US 12,116,734 B2 · Infill for artificial turf system

Abstract

An artificial turf system includes a turf assembly having a turf backing and artificial grass blades extending from the turf backing to form an artificial turf layer. Infill material is placed in between the blades of artificial grass. The infill material includes a plurality of wood particles, each particle defining a length dimension greater than a width or a thickness dimension. The length and one of the width or thickness dimensions defines an aspect ratio within a range of 1:2 to 10:1. In certain embodiments, the infill wood particles have a generally rounded edge profile along at least the length dimension. Each particle length dimension is oriented generally parallel to a grain structure of each particle. The plurality of particles maintains a water absorptive property that permits water to be retained by the particle and released over time to disperse heat from the infill material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An infill material disposed within an artificial turf carpet for an artificial turf system including an underlayment pad, said infill material comprising:

a plurality of wood particles, each particle defining a length dimension greater than a width or a thickness dimension, each particle length dimension being oriented generally parallel to a grain structure of each particle, the length dimension in a range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, the length and one of the width or thickness dimensions defining an aspect ratio within a range of 1:2 to 10:1, each particle maintaining a water absorptive property that permits water to be retained by the particle and released over time to disperse heat from the infill material, the plurality of wood particles providing an infill particle-to-particle interaction within the artificial turf carpet that permits transfer of compressive applied loads to the underlayment pad of the artificial turf system and permits relative particle-to-particle movement from shearing loads applied to an upper surface of the infill material and the artificial turf carpet.

An artificial turf assembly comprising:

a turf carpet having a plurality of spaced apart synthetic grass blades;
and
an infill material dispersed onto the turf carpet between the grass blades, the infill material including sand and a plurality of wood particles, each particle defining a length dimension greater than a width or a thickness dimension, each particle length dimension being oriented generally parallel to a grain structure of each particle, the length dimension in a range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, the length and one of the width or thickness dimensions defining an aspect ratio within a range of 1:2 to 10:1, each particle maintaining a water absorptive property that permits water to be retained by the particle and released over time to disperse heat from the infill material, the plurality of particles providing an infill particle-to-particle interaction that permits particle movement from shearing loads applied to an upper surface layer of the infill material.

A artificial turf system comprising:

a turf carpet having a plurality of spaced apart synthetic grass blades attached to a backing layer;
an underlayment layer at least partially formed from expanded polyethylene or polypropylene bead material having a density in a range of 45-70 g/l;
and
an infill material dispersed onto the turf carpet between the grass blades, the infill material including sand and a plurality of wood particles, each particle defining a length dimension greater than a width or a thickness dimension, each particle length dimension being oriented generally parallel to a grain structure of each particle, the length dimension in a range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, the length and one of the width or thickness dimensions defining an aspect ratio within a range of 1:2 to 10:1, each particle maintaining a water absorptive property that permits water to be retained by the particle and released over time to disperse heat from the infill material, the plurality of particles defining an infill layer and providing an infill particle-to-particle interaction that permits transfer of compressive applied loads through an infill layer thickness to the underlayment layer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Infill for artificial turf system

Life of this patent

Infill for artificial turf system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20