US 12,139,833 B2
Patterned tufted articles, surface coverings comprising same, and systems and methods of making and using same
William Neil Vaughan, Rydal, GA (US); Philipe C. F. Aldahir, Chattanooga, TN (US); Jeffrey J. Wright, Cartersville, GA (US); James Jarrett, Cartersville, GA (US); and Kyle Andrew Aylor, Cartersville, GA (US)
Assigned to Columbia Insurance Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by Columbia Insurance Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on Apr. 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/644,777.
Application 18/644,777 is a continuation of application No. 17/476,870, filed on Sep. 16, 2021, granted, now 12,006,606.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/079,312, filed on Sep. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271344 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. D05C 17/02 (2006.01); D05C 15/04 (2006.01); E01C 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC D05C 17/026 (2013.01) [D05C 15/04 (2013.01); E01C 13/083 (2013.01); D10B 2507/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tufted article for defining a portion of a football field, the tufted article having a length along a first axis and width along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first and second axes being perpendicular to a vertical axis, the tufted article comprising:
a backing having a continuous structure; and
a plurality of tufts extending through at least a portion of the backing, the plurality of tufts distributed among a plurality of patterned regions, wherein each patterned region comprises at least one tuft of the plurality of tufts, wherein the tufts of each patterned region differ from the tufts of at least one other patterned region of the tufted article in at least one of color, pile height, yarn type, or yarn density, and wherein at least one patterned region forms a discontinuity in a color pattern of the tufted article moving along the first axis,
wherein the plurality of patterned regions comprise a first patterned region simulating un-marked grass and a second patterned region corresponding to a marking that allows for usage of the football field, wherein the tufted article does not comprise a seam between the first patterned region and the second patterned region.