US 11,889,792 B1Granted

Modular weed barrier mat using upcycled tires

OwnerRobert T Lucasinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A modular weed barrier mat comprised of a double layer of tire tread sections cut from used tires arranged so that the lengths of the upper sections are perpendicular to those of the lower sections. A pair of upper sections are positioned in spaced apart relationship so as to form a gap, with a central slit array cut into two immediately adjacent lower sections accessible within the gap. A slit cut through a width of one lower section directly below one of the upper sections on either side of the central slit array allows a post to be moved into the slit and then positioned in the central slit array. Corrosion resistant fasteners are removed and replaced as needed to allow the mat to be installed or removed as desired. One embodiment features lower and upper lap portions on opposite sides of the mat for modular installation.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A weed barrier mat made of tire tread sections cut from used tires, comprising:

a lower mat having a first mat portion and a second mat portion, each of the first mat portion and second mat portion comprised of a pair of lower tire sections having a lower length and a lower width arranged such that the lower widths of the first mat portion are in parallel arrangement with the lower widths of the second mat portion;
wherein the pair of lower tire sections are further comprised of an innermost lower tire section and an outermost lower tire section;
a linear void formed by positioning the innermost lower tire section of the first mat portion adjacent the innermost lower tire section of the second mat portion;
a series of slits cut into the innermost lower tire section immediately on either side of the linear void so as to form a central slit array;
an upper mat having a pair of upper tire sections, each upper tire section of the pair having an upper length, an upper width, and an upper depth, and arranged on top of the lower mat such that the lower widths of the lower mat are perpendicular to the upper widths of the upper mat;
wherein the pair of upper tire sections are in spaced apart relationship to form a gap sized and shaped such that the central slit array is accessible through the gap;
a slit formed through an entire width of a lower tire section width of at least one of the first mat portion or the second mat portion so as to bisect the lower tire section width;
wherein at least one of the at least two upper tire sections is positioned over the slit;
a plurality of fastener locations in the upper mat;
and
a plurality of corrosion-resistant fasteners removably securing the upper mat to the lower mat at the plurality of fastener locations.

8 more elements

A weed barrier mat, comprising:

an upper mat having a first upper tire section and a second upper tire section, each of the first upper tire section and second upper tire section having a pair of opposed side widths perpendicular to a pair of opposed side lengths, the first upper tire section and second upper tire section arranged such that one of the pair of opposed side lengths of the first upper tire section and one of the pair of opposed side lengths of the second upper tire section are in parallel relationship and adjacent to one another with less than about a quarter inch gap between the adjacent opposed side lengths;
an upper mat joint created by the adjacent relationship of the first upper tire section and second upper tire section;
a lower mat having a first lower tire section and a second lower tire section, each of the first lower tire section and second lower tire section having a pair of opposed lower side widths perpendicular to a pair of opposed lower side lengths, the first lower tire section and second lower tire section arranged such that one of the pair of opposed lower side lengths of the first lower tire section and one of the pair of opposed lower side lengths of the second lower tire section are in parallel relationship and adjacent to one another with less than about a quarter inch gap between the adjacent opposed lower side lengths;
a lower mat joint created by the adjacent first lower tire section and second lower tire section, the joint located at a center position of the lower mat;
and
a corrosion-resistant fastener attaching the upper mat to the lower mat;
wherein the upper and lower mats are arranged such that the first upper tire section is centered over the lower mat joint with the side lengths of the first upper tire section parallel to the lower side lengths of the lower tire sections;
wherein the second upper tire section is attached to either the first lower tire section or to the second lower tire section but not to both;
wherein an unattached portion of the second upper tire section forms an upper lap;
wherein the upper mat and the lower mat are comprised of tire treads obtained from used tires;
and
wherein an unattached portion of one of the first lower tire section or second lower tire section forms a lower lap.

9 more elements

A weed barrier mat, comprising:

an upper tire section having a pair of side widths and a pair of side lengths, and a longitudinal centerline visually dividing the upper tire section into two halves;
a lower tire section having a pair of lower side widths and a pair of lower side lengths, and a lower longitudinal centerline visually dividing the lower tire section into two lower halves;
wherein the pair of side lengths of the upper tire section and the pair of lower side lengths have an approximately same length measurement;
and
a corrosion-resistant fastener;
wherein the upper tire section is positioned on top of the lower tire section such that the longitudinal centerline is aligned with one of the pair of side lengths of the lower tire section, with one of the two halves of the upper tire section attached to one of the two lower halves of the lower tire section by the fastener at an overlapping area of the upper tire section and the lower tire section;
an upper lap formed by an unattached half of the two halves of the upper tire section;
and
a lower lap formed by an unattached lower half of the two lower haves of the lower tire section.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/584,230Filed 25 Jan 2022
Granted: 6 Feb 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A01G 13/32
Ground coverings: mats; Nets; Sheets or films
E04H 17/063
Parts for wire fences: fence liners; Vegetation prevention barriers
B32B 3/14
Characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. formed of separate pieces of material: characterised by a face layer formed of separate pieces of…
B32B 3/266
Characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or…