Artificial Grass Fiber with Thermal Expansion Damping Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial grass fibers used in sports fields have high frictional resistance, leading to increased injury risk, and infilled systems require labor-intensive installation and maintenance, while non-infill systems lack controllable playing characteristics.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional material component that undergoes a permanent volume increase under external stimuli, such as heat, to create a damping layer within the artificial grass fibers, which can be produced using existing techniques, reducing friction and enhancing shock absorption, energy restitution, and grip without the need for infill materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard synthetic materials (polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene) are used for artificial grass fibers, then production cost is low and processing is easy, but frictional resistance is high leading to increased injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining standard synthetic materials (polypropylene, polyamide, or polyethylene) with at least one additional material component that has different frictional properties. This composite fiber structure allows the base material to provide ease of manufacture while the additional component reduces frictional resistance and injury risk, resolving the contradiction between easy processing and harmful friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating the additional material component in specific regions or distributions within the fiber structure. The additional component may be present as a coating, core, or dispersed phases at specific locations along the fiber, allowing different parts of the fiber to have different properties - the base material providing structural integrity and the additional component providing reduced friction where player contact occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If granular infill (rubber or plastic grains) is used between synthetic grass fibers, then playing surface is softer and injury risk is reduced, but installation and maintenance become more labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the functions of the grass fiber and the infill material into a single integrated fiber structure. The additional material component within the fiber itself provides the shock absorption and injury protection previously requiring separate infill layers, eliminating the need for labor-intensive installation and maintenance of separate infill systems while maintaining safety benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the artificial grass fiber to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the base synthetic material provides structural support and durability, while the additional material component provides shock absorption, friction reduction, and injury protection. This multi-functional fiber replaces the need for separate infill materials, simplifying installation and maintenance while maintaining safety performance.
3Ease of operation
If non-infill systems are introduced as alternatives, then installation and maintenance become simpler, but playing characteristics become less controllable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the properties of the additional material component and its integration with the base synthetic material. Parameters such as the type of additional material, its concentration, distribution pattern, particle size, and bonding method can be adjusted to control playing characteristics like shock absorption, friction, and ball roll, while maintaining the simplified non-infill system structure for easy installation and maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces player injuries, maintains consistent playing characteristics across varying weather conditions, and extends the lifespan of the artificial grass sports field by integrating multiple system layers into a single fiber, enhancing durability and wear resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the additional material component imposes a permanent volume increase on the artificial fiber under the influence of an external stimulus after the artificial mat has been provided with the artificial fibre
Implementation Method 2
provide shock absorption and energy restitution so as to reduce the risk of injury
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The invention relates to an artificial grass fibre in particular for use in an artificial mat for an artificial lawn, which artificial grass fibre is made of at least one synthetic material. The invention also relates to an artificial mat, in particular for use in an artificial grass sports field, which artificial mat is built up of a carrier to which at least artificial grass fibres according to the invention are attached. The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved artificial grass fibre which on the one hand can be produced by means of the existing techniques and which on the other hand reduces the number of injuries on the field. According to the invention, the artificial grass fibre to that end furthermore comprises at least one additional material component, which additional material component imposes a permanent volume increase on the artificial grass fibre under the influence of an external stimulus after the artificial mat has been provided with the artificial grass fibre. Thus it is possible to create an artificial mat for a lawn, which can be produced by means of the standard production techniques and wherein the artificial grass fibre in question foams and transforms into, for example, a dampening layer after the manufacture of the artificial lawn, which layer improves or influences the playing characteristics of the sports field, such as the absorption of shocks, the restition of energy, the vetical deformation, grip and ball bounce and which furthermore reduces the number of player injuries.