Abstract:
A grass protection mat, used for protecting grass on golf courses, grass playing fields, park lawns, etc., or for promoting growth of grass, is provided. The grass protection mat is fixed to a ground surface through a mat anchoring member, and includes a body provided with a grass passage, a projecting column provided at a top of the body, a lug provided at a bottom of the body, and a mat ground anchoring means connected to the body, and configured with a portion to which the mat anchoring member is fixed upon mat installation and disposed at least below the body. The grass protection mat, due to its ground anchoring portions being disposed in closest possible proximity to the ground surface to improve anchoring to the ground when the ground anchoring portions are pressed during on-site installation, can offer superior results including effective prevention of being lifted, deformed, and disconnected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a grass protection mat used for protecting grass on golf courses, grass playing fields, park lawns, etc., or for promoting growth of grass, and more particularly, to a grass protection mat that, due to its ground anchoring portions being disposed in closest possible proximity to the ground surface, is capable of effectively preventing being lifted, deformed, and disconnected when the ground anchoring portions are pressed during on-site installation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    On grounds such as golf courses, grass playing fields, and park lawns that grow and maintain grass, areas such as trails subject to heavy foot traffic or paths frequently traversed by vehicles (such as golf carts, in the case of golf courses) have grass that is continually pressed and damaged, thus requiring renovation and maintenance that incur hefty fees. 
         [0005]    In order to therefore prevent damage to grass in areas with heavy foot or vehicle traffic within such facilities that maintain grass, grass protection mats are installed to alleviate loads and prevent damage to grass traversed by people or vehicles. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D, a typical grass protection mat  2  is constituted by a body  10  that forms the framework of the mat, lugs  30  that are supported on a ground surface, projecting columns  20  that support loads, cushioning arms  22  that distribute and cushion loads, and a peripheral frame  50  that maintains peripheral integrity of the mat. 
         [0007]    A hook  60  that enables mats to be installed in connection, and an opening  70  to which the hook  60  of an adjacent mat is fastened are provided on the peripheral frame  50 . 
         [0008]    Mats are installed in connection by assembly through inserting the bent hooks  60  in the openings  70  of adjacent mats. 
         [0009]    When installing the typical grass protection mats  2  on a ground surface, mat anchoring members  100   a  are inserted into the ground through holes defined at the edges of the peripheral frames of the mats to anchor the mats to the ground. 
         [0010]    In the typical grass protection mat  2  illustrated in  FIG. 6A , the mat is fixed to the ground by inserting the mat anchoring members  100   a  through the holes of the mat and into the ground, on account of the height imposed by the lugs  30 . 
         [0011]    With the typical grass protection mat  2  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6B and 6C , however, when a visitor&#39;s foot  3  catches on the edge of a mat, rolling it upward (and lifting the mat), the mat may become deformed or break away (disengage). 
         [0012]    Also, with the typical grass protection mat  2 , mats that are not secured can not only lead to frequent accidents in which visitors trip when their feet  3  get caught on the mats, but can also cause the mat anchoring members  100   a  to disengage or break. 
         [0013]    Moreover, the typical grass protection mat  2  has weak connectivity, so that mat anchoring members must be used at connecting portions when connecting 4 mats, thereby requiring a large number of mat anchoring members and increasing cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a grass protection mat that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0015]    An object of the present invention is to provide a grass protection mat capable of effectively preventing it from being lifted, deformed, and disconnected when its ground anchoring portions are pressed, due to the ground anchoring portions being disposed in closest possible proximity to the ground surface during onsite installation of the grass protection mat to thereby increase its connectivity, and also capable of preventing the occurrence of accidents caused by people tripping on typical mats that have been lifted, and especially capable of providing extended service life. 
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a grass protection mat that is anchored to a ground surface by a mat anchoring member includes: a body provided with a grass passage; a projecting column provided at a top of the body; a lug provided at a bottom of the body; and a mat ground anchoring means connected to the body, and configured with a portion to which the mat anchoring member is fixed upon mat installation and disposed at least below the body. 
