Artificial grass lawn for sports fields

Abstract

The invention relates to an artificial grass lawn suitable for sports fields, which artificial grass lawn consists of a base layer, on which first artificial grass fibres are disposed. In accordance with the invention, the artificial grass lawn is characterized in that said base layer comprises a material having damping properties, which is present thereon and / or therein. Thus the properties of a natural grass field are approximated very closely, and also the style of play on the sports field is positively affected. Furthermore, the artificial grass field thus obtained is substantially free of maintenance and of injury.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 112,009 filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 297,609 filed Apr. 22, 2003, which is a nationalization of PCT / NL01 / 00448 filed Jun. 14, 2001 and published in English.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to an artificial grass lawn suitable for sports fields, which artificial grass lawn consists of a base layer, on which first artificial grass fibres are disposed.[0003]Many sports, such as field hockey, tennis, American football and so forth, are played on artificial grass fields these days, which sports fields comprise artificial grass lawns as referred to in the introduction. Although sports people sustain fewer injuries due to falling, making slidings, etc. on natural grass fields, due to the soft surface thereof, such sports fields are hard worn, in particular by the aforesaid sports, owing to the intensive use that is made thereof and the changi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The object of the invention is to provide an artificial grass field which is substantially free of maintenance and which does not exhibit the aforesaid drawbacks. In accordance with the invention, the artificial grass lawn is characterized in that said base layer comprises a material having damping properties, which is present thereon and / or therein. The drawbacks of filling the spaces between the artificial fibres with damping material are thus completely overcome, so that an artificial grass field obtained in this manner is substantially free of maintenance. Moreover, the damping material can be worked into the artificial grass lawn during the manufacturing process already, so that the artificial grass field can be constructed in one operation. This leads to a considerable saving of labour.

[0008]Furthermore, such an artificial grass lawn is much more capable of absorbing the energy and the shocks to which the fibres are exposed by the players and the attributes they use, such as balls.

[0013]An artificial grass lawn which also has moisture-regulating properties, so that this lawn comes nearest to natural lawn, and which furthermore has a positive effect on the style of play, is according to the invention characterized in that said further synthetic fibres are hollow.

[0018]Alternatively, the damping material may be made from a synthetic foam product, optionally an open synthetic foam product. In this latter embodiment, the damping material is capable of absorbing moisture, so that the field will exhibit strongly improved playing characteristics. In addition, the risk of injury is further reduced in this manner.

Problems solved by technology

This leads to a considerable saving of labour.

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