US5346514A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Versatile plant sod mat and method for propagation
Assignee: Beaver Creek Concepts Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-30
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Granted: 1994-09-13
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Expires: 2013-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A new, improved herb, vegetable, flower, and groundcover sod mat suitable for many landscape applications. The improvement comprises growing either plant seeds seedlings, plant plugs, rooted cuttings or root divisions in a planting medium so that the roots of the plant material entangle with a nylon sod reinforcement to form a tough, lightweight, flexible sod mat. The sod mat can be produced in many strengths and weights, with many diverse planting mediums, with multiple species of plants. The nylon sod reinforcement will degrade if it is uncovered by some accident and exposed to sunlight. Sod mats may be sold in roll form or a rectangular mats.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles I. Molnar
- 👤 Judith R. Molnar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:53
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C1/00; A01C1/04; A01C1/044; A01G; A01G20/00; A01G20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A new and improved plant sod mat comprising the following: a. a nylon sod reinforcement wherein said nylon sod reinforcement comprises a nylon nonwoven fabric with a fabric basis weight of less than 2 opsy; b. a layer of planting medium on said nylon sod reinforcement and; c. viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said nylon sod reinforcement and thus form a sod mat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A new and improved plant sod mat comprising the following: a. a nylon sod reinforcement wherein said nylon sod reinforcement comprises a nylon nonwoven fabric with a fabric basis weight of less than 2 opsy; b. a layer of planting medium on said nylon sod reinforcement and; c. viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said nylon sod reinforcement and thus form a sod mat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 1 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement is comprised of a nonwoven fabric selected from the group consisting of spunbond nonwoven fabrics, hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, and melt blown nonwoven fabrics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 1 wherein said plants are garden plants.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 3 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement is comprised of a nonwoven fabric selected from the group consisting of spunbond nonwoven fabrics, hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, and melt blown nonwoven fabrics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 3 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement is comprised of a nonwoven fabric selected from the group consisting of spunbond nonwoven fabrics, hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics, and melt blown nonwoven fabrics and said plants are ornamental plants.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 3 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement is less than or equal to about 0.5 opsy and said nylon sod reinforcement is comprised of nylon resins selected from the group consisting of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A new and improved plant sod mat comprising: a) a layer of planting medium; b) viable plants in said planting medium with well developed roots; c) a means for reinforcing said planting medium with said viable plants growing in said planting medium comprising a nylon sod reinforcement wherein said nylon sod reinforcement comprises a nylon nonwoven fabric with a fabric basis weight of less than about 3 opsy which facilitates good root penetration and entanglement from said plants and thus, forms a sod mat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A new and improved plant sod mat comprising: a) a layer of planting medium; b) viable plants in said planting medium with well developed roots; c) a means for reinforcing said planting medium with said viable plants growing in said planting medium comprising a nylon sod reinforcement wherein said nylon sod reinforcement comprises a nylon nonwoven fabric with a fabric basis weight of less than about 3 opsy which facilitates good root penetration and entanglement from said plants and thus, forms a sod mat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A new and improved plant sod mat of claim 7 wherein said plants comprise garden plants.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A new and improved plant sod mat of claim 7 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement is less than or equal to about 2 opsy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A new and improved plant sod mat of claim 9 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement is a hydroentangled nonwoven fabric.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A new and improved plant sod mat of claim 7 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric is less than or equal to about 0.5 opsy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A new and improved sod mat comprising a garden plant sod mat reinforced with an effective nylon sod reinforcement wherein said nylon sod reinforcement comprises a nylon nonwoven fabric with a basis weight or less than about 2 opsy and plant roots penetrate and entangle with said nylon nonwoven fabric and planting medium to form a sod mat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A new and improved sod mat comprising a garden plant sod mat reinforced with an effective nylon sod reinforcement wherein said nylon sod reinforcement comprises a nylon nonwoven fabric with a basis weight or less than about 2 opsy and plant roots penetrate and entangle with said nylon nonwoven fabric and planting medium to form a sod mat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 12 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric comprises a nylon hydroentangled fabric.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 12 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric comprises a pattern bonded, nylon nonwoven fabric with an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of greater than about 2/1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 12 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric is comprised of a nylon nonwoven fabric selected from the group consisting of a pattern bonded, nylon nonwoven fabric and pattern entangled, nylon nonwoven fabrics.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 12 wherein said nylon sod reinforcement has a fabric basis weight of less than or equal to about 0.5 opsy and said plants comprise ornamental plants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 12 wherein said plants comprise ornamental plants.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 17 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric is a pattern entangled, nylon nonwoven fabric.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 17 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric is a pattern bonded, nylon nonwoven fabric and said nylon nonwoven fabric has an area ratio of a nonbonded fiber region to a bonded fiber region of greater than 4/1.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A new and improved sod mat of claim 17 wherein said nylon nonwoven fabric is a pattern bonded, nylon nonwoven fabric and said nylon nonwoven fabric has an area ratio of a nonbonded fiber region to a bonded fiber region from about 15/1 to 100/1.
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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) | 1997-09-12 | 1998-03-14 | 1998-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-12 | 2002-03-14 | 2002-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-12 | 2006-03-14 | 2006-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |