Poured Rubber Subsurface Cooling Artificial Turf
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional synthetic turf systems face issues with high surface temperatures, maintenance requirements, and safety concerns due to crumb rubber infill, which contributes to heat retention and dispersion, leading to inconsistent athletic performance and player protection.
Innovation Solution
A synthetic turf system incorporating a poured-in-place rubber subsurface without crumb rubber infill, utilizing recycled SBR rubber and polyurethane binder for improved impact attenuation and drainage, along with a water-absorbing material for cooling, to enhance safety and playability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If crumb rubber infill is used to support artificial turf blades, then footing and playability are improved, but heat retention increases and surface temperature rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes crumb rubber infill from the artificial turf system entirely, replacing it with a porous backing layer that provides support without heat retention. This extraction eliminates the harmful thermal properties while maintaining the mechanical support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous backing layer with high porosity (greater than 50%) that allows air circulation and heat dissipation. This porous structure replaces the solid crumb rubber infill, providing mechanical support while enabling thermal management through airflow and reduced heat capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If a long pile of turfs is used to hold crumb rubber infill, then infill retention is improved, but heat absorption and retention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the infill material (crumb rubber) from the system entirely, making the long pile requirement obsolete. The porous backing layer provides infill-like support functions without the thermal retention properties of rubber particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous backing layer with greater than 50% porosity provides a three-dimensional network that mechanically supports turf blades without requiring rubber infill. The porous structure enables air flow that prevents heat buildup while maintaining turf blade upright positioning.
3Ease of operation
If crumb rubber infill is used to increase footing, then athletic performance is improved, but head impact criteria (HIC) protection becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes crumb rubber infill that causes inconsistent HIC protection, replacing it with a uniformly structured porous backing layer. This eliminates the variability in protection quality that occurs with dispersed rubber particles while maintaining athletic footing through the porous network structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous backing layer provides a homogeneous, uniform structure throughout the turf system, ensuring consistent mechanical support and impact attenuation properties. This uniformity replaces the heterogeneous distribution of crumb rubber particles, delivering reliable and consistent HIC protection across the entire playing surface.
4Ease of operation
If traditional artificial turf materials are used, then athletic performance is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase and disbursement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes crumb rubber infill that requires regular replenishment and brushing, replacing it with a permanent porous backing layer integrated into the turf structure. This eliminates the maintenance cycle of infill top-up and turf brushing while preserving athletic performance characteristics.
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 system provides consistent concussion resistance, reduced maintenance, and cooler surface temperatures, improving athletic performance and player safety while eliminating the need for crumb rubber infill and shock pads.
Implementation Method 1
The artificial turf system is cooler due to the water absorbing material which absorbs heat from the sun
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a layer of poured rubber underneath the artificial playing surface to deliver vastly improved athletic sports performance and player concussion protection
Data Source
AI summary
A synthetic turf system is disclosed. The synthetic turf system comprises a synthetic turf system and a poured-in-place (PIP) rubber subsurface. The PIP rubber subsurface is poured with a mixture of rubber buffing and urethane configured to deliver improved safety, playability, and reduced maintenance requirements for the synthetic turf placed on a playing surface. The PIP rubber subsurface is made with rubber buffings combined with a binder such as polyurethane. The system further comprises a layer of compacted gravel disposed underneath the PIP rubber subsurface configured to allow drainage. The system further comprises a plurality of cooling particle infill to avoid dislodging of infill into athlete's shoes, clothes, eyes, or ears. Further, the infill is substantially free of crumb rubber infill and the system is without the use of added shock pads. Further, the system is configured to maintain a consistent concussion resistance throughout the entire playing surface.