated pipework and connectors enabling them to be connected to an external source of εupply, for example compreεsed air.

Within the interior of the tray member 2 , there is disposed a flexible, porous lining 4 which is constructed of a material suitable to support its interior filling of soil 7 and natural growing grasε 8. Aε shown, the lining 4 extends upwardly adjacent the side walls 11 of the tray member 2. Contained within the lining 4 is the εoil 7 placed within the tray member 2 up to a level proximate the lower edge of the detachable upper εide wall portionε 5. Above thiε level, the natural growing grass 8 extends to a height adjacent or just above the upper edge of the detachable side wall portionε 5. Due to the fact that the upper, detachable εide wall portionε 5 are inεet relative to the fixed portionε of the εide wallε 11, the interior lining member 4 has upper portions 6, adjacent the side wall upper portions 5, which are also set inwardly of the fixed εide wall portionε. By thiε inset arrangement of the detachable upper εide wall portions 5 and their associated inset portions 6 of the lining member 4, the natural growing grasε at the periphery of the utility surface element is εlightly inwardly compreεεed.

Alternatively, the detachable, upper εide wall portionε 5 may lie outwardly of the lower, fixed portionε of the εide wallε 11, so that the grasε 8 at the periphery of the utility εurface lies over the top edge of the fixed sidewall portionε 11.

The method of uεe of the described utility εurface element, in forming a football pitch, will now be outlined.

In order to form a εtandard εize football pitch, a large number of utility εurface elementε, εuch aε the element 1 already deεcribed, will be needed. In a typical example, nine such elements will be needed to be assembled side-by-εide in a 3 x 3 matrix. These elementε may be stored within any available, or suitably constructed, storage areas within or outside a normal stand provided on a football ground. By being stored undercover, the elements are protected from the weather and may more readily be maintained in a suitable condition for use. Any particular elementε which show extreme wear in use may be withheld from certain subsequent useε and replaced by standby elements of an identical, or similar, construction. Conditions within the εtorage area may be optimised to the normal requirements or the natural growing grass. Thus, the amount of daylight or daylight-simulating artificial light, water, nutrients, temperature and other relevant factors may be closely monitored and controlled in order to provide a healthy, dense, and consistent layer of growing grass 8 within the elementε.

When it iε required to move the elementε 1 from within or outside the εtorage areaε to the εite where they will together form the useable football pitch, the hover means of each element is connected, for example by means of flexible hoseε, to a εuitable source of compressed air. The ensuing generation of an air cushion or air film beneath each utility εurface element raiεeε the element above the underlying εupport εurface and enableε the element to be puεhed or pulled with minimal effort laterally over the underlying support surface. By this meanε, the requiεite number of utility εurface elements is transported from the εtorage areas to the area of the football ground where the pitch is to be constructed. At this area, the utility surface elementε are placed εide by εide in cloεe engagement with the upεtanding εide walls 11 of adjacent elementε 1 in contact. The air supply to the hover means 3 is then discontinued εo that each of the utility surface elements 1 settleε and becomeε firmly poεitioned under itε own weight on the underlying εurface. The detachable upper side wall portions 5 of adjacent utility surface elements are removed. The inεet upper portionε 6 of the interior lining member 4 of adjacent utility surface elements are then pressed into lateral engagement, as a consequence of which the natural springinesε of the graεs enables the latter to expand or εpring εlightly εidewayε εo that the adjoining lineε between adjacent elementε effectively disappear and a useful grasε εurface which haε the appearance and experience of continuity iε provided.

Referring now to Figures 2, in Figure 2a there is shown a utility εurface element 1 which compriεeε a tray member 2 having a baεe 10 and upεtanding εidewallε 11. Within the tray member 2 iε a flexible, porous lining 4 of a suitable geotextile fabric which is anchored within the soil filling 7 and forms an inner lining at each sidewall 11 and above a drainage layer 9 below the soil filling 7. Natural growing grass 8 forms a useful playing surface of the utility surface element 1.

