# US 8,568,852 B2 · Artificial grass turf and infill for sports fields

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- Number: US 8,568,852 B2
- Document ID: US8568852B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/628,107
- Filed: 2005-06-14
- Published: 2008-12-25
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2004-06-17
- Assignees: Ten Cate Thiolon B.V.
- Applicants: Gerardus Hubertus Smit; Geurt Bastiaan Slootweg; Frederik Jan Van Der Gaag; Marinus Hendrikus Olde Weghuis; Francois Antoine Marie Op Den Buijsch; Wilhelmus Gerardus Marie Bruls; Leonardus Jacobus Johannus Wilhelmus Welzen; Christian Antoine Marie Jean-Pierre Widdershoven
- Inventors: Gerardus Hubertus Smit; Geurt Bastiaan Slootweg; Frederik Jan Van Der Gaag; Marinus Hendrikus Olde Weghuis; Francois Antoine Marie Op Den Buijsch; Wilhelmus Gerardus Marie Bruls; Leonardus Jacobus Johannus Wilhelmus Welzen; Christian Antoine Marie Jean-Pierre Widdershoven
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8568852B2

## CPC

- E01C 13/08: Surfaces simulating grass {; Grass-grown sports grounds (grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12)}
- Y10T 428/23921: With particles
- Y10T 428/2982: Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to an artificial turf suitable for sports fields including a substrate to which first artificial grass fibers are attached and a granular infill, which is provided between the first artificial grass fibers and which is made of a recyclable synthetic material. The invention also relates to an improved granular infill for use in an artificial turf suitable for sports fields.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An artificial turf suitable for sports fields comprising a substrate to which a plurality of spaced-apart synthetic fiber tufts are attached and a granular infill disposed between the tufts, wherein the granular infill consists of a recyclable synthetic material and an additive therein selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic polymer, an algicide, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf according to claim 1, wherein the additive is an algicide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf according to claim 1, wherein the granular infill has a density in the range of about 0.3-2.5 kg/dm3.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf according to claim 1, wherein the granular infill has a density in the range of about 0.3-1.5 kg/dm3.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf according to claim 1, wherein the granular infill has a density ranging from about 0.8 to about 1.49 kg/dm3.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf according to claim 1, wherein the granular infill has a density ranging from about 1.61 to about 2.5 kg/dm3.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf according to claim 1, wherein the granular infill has a diameter of less than about 1.5 mm.

### Claim 8

An artificial turf suitable for sports fields comprising a substrate to which a plurality of spaced-apart synthetic fiber tufts are attached and a granular infill disposed between the tufts, wherein the granular infill consists of a recyclable synthetic material and a hydrophilic polymer additive.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The artificial turf according to claim 8, wherein the recyclable synthetic material further includes an algicide additive.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The artificial turf according to claim 8, wherein the hydrophilic additive is ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The artificial turf according to claim 8, wherein the hydrophilic additive is a polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate.