Edging And Mats Made Of Recycled Material And Related Manufacturing Methods
Methods of manufacturing multi-colored, rubber pads such as edging and mats include providing a mold; mixing together a rubber component, a binder and a first coloring agent to form a matrix having a first colored surface; and introducing a second coloring agent onto the matrix to create a multicolored pad having a second colored surface opposite the first colored surface.
1 . A rubber pad, comprising:
a first rubber surface being configured for contacting ground, the first rubber surface having a first color and a plurality of rubber components configured to appear as mulch, the first color being cured with the rubber components;
a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface being configured for alternative contact with the ground, the second surface having a second color different from the first color and a plurality of the rubber components configured to appear as mulch, the second color being cured with the rubber components; and
a binder holding the respective first and second rubber components together.
2 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , wherein the rubber pad is a rubber mat or a rubber edging system.
3 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , wherein the first and second colors are selected from the group consisting of red, white, brown, green, blue, sandstone or black, the first color being different from the second color.
4 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , wherein the first and second colors are derived from respective coloring pigments.
5 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , wherein the rubber pad has a thickness of about 0.5 inches to about 1 inch.
6 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , wherein the first and second rubber components are selected from the group consisting of rubber buffings and rubber granules.
7 . The rubber pad as in claim 6 , wherein the rubber buffings and rubber granules are derived from used rubber tires.
8 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , wherein the binder includes moisture curable urethane.
9 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , further comprising a curing catalyst and an anti-gloss agent.
10 . The rubber pad as in claim 1 , further comprising an interlock being configured to mate the rubber pad with a complementary rubber pad.
11 . A method of manufacturing a multi-colored rubber pad, comprising:
providing a mold;
mixing together a rubber component, a binder and a first coloring agent to form a matrix having a first colored surface; and
introducing a second coloring agent onto the matrix to create a multicolored rubber pad having a second colored surface opposite the first colored surface.
12 . The method as in claim 11 , wherein the mold defines a height of about one-half inch to about two inches, the height being about half a desired thickness of the rubber pad.
13 . The method as in claim 11 , wherein the mold defines an area of about twelve square inches to about forty square inches.
14 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising leveling the rubber component, the binder and the first coloring agent.
15 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising curing the rubber component, the binder and the first coloring agent.
16 . The method as in claim 15 , wherein the curing is accomplished by a chemical reaction.
17 . The method as in claim 15 , wherein the curing is accomplished by heat, compression, adhesive, and combinations thereof.
18 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising mixing a plurality of fibers with the rubber component, the binder and the first coloring agent.
19 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising mixing a catalyst with the rubber component, the binder and the first coloring agent.
20 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising leveling the second coloring agent.
21 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising curing the second coloring agent.
22 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising joining the mold with a cap.
23 . The method as in claim 22 , wherein the mold includes a peripheral lip and a projection, the projection depending from the peripheral lip.
24 . The method as in claim 22 , wherein the cap includes a ledge defining a shoulder, the projection and the ledge complementarily shaped to seat the cap and the mold together.
25 . The method as in claim 11 , further comprising embossing one of the first and second colored surfaces such that each surface has a different texture.