# US 12,006,640 B2 · Treated walnut shell infill for artificial turf > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,640 B2 - Document ID: US12006640B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/327,610 - Filed: 2017-08-25 - Published: 2019-06-20 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-25 - Assignees: USGreentech, L.L.C. - Applicants: USGreentech, L.L.C. - Inventors: Mark A Heinlein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006640B2 ## CPC - E01C 13/08: Surfaces simulating grass {; Grass-grown sports grounds (grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12)} - B32B 5/16: characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder {or granules (layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02)} - B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material - B32B 5/22: characterised by the presence of two or more layers which {are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed (layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles next to a foam layer B32B19/047, next to a layer made of particles B32B19/048, or next to a fibrous or filamentary layer B32B19/06; paper layer or cardboard layer next to a paper layer or cardboard layer B32B29/005, next to a foam layer B32B29/007, next to a fibrous or filamentary layer B32B29/02, or next to a particulate layer B32B29/04)} - B32B 5/30: one layer {being formed of particles, e.g. chips,} granules, powder - B32B 21/02: {the layer being formed} of fibres, chips, or particles {, e.g. MDF, HDF, OSB, chipboard, particle board, hardboard} - C08J 11/00: Recovery or working-up of waste materials (recovery of plastics B29B17/00; polymerisation processes involving purification or recycling of waste polymers or their depolymerisation products C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G, C08H) - C08J 11/08: using selective solvents for polymer components - B32B 2255/04: on a particulate layer - B32B 2264/06: Vegetal particles - B32B 2264/10: Inorganic particles - B32B 2264/12: Mixture of at least two particles made of different materials - B32B 2307/402: Coloured - B32B 2307/4026: within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes - B32B 2307/554: Wear resistance - B32B 2307/7145: Rot proof, resistant to bacteria, mildew, mould, fungi - B32B 2307/7248: Odour barrier - C08J 2397/02: Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) ## Abstract An infilled artificial turf surface [18] includes a particulate infill [24] with at least a top layer [28] that comprises a mixture of Black walnut shell particles [30] and English walnut shell particles [32], the walnut shell particles [30, 32] having been treated so as to eliminate or substantially remove tree nut allergens that are known to activate allergies in some humans. Preferably, treatment occurs via heat treatment in a rotary furnace, which also rounds and smoothes the particles [30, 32]. Particularly if used in the top layer [28] of a particulate infill [24] of an artificial turf surface [18], the shape and size and proportion of the Black walnut shell particles [30] and the English walnut shell particles [32] provide stability for the resulting turf surface [18], while also being able to absorb water applied thereto, thereby to hold moisture and to provide evaporative cooling of the artificial turf surface [18] for up to about five hours. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An artificial turf comprising: a base; a backing located above the base, the backing having a primary and grass-like fibers extending upwardly therefrom; a particulate infill residing on the primary and providing lateral support for the grass-like fibers; and the particulate infill including a lower layer consisting essentially of sand and a top layer of treated walnut shell particles, the treated walnut shell particles having been treated so as to substantially eliminate tree nut allern ens therefrom wherein the top layer further comprises: a mixture of treated English walnut shell particles and treated Black walnut shell particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1 wherein the mixture comprises about 25-75% English walnut shell particles and about 75-25% Black walnut shell particles, by volume. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The artificial turf of claim 2 wherein the top layer consists essentially of the mixture of treated English walnut shell particles and treated Black walnut shell particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The artificial turf of claim 3 wherein at least some of the treated walnut shell particles are at least partially coated with a green pigment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The artificial turf of claim 3 wherein the treated English walnut shell particles have a sieve size of 6-30 and the treated Black walnut shell particles have a sieve size of 6-30. ### Claim 6 An artificial turf comprising: a base; a backing located above the base, the backing having a primary and grass-like fibers extending upwardly therefrom; a particulate infill residing on the primary and providing lateral support for the grass-like fibers; and the particulate infill including a lower layer consisting essentially of sand and a top layer of treated walnut shell particles, the treated walnut shell particles having been treated so as to substantially eliminate tree nut allergens therefrom wherein the top layer consists essentially of treated walnut shell particles. ### Claim 7 An artificial turf comprising: a base; a backing located above the base, the backing having a primary and grass-like fibers extending upwardly therefrom; a particulate infill residing on the primary and providing lateral support for the grass-like fibers, the particulate infill including a lower layer consisting essentially of sand, and a top layer of treated walnut shell particles residing above the lower layer, the treated walnut shell particles having been treated so as to substantially eliminate tree nut allergens therefrom, wherein the top layer consists essentially of a mixture of treated English walnut shell particles and treated Black walnut shell particles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The artificial turf of claim 7 wherein the mixture comprises about 25-75% English walnut shell particles and about 75-25% Black walnut shell particles.