Grass protection mat and grass protection method

Abstract

To provide a grass protection mat and grass protection method that are less likely to get caught when walking or running, and that do not hinder the growth of natural grass. [Solution] A grass protection mat 100 is constructed by weaving ropes R in the warp and weft directions, wherein the ropes R are made up of multiple strands R1 twisted together from plant fibers R2, and in the warp direction, multiple ropes R are tightly packed together to form warp parallel ropes 1 which are woven together, and in the weft direction, multiple ropes R are tightly packed together to form weft parallel ropes 2 which are woven together, and openings 3 are formed by spacing out between adjacent warp parallel ropes 1 or between adjacent weft parallel ropes 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a turf protection mat and a turf protection method for preventing natural turf growing on the ground from curling up.

Background Art

[0002] In the gardens of ordinary households, the grounds of sports facilities, etc., turf may be planted and maintained on one side. The purposes of planting turf include various purposes such as improving the landscape, temperature control effect, safety, comfort, and soil protection in addition to improving the landscape. Recently, the use of artificial turf has increased due to ease of management, but natural turf tends to be preferred because the above effects can be enhanced more.

[0003] There are multiple varieties of natural turf. The varieties widely used as lawns can be divided into those with stolons and those without stolons. Among those with stolons, there are those that extend stolons horizontally, send roots underground at predetermined intervals from the extended stolons, and extend upright stems above the ground to spread leaves. Stolons can extend above the ground, underground, or both. On the other hand, there are also those that do not have stolons, root independently, and extend upright stems above the ground to spread leaves.

[0004] In any of the above varieties, the turf firmly takes root in the soil by rooting underground. However, when stepped on vigorously during sports or when animals such as dogs run around, the upright stems or stolons may be caught by the soles of human shoes or the legs of animals, and the turf may curl up with the roots underground. Once the turf curls up, the turf in that part may wither, or the soil may be exposed and cause people to get caught and fall when walking. Therefore, the curled part must be repaired by planting new turf each time, which is a problem of taking time and cost.

[0005] Various countermeasures have been considered for this type of grass peeling problem. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for an outdoor mat in which a net is woven from ropes made of plant fibers such as palm or fan palm, and the net is covered with natural rubber. The outdoor mat described in Patent Document 1 is intended for use in protecting grass on golf courses and other similar areas, or for making walking easier by laying it on the ground. Furthermore, it is described as being non-slip and safe due to the use of natural rubber, and as the material consists only of plant fibers and a natural rubber coating, it is environmentally friendly and lightweight.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a grass protection mat made of rubber, which is constructed in a mesh-like manner and has the mesh curved in a vertical wave shape. The grass protection mat described in Patent Document 2 has a wavy, curved mesh, which creates a portion that touches the ground and a portion that is separated from the ground. When pressure is applied in this state, the area around the portion in contact with the ground becomes a fulcrum and the surrounding area lifts up, thus preventing the mat from sinking into the ground. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-233955 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-316395 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The outdoor mat described in Patent Document 1 is laid on top of natural grass, and when a person steps on it with their shoes, they step on the woven part as well as the grass, thus distributing the pressure and reducing damage to the grass. The same applies to Patent Document 2 in terms of distributing foot pressure. The mat in Patent Document 2, although corrugated, is understood to have the effect of distributing foot pressure through the woven portion of the rubber mesh mat.

[0009] However, while any of the above mats can distribute the pressure when stepped on perpendicular to the ground, their coarse mesh has the problem of easily catching on shoes with spikes or other protrusions, or on animal legs. In this case, since the aforementioned mat allows grass to grow through its mesh, the grass's stolons and leaves become entangled in the mesh. Therefore, if the mesh gets caught on something like a shoe sole, the mat will lift up, and the entangled grass roots will be pulled out of the ground all at once, causing the grass in that area to curl up. Thus, conventional mats used to protect turf had a problem: while the mesh did not hinder turf growth, walking or running on them would catch on the mesh, causing the turf to be lifted up.

[0010] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a grass protection mat and grass protection method that are less likely to get caught when walking or running, and that do not easily inhibit the growth of natural grass. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The means employed by the inventors to solve the above problems are described below. The grass protection mat of the present invention is a grass protection mat constructed by weaving ropes in a crisscross pattern in the warp and weft directions. Its basic structure is such that the ropes are made up of multiple strands of twisted plant fibers, and in the warp direction, multiple parallel warp ropes are woven in close together, while in the weft direction, multiple parallel weft ropes are woven in close together, and openings are formed by spacing out adjacent parallel warp ropes or adjacent parallel weft ropes.

