Playing surface with a mixture of stones and elastic granules

Abstract

Playing surface, in particular a sports floor or playing field. The playing surface comprises a substrate layer lying on top of a base layer and one or more additional layers lying on top of the substrate layer. The substrate layer is a leveled, compacted mixture of elastic granules and stones. At least one of the additional layers is an elastic layer. The substrate layer and the one or more additional layers form the playing surface.

1 . A method for laying a playing surface, the playing surface being in particular a sports floor or playing field, the method comprising the steps of;
 providing a substrate mixture comprising elastic granules and stones;   applying the substrate mixture on a base layer;   leveling the applied substrate mixture;   compacting the leveled substrate mixture such that a compact substrate layer is formed; and   applying one or more additional layers on top of the substrate layer, at least one of the additional layers being an elastic layer, wherein the substrate layer and the one or more additional layers form the playing surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method for laying a playing surface that provides robust protection against freeze-thaw-cycle-induced damages, the playing surface being in particular a sports floor or playing field, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing substrate mixture comprising elastic granules and stones;   applying the substrate mixture on a base layer, the base layer being located in a geographic area subjected to multiple freeze-thaw-cycles per year.   leveling the applied substrate mixture;   compacting the leveled substrate mixture such that a compact substrate layer is formed; and   applying one or more additional layers on top of the substrate layer, at least one of the additional layers being an elastic layer, wherein the substrate layer and the one or more additional layers form the playing surface.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , the base layer being a concrete, soil, sand, wood, or stone layer or a layer comprising a mixture of two or more of said materials. 
     
     
         4 . The method according  claim 1 , wherein the elastic granules are rubber granules, in particular EPDM or SBR rubber granules. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate mixture is free of a binder. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate mixture and the substrate layer are free of any adhesive fixing the stones and rubber granules. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, e.g., at least 20% of the volume of the compacted substrate layer consists of air-filled cavities between the stones and the elastic granules. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic layer is a PU layer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic layer or one of the other additional layers is an artificial turf layer or a hybrid turf layer. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the additional layers is a sealing layer adapted to prevent water from penetrating the playing surface and reaching the base layer. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the size distribution of the stones is an RRSB distribution and wherein the diameter of the stones is below 2.0 cm. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 40-60% of the weight of the substrate mixture consists of the stones and the rest of the weight of the substrate mixture consists of the rubber granules.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the size distribution of the rubber granules is an RRSB distribution and wherein the diameter of the rubber granules is below 2.0 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the rubber granules are PU-coated granules. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate mixture is applied such that the stones and the elastic granules are homogeneously mixed when they are applied on the base layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the compacting comprises applying pressure on the applied mixture of the stones and elastic granules such that the elastic granules become deformed and the resilience of the deformed elastic granules fixes the stones and other elastic granules in their local environment also in the absence of a binder or an adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the base layer is susceptible to freeze-thaw-cycle-induced damages and is in particular a porous stone or a porous concrete material. 
     
     
         18 . A playing surface, in particular a sports floor or playing field, comprising:
 a substrate layer lying on top of a base layer, the substrate layer being a leveled, compacted mixture of elastic granules and stones; and   one or more additional layers lying on top of the substrate layer, at least one of the additional layers being an elastic layer, wherein the substrate layer and the one or more additional layers form the playing surface.