Patent ID: 6967052

Claim:
A stitched yarn surface structure comprising: a backing having an upper and a lower surface and a thickness dimension T of at least two (2) millimeters, the backing being penetrable by a stitching needle and simultaneously exhibiting a predetermined compressive resistance R b ; the upper surface of the backing being decorative, a plurality of rows of face yarn segments covering at least portion of the decorative upper surface of the backing, wherein the face yarn segments are defined by a plurality of stitch bonded underlaps stitched into the backing, and further comprising a longitudinally extending strand of a binder material held to the backing by an additional stitching thread, adjacent face yarn segments being spaced apart by a predetermined minimum spacing dimension S, the yarns forming the face yarn segments each having a predetermined compressive resistance R y ; wherein the compressive resistance R b , the compressive resistance R y , and the spacing S are selected such that a load of up to one hundred pounds per square inch (100 psi) imposed on the stitched yarn surface structure by a loading member is able to be borne by the stitched yarn surface structure without allowing contact between the member and the decorative upper surface of the backing.