US 12,168,855 B2
Removable active panel system
Mark H. Nicholls, Welland (CA)
Filed by Turf Alliance LLC, Welland (CA)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/214,044.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/596,717, filed on Dec. 8, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0177922 A1, Jun. 13, 2019
Int. Cl. E01C 5/00 (2006.01); A46B 9/02 (2006.01); E01C 9/08 (2006.01); E01C 13/04 (2006.01); E01C 13/08 (2006.01); E04F 15/00 (2006.01); H05K 9/00 (2006.01); E01C 13/00 (2006.01); E01C 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 5/001 (2013.01) [A46B 9/02 (2013.01); E01C 9/08 (2013.01); E01C 13/045 (2013.01); E01C 13/08 (2013.01); E04F 15/00 (2013.01); H05K 9/00 (2013.01); E01C 2013/006 (2013.01); E01C 13/04 (2013.01); E01C 15/00 (2013.01); E04F 2290/00 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A removable artificial turf panel system, comprising:
a plurality of artificial turf panels comprising:
a plurality of upstanding ribbons extending from a primary backing layer;
an infill layer interspersed between the upstanding ribbons;
a secondary backing layer connected to the primary backing layer, wherein the secondary backing layer is configured to at least partially secure the upstanding ribbons to the primary backing layer; and
a ferromagnetic additive disposed within the secondary backing layer;
a fixed support layer comprising an elastomeric material paved over a fixed asphalt layer and arranged to support the plurality of artificial turf panels, wherein the elastomeric material includes one or more channels;
one or more pads disposed within the one or more channels and fixed to the elastomeric material;
one or more magnets arranged at least partially within the one or more channels; and
wherein the plurality of artificial turf panels are removably attached to the support layer by engagement of the one or more magnets and the secondary backing layer,
wherein at least one edge of one or more of the plurality of artificial turf panels is arranged adjacent to fixed artificial turf, wherein one or more of the plurality of artificial turf panels are removable without removing each of the plurality of artificial turf panels or the fixed artificial turf,
wherein the one or more magnets and the secondary backing layer are at least partially in contact, and
wherein the one or more magnets and the ferromagnetic additive are configured such that a force required to disengage the one or more magnets and the secondary backing layer is less than a force required to move the one or more magnets and the secondary backing layer relative to one another in a plane parallel to the secondary backing layer.