US 11,840,809 B2
Hybrid turf surface and support therefor
Hyo-Sang Lee, Goyang-Si (KR); Hamish Ross Sutherland, Romsey (AU); and Mark A. Heinlein, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to STADIA Turf Systems Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed by STADIA Turf Systems Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2016, as Appl. No. 15/267,267.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/220,309, filed on Sep. 18, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2017/0081808 A1, Mar. 23, 2017
Int. Cl. E01C 13/08 (2006.01); A01G 20/10 (2018.01); A01G 20/20 (2018.01); D04B 21/02 (2006.01); D04B 21/20 (2006.01); D04B 21/10 (2006.01); D04B 21/12 (2006.01); A01C 1/00 (2006.01); B32B 3/26 (2006.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); D04B 1/02 (2006.01); D04B 1/22 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 13/08 (2013.01) [A01C 1/00 (2013.01); A01G 20/10 (2018.02); A01G 20/20 (2018.02); B32B 3/266 (2013.01); B32B 5/026 (2013.01); D04B 1/025 (2013.01); D04B 1/22 (2013.01); D04B 21/02 (2013.01); D04B 21/10 (2013.01); D04B 21/12 (2013.01); D04B 21/20 (2013.01); B32B 2255/02 (2013.01); B32B 2307/7163 (2013.01); B32B 2410/00 (2013.01); D10B 2505/202 (2013.01); E01C 2013/086 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid turf support for use with natural grass to form a stable hybrid turf system, the hybrid turf support comprising:
(a) a knitted reticulated support comprising:
(i) a plurality of warp members oriented in a longitudinal direction; and
(ii) a first plurality of weft members, each first weft member comprising at least four portions (A), (B), (C), and (D), wherein:
portion (A) is oriented in the longitudinal direction and is interlaced with a first warp member; portion (B) is oriented in a lateral direction between the first warp member and a second warp member; portion (C) is oriented in the longitudinal direction and is interlaced with the second warp member; and portion (D) is oriented in the lateral direction between the second warp member and a third warp member; and
(iii) a second plurality of weft members, each second weft member comprising at least four portions (E), (F) (G). and (H), wherein:
portion (E) is oriented in the lateral direction between the first warp member and the second warp member; portion (F) is oriented in the longitudinal direction and is interlaced with the second warp member; portion (G) is oriented in the lateral direction between the second warp member and the third warp member; and portion (H) is oriented in the longitudinal direction and is interlaced with the third warp member,
wherein the first plurality of weft members and the second plurality of weft members extend in opposing step-wise progressions;
wherein the plurality of warp members intersects with the first and the second plurality of weft members to form an intersection to define a plurality of substantially rectangular-shaped openings suitable for natural grass to grow; and
wherein the weft members are anchored at each end to at least one of the warp members; and
(b) a plurality of artificial grass fibers extending upwardly from the knitted reticulated support, the artificial grass fibers comprising groups of fibers extending upwardly at substantially uniform intervals,
wherein each artificial grass fiber has a top which protrudes and extends upward from the knitted reticulated support, and a bottom fixed to the knitted reticulated support;
wherein the plurality of artificial grass fibers are knitted into the plurality of warp members; and
wherein the warp members comprise chains of loops formed by warp knitting.