Turf protection system and LED flooring system for preserving natural turf

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.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods of preserving natural turf when covered for an event, and more particularly to apparatus that can support vehicles or heavy objects.

Morphological changes in turf grass can occur within 4 to 7 days of exposure to reduced irradiance levels. An estimated 20 to 25% of the lawns in the United States are grown under some degree of tree or structural shade stress. Turf grass may survive in as little as 5% of full sunlight under no traffic. Growth and development of turf grass is greatly influenced by both the quality and the quantity of light available for photosynthesis. However, depending on species and management 22-35% of sunlight is required for normal turf growth.

Stadiums and other venues host major events on natural turf playing surfaces. Areas of turf grass are typically damaged after a major event in the areas where a stage sits, and the areas where construction of the stage takes place due to a lack of sunlight. The current method for providing a base on which a stage can be placed on natural turf consists of layers of plywood and Inka mat that is placed directly on top and covering the turf. The layers of this base provide a solid surface on which to place the stage. The plywood areas, sometimes referred to as “corn chips”, are left on the natural turf for up to six days straight to allow for placement of stage bases, event rehearsal, performance and subsequent deconstruction of the stage. The after-effects of a larger event can devastate up to one fifth of the covered area. The result of covering the turf is that the turf is wilted, discolored, and even dead. Before using the turf areas again, the areas of turf that have been covered for six or more days need adequate time to recover from the lack of sunlight. The typical time of recovery or total replacement of turf is usually three to six days and delay the use of the turf for its intended purpose, may not be acceptable to the owner of the turf.

It is an object of the present invention to provide uninterrupted photosynthesis to turf while covered during a major event where the covered area is without direct sunlight for an extended period of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that aids in preserving the turf to be covered and allow the use of vehicles and heavy objects while the turf is covered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The most limiting yet essential factor for the turf throughout the duration of the event on the turf is the lack of sunlight when covered. The present invention provides the turf area to be covered with the wavelengths of 400-800 nm of light through Light Emitting Diodes (LED). Blue and red light from the LEDs of the present invention allows the required uninterrupted photosynthesis to take place during use of the present invention. The present invention allows stage footings to sit directly on the LED lighting. The present invention provides portable units that can be placed under the stage, as well as around the stage to allow construction equipment to safely pass over the turf without damage, while providing light to protect the turf.

The present invention is turf protection system using a LED enhanced flooring to cover natural turf. The system is divided into pallet-sized flooring sections10that are attachable to each other, as shown inFIGS. 1-5. Each flooring section10includes four sides, a top12and a bottom14.FIGS. 1-4show a bottom view of the flooring section10. The four sides are used to interconnect flooring sections10. Each flooring section10includes two key sides16and two key receiving sides18. The key side16connects to the key receiving side18of another flooring section10to lock the flooring sections10together, as shown inFIGS. 4-5.FIGS. 6-7show a close up how the flooring sections10are locked together. The key side16includes a series of keys20. Each key20includes a face plate22and key body24.FIGS. 6-7show the face plate22having two slots26and the key body24having two opposing upper locking lugs28and two opposing lower locking lugs30. Both the key sides16and key receiving sides18include key holes32.FIGS. 5-6show the key side16is placed on top of the key receiving side18, so that key holes32of both align with each other. The key holes32include opposing lug slots34, such that the key20can be inserted into the key holes32with the upper locking lugs28and the lower locking lugs30passing through the lug slots34. The key20can then be turned using the face plate slots26, such that the upper locking lugs28and the lower locking lugs30turn beyond the lug slots34. Together the face plate22, upper locking lugs28and the lower locking lugs30lock the key sides16and key receiving sides18together.

FIGS. 1-2show the bottom of the flooring section10including a honeycomb style pattern of openings36formed by a support framework of ground support strips38. The ground support strips38extend from an inside surface40of material that forms the solid top12of flooring section10. The ground support strips38are designed to contact the surface that the flooring sections10will be placed upon, while providing spacing for lighting between the top12and that surface. The ground support strips38provide the structural support so that the lighting is not crushed when weight is applied to the top12of the flooring sections10. The flooring section10with the combination of the top12and honeycomb pattern of ground support strips38can withstand weights up to 1,056 pounds per square inch or about 150 tons of weight. Each flooring section10includes LEDs41enrobed in waterproof lighting strips42, as shown inFIG. 8. The lighting strips42are attached to the inside surface40of the flooring section10. A close up is shown inFIG. 9, showing the lighting strips42running through the ground support strips38.FIG. 10shows light slots44cut out of the ground supports strips38to allow passage of the LED lighting strips42. The key receiving sides18include light openings46, as shown inFIGS. 1-7. The key sides16include the light strips42embedded into the key sides16, as shown inFIGS. 2-4and9. This allows for additional light to emit through the light openings46.FIGS. 1-2show power supply modules48to control and regulate power to the lighting strips42.FIGS. 1-4and9show power connections50to interconnect the flooring sections10together. At least one of the power connections50would be connected to a main power supply of an external source to power all of the flooring sections10that are used.FIG. 9also shows wiring52interconnecting the individual lighting strips42together.FIGS. 2-3show a clear protective layer54attached to the bottom14of the flooring sections10using screws56and screw holes58in the ground support strips38. The clear protective layer54can be clear acrylic plastic and is used to protect the lighting strips42and wiring52. The clear protective layer54can act as a light diffuser. Alternatively, the clear protective layer54can be replaced with a layer of netting to allow air to circulate.

