Technology Licensing Corporation

David P Motz

Joseph E Motz

A turf cutter device, an infill extractor/collector device, and a turf wind-up device are used to facilitate the cost-effective removal of an infilled synthetic turf and the subsequent installation of a new turf at the same site, with minimal subsurface disruption. An infill extractor/collector device mounted on a motorized vehicle moves a relatively narrow strip of filled artificial turf from the surface, in front of the vehicle, and directs the strip to an infill removal station. The infill removal station inverts the strip and redirects the strip back toward the front of the vehicle, after agitating the strip to extract the infill. After redirecting the strip toward the front of the vehicle, the vehicle drives over the unfilled strip. Meanwhile, the extractor/collector device moves the extracted infill rearwardly to a bag located in a trailer. The turf cutter device is used prior to infill extraction, while the turf wind up device may be used before or after infill extraction, depending on whether infill extraction takes place at the field or at a remote site, respectively.

Apparatus and methods for facilitating the removal of existing turf and installing new turf

An apparatus for extracting and collecting particulate infill from an infilled artificial turf field. A vehicle has a first forward end and a second rearward end. An infill extractor is located at the first end of the vehicle and adapted to extract infill from a strip of infilled athletic turf. Extracted infill falls into a bottom section of the infill extractor. An infill mover is secured to the vehicle and adapted to move the extracted infill from the bottom section of the infill extractor toward the second end of the vehicle. An infill collector is connected to the second end of the vehicle and operable to cooperate with the infill mover to collect the moved infill. The infill collector includes a frame that is laterally movable relative to the vehicle from an operative 'in use' position to a stowed position.

Apparatus for infill extraction and collection

A method and device for installing synthetic turf uses a motorized turf rollout vehicle and a frame removably carried by the vehicle, the frame holding a roll of synthetic turf on a spindle at a first, forward end thereof. The roll and spindle are held in an orientation that is transverse to the first forward direction, and have a transverse dimension that extends beyond that of the vehicle. As the vehicle moves forward in the first direction, the vehicle engages and pulls the roll of turf, and the vehicle also moves on top of the just-unrolled portion of the turf. This accurately and efficiently places the turf on and over the base, in a desired position. Because the vehicle moves on top of the just unrolled section of turf, the present invention eliminates direct contact with, and disruption to, the underlying prepared base. This method and device reduces the time and cost associated with locating a roll of synthetic turf over a base during the installation of an athletic field, compared to prior installation methods.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

David P Motz