# US 2024/0200282 A1 · Artificial turf with shielded water absorber layer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200282 A1 - Document ID: US20240200282A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/067,087 - Filed: 2022-12-16 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16 - Assignees: Astro Turf Corporation - Applicants: Astro Turf Corporation - Inventors: Stephan SICK; Dario GROCHLA; Todd DEWOLFE; Benoit PINTAT; Dominick BERARDUCCI; Robert MITCHEL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200282A1 ## CPC - E01C 13/08: Surfaces simulating grass {; Grass-grown sports grounds (grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12)} - 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) ## Abstract The invention relates to an artificial turf (100, 200) that provides an infill layer including a water absorber layer (106) and a performance layer (104), where the performance layer is on top of the water absorber layer and shields the water absorber layer from sunlight, and where the water absorber layer is adapted to serve as water reservoir layer and includes a porous, water-absorbent material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An artificial turf comprising: an infill layer, the infill layer including: a water absorber layer adapted to serve as water reservoir layer, the water absorber layer comprising porous, water-absorbent material; and a performance layer, the performance layer on top of the water absorber layer and shielding the water absorber layer from sunlight. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, wherein at least 80 weight % of the water absorber layer consists of first particles having a first particle size; wherein at least 80 weight % of the performance layer consists of second particles having a second particle size; and wherein the second particle size is between the first particle size plus 20% of the first particle size and the first particle size minus 20% of the first particle size. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the water absorber layer having a height of 0.5 mm to 30 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the water absorber layer having a weight per m2 that is between a weight per m2 of the performance layer plus 20% the weight of the performance layer per m2 and the weight of the performance layer per m2 minus 20% the weight of the performance layer per m2. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the water absorber layer comprising or consisting of particles selected from a group including: zeolite particles, bentonite particles, lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) particles, expanded clay (ECA) particles, calcium hydro silicate particles, calcium silicate particles, alumina silicate particles, calcium carbonate particles, sodium alumina silicate particles, alumina magnesium silicate particles, calcium alumina silicate particles, aerated concrete particles, and mixtures of two or more of the aforementioned particles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 6) The artificial turf of claim 6, wherein the particles are the zeolite particles, and the zeolite particles comprise clinoptilolite. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, wherein the water absorber layer further comprises sand. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, wherein the infill layer further comprises a stabilizing layer, the stabilizing layer positioned between a backing and the water absorber layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The artificial turf of claim 8, the stabilizing layer comprising or consisting of sand. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the performance layer having a height of 0.5 mm to 50 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the performance layer comprising or consisting of water-absorbent material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The artificial turf of claim 11, wherein the water-absorbent material of the performance layer comprises water-absorbing particles coated with one or more porous layers of a water-impermeable material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The artificial turf of claim 12, wherein the water-impermeable material comprises polyurethane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The artificial turf of claim 11, wherein the water-absorbent material of the performance layer is selected from a group comprising: plant-based fibers, bark, wood, seeds, and mixtures of two or more of the aforementioned materials. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The artificial turf of claim 14, wherein the plant-based fibers comprise jute fibers and/or hemp fibers, and the bark comprises bark-based particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the performance layer being a capillary-active layer adapted to transport water from the water-absorber layer to an upper surface of the performance layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the performance layer comprising or consisting of elastic particles selected from a group including: cork particles; styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) particles; natural rubber particles; synthetic thermoplastic elastomer particles; and mixtures of two or more of the above-mentioned particles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The artificial turf of claim 1, the performance layer comprising or consisting of non-elastic particles selected from a group including: fruit stone particles or olive pit particles, or wood particles, or seeds, or mixtures of two or more of the aforementioned particles. ### Claim 19 A method for installing an artificial turf, the method comprising: placing an artificial turf backing on a ground, the backing carrying artificial turf fibers; applying a water absorber layer on top of the backing, the water absorber layer being adapted to serve as water reservoir layer and comprising or consisting of water-absorbent material; and applying a performance infill layer on top of the water absorber layer such that performance infill layer shields the water absorber layer from sunlight. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A system comprising: the artificial turf according to claim 1; and a controller configured to send irrigation control commands, the control commands configured to trigger an irrigation of the artificial turf selectively at times when a sun intensity is below a daily maximum.