Modular structure for installing an artificial playing field

Abstract

A modular structure for installing an artificial playing field comprising: a stabilizing layer forming a plurality of compartments for receiving a granular infill; a separation layer for location over the stabilizing layer to retain the infill; a water distributing layer; and an artificial turf layer. The claimed construction allows a stable base layer to be formed using virtually any locally available granular material such as earth, gravel, lava, rock and the like. The compartments ensure that the granular material is held in place and cannot be displaced due to loading or washed away due to rain or flooding.

Claims

1. A modular structure for installing an artificial playing field comprising: a stabilising layer forming a plurality of compartments for receiving a granular infill, wherein the stabilising layer is a textile layer having pockets including sides and a base, integrally formed together; an impermeable separation layer for location over the stabilising layer to retain the infill; a water distributing layer for location over the separation layer, the water distributing layer comprising a flexible resilient layer of closed cell foam material that can be rolled for storage and transport; and an artificial turf layer for location over the water distributing layer, whereby the impermeable separation layer separates the drainage function of the water distributing layer from the stabilising function of the stabilising layer.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the compartments each have an area of between 20 cm.sup.2 and 600 cm.sup.2.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the compartments each have an area of between 40 cm.sup.2 and 200 cm.sup.2.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the compartments each have a depth of between 3 cm and 15 cm.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the compartments each have a depth of between 5 cm and 10 cm.

6. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the artificial turf layer is a non-infill turf layer.

7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the artificial turf layer is a woven turf layer.

8. The structure according to claim 1, for a field of at least 500 m.sup.2, provided in a shipping container.

9. The structure according to claim 8, wherein the shipping container is adaptable as a sports facility.

10. A method of installing an artificial playing field comprising: providing a modular structure according to claim 1; installing the stabilising layer onto a cleared and leveled surface; filling the plurality of compartments of the stabilising layer with a granular infill to form a stabilised base; installing the separation layer over the stabilised base to retain the infill; installing the water distributing layer over the separation layer; and laying the artificial turf layer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the granular infill comprises locally-sourced mineral material.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the stabilising layer is a textile layer.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the textile layer is a folded textile layer comprising harmonica-like pockets and the method comprises stretching the textile layer across the cleared and leveled surface to open the pockets to form the compartments.

14. An artificial playing field comprising: a stabilising layer forming a plurality of compartments for receiving a granular infill, wherein the stabilising layer is a textile having pockets including sides and a base, integrally formed together; a granular infill located within the plurality of compartments; an impermeable separation layer located over the stabilising layer to retain the infill; a water distributing layer located over the separation layer, the water distributing layer comprising a flexible resilient layer of closed cell foam material that can be rolled for storage and transport; and an artificial turf layer located over the water distributing layer, whereby the impermeable separation layer separates the drainage function of the water distributing layer from the stabilising function of the stabilising layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings of a number of exemplary embodiments, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cut-away perspective view of part of a field according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the field of FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cut-away perspective view of part of a field according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a partially cut-away perspective view of an artificial playing field 1 according to a first aspect of the invention.

(6) The field 1 is bounded by a kerb 2, which in this embodiment includes a drainage channel 4 having drainage openings 6. The kerb 2 is installed on a flat sub base 10 of earth that has been excavated to the intended depth of the field 1. It will however be understood that the field 1 may also be installed directly onto a flat area at ground level if it is sufficiently stable and an appropriate raised surround is provided to support the kerb 2.

(7) Within the kerb 2 on top of the sub base 10 a stabilising layer 12 is laid. The stabilising layer 12 is a woven geotextile layer forming a plurality of compartments 14. The stabilising layer 12 may be of the Accorder type available from Ten Cate textiles having compartments 14 with a depth of 55 mm and a cross-sectional area of around 90 cm.sup.2. The skilled person will understand that other alternative constructions that achieve the same effect may also be used.

(8) The stabilising layer 12 is filled with granular infill 16 to its full depth and levelled and compacted to provide a stabilised base 18 according to the manufacturers recommended procedure. Once all of the compartments 14 have been filled, the stabilising layer 12 prevents the granular infill 16 from displacing from one compartment 14 to the other. The depth of the stabilising layer 12 is thus relatively stable even when subjected to heavy loads or flooding. The granular infill 16 may be at least partly provided by the earth excavated to create the sub base 10, if this earth is suitable for the purpose. Otherwise, other local materials may be used. A particular advantage of the stabilising layer 12 is that the choice of infill used is not critical and a wide variation of grain size can be used without detriment to the overall stability of the stabilised base 18.

