# US 10,309,070 B2 · Methods and apparatus for stabilization of surfaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,070 B2 - Document ID: US10309070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/218,020 - Filed: 2016-07-23 - Published: 2017-01-05 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-10 - Assignees: Polylast Systems, LLC - Applicants: Polylast Systems, LLC - Inventors: Peter J. Laurence - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309070B2 ## CPC - E02B 11/00: Drainage of soil, e.g. for agricultural purposes {(draining sports grounds E01C13/083; for consolidating foundation soil, e.g. sand drain piles E02D3/10)} - A01M 21/043: {by chemicals} - B29B 7/002: {Methods (chemical aspects C08J3/00)} - B29C 39/006: {Monomers or prepolymers (by reaction injection moulding B29C67/246)} - B29C 39/02: for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles - C08G 18/242: {organometallic compounds containing tin-carbon bonds} - C08G 18/307: {Atmospheric humidity} - C08G 18/48: Polyethers - C09D 175/04: Polyurethanes - C09J 175/04: Polyurethanes - E01C 3/006: {made of prefabricated single units (E01C3/06 takes precedence)} - E01C 3/06: Methods or arrangements for protecting foundations from destructive influences of moisture, frost or vibration {(heating devices E01C11/26; draining the subbase of roads E01F5/00)} - E01C 13/06: Pavings made in situ, {e.g. for sand grounds, clay courts E01C13/003}, (E01C13/08, E01C13/10 take precedence) - E02D 17/202: {with flexible securing means} - B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2105/16: Fillers - B29K 2105/26: Scrap {or recycled material} - B29K 2421/00: Use of unspecified rubbers as filler - B29L 2031/10: Building elements, e.g. bricks, blocks, tiles, panels, posts, beams {(frameless domes B29L2025/00, doors B29L2031/724)} - C08L 95/00: Compositions of bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar, pitch - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H) - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) ## Abstract Various embodiments provide surface compositions and methods for porous, flexible, and durable surfaces that may stabilize native soil, provide substantially uniform drainage of moisture, and provide a barrier between the native soil, vegetation, and other compositions disposed over the surface composition, such as sand and/or soil. The compositions and methods may comprise utilizing a liquid coating composition, liquid binder, and/or antimicrobial composition in combination with a particulate material configured to provide a desired pore size, elasticity, compression, and/or stability to the surface composition. Various embodiments of the surface composition may form a prefabricated flexible bunker liner for application to the native soil in a golf course bunker beneath sand. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cured flexible bunker liner for overlaying native turf in a golf course bunker, the cured flexible bunker liner consisting of: a liquid coating composition comprising a polyol; a particulate material comprising rubber particles mixed with the liquid coating composition to produce a coated particulate material, wherein the particulate material is selected to: form a porous structure with a pore diameter suitable to allow moisture to travel through the bunker liner and prevent particulate matter from traveling through the bunker liner; form a flexible structure configured to substantially conform to the contours of the golf course bunker; and form a stable structure that retains the shape of the golf course bunker according to the native turf underlying the bunker, and a liquid binder comprising a moisture curing polyurethane based prepolymer, wherein the liquid binder is mixed with the coated particulate material and cured to form the cured flexible bunker liner; wherein the cured flexible bunker liner overlays the native turf; and wherein the cured flexible bunker liner is not affixed to the native turf. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the rubber particles comprise at least one of butadiene-rubber (BR), styrene butadiene-rubber (SBR), isoprene-rubber (IR), styrene-isoprene-butadiene-rubber (SIBR), acrylonitrilebutadiene-rubber (NBR), chloroprene-rubber (CR), isobutene-isoprene-rubber (IIR), ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer-rubber (EPDM) and natural rubber (NR), and vulcanized thermoplastic (TPV). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surface composition of claim 1, wherein the particulate material further comprises at least one of an aggregate material, asphalt particles, sand, ceramics, glass, marble, rock, and gravel particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the mixture of the liquid binder and coated particulate material is cured into a preselected molded shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bunker liner of claim 4, wherein the preselected molded shape comprises stabilizing ridges on at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the preformed flexible bunker liner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the preformed flexible bunker liner comprises stabilizing ridges on at least one of a bottom surface and a top surface that provide traction and hold the preformed flexible bunker liner in place in the golf course bunker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the mixture of the liquid binder and particulate material is cured to a thickness of at least approximately ⅜ inches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the liquid binder and particulate material is cured to a thickness of between approximately ⅜ and approximately ½ inches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the preformed flexible bunker liner further comprises a turned-down edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the turned-down edge is configured to eliminate at least one of a rough edge and a lifted edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the preformed flexible bunker liner further comprises a beveled edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the beveled edge is configured to eliminate at least one of a rough edge and a lifted edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, further comprising an herbicide that is at least one of mixed with the liquid binder and the particulate material prior to curing and applied to the cured preformed flexible bunker liner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, further comprising an antimicrobial composition that is at least one of mixed with the liquid binder and the particulate material prior to curing and applied to the cured preformed flexible bunker liner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bunker liner of claim 1, wherein the liquid coating composition comprises at least one of: a polyol and a catalyst; and a polyol, a catalyst, and water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The bunker liner of claim 15, wherein polyol comprises at least one of a polyester polyol, a polyoxypropylene polyol, and a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene polyol. ### Claim 17 A cured flexible bunker liner for application over native turf in a golf course bunker, the cured flexible bunker liner consisting of: a liquid coating composition; a particulate material comprising rubber particles mixed with the liquid coating composition to produce a coated particulate material, wherein the particulate material is selected to: form a porous structure with a pore diameter suitable to allow moisture to travel through the bunker liner and prevent particulate matter from traveling through the bunker liner; form a flexible structure configured to substantially conform to the contours of the golf course bunker; and form a stable structure that retains the shape of the golf course bunker according to the turf underlying the bunker, and a liquid binder comprising a moisture curing polyurethane based prepolymer mixed with the coated particulate material and cured into a preselected molded shape to form the cured flexible bunker liner, wherein the preselected molded shape comprises at least one of: a turned-down edge; and a plurality of stabilizing ridges on at least one of a bottom surface and a top surface that provide traction and hold the preformed flexible bunker liner in place in the golf course bunker; wherein the cured flexible bunker liner overlays the native turf; and wherein the cured flexible bunker liner is not affixed to the native turf. ### Claim 18 A method of making a cured flexible bunker liner for application over native turf in a golf course bunker comprising: mixing a liquid coating composition with a particulate material comprising rubber particles to produce a coated particulate material, wherein the particulate material is selected to: form a porous structure with a pore diameter suitable to allow moisture to travel through the bunker liner and prevent particulate matter from traveling through the bunker liner; form a flexible structure configured to substantially conform to the contours of the golf course bunker; and form a stable structure that retains the shape of the golf course bunker according to the turf underlying the bunker, mixing a liquid binder with the coated particulate material, wherein the liquid binder comprises a moisture curing polyurethane based prepolymer; pouring the mixture of the liquid binder and coated particulate material into a mold having a preselected thickness, wherein the mold presses a texture onto the mixture of the liquid binder and coated particulate material that stabilizes the position of the cured bunker liner on top of the native soil; allowing the mixture of the liquid binder and coated particulate material to cure in the mold forming the cured flexible bunker liner, wherein the preselected molded shape comprises at least one of: a turned-down edge; and a plurality of stabilizing ridges on at least one of a bottom surface and a top surface that provide traction and hold the cured flexible bunker liner in place in the golf course bunker; removing the cured flexible bunker liner from the mold; positioning the cured flexible bunker liner in the golf course bunker over the native turf, wherein the cured flexible bunker liner is not affixed to the native turf.