[0012] In this invention, by using multiple strands of twisted plant fibers and assembling them to form a rope, it is possible to achieve a strength that prevents it from easily breaking even when stepped on by spiked shoes or animal feet. Furthermore, by using multiple ropes closely spaced together to form warp-parallel and weft-parallel ropes, and weaving them into the warp and weft to construct the mat, the rope portion will have a predetermined width. Therefore, compared to a net made of ordinary single ropes, spikes and animal legs can be received by the wider rope, making them less likely to get caught.

[0013] In addition to the above, the separation between adjacent parallel ropes (either warp-to-warp or weft-to-warp) creates openings, allowing upright stems and stolons of natural grass to extend onto the surface through these openings. This method does not hinder the growth of natural grass, and because the stems intertwine with the rope and grow horizontally, the grass in the area becomes more resistant to being pulled out or curled up as the stems and ropes bind together.

[0014] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention employs a method in which, when S is the area of ​​the region surrounded by the warp-parallel ropes and weft-parallel ropes arranged outside the four adjacent openings, and A is the total area of ​​the openings within the region, the opening ratio, expressed as A / S × 100, is 10% or more and 50% or less.

[0015] In the above configuration, by setting the spacing of the ropes so that the opening ratio in the above-mentioned area is between 10% and 50% in a configuration in which warp-parallel ropes and weft-parallel ropes are woven in the longitudinal and weft directions, it is possible to achieve a balance between resistance to snagging during walking or running and promotion of natural grass growth.

[0016] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention also employs a method in which the rope can be constructed by weaving together multiple strands. When assembling a plurality of strands twisted from plant fibers into a rope, rather than simply twisting the strands together to form a rope, by braiding them into a rope, it becomes more difficult to untangle and the strength of the rope itself can be improved. Also, compared to a twisted rope, due to the intertwined structure formed by braiding, it is possible to achieve both appropriate water retention and good water drainage, creating a moisture environment suitable for the growth of natural turf.

[0017] To solve the above problems, it is possible not only by means of the turf protection mat but also by means of the turf protection method using the turf protection mat. The basic process can be configured to lay the turf protection mat on the upper side of the turf including natural turf planted on the ground.

[0018] By laying the above-mentioned turf protection mat on the upper side of the turf including natural turf, the upright stems and creeping stems of the turf can be extended from the lower side of the turf protection mat through the openings. The upright stems extending from the openings to the surface can spread their leaves, and the creeping stems extending to the surface can spread horizontally along the surface of the turf protection mat and stretch their roots to the ground through adjacent openings. As a result, the natural turf in the area and the turf protection mat are integrated, becoming stronger against being pulled out or rolled up.

[0019] As a means adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems, it is also possible to lay the turf protection mat so that a part of the turf protrudes from the outer edge of the turf protection mat. In other words, instead of laying the turf protection mat so as to cover the entire turf, it is laid so that a part covered by the turf protection mat and a part protruding from the outer edge of the turf protection mat are formed.

[0020] The portion protruding from the outer edge of the turf protection mat on the lawn can receive direct sunlight, so it can promote the growth of natural turf. Therefore, it is possible to merge the upright stems and stolons extending from the openings of the turf protection mat with the upright stems and stolons that extend upward from the outer edge of the turf protection mat while directly receiving sunlight. As a result, the stems extending from the openings and the stems extending from the outer edges grow horizontally while being intertwined with each other like ropes, so the turf in the area can be strongly combined by the stems and ropes, and the effect of being resistant to pulling and curling can be produced at an early stage.

Effect of the Invention

[0021] In the turf protection mat and turf protection method of the present invention, a plurality of strands twisted from plant fibers are assembled to form ropes, and these ropes are woven into the warp and weft using a plurality of closely adhered and aligned ropes in the warp and weft directions to form a mat. Therefore, it can support with a wide parallel rope without catching on the soles of shoes or animal legs. And by forming openings between adjacent warp parallel ropes and adjacent weft parallel ropes, the upright stems and stolons of natural turf can be extended to the surface from the openings. As a result, there is an effect that it is difficult to be caught by walking or running, and it is difficult to inhibit the growth of natural turf.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a plan view showing the turf protection mat of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a partial view and enlarged view showing the configuration of the ropes of the turf protection mat of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory view showing the state of growth of the turf protected by the turf protection mat of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a plan view showing the layout of laying the turf protection mat of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a photograph showing a lawn formed by the turf protection method using the turf protection mat of the present invention. [Figure 6]This is a plan view showing a modified example of the grass protection mat of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. As shown in Figure 1, the grass protection mat 100 of the present invention is constructed by weaving ropes R·R… in the warp and weft directions. In Figure 1, the vertical direction is the warp direction, and the horizontal direction is the weft direction. This turf protection mat 100 can be laid on top of the natural grass T (described later) to protect the natural grass T from being lifted up or pulled out from the ground G.

[0024] The turf protection mat 100 is woven to have a thickness of 30 mm to 50 mm, preferably 35 mm to 45 mm. If the thickness is less than 30 mm, the cushioning effect is lost, the pressure underfoot is not distributed, and damage to the natural grass T increases. On the other hand, if the thickness exceeds 50 mm, the entire turf protection mat 100 becomes heavy and its flexibility is lost, making it difficult to lay.

[0025] The weaving method for the grass protection mat 100 can employ various methods, as long as they are similar to plain weave, where ropes R·R… are intersected in the vertical and weft directions. For example, in addition to the typical plain weave where ropes R·R… are intersected alternately at equal intervals to create a checkerboard pattern, twill weave or satin weave, where multiple ropes R·R… are intersected across each other, and diagonal weave (basket weave), where multiple ropes R·R… are bundled and woven together, can also be used.

[0026] In the configuration shown in Figure 1, each of the weft and warp ropes R·R… is not woven as a single rope, but rather employs a diagonal weave in which multiple ropes R·R… are woven together in close proximity to each other. In the warp direction, parallel warp ropes 1·1… are woven in, formed by tightly attaching and aligning two ropes R·R. Similarly, in the weft direction, parallel weft ropes 2·2… are woven in, formed by tightly attaching and aligning two ropes R·R…. Furthermore, the outer edges 4·4… of the grass protection mat 100 are treated by tucking the ends of the ropes R·R… inward to prevent them from unraveling.

[0027] In the weaving process, first, multiple parallel warp ropes 1·1… are arranged side by side. The number of ropes to be arranged can be appropriately selected according to the desired width of the grass protection mat 100. In this case, adjacent parallel ropes 1·1… may be arranged so that they are in close contact, or they may be arranged with a small gap between them.

[0028] Next, the weft parallel rope 2 is woven into the warp parallel ropes 1·1…. At this time, every other warp parallel rope 1·1… is slightly lifted at any given position, and one weft parallel rope 2 is inserted into the gap created by lifting. In this way, the upper and lower sides of the warp parallel ropes 1·1… can be alternately inserted and crossed.

[0029] After inserting one latitude-parallel rope 2, insert another latitude-parallel rope 2 next to it. The method of insertion is the same as above, but the relationship between the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal-parallel ropes 1·1… to be inserted is reversed compared to the adjacent latitude-parallel ropes 2. That is, if latitude-parallel ropes 2 are inserted in the order of top-bottom-top-bottom… for any longitudinal-parallel ropes 1·1…, then the adjacent latitude-parallel ropes 2 will be inserted in the order of bottom-top-bottom-top….

[0030] In weaving the parallel weft ropes 2·2…, adjacent parallel weft ropes 2·2… may be placed in close contact with each other, or they may be placed with a small gap between them. However, in the configuration shown in Figure 1, an opening 3 is formed at least between adjacent warp-parallel ropes 1·1… or between adjacent weft-parallel ropes 2·2…. The opening 3 may be formed by both adjacent warp-parallel ropes 1·1… and adjacent weft-parallel ropes 2·2… being separated, as shown in Figure 1, but between warp-parallel ropes 1·1… Alternatively, the opening 3 may be formed by separating only one of the parallel lattice ropes 2·2….

[0031] It is preferable that the opening 3 be configured such that the opening ratio in a predetermined region α is 10% or more and 50% or less. Region α is, for example, the region shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, and includes four adjacent openings 3·3…, and is surrounded by warp-parallel ropes 1·1 and weft-parallel ropes 2·2 arranged outside the four openings 3·3…. When the area of ​​region α is S and the total area of ​​the openings 3·3… within region α is A, the opening ratio, expressed as A / S × 100, is configured to be between 10% and 50%, preferably between 12% and 40%, and more preferably between 15% and 30%.

[0032] If the opening ratio is less than 10%, the amount of natural grass T growing from beneath the grass protection mat 100 to the surface will be reduced, preventing the natural grass T from receiving sufficient sunlight. Also, if the opening ratio exceeds 50%, the unevenness of shoe soles and the legs of animals such as dogs will easily get caught when stepped on or when animals run over it.