         [0017]    The grass protection mat may further include a peripheral frame connected to a periphery of the body to maintain a mat shape, wherein the mat ground anchoring means is disposed at the peripheral frame. 
         [0018]    The grass protection mat may further include: a cushioning arm provided between the projecting columns at the top of the body; a hooking means provided at the peripheral frame connected to the periphery of the body; and a fastening opening to which the hooking means of an adjacent mat is fastened 
         [0019]    The mat ground anchoring means may include: a connecting portion extending from the peripheral frame connected to the body toward a ground; and a ground fixing portion provided at a bottom of the connecting portion to be lower than the body and proximate to the ground, and to which the mat anchoring member planted in the ground is fixed. 
         [0020]    The connecting portion of the mat ground anchoring means may be constituted with one of a connecting column or a connecting plate integrally extending downward from the peripheral frame provided with the lug at the bottom thereof, and is integrally provided with the ground fixing portion that is horizontal at the bottom thereof, and an anchoring member hole may be defined in the ground fixing portion. 
         [0021]    The ground fixing portion provided on the mat ground anchoring means may be formed to correspond in size to the mat anchoring member fixed thereto. 
         [0022]    The connecting portion of the mat ground anchoring means may be integrally formed extending downward from a peripheral frame corner curved or bent inward toward the peripheral frame, or from a supporting plate connected between a corner of the peripheral frame and the body. 
         [0023]    The connecting portion of the mat ground anchoring means may be formed to have resilience, or may further include a ridged portion, to enable skewing corresponding to an inclined ground surface. 
         [0024]    Thus, with a grass protection mat according to the present invention, by disposing its ground anchoring portions in closest possible proximity to the ground surface, the mat is effectively prevented from being lifted, deformed, and disconnected when the ground anchoring portions are pressed during on-site installation. 
         [0025]    Therefore, after the mat according to the present invention is installed, anchoring of the mat is improved and the mat does not lift, thereby maintaining the exterior of installed mats, preventing the possibility of accidents occurring such as people tripping on lifted portions of mats while traversing them, and most importantly, extending the service life of the mat following its installation, to yield many benefits. 
         [0026]    Also, the edges of the mat according to the present invention are made not to roll up, in order to preserve the appearance of the mat. 
         [0027]    Further, the present invention effectively prevents lifting of mats even without the use of packs and pins at portions connecting four mats, can drastically shorten assembly time due to good anchoring of the mat through its ground fixing portion maintaining it pressed against the ground, and also enables connections without the use of mat anchoring members at the connecting portions of 4 mats due to its good anchoring, so that many mat anchoring members are not required, thus reducing costs. 
         [0028]    In addition, because the mat according to the present invention is disposed close to the ground, it has the function of preventing indenting of the ground surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a grass protection mat according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a plan view and a component view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating the fastening structure of a grass protection mat according to the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are enlarged perspective views of region ‘A’ in  FIGS. 1 and 2A , illustrating an embodiment and a modified embodiment of a mat ground anchoring means of a grass protection mat according to the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a plan view illustrating installation of a grass protection mat using a mat anchoring member according to the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 6A to 6C  are diagrams of a typical grass protection mat in lifted and deformed states; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 6D and 6E  are structural views illustrating installation of grass protection mats according to the related art and the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a structural view of another embodiment of a mat ground anchoring means for a grass protection mat according to the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are a bottom perspective view and a sectional view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate grass protection mats  1  and  1 ′ according to an embodiment of the present invention, where  FIG. 1  illustrates a single mat, and  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the single mat  1  combined to configure a mat assembly  1 ′. 
         [0042]    However, when the grass protection mat in  FIG. 1  or a plurality of the grass protection mats  1  are connected with connectors  2  and  4  to form the mat assembly  1 ′ illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the basic configuration is substantially the same. 
         [0043]    The only difference lies in the positions of the hook  60  and opening  70 . 