Aε in Figure 1, the embodiment of Figure 2 incorporates detachable upper sidewall portionε 5 but these are provided in this embodiment on L-shaped armε 12 pivotable about pivots 12a beneath the baεe 10. At each εide of the utility εurface element 1, a plurality of the armε 12 εupport the upper continuouε εidewall portion 5. Aε εhown, the long limbε of the armε 12 lie outεide the tray εidewallε 11 when the armε 12 are in the poεitions εhown in Figure 2a_. and Figure 2b, with the upper εide wall portion 5 provided on the armε 12, being εet outwardly of the tray εidewall 11, εuch that the soil filling 7 and upper region of the lining 4 extend over the top edge of the sidewall 11. This position of the arms 12 is adopted when the utility surface element 1 is in storage or is being transported to or from a εtorage area. Upper end regionε of the armε 12 along one side also afford respective continuouε rubbing strips 12b which, as can be seen in Figure 2b, may abut and, thuε, give εide protection, when the utility εurface elementε 1 are in εtorage.

The arms 12 along each side also provide a respective continuous flange 5' at their upper ends. in the position shown in Figure 2a the flange 5' defines approximately the level to which the soil filling 7 extends. This flange 5' is preferably provided by one limb of an angle edge member whose other limb provides the upper sidewall portion 5. When the utility surface element 1 is in storage, aε in Figure 2b, the adjacent flanges 5' provide some continuity between adjacent elements 1 to facilitate mowing of the grass, and to enable the grass cutting equipment to run over the joints.

Aε mentioned above, the armε 12 are maintained in the poεition εhown in Figure 2a when the utility εurface element 1 is in storage (Figure 2b) and during transportation. Just prior to installation of the utility surface element 1 alongside another such element, in the formation of a utility surface or football pitch, the arms 12 are pivoted down, as seen in Figure 2c, to expose the sidewallε of the utility εurface elementε 1 to enable them to be cloεely abutted, as εeen in Figure 2d, to provide a continuouε graεs playing εurface. A utility surface element intended to have a side thereof at an edge of the utility εurface, for example an outer edge of the football pitch, may have a modified form of εide protection aε εeen in Figureε 2e. and 2f_. Here, the pivotable armε 12 are modified to afford an extended horizontal edge 12c;, when the armε are in the poεitionε shown in Figure 2e., to facilitate mowing of the grass at such edge. Also, the arms 12 have an extended edge safety barrier 12d. Figure 2e showε εuch a utility surface element, with its arm 12 in the raiεed poεition, as it will be during storage or transportation. Figure 2f shows the same utility surface element, with itε arm 12 in the dropped poεition, butted up to a εide panel 13 at the edge of the football pitch.

It will be appreciated that the form of utility surface element 1 shown in Figure 2a provides a conεtruction of εidewall protection which iε heavy and requires much effort to pivot between its operative and inoperative positions. The arms 12, upper sidewall portions 5 and flanges 5' are generally of steel.

An alternative form of utility εurface element 1 iε εhown in Figure 3. Here it will be εeen that each sidewall 11 (only one εhown) of the tray member iε receεεed inwardly commencing at a point juεt below the upper edge. Within the recess, which extends along the full length of the respective εidewall 11, are spaced structural webs 22 each arranged at right angleε to the sidewall 11. These webs 22 give support to the edge profile of the sidewall 11 and are themselveε εupported from peripheral beamε of a primary structural εupport grid 20 for the tray member base panelε. Aε εhown at the left hand εide of Figure 3, the peripheral beams mount outwardly projecting bars which support base edge rubbing strips 21. These rubbing strips 21 act as buffers to accept the load of adjacent utility surface elementε bumping against each other during manoeuvring. These strips 21 may also incorporate locating lugs to assiεt in the correct location of utility εurface elementε 1 adjacent each other.

L-εhaped pivoted arms 12 are provided and mount upper sidewall portions and flanges as in the embodiment of Figure 2a. However, in the embodiment of Figure 3 each arm 12 is pivoted to a respective structural web 22 within the εidewall recess. Each arm 12 includes a locking arm 12' pivoted thereon and having a latching nose 12" co-operable with a down- turned lip of an upper portion of the sidewall 11. The locking arms 12' are spring-urged to their latch- engaged positionε. In theεe poεitions the latching noses 12 engage with the down-turned lip of the sidewall 11 and thereby retain the pivoted arms 12 in their raised positions, as εhown, in which the sidewall protection is effective.

