Grass protection mat and method of constructing the same

Abstract

A grass protection mat that includes a plurality of bodies formed with grass passing spaces and one or more contraction-expansion compensatory connectors connecting a plurality of bodies. The grass protection mat and compensating compensates for contraction or expansion of the mat units.

Claims

1. A grass protection mat including a group of mat units, wherein the grass protection mat comprises: a plurality of bodies formed with grass passing spaces; and one or more contraction-expansion compensatory connector(s) connecting the plurality of bodies and compensating for contraction or expansion of the mat units, wherein at least four neighboring mat units are directly connected and formed as one group by one or more contraction-expansion compensatory connector(s), wherein each of the contraction-expansion compensatory connector(s) is a connection plate for joining and connecting the bodies of the neighboring mats to leave a predetermined distance between adjacent bodies, and wherein the bodies are directly connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector(s) and form continuous hexagonal shapes from a plane point of view.

2. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the bodies to be connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector are in contact with outermost bodies of other neighboring mat units.

3. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the connection plate has a curved cross-section to make the mat be easily movable between the bodies when the mat is contracted or expanded.

4. The grass protection mat according to claim 3, wherein the connection plate has an upwardly-bent or annular cross-section.

5. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bodies are connected using the one or more contraction-expansion compensatory connectors without outer frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of illustrating the whole construction of a conventional grass protection mat;

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of illustrating the whole construction of a grass protection mat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of illustrating some contraction-expansion compensatory connectors in the grass protection mat of FIG. 2; and

(5) FIGS. 4 (a) and (b) are lateral cross-section views of illustrating a portion of the contraction-expansion compensatory connector in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to be easily realized by a person having an ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. However, the present disclosure may be variously implemented and not limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Further, unrelated parts are omitted in the drawings for clear description, and like elements refer to like numerals throughout the specification.

(7) According to the present disclosure, a grass protection mat includes bodies in which grass passing spaces having a shape selected among polygonal (e.g. a hexagonal shape) or circular shapes for basically improving growth or rootage of grass are continuously connected to have a predetermined pattern.

(8) Each grass passing space of each body has a quadrangular (diamond), triangular, octagonal, circular or the like various shapes. In accordance with ground characteristics, seasons, environments, etc. the bodies of the grass protection mat may have the same shape or different shapes. In this exemplary embodiment, the grass protection mat is manufactured to have a hexagonal body, thereby forming the grass passing spaces. However, there are no limits to the shape of the body.

(9) Among structures for continuously connecting the grass passing spaces with one another, such a hexagonal body is advantageous to maximize the area of the grass passing space. In case of the hexagonal body, the area of the grass passing space is greater than that of another polygonal or circular body, thereby making active photosynthesis in grass.

(10) FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional grass protection mat 100.

(11) Referring to FIG. 1, four mat units are assembled into one grass protection mat 100.

(12) The grass protection mat 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes bodies 10 formed by continuously connecting grass passing spaces S having a shape (e.g. a hexagonal shape) selected among polygonal and circular shapes for improving growth or rootage of grass.

(13) Rugs 50 are provided beneath the bodies 10 of the grass protection mat 100 according to the present disclosure and support the mat.

(14) Further, outer frames 30 for maintaining an outer appearance of the mat are integrally formed with the outer edge of the body 10, so that the outer frames can keep the shape of the mat.

(15) Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer frame 30 of the grass protection mat 100 includes hook means 60 for connecting the neighboring mats, and fasteners 70 to each of which the hook means 60 of the neighboring mat is hooked.

(16) Such structure where the neighboring mats are connected by coupling the hook means 60 and the fastener 70 of the outer frame 30 is insufficient to compensate for the contraction and expansion of the mats. In other words, the outer frames are in close contact with each other and the mats are immovable, and it is therefore impossible to move the mats and compensate for the contraction or expansion when the mats are contracted or expanded in accordance with external temperatures.

(17) Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the grass protection mat 100 additionally includes the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 110 connected between the neighboring mat units and compensating for the contraction and expansion of the constructed mats.

(18) FIG. 1 illustrates that the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 110 is divided into connection plates 110a and 110b respectively connected to lateral portions (i.e. excluding corner portions) and the corner portions of the outer frames of the mats.

(19) Like this, four mats having the plurality of bodies 10 with the grass passing spaces S are grouped into one to constitute the grass protection mat 100, and integrally formed with the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 110, i.e. the connection plates, properly arranged between the outer frames 30 of the mats, so that the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors, i.e. the connection plates 110a connected to the lateral portion of the outer frame and the connection plates 110b connected to the corners can allow the mat units to be movable as described above when the mats are excessively expanded or contracted in summer or winter.

(20) As shown in FIG. 1, the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 110, for example, the connection plates 110a provided between the lateral portions of the outer frames and the connection plates 110b provided at the corners of the outer frames are integrally connected between the bottoms of the outer frames of the mats while forming a distance D between the outer frames 30 of the mats.

(21) Therefore, when the mats are expanded or contracted, the mats can be movable within the distance D, and thus the contraction or expansion of the mats are compensated to prevent the mats from being uplifted or disconnected.

(22) In the grass protection mat 100 of FIG. 1 as described above, the outer frames 30 between the neighboring mats are connected to each other by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 110, and the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 110 is connected to the bottom of the outer frame 30. With this structure, the mat is movable as much as the distance formed between the outer frames 30 when the mat is expanded or contracted, thereby compensating the contraction and expansion of the mats.

(23) However, such a grass protection mat 100 is manufactured by grouping four mat units into one and integrally injection molding the grouped one. In this regard, the outer frames have to be manufactured for every mat unit, and the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 110 have to be additionally formed between the neighboring outer frames and between the corners of the outer frames, thereby causing an efficiency of production to be lowered and costs to be increased since the outer frames are doubly formed. Accordingly, the present inventive concept is conceived to decrease production costs and complexity as compared with those of the conventional grass protection mat. In other words, the present inventive concept is to provide a grass protection mat, in which all or some neighboring outer frames are removed between the mat units, and which includes a contraction-expansion compensatory connector for directly connecting the bodies of the mat units without the neighboring outer frames between the mat units.

(24) Below, the grass protection mat according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

(25) FIG. 2 illustrates a grass protection mat 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(26) Referring to FIG. 2, four mat units are assembled into one grass protection mat 200.

(27) The body 210 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the ground where grass grows, and forms the grass passing spaces through which the grass can photosynthesize and grow. The bodies 210 are continuously arranged and integrally connected to thereby constitute an overall frame of the grass protection mat 200.

(28) The body 210 may have a triangular, octagonal, quadrangular (diamond) or the like polygonal or circular shape. According to this exemplary embodiment, the hexagonal shape will be described by way of example among structures for continuously connecting the grass passing spaces.

(29) The outer frame 230 shown in FIG. 2 may be a member positioned at an outer or inner side of the grass protection mat 200 among quadrangular members of finishing the outer edges of four mat units that constitute the grass protection mat 200, and all or some outer frames 230 positioned at the inner side and adjacent to each other may be removed. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 230 includes a straight member positioned at a quadrisection lines or at an outer quadrangular frame on a plane.

(30) According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer frames 230 constitute an overall outer quadrangle frame surrounding the mat units, and adjacent portions of the mat units are directly connected without the outer frame.

(31) That is, the straight member as shown in FIG. 1 is not present in the neighboring portions of the mat units of the grass protection mat 200. Therefore, the grass protection mat 200 is more effective in light of production costs and time, and a contraction-expansion efficiency than the conventional grass protection mat. The grass protection mat 200 with this configuration will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

(32) Further, a separate fastening means may be additionally provided for connecting with other neighboring grass protection mats 200 at a specific position of an outmost edge of the grass protection mat 200.

(33) A contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 shown in FIG. 2 may be a member for connection between the bodies 210 of adjacent portions between the mat units in the grass protection mat 200. Specifically, the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 is formed for connection between one edge of the plurality of bodies 210 in one mat unit and one edge of the plurality of bodies 210 in another mat unit. Therefore, a portion to be connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 may include the bodies 210, among the bodies 210 positioned at the outmost edge of one unit mat, which will be in contact with the bodies positioned at the outmost edge of other neighboring mat units.

(34) In this regard, referring to FIG. 2, the bodies 210 most adjacent to the lines 230a and 230b, vertically or horizontally bisecting the whole mat, are connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280, when it is viewed on a plane. That is, unlike the structure of the grass protection mat 100 shown in FIG. 1, the bodies 210 connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 may be directly coupled in the form of a joining pair joined to the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 without the outer frame.

(35) In more detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the bodies 210 of the neighboring mats on the line 230a vertically bisecting the whole mat from a plane point of view (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical line) are spaced apart one another at a predetermined distance between the bodies as the outer frames are removed from the existing mats. Further, these bodies are all directly connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280.

(36) Therefore, two bodies of the neighboring mats and the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors positioned between them are configured to form hexagonal shapes from a plane point of view, and thus seen as if they form a single hexagonal body together. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the grass growth space from being blocked by the conventional outer frames, make scenery elegant, and secure a space for photosynthesis.

(37) Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the bodies 210 of the neighboring mats on the line 230b horizontally bisecting the whole mat from a plane point of view (hereinafter, referred to as a horizontal line) are directly connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 and configured to form a trapezoidal shape (i.e. a half-hexagonal shape) or a hexagonal shape at a portion where the bodies are adjacent to each other.

(38) That is, the trapezoidal body adjacent to the horizontal line 230b is connected to other opposite trapezoidal body by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280. In addition, the hexagonal body adjacent to the horizontal line 230b may be provided with one or more support frames 240 at adjacent portions to complete the hexagonal shape. The support frame 240 may be formed as a portion remained after removing the existing outer frame 230 or extended from the body 210. Therefore, the support frame 240 may be a portion of the outer frame 230 or a portion of the body 210, or a separately formed support member may be joined or extended between the bodies 210.

(39) The support frame 240 may be finished while maintaining the body's own polygonal shape (e.g. the hexagonal shape in this embodiment). Further, the support frame 240 is formed to have a thickness needed for maintaining the hexagonal shape. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the support frame 240 is thinner than the thickness of the outer frame 230 of finishing the outer edge, thereby securing a space for photosynthesis and grass growth.

(40) Therefore, the bodies of the neighboring mats on the horizontal line and the contraction-expansion compensatory connector positioned between them, and the bodies 210 provided with the support frame 240 are configured to form hexagonal shapes from a plane point of view, and thus seen as if they each form one hexagonal body 210.

(41) As described above, the bodies 210 positioned on the vertical line 230a or horizontal line 230b of the mat are connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 and also provided with the support frames, so that each body 210 can form a hexagonal shape from a plane point of view. Although the outer frames of the mat units are removed, the bodies are continuously connected and formed to have the natural hexagonal shapes, thereby forming an elegant outer appearance from the whole mat point of view, and easily securing the space for grass growth and photosynthesis.

(42) The contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 connects the joining pair and thus allows the mats to be movable to compensate for the contraction and extraction of the grass protection mats.

(43) Further, the number of contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280 is less than or equal to the number of joining pairs of the bodies to be connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280 provided between the neighboring mats. That is, from a plan point of view, the number of contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280 is less than or equal to the number of body pairs put on the line 230a vertically bisecting the whole mats, and is less than or equal to the number of body pairs put on the line 230b horizontally bisecting the whole mats. Therefore, the maximum number of contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280 may be varied depending on the number of joining pairs of bodies formed in a horizontal direction 230b or a vertical direction 230a in the mats.

(44) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing some contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280 in the grass protection mat of FIG. 2.

(45) As shown in FIG. 3, in the grass protection mat 200 according to the present disclosure, the bodies in each mat unit may be directly connected to each other so as to form the joining pairs using the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280. In particular, the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 of FIG. 3 may connect the neighboring bodies leaving a predetermined space between them. This is more effective in preventing the close contact portions of the mat from being disconnected or uplifted on the ground. Further, the use of the contraction-expansion compensatory connector without the existing outer frame is advantageous to secure the grass passing space.

(46) Further, as illustratively described in above, the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 of the mat is a connection plate having a curved or bent cross-section, which is integrally connected between the bodies of the neighboring mats to be spaced apart at a predetermined distance to compensate for the contraction and extraction of the mat, thereby allows the mats to be movable when the mats are contracted or expanded. As described above in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the grass protection mat 200 according to the present disclosure minimizes thermal deformation since the bodies 210 positioned near the outer frame are injection-molded integrally with the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280. Further, the grass protection mat 200 is integrally manufactured as one group without the outer frames between the neighboring mats, thereby simplifying the construction of the mats.

(47) FIGS. 4 (a) and 4(b) are lateral cross-section views illustrating a portion of the contraction-expansion compensatory connector in FIG. 3.

(48) As shown in FIG. 4, the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280, for example a connection plate, may be formed in the form of connecting the tops of the neighboring bodies 210 of the mat units or connecting both the tops and bottoms of the neighboring bodies 210 to leave a predetermined distance for the mat contraction-expansion compensation.

(49) FIG. 4 (a) illustrates that the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 connects the tops of the neighboring bodies 210 of the mat units to leave a predetermined distance for the mat contraction-expansion compensation between the adjacent bodies, and FIG. 4 (b) illustrates that the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 connects both the tops and bottoms of the neighboring bodies 210 of the mat units (i.e. to make the connection plates have a ring- or annular-shaped cross-section) to leave a predetermined distance for the mat contraction-expansion compensation between the adjacent bodies. With this structure, it is possible to increase the mat contraction-expansion compensatory efficiency than that of the conventional contraction-expansion compensatory connector for connecting the outer frames.

(50) Below, a method of constructing the foregoing grass protection mat according to the present disclosure will be described.

(51) First, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of, for example, four unit mats, which includes the foregoing basic elements (e.g. the body, the rug, the outer frame, etc.) are grouped into one and integrally injection-molded into the grass protection mat 200.

(52) With this, joining pairs of bodies in the neighboring mat units are formed, and at least some joining pairs are injection-molded integrally with the contraction-expansion compensatory connectors 280, thereby connecting the bodies.

(53) Thus, one grass protection mat 200 is formed without separate outer frames positioned at an inner side between the neighboring mat units, thereby reducing production costs and time. The bodies are directly joined and connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory connector 280 to form one grass protection mat 200 leaving a predetermined distance for the mat contraction-expansion compensation, thereby more minimizing thermal deformation of the mats than that of conventional one even when the mats are contracted or expanded after construction, and further increasing an efficiency of compensating for the contraction or expansion of the mat. In addition, although all or some outer frames positioned between the neighboring mat units are removed, the bodies are naturally connected, thereby forming an elegant appearance. Further, the grass passing space is sufficiently secured by removing the outer frame, thereby making active photosynthesis in the grass and further reducing production costs of the mats.

(54) As described above, it is desirable that four mats are grouped into one to manufacture integrated grass protection mat 200 so that the mats can flexibly move forward, backward, leftward and rightward. However, the configuration is not limited to this.

(55) Thus, according to the present disclosure, when the grass protection mat is constructed on a certain zone of the ground and excessively expanded or contracted after the construction, it is possible to prevent the ground-contact portions from being uplifted or disconnected. This may decrease re-construction for replacing the uplifted mats.

(56) Meanwhile, an embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented by the grass protection mat having various grass passing spaces.

(57) For example, the grass protection mat may have a predetermined pattern of grass passing spaces with triangular bodies, a predetermined pattern of grass passing spaces with rectangular (diamond) bodies, or a predetermined pattern of grass passing spaces with octagonal bodies. However, the body according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the polygonal shape, and may alternatively have a circular shape.

(58) According to the present disclosure, when the constructed mat is contracted or expanded, it is compensated to effectively prevent the mat units being in close contact with each other from being uplifted or disconnected after the construction. In this regard, all or some outer frames positioned between the neighboring mat units are omitted, thereby facilitating the production of the mat, lowering costs, and solving the problem of narrowing the grass passing spaces due to the presence of the outer frames.

(59) In particular, according to the present disclosure, all or some outer frames positioned between neighboring mat units are omitted, and the bodies of the neighboring mats are directly connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory means without the outer frames, thereby increasing an efficiency of the mat contraction-expansion compensatory efficiency, forming a mat having elegant appearance with naturally connected bodies, enlarging a space for the growth of the grass, making active photosynthesis in the grass, and further reducing a manufacturing costs of the mat.

(60) Further, the bodies are directly connected by the contraction-expansion compensatory means without the outer frames between the adjacent mats, thereby having a simplified structure, preventing a passer from falling over the mats, and preventing the mats from being in closer-contact with the ground and curved or moved like waves.

(61) Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, these are for illustrative purpose only and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(62) 200: grass protection mat 210: body 230: outer frame 280: contraction-expansion compensatory connector S: grass passing space