         [0044]    For example, based on  FIGS. 1 and 2B  (illustrating a single mat of the mat assembly in  FIG. 2A ), a grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention is basically constituted with a body  10  defining a grass passage  12 , projecting columns  20  provided at the top of the body  10 , lugs  30  provided at the bottom of the body  10 , and a mat ground anchoring means  40  integrally configured with the body  10 , where portions, to which mat anchoring members ( 100   a,    100   b,  and  110 ′ in  FIG. 4A ) are fastened, are disposed at least below the body  10  when the mat is installed. 
         [0045]    The body  10  in the grass protection mat  1  defines a grass passage  12  for promoting grass growth and rooting that is polygonal (preferably hexagonal) or round in shape, and a plurality of bodies  10  are interconnected to constitute an overall mat. 
         [0046]    For example, with a grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention, bodies  10  that define hexagonal grass passages are connected to one another. Because employing the hexagonal shape provides larger grass passages than the typical rectangular shape, it allows for better photosynthesis of grass, so that grass is better able to take root and grow after the mat is installed. 
         [0047]    Also, the hexagonally configured body  10  does not form empty spaces, allowing the mat to optimally retain its strength. 
         [0048]    However, the body described as a hexagon in this embodiment is but one example, and is not necessarily limited thereto, and may of course be alternatively embodied in rectangular, octagonal, circular and other shapes according to requirements. 
         [0049]    The projecting column  20  provided on the grass protection mat  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  and  2 B according to the present invention is formed extending vertically upward from corners of the hexagonal body. The projecting column  20  supports the weight of moving bodies (such as people and carts) traversing the mat. 
         [0050]    The lug  30  provided on the bottom of the body  10  is vertically and integrally formed at the bottom of the body  10  (at the corners of a hexagonal body) to allow the ground to support the mat and maintain a gap between the ground surface and the mat, providing room for grass to grow. 
         [0051]    The lug  30  may be formed along the bottom of the peripheral frame  50 . 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2B , the grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention may further include cushioning arms  22  formed integrally with and projecting vertically from the top of the body  10  between the projecting columns  20 . 
         [0053]    The cushioning arms  22  project further than the projecting columns  20 , and a larger number are installed than the projecting columns  20 , in order to distribute load, while being similar in form to the grass that the mat is protecting, thereby improving the appearance of the mat and making it appropriate for grass growing areas. 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  and  2 B, the grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention is provided with a peripheral frame  50  integrally connected at the periphery of the bodies  10  to extend in an overall rectangular shape, retaining the peripheral integrity of the mat. 
         [0055]    Accordingly, the mat ground anchoring means  40  (to be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 4 ) is disposed at the peripheral frame (specifically, its corners) in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  and  2 B. 
         [0056]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  and  2 B, the grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention may include hooking means  60  and fastening holes  70  that are disposed at the peripheral frame in arrangement about its diagonal centerlines, enabling interconnected installation of multiple mats through the hooking means  60  of one mat being coupled and fixed to the fixing holes  70  of an adjacent mat. 
         [0057]    Specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 B, and  3 , the hooking means  60  according to the present invention may be integrally formed with the peripheral frame  50 , the center of the hook body  62  may have a contractible cutaway, and hooks  64  may be formed at lower portions on either outer side of the hook body  62 , so that when mats are connected, the hooking means  60  of one mat may be inserted in and fastened to a corresponding fastening hole  70  of an adjacent mat, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , thus connecting the mats. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  5  illustrate mat ground anchoring means  40  of a grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention. 
         [0059]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  5 , a mat ground anchoring means  40  according to the present invention is specifically constituted of a connecting portion  42  linked to the body  10  and extending toward the green G from the peripheral frame  50  configuring the outer perimeter of the mat (or more specifically, from the corners of the peripheral frame  50 ), and a fixing port-ion  46  provided at the lower end of the connecting portion  42  extending downward at least lower than the body to contact the ground, and to which a mat anchoring member  100   a,    100   b,  or  100 ′ (that is planted in the ground) is fixed. 
         [0060]    The ground fixing portion  46  of the mat ground anchoring means  40  defines an anchoring member hole  44  in which a mat anchoring member  100   a,    100   b,  or  100 ′ (that is fastened to ground fixing portion  46  of an adjacent mat and planted in the green G) is inserted and fixed. 
