Protective ground cover system

Abstract

A protective ground cover system for reducing the impact of a fall onto a surface, said system including a first layer of loose fill material placed on or in the ground at an impact zone; at least one supporting layer, wherein each layer has open channels adapted to be filled by loose fill material and to enable fluid to pass there through, the at least one supporting layer positioned over the first layer; a second layer of loose fill material having a thickness less than the first layer and being placed on the at least one supporting layer, wherein the protective ground cover system substantially prevents displacement of the loose fill material away from the impact zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective ground cover system for reducing the impact of a fall onto a surface defined by an impact zone, comprising:
 a first layer of loose fill material having a predetermined first thickness, wherein the first layer is placed on the surface;   at least one supporting layer, each supporting layer comprising:
 a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of open channels, each channel having an upper opening at an upper surface of the sheet and a corresponding lower opening at a lower surface of the sheet, thereby enabling loose fill material to be retained therein and enabling fluid to flow there through, wherein the at least one supporting layer lays over the first layer; and 
   a second layer of loose fill material having a predetermined second thickness, wherein the second layer is placed on the at least one supporting layer,   whereby the protective ground cover system substantially prevents displacement of the loose fill material away from the impact zone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined second thickness has a thickness less than the predetermined first thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined first thickness is between about 100 mm and about 200 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined second thickness is at least 40 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing of the channels and the area of the upper openings thereof result in the upper surface comprising a plurality of ridges extending along each support layer in at least two directions thereby forming a grid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of ridges provide a non-skid surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further providing a secure attachment between the at least one supporting layer and the impact zone surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the secure attachment includes a plurality of rods, wherein each rod is secured at a first end to a portion of supporting layer and secured at a second end to the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second end is driven into the surface a depth ranging from about four to about six inches. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each rod has a hook at the first end and is positioned below the at least one supporting layer within the first layer of loose fill material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one supporting layer has a layer thickness of between about 20 mm and 30 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a protective ground surface for reducing the impact of a fall onto a surface defined by an impact zone, comprising the steps of:
 forming a first layer of loose fill material on or in the surface;   placing at least one supporting layer over the first layer, each supporting comprising:
 a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of open channels, each channel having an upper opening at an upper surface of the sheet and a corresponding lower opening at a lower surface of the sheet, thereby enabling loose fill material to be retained therein and enabling fluid to flow there through, wherein the at least one supporting layer lays over the first layer; and 
 forming a second layer of loose fill material of a predetermined thickness over the at least one supporting layer, 
 whereby the placement of the protective ground surface substantially prevents displacement of the loose fill material away from the impact zone. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined second thickness has a thickness less than the predetermined first thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined first thickness is between about 100 mm and about 200 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined second thickness is at least 40 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spacing of the channels and the area of the upper openings thereof result in the upper surface comprising a plurality of ridges extending along each support layer in at least two directions thereby forming a grid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including forming a secured attachment between the at least one supporting layer and the impact zone surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the secured attachment includes a plurality of rods, wherein each rod is secured at a first end to a portion of each of the at least one supporting layer and secured at a second end to the surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each rod has a hook at the first end and is positioned below the at least one supporting layer within the first layer of loose fill material. 
     
     
         20 . A supporting layer for substantially preventing displacement of the loose fill material away from a surface, comprising:
 a substantially flat sheet having a plurality of open channel, each channel having an upper opening at an upper surface of the sheet and a corresponding lower opening at a lower surface of the sheet, thereby enabling loose fill material to be retained therein and enabling fluid to flow there through, and   wherein the spacing of the channels and the area of the upper openings thereof result in the upper surface comprising a plurality of ridges extending along the support layer in at least two directions thereby forming a grid,   whereby the plurality of ridges provide a non-skid surface for retaining loose fill material engaging the plurality of ridges.