Golf range mat
OwnerLouis D. Martinoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Artificial athletic turf has a simulated grass surface provided by tufting strips into a backing fabric. The tufts are held in place by a precoat of polyurethane, and a reinforcing sheet is embedded within the precoat to provide tear resistance. A formed polyurethane is placed on the precoat, and one or more reinforcing sheet are also embedded within the foamed polyurethane. The strips are hydrophobic plastic with strength to prevent damage, and the coatings are polyurethane reinforced for tear resistance, which also yields a resilience as needed for an athletic mat. A hole can be cut into the mat, and the hole reinforced with a sleeve, to receive a tee for use as a golf mat.
Claims9
Athletic turf comprising a simulated grass surface and padding to simulate earth, said turf including a backing fabric, tufts in said backing fabric to simulate grass, a first coating on said backing fabric for locking said tufts in said backing fabric, a second coating formed on said first coating and adhered thereto, and a plurality of fibrous sheets within said first coating and said second coating, said plurality of fibrous sheets extending parallel to said backing fabric, said first coating comprising a cured in place polyurethane, one of said plurality of fibrous sheets being embedded within said first coating, said second coating comprising a foamed polyurethane adhered to said first coating, and another of said plurality of fibrous sheets being embedded within said second coating, said tufts in said backing fabric consisting of strips of material simulating grass, said first coating encapsulating said tufts to hold said tufts to said backing fabric.
A mat for golf driving range, said mat including a backing fabric, strips of material tufted into said backing fabric for simulating grass, a first coating on said backing fabric for locking the tufts in said backing fabric and securing said strips of material in said backing fabric, a fibrous sheet embedded within said first coating, said fibrous sheet being parallel to said backing fabric, and a second coating fixed to said first coating, said second coating comprising a foamed elastomeric material for providing a cushion for said mat.
A method for making an athletic turf comprising a simulated grass surface and padding to simulate earth, said method including the steps of tufting a backing fabric with strips to simulate grass, pouring a polyurethane mix onto the back of said backing fabric and allowing said polyurethane mix to encapsulate said strips tufted into said backing fabric and to react, preparing a second polyurethane mix and frothing said second polyurethane mix, pouring said second polyurethane onto the partially cured polyurethane mix and allowing both said polyurethanes to cure, and including the step of placing a fibrous sheet in at least one of said polyurethane mixes prior to the step of allowing said polyurethanes to cure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.