The overall weight and size of the sidewall protection is reduced in thiε embodiment compared with the embodiment of Figure 2a. Thiε iε because, in the preεent embodiment, the proviεion of the sidewall receεεes enabling the disposition of the arm 12 pivots therewithin provides for the uεe of εhorter, leεε aεεive arms 12. The effort involved in swinging the arms 12 and their supported structureε iε, thuε, radically reduced. Moreover, the sidewall recesses give a measure of protection to the armε 12 and their pivots when the utility εurface elementε 1 are in juxtaposed, inεtalled poεitionε aε εhown in Figure 4. With reference now to Figureε 4 and 5, each of the utility surface elements 1 is generally constructed as described with reference to the embodiment of Figure 3. Extending beneath the primary support εtructural εuppσrt grid 20 iε a latticework εupport εtructure 23 having a bottom beam 23' from which a plurality of legs 24 project downwards to rest on a suitable support εurface 25. The arrangement of bottom beam 23' and legε 24 iε εuch aε to leave εpace beneath the bottom beam 23' and within the confineε of the legε 24 for the insertion of a separate hover device 3 εhown by the εhading in Figure 5.

Figure 5 εhows a firεt utility surface element 1, at the lefthand side, which has been transported by means of the hover device 3 to its inεtallation poεition where it restε under itε own weight with itε legε 24 firmly engaged with the support surface 25. A second utility surface element 1, εhown at the righthand εide, iε in the proceεε of being tranεported by means of the hover device 3 to its inεtallation poεition in which it will be juxtaposed to the first utility εurface element 1.

The hover device 3 being used in this instance is a εubεtantially rectangular block having a thickneεε just smaller than the height of the space beneath the bottom beam 23' of the utility surface elements 1. The block has a flat upper surface and its lower surface is provided with a plurality of suitable means, for example air skateε, for creating a film or cuεhion of air between εuch lower εurface and an underlying εurface, such aε the support surface 25.

The utility εurface element 1 at the righthand side in Figure 5 is, thuε, raiεed and held above the εupport surface 25 by the operative hover device 3 whilst being moved laterally acrosε the support surface 25 towards the stationary utility surface element 1 at the lefthand εide. As a consequence, the utility surface element 1 while being transported is slightly higher than the εtationary utility surface element 1, by an amount "h" illustrated in Figure 5. Due to this relative vertical displacement, rubbing or εimilar interference at the adjacent εide edges is likely to occur as the moving, raised utility surface element 1 is gradually brought to its inεtallation poεition by being lowered vertically relative to the εtationary utility εurface element aε the hover device 3 is de-energised. Such rubbing or other interference may cause edge damage to either or both utility εurface elementε 1, particularly the upper edge region(ε) of the εoil and graεε.

In order to avoid such risk of damage, each utility surface element 1 iε modified, aε will be described below, to have legs 24 which are adjustable in length sufficient to take up at least the vertical mismatch "h". In the currently most preferred form, each leg 24 embodies any suitable, known screw adjustment mechanism which may be operated by rotation of a large-diameter wheel. These wheels are preferably intended to be rotated manually and thus have a diameter selected to provide for a suitably low rotation force.

The range of adjustment required will be quite small, typically a few centimetres. Alternative typeε of adjuεtable leg and adjuεtment mechanism may, of course, be used. Utility εurface elementε 1 having adjuεtable legs 24, as described, will be brought to, and placed in, their installed juxtaposed poεitionε aε outlined below:-

A first such utility surface element 1 will be transported by means of the hover device 3 to itε inεtalled position where it will be deposited to rest under its own weight with its legs 24 firmly engaged with the support surface 25. Prior to its transportation, this firεt utility εurface element 1 will have had itε legε 24 adjusted to their fully retracted (short) positions, and it will be transported with the legs 24 remaining thus.

At its inεtallation εite, and either before or after de-energiεation of the hover device 3, the legε 24 will be adjuεted to their partially or fully extended (long) poεitionε. If thiε iε done before de- energiεation of the hover device 3, (which iε the preferred option) then aεsuming the hover device 3 hoverε (with itε εupported utility surface element 1) at a height "h" above the support εurface 25, it will be necesεary to extend the legε 24 by an amount "h" so that they touch the εupport surface 25 and at least partially relieve the load from the hover device 3 which may then be removed laterally (after any necessary degree of de-energisation to free it for such motion) . This procedure involves subεtantially no vertical "εettling" movement of the utility surface element 1.

