# US 12,005,554 B2 · Opening device and method for driving securing tool into artificial turf

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- Number: US 12,005,554 B2
- Document ID: US12005554B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/440,637
- Filed: 2020-04-09
- Published: 2022-05-19
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-25
- Assignees: GreenField AG
- Applicants: Greenfield Co., Inc.
- Inventors: Shigeru Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005554B2

## CPC

- B25C 7/00: Accessories for nailing or stapling tools, e.g. supports (for tools operated by detonation of a cartridge B25C1/18)
- B25C: HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS (for shoemaking A43D)

## Abstract

An opening device for parting grass of artificial turf and exposing the base of the artificial turf to drive a securing tool into the artificial turf. The opening device comprises: a tip part extending in the longitudinal direction; and first and second side parts connected to the tip part, and has an opening between the first and second side parts for insertion of the securing tool such as a U-shaped nail. The distance between the outer edges of the first and second side parts is greater than the width of the tip part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An opening tool for separating grass of artificial grass to expose a bottom of the artificial grass, the opening tool comprising:
one leading end portion that extends in a longitudinal direction; and
a first side portion and a second side portion that are connected to the one leading end portion,
an opening being formed between the first side portion and the second side portion and in an area separate from the one leading end portion,
the opening being an opening through which a fastener for fixing the artificial grass can pass and through which the fastener can be driven into the bottom,
a distance between an outer edge of the first side portion and that of the second side portion being greater than a width of the one leading end portion, and
the first side portion and the second side portion pushing the grass apart to expose the bottom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The opening tool according to claim 1, comprising:
a pair of handles;
a first coupler that serves as a fulcrum for the pair of handles;
two second couplers each provided at a leading end of a respective one of the pair of handles;
two rods each having one end connected to a respective one of the two second couplers, the two rods being capable of moving in a width direction;
a support having one end connected to the first coupler;
two plates each rotatably connected to a respective one of the two rods;
two relay members each having one end connected to the other end of a respective one of the two rods;
two third couplers each connecting the other end of a respective one of the two rods to the one end of a respective one of the two relay members; and
a fourth coupler that connects the other ends of the two relay members and is movably fitted into an elongated hole provided in the support,
the support including the one leading end portion,
one of the two rods and one of the two plates serving as the first side portion, and the other of the two rods and the other of the two plates serving as the second side portion, and
the opening being formed between the support and one of the two rods.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The opening tool according to claim 1, comprising:
a pair of handles;
a first coupler that serves as a fulcrum for the pair of handles;
two second couplers each provided at a leading end of a respective one of the pair of handles;
two rods each having one end connected to a respective one of the two second couplers, the two rods being capable of moving in a width direction;
a support having one end connected to the first coupler;
two plates each rotatably connected to a respective one of the two rods;
two relay members each having one end connected to the other end of a respective one of the two rods;
two third couplers each connecting the other end of a respective one of the two rods to the one end of a respective one of the two relay members; and
a fourth coupler that connects the other ends of the two relay members and is movably fitted into an elongated hole provided in the support,
the support including the one leading end portion,
one of the two rods and one of the two plates serving as the first side portion, and the other of the two rods and the other of the two plates serving as the second side portion, and
the opening being formed in the support.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The opening tool according to claim 1, comprising:
a handle; and
a central portion having one end connected to the handle and the other end including the one leading end portion,
the first side portion and the second side portion being respectively connected to both sides of the central portion, and
the opening being formed in the central portion.

### Claim 5

A method for driving a fastener into artificial grass using an opening tool that separates grass of the artificial grass to expose a bottom of the artificial grass,
the opening tool comprising:
one leading end portion that extends in a longitudinal direction; and a first side portion and a second side portion that are connected to the one leading end portion,
an opening being formed between the first side portion and the second side portion and in an area excluding the one leading end portion, the opening being an opening through which the fastener for fixing the artificial grass can pass, and
a distance between an outer edge of the first side portion and that of the second side portion being greater than a width of the one leading end portion,
the method comprising:
inserting the one leading end portion of the opening tool into the grass initially;
pushing the grass apart with the first side portion and the second side portion to expose the bottom; and
driving the fastener into the bottom through the opening.