[0033] In region α, setting the side length to 50 mm to 150 mm allows for both the growth of natural grass T and resistance to curling. Preferably, the side length is 60 mm to 120 mm, and more preferably 70 mm to 100 mm. If the side length is less than 50mm, the opening 3 becomes too small, making it difficult for the natural grass T to spread across the surface. Conversely, if the side length exceeds 150mm, the opening 3 becomes too large, making it easier for the unevenness of shoe soles or the legs of animals such as dogs to get caught when stepped on or when animals run over it.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the rope R that makes up the grass protection mat 100 with the above configuration is made up of multiple strands R1, R1, etc., which are made by twisting together plant fibers R2, R2, etc. Plant fiber R2 is an environmentally friendly natural fiber, and various types of fibers can be used as long as they can be twisted together to achieve high strength. For example, coconut fiber (coir), Manila hemp fiber, sisal fiber, flax fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, cotton fiber, pineapple fiber, banana fiber, rice straw, wheat straw, bamboo fiber, rush grass, etc. are possible, but coconut fiber is used in the form shown in Figure 2.

[0035] Strand R1 is made by twisting together multiple strands of this plant fiber R2·R2… to form a single cord. By twisting them together, a strand R1 that is strong in tension can be made, but in this invention, multiple strands R1·R1… are combined to form a single rope R. The number of strands R1·R1… used to form rope R can be selected as appropriate, but in the configuration shown in Figure 2, four strands R1·R1… are used.

[0036] Various methods can be used to construct a rope R. For example, multiple strands R1·R1… can be twisted together to form a single rope R. Alternatively, multiple strands R1·R1… can be braided together to form a rope R. Various braiding methods can be used, such as three-strand braid, chain braid, and slash braid. In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 3, two strands R1·R1 are twisted together to form two ropes R, which are then twisted together again to form a single rope R.

[0037] The rope R, constructed as described above, is environmentally friendly because it is made from plant fibers R2·R2…, and it achieves both moderate water retention and good drainage. Furthermore, because it is constructed by combining multiple strands R1·R1… which are made by twisting together plant fibers R2·R2…, it is not only strong in tension but also resistant to unraveling even when stepped on by shoes or animal feet. Furthermore, the unique fluffiness of the plant fibers R2·R2… intertwines with the stems of the grown natural grass T, allowing it to adhere to the grass protection mat 100 from an early stage of growth.

[0038] A method for protecting grass using the grass protection mat 100 of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 5. When a turf protection mat 100 is laid over a lawn that includes natural grass T·T'… in its early growth stage, as shown in Figure 3, the upright stems T1 of the natural grass T will grow through the opening 3 from the stolons T2 located at the opening 3 (for example, the individual on the left side of Figure 3). On the other hand, the stolons T2' located in areas other than opening 3 (for example, the individual on the right in Figure 3) grow through the adjacent opening 3, allowing the upright stems T1' of the natural grass T' to extend, while the stolons T2' creep along the underside of the grass protection mat 100 and emerge from opening 3 to the top side. Furthermore, the stolons T2' that have grown from opening 3 to the top side creep along the top side of the grass protection mat 100, sending out roots T4', T4', etc. from the positions of adjacent openings 3, 3, etc., and extending upright stems T1', T1', etc.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the upright stems T1·T1'… exposed from the opening 3 spread their leaves T3·T3'… above the opening 3·3… and root T4·T4'… into the ground G below the opening 3·3…, thus receiving sunlight and rainwater to promote growth. Furthermore, as described above, the stolons T2·T2'… exposed from the opening 3 spread horizontally along the top of the grass protection mat 100 and establish roots T4·T4'… at the location of the opening 3·3…, so that the grass protection mat 100 is covered by the entanglement of the stolons T2·T2'… of the natural grass T·T'…. In this way, the natural grass T exposed upward from the opening 3 spreads out planarly while becoming fixed to the grass protection mat 100.

[0040] Furthermore, as mentioned above, when the stolons T2' that extend horizontally on the upper side of the grass protection mat 100 reach the opening 3, they send roots T4' from the opening 3 into the ground G. Once they send roots into the ground G from the opening 3, they extend further stolons T2'... from there, spreading even further on the upper side of the grass protection mat 100. In this way, the natural grass T spreads out from each opening 3, 3... and attaches its roots T4', T4'... to the grass protection mat 100 and the ground G, so that the ground G, the grass protection mat 100 and the natural grass T become firmly integrated over the area reinforced by the grass protection mat 100.

[0041] Regarding the installation of the turf protection mat 100, it is preferable to install it so that a portion of the grass extends beyond the outer edge 4 of the turf protection mat 100, as shown in Figure 4. With this arrangement, the stolons T2 of the natural grass T spread out planarly from the entire outer edge 4 of the turf protection mat 100, allowing for a more rapid and robust integration of the ground G, the turf protection mat 100, and the natural grass T compared to spreading the stolons T2 planarly only from the opening 3.