         [0061]    In the related art, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6A through 6D , because lugs  30  are formed at the bottoms of the body  10  and the mat peripheral frame  50 , and the corners of the peripheral frame  50  in which the mat anchoring member  100   a  (or  100   b  or  100 ′ in  FIG. 4A ) are fixed are separated from the ground by the lugs when the anchoring plates  100   a  (or  110   b  or  110   b  in  FIG. 4A ) of the mat anchoring member are pressed during planting of the anchoring columns  120  or  110 ′ of the mat anchoring member in the ground, the mat  1   a  may be lifted or may even disengage in severe cases. (The related art in  FIGS. 6A through 6D  has been described with the reference numerals of the present embodiment.) 
         [0062]    However, as illustrated in  FIG. 6E , with a grass protection mat according to the present invention, because holes  44  are defined in which columns  120  or  110 ′ of the mat anchoring member  100   a  (or  100   b  or  100 ′ in  FIG. 4A ) planted in the ground are fastened, and because the ground fixing portion  46  (against which the tops of round anchoring plates  110   a,  rectangular anchoring frames  110   b  and wire anchoring members  110 ′ for the mats are pressed against) is integrally formed at the bottom of the connecting portion  42  that extends downward from the peripheral frame  50 , even when the ground anchoring columns  120  and  110 ′ of the anchoring members  100   a,    100   b,  or  100 ′ are planted in the green G, the mat will not lift or deform as in the related art of  FIGS. 6A through 6D . 
         [0063]    The downwardly extending length of the connecting portion  42  may be made substantially equal to the length of the lug  30  provided at the bottom of the peripheral frame or the body, taking into account the ground fixing portion  46  pressed against the ground. That is, the downwardly extending length of the connecting portion  42  should be made corresponding to the length of the lug. 
         [0064]    The mat anchoring member described above (that is fixed to the anchoring means  40  according to the present invention and allows installation of the mat on the ground) may employ the anchoring member  100 ′ of wire that is bent and provided with the column  110 ′ that is planted in the ground (as illustrated in  FIG. 4A ), or anchoring members  100   a  and  100   b  made of a separately formed material. 
         [0065]    Here, the anchoring members  100   a  and  100   b  formed, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A , include a circular anchoring plate  110   a  or a rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  that is provided at either side thereof with ground anchoring columns  120  that are simultaneously passed through holes  44  in ground fixing portions  46  of mat ground anchoring means  40  of one mat and an adjacent mat, and planted in the ground. 
         [0066]    According to the present invention, because the ground fixing portion of the mat is maintained securely against the ground, the mat is strongly secured, and mat anchoring members need not be used at all connecting portions that connect 4 mats, so that costs can be considerably reduced from not requiring a large number of mat anchoring members. 
         [0067]    As a hole or opening is defined in the central portions of the circular anchoring plate and the rectangular anchoring frame, growing grass is able to pass therethrough. 
         [0068]    Also, two anchoring projections  130  may be provided diagonally opposed at sides of the ground anchoring columns provided at the bottom of the circular anchoring plate  110   a  and rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  of the anchoring members  100   a  and  100   b.    
         [0069]    Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when mats are installed on the ground, of the four holes  44  of the ground fixing portions of the mat ground anchoring means  40  disposed at the corners of a total of 4 mats, the ground anchoring columns  120  of an anchoring member are passed through two of the holes  44  that are diagonal and planted in the ground. 
         [0070]    Here, the circular anchoring plate  110   a  (or rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  in  FIG. 4A ) may press 4 ground fixing portions  46  (that is, the horizontal ground fixing portions pressed against the ground), and two different anchoring projections  130  on the bottom of the anchoring plate (or rectangular anchoring frame) may be inserted through 2 holes  44  to allow installation of ground fixing portions  46  of mat ground anchoring means  40  at corners of 4 mats with one anchoring member  100   a  or  100   b.    
