AU2005248917B2 - Playing Surface and Method Thereof - Google Patents

Description

23/12 2005 FRI 11:29 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q003/025 c<K PLAYING SURFACE AND METHOD THEREFOR SFIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of playing surfaces.

In particular, the present invention relates to the field of winter and summer sports playing surfaces. In one form, the invention relates to a transformable routdoor playing surface.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to the 00 0i- use of a cricket pitch or wicket modified for alternate use as a football playing field or pitch, however, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited O 10 to that use only.

CI BACKGROUND ART Throughout this specification the use of the word "inventor" in singular form may be taken as reference to one (singular) or more (plural) inventors of the present invention.

The inventor has identified the following related art.

Most sporting fields are used for both winter sports (eg. football, soccer, rugby, and hockey) and summer sports (eg. bat and ball sports, and primarily cricket in Commonwealth countries).

In the example of a playing field used for cricket,.the centre playing pitch of a grassed cricket ground is either a turf surface (which is approx 20% of all cricket grounds in Australia) or an underlying rigid foundation or substrate, namely a slab of concrete, or other aggregate supporting substrate such as asphalt, and covered with artificial grass or matting. This form of centre playing pitch comprises approximately 80% of all cricket grounds in Australia.

On the "turf" grounds it is normal for the winter sports to be played over the top of the turf pitch area, using the turf as a playing surface. However, on the balance of these sports grounds, that is the concrete slabbed hard cricket pitch surfaces, it is necessary to cover the pitch for the purpose of playing winter ball games as it is too hard to run or fall on this rigid surface.

Up until recent times, in the order of the past 5 years, it was the accepted practice to cover these hard cricket pitches with several tonnes of soil. The inventor has identified that this in itself may create problems, examples of which are: COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:30 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q004/025 2 1. That while most of the sports ground is grassed, the soiled area may be laid bare (ungrassed) for the winter and become muddy/boggy, or may become very dry and hard, or sandy and shifting (unstable), depending on the type of soil mix used to cover the area, and the prevailing weather conditions.

2. These soiled areas may be quite unsafe as generally they lay as a large mound above the general playing surface creating a discontinuity in the playing surface.

3. The weight of the mound may also have the effect of crushing the synthetic grass pitch underneath, which may reduce the useful life of that pitch.

4. In removing the soil at the end of winter, several difficulties may occur, such as: Much of the soil may be distributed around the pitch creating a mound of soil on either side of the pitch, thus causing the summer surface to lie below the general ground height creating a further discontinuity to the surface.

The mound of soil may kill existing grass around the pitch within an area of about one meter outwards from the pitch. This in itself may create a multitude of problems in the cricket season, such as no grass around the pitch, damage to bowlers run ups, rain washing soil onto the pitch, surrounds of pitch turning to mud when wet.

In removing the soil, the artificial covered grass surface may be damaged by earth moving equipment such as, bob cats, shovels etc.

Some of the soil may often remain on the artificial grass pitch causing damage to the surface and reducing its life span, The installation and removal of the soil may be both inefficient and costly.

In more recent times, a product known as a 'pitch cover' has evolved. The 'pitch cover' alternative comes in various forms, the most common being a high pile artificial grass surface utilising various combinations of: S Artificial grass pile height COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:30 FAX IP AUSTRALIA 0005/025 3 Rubber underlay Sand infill Rubber infill Cr Some alternative 'pitch covers' may be made entirely of reconstituted rubber. These innovations have proven quite popular, but the inventor has identified that these innovations have in themselves created other problems.

One such identified problem with 'pitch covers' has been firstly in their 00 removal and storage, and secondly in their reinstallation. Furthermore, artificial Vt grass pitch covers (when installed) sit loose on the surface of the cricket pitch and have the potential to move and create trip hazards for sports players.

It is inevitable, at least in temperate climates such as in the Southern States of Australia, that these 'pitch covers' will be removed in mid spring, prior to the cricket season. Spring is generally the wettest season of the year in these geographic regions.

Following a winter of wet weather, and much mud etc being traipsed through these covers, they are universally extremely heavy, often creating a potential health and safety problem for those people (generally local government employees or volunteers) who are required to remove them.

The sheer bulk of these covers makes the manual handling, storage and reinstallation of 'pitch covers' a most cumbersome and dangerous activity.

