Method and apparatus for constructing a removable surface

Abstract

An apparatus for constructing a removable surface includes a plurality of rolls of composite drainage material with overlapped edges. The composite drainage material comprises a layer of a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric having a fibrous outer surface. A closure member secures overlapping edges. The closure member comprises at least one surface of hooks that engages the fibrous outer surface of the fabric to form a hook and loop closure to secure sections of the overlapping longitudinal edge portions together. A method of constructing the removable surface is also provided.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of constructing a removable surface on a land area comprising the steps of: 
 providing a composite drainage material through which water drains, the composite drainage material including a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric having a fibrous outer surface;    covering a land area with the composite drainage material by placing rolls of the composite drainage material adjacent one another to form the removable surface;    unrolling the rolls of the composite drainage material over the land area so that longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls adjoin one another;    overlapping a portion of the longitudinal edge portions of the adjacent rolls; and    securing the overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls to each other by applying a closure member comprising at least one surface of hooks onto the fibrous outer surface along the longitudinal edge portions to form a first hook and loop closure between at least one section of the overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions to create a gapless and continuous surface of the composite drainage material.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least the majority of the land area lies underneath the composite drainage material, the first layer of each of the rolls contacting the land area, the second layer of each of the rolls facing away from the land area and providing the gapless and continuous surface of the composite drainage material; and 
 the composite drainage material directing water which contacts the second layer through the first layer, through the core between the layers, and into the land area covered by the composite drainage material.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of overlapping a portion of the longitudinal edge portions comprises overlapping a flap section of the second layer that extends beyond the core of one of the adjacent rolls onto the other of the adjacent rolls.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the closure member comprises a second surface of hooks and wherein said step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls comprises the step of applying the layer of closure member to form a second hook and loop closure, opposite the first hook and loop closure, with both sections of the longitudinal edge portions.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the closure member comprises a second surface opposite the surface with hooks, said step of overlapping a portion of the longitudinal edge portions comprising the step of heat-fusing the flap section and the second surface of the closure member together.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for removably covering a land area comprising: 
 a plurality of separate rolls of a composite drainage material placed adjacent each other with longitudinal edge portions adjoining and overlapping one another to create a gapless and continuous surface with at least the majority of a land area lying underneath the composite drainage material, the composite drainage material comprising a layer of a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric having a fibrous outer surface; and    a layer of a closure member located between the overlapping longitudinal edge portions, the closure member comprising at least one surface of hooks that engage the fibrous outer surface of the composite drainage material to form a first hook and loop closure to secure at least one section of the overlapping longitudinal edge portions together to create a gapless and continuous surface of the composite drainage material.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein one of the overlapping portions of two adjacent rolls comprises a flap section of the second layer that extends beyond the core onto the second layer of the other of the adjacent rolls.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the closure member comprises a second surface of hooks and wherein the overlapped portions of adjacent rolls are secured by forming a second hook and loop closure opposite the first hook and loop closure with both of the overlapped sections of the adjacent rolls.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the closure member comprises a second surface opposite the at least one surface of hooks on the closure member, the second surface and the flap section being heat-fused.