Flexible plastic greenery simulating matting assembly

Claim 2

A flexible plastic greenery simulating matting assembly, said matting comprising: A. An integrally molded planar lattice, said lattice having peripheral edge members defining a polygon, and a plurality of intersecting webbing elements disposed at regular intervals to extend between pairs of edge members, the intersections of said webbing elements being orificed transversely to the plane of said lattice to provide a pattern of orifices of a preselected diameter, and said edge members being orificed at points in line with the orifices in the intersections of the webbing elements; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said lattice, said tuft comprising a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from a centrally disposed annular core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud, said core having an orifice of substantially the same diameter as the orifices in the lattice and each tuft being disposed on the lattice to place its core orifice in registry with a lattice orifice; and C. A thermoplastic stud for each said plastic tuft, said stud having a head of a diameter greater than the orifice in the tuft core, and a shank of slightly smaller diameter than the last said orifice; D. Each tuft being secured to the lattice at one of the lattice orifices by means of one of said studs with the shank of the stud being passed through the tuft orifice, and through the registering orifice in the lattice, and with the protruding end of the shank being secured against withdrawal through the lattice orifice.

Claim 3

The plastic matting assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the edge members of the lattice define a rectangle and each webbing element extends between opposed pairs of edge members.

Claim 4

The plastic matting assembly as described in claim 1, wherein opposite edge members are alternately provided with male projections extending transversely to the lattice plane and with orifices to receive similar projections on the edge members of another lattice, whereby a plurality of said assemblies may be joined together along their edges by inserting the male projections of the edge of one of the twO lattices to be joined together into the orifices of the abutting edge of the other of said two lattices, and securing said projections against withdrawal from their respective orifices.

Claim 5

A flexible plastic greenery simulating matting assembly, said matting comprising: A. An integrally molded planar lattice, said lattice having peripheral edge members defining a polygon, and a plurality of intersecting webbing elements disposed at regular intervals to extend between pairs of edge members, the intersections of said webbing elements being orificed transversely to the plane of said lattice to provide a pattern of orifices, each of a predetermined diameter, and said edge members being orificed at points in line with the orifices in the intersections of the webbing elements; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said lattice, said tuft comprising (i) a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from a centrally disposed core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud; and (ii) an integrally molded plastic stud extending axially downwardly from the tuft, said stud having a shank of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the lattice orifice, and the shank of said stud being passed therethrough and secured against withdrawal therefrom.

Claim 6

A flexible plastic greenery simulating matting assembly, said matting comprising: A. An integrally molded planar lattice, said lattice having peripheral edge members defining a polygon, and a plurality of intersecting webbing elements disposed at regular intervals to extend between pairs of edge members, the intersections of said webbing elements being orificed transversely to the plane of said lattice to provide a pattern of orifices, each of a predetermined diameter, and said edge members being orificed at points in line with the orifices in the intersections of the webbing elements; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said lattice, said tuft comprising (i) a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from a centrally disposed core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud; and (ii) an integrally molded plastic stud extending axially downwardly from the tuft, said stud having a shank of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the lattice orifice, and the shank of said stud being passed therethrough and secured against withdrawal therefrom.

Claim 7

The matting assembly as described in claim 4, wherein each stud shank is provided with at least one radiating protrusion permitting passage of the stud down through the lattice orifice but inhibiting withdrawal therefrom.

Claim 8

The matting assembly as described in claim 4, wherein each stud shank is provided near its unbeaded end with at least one arrowhead projection permitting passage of the stud down through the lattice orifice but inhibiting withdrawal therefrom.

Claim 9

The matting assembly as described in claim 4, wherein each stud shank is provided with a pair of arrowhead projections one above the other from the free end of said stud to permit passage of the stud down through the lattice orifice but inhibiting withdrawal therefrom, and withdrawal of the stud from the lattice is further inhibited by the free end of the stud having been plasticized after insertion into the lattice orifice to be flattened against the underside of the lattice about the last said orifice.

Claim 10

A flexible plastic greenery-simulating matting assembly especially adapted for use as a golf practice mat for practicing chipping and driving, said assembly comprising: A. A molded, flexible planar plastic sheet, said sheet being in the form of a polygon and being provided with a plurality of orifices, the axes of which orifices are perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, said orifices being spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance, each of said orifices having a counterbore extending from the topside of said sheet thereinto for a second predetermined distance; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said sheet, said tuft comprising (i) a core configured to seat in said counterbore, and when so seated to set flushly with the plane of the topside of said sheet; (ii) a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from said core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud; and (iii) an integrally molded plastic stud extending coaxially downwardly from the core, said stud having a shank with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the sheet orifice so as to be adapted to be inserted therethrough, and said shank having means to prevent its withdrawal back upwardly through said orifice after being so inserted through the latter.

Claim 11

A flexible plastic greenery-simulating matting assembly especially adapted for use as a golf practice mat for practicing chipping and driving, said assembly comprising: A. A molded, flexible planar plastic sheet, said sheet being in the form of a polygon and being provided with a plurality of orifices, the axes of which orifices are perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, said orifices being spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance, each of said orifices having a counterbore extending from the topside of said sheet thereinto for a second predetermined distance; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said sheet, said tuft comprising (i) a core configured to seat in said counterbore, and when so seated to set flushly with the plane of the topside of said sheet; (ii) a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from said core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud; and (iii) an integrally molded plastic stud extending coaxially downwardly from the core, said stud having a shank with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the sheet orifice so as to be adapted to be inserted therethrough, and said shank having means to prevent its withdrawal back upwardly through said orifice after being so inserted through the latter.

Claim 12

The assembly as described in claim 8, in which each sheet is in the form of a rectangle.

Claim 13

The assembly as described in claim 8, in which at least one edge of the sheet is provided with means whereby said edge may be interlockingly attached edgewise to the edge of another sheet.

Claim 14

The assembly as described In claim 8, in which said first predetermined distance is such that the plastic strands of adjacent tufts intermingle to provide an appearance of homogeneity across the entire matting assembly.

Claim 15

The assembly as described in claim 8, in which the bottom of the counterbore is rounded.

Claim 16

A flexible plastic greenery-simulating matting assembly especially adapted for use as a golf practice mat for practicing chipping and driving, said assembly comprising: A. A molded, flexible planar plastic sheet, said sheet being in the form of a polygon and being provided with a plurality of orifices, the axes of which orifices are perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, said orifices being spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance, each of said orifices having a first counterbore extending from the topside of said sheet thereinto for a second predetermined distance, and a second counterbore extending upwardly from the bottom of the sheet for a third predetermined distance and having at least a portion of its bottom circular and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the topside of said plastic sheet; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said sheet, said tuft comprising: (i) a core configured to seat in said counterbore and when so seated to set flushly with the plane of the topside of said sheet; (ii) a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from said core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud; and (iii) an integrally molded plastic stud extending coaxially downwardly from the core, said stud having a shank with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the sheet orifice so as to be adapted to be inserted therethrough, and the free end of said shank having an inverted conical tip, the base of which conical tip, when forced downwardly through the orifice and into the second counterbore, seats in the circular planar bottom of the latter, thereby preventing withdrawal of the stud back up through said orifice.

Claim 17

A flexible plastic greenery-simulating matting assembly especially adapted for use as a golf practice mat for practicing chipping and driving, said assembly comprising: A. A molded, flexible planar plastic sheet, said sheet being in the form of a polygon and being provided with a plurality of orifices, the axes of which orifices are perpendicular to the plane of the sheet, said orifices being spaced from each other by a first predetermined distance, each of said orifices having a first counterbore extending from the topside of said sheet thereinto for a second predetermined distance, and a second counterbore extending upwardly from the bottom of the sheet for a third predetermined distance and having at least a portion of its bottom circular and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the topside of said plastic sheet; B. An integrally molded plastic tuft for each orifice in said sheet, said tuft comprising: (i) a core configured to seat in said counterbore and when so seated to set flushly with the plane of the topside of said sheet; (ii) a plurality of closely adjacent free-ended plastic strands extending upwardly from said core and radiating from the axis of the core in the manner of a dandelion bud; and (iii) an integrally molded plastic stud extending coaxially downwardly from the core, said stud having a shank with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the sheet orifice so as to be adapted to be inserted therethrough, and the free end of said shank having an inverted conical tip, the base of which conical tip, when forced downwardly through the orifice and into the second counterbore, seats in the circular planar bottom of the latter, thereby preventing withdrawal of the stud back up through said orifice.

Claim 18

The assembly as described in claim 13, in which at least one edge of the sheet is provided with means whereby said edge may be interlockingly attached edgewise to the edge of another sheet.

Claim 19

The assembly as described in claim 11, in which the first predetermined distance is such that only slight spacing is provided between adjacent counterbores only slightly greater than the radius of the counterbore of each orifice, so that the counterbored orifices are disposed relatively close together and the strands of each tuft are numerous and closecropped, thereby to produce an appearance and feel of a golf green.

Claim 20

The assembly as described in claim 11, in which the first predetermined distance is only slightly greater than the radius of the counterbore of each orifice, so that the counterbored orifices are disposed relatively close together and the strands of each tuft are numerous and close-cropped, thereby to produce an appearance and feel of a golf green, and the sheet is punctured between at least some adjacent counterbored orifices to permit the insertion into such punctures of golf Tees for supporting balls to be driven thereoff.

Claim 21

The assembly as described in claim 11, in which the first predetermined distance is such that only slight spacing is provided between adjacent counterbores only slightly greater than the radius of the counterbore of each orifice, so that the counterbored orifices are disposed relatively close together and the strands of each tuft are numerous and close-cropped, thereby to produce an appearance and feel of a golf green, and the core and shank of at least some of the tufts are axially orificed to receive golf Tees for supporting balls to be driven thereoff.

Claim 22

A golf practice mat, said mat comprising a plurality of matting assemblies as described in claim 10, said assemblies being interlocked at their edges to constitute one contiguous simulated grass mat.

Claim 23

A golf practice mat, said mat coMprising a plurality of matting assemblies as described in claim 14, said assemblies being interlocked at their edges to constitute one contiguous simulated grass mat.

Claim 24

A golf practice mat, said mat comprising at least one matting assembly as described in claim 10, and at least one matting assembly as described in claim 14, said assemblies being interlocked at their edges to constitute one contiguous simulated grass mat, but with different facing textures.

Claim 25

A golf practice mat, said mat comprising a plurality of matting assemblies as described in claim 10, said assemblies being removably interlocked at their edges to constitute one contiguous simulated grass mat.

Claim 26

A golf practice mat, said mat comprising a plurality of matting assemblies as described in claim 14, said assemblies being removably interlocked at their edges to constitute one contiguous simulated grass mat.

Claim 27

A golf practice mat, said mat comprising at least one matting assembly as described in claim 10, and at least one matting assembly as described in claim 14, said assemblies being removably interlocked at their edges to constitute one contiguous simulated grass mat, but with different facing textures, and each of said different matting assemblies being removable from the mat and replaceable by either of said different assemblies.