# US 9,039,541 B2 · Method for laying a playable surface, for instance a playing field, and surface thus formed > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,541 B2 - Document ID: US9039541B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/368,147 - Filed: 2012-02-07 - Published: 2012-07-26 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-07 - Applicants: Hugo De Vries; Pieter Rook - Inventors: Hugo De Vries; Pieter Rook - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039541B2 ## CPC - E01C 13/08: Surfaces simulating grass {; Grass-grown sports grounds (grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12)} - E01C 13/02: Foundations, e.g. with drainage or heating arrangements {(E01C13/003, E01C13/083, E01C13/10 take precedence; drainage of soil E02B11/00)} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for laying a playable surface such as playing field, comprising the steps of forming a hard substrate, arranging on the hard substrate a layer of resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the resilient and/or damping layer, wherein during or after arranging of the hard substrate and/or the reliant and/or damping layer air chambers are formed therein. The behavior of the playing field becomes more natural due to these air chambers, and excessive resilience and energy restitution are avoided. The air chambers can be formed for instance by creating recesses in the relevant layer from the top, or by removing material from the layer at different location after arranging thereof, for instance by melting or biological decomposition of inclusions. The invention also relates to playing field obtain by application of this method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for laying a playable surface, in particular a playing field, comprising the steps of: forming a relatively hard substrate with a horizontal, fiat top surface, arranging on the relatively hard substrate at least one layer of a resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material, wherein the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material extends under the entire surface of the top layer, and wherein during or after arranging of the layer of resilient and/or damping material, permanent air chambers are formed therein, the permanent air chambers being embedded only in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material, the permanent air chambers not extending below the top surface of the relatively hard substrate, wherein the permanent air chambers are formed in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material by creating recesses therein from the top side after it is arranged, wherein the recesses are created by moving a machine provided with protruding parts over the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material. ### Claim 2 Method for laying a playable surface, in particular a playing field, comprising the steps of: forming a relatively hard substrate with a horizontal, flat top surface, arranging on the relatively hard substrate at least one layer of a resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material, wherein the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material extends under the entire surface of the top layer, and wherein during or after arranging of the layer of resilient and/or damping material, permanent air chambers are formed therein, the permanent air chambers being embedded only in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material, the permanent air chambers not extending below the top surface of the relatively hard substrate, wherein the permanent air chambers are formed in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material by creating recesses therein from the top side after it is arranged, wherein the recesses are created by pressing a profiled mat into the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air chambers are formed in the layer of resilient and/or damping material by removing material therefrom at different locations after the arranging thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein inclusions of a material with low melting point are arranged in the layer of resilient and/or damping material which are removed by heating after the layer has been arranged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein inclusions of a biologically degradable material are arranged in the layer of resilient and/or damping material which are removed by natural processes after the layer has been arranged. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air chambers are formed in the layer of resilient and/or damping material during arranging thereof by including granules having large dimensions relative to the thickness of the layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the layer of resilient and/or damping material is arranged in two steps, by first arranging a relatively flat adhesive layer on the relatively hard substrate, and subsequently spreading the granules with large dimensions over the adhesive layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein prior to arranging of the mat heating wires are received therein. ### Claim 9 Method for laying a playable surface, in particular a playing field, comprising the steps of: forming a relatively hard substrate with a horizontal, flat top surface, arranging on the relatively hard substrate at least one layer of a resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material, wherein during or after arranging of the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material permanent air chambers are formed therein, which air chambers are embedded only in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material and do not extend below the top surface of the relatively hard substrate, wherein the permanent air chambers are formed in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material by creating recesses therein from the top side after it is arranged, and wherein the recesses are created by moving a machine provided with protruding parts over the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material. ### Claim 10 Method for laying a playable surface, in particular a playing field, comprising the steps of forming a relatively hard substrate with a horizontal, flat top surface, arranging on the relatively hard substrate at least one layer of a resilient and/or damping material, and arranging a top layer on the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material, wherein during or after arranging of the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material permanent air chambers are formed therein, which air chambers are embedded only in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material and do not extend below the top surface of the relatively hard substrate, wherein the permanent air chambers are formed in the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material by creating recesses therein from the top side after it is arranged, and wherein the recesses are created by pressing a profiled mat into the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Method of claim 9, wherein at least one other layer is also arranged between the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material with the permanent air chambers and the top layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Method of claim 9, wherein the top layer is a synthetic turf. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) Method of claim 9, wherein at least some of the permanent air chambers are connected to means for generating an air circulation therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) Method of claim 10, wherein at least one other layer is also arranged between the at least one layer of resilient and/or damping material with the permanent air chambers and the top layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) Method of claim 10, wherein the top layer is a synthetic turf. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) Method of claim 10, wherein at least some of the permanent air chambers are connected to means for generating an air circulation therein.