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Tubular monofilament fiber

a monofilament fiber and tubular technology, applied in the direction of textiles and paper, ways, constructions, etc., can solve the problem of still inadequa

Inactive Publication Date: 2016-04-14
TARKETT INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to an artificial grass monofilament fiber and an artificial turf system comprising the fiber. The fiber has a tube with a perimeter wall enclosing a hollow interior area, which is divided into fibrils by predefined weak points. The weak points are breakable to disconnect the fibrils from each other by mechanical means. The fiber can be tufted through a backing member and infill is disposed between the fiber. The fibrils have a variety of shapes, such as diamond, triangle, L-shape, cross shape, and trapezoid shape. The weak points have a reduced thickness compared to the side surfaces. The artificial grass monofilament fiber can be used in an artificial turf system, where the fibrils are connected or disconnected at the weak points to create a more natural and realistic turf.

Problems solved by technology

Although fibers with various shapes and geometries have been adopted in the past to try to achieve these goals, they are still inadequate.

Method used

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  • Tubular monofilament fiber
  • Tubular monofilament fiber
  • Tubular monofilament fiber

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second embodiment

[0040]Referring to FIG. 2, a tubular monofilament fiber with predefined weak points is illustrated. FIG. 2 shows monofilament fiber 200 comprising a tube comprising a perimeter wall 210 enclosing a hollow interior area 205 of the tube, a plurality of predefined weak points 215 formed in the perimeter wall 210. The perimeter wall 210, the hollow interior area 205, and the plurality of predefined weak points 215 extend from a top end 220 of the fiber 200 to a bottom end 225 of the fiber 200.

embodiment 300

[0041]In this embodiment, the perimeter wall 210 has a round or ring shape that further includes ripple, ridge, sickle, or crescent shaped inner and outer surfaces 220, 225 similar to FIG. 2 disclosed in application Ser. No. 13 / 192,004. The inner surface 220 is a surface closer to the hollow interior area 205 and the outer surface 225 is a surface farther from the hollow interior area 204. The plurality of predefined weak points 215 divide the perimeter wall 210 into a plurality of fibrils 230 and allow the plurality of fibrils 230 to be disconnected from each other. The predefined weak points 225 have a center 235 with a reduced thickness (which is the distance B as shown in FIG. 5 that is discussed and defined later, but it is the distance B of the predefined weak points 225) compared to the side surfaces 240 of the predefined weak points 225 contacting the fibrils 230. The perimeter wall 210 is consisted of the plurality of fibrils 230 and the plurality of predefined weak points ...

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Abstract

A tubular monofilament fiber with predefined weak points for an artificial turf system is disclosed. The fiber comprises a tube comprising a perimeter wall enclosing a hollow interior area of the tube, and a plurality of predefined weak points formed in the perimeter wall that divide the perimeter wall into a plurality of fibrils and connect adjacent fibrils. The predefined weak points are easily breakable to disconnect the plurality of fibrils from each other by mechanical means for brushing the fiber, by conventional brushing processes using in installing an artificial turf, or by footsteps of players. The hollow interior area, the perimeter wall, and the plurality weak points extend from a top end of the fiber to a bottom end of the fiber.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62 / 063,342, filed Oct. 13, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application 62 / 075,132, filed Nov. 4, 2014. The entirety of both applications are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The embodiments of the present invention relate to a monofilament fiber for an artificial turf system. More particularly, the embodiments relate to a tubular monofilament fiber with predefined weak points for an artificial turf system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Artificial turf has been used for years to provide a surface that simulates natural grass. Artificial turf has many benefits over natural grass and, in addition, can be installed and used in places that do not allow for natural grass fields.[0004]One type of artificial turf that is commonly used is an in-filled synthetic grass field. The in-filled synthetic grass field includes a plurality of fibers (also referred to as filaments or ribbons), ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): E01C13/08
CPCE01C2201/162E01C13/08
Inventor MACDONALD, JAMISON SCOTTBERGHAUS, ULRICHEDWARDS, LUKE
Owner TARKETT INC