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US4900010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Athletic field and playground
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-10-21
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Granted: 1990-02-13
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Expires: 2008-10-21
Abstract
Abstract An athletic field or playground having an essentially planar surface consisting, at least in part, of tree bark particles consolidated to form an essentially tread resistant top layer of the athletic field or playground; the top layer consists, at least predominantly, of a mixture of particulate tree bark and of flexible fibers dispersed in the mixture; an at least predominant portion of the fibers has a fiber length that is greater than the average largest dimension of the tree bark particles. Natural or synthetic fibers may be used in the mixture if their rot resistance is at least about that of the tree bark particles, and coconut fibers each having a length of at least about 2 inches and used in a proportion of from about 0.01 to 10%, based upon the dry weight of the tree bark, are a typical example. Construction and maintenance costs of such fields are low when compared to fields having a top layer of natural or manmade grass, and neither the impact of heavy rain showers nor of the most intensive use will diminish the most favorable properties regarding player safety and comfort.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernd Wengmann
- 👤 Ernst Habegger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:39
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C13/00; E01C13/06; E01C13/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An athletic field or playground having an essentially planar and water-permeable surface consisting, at least in part, of tree bark particles consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer of said field or playground; said top layer consisting, at least predominantly, of a mixture of said tree bark particles having an average largest dimension and of flexible fibers dispersed in said mixture; and wherein an at least predominant portion of said fibers has a fiber length that is at least as great as the average largest dimension of said tree bark particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An athletic field or playground having an essentially planar and water-permeable surface consisting, at least in part, of tree bark particles consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer of said field or playground; said top layer consisting, at least predominantly, of a mixture of said tree bark particles having an average largest dimension and of flexible fibers dispersed in said mixture; and wherein an at least predominant portion of said fibers has a fiber length that is at least as great as the average largest dimension of said tree bark particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein a predominant portion, at least, of said tree bark particles has a particle size permitting passage of substantially all particles through a sieve having uniform openings of about 50 mm in diameter, and wherein a predominant portion of said fibers has a length of more than about 50 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein said fibers are at least as rot-resistant as said tree bark particles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 3 wherein said tree bark particles consist, at least in part, of rot degraded tree bark.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise from about 0.01 to 10 %, by weight, of said tree bark particles in said mixture, based upon the dry weight of said particles, and wherein said top layer has a thickness of from about 30 to about 200 mm and a content of said fibers of from about 50 to about 1000 grams of said fibers per square meter of said top layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein said fibers have substantially uniform diameters of from about 0.01 to 1 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein said tree bark particles have a carbon:nitrogen ratio of at least about 70.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein said tree bark particles have a rotting degree corresponding to a dark-brown humic acid coloration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The athletic field or playground of claim 1 wherein said fibers are comprised, at least in part, of vegetabilic hard fibers or/and of organic man-made fibers
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An athletic field having an essentially planar and water-permeable surface layer consisting, at least predominantly, of tree bark particles consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer; said tree bark particles having a carbon:nitrogen ratio of at least about 70.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An athletic field having an essentially planar and water-permeable surface layer consisting, at least predominantly, of tree bark particles consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer; said tree bark particles having a carbon:nitrogen ratio of at least about 70.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The athletic field of claim 10 wherein said tree bark particles have a carbon:nitrogen ratio of at least about 100.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of building an athletic field or playground having an essentially planar and water-permeable surface provided on a supporting ground structure; said surface comprising tree bark particles which have been consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer; said method comprising the step of forming said top layer from a mixture of tree bark particles having an average largest dimension and of flexible fibers distributed therein; wherein an at least predominant portion of said fibers has a fiber length that is greater than the average largest dimension of said tree bark particles.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of building an athletic field or playground having an essentially planar and water-permeable surface provided on a supporting ground structure; said surface comprising tree bark particles which have been consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer; said method comprising the step of forming said top layer from a mixture of tree bark particles having an average largest dimension and of flexible fibers distributed therein; wherein an at least predominant portion of said fibers has a fiber length that is greater than the average largest dimension of said tree bark particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein a moist mixture of a rot degraded tree bark material and said fibers is shaped to form a top layer or top layer portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein water is incorporated into said mixture to the point of water saturation thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said moist mixture contains more than 10 %, by weight, of water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said saturation amounts to a water content of at least about 40 %, by weight, of said mixture.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of building an athletic field or playground having an essentially planar and waterpermeable surface provided on a supporting ground structure; said surface comprising tree bark particles which have been consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer; said method comprising the step of forming said top layer from tree bark particles that have a carbon:nitrogen ratio of at least about 70.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of building an athletic field or playground having an essentially planar and waterpermeable surface provided on a supporting ground structure; said surface comprising tree bark particles which have been consolidated to form an essentially tread-resistant top layer; said method comprising the step of forming said top layer from tree bark particles that have a carbon:nitrogen ratio of at least about 70.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |