Patent Application
20240247456
The present invention relates to golf course bunkers and more particularly to an edging interface for a golf bunker.
Golf course bunkers are specially prepared areas of sand, which are often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed. The bunkers may include a lip, wall or face at the edge and consist of soil, grass, stacked turf or artificial materials. The sides of the bunkers are often steep and the location between the grass and the bunker is susceptible to crumbling. Thus, the edges of the bunker require constant maintenance, which is expensive.
Accordingly, there is a need to further develop systems for improving golf course bunkers while reducing the maintenance requirements and extending the longevity of the edges of the bunker.
An edging interface for a golf course bunker is disclosed. The edging interface includes a strip of backing divided longitudinally into a first portion and a second portion. The strip of backing is also laterally divided into a plurality of adjacent sections, where each adjacent section is joined together at the first portion, and artificial turf is secured to the first portion. The second portion of each section is configured to be anchored between the golf course bunker and a grass edge of the golf course.
The first portion and the second portion longitudinally divide the strip of backing into substantially equal portions, and the plurality of sections are defined by a plurality of lateral cuts in the strip of backing that extend from an edge of the second portion of the strip of backing proximate to an edge of the first portion.
In addition, a selected portion of the strip of backing may be divided into the adjacent sections by a void that is triangular shaped or any other suitable shape in order for the edging interface to be arranged in a curvilinear shape while joined together at the first portions. The edging interface can also be rolled up for handling and shipping, and unrolled in place for installation. The artificial turf may include straight and curly yarn, and comprise a color to match natural turf stacked bunker edges.
In another aspect, a golf course bunker system is disclosed. The system includes a porous concrete liner defining a golf course bunker, where the liner has a ledge between a grass edge of the golf course and the golf course bunker. The system also includes an edging interface overlaying the ledge of the porous concrete liner. The edging interface comprises a strip of backing divided longitudinally into a first portion and a second portion, and divided laterally into a plurality of adjacent sections, where each adjacent section is joined together at the first portion. In addition, the system includes artificial turf secured to the first portion, and a porous concrete anchor layer over the second portion to secure the edging interface in place.
In yet another aspect, a method of constructing a golf course bunker is disclosed. The method includes installing a porous concrete liner for a golf course bunker and forming a ledge between a grass edge of the golf course and the golf course bunker. The method also includes placing an edging interface over the ledge of the porous concrete liner. The edging interface comprises a strip of backing divided longitudinally into a first portion and a second portion, and divided laterally into a plurality of adjacent sections, where each adjacent section is joined together at the first portion. In addition, the method includes applying a porous concrete anchor layer over the second portion to secure the edging interface in place.
The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Referring now to
The bunker 100 includes a layer of sand 112 over a layer of porous concrete 110A, such as Capillary Concrete® of the Applicant, that forms a liner for the bunker 100. The porous layer 110A terminates in a border that forms a ledge 110B around the bunker 100 and is proximate an interface between the bunker and grass 114 of the golf course. A top layer of porous concrete 110C anchors the edging interface 120 in place and creating a transition from the grass 114 to the bunker sand 112 that requires no maintenance and does not crumble. A drainage pipe 116 is located below the bunker 100 and configured to collect water and prevent ponding within the bunker.
The bottom surface of the edging interface 120 is shown in
The strip of backing 122 may be laterally divided into a plurality of adjacent sections, where each section is joined at only the first portion 128. This allows the edged interface 120 to be shaped to follow curves of the bunker as shown in
The strip of backing 122 may also be divided into the adjacent sections by a cut-out in the backing forming a triangular void 126 as shown in
In a particular aspect, the edging interface 120 is divided into the adjacent sections by the voids 126 in order for the strip 122 to be arranged in a curvilinear pattern while joined together only at the first portions 128 as shown in
The edging interface 120 can be rolled up for shipping and storage as shown in
An enlarged view of the backing 122 and the artificial turf 124 is shown in
In another aspect a method of constructing an edging interface for a golf course bunker is disclosed. The method includes installing a porous concrete liner 110A for the golf course bunker 100 and forming a ledge 110B between a grass edge 114 of the golf course and the golf course bunker 100. The method also includes placing an edging interface 120 over the ledge 110B of the porous concrete liner, where the edging interface 120 comprises a strip of backing 122 divided longitudinally into a first portion 128 and a second portion 130. The strip of backing 122 is also divided laterally into a plurality of adjacent sections, where each adjacent section is joined together at the first portion 128. The method includes applying a porous concrete anchor layer 110C over the second portion 130 to secure the edging interface 120 in place. The method may also include stacking a plurality of the edging interface 120 to form a built-up edge between the grass edge and the golf course bunker.
Many modifications and other embodiments will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/439,967 filed Jan. 19, 2023, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63439967 | Jan 2023 | US |