As stated above, covering hard surface cricket pitches has been done by either dumping several tones of dirt on the pitches (a most inadequate solution), or by installing 'pitch covers' (a much better, but still inadequate solution).

In the instance of the 'tonnes of soil' solution there are no obvious redeeming features as it creates more problems than it solves (such as excess of soil on the ground, damage to the pitch etc).

The 'pitch cover' innovation has proven to be a great advancement in solving some of the problems associated with soil coverage when it comes to covering artificial grass cricket pitches. However, in solving these problems, "pitch covers" have created others, (as stated above), primarily relating to health and safety issues.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:31 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Z006/025 4 In previous attempts to solve the above noted problems, it has, at the end Sof the cricket season, for instance, been necessary to lay an additional surface over an artificial grass cricket pitch (either a large quantity of dirt/sand or a pitch Cr cover in one of its many forms). Accordingly, at the beginning of each new cricket season this soil/sand layer or pitch cover must be removed.

17 It is therefore desirable to provide a multi purpose sports surface, designed to enable the playing of both summer sports, such as the game of cricket, and 00 multiple winter sports on the same artificial grass sports surface that may be a tIt centre pitch surface.

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In one aspect the present invention provides a method of transforming a portion of a playing surface for accommodating a summer sport and a winter sport, said portion including a base surface having at least a first rigid substrate layer and a second artificial grass layer, the method including the steps of: a) applying pelletised resilient material to a first region of the base surface so as to accommodate a summer sport; b) applying the pelletised resilient material to a second region of the base surface so as to accommodate a winter sport, wherein the first and second regions substantially cover the base surface; c) removing at least substantially all of the pelletised resilient material from the base surface so as to allow step a) and/or b) to be repeated.

In another aspect the present invention provides a multi purpose playing surface adapted for accommodating a summer sport and a winter sport, the playing surface including, in combination: a base surface including: a first rigid substrate layer; a second artificial grass layer; and COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:31 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q007/025 pelletised resilient material selectively applied to one or more regions of d the base surface.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of and/or apparatus Cc, C for predetermining the playing characteristics of a playing surface, said playing surface including a base surface having at least a first rigid substrate layer, a second artificial grass layer and, a third compound resilient material layer intermediate the first and second layers, and applying a predetermined amount of 00 pelletised resilient material to the second layer of the base surface so as to form a In prescribed layer for predetermining the playing characteristics of the playing surface.

Preferably, the pelletised material is substantially removed to provide an altered playing characteristic.

Other aspects and preferred aspects are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention.

In essence, the present invention stems from the realization that providing a particulate material with the requisite resilient properties for selective application to a rigid artificial surface allows safe and efficient cushioning for players and removal from the artificial surface as required resulting in a surface suitable for multiple purposes without the need for excess materials or structures that adversely affect surrounding playing surfaces.

The present invention has been found to result in a number of advantages, such as: The one sports surface serves all, both summer and winter sport. In the past, those persons responsible for covering cricket pitches in winter, and removing that cover in summer (usually Local Government workers or sporting clubs) have faced a costly and arduous task of covering and uncovering these artificial grass cricket pitches. This task also provides considerable risks to the workers from a health and safety aspect and has the potential to damage existing cricket pitches.

In providing the playing surface of the present invention, there is provided a surface which can be modified to simulate a turf cricket pitch, this being the surface upon which the game of cricket is played at the highest level.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:32 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q008/025 6 Other advantages relate to the stabilisation of natural grass growth around

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Sexisting artificial surfaces such as grass cricket pitches and all year round maintenance of the sporting ground.

C When a Council dumps several cubic metres of soil on a playing surface such as a cricket pitch to provide a cover for winter sport, this kills the grass for an _area of about one meter around the cricket pitch, meaning that once the soil is removed the ground is bare around the playing surface. With the all year surface 00 of the present invention, applied for example to a cricket pitch, it is possible for t the grass to be maintained up to the edge of the pitch and at a level which provides a smooth transition from natural grass to artificial grass surfaces.

This multi purpose surface of the present invention is adhered to a rigid underlying substrate such as a concrete surface and eliminates the hazard of pitch covers that are susceptible to movement.

The multi purpose playing surface of the present invention provides for an attractive and substantially less expensive alternative to turf cricket pitches, which require careful installation and costly maintenance involving, amongst other care, considerable watering.

Soil, rubber and other compounds used in the present invention may be of any suitable and/or available type.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further disclosure, improvements, advantages, features and aspects of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limiting to the scope of the present invention, and in which: COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:32 FAX IP AUSTRALIA 009/025 O 7

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Figure 1 illustrates, in side view, the fabrication of a base surface of a multi o purpose playing surface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 0present invention; C Figure 2 illustrates, in side view, a further step in the fabrication of a base surface of a multi purpose playing surface in accordance with a preferred r- embodiment of the present invention; 1Figure 3 illustrates, in perspective view, the insertion of marking lines for 00 defining playing zones on a playing surface in accordance with a preferred tN embodiment of the present invention; o 10 Figure 4 illustrates, in side view, the application of pelletised material to a first region of a playing surface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates, in side view, that it is possible, but not essential to apply soil to a second region of a playing surface; Figure 6 illustrates, in side view, the transformation of a cricket pitch into a winter sports playing surface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 and 8 illustrate, in side view, the transformation of a winter sports playing surface into a cricket pitch in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention where Figure 7 shows the removal of pelletised material and Figure 8 shows the re-establishment of the playing surface for summer use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment will be described in which a cricket pitch is transformed for winter sports play and then in turn the winter sports surface is transformed for summer use as a cricket pitch. It is to be noted however, that equally another summer sport playing surface may be utilized in accordance with the present invention such as any number of other bat and ball sports.

With particular reference to figure 1, the entire surface of a concrete slab 1 cricket pitch is covered and leveled with a compound 2 of premixed shredded rubber 3 (or other suitable resilient material) and polymer resin 4 to a thickness of approximately 10mm. As an alternative, prefabricated rubber mats may be used.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:33 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Z010/025 8

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Referring now to figure 2, above the rubber compound layer 2 described 0)with reference to figure 1, a surface of preferably 20mm high artificial grass 5 is adhered by suitable adhesive 6 to the rubber layer 2. The actual height may vary depending on individual customer requirements. The person skilled in the art would recognise that the artificial grass may be readily available from several manufacturers. The resulting combination of slab, compound and grass layers provides a base surface, indicated generally as 10, for the playing surface 00 With reference to figure 3, white artificial grass batting and bowling creases S7 (marking lines) are inserted or may be later applied by conventional means onto the base surface 10 at the appropriate positions to define the appropriate zones for batsmen and bowlers using the cricket pitch. The artificial grass is not illustrated for clarity. While this is a process which is readily available, it is rarely utilised when installing existing artificial grass cricket pitches. It is also envisaged that marking lines may be provided to delimit playing zones for the surface when used as a winter sports playing surface. Also provided as required are stump holes 8.

With reference to figure 4, a suitable pelletised resilient material such as shredded rubber pellets 12 are inserted into the newly laid base surface 10 at both ends from the batting crease 7 to the rear end of the pitch 11. Only one end of the pitch is shown in figure 4 and the central or main play area of the pitch is indicated by 9. An advantage of the playing surface formed in this manner is that it provides a soft bowling run up for bowlers and serves as a shock pad helping to reduce the potential for stress injuries to bowlers. This is equally applicable to fielding players of other bat and ball summer sports. The padded effect of this area also helps prolong the life of the product through reduced wear and tear.

With reference to figure 5, in the main playing surface 9 of the pitch (from batting crease to batting crease) a prescribed layer of soil 13 may be brushed into the pitch. It is to be noted, however, that the application of soil is not essential to the present invention. The thickness and density of this soil 13 determines the playing characteristics of the pitch. That is in cricketing terms it is possible to adjust the playing surface to suit the required characteristics of the pitch, eg fast or slow pace, gentle or sharp spin, high or low bounce.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:33 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q011/025 9 c Starting with the basic pitch as illustrated in figure 2, namely, a concrete or dU solid base 10 with a compound rubber surface 2 topped with the artificial grass the main pitch area 9 (from batting crease to batting crease) will display certain tc, Scharacteristics when the ball is bowled on it. These characteristics may be summarised as: With no soil added: Pitch plays fast and bouncy. The ball continues on at a speed of almost 100% to that at which it strikes the pitch. At rapid speed, the 0- shorter the ball is bowled, the more it bounces, as would be understood by the It person skilled in the art. With slow (looped) bowling the higher the ball is tossed, O 10 the higher and sharper it will bounce, as would be understood by the person skilled in the art. Furthermore, as the skilled person would recognise, it should be noted that the speed and bounce of the ball off the pitch also relates to the condition of the ball. A new ball will bounce faster and higher than a worn ball.

The pitch will also display minimal traits such as cut (sideways movement off the pitch) caused by the ball landing on its seam when bowled at pace and spin (sideways movement off the pitch), caused by the rotation of a slowly bowled ball when it hits the pitch, In the preferred embodiment, a pitch in accordance with the present invention will utilize artificial grass which is around 20mm high. In accordance with this preferred embodiment, the pitch will react in the following manner when soil is added: of soil added to the pitch: A ball bowled at pace would exit the pitch at approximately 90% of the speed at which it hits the pitch. Bounce will be marginally reduced as compared to the scenario of no soil and, cut and spin will marginally increase as compared to the scenario of no soil.

of soil added to the pitch: A ball bowled at pace would exit the pitch at approximately 80% of the speed at which it hits the pitch. Bounce will be further reduced as compared to the scenario of 5mm soil and, cut and spin will further increase as compared to the scenario of 5mm soil.

15mm of soil added to the pitch: A ball bowled at pace would exit the pitch at approximately 70% of the speed at which it hits the pitch. Bounce will be further reduced as compared to the scenario of 10mm soil and, cut and spin will COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:34 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q012/025 Sfurther increase as compared to the scenario of O10mm soil to the point that they

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d may be described as "sharp" cut and spin.

I 20mm of soil added to the pitch: Bowling pace may now be described as Sslow with low bounce. Cut and spin become exaggerated but slow and low.

Overall, the more soil that is added, the slower and lower the pitch becomes, with proportionate increases in cut and spin. Of course, if soil is to be added, any amount of soil may be added.

00 0-It is to be noted that it is also possible to mix shredded rubber pellets with Sthe soil in various proportions. While the soil will slow down the pitch and increase cut and spin, the rubber pellets will advantageously help maintain a desired level of bounce in the pitch.

While it has been possible in the past to design an artificial grass pitch which has one or more of these characteristics, the concept of having an artificial grass cricket surface where you can alter its playing characteristics at any time, on an as required basis, has not been provided.

Of further consideration is the effect of added water on the pitch. A small amount of water would ordinarily have little notable effect on the playing characteristics of the pitch. A surface coating of water may cause the ball to skid off the pitch. A substantial amount of water reacting with the soil in the pitch is yet to be fully determined by the inventor; however, the present invention provides a pitch surface that is substantially less affected by water and will remain playable for a longer period than a turf wicket which is easily affected by water. Also, it is to be noted that the swing of a cricket ball relates to the movement of the ball through the air before it strikes the pitch. As such the pitch provided in accordance with the present invention has no direct effect on the swing of a cricket bail. However, the softness of the surface provided by the present invention will provide added longevity to the cricket ball, thus extending its hardness and shininess, while proportionally increasing the possibility of the skilled bowler swinging the ball.

At the end of a cricket season the artificial grass pitch, including the central area 9, may then be filled with granulated rubber pellets 12 to provide a soft and even surface over which the winter sportsmen can play their respective sports.

Figure 6 illustrates this.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:34 FAX IP AUSTRALIA 013/025 o 11 0 Prior to the commencement of a new cricket or summer season, the artificial grass surface is cleaned, for example by way of hosing down as shown in 0 figure 7, to remove all unwanted debris 14 (which may comprise the pelletised material 12 and soil 13) from the playing area and is "refitted" as illustrated in figures 4 and 5 and described above. The resulting retransformed surface is shown in figure 8, although the soil 13 may also be removed.

N The present invention allows for an artificial grass surface which enables 00 both summer sports, such as the game of cricket, and winter sports to be played r on the same surface. It is envisaged that once the multi purpose surface of the present invention is installed, there may be considerable cost savings to Local Government Authorities and sporting clubs alike. In addition, this surface provides the winter sportsman with a surface at least equal to or possibly superior to that currently available with existing pitch covers. However it is the duality of use of the playing surface disclosed herein which provides major advantages.

While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 23/12 2005 FRI 11:35 FAX IP AUSTRALIA Q014/025 12 1 structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure d wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a Sscrew are equivalent structures.

"Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, 00components or groups thereof." i- components or groups thereof.

In COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23

Claims (19)

1. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including the steps of: performing step b) prior to the winter sports season, and; performing steps a) and c) prior to the summer sports season.
2. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first region of the base surface includes an approach area for ball delivery of the fielding team of a summer sport.
3. 4. A method of predetermining the playing characteristics of a playing surface, said playing surface including a base surface having at least a first rigid substrate layer, a second artificial grass layer and, a third compound resilient material layer intermediate the first and second layers, the method comprising the step of: applying a predetermined amount of pelletised resilient material to the second layer of the base surface so as to form a prescribed layer for predetermining the playing characteristics of the playing surface. COMS ID No: SBMI-02279517 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:40 Date 2005-12-23 17/04 2007 TUE 11:42 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA 1005/012 r- 14 O A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the playing characteristics include one or more of: fast and slow pace; gentle and sharp spin; high and low bounce.
4. 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the pelletised material is 0 substantially removed to provide an altered playing characteristic.
5. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the altered playing characteristic CI is for a summer sport.
6. 8. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the pelletised material is only partially removed to provide an altered playing characteristic.
7. 9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, further including the step of: applying pelletised resilient material to a first region of the base surface.
8. 10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, further including the step of: mixing a portion of pelletised resilient material with a predetermined amount of soil.
9. 11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the playing surface includes a cricket pitch.
10. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second region includes substantially the portion of the cricket pitch between batting creases located generally at each end of the pitch. COMS ID No: SBMI-07013237 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:45 Date 2007-04-17 17/04 2007 TUE 11:42 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA Q006/012 O
11. 13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first region includes substantially the portions of the cricket pitch extending from the batting crease to the edge of the pitch at each end of the pitch.
12. 14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 13, further including the step of: transforming a winter sports playing surface into a cricket playing surface 00 by: N cleaning the base surface thereby removing substantially all of the pelletised resilient material from the base surface and; CI performing the steps of any one of claims 4 to 13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the winter sport includes at least one or more of: football; soccer; rugby; hockey, or; any other winter field sport.
13. 16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the summer sport includes at least one or more of: cricket; baseball; softball, or; any other bat and ball sport.
14. 17. A multi purpose playing surface adapted for accommodating a summer sport and a winter sport, the playing surface including, in combination: a base surface including: a first rigid substrate layer; a second artificial grass layer; and COMS ID No: SBMI-07013237 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:45 Date 2007-04-17 17/04 2007 TUE 11:42 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA 1007/012 t 16 0 pelletised resilient material selectively applied to one or more regions of the base surface, wherein the pelletised resilient material is applied to the second artificial grass layer to allow a first winter sport to be played over the artificial grass layer wherein and is adapted for removal from the playing surface to allow another summer sport to be played using the artificial grass layer. 00 00
15. 18. A multi purpose playing surface as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base N surface has the pelletised material applied in a first region thereof for accommodating a summer sport.
16. 19. A multi purpose playing surface as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base surface has the pelletised material applied in a first and second region thereof for accommodating a winter sport such that the first and second regions substantially cover the base surface. A multi purpose playing surface as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the base surface further includes: a third compound resilient material layer intermediate the first and second layers.
17. 21. A multi purpose playing surface as claimed in any one of claims 17 to wherein the second artificial grass layer includes marked lines applied thereto for delimiting playing zones of a winter or summer sport.
18. 22. A multi purpose playing surface as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the winter sport includes at least one or more of: football; soccer; rugby; hockey, and; any other winter field sport. COMS ID No: SBMI-07013237 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:45 Date 2007-04-17 17/04 2007 TUE 11:43 FAX Smoorenburg Attorneys IP AUSTRALIA [008/012 17 0 S23. A multi purpose playing surface as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 22, k wherein the summer sport includes at least one or more of: cricket; baseball; softball, and; any other bat and ball sport. 0- 24. A method of transforming a portion of a playing surface substantially as herein disclosed. 8 A method of predetermining the playing characteristics of a cricket playing surface as herein disclosed.
19. 26. A multi purpose playing surface as herein disclosed. COMS ID No: SBMI-07013237 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:45 Date 2007-04-17