US5490351A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low cost sod mat and method for propagation
Assignee: Beaver Creek Concepts Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-12
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2014-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A new and 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 polyolefin 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 polyolefin sod reinforcement can contain prodegradants which promote environmental friendliness. Sod mat may be sold in rolls or rectangular mat.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J. Molnar
- 👤 Judith R. Molnar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:07
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C1/00; A01C1/04; A01C1/044; A01G; A01G20/00; A01G20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A plant sod mat comprising the following: a) a sod reinforcement wherein said sod reinforcement comprises a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric having nonbonded fiber regions and bonded fiber regions; b) a layer of planting medium on said sod reinforcement; and c) viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said sod reinforcement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A plant sod mat comprising the following: a) a sod reinforcement wherein said sod reinforcement comprises a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric having nonbonded fiber regions and bonded fiber regions; b) a layer of planting medium on said sod reinforcement; and c) viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said sod reinforcement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein a substantial majority of said roots which penetrate said sod reinforcement are located within said nonbonded fiber regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A sod mat of claim 2 wherein said plants comprise garden plants.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein substantially all of said roots which penetrate said sod reinforcement are located within said nonbonded fiber regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
A sod mat of claim 4 wherein said plants comprise grasses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sod mat of claim 4 wherein said plants comprise garden plants and said sod reinforcement is comprised of polypropylene fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sod mat of claim 4 wherein said plants comprise garden plants and said sod reinforcement is comprised of polyethylene fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein: a. said sod reinforcement has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region from about 4/1 to 30/1; b. said sod reinforcement is comprised of polyethylene fibers and said sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than 0.8 opsy; and c. said plants are garden plants.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein: a. said sod reinforcement has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region from about 4/1 to 30/1; b. said sod reinforcement is comprised of polypropylene fibers and said sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than 0.8 opsy; and c. said plants are garden plants.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein said sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than about 0.3 opsy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sod mat of claim 10 wherein said sod reinforcement has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of greater than about 2/1 and said plants comprise garden plants.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein said sod reinforcement has a hydrophilic treatment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein said sod reinforcement contains an additive selected from the group consisting of pro-degradants and water leachable stabilizers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein; a. said sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than about 1.5 opsy and said sod reinforcement has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of greater than 4/1; and b. said sod reinforcement is comprised of polyethylene fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sod mat of claim 1 wherein; a. said sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than about 1.5 opsy and said sod reinforcement has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of greater than 4/1; and b. said sod reinforcement is comprised of propylene fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A plant sod mat comprising the following: a) a sod reinforcement wherein said sod reinforcement comprises a pattern bonded, polypropylene spunbond fabric having nonbonded fiber regions and bonded fiber regions; b) a layer of planting medium on said sod reinforcement; and c) viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said sod reinforcement to form said sod mat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
A plant sod mat comprising the following: a) a sod reinforcement wherein said sod reinforcement comprises a pattern bonded, polypropylene spunbond fabric having nonbonded fiber regions and bonded fiber regions; b) a layer of planting medium on said sod reinforcement; and c) viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said sod reinforcement to form said sod mat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sod mat of claim 16 wherein said sod reinforcement is less than or equal to about 3 opsy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sod mat of claim 17 wherein a substantial majority of said roots which penetrate said sod reinforcement are located within said nonbonded fiber regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sod mat of claim 17 wherein said pattern bonded polypropylene spunbond fabric is less than or equal to about 1.5 opsy and said sod reinforcement has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of greater than or equal to about 2/1.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sod mat of claim 17 wherein said sod reinforcement is less than or equal to about 0.8 opsy and wherein a substantial majority of said roots which penetrate said sod reinforcement are located within said nonbonded fiber regions.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of propagating a plant sod mat on a sod growing surface comprising: a. placing a sod reinforcement over said growing surface wherein said sod reinforcement is comprised of a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric having nonbonded fiber regions and bonded fiber regions; b. placing a layer of planting medium on said sod reinforcement; c. placing viable plant starting material in contact with said planting medium; d. watering and nourishing said plant starting material for growth so plant roots penetrate and entangle with said sod reinforcement to form said sod mat.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of propagating a plant sod mat on a sod growing surface comprising: a. placing a sod reinforcement over said growing surface wherein said sod reinforcement is comprised of a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric having nonbonded fiber regions and bonded fiber regions; b. placing a layer of planting medium on said sod reinforcement; c. placing viable plant starting material in contact with said planting medium; d. watering and nourishing said plant starting material for growth so plant roots penetrate and entangle with said sod reinforcement to form said sod mat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of propagating a plant sod mat of claim 21 wherein said watering and nourishing step d comprises growing said starting material so that a substantial majority of said roots penetrating said sod reinforcement are located within said nonbonded fiber regions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of propagating a plant sod mat of claim 21 wherein said watering and nourishing step d comprises growing said starting material so that substantially all of said roots penetrating said sod reinforcement are located within said nonbonded fiber regions.
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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) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |