US5678951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Element for synthetic tennis ground and method for its production
Assignee: Sommer Levasseur
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Filing: 1994-01-27
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Granted: 1997-10-21
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Expires: 2014-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An element suitable for building permanent tennis courts and repairing existing clay courts, comprising a structured textile support forming an open-structured mat and consisting of rot-proof synthetic fibres, which is filled with a first layer essentially consisting of sand with a particle size suitable for drainage, and a second surface layer consisting of ground brick with a smaller particle size than the underlying layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Francois Levasseur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:00
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C13/00; E01C13/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A system suitable for the construction of permanent tennis courts and for reconditioning old tennis courts of the clay-surface type, comprising a structured textile support forming an open-structured carpet and composed of anti-rot synthetic fibres into which support are successively filled a first layer consisting essentially of sand and having a particle size ensuring suitable draining and a second surface layer consisting of crushed brick having a particle size less than the particle size of the underlying layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A system suitable for the construction of permanent tennis courts and for reconditioning old tennis courts of the clay-surface type, comprising a structured textile support forming an open-structured carpet and composed of anti-rot synthetic fibres into which support are successively filled a first layer consisting essentially of sand and having a particle size ensuring suitable draining and a second surface layer consisting of crushed brick having a particle size less than the particle size of the underlying layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the second layer has a height lying between 1/5 and 1/10 of the total height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the first layer, consisting essentially of sand, is composed of two sublayers, respectively having a particle size of 0.2/0.8 mm and 0.2/0.3 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the textile support consists of a loose-structured rafted product combined with a perforated base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein the height of the textile fibres constituting the open-structured carpet lies between 18 and 25 mm and preferably between 20 and 23 mm.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for producing new permanent tennis courts or reconditioning old tennis courts of the clay-surface type, comprising the steps of laying a structured textile support forming an open-structured carpet composed of anti-rot synthetic fibres on a plane surface, and successively filling the textile support with a first layer consisting essentially of sand, having a particle size ensuring suitable drainage and a second surface layer consisting of crushed brick having a particle size less than the particle size of the underlying layer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for producing new permanent tennis courts or reconditioning old tennis courts of the clay-surface type, comprising the steps of laying a structured textile support forming an open-structured carpet composed of anti-rot synthetic fibres on a plane surface, and successively filling the textile support with a first layer consisting essentially of sand, having a particle size ensuring suitable drainage and a second surface layer consisting of crushed brick having a particle size less than the particle size of the underlying layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the step in which the layer consisting essentially of sand is loaded is broken down into two steps in which a first sublayer consisting of sand having a particle size of 0.2/0.8 mm is filled, and a second sublayer consisting of sand having a particle size of 0.2/0.3 mm is filled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a plane surface is obtained by compacting earth or gravel in the case of a new construction of permanent tennis courts of the clay-surface type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a plane surface is obtained by levelling, surface finishing and piercing a concrete base in the case of reconditioning of old tennis courts.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for using a structured textile support forming an open-structured carpet and composed of anti-rot synthetic fibres to provide a permanent tennis court of the clay-surface type comprising successively loading said structured textile support with a first layer consisting essentially of sand and with a second layer consisting of crushed brick.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for using a structured textile support forming an open-structured carpet and composed of anti-rot synthetic fibres to provide a permanent tennis court of the clay-surface type comprising successively loading said structured textile support with a first layer consisting essentially of sand and with a second layer consisting of crushed brick.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein the first layer, consisting essentially of said, is composed of two sublayers, respectively having a particle size of 0.2/0.8 mm and 0.2/0.3 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein the textile support consists of a loose-structured tufted product combined with a perforated base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein the height of the textile fibres constituting the open-structured carpet lies between 18 and 25 mm and preferably between 20 and 23 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein the textile support consists of a loose-structured tufted product combined with a perforated base.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 14, wherein the height of the textile fibres constituting the open-structured carpet lies between 18 and 25 mm and preferably between 20 and 23 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein the textile support consists of a loose-structured tufted product combined with a perforated base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 16, wherein the height of the textile fibres constituting the open-structured carpet lies between 18 and 25 mm and preferably between 20 and 23 mm.
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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) | 2000-10-20 | 2001-04-21 | 2001-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-20 | 2005-04-21 | 2005-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-20 | 2009-04-21 | 2009-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |