Integrated assembly type grass protection mat and method of constructing the same

Abstract

A grass protection mat comprises a body where grass passing spaces are continuously arranged and an outer frame comprising four frames formed in four directions to finish an outer edge of the body, wherein the grass protection mat further comprises at least one hook fastener which horizontally protrudes from a first lateral frame of the outer frame toward a second lateral frame of an outer frame of a neighboring grass protection mat, and wherein the at least one hook fastener is fastened to at least one fastening hole provided in the outer frame of the second grass protection mat adjacent to the first lateral frame and corresponding to the hook fastener of the grass protection mat.

Claims

1. A grass protection mat comprising a body where grass passing spaces are continuously arranged and an outer frame comprising four frames formed in four directions to finish an outer edge of the body, wherein the grass protection mat is characterized by further comprising at least one hook fastener which is provided on a first lateral frame of the outer frame and horizontally protrudes from the first lateral frame of the outer frame and at least one fastening hole which is provided in a second lateral frame of the outer frame, wherein the at least one fastening hole comprises an outer fastening hole portion having a diameter gradually decreased over a predetermined length section in an inward direction of the second lateral frame of the grass protection mat and an inner fastening hole portion being connected with the outer fastening hole portion and having a diameter kept constant after the predetermined length section, and wherein the outer fastening hole portion and the inner fastening hole portion have elasticity in a radial direction.

2. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the first lateral frame and the second lateral frame of the grass protection mat are two frames forming a right angle among the four frames of the outer frame of the grass protection mat.

3. The grass protection mat according to claim 2, wherein the at least one hook fastener is provided on the first lateral frame, and the at least one fastening hole is provided in the second lateral frame.

4. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one hook fastener of the grass protection mat is formed at a respective position to be corresponded to a position of each of at least one fastening hole of a neighboring grass protection mat, and each of the at least one fastening hole of the grass protection mat is formed at a respective position to be corresponded to a position of each of at least one hook fastener of a second neighboring grass protection mat.

5. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hook fastener comprises a fastening support having a predetermined length to form a predetermined gap to compensate for contraction or expansion between the mats.

6. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hook fastener or the at least one fastening hole is formed with an elastic member.

7. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hook fastener comprises a fastening support horizontally protruding from the first lateral frame of the grass protection mat, and a head formed on one end of the fastening support.

8. The grass protection mat according to claim 7, wherein the head has a shape of cylinder, arrow or H-shape.

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 perspective view of a grass protection mat according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

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

(4) FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are enlarged views of a hook fastener according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4(a) is an enlarged view of a hook fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 4(b) is a plane view of the hook fastener shown in FIG. 4(a), viewed in a direction of B in FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 4(c) is a lateral cross-section view of the hook fastener shown in FIG. 4(a), viewed in a direction of C in FIG. 1;

(8) FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are enlarged views of a fastening hole according to the present disclosure; and

(9) FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) are views of various grass protection mats according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) 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 the same elements refer to same numerals throughout the specification.

(11) Below, an attachable and detachable grass protection mat according to one embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(12) According to the present disclosure, a grass protection mat 120 includes bodies in which grass passing spaces having a shape selected from polygonal shape, for example a hexagonal shape, and circular shapes for basically improving growth or rootage of grass are continuously connected to have a predetermined pattern.

(13) The grass passing space of the body may have various shapes such as a quadrangular, diamond-shaped, triangular, octagonal, circular and the like in accordance with ground characteristics, seasons, environments, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the grass protection mat is manufactured to have a hexagonal body with the grass passing spaces. However, there are no limits to the shape of the body.

(14) 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 any other polygonal or circular body, thereby activating photosynthesis in grass.

(15) In other words, the body is manufactured to include the grass passing space having not only the hexagonal shape but also various shapes as long as it is taken into account that a growth space for grass is expanded, the photosynthesis in the grass goes smoothly through the expanded growth space, and the body has no wasteful spaces.

(16) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grass protection mat according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the grass protection mat according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, four mat units constitute an integrated grass protection mat 120.

(17) As shown in FIG. 1, the grass protection mat 120 includes bodies 121, hook fasteners 123, outer frame 124, and fastening holes 125.

(18) The bodies 121 are provided on the ground where grass grows, and forms the grass passing space through which the grass can photosynthesize and grow. The bodies 121 are continuously arranged and integrally connected to thereby constitute an overall frame of the grass protection mat 120.

(19) The body 121 may have a polygonal such as a triangular, octagonal, quadrangular (diamond) shape and the like or circular shape. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the hexagonal shape will be described by way of example among structures for continuously connecting the grass passing spaces.

(20) The outer frame 124 refers to a quadrangular member for finishing the outer edges of four mat units that constitute the grass protection mat 120. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer frame 124 is a straight member positioned at an outer quadrangular frame of the mat from view of a plane. Further, the outer frame 124 may include lateral frames 124a, 124b, 124c and 124d in four directions, thereby forming a quadrangular frame.

(21) The hook fastener 123 refers to a member for connecting neighboring grass protection mats 120, and is provided at a specific position on the outer frame 124 forming the outermost edge of the grass protection mat 120. In particular, the hook fastener 123 is provided at a portion on the lateral side of the outer frame 124, for example, a portion on the lateral side from a view of the grass protection mat 120 in a direction of A in FIG. 1. The exemplary drawings illustrate that the hook fastener 123 is positioned in an approximate middle of the lateral side of the outer frame 124. However, the position of the hook fastener 123 may be varied within the lateral side of the outer frame 124, in considering an easiness of coupling with or separating from other mats.

(22) Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the hook fasteners 123 are provided in two outer frames 124 among four outer frames forming the whole outer edge of one unit mat. In particular, the hook fastener 123 is supported in and fastened to first lateral frames 124a and 124b among four frames, thereby easily coupling with other neighboring mats.

(23) Here, the other second lateral frames 124c and 124d among four frames are provided with the fastening holes 125 (to be described hereinafter) to be coupled with the hook fasteners of other grass protection mats.

(24) Further, the hook fasteners 123 horizontally protrude from the first lateral frames 124a and 124b of the grass protection mat toward the second lateral frames 124c and 124d of a neighboring other grass protection mat and are provided as elastic members having certain elasticity to be easily fastened to the fastening holes 125 to be described hereinafter.

(25) Further, the hook fasteners 123 may be formed integrally with the first lateral frames 124a and 124b, or detachably provided on the first lateral frames 124a and 124b.

(26) The fastening hole 125, together with the hook fastener 123, is used for connection between neighboring grass protection mats 120.

(27) The fastening hole 125 is penetrated and fastened by the hook fastener 123, and provided on the lateral sides of the second lateral frames 124c and 124d of the grass protection mat 120.

(28) The fastening holes 125 are provided on the lateral sides of the second lateral frames 124c and 124d. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the fastening holes 125 are provided in the other two lateral frames, i.e. the second lateral frames 124c and 124d, except the lateral frames for the hook fasteners 123, among four outer frames forming the whole outer edge of one unit mat.

(29) The fastening holes 125 are formed on the second lateral frames 124c and 124d among four frames so as to be easily connected with other neighboring mat.

(30) That is, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the fastening holes 125 may be formed at positions respectively corresponding to those of the hook fasteners 123 of another neighboring mat (i.e. a second grass protection mat). In other words, the second lateral frames 124c and 124d facing the first lateral frames 124a and 124b are formed with the fastening holes to which the hook fasteners of the second grass protection mat are hooked.

(31) Further, the exemplary drawings illustrate that the fastening hole 125 is positioned in the middle of the lateral side of the outer frame 124. However, the position of the fastening hole 125 may be varied within the lateral side of the outer frame 124, in considering an easiness of coupling with or separating from other mats.

(32) Further, the fastening hole 125 is shaped like an insertion hole formed toward the inside of the outer frame 124, and has predetermined elasticity to facilitate coupling with the hook fastener 123.

(33) FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are enlarged views of a hook fastener according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

(34) As shown in FIG. 3(a), the hook fastener 123 includes a first head 123d, a first fastening support 123e, a second head 123f, a second fastening support 123g and a connector 123h. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the first head 123d and the second head 123f are shaped like a right triangle, and the connector 123h connects the first head 123d and the second head 123f. The first head 123d, the second head 123f and the connector 123h form a shape of H in a plane view, and are inserted in the fastening hole 125 when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(35) Each of the first fastening support 123e and the second fastening support 123g is a member having a shape of a narrow and long rectangular parallelepiped. The first fastening support 123e and the second fastening support 123g protrude from the outer frame 124 and support the first head 123d and the second head 123f, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the first fastening support 123e and the second fastening support 123g have one ends respectively connected to the first head 123d and the second head 123f, and the other ends connected to the outer frame 124. Further, the first fastening support 123e and the second fastening support 123g are formed to have a predetermined length, for example, a length of L as shown in FIG. 3(a). The length L has to be matched with the gap between the mat units shown in FIG. 2. In accordance with the length, a predetermined gap may be formed to compensate for contraction or expansion between the mats when the hook fastener 123 is hooked to the fastening hole 125.