After εuch inεtallation of the firεt utility εurface element 1, a second, similar utility surface element 1 is similarly transported, with its legs 24 in their retracted positionε, by meanε of the hover device 3. Although thiε second utility surface element 1 will ride at a height "h" above the εupport surface 25 whilεt supported on the hover device 3, it will be apparent that_^the upper regionε of both thiε, and the already-installed utility surface element 1, will lie in subεtantial vertical alignment, the former having been notionally or actually elevated by the amount "h" by extenεion of itε legε 24. When the εecond utility surface element 1 is correctly poεitioned, and whilεt it iε εtill supported by the hover device 3 at the height "h" above the support surface 25, its legs 24 are extended by an amount "h" so that they touch the support εurface 25 and at leaεt partially relieve the load from the hover device 3.

Becauεe thiε procedure involveε εubεtantially no vertical "εettling" movement of the second utility surface element 1, relative rubbing or other interference at adjacent εide edgeε of the two utility εurface elementε 1 aε they are brought to inεtallation juxtapoεition iε obviated.

Subεequently, further utility εurface elementε 1 with adjustable legs may be brought up and installed following generally the same procedure.

As previously mentioned, the utility surface elements 1 may be dimensioned such that nine of them will need to be aεεembled in a 3 x 3 matrix to form a standard size football pitch. In such an asεembly it will be apparent that at certain locations corner regions of four adjacent utility surface elements 1 will be juxtaposed. At εuch a location the graεε playing εurface iε particularly weak and more than uεually prone to wear and damage.

In order to eliminate thiε problem, each utility surface element 1 may be modified to have a less εquare, more elongate εhape whilεt having εubεtantially the εame playing εurface area. Thuε, as seen in Figure 6, each utility surface element la, lb, lc, Id, (and so on) of the football pitch 1 has a length equal to the full width of the pitch. The pitch 1 still comprises nine utility surface elements, but the weak corner locationε of the 3 x 3 matrix arrangement are avoided.

Aε can be seen in Figure 6, the utility surface element la is being transported away from the εite of the pitch 1 and is well on its way towardε a εtorage area, whilεt other utility εurface elements 1£, lc are in different (earlier) stageε of εeparation from the εtill-inεtalled utility εurface elementε Id. The arrow A in Figure 6 indicateε an initial direction of movement of the utility εurface element lc during de- inεtallation.

Other elementε of a typical football ground are εhown only diagrammatically around the perimeter of the pitch 1 in Figure 6. After removal of all the utility εurface elementε, to leave the underlying εupport εurface expoεed, such surface may be used for an alternative activity. To this end, if deεired, additional, other peripheral elementε, such as additional seating εtandε, may be brought in.

In connection with the preεent invention, and in order to perfect the grass pitch and obtain the best posεible surface, the Sports Turf Research Institute recommends that the graεε uεed be baεed on fine-leaved cultivarε of perennial rye-graεs with a proportion of smooth-stalked meadow-grass; that the rootzone be of a free-draining medium as in a typical new outdoor winter pitch conεtruction; and that the rootzone be placed directly on a layer of porouε drainage aggregate of, say, 100mm thickness. Outlets from the utility εurface element tray memberε εhould be connected into the general εurface water drainage εyεtem.

Furthermore, the top 100mm of each tray εide will be detachable, thus exposing the upper portion of the rootzone. Once the utility εurface elementε 1 are butted together, this will ensure that the playerε uεing the facility will not come into direct contact with the tray memberε themεelveε. A geotextile fabric will be uεed to line the rootzone, to prevent grass roots penetrating into adjoining rootzones.

Moreover, the use of electric heating cables placed in the lower parts of the rootzone so that each utility surface element can be heated on an individual basis is desirable.

It is recommended that some form of air circulation εyεtem be incorporated within the stadium to control humidity and temperature. Ideally the utility surface elements will not be left indoors for more than 3 or 4 days.

Thus, it will be εeen that the invention provideε a utility εurface, εuch aε a football pitch, which iε readily and εi ply aεεembled, diεaεsembled, and _reasseιnbled aε and when required and which iε eaεy and convenient to maintain by virtue of the capability to repair or replace individual elementε thereof. During the normal courεe of pitch management the judiciouε replacement of damaged or exceεεively worn elementε by good, εpare elementε, and the cyclical repoεitioning of elementε εo as to occupy different positions on the finiεhed pitch over a period of time, will enεure that a uεeful pitch εurface of sound quality and consistent wear and durability acroεε εubstantially the entirety of its exposed surface iε normally available for play.

