IP Library Granted Patent US 12,378,732
Granted Patent B2
US 12,378,732 · App. 16/797,429 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Surface system

Inventor: Robert Ziegan (Bay Village, OH)
E01C13/08A01G9/28A63B69/3691E01C11/221E01C13/02E01C23/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,378,732
App. No.
16/797,429
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
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 (20)

1. An artificial turf system consisting of:

at least one flexible border member comprising an upstanding edge and a flange member extending horizontally from a lower portion of said upstanding edge wherein said upstanding edge is capable of being penetrated by a first at least one fastener for securing the flexible border member to a top covering layer, wherein said flange member is configured to receive a second at least one fastener for securing the flexible border member to an underlying surface, wherein the flexible border defines an area;

wherein the at least one fastener is selected from the group consisting of nails, pins and rods; an infill material layer located within the area defined by the flexible border, wherein the infill material is selected from the group consisting of clay, dirt, gravel, pebble, rock, sand, stone and combinations thereof;

a top covering layer applied over the infilled material layer; and

wherein said top covering layer comprises an artificial turf layer secured to said upstanding edge portion of said flexible border member by said first at least one fastener;

wherein the artificial turf system further has a plurality of connectable tile members configured to form a base for containing said infill material.

2. The artificial turf system of claim 1 , wherein said flange member includes at least one hole configured to receive said fastener.

3. The artificial turf system of claim 1 , wherein said flexible border member comprises a plurality of spaced apart flange member elements extending horizontally from a lower portion of said upstanding edge portion of said flexible border member.

4. The artificial turf system of claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart flange member elements includes at least one hole configured to receive said fastener.

5. The artificial turf system of claim 4 , wherein said infill material is sand.

6. An artificial turf system consisting of:

at least one flexible border member comprising an upstanding edge and a flange member extending horizontally from a lower portion of said upstanding edge wherein said upstanding edge is capable of being penetrated by a first at least one fastener for securing the flexible border member to a top covering layer, wherein said flange member is configured to receive a second at least one fastener for securing the flexible border member to an underlying surface, wherein the flexible border defines an area;

wherein the at least one fastener is selected from the group consisting of nails, pins and rods;

an infill material layer located within the area defined by the flexible border, wherein the infill material is selected from the group consisting of clay, dirt, gravel, pebble, rock, sand, stone and combinations thereof;

a top covering layer applied over the infilled material layer, wherein said top covering layer comprises an artificial turf layer secured to said upstanding edge portion of said flexible border member by said first at least one fastener;

wherein said flexible border member comprises a plurality of spaced apart flange member elements extending horizontally from a lower portion of said upstanding edge portion of said flexible border member;

wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart flange member elements includes at least one hole configured to receive said fastener;

wherein the artificial turf system further has a plurality of connectable tile member configured to form a base for containing said infill material;

wherein said flexible border member comprises a first opposite end including an inlet configured to interlock with an adjacent flexible border member, and

wherein said flexible border member comprises a second opposite end including a protrusion configured to interlock with the inlet of another adjacent border member.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 16389998 · Apr 22, 2019
Continuation 15981870 · May 16, 2018
Provisional Application 62506832 · May 16, 2017
Related Publication 20200190748A1 · Jun 18, 2020
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