Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SURFACE COVERING PANEL, SURFACE COVERING PANEL ASSEMBLY
AND METHOD OF INSTALLING THE SAME
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of US provisional
patent application
61/856,342 filed July 19, 2013.
BACKGROUND
(a) Field
[0002] The subject matter disclosed generally relates to
playing fields and
more particularly to artificial sports and amusement playing fields. The
subject-
matter disclosed may also relate to artificial surface covering panels of all
kinds
(i.e., artificial sports playing fields, artificial amusement playing fields,
gymnasium
surfaces, backyard surfaces, driveway surfaces and the like).
(b) Related Prior Art
[0003] In soccer or any other field sport, the use of
synthetic turf has been
growing steadily in recent years. The advantages of synthetic turf are
numerous.
For example, synthetic turf does not need as much care as real grass.
Moreover,
synthetic turf is more durable and in some cases, even removable using panel
systems.
[0004] However, synthetic turf without resilient infill can
rarely be used
directly on the floor or ground and they usually require padding layer panels
of
some sort. As it is known in the art, these padding layer panels can be made
of
different resilient materials and can have single or multiple layers. The
synthetic
turf and its attached padding layer panel usually come in full size rolls of
12' or
15' width. This width of roll creates heavy rolls especially when rolls are
longer
than 50' and requires fork lift or heavy equipment to be transported. An
option to
overcome this problem is to create smaller pieces like panels in the form of
large
rectangular panels that are placed, one adjacent to the next, in such a way as
to
cover the desired surface.
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[0005] However, when the installation is not meant to be
permanent, all
the panels will need to be removed and reinstalled individually. This can be a
long and expensive process depending of the frequency of installation of the
panels.
[0006] One possible way to solve these aforementioned problems
would
be to use larger panels. This would reduce the number of panels required to
cover a certain area but would add a burden on the persons charged with the
installation of these larger but heavier panels.
[0007] There exists panels, such as the one found in Fig. 1. The
panel
includes a sheet member and a padding layer panel. The padding layer panel
includes a plurality of padding layer panel elements, for allowing the panel
to be
rolled and unrolled. However, the materials used for the fabrication of such
panels may be damaged on the site of installation and when manipulating,
rolling
and unrolling the panels. Moreover, the process to fabricate these panels can
be
complex and expensive.
[0008] On the other hand, for a plurality of other applications,
artificial
surface covering panels of all kinds (i.e., artificial sports playing fields,
artificial
amusement playing fields, gymnasium surfaces, backyard surfaces, driveway
surfaces and the like) may be used. These panels need to be easy to install
and
reinstall, easy to manufacture, easy to roll and unroll, durable, fast to
install and
easy to manipulate. Many panels exist on the market to cover such surfaces.
However, these panels are usually hard to manipulate, necessitate to be
installed
by more than one person, and are long and heavy to install.
[0009] There is therefore a need for improved surface covering
panel
assemblies and surface covering panels that are easy to manipulate, more
flexible, more durable and fast to install.
SUMMARY
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[0010] According to an embodiment, there is provided a
surface covering
panel for assembly with at least another substantially identical surface
covering
panel for forming a surface covering panel assembly for installation over a
receiving surface and under a top layer, the surface covering panel
comprising: a
sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member defining a
first
surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second surface; a padding
layer
panel made of a second flexible material, the padding layer panel defining a
first
surface for partially covering the second surface defined by the sheet member
and a second surface for interfacing with the receiving surface; and an edge
being adapted for releasable attachment to the at least another substantially
identical surface covering panel.
[0011] According to another embodiment, the second flexible
material
comprises at least one of: an expanded polypropylene, an extruded
polypropylene, a foam, an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, an extruded
polytetrafluoroethylene, an expanded polyethylene, an extruded polyethylene,
an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a crumb rubber tire, a plastic, a
natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), a
shock absorbent material, a PVC mixed with a acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber
(NBR) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
[0012] According to a further embodiment, the top layer
comprises at least
one of: a carpet-like top layer, a synthetic turf, PVC, PVC mixed with NBR
rubber
sheet, a geotextile fabric, a rubber-like top layer, a water-resistant top
layer, a
mat-like type top layer and a snow melt top layer.
[0013] According to yet another embodiment, the edge
comprises more
than two edges for releasable attachment to more than two of the at least
another substantially identical surface covering panel.
[0014] According to a further embodiment, the surface
covering panel
further comprises an extension member outwardly extending from the sheet
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member for releasably attaching with the at least another substantially
identical
surface covering panel.
[0015] According to yet another embodiment, the top layer and the
sheet
member are one of: integral, glued together and bonded together.
[0016] According to another embodiment, the edge comprises at
least one
of: a fastening material and a mating connector.
[0017] According to a further embodiment, the fastening material
comprises at least one of: a hook and loop material, a VelcroTM hook material,
a
VeICrOTM loop material, a VeICrOTM mushroom-like shape material, nylon,
polyester and polypropylene.
[0018] According to yet another embodiment, the sheet member, the
padding layer panel and the top layer are configured to be one of: rolled and
unrolled between a rolled position and a surface covering position.
[0019] According to another embodiment, there is provided a
surface
covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a
top
layer, the surface covering panel assembly comprising: substantially identical
surface covering panels, each one of the substantially identical surface
covering
panels comprising: a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet
member defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a
second
surface; a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding
layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface
defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the
receiving surface; and an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to at
least another one of the substantially identical surface covering panels.
[0020] According to a further embodiment, the surface covering
panel
assembly further comprises joining padding layer panels, each one of the
joining
padding layer panels connecting the edge of one of the substantially identical
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surface covering panels with a corresponding edge of an adjacent surface
covering panel.
[0021]
According to yet another embodiment, a width, defined by each one
of the joining padding layer panels, substantially corresponds to a sum of a
first
width defined by the edge of the one of the substantially identical surface
covering panels and a second width defined by the corresponding edge of the
adjacent surface covering panel.
[0022]
According to another embodiment, the second flexible material and
the joining padding layer panels comprise at least one of: an expanded
polypropylene, an extruded
polypropylene, a foam, an expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene, an extruded polytetrafluoroethylene, an expanded
polyethylene, an extruded polyethylene, an ethylene propylene diene monomer
(EPDM), a crumb rubber tire, a plastic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber,
a
polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a shock absorbent material, a PVC
mixed with a acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and ethylene vinyl acetate
(EVA).
[0023]
According to yet another embodiment, the edge and one of: an
upper side and an underside of the joining padding layer panels comprise at
least
one of: a fastening material and a mating connector.
[0024]
According to another embodiment, the fastening material comprises
at least one of: a hook and loop material, a VeICrOTM hook material, a
VeICrOTM
loop material, a VelcroTM mushroom-like shape material, nylon, polyester and
polypropylene.
[0025]
According to a further embodiment, the one of: the upper side and
the underside of the joining padding layer panels, comprises a VeICrOTM loop
material and the edge comprises a VelcroTM hook material with a laminated
textile material.
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[0026] According to yet another embodiment, the top layer
comprises at
least one of: a carpet-like top layer, a synthetic turf, PVC, PVC mixed with
NBR
rubber sheet, a geotextile fabric, a rubber-like top layer, a water-resistant
top
layer, a mat-like type top layer and a snow melt top layer.
[0027] According to a further embodiment, the edge comprises more
than
two edges for releasable attachment to more than two of the at least another
one
of the substantially identical surface covering panels.
[0028] According to yet another embodiment, the top layer and the
sheet
member are one of: integral, glued together and bonded together.
[0029] According to another embodiment, the sheet member, the
padding
layer panel and the top layer of each one of the substantially identical
surface
covering panels are configured to be one of: rolled and unrolled between a
rolled
position and a surface covering position.
[0030] According to another embodiment, there is provided a
surface
covering panel assembly for installation over a receiving surface and under a
top
layer, the surface covering panel assembly comprising:
- substantially identical surface covering panels, each one of the
substantially
identical surface covering panels comprising:
- a sheet member made of a first flexible material, the sheet member
defining a first surface for interfacing with the top layer and a second
surface;
- a padding layer panel made of a second flexible material, the padding
layer panel defining a first surface for partially covering the second surface
defined by the sheet member and a second surface for interfacing with the
receiving surface; and
- an edge being adapted for releasable attachment to at least another one
of the substantially identical surface covering panels; and
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- joining padding layer panels, each one of the joining padding layer panels
connecting the edge of one of the substantially identical surface covering
panels
with a corresponding edge of an adjacent surface covering panel.
[0031] Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become
more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected
embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized,
the
subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various
respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the
drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and
not
as restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will
become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination
with the appended drawings, in which:
[0033] Fig 1 is a bottom perspective view of a surface covering panel in
its
partially rolled position in accordance with the prior art;
[0034] Fig. 2A is a top plan view of an artificial sports playing field
in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0035] Fig. 2B is a top plan view of an artificial amusement playing
field in
accordance with another embodiment;
[0036] Fig. 3 is a front elevation exploded view of a surface covering
panel
in accordance with another embodiment;
[0037] Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of a surface covering panel
assembly
in accordance with another embodiment, the surface covering panel assembly
being in its rolled position;
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[0038] Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a surface covering panel assembly
in
accordance with another embodiment, the surface covering panel assembly
being in its covering position;
[0039] Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a surface covering panel in
accordance with another embodiment;
[0040] Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a joining padding layer
panel
in accordance with another embodiment;
[0041] Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a surface covering panel in
accordance with another embodiment;
[0042] Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a surface covering panel assembly in
accordance with another embodiment, where the padding layer panels are
shown in dotted lines;
[0043] Fig. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a surface covering panel
assembly in accordance with another embodiment, showing a surface covering
panel and its adjacent joining padding layer panel; and
[0044] Fig. 11 is a front elevation exploded view of a surface covering
panel in accordance with another embodiment.
[0045] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] In embodiments there are disclosed surface covering panels,
surface covering panel assemblies and methods of installing the same. The
surface covering panel and/or the surface covering panel assembly can be
rolled
and unrolled as desired.
[0047] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 2A,
there is shown an artificial sports playing field 100 in accordance with an
embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2A, a plurality of aligned and/or adjacent
surface
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covering panels 12 forms the artificial sports playing field 100. It is to be
noted
that the artificial sports playing field 100 on Fig. 2A represents an
artificial sports
playing field 100 used for football, but that the artificial sports playing
field 100
may be any other type of artificial sports playing field such as, without
limitation,
an artificial soccer playing field, an artificial track and field playing
field, an
artificial basketball playing field, an artificial tennis playing field, and
the like. It is
to be noted that the surface covering panels 12 of Fig. 2A are not drawn to
scale;
their dimensions in Fig. 2A relative to other references in the figure (e.g.,
the
references to yard positions on the sports playing field) are not
representative of
reality. Thus, if Fig. 2A represented reality, the surface covering panels 12
would
be drawn smaller in size for most embodiments.
[0048] As shown in Fig. 2B, there is shown an artificial amusement
playing
field 200 in accordance with another embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2B, a
plurality of aligned and/or adjacent surface covering panels 12 form the
artificial
amusement playing field 200. It is to be noted that the artificial amusement
playing field 200 on Fig. 2B represents an artificial sports playing field 200
used
for hopscotch, but that the artificial amusement playing field 200 may be any
other type of artificial amusement playing field such as, without limitation,
an
artificial snakes and ladders playing field, an artificial amusement playing
field in
a children area, an artificial gymnasium playing field area, an artificial
backyard
playing field, and the like.
[0049] Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a surface covering panel
12
in more details. The surface covering panel 12 is for assembly with other
substantially identical surface covering panels 12 for forming a surface
covering
panel assembly 10 (Figs. 2A, 2B, 5, 9 and 10) for installation over a
receiving
surface 14 and under a top layer 16 (i.e., here a carpet-like top layer 16).
As
shown, the surface covering panel 12 includes a sheet member 18 which is
made of a first flexible material. The sheet member 18 defines a first surface
20
which is for interfacing with the top layer 16 or carpet-like top layer 16 and
a
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second surface 22. The surface covering panel 12 further includes a padding
layer panel 24 which is made of a second flexible material. The padding layer
panel 24 defines a first surface 26 which is for partially covering the second
surface 22 which is defined by the sheet member 18. The padding layer panel 24
further defines a second surface 28 which is for interfacing with the
receiving
surface 14 (i.e., a ground surface, a sport field, a playground, a backyard
environment, and the like). The surface covering panel 12 also includes edges
30a, 30b. At least one of the edges 30a, 30b is adapted for attaching or
connecting with one of the other substantially identical surface covering
panels
12. It is to be noted that the top layer 16 or carpet-like top layer 16 and
the sheet
member 18 may be integral such as to form one layer of material only.
[0050]
According to one embodiment, the second flexible material of the
padding layer panel 24 may include, without limitation, one of an expanded
polypropylene, an extruded
polypropylene, a foam, an expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene, an extruded polytetrafluoroethylene, an expanded
polyethylene, an extruded polyethylene, an ethylene propylene diene monomer
(EPDM), a crumb rubber tire, a plastic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber,
a
polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a PVC mixed with an acrylonitrile-
butadiene rubber (NBR), any combination and the like. It is also to be noted
that
the first flexible material of the sheet member 18 can correspond to the
second
flexible material of the padding layer panel 24.
[0051]
According to a further embodiment, Fig. 4 shows a surface covering
panel assembly 10 which is in its rolled position. As shown, the surface
covering
panel assembly 10 is composed of a plurality of padding layer panels 24
attached to a plurality of sheet members 18. The plurality of surface covering
panels 12 are releasably attached or fastened together via a joining padding
layer panel 32, which will be described hereinbelow in more details.
[0052]
According to one embodiment, the padding layer panels 24 are
preferably glued to the sheet members 18 but other suitable means of
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attachment can be used. According to another embodiment, if both the padding
layer panels 24 and the sheet members 18 are made of a polymeric material,
they may be bonded together. In certain examples, they may be bonded together
by heat.
[0053] It is to be noted that the length and width of the
surface covering
panel 12 may be selected as to best fit the specific use of the surface
covering
panel 12. Each sheet member 18 and padding layer panel 24 may be made more
or less wide and the surface covering panel 12 may be made more or less long.
The weight of the surface covering panel 12 and the ease of manipulation can
thus be controlled for specific applications.
[0054] It is also to be noted that that the sheet member 18
may receive
any carpet-like top layer 16 such as, without limitation, any useful surface
covering such as carpet, synthetic turf, PVC, PVC mixed with NBR rubber sheet,
geotextile fabric, and the like. As long as the sheet member 18 with or
without its
respective carpet-like top layer 16 is sufficiently flexible and resilient to
be rolled
and unrolled without being damaged.
[0055] As mentioned above, when the padding layer panel 24
of the
surface covering panel 12 serves as an underpad for the surface covering panel
12, the padding layer panel 24 is preferably made of a shock absorbent
material.
Thus, padding layer panels 24 may be made of any suitable materials, each of
the suitable materials including different shock absorbing characteristics.
[0056] Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a surface
covering panel
assembly 10 which includes a plurality (three) surface covering panels 12 in
accordance with another embodiment. As shown, each surface covering panel
12 includes a padding layer panel 24 made of the second flexible material
which
is fixedly attached to a sheet member 18 made of the first flexible material.
Each
surface covering panel 12 further defines edges 30a, 30b for allowing the
connection of adjacent surface covering panels 12.
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[0057] Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown a surface
covering panel 12
in accordance with another embodiment. As shown, the surface covering panel
12 includes a padding layer panel 24 made of the second flexible material
which
is fixedly attached to a sheet member 18 made of the first flexible material.
Additionally, the sheet member 18 includes extension members 34 which extend
in the fore sides beyond the area covered by the padding layer panel 24. These
extension members 34 may be used as fastening means. The surface covering
panel 12 further defines edges 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d for allowing the connection
of
adjacent surface covering panels 12. For example, the extension members 34
and edges 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d may include VelcroTM bands to be fixedly attached
to an underside of the extension members 34 of the sheet member 18 that
extends beyond the padding layer panel 24. The VelcroTM bands are preferably
made of a porous material allowing glue penetration for a better mechanical
bonding. The VeICrOTM bands may be similar to VeICrOTM 3001 bands or VeICrOTM
1000 bands with a polyurethane binder coat. It is to be noted that it is not a
need
that the sheet member 18 extends beyond all four sides of the surface covering
panel 12. Only, one, two, three or more edges 30a, 30, 30c or 30d of the
surface
covering panel 12 may be uncovered by the padding layer panel 24.
[0058] When a plurality of surface covering panels 12 are
needed to cover
a given receiving surface 14, adjacent surface covering panels 12 are
connected
together to provide a user with a surface covering panel assembly 10.
Referring
now to Fig. 9, there is shown a surface covering panel assembly 10 for
installation over a receiving surface 14 and a top layer 16 or under a carpet-
like
top layer 16. The surface covering panel assembly 10 includes a plurality of
substantially identical surface covering panels 12 as defined above. Each one
of
the surface covering panels 12 includes one or more edges 30, where at least
one of the edges 30 is to be connected to an adjacent surface covering panel
12.
The surface covering panel assembly 10 further includes a plurality of joining
padding layer panels 32 (Figs. 7 and 10). Each one of the plurality of joining
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padding layer panels 32 connects an edge 30 of one surface covering panel 12
with a corresponding edge 30 of an adjacent surface covering panel 12.
[0059] As shown in Fig. 7, the joining padding layer panel
32 may be a
single padding layer panel which has an upper side 38 and an underside 40. The
upper side 38 includes a fastening material, preferably a VeICrOTM band which
is
complementary with the VeICrOTM band of the edges 30 of the surface covering
panel 12.
[0060] According to an embodiment, the VelcroTM is
preferably a hook and
loop material with a laminated textile material. The fastening material may
include any suitable material, such as, without limitation, nylon, polyester
or
polypropylene of type HTH 868 or equivalent, any suitable combination, and the
like. For permanent installation of the surface covering panel assembly 10,
the
VeICrOTM hook may have a mushroom-like shape of brand VelcroTM 87-S or
similar. It is to be noted that the fastening material of the joining padding
layer
panel 32 and the fastening material of the edges 30 of the surface covering
panel
12 may include any suitable material, such as to allow a releasable connection
between the upper side 38 of the joining padding layer panel 32 and the
surface
covering panel 12. It is also to be mentioned that the fastening materials of
the
joining padding layer panel 32 and of the surface covering panel 12 may be
interchangeable.
[0061] According to another embodiment and referring now to
Fig. 8, there
is shown that the sheet member 18 extends beyond two sides only of the surface
covering panel 12 such as to allow the sheet member 18 to be offset from the
padding layer panel 24. This configuration eliminates the need of additional
fastening material on the edges other than edges 30a, 30b of the sheet member
18 of the surface covering panel 12. Thus, Fig. 8 shows a bottom plan view of
the
edges 30a, 30b of the surface covering panel 12. The edges 30a, 30b are simply
defined by the padding layer panel 24 glued offset from the sheet member 18.
The edges 30a, 30b may include, as defined above, VeICrOTM bands. The
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VeICrOTM bands preferably include a VeICrOTM hook material with a laminated
textile material. The band edges may include any suitable material, such as,
without limitation, nylon, polyester or polypropylene of type HTH 868 or
equivalent. For permanent installation, VeICrOTM hook can include a mushroom-
like shape of brand VeICrOTM 87-S or similar. Other fastening material could
be
used. For example, edges 30a, 30b may include a mating connector for
releasably connecting with corresponding mating connectors on other edges 30a,
30b of another surface covering panel 12 or with corresponding mating
connectors on the upper side 38 of the joining padding layer panel 32.
Although
not shown in Fig. 8, it is to be noted that the top plan view of the surface
covering
panel 12 would be very similar to the bottom plan view. There would also be an
edges 30a, 30b. However edges 30a, 30b would be on the padding layer panel
24 and include the corresponding material to edges 30a, 30b on the sheet
member 18; i.e., edges on top comprise the hook material while those on the
bottom comprise the loop material corresponding thereto (or vice versa).
[0062] It is to be noted that there is a need to glue the
fastening materials
of the surface covering panel 12 or of the joining padding layer panel 32 on
the
sheet member 18 or on the joining padding layer panel 32. To facilitate some
specific applications, the fastening material could be a sheet of a fastening
material glued on the joining padding layer panel 32 and/or on the sheet
member
18 of the surface covering panel 12.
[0063] The width of the joining padding layer panels 32 generally
corresponds to the width of edges 30 of adjacent surface covering panels 12
(i.e., the sum of a first width (one of the edges 30) and a second width
(another
one of the edges 30)). Thus, to join two adjacent surface covering panels 12
together, one or more joining padding layer panels 32 should be installed
between each adjacent surface covering panel 12 as shown in Fig. 10. The
complementarities of the fastening materials of the joining padding layer
panels
32 and of the surface covering panel 12 generate a strong connection between
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adjacent surface covering panels 12 and thus prevent any gap to be created
between adjacent surface covering panels 12.
[0064] It is to be understood that the length of each joining
padding layer
panel 32 may differ to allow any suitable combination of connections between
the
surface covering panels 12. For example, in Fig. 10, there are shown two
different types of joining padding layer panels 32, a regular joining padding
layer
panel, which preferably extends at least the full length of the sheet member
18,
and the transverse joining padding layer panel, which preferably extends the
full
width of the surface covering panels 12.
[0065] It is to be noted that the surface covering panels 12 and
the surface
covering panel assemblies 10 may be used for indoor applications, outdoor
applications or both. Thus, sheet members 18 and padding layer panels 24 may
further include draining holes and channels (not shown) for allowing drainage
of
the surface covering panel assembly 10 when installed on the receiving surface
14 to be covered. The draining holes in the sheet members 18 may be preferably
aligned with the draining holes in the padding layer panels 24.
[0066] It is also to be noted that the surface covering panel 12
and/or the
surface covering panel assemblies 10 may be rolled and unrolled between a
rolled position (i.e., to be transported, to be stored and the like) and a
covering
position (i.e., for covering the receiving surface). For example, a user can
decide
to install a surface covering panel assembly 10 to cover a receiving surface
14,
such as, for example, a sports field or an amusement field. When the user
needs
to transport, or to store the surface covering panel assembly 10, the user may
decide to roll the entirety of the surface covering panel assembly 10.
However,
this can lead to a huge rolled surface covering panel assembly 10. Thus, the
user
may decide to disconnect some surface covering panels 12 or adjacent surface
covering panel assemblies 10 with their adjacent surface covering panel 12 for
allowing him to roll a much smaller and lighter surface covering panel
assembly
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10. The user can also decide to manipulate each panel individually as a panel
system.
[0067] According to another embodiment, the sheet member 18
may be a
flexible floor covering.
[0068] According to another embodiment, the sheet members 18
and the
padding layer panels 24 may be glued together using a flame treatment process
prior application of glue or an adhesive. The glue may include one of:
urethane
with one or two components, acrylic, an olefin base hot melt, any combination
and the like.
