GB2246077A - Recreational surface - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a recreational surface comprising grass growing on a coherent substrate of compliant material having substantial voidage therein, the roots of the grass penetrating the interstices thereof. The substrate comprises a layer 12 of crushed stone, a layer 14 of rubber crumb bound together with a polyurethane binding agent and a layer 15 of filter sand. <IMAGE>

Description

RECRgATIONAL SURFACE This invention concerns a recreational surface for games such as soccer and hockey for example and also horse-racing tracks for example.

The conventional surface for such activities as mentioned above is turf. Normal turf, whilst highly satisfactory under ideal conditions does have some serious disadvantages. In dry seasons or times of drought it can become very hard with risk of injury to falling players. In wet seasons it can become waterlogged making it unpleasant to use and very susceptible to damage. In very cold conditions it can become frozen and again hard and injurious.

Ideally a recreational surface for these purposes should be compliant under all conditions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recreational surface of grass which overcomes the problems associated with conventional turf.

According to the present invention a recreational surface comprises grass growing on a coherent substrate of compliant material having substantial voidage therein, the roots of the grass penetrating the interstices thereof.

The substrate may have a topping of particulate material.

The substrate may comprise rubber crumb bonded together with a suitable binder and may have a thickness of 5cm for example.

The binder may be a polyurethane resin.

The topping may be a filter sand and may have a thickness of 2cm for example.

The grass may be grown from seed sown onto the substrate or topping or provided by turves laid on the substrate.

The grass may be a perennial rye-grass or fescue.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, which concerns by way of example only, the preparation of one form of recreational surface embodying same, and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a cross-section therethrough.

Land drains 10 are installed in an area of ground 11 which is then treated to destroy any plant seeds therein and covered with a layer 12 of graded crushed stone. A layer 14 of rubber crumb bonded together by polyurethane to a depth of Scm of thereabouts is then put down. This layer may be formed using the method described in my co-pending British Patent Application No. 8924877.7 wherein the rubber crumb is wetted with a liquid polymer and laid before spraying a liquid catalyst over the crumb surface to pass through the interstices to effect rapid polymerization to join the crumbs into a coherent but compliant mass. A preferred polymer is polyurethane.

A layer 15 of filter sand is then spread over the layer of rubber crumb to a depth of 2cm or thereabouts.

The sand surface is then sown with a suitable grass seed such as a perennial rye-grass typically Master, Trubadour or Barclay.

The seed is allowed to germinate and the grass 16 grow to maturity such that its roots penetrate the interstices of the layer of rubber crumb before the surface is brought into use.

It will be understood that the surface remains compliant under all weather conditions on account of the resilience of the substrate.

It is anticipated that the grass surface will be "self-healing" in that even quite serious surface damage will be confined to the sand layer and not destroy the root matrix within the rubber crumb.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus grass seed may be sown onto the surface of the rubber crumb and a sand dressing applied after germination.

The rubber crumb layer may include additives such as fertilizer and a rooting compound.

Yet again, conventional turves may be laid onto the substrate and the turves may then be top-dressed with sand, or other particular material.

Claims (10)

1. A recreational surface comprising grass growing on a coherent substrate of compliant material having substantial voidage therein, the roots of the grass penetrating the interstices thereof.

2. A recreational surface according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a topping of particulate material.

3. A recreational surface according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the substrate comprises rubber crumb bonded together with a suitable binder.

4. A recreational surface according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the substrate has a thickness of 5cm.

5. A recreational surface according to claim 3, wherein the binder is a polyurethane resin.

6. A recreational surface according to claim 2, wherein the topping is a filter sand.

7. A recreational surface according to claim 6, wherein the topping has a thickness of 2cm.

8. A recreational surface according to any one of claims 2-7, wherein the grass is grown from seed sown onto the substrate or topping.

9. A recreational surface according to claim 1, wherein the grass is provided by turves laid on the substrate.

10. A recreational surface according to any preceding claim, wherein the grass is a perennial rye-grass or fescue.