         [0071]    Further, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the connecting portion  42  of the mat ground anchoring means  40  may preferably extend downward integrally from the peripheral frame of a mat, and the ground fixing portion at the bottom thereof may be integrally formed horizontally with one of a connecting portion  42   a  or connecting plate  42   b.    
         [0072]    Specifically, connecting columns  42   a  may be integrally formed at the corner of the peripheral frame  50  separated from one another, and the horizontal plate-shaped ground fixing portion  46  may be formed at the bottoms thereof, and the connecting plate  42   b  may be formed in a rounded shape, and the ground fixing portion may be integrally formed horizontally at the bottom thereof. 
         [0073]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the ground fixing portion  46  provided at the bottom of the mat ground anchoring means  40  may be formed to correspond in size with the mat anchoring member  100   a,    100   b,  or  100 ′ that is fastened in the spaces between the mats during mat installation. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 5 , when the ground anchoring columns  120  provided on the bottom of the circular anchoring plate  110   a  or rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  of the formed fixing members  100   a  or  100   b  are planted in the ground, because the ground fixing portions  46  are pressed and fixed, the ground fixing portions  46  may be formed corresponding in size to the circular anchoring plate  110   a  or rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  of the anchoring member. 
         [0074]    That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , because four mat fixing portions  46  of four mat corners are pressed and fixed to the ground with one anchoring member  100 ,  100   a,  or  100   b,  the latter may especially be formed to correspond in size to the circular anchoring plate  100   a  or rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  of the anchoring member  100   a  or  100   b.    
         [0075]    For example, if the sizes of the ground fixing portion and the anchoring members are not controlled, it would be difficult to uniformly maintain gaps between mats connected with hooking means. While the wire anchoring member  100 ′ in  FIG. 4A  would have a smaller anchoring member contacting area than the circular anchoring plate or rectangular anchoring frame that is formed, because a certain contacting area is formed by one horizontal ground fixing plate, the ground fixing portion  46  configures a ground fixing structure. 
         [0076]    Additionally, the positions and diameters of the anchor holes  44  defined in the ground fixing portions  46  may be made to correspond to the positions of the ground anchoring columns of the anchoring members. 
         [0077]    Here, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  5 , the connecting portions  42  of the mat ground anchoring member  40 —that is, the connecting columns  42   a  or the connecting plates  42   b —may be formed curved inward into the peripheral frame  50  or cut into the peripheral frame corner  50 ′, or integrally formed extending downward from the supporting plate  50 ″ connected from the peripheral frame corner to the body  10 . 
         [0078]    The peripheral frame corner  50 ′ is curved or bent in toward the mat as illustrated, and the supporting plate  50 ″ also has a curved corner surface, so that when the ground anchoring columns  110 ′ or  120  of the mat anchoring members  100   a,    100   b,  or  100 ′ are passed through the holes  44  of the ground fixing portions  46  and planted in the ground, space can be secured for the circular anchoring plate  110   a  or rectangular anchoring frame  110   b  to press the ground fixing portion. 
         [0079]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the connecting portion  42  (or connecting columns  42   a  and connecting plate  42   b ) of the mat ground anchoring means  40  in the mat according to the present invention are used to install mats on an inclined ground surface, they may be formed to have resilience for bending, or a separate ridged portion  48  may further be included 
         [0080]    That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , as opposed to the related art, with a mat ground anchoring means  40  provided for a grass protection mat  1  according to the present invention, because a ground fixing portion  46 , in which a mat anchoring member  100   a,    100   b  (in  FIG. 4A ), or  100 ′ is fastened and planted in the ground, is lower than the body at the peripheral frame  50  and actually pressed against the ground, when mats are installed on an inclined ground surface, by forming the connecting portion  42  of the mat ground anchoring means  40  with a resilient material or providing a ridged portion  48  to allow skewing, the fastened strength of the ground fixing portion  46  to the ground can be improved. 
         [0081]    While not illustrated in the diagrams, even when installed on extremely rough terrain, entire lifting of a mat can be prevented by enabling a degree of skewing in the connecting portions. 