[0069] According to another embodiment, the surface defined by
the sheet
member 18 may be greater than the surface defined by the padding layer panel
24. Furthermore, the surface defined by the sheet member 18 may define a
portion which extends beyond at least one side of the surface defined by the
padding layer panel 24.
[0070] Referring now to Fig. 11, there is shown a surface
covering panel
12 in accordance with another embodiment for creating an artificial amusement
playing field 200 (Fig. 2A). The surface covering panel 12 is for assembly
with
other substantially identical surface covering panels 12 for forming a surface
covering panel assembly 10 (Figs. 2A, 2B, 5, 9 and 10) for installation over a
receiving surface 14 and under a top layer 17 (i.e., here an amusement top
layer
17). As shown, the surface covering panel 12 includes a sheet member 18 which
is made of a first flexible material. The sheet member 18 defines a first
surface
20 which is for interfacing with the top layer 17 (or amusement top layer 16
in
previous figures) and a second surface 22. The surface covering panel 12
further
includes a padding layer panel 24 which is made of a second flexible material.
The padding layer panel 24 defines a first surface 26 which is for partially
covering the second surface 22 which is defined by the sheet member 18. The
padding layer panel 24 further defines a second surface 28 which is for
16
CA 02857618 2014-07-21
File No. P2155CA00
interfacing with the receiving surface 14 (i.e., a ground surface, a sport
field, a
playground, a backyard environment, and the like). The surface covering panel
12 also includes edges 30a, 30b. At least one of the edges 30a, 30b is adapted
for attaching or connecting with one of the other substantially identical
surface
covering panels 12. It is to be noted that the top layer 17 or amusement top
layer
17 and the sheet member 18 may be integral such as to form one layer of
material only.
[0071] According to one embodiment, the top layer or amusement top
layer 17 may include, without limitation, a rubber-like top layer (i.e., for
covering
playground areas), a water-resistant top layer (i.e., for swimming pool
areas), a
mat-like type top layer (i.e., for replacing gymnastic mat), a snow melt top
layer
(i.e., for driveway and around the house areas), a roof top layer, and the
like
[0072] According to another embodiment, there is provided a method for
covering an area having boundaries with a surface covering panel assembly 10.
The method includes the steps of: providing a surface covering panel assembly
in a rolled position; unrolling the surface covering panel assembly 10 on the
area; adjusting, if necessary, the surface covering panel assembly 10 to
remove
gaps between the plurality of surface covering panels 12 and the boundaries;
adjusting, if necessary, the surface covering panel assembly 10 to remove gaps
between the surface covering panel assembly 10 and an adjacent surface
covering panel assembly 10 already installed. The steps may be repeated until
complete installation of the surface covering panel assembly 10 or of a
plurality
of surface covering panel assemblies 10.
[0073] It is also to be mentioned that each surface covering panel
assembly 10 or surface covering panel 12 is to be attached to an adjacent
surface covering panel assembly 10 or surface covering panel 12 with the use
of
one or more joining padding layer panel 32 which includes the fastening
material.
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= CA 02857618 2014-07-21
File No. P2155CA00
[0074] Depending on the size of the artificial sports playing
field 100 (Fig.
2A) or of the size of the artificial amusement playing field 200 (Fig. 2B) and
the
available equipment on site, the surface covering panel assembly 10 can be
used in surface covering panels 12 or in rolls in custom lengths and widths
depending of the need of the user (i.e., For example, the surface covering
panel/surface covering panel assembly may be a 3' x 3', 4' x 6'. 10' x 10',
and the
like).
[0075] It is to be noted that the joining padding layer panel 32
may be of
the same material of the second flexible material of the padding layer panel
24
such as to roll and unroll easily.
[0076] While preferred embodiments have been described above and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled
in the
art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure.
Such
modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of
the
disclosure.
18
