US5070643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and cover for grass protection and restoration and for seed germination
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-07-06
•
Granted: 1991-12-10
•
Expires: 2008-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of protecting outdoor grass areas from dessication and winter kill; for enhancing seed germination both grass seed and flower and vegetable seeds; and for increasing soil temperature and stimulating early root and top growth. The method comprises encasing the area concerned with a cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim. For large areas a plurality of panels can be joined together as by sewing. The cover can be secured in position by wire stakes, and by ropes passing over the cover.
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelius A. Hinsperger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:04
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01G13/30; A01G13/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/919
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of improving surface soil conditions and enhancing growth, comprising covering the surface of the soil with a reusable lightweight insulating cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of improving surface soil conditions and enhancing growth, comprising covering the surface of the soil with a reusable lightweight insulating cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic lace coating covers approximately 30% of the surface area of the scrim.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the cover is secured over the surface by passing stakes of inverted U-shape through the cover, at least around the peripheral edges thereof, and into the ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3, including passing said stakes through the cover at spaced locations thereover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of panels secured together by stitched seams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 5, including the step of positioning ropes over the cover and through loops provided at spaced distances along the cover and securing ends of the ropes to the ground to hold the cover in place.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polyethylene and the striped lace coating is of polyethylene compatible with the polyethylene of the strips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polypropylene and the striped lace coating is of polypropylene compatible with the polypropylene of the strips.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of enhancing the growth of grass, comprising covering the grass with a reusable lightweight insulating cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of enhancing the growth of grass, comprising covering the grass with a reusable lightweight insulating cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the plastic lace coating covers approximately 30% of the surface area of the scrim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the cover is secured over the surface by passing stakes of inverted U-shape through the cover, at least around the peripheral edges thereof, and into the ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11, including passing said stakes through the cover at spaced locations thereover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of panels secured together by stitched seams.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 13, including the step of positioning ropes over the cover and through loops provided at spaced distances along the cover and securing ends of the ropes to the ground to hold the cover in place.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polyethylene and the striped lace coating is of polyethylene compatible with the polyethylene of the strips.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polypropylene and the striped lace coating is of polypropylene compatible with the polypropylene of the strips.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of protecting an area of outdoor grass from desiccation and kill during winter months and for increasing turf temperature and stimulating early root and top growth, comprising directly covering the area of grass in the fall with a reusable lightweight insulating one-piece cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim, securing the cover in position in direct contact with the grass, maintaining the cover in contact with the grass during the winter months and, removing the cover in the spring.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of protecting an area of outdoor grass from desiccation and kill during winter months and for increasing turf temperature and stimulating early root and top growth, comprising directly covering the area of grass in the fall with a reusable lightweight insulating one-piece cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim, securing the cover in position in direct contact with the grass, maintaining the cover in contact with the grass during the winter months and, removing the cover in the spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method according to claim 17, wherein the plastic lace coating covers approximately 30% of the surface area of the scrim.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method according to claim 17, wherein the cover is secured over the grass by passing wire stakes of inverted U-shape through the cover at spaced locations thereover and around peripheral edges thereof and into the ground.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 17, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of panels secured together by stitched seams.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method according to claim 20, wherein the cover is manufactured to cover an area of specific size such as a golf course green.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method according to claim 20, including the step of positioning ropes over the cover and through loops provided at spaced distances along the seams and securing ends of the ropes to the ground to hold the cover in position over the grass.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
Method according to claim 17, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polyethylene and the striped lace coating is of polyethylene compatible with the polyethylene of the strips.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
Method according to claim 17, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polypropylene and the striped lace coating is of polypropylene compatible with the polypropyelene of the strips.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
Method according to claim 20, wherein the cover is secured over the grass by passing wire stakes of inverted U-shape through the cover around peripheral edges thereof, and by positioning similar wire stakes in straddling fashion over the seams joining adjacent panels at spaced distances therealong and pushing the stakes into the ground.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
Method according to claim 20, wherein the cover is secured over the grass by passing wire stakes of inverted U-shape through the cover around peripheral edges thereof and into the ground, and by passing ropes in transverse or in diagonal criss-cross direction over the cover and securing the ropes to stakes positioned in the ground outside the cover.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method according to claim 26 including the further step of positioning wire stakes in straddling fashion over the ropes and seams where they cross and pushing the stakes through the cover and into the ground.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of enhancing the growth of seeds, comprising covering the seeds with a reusable lightweight insulating cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of enhancing the growth of seeds, comprising covering the seeds with a reusable lightweight insulating cover comprising at least one panel of open weave scrim material formed by loosely woven thin and narrow UV stabilized strips of clear transparent plastic material having a non-uniform striped lace coating of highly UV stabilized plastic covering less than 50% of the surface area of the scrim with the remaining surface area of the scrim permitting passage of air and moisture through the open weave of the scrim.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the plastic lace coating covers approximately 30% of the surface area of the scrim.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the cover is secured over the surface by passing stakes of inverted U-shape through the cover, at least around the peripheral edges thereof, and into the ground.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 30, including passing said stakes through the cover at spaced locations thereover.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of panels secured together by stitched seams.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 32, including the step of positioning ropes over the cover and through loops provided at spaced distances along the seams and securing ends of the ropes to the ground to hold the cover in place.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polyethylene and the striped lace coating is of polyethylene compatible with the polyethylene of the strips.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the plastic material forming the strips of the open weave scrim is polypropylene and the striped lace coating is of polypropylene compatible with the polypropylene of the strips.
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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) | 1994-12-09 | 1995-06-10 | 1995-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-09 | 1999-06-10 | 1999-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-09 | 2003-06-10 | 2003-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |