Wire mat turf protector

Claim 1

A repaired soil or turf supporting and protecting device, comprising; a rectangular rigid self supporting grid of wire cloth including a plurality of rigid parallel wires attached to a plurality of orthogonally disposed rigid parallel wires, said parallel wires being spaced approximately one-quarter to one-half inch apart to protect soil and turf surfaces and prevent animal access, while freely permitting turf regrowth, said wires all being equal guage and being unsupported by any surrounding support, said grid having a smooth upper surface to prevent injury to digging animals, said grid having a flat lower surface adapted to engage the upper surface of soil or turf, said grid having a thickness of less than 0.100 inches to prevent animal injury and permit lawn care equipment to pass freely thereover, and a plurality of U-shaped protruding elements permanently pivotally connected directly to the wires of this grid and extending orthogonally therefrom to attach the grid to the upper surface of the soil or turf, said attaching elements extending only from one side of grid said U-shaped protruding elements having a bight portion parallel to the wires to which they are connected.