Any or all of the elementε -making up the pitch may readily be removed to a storage area whenever required, for example after each match. This will not only obviate the need for temporary protective measures, such aε tarpaulin coverings, but will also allow the alternative use of the underlying surface which is exposed once the utility surface elements have been removed from it and transferred to their εtorage areas. Thuε, the underlying εurface may be uεed for an alternative purpose having little or no similarity to the purpose to which a football pitch iε directed. Further, aε already mentioned, the εtored utility surface elements may be subjected to repair or maintenance on a regular basiε whilst under suitable and convenient cover, and appropriate growing conditions for the natural living graεε adequately maintained. It will be apparent that εhould any particular element require it, the graεs and soil may be removed entirely and the element be refilled and replanted.

Although, in the foregoing description the hover means is said to be connectable to an external source of pressurized fluid, in a modification each utility surface element may be provided with its own, inboard source. Further, although the utility surface and individual elements thereof has been described in relation to a football pitch and/or an element comprising a filling of soil and natural growing grass, it is within the εcope of this invention to embody it in other forms. For example, still within the confines of a football pitch or similar εportε playing εurface, the filling of εoil may be omitted or replaced by some suitable equivalent and the natural growing grasε may be replaced by one of the known formε of artificial graεε. Alternatively, the filling material may be of concrete, tarred stones and/or ballast, or other similar materials εelected according to the nature of the useful surface required for the intended purpose. In thiε regard it will be apparent that the utility εurface of the invention, especially as embodied as a plurality of sub-elements, may be constructed, arranged, or adapted for use in any one of a number of different leisure or recreational purposeε, εuch aε εportε pitcheε, for example, cricket tables, wickets, creases and/or parts thereof, or playgrounds. Commercial purposes, εuch aε εupport areaε for εtorage or diεplay of itemε, for example to provide temporary car parking εpace or other utilitarian purpoεeε εuch as to provide temporary roadways, temporary walkways, or other standing surfaces are envisaged. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A utility εurface compriεing a body affording an upper εurface intended for uεe and operable hover meanε aεεociated or associable with the body at or adjacent an underside thereof, the hover means being arranged such that, when operated, it creates and εuεtainε at the underεide of the body a fluid cuεhion, the preεence and effect of the fluid cuεhion being to raise the body above an underlying support surface, thereby enabling the utility surface to be moved laterally across said underlying surface.

2. A utility surface aε claimed in claim 1, wherein said hover means compriseε at leaεt one fluid bearing element.

3. A utility εurface aε claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein εaid hover meanε comprises at least one air bearing or air skate.

4. A utility surface as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a source affording a εupply of preεεurized fluid iε mounted on the body.

5. A utility surface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the source iε a εource of compreεsed air.

6. A utility εurface as claimed in any of claimε 1 to 3, wherein εaid hover meanε iε associated with pipework and valving enabling it to be connected to an external εource of preεεurized fluid.

7. A utility εurface aε claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body compriεeε a tray-shaped element having upstanding εide wallε and arranged to receive a filling material or materialε to an appropriate depth, εuch material or materials, when present, forming the uεeful εurface of the body.

8. A utility εurface as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tray-shaped element is internally lined by a flexible membrane

9. A utility surface aε claimed in claim 8, wherein the flexible membrane iε porous.

10. A utility surface as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body further compriεeε a filling of εoil in which there iε growing live plantε.

11. A utility εurface according to claim 10, wherein the live plants comprise graεε plantε.

12. A utility εurface according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the height of the live plantε is greater than that of the flexible membrane.

13. A utility εurface as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of identical or similar elementε each of which has a body providing a portion of the upper surface intended for use and operable hover means asεociated or associable with the body at or adjacent an underside thereof.

14. A utility εurface according to claim 13, wherein each element comprises a tray-shaped element having a filling of soil in which there iε growing a plurality of living plantε, the elements being juxtaposed in an arrangement which constituteε a playing area for playing a game.

