IP Library Granted Patent US 11,236,471
Granted Patent B2
US 11,236,471 · App. 16/118,929 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Artificial turf field system

Inventors: Kevin Scott Spittle (Vero Beach, FL); Joe E. Betulius (Naperville, IL)
Assignee: PROFILE PRODUCTS LLC
E01C13/08D06N7/0063D06N7/0071B32B2264/107B32B2264/402B32B2264/403Y10T428/23921Y10T428/23993Y10T428/2998
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,236,471
App. No.
16/118,929
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An artificial turf field system is provided. The system may include a plurality of synthetic turf strands attached to a backing layer and an infill material positioned between the synthetic turf stands. The infill material may include a plurality of porous particles. A sub-layer may be included beneath the backing layer, and may be formed of a resilient material. A support layer may be included beneath the sub-layer, and may include materials configured for drainage. The porous particles of the infill material may include porous ceramic particles and the sub-layer may include rubber. The porous particles may be at least partially coated, for example, by a polymer coating. The infill material may be free of sand and/or crumb rubber.

Claims (21)

1. An artificial turf field system, comprising:

a plurality of synthetic turf strands attached to a backing layer;

an infill material positioned between the synthetic turf stands, the infill material including a plurality of porous particles, wherein at least a portion of the porous particles are at least partially covered in a polymer coating, and wherein the porous particles have varying amounts of their outer surfaces covered by the coating, such that the porous particles are configured to have a dynamic range of water evaporation time when the pores of the porous particles are filled with water;

a sub-layer beneath the backing layer, the sub-layer formed of a resilient material; and

a support layer beneath the sub-layer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of porous particles have a porosity of no less than 30 volume percent.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of porous particles hold water in a ratio of particle weight to water weight of 1:0.5 to 1:1.5.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the porous particles include porous ceramic particles.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the infill material is substantially free of crumb rubber and sand.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the polymer coating includes one of acrylic resin, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene (PS), Nylon, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), acrylate monomers, Methacrylates, Methyl acrylate, Ethyl acrylate, 2-Chloroethyl vinyl ether, 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate, Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, Butyl acrylate, Butyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), Polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate copolymer (ACM) and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the infill material has a depth of less than 0.75 inches.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of porous particles has an average pore size of 0.5 to 18 microns.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sub-layer includes rubber.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sub-layer has a thickness of 0.01 to 8 inches.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the support layer includes crushed stone, concrete, soil, gravel, stone, asphalt, smoothed sand, compacted soil, fiber reinforced soil, glass, ceramics, or combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the infill material includes cork particles.

13. An artificial turf field system, comprising:

a plurality of synthetic turf strands attached to a backing layer; and

an infill material positioned between the synthetic turf stands, the infill material including a plurality of porous particles, wherein at least a portion of the porous particles are at least partially covered in a polymer coating, wherein the porous particles have varying amounts of their outer surfaces covered by the coating, such that the porous particles are configured to have a dynamic range of water evaporation time when the pores of the porous particles are filled with water.

14. The system of claim 13 , and the plurality of porous particles hold water in a ratio of particle weight to water weight of 1:0.5 to 1:1.5.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a sub-layer beneath the backing layer, the sub-layer formed of a resilient material, and wherein the sub-layer includes rubber and has a thickness of 0.01 to 8 inches and the porous particles have a porosity of no less than 30 volume percent.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
To: PROFILE PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 058101/0654 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2021
From: SPITTLE, KEVIN SCOTT; BETULIUS, JOE E.
To: PROFILE PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 058300/0412 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: PROFILE PRODUCTS LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047839/0312 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14695876 · Apr 24, 2015
Provisional Application 61984196 · Apr 25, 2014
Related Publication 20180371708A1 · Dec 27, 2018