[0042] Figure 5 is a photograph of a turf formed by an experiment on a turf protection method conducted in a private location using the turf protection mat 100 in the form shown in Figure 1. Figure 5(a) shows a state in which a portion of the grass is laid so as to extend beyond the corner, which is the outer edge 4 of the grass protection mat 100. Outside the outer edge 4, there is nothing to block the sunlight, so the growth of the natural grass T is promoted. As the natural grass T grows, it can be seen that the natural grass T is extending upward from the outer edge 4 and the opening 3 and beginning to spread out in a planar manner.

[0043] Figure 5(b) shows the state of the natural grass T that is exposed from the opening 3 and spreads out in a planar manner. As shown in Figure 5(b), it can be seen that the natural grass T extends and spreads not to the raised parts of the ropes R·R… but to the recessed parts, and from there it spreads out to further cover the raised parts.

[0044] As described above, the grass protection mat 100 of the present invention, which is made from plant fibers R2·R2 and comprises a predetermined opening 3 and parallel rope R·R… sections, is less likely to be pulled out of the ground compared to a lawn where each individual blade of natural grass T·T… is planted individually in the ground, because the ground G, the grass protection mat 100, and the natural grass T are integrated over a wide area. Furthermore, because multiple parallel ropes R·R… are woven together, such as warp-parallel ropes 1·1… and weft-parallel ropes 2·2…, the parallel ropes distribute the pressure when stepped on, reducing damage to the natural grass T. In addition to these features, the natural grass T can be extended onto the surface through the opening 3, thus not hindering the growth of the natural grass T.

[0045] "Differentiation" The present invention is not limited to the above-described form, and other forms can also be adopted. For example, by using different numbers of warp-parallel ropes 1·1… and weft-parallel ropes 2·2…, and by making the spacing between warp-parallel ropes 1·1… narrower than in the form shown in Figure 1, while keeping the spacing between weft-parallel ropes 2·2… the same as in the form shown in Figure 1, openings 3·3… can be formed.

[0046] The grass protection mat 101 shown in Figure 6 is constructed by aligning three parallel ropes R·R… for the warp-parallel ropes 1·1…, while the weft-parallel ropes 2·2… are constructed by aligning two ropes R·R…. With this configuration, the opening 3 becomes rectangular, allowing one side to be made shorter compared to a square opening 3 of the same area.

[0047] If one side is shorter, for example, in a sports field or walkway where walking direction is limited to one direction, arranging it so that the shorter side is in the direction of travel makes it less likely for shoes to get caught. On the other hand, since the area of ​​the opening 3 can be secured to the same extent as when it is a square, the growth of the natural grass T is not hindered, and the ground G, the grass protection mat 101, and the natural grass T can be firmly integrated.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims of the present invention. For example, the plant fibers may be a mixture of several types of fibers, or the grass protection mat may be constructed using a patterned weave, where a pattern appears by using a different weaving method for only a portion of the mat. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 100,101 Lawn protection mat 1. Parallel rope 2 parallel ropes 3 Opening 4. Outer edge R Rope R1 Strand R2 plant fiber T Natural grass T1 Erect stem T2 stolon T3 leaves T4 root G ground α region

Claims

1. A grass protection mat constructed by weaving ropes together in the warp and weft directions, The aforementioned rope is composed of multiple strands of plant fibers twisted together, In the warp direction, multiple of the aforementioned ropes are tightly bound together to form parallel warp ropes, which are then woven in. In the weft direction, multiple of the aforementioned ropes are tightly packed together to form parallel weft ropes, A grass protection mat characterized by having openings formed by the separation of adjacent parallel ropes in terms of length or between adjacent parallel ropes in terms of latitude.

2. The grass protection mat according to claim 1, characterized in that when S is the area of ​​the region surrounded by the warp-parallel ropes and weft-parallel ropes arranged outside the four adjacent openings, and A is the total area of ​​the openings within the region, the opening ratio expressed as A / S × 100 is 10% or more and 50% or less.

3. The grass protection mat according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the rope is made up of multiple strands woven together.

4. A method for protecting turf using a turf protection mat according to claim 1 or claim 2, A method for protecting turf, characterized by laying the aforementioned turf protection mat on top of a lawn, including natural grass planted in the ground.

5. The method for protecting turf according to claim 4, characterized in that a portion of the turf extends beyond the outer edge of the turf protection mat.

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