         [0082]    To summarize the description thus far on installation of the grass protection mat according to the present invention, with the ground fixing portions  46  (of ground anchoring means  40  that are disposed at each corner of the peripheral frame of a single mat  1  in  FIG. 1  or a group of single mats constituting a mat assembly  1 ′) in close proximity to the green G and the mats arranged, the mat anchoring members  100   a,    100   b,  or  100 ′ are inserted simultaneously through the holes  44  of the ground fixing portions of adjacent mats and planted in the ground, thus allowing installation of the mats while preventing lifting or deformation thereof. 
         [0083]    Here, with a plurality of mats connected with hooking means and installed, anchoring members are passed through the corners thereof and planted in the ground to complete installation. 
         [0084]    The anchoring members  100   a,    100   b,  and  100 ′ according to embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 4A  are only representative examples, and other forms of mat anchoring members may be used, such as columns that are passed through the holes  44  of the ground fixing portion  46  and planted in the ground, combined with plates of a predetermined area at the bottom of which the columns are attached. 
         [0085]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are a bottom perspective view and a sectional view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 10  is a side view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 11  is a side view of a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0086]    First, as illustrated in FIGS. S and  9 , a grass protection mat according to another embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of projecting columns  20  and cushioning arms  22  formed projecting from a top surface of the body  10 , a plurality of lugs  30  formed at the bottom of the body  10  and supported on the green G, a plurality of anti-indentation arms  140  formed at points connecting the lugs  30  to prevent indenting of the green G, a peripheral frame  50  formed at the outer perimeter of the body  10 , a ground fixing portion  46  formed at corners of the peripheral frame  50  at the same height as the lugs  30  to press against the green G when the mat is installed, and a mat anchoring member  100   a  inserted in the ground fixing portion  46  and anchored in the ground. 
         [0087]    Also, a ground anchoring pin  190  is integrally formed at the end of the lug  30  to be anchored in the ground. The shape of the ground anchoring pin  190  is not limited to one particular shape, and may be any shape that can be firmly anchored in the ground. 
         [0088]    Further, the positions at which the ground anchoring pin  190  is formed are not specifically limited and may be appropriately determined according to the conditions of the green G, by positioning more ground anchoring pins  190  in regions prone to indentation and less ground anchoring pins  190  in regions less prone to indentation. 
         [0089]    The ground anchoring pins may not only be formed integrally, but may alternatively be detachably configured. Because a detachable configuration enables the ground anchoring pins to be suitably positioned according to the state of the green G, connectivity with the ground can be enhanced. 
         [0090]    For example, for a modified ground anchoring pin  290  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a coupling socket  230   a  may be defined in the end of the lug  30 , and a coupling projection  290   a  may be formed at the end of the ground anchoring pin  290  to couple with the coupling socket  230   a.    
         [0091]    Furthermore, for another modified ground anchoring pin  390  illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a coupling projection  330   a  may be formed at the end of the lug  30 , and a coupling socket  390   a  may be defined in the end of the ground anchoring pin  390  to couple with the coupling projection  330   a.    
         [0092]    Thus, with a grass protection mat according to the present invention, by disposing its ground anchoring portions in closest possible proximity to the ground surface, the mat is effectively prevented from being lifted, deformed, and disconnected when the ground anchoring portions are pressed during on-site installation. 
         [0093]    Therefore, after the mat according to the present invention is installed, anchoring of the mat is improved and the mat does not lift, thereby maintaining the exterior of installed mats, preventing the possibility of accidents occurring such as people tripping on lifted portions of mats while traversing them, and most importantly, extending the service life of the mat following its installation, to yield many benefits. 
         [0094]    Also, the edges of the mat according to the present invention are made not to roll up, in order to preserve the appearance of the mat. 
         [0095]    Further, the present invention effectively prevents lifting of mats even without the use of packs and pins at portions connecting four mats, and can drastically shorten assembly time due to good anchoring of the mat through its ground fixing portion maintaining it pressed against the ground. 
         [0096]    In addition, because the mat according to the present invention is disposed close to the ground, it has the function of preventing indenting of the ground surface. 
         [0097]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.