Abstract A product having a turf-like appearance and useful as a playing field surface for football, baseball, or other games can be made in a wide variety of blade patterns and textures by (a) providing a liquid layer of polymeric matrix material (e.g., a foamable polyurethane composition) which can be solidified in situ to a desired degree of resilience and toughness; (b) providing a number of flexible polymeric ribbons; (c) making numerous widthwise cuts in one edge of each ribbon so as to form numerous blades (grass-blade-like elements) which are fastened together at their base; (d) forming a composite structure in which the ribbons are closely-spaced and in embedded relation with the liquid matrix layer whereby each ribbon has its length parallel with the matrix layer, its width perpendicular thereto, its blades upstanding therefrom, and a lower portion embedded therein; and (e) causing the matrix layer to solidify in situ.
A product having a turf-like appearance and comprised of A. an in situ solidified matrix layer of polymeric material and B. numerous closely-spaced flexible polymeric blade-containing ribbons in embedded attachment with (A) and providing the upper surface of the product with a lawn-like appearance, each of said ribbons
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
having as an uppermost portion numerous closely-spaced grass-blade like elements upstanding from (A) and fastened together at their base as the result of providing numerous width-wise cuts of predetermined length along one edge of the ribbons and leaving a portion of the ribbons uncut at the base of the elements, and
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
having the lower base portion in embedded attachment with (A).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A product accoRding to claim 2 wherein component (A) is a flexible and resilient sheet of nonfibrous polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A product according to claim 2 wherein component (A) has a thickness of about 0.2-1.5 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A product according to claim 3 wherein the polymeric material of component (A) is an elastomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A product according to claim 5 wherein said elastomer has a cellular structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A product according to claim 2 wherein said ribbons have a thickness of about 0.005-0.1 inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A product according to claim 7 wherein said ribbons have a thickness of about 0.010-0.050 inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A product according to claim 2 wherein said ribbons have a width of about 0.3-2.0 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A product according to claim 9 wherein said grass-blade-like elements have a length of about 0.2-1.5 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A product according to claim 2 wherein said ribbons are substantially parallel with each other and the space between adjacent ribbons is about 0.05-0.5 inch.