Resilient sports surfaces and methods of installation

Abstract

Described are sports surface layers, systems for surfacing sports surfaces, and methods of surfacing sports surfaces. The system for surfacing a sports surface includes a rubber shock pad comprising about 70% to 90% post-consumer recycled crumb rubber bound with a polyurethane adhesive. A sports surface layer can be formed from abrasive particles bonded by a polymer to a dimensionally stable plastic film. The bottom surface of the layer can be coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive covered by a removable protective liner. Methods for surfacing a sports surface are also provided.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for surfacing a sports surface comprising:
 a rubber shock pad comprising about 70% to 90% post-consumer recycled crumb rubber bound with a polyurethane adhesive.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rubber shock pad is self-adhesive on a bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a color coating on a top surface of the rubber shock pad. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the rubber shock pads are seamed together to form a mat. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a topmost sports surface layer, wherein the sports surface layer comprises abrasive particles bonded by a polymer to a dimensionally stable plastic film, wherein a bottom surface of the sports surface layer is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive covered by a removable protective liner. 
     
     
         6 . A method for surfacing a sports surface, comprising:
 a) positioning at least one rubber shock pad over a substrate;   b) peeling back the at least one rubber shock pad to expose a portion of the substrate;   c) applying an adhesive to the substrate;   d) repositioning the at least one rubber shock pad; and   e) repeating steps b)-d) until all of a bottom surface of the at least one rubber shock pad is adhered to the substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 f) applying a color coating to a top surface of the at least one rubber shock pad.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 f) applying a sports surface layer formed from abrasive particles bonded by a polymer to a dimensionally stable plastic film to a top surface of the at least one rubber shock pad.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sports surface layer is printed on a top surface with a UV-cured ink. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising sealing seams between any adjacent rubber shock pads after step e). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising applying a flexible acrylic coating comprising sand to further hide the sealed seams. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising a step of applying line markings to the sports surface over the color coating. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the rubber shock pad comprises about 70% to 90% post-consumer recycled crumb rubber bound with a polyurethane adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is concrete or asphalt. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the color coating comprises latex. 
     
     
         16 . A sports surface system, comprising: a sports surface layer formed from abrasive particles bonded by a polymer to a dimensionally stable plastic film, wherein a bottom surface of the sports surface layer is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive covered by a removable protective liner. 
     
     
         17 . The sports surface layer of  claim 16 , wherein the sports surface layer is printed on a top surface with a UV-cured ink. 
     
     
         18 . The sports surface layer of  claim 16 , wherein a bottom surface of the sports surface layer is adhered to a top surface of a rubber shock pad comprising about 70% to 90% post-consumer recycled crumb rubber bound with a polyurethane adhesive.