LED Flooring System for Turf Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural turf areas are damaged and deteriorate due to lack of sunlight when covered for events, leading to prolonged recovery or replacement, as current methods do not provide adequate photosynthesis during extended shade periods.
Innovation Solution
A turf protection system using LED-enhanced flooring sections that provide wavelengths of 400-800 nm light, allowing uninterrupted photosynthesis and supporting heavy objects, with interlocking design and ground supports to distribute weight and protect the LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If turf is covered for events using traditional plywood and mat layers, then a solid base is provided for stages and vehicles, but the turf deteriorates due to lack of sunlight requiring 3-6 days recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural support function with the light transmission function into a single flooring system. The flooring panels provide both the necessary solid base for stages and vehicles while simultaneously allowing light to reach the turf below, eliminating the need for separate recovery time
Solution Approach 2:
The flooring system uses translucent or transparent materials in specific areas to allow light transmission to the turf, while maintaining structural integrity for supporting heavy loads. This localized quality adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing solid support and allowing light through
2Duration of action of moving object
If turf is covered for extended periods, then events can be hosted, but photosynthesis is interrupted causing turf to wilt, discolor, and die
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous photosynthesis by using translucent/transparent flooring materials that allow sunlight to pass through to the turf during events. This maintains the useful action of photosynthesis continuously, preventing turf deterioration even during extended event periods
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent/transparent flooring acts as an intermediary between the event structures (stages, vehicles) and the turf below. It transmits light while supporting the event infrastructure, maintaining turf health without interrupting event duration
3Force
If heavy equipment is placed directly on turf, then event infrastructure is supported, but the turf is damaged and compressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flooring into modular panels with support legs that distribute the weight of heavy equipment across multiple contact points. This segmentation increases the effective surface area for load distribution, reducing compression damage to the turf while maintaining load bearing capacity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents turf deterioration by simulating sunlight, enabling immediate reuse of turf areas after events and allowing vehicles and heavy equipment to safely pass over without damaging the turf, reducing recovery time and maintaining turf health.
Implementation Method 1
A turf protection system using LED-enhanced flooring sections that provide wavelengths of 400-800 nm light
Implementation Method 2
allowing uninterrupted photosynthesis and supporting heavy objects
Data Source
AI summary
A turf protection system that includes lights to continue providing turf lighting requirements, so as to reduce and even prevent turf deterioration. The system includes at least one flooring section having a top, bottom, four sides formed to mate sides of another of the at least one flooring section. The flooring section includes ground supports extending from an inside surface of flooring section to support the at least one flooring section on a surface. The flooring section includes voids between the ground supports to receive attachment of the lights between the ground supports such that the ground supports protect the lights contacting the surface the flooring sections is supported from. The at least one flooring section in combination with the ground supports being construction to support weight of heavy equipment such as vehicle and event stages in order to protect the lights.