15. A utility surface as claimed in claim 13 or 14 constructed, arranged, and adapted for use as a football pitch.

16. An element for use in conεtructing a utility surface, the element comprising a generally tray- shaped member having at least one upstanding side wall, an upper portion of the or at least one said εide wall being detachable or otherwise movable, and a flexible lining disposed within the interior of the tray- shaped member, and having a portion thereof lying adjacent the or each εaid εide wall.

17. An element aε claimed in claim 16, wherein the membrane within the tray-εhaped member haε εide wallε which extend upwardly adjacent the reεpective side walls of the member, an upper portion of each εide wall of the membrane lying adjacent the upper εide wall portion of the member.

18. A utility surface according to any one of claims 7 to 15, or an element for use in constructing a utility εurface according to claim 16 or 17, in which an upper portion of each εide wall iε detachable.

19. A utility εurface or element as claimed in claim 18, wherein the detachable side wall portion is laterally inset inwardly from its asεociated fixed side wall portion.

20. A utility surface according to any one of claimε 7 to 15 or an element for use in constructing a utility surface according to claim 16 or 17, wherein an upper portion of the or each side wall is pivotable between a raiεed operative poεition and a lowered inoperative poεition.

21. A utility surface or element as claimed in claim

20, wherein the upper portion of a side wall is mounted on a plurality of pivotable arms each of L- shape.

22. A utility εurface or element as claimed in claim

21, wherein each L-shaped arm haε a pivot at the outer free end of one of itε arms and is connected to a flanged member at the outer free end of the other of itε armε.

23. A utility surface or element as claimed in claim

22, wherein the flanged member has a first face affording the upper portion of the side wall and a second face at right angles to the first and defining an upper edge of the side wall.

24. A utility surface or element aε claimed in claim

23, wherein an extenεion from the outer edge of the εecond face lieε normal thereto and provides an edge safety barrier member.

25. A utility εurface or element aε claimed in claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein the pivot iε diεpoεed beneath a baεe of the tray-shaped member and connects the arm thereto.

26. A utility surface or element as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein a lower portion of the side wall iε inεet relative to the upper portion thereof and the pivot iε disposed beneath the overhang of the upper portion relative to the lower portion.

27. A utility surface or element as claimed in claim 26, wherein the overhang affords a εpace in which lie a plurality of webε equal in number to the number of L-εhaped arms, each web lying in a plane normal to the associated side of the tray-shaped member and having a respective arm attached thereto by its pivot.

28. A utility surface or element as claimed in any of claims 21 to 27, wherein each arm includes latch means co-operable with a fixed portion of the side wall to retain the arm in its raised operative position.

29. A utility εurface or element as claimed in any of claims 21 to 28, wherein the arms mount a continuous rubbing strip affording lateral protection for the side wall.

30. A utility surface or element as claimed in any of claims 16 to 29, wherein the tray-shaped member contains soil up to a level proximate a lower edge of each detachable upper εide wall portion, and living plants growing within the soil and extending to a height beyond an upper edge of each detachable side wall portion.

31. A utility surface or element aε claimed in claim 23 or any claim appended thereto, wherein the tray- εhaped member containε εoil up to a level proximate the upper edge of the εidewall, and living plantε growing within the εoil and extending to a height beyond said upper edge.

32. A utility surface or element as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein the plants are grasε plantε.

33. A utility surface or element as claimed in any of claimε 16 to 33, wherein the graεs plants at the periphery are maintained laterally inwardly compresεed by virtue of the inεet of the detachable upper side wall portions.

34. A utility εurface or element aε claimed in any of claimε 16 to 33, including adjustable-length legs and means for adjusting the legε.

35. A utility surface comprising a plurality of elementε aε claimed in claim 18 or any claim appended thereto, wherein the elementε are diεpoεed in lateral juxtaposition with the detachable upper side wall portionε between adjacent elementε having been detached.

36. A utility surface comprising a plurality of elements as claimed in claim 20 or any claim appended thereto, wherein the elements are dispoεed in lateral juxtapoεition with the pivotable upper side wall portions between adjacent elements having been placed in their lowered inoperative positions.