(9) On top of the stabilised base 18 there is provided a separation layer 20. The separation layer 20 according to this embodiment is a coated reinforced membrane, made from a high density polyethylene reinforced geotextile, coated on both sides with a low density polyethylene. This separation layer is available from Ten Cate Geotextiles as Nicolon C881, although the skilled person will understand that other alternative layers may also be implemented. It spans the whole of the stabilised base 18 and serves two purposes. Firstly, it retains the granular infill 16 and secondly, it prevents water from passing into the stabilised base 18, directing it instead to the drainage openings 6. To this purpose, the separation layer 20 is located just below or level with the drainage openings 6 and may also be bonded to the kerb 2 if greater water retention is required. The kerb 2 and the separation layer 20 thus form a reservoir for all water falling onto the field 1 and the drainage channel 4 can be connected to a suitable water management system as described in co-pending application PCT/NL2014/050896.

(10) It will be understood that in certain circumstances drainage or flooding is not an issue and in that case, the separation layer 20 may be porous and need only serve to retain the granular infill 16 and assist in distributing pressure. Woven or non-woven layers such as TenCate Polyfelt Rock may be ideal for this purpose. Such situations may occur in dry climates or where the stabilised base 18 ensures adequate drainage but also in situations where the field 1 is constructed indoors or otherwise protected from the weather.

(11) Above the separation layer 20 is located a water distributing layer 22. This layer is referred to as a water distributing layer 22 as this will generally be a primary function. Nevertheless, this layer may also provide additional functions as described below and may alternatively be referred to as a technical layer. In particular, in cases where drainage is not required, it may not actually perform a drainage function. The water distributing layer 22 comprises a bound granular layer of recycled plastic granules bonded together by friction generated heat and marketed as panels under the name Ecocept by Ten Cate. In an alternative embodiment, this layer may be paved in-situ using a conventional paving machine and a polyurethane based binder.

(12) Onto the water distributing layer 22 is laid an artificial turf layer 24 comprising a backing 26 and pile 28. The artificial turf layer 24 is a non-infill turf layer available from Greenfields under the name FT XP32 nf. In this construction, the pile 28 is integrated with the backing 26 and comprises a mixture of long artificial grass pile fibres and shorter fibres that act as the thatch or infill to support the grass pile fibres. This form of artificial turf layer 24 is particularly suited for general purpose use as it does not require care of the infill and is suitable for general purpose play all year round in most climates. It will nevertheless be understood that any other artificial turf layer may be used according to the requirement of the users, including both woven and tufted, with or without infill.

(13) An important additional function of the water distributing layer 22 is as a resilient layer to provide damping and energy absorption for activities carried out on the field 1. The water distributing layer 22 in combination with the remaining layers of the field 1, primarily the artificial turf layer 24, is chosen to achieve the relevant shock absorption, energy restitution and vertical deformation criteria.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the artificial playing field 1, installed and provided with fencing 30, lighting 32, goals 34 and hoardings 36. Also shown is a standard shipping container 38 that has been converted as a club house, including doors 40 and windows 42. The depicted field 1 is a 20 m40 m mini-pitch and all of the materials for its construction can be contained in the container 38 for delivery, with the exception of the granular infill 16, which is locally sourced. Such a concept allows standardised and high quality fields to be delivered and installed at any location that a container can reach. It will of course be understood that other field dimensions may also be provided and that the concept may also be used for construction of full sized pitches.

(15) An alternative construction of an artificial playing field 101 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3, where like reference numerals denote similar elements to the first embodiment.

(16) As in the first embodiment, the field 101 comprises a kerb 102, a stabilising layer 112 provided with granular infill 116 to form a stabilised base 118, a separation layer 120, a water distributing layer 122 and an artificial turf layer 124. In this embodiment, the water distributing layer 122 comprises a woven closed cell foam structure of the type shown in WO 2014/092577. This structure includes upstanding loops of closed-cell foam material interwoven with non-foamed fibres as a continuous fabric that can be provided in roll widths of up to 4 m. The upstanding loops offer significant damping qualities whilst allowing good drainage. A further advantage of this water distributing layer 122 is that it can be manufactured on the roll in an unfoamed condition in which it occupies relatively little space. It can be subsequently foamed by application of heat prior to installation.

(17) Thus, the invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art. In particular, each of the layers may be distinct from the layers depicted to the extent that it performs the same function. Furthermore, where the intended use or the local circumstances make the inclusion of a given layer superfluous, this layer may also be omitted.

(18) Many modifications in addition to those described above may be made to the structures and techniques described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.