(36) Further, the first fastening support 123e and the second fastening support 123g are formed have a predetermined thickness without interfering with the grass passing space while maintaining coupling between the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125. Each thickness of the first fastening support 123e and the second fastening support 123g (i.e. the length of the long side in the rectangular cross-section of the rectangular parallelepiped) is smaller than the thickness of the outer frame 124 as shown in FIG. 3(a).

(37) Further, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the hook fastener 123 includes a first head 123i, a first fastening support 123j, a second head 123k, and a second fastening support 123l. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the first head 123i and the second head 123k have a right triangular shape. The first head 123i and the second head 123k are approximately shaped like a head of an arrow on a plane, and inserted in the fastening hole 125 when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(38) Each of the first fastening support 123j and the second fastening support 123l has a shape of a narrow and long rectangular parallelepiped. The first fastening support 123j and the second fastening support 123l protrude from the outer frame 124 and support the first head 123i and the second head 123k, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the first fastening support 123j and the second fastening support 123l have one ends respectively connected to the first head 123i and the second head 123k, and the other ends connected to the outer frame 124. Further, the first fastening support 123j and the second fastening support 123l are formed to have a predetermined length, for example, a length of L as shown in FIG. 3(b). The length L may be greater than the gap between the mat units shown in FIG. 2. The length may be given for forming a predetermined gap to compensate for the contraction or the expansion between the mats when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(39) Further, the first fastening support 123j and the second fastening support 123l have a predetermined thickness not to interfere with the grass passing space while maintaining coupling between the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125. Each thickness of the first fastening support 123j and the second fastening support 123l (i.e. the length of the long side in the rectangular cross-section of the rectangular parallelepiped) is smaller than the thickness of the outer frame 124 as shown in FIG. 3(b).

(40) FIG. 4(a) is an enlarged view of a hook fastener according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 4(b) is a plane view of the hook fastener shown in FIG. 4(a), viewed in a direction of B in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4(c) is a lateral cross-section view of the hook fastener shown in FIG. 4(a), viewed in a direction of C in FIG. 1.

(41) As shown in FIG. 4(a), the hook fastener 123 includes a head 123a, an insertion groove 123b and a fastening support 123c. The head 123a is shaped like a cone, and inserted in the fastening hole 125 when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(42) The insertion groove 123b is shaped like a predetermined groove formed on the head 123a. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the insertion groove 123b is extended downward from the center of the head 123a when it is viewed from the front, and is shaped like a key groove. Besides the shape shown in FIG. 4(a), the insertion groove 123b may have various insertion groove structures such as a linear insertion groove or the like.

(43) Further, the head 123a may not include the insertion groove 123b on the top thereof.

(44) The fastening support 123c has a shape of a cylinder and protrudes from the outer frame 124, thereby supporting the head 123a. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the fastening support 123c has one end connected to the head 123a and the other end connected to the outer frame 124. Further, the fastening support 123c is formed to have a predetermined length, for example, a length of L shown in FIG. 4(b). The length L has to be longer than the gap between the mat units shown in FIG. 2. The length may be given for forming a predetermined gap to compensate for the contraction or the expansion between the mats when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(45) Further, the fastening support 123c has a predetermined thickness not to interfere with the grass passing space while maintaining coupling between the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125. The thickness of the fastening support 123c (i.e. the diameter of the circular cross-section in the cylinder) is smaller than the thickness of the outer frame 124 as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(c).

(46) FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are enlarged views of the fastening hole 125 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(47) As shown in FIG. 5(a), the fastening hole 125 includes an outer fastening hole portion 125a and an inner fastening hole portion 125b. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the outer fastening hole portion 125a is provided in an outer portion of the outer frame 124, and formed as a hole with a diameter gradually decreased over a predetermined length section in an inward direction from the surface of the outer frame 124. Further, the inner fastening hole portion 125b is connected to the outer fastening hole portion 125a and formed to keep a diameter constant after the predetermined length section.

(48) Further, the outer fastening hole portion 125a and the inner fastening hole portion 125b are provided to form a predetermined diameter not to interfere with the grass passing space while maintaining coupling with the hook fastener 123. The diameter of each of the outer fastening hole portion 125a and the inner fastening hole portion 125b is smaller than the thickness of the outer frame 124 as shown in FIG. 5(a).

(49) Further, the outer fastening hole portion 125a and the inner fastening hole portion 125b may have elasticity in a radial direction to make it easy to receive the hook fastener 123 when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(50) Further, FIG. 5(b) shows that the fastening hole 125 according to the present disclosure has a rectangular cross-section. The fastening hole 125 shown in FIG. 5(b) may also have elasticity in an axial direction to make it easy to receive the hook fastener 123 when the hook fastener 123 and the fastening hole 125 are coupled.

(51) As described above with the accompanying drawings, the fastening hole 125 shown in FIG. 5(a) is suitable for coupling with the hook fastener 123 shown in FIG. 4(a), and the fastening hole 125 shown in FIG. 5(b) is suitable for coupling with the hook fastener 123 shown in FIG. 3(a) or 3(b).

(52) Below, a coupling process between the hook fastener and the fastening hole according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 5(a).

(53) When the grass protection mat and a neighboring grass protection mat are arranged to be in neighborhood with each other, the hook fastener 123 supported on and coupled to the outer frame 124 of the grass protection mat is inserted in and penetrates the fastening hole 125 of the neighboring grass protection mat.

(54) In the hook fastener 123 having a laterally protruding structure, the head 123a is inserted in and hooked to the fastening hole 125. That is, the head 123a of the hook fastener 123 protrudes as if it goes laterally and reaches the inner fastening hole portion 125b via the outer fastening hole portion 125a.

(55) In such a manner that another grass protection mat is additionally arranged to be in the neighborhood, i.e. that the hook fastener 123 of one mat is inserted in and penetrates the fastening hole 125 of another mat so that a plurality of grass protection mats are connected. Thus, the plurality of grass protection mats are coupled by a laterally connecting structure, thereby forming a horizontally extended integrated grass protection mat.

(56) Further, the hook fastener 123 provided between the grass protection mats directly connects the outer frames of the mats and forms a predetermined gap for the contraction-expansion compensation between the mats, thereby minimizing thermal deformation of the mats even though the mats are contracted or expanded after construction, and increasing an efficiency of compensating for the contraction or expansion between the mats.

(57) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the hook fastener and the fastening hole are provided in the lateral direction of the grass protection mat, thereby not only facilitating the connection and separation between the grass protection mats but also compensating for the contraction and expansion.

(58) FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) are views of various grass protection mats according to the present disclosure.

(59) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the grass protection mats 120 having various grass passing spaces may be combined.

(60) FIG. 6(a) illustrates that grass passing spaces are continuously connected to form a predetermined pattern through diamond-shaped bodies of the grass protection mat 120, FIG. 6(b) illustrates that grass passing spaces are continuously connected to for a predetermined pattern through octagonal bodies, and FIG. 6(c) illustrates that grass passing spaces are continuously connected to form a predetermined pattern with quadrangular bodies of the grass protection mat 120.

(61) As described above, in a grass protection mat having an integrated assembly type structure according to the present disclosure, a hook fastener and a corresponding fastening hole, which are provided in a lateral direction of the mat, are used to thereby keep coupling strength between the mats and prevent them from being easily separated by unintentional external force, and facilitate connection and separation work.

(62) Thus, according to the present disclosure, a hook fastener is used as a connecter provided in a plurality of grass protection mats so that the grass protection mats can be easily coupled to or separated from each other, thereby promoting convenience in assembling or disassembling the mats.

(63) In particular, according to the present disclosure, there is provided an integrated assembly type grass protection mat, in which a plurality of hook fasteners and a plurality of corresponding fastening holes, which are provided in outer frames of the grass protection mat, are used to couple and engage the grass protection mats each other and keep high coupling strength between the mats, and thus allows an easiness in coupling with or separating the mats each other while minimizing any inconvenience in control by a user due to the connector itself, thereby improving convenience in control by a user.

(64) Further, according to the present disclosure, the connector placed between the neighboring mat units functions to compensate for contraction and expansion, thereby increasing the contraction-expansion compensation efficiency for the mats. In addition, the connector is formed not to interfere with a space where grass grows, thereby making photosynthesis of the grass active.

(65) 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

(66) 120: grass protection mat 121: body 123: hook fastener 124: outer frame 125: fastening hole