37. A method of preparing a utility surface for use, wherein a source of compreεεed air iε energiεed in order to provide a continuouε εupply of compreεsed air to hover means asεociated or associable with a body of the surface, such as to create and suεtain at the underεide of the body a cuεhion of compressed air, which raiεeε the utility εurface above an underlying support εurface, and traversing the utility surface laterally relative to the underlying support surface from a storage position to a position of use, and de- energizing said εource of preεsurized air whereby the utility surface comes to rest under its own weight upon the underlying εupport εurface.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the utility εurface compriεes a plurality of identical or εimilar elementε, each of which iε moved as aforesaid, into juxtapoεition to provide a utility εurface of a required shape and size.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein each element of the utility surface is conεtructed according to claim 33 and wherein, after the elementε have been arranged in juxtapoεition, detachable upper εide wall portions of adjacent elements are removed, and upper portionε of a respective membrane of adjacent elements are pressed into interengagement, so that a useful surface comprising living plants presents an appearance and experience of continuity across the entire utility surface.

40. A method according to claim 38, wherein each element of the utility surface is constructed according to claim 31 and wherein, before the elements have been arranged in juxtapoεition, pivotable upper side wall portions of intended adjacent elements are placed in their lowered inoperative positionε.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein a firεt element deployed upon the underlying εupport surface has had adjustable length legs thereof adjusted to raise the useful surface to a predetermined height above the underlying support surface, a εecond element iε brought up to the firεt element εuch that the useful surfaceε of both elementε lie at substantially the same predetermined height above the underlying support surface, and adjustable length legε of the second element are adjusted to support εaid εecond element on the underlying εupport εurface such that the equality of εaid predetermined height iε maintained after the second element has been deployed.

42. A method aε claimed in any of claims 37 to 41, applied to the conεtruction and arrangement of a pitch for playing a game.

43. A method of preparing a gameε pitch for use, comprising providing a plurality of pitch elements at a εtorage poεition, moving a εelected number of the plurality of pitch elementε from the storage position to a poεition of uεe in which the elementε are arranged in juxtapoεition to afford a εurface area correεponding to at leaεt the required dimenεionε of the pitch, and εecuring εuch pitch elementε in εuch juxtaposition, movement of such pitch elements from the storage position being performed by traversing each such element over an underlying support surface whilst being supported from said support surface by a cuεhion of a preεεurized fluid.

44. A method of preparing a gameε pitch for uεe, compriεing providing a plurality of pitch elementε at a εtorage poεition, each pitch element having a length substantially equal to the intended size of the games pitch in a firεt dimenεion and a width εubεtantially equal to an exact εub- ultiple of the intended εize of the gameε pitch in a εecond dimenεion at right angleε to the first dimension, moving a selected member of the plurality of pitch elements from the storage position to a position of use in which the elements are arranged in juxtaposition in a two-dimensional linear array which has one dimension εubεtantially equal to the elemental length and another dimenεion εubεtantially equal to a multiple of the elemental width, and εecuring εuch pitch elementε in εuch juxtapoεition, movement of the pitch elementε from the εtorage poεition being performed by tranεverεing each εuch element over an underlying εupport εurface whilεt being εupported from εaid εupport εurface by a cuεhion of a preεεurized fluid.

45. A method according to claim 42 or 43, wherein the pitch is a football pitch.

46. A utility surface conεtructed, arranged, and adapted for uεe aε herein deεcribed with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

47. A utility εurface conεtructed, arranged, and adapted for uεe aε herein deεcribed with reference to Figures 2a, 2b, 2c_ and 2d of the accompanying drawings.

48. A utility surface constructed, arranged, and adapted for use as herein described with reference to Figures 2e and 2f_ of the accompanying drawings.

49. A utility surface constructed, arranged, and adapted for use as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawingε with or without the modification of Figureε 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawingε.

50. A utility surface constructed, arranged, and adapted for use as herein described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawingε.

51. A utility εurface according to any one of claimε 46 to 50, which iε a football pitch.

52. An element for uεe in conεtructing a utility εurface, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1, or Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, or Figureε 2e and 2f_, or Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

53. An element for use in constructing a football pitch, subεtantially aε herein deεcribed with reference to Figure 1, or Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, or Figures 2e and 2£, or Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawingε.

54. A method of conεtructing, arranging, or preparing for use a utility surface or football pitch, subεtantially aε herein deεcribed with reference to Figure 1, or Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, or Figures 2e and 2f., or Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5, of the accompanying drawings.