IP Library Granted Patent US 10,407,840
Granted Patent B2
US 10,407,840 · App. 15/981,870 · Granted Sep 10, 2019

Surface system and method of installation

Inventor: Robert Ziegan (Bay Village, OH)
E01C13/08A01G9/28A63B69/3691E01C11/221E01C13/02E01C23/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,407,840
App. No.
15/981,870
Granted
Sep 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a surfacing system, such as an artificial turf system. The surfacing system includes a base member formed from a plurality of interconnected tile members. The base member is configured to accept a suitable amount of infill material. A covering layer such as an artificial turf layer is applied over the infilled base member and secured to a flexible outer border member. Also provided is a method of installing the surfacing system.

Claims (26)

1. A surface system comprising:

a flexible border comprising an upstanding edge portion having opposite first and second ends, a top surface capable of being penetrated by a mechanical fastener to secure a covering layer to said flexible border, wherein said edge portion of said flexible border comprises a top surface, spaced-apart side walls depending downwardly from opposite lateral edges of said top surface, and an open bottom, wherein said upstanding edge portion of said flexible border is divided into a plurality of hollow edge blocks, wherein adjacent hollow edge blocks are connected by a connecting member configured to permit said border to flex, and a flange portion extending substantially horizontally from said upstanding edge portion and configured to secure the flexible border to an underlying surface;

a covering layer; and

at least one fastener securing said covering layer to said flexible border.

2. The surface system of claim 1 , further comprising a base member supporting said covering layer.

3. The surface system of claim 2 , wherein said base member comprises a plurality of connectable tile members.

4. The surface system of claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of connected tile members are divided into adjacent compartments for containing an infill material.

5. The surface system of claim 4 , wherein said compartments comprises alternating substantially square compartments and substantially circular compartments.

6. The surface system of claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of tile members comprise upstanding side walls defining a tile member perimeter, and wherein at least one of said upstanding side walls includes a protrusion configured to interlock with an adjacent tile member.

7. The surfacing system of claim 6 , wherein at least two upstanding walls of each of said plurality of tile members includes a protrusion configured to interlock with an adjacent tile member.

8. The surfacing system of claim 7 , wherein said two upstanding walls are adjacent and substantially perpendicular to one another.

9. The surfacing system of claim 2 , further comprising an infill located in said base.

10. The surfacing system of claim 9 , wherein said infill may be selected form the group consisting of dirt, gravel, rock, pebble, stone, sand, clay, or combinations thereof.

11. The surfacing system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one fastener securing said top covering layer to said edge portion of said flexible border.

12. The surfacing system of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of edge blocks comprising a top surface, spaced-apart side walls depending downwardly edges of said top surface, and an open bottom.

13. The surfacing system of claim 12 , wherein said flexible border where said flange member extends from lower ends of said each of said connected edge blocks.

14. The surfacing system of claim 13 , wherein said flange extending from each of said edge blocks comprises at least one hole configured to receive a mechanical fastener for securing said flexible edge border to said underlying surface.

15. The surfacing system of claim 14 , wherein said first opposite end of said flexible border member includes an inlet configured to interlock with an adjacent flexible border member.

16. The surfacing system of claim 15 , wherein said second opposite end of said flexible border member includes a protrusion configured to interlock with said inlet of an adjacent border member.

17. The surfacing system of claim 16 , wherein said flexible border member comprises a second connector member extending between adjacent flange members.

18. The surfacing system of claim 1 , wherein said top covering layer is selected from the group of artificial turf, natural turf, carpet, laminate flooring, or combinations thereof.

19. A method of installing a surfacing system comprising:

securing a flexible border to an underlying surface, said flexible border comprising an upstanding edge portion having opposite first and second ends, a surface capable of being penetrated by a mechanical fastener to secure a top covering layer to said flexible border, wherein said edge portion of said flexible border comprises a top surface, spaced-apart side walls depending downwardly from opposite lateral edges of said top surface, and an open bottom, wherein said upstanding edge portion of said flexible border is divided into a plurality of hollow edge blocks, wherein adjacent hollow edge blocks are connected by a connecting member configured to permit said border to flex, and a flange portion extending substantially horizontally from said edge portion and configured to secure the flexible border to an underlying surface, by passing a fastener through said flange portion of said flexible border and into said underlying surface, said secured flexible border defining a perimeter of said surfacing system;

positioning a base member within said perimeter of said surfacing system;

infilling said base member with a suitable infill material; and

applying a top covering layer over said infilled base member and securing said top covering layer to said edge portion of said flexible border member.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62506832 · May 16, 2017
Related Publication 20180371706A1 · Dec 27, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,378,732