Having the flooring sections10in pallet-size makes the flooring sections10easy to move using fork lift equipment. The flooring sections10may be placed directly on the turf, allowing construction equipment to safely carry event-staging materials over the turf. When the flooring sections10are combined, an ideal product for event staging on natural turf is created and therefore minimizing injury to the turf. The flooring sections10become a protective surface that can be driven on, while providing the light-emitting lighting strips42on the bottom14of flooring section10to face the grass surface they are resting on. One can grow turf and protect turf in the wintertime using the flooring sections10and could drive snowplows over turf, while still providing light to turf. The LEDs41of the lighting strips42supply light to the turf that the flooring sections10are resting on and allow photosynthesis to continue uninterrupted. The LEDs41of each flooring section10are designed to provide wavelengths of light between 200 and 800 nm from the lighting strips42. Wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm are referred to as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and that portion of the solar spectrum visible to the human eye. In plants, production of pigments chlorophylls and carotenoids are also referred to as action spectra that absorb these wavelengths. Chlorophyll a selectively absorbs light within the visible spectrum, peaking at 410, 430 (blue light) and 660 nm (red light). Absorption by chlorophyll b peaks at 430 455 and 640 nm. The carotenoid pigments lutein and β-carotene absorb strongly in the blue region with maximum absorption occurring at 448 and 454 nm. Far-red light is the region of the spectrum between 700 and 800 nm. While not absorbed by chlorophyll for photosynthesis, it has a strong influence on photomorphogenesis, which is a term that describes how light influences plant architecture. For optimum results, the system should be placed over non-stressed turf. The flooring sections10may be left over the turf for 8 days to 4 months depending on the season to minimize the effect on the ability of the turf to photosynthesize. Light applied to the turf should reflect when the sun comes up and be turned off when the sun goes normally goes down, as the turf needs a break from the light application. 24-hour exposure does not work, where a 4-8 hour period of no light is ideal. Power systems of the flooring sections10may need to be cooled. Reparation of the plant increases as temperature increases due to power system, so fans may be required to cool power systems

FIGS. 11-12show the lighting strips42replaced with LED filled light pods60. The LED filled light pods60allow for several different color LEDs contained in the light pods60to create different light patterns. The top12of the floor sections10through to the inside surface of the floor sections can be of a transparent or translucent material for light transmission. The light transmission can be used in two ways. First, sunlight can shine through the top12to the grass surface below the floor section10to aid the lighting strips42in providing light to the grass. Second, the LED's can reflect upward through the top12to provide light designs and patterns that can be viewed by users or even have some of the LEDs shine directly upward. Light designs viewed by the user can be used to direct patrons before and after an event to make safety pathways. The light transmitted through the top12of the flooring sections10can act as a light show that goes with the music at the event, while still protecting the turf. The light designs could also be in the form of advertisements.FIG. 13shows examples of the light showing up through the top12of the flooring section10. The LEDs could shine through the ice of a hockey rink formed on top of the flooring sections10, while protecting the grass below. The LEDs in the flooring section10can be linked to portable music devices, such as MP3 players and iPODs that have wireless communication. The flooring sections10can have receivers that detect when someone is on the flooring section10and can link up to the portable music devices, such that a light show is produced based on the music played to provide a personal dance floor in stadium. An example is to add one waterproof DMX decoder and three or 4 waterproof RGB amplifiers to each power supply modules of the flooring section10. Also, a DMX wire or a 4 wire RGB, would be added to the power cord to send a signal to each of the floor sections10. For stage lighting and effects, by using red, green and blue LED emitters located close to each other, you can adjust their individual intensities to create an almost unlimited palette of colors, rather like a television does, but with much greater brightness, flexibility and scalability. And add a fourth color, amber, to provide even finer control over the mixed shades for those who need it. An example is to have two one port dmx interfaces installed next to each of the power supply modules of the flooring section10to control the RGB LEDs in the lighting strips. Each flooring section10would be connected through cat 5 wire on a network. iPOD/iPAD, as well as other electronics can act as the DMX controller using wireless technology.FIG. 14shows the flooring sections10supported by a rack62by having the flooring sections hang downward from the rack using cables. The rack62includes wheels64such that a rack62of flooring sections10can be wheeled onto a grass surface and light applied without placing the flooring sections10on the turf.FIG. 15shows a different honeycomb pattern for the ground support strips38.

While different embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to the embodiments could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements are illustrative only and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention that is to be given the full breadth of any and all equivalents thereof.