SURFACE COVERING FOR USE AS ARTIFICIAL MOSS, GRASS, ROOTS, HAIR, AND THE LIKE

Number: 20220145529
Published: 2022-05-12
Filed: 2020-11-12
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Porter; Steven J.
CPC: A41G1/009; A41G3/00; A41G3/0083; D06M15/55; D06M15/564
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Artificial-terrain/hair surface-covering material for sets/costumes.

Abstract

A surface covering for use as a moss covering or patch of grass via application to a surface or substrate. The surface covering provides a decorative and durable and easily maintained surface covering. The covering is fabricated using groups of fibers, such as metallic, plastic, or other material fibers, e.g., stainless steel fibers or strands available commercially as steel wool or the like. The fibers or strands provide a core of a body of each blade or piece of the surface covering, which is useful to replicate a blade of grass or moss or to mimic a strand of hair. Each body of the strands further includes an outer layer or coating, which can be formed by painting, e.g., with an epoxy or other useful material that may be colored, the mesh of metal fibers to provide a durable body with a desired look and feel.

Background

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description

The present description relates, in general, to artificial coverings used to replicate nature such as artificial turf, topiaries, and the like, and, more particularly, to a surface covering (and the method of making such a covering) for use in place of natural coverings of surfaces and objects, e.g., in place of moss, grass, air plant roots, robotic and other figure hair, and so on. 2. Relevant Background

In amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and many other facilities, there is an ongoing demand for ways to create inviting and welcoming settings that are also easy and less expensive to maintain. Also, it is desirable for the settings to include features that are natural and often match the theme of a space such as with plants from a particular part of the world.

Today, facility designers and operators often use manufactured or fabricated elements to replace plants and other natural features. For example, artificial turf may be used in place of grass, and plastic-leaved plants may be used in place of bushes, trees, and the like. The challenge continues to be how to fabricate these items so that they are durable while also appearing to the observer to be real or non-artificial.

As another specific example, moss is a common feature in natural landscapes. It grows on a variety of surfaces and has a distinctive organic appearance that can make otherwise sterile environments come to life. Replacing a grown and g

Claims

1. A surface covering, comprising: a base for attaching the surface covering to a substrate or surface; and a plurality of strands, wherein the strands each include an elongated body with a first end attached to the base and a second end distal to the first end, and wherein the elongated body includes a core and an outer layer coating the core. || 11. A method of fabricating a surface covering, comprising: providing a plurality of steel fibers arranged into a tubular shape; coating the plurality of steel fibers with paint; cutting the tubular shape into a plurality of slices of a predefined thickness; and applying a base to one end of each of the slices. || 18. A surface covering, comprising: a plurality of strands, wherein the strands each include an elongated body with a first end attached to the base and a second end distal to the first end, wherein the elongated body includes a core and an outer layer coating the core, wherein the core is formed of a metal fiber, and wherein the outer layer comprises a layer of paint.