Relocatable Turf with Removable Root-Permeable Backing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Turf surfaces in stadiums face challenges due to changed usage and layouts, leading to weakened natural grass plants, inconsistent drainage, and reduced performance, necessitating a solution that maintains health and performance characteristics in demanding conditions.

Innovation Solution

A turf surface system utilizing a removable root-permeable backing that separates from the turf surface before relocation, allowing new root growth and improving drainage and aeration, comprising a reinforcing root-permeable mat, a layer of growth media, and natural grass plants with roots extending through both layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If turf surfaces are relocated multiple times to accommodate different events, then the turf can be reused for various purposes, but the natural grass plants become weakened and drainage becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturf reuse for different eventsVSAvoidplant health and drainage consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the natural grass plants from the backing structure by using a removable root-permeable backing that can be detached before relocation. This segmentation allows the turf surface to be divided into relocatable sections while maintaining plant health, as the roots can be cleaned of old growth media during backing removal, preventing disease transmission and drainage issues during multiple reuses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The old growth media is discarded when the backing is removed before relocation, and fresh growth media is applied at the new location. This process recovers the natural grass plants in a healthy state while eliminating contaminated media that would cause inconsistent drainage and plant weakening during repeated relocations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Loss of time

If the turf surface is installed immediately without a grow-in stage, then installation time is reduced, but the natural grass plants are not sufficiently developed to withstand regular use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation timeVSAvoidplant strength for withstanding use

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The natural grass plants are grown and strengthened at a field site before relocation, with their root systems developed through an initial grow-in stage. This preliminary action ensures the plants are sufficiently strong to withstand regular use once installed at the destination site, while the removable backing system enables quick separation and installation without requiring the entire turf to be grown in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the removable root-permeable backing is removed before relocation, then new root growth is promoted and drainage is improved, but the process of separating and cleaning roots adds complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage and root developmentVSAvoidbacking removal and root cleaning process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The removable root-permeable backing is extracted from the turf structure before relocation, allowing roots to be cleaned of old growth media. This extraction promotes new root growth into fresh media at the destination site and improves drainage by eliminating compacted or contaminated old media, while the modular design makes the removal process manageable despite the added step

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This system promotes healthier, stronger natural grass plants with improved root development, enhanced drainage, and consistent playing characteristics, reducing maintenance costs and increasing the durability of the turf surface.

Implementation Method 1

a removable root-permeable backing located beneath the reinforcing root-permeable mat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS12091825B2Relocatable turf

Publication Date: 2024.09.17 TECHNOLOGY LICENSING CORP

AI summary

A turf surface 80 comprising:(a) a reinforcing root-permeable mat 10; (b) a removable root-permeable backing 60 located beneath the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10; (c) a layer of growth media 42 located on the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10; and(d) natural grass plants 30 having roots 32 extending downwardly through the layer of growth media 42 and the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10 and the removable root-permeable backing 60; wherein, in use, prior to being laid at a destination site, the removable root-permeable backing 60 is separated from the reinforcing root-permeable mat 10, so that any roots 34 which engage with and extend through the removable root-permeable backing 60 are substantially removed from the turf surface 80.