Artificial turf fibrillating apparatus and methods thereof

Abstract

Artificial turf fibrillating apparatus have been disclosed. Methods for providing fibrillated artificial grass turf derived from artificial grass turf have been disclosed. The apparatus comprise a rotating rigid support member having a plurality of removable fibrillating members coupled to the support member. The apparatus are coupled to a power source. A plurality of broad artificial grass blades of an artificial grass turf are impacted by the fibrillating members when the support member is rotated with sufficient torque to provide a fibrillated artificial grass turf comprising a plurality of fibrillated artificial grass blades of random width having the appearance, feel and playing characteristics of a real grass turf.

1 . An artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf comprising, in combination: a rotatable support member coupled to a plurality of fibrillating members; and power source means for rotating said support member for impacting the artificial grass turf comprising a plurality of broad artificial grass blades so that said fibrillating members produce a fibrillated artificial grass turf having narrow artificial grass blades.  
   
   
       2 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  further comprising at least an end portion of said support member having a plurality of openings, each one of the openings for receiving one of said fibrillating members, each one of said fibrillating members selectively coupled to said support member.  
   
   
       3 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 2  wherein a portion of each one of said fibrillating members comprises a threaded portion of a bolt for receiving a nut to securely couple each one of said fibrillating members to an upper portion of said support member and a second nut to securely couple each one of said fibrillating members to a lower portion of said support member.  
   
   
       4 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 2  wherein said fibrillating members comprise a bolt having a head, a threaded portion of said bolt for receiving a nut to securely couple each one of said fibrillating members to a lower portion of said support member, said head sized to couple to an upper portion of said support member to prevent each one of said fibrillating members from decoupling from said support member.  
   
   
       5 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  further comprising said support member having a hole for receiving a shaft, a first end of said shaft coupled to said support member and a second end of said shaft coupled to said power source means for rotating said support member, said power source means providing sufficient torque to cause visible fibrillation of the plurality of broad artificial grass blades when said fibrillating member impacts the artificial grass turf.  
   
   
       6 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  wherein said power source means is selected from the group consisting of an electric lawn mower, a gas lawn mower and a lawn trimmer.  
   
   
       7 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  wherein said support member is rigid and substantially planar so that turbulence and suction are minimized when said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf, and said fibrillating members are rigid to provide random fibrillation of each one of the artificial grass blades.  
   
   
       8 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  wherein said support member comprises a metal, and said fibrillating members comprise a metal.  
   
   
       9 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 8  wherein said metal comprises a steel alloy.  
   
   
       10 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  wherein the plane of rotation of said support member is at an acute angle to the plane of a backing of the artificial grass turf so that said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf during operation of the artificial turf fibrillating apparatus.  
   
   
       11 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  wherein the plane of rotation of said support member is less than 45° to the plane of a backing of the artificial grass turf so that said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf during operation of the artificial turf fibrillating apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 1  wherein the broad artificial grass blades are reduced in width to a plurality of narrow fibrillated artificial grass blades each one of the narrow fibrillated artificial grass blades having a random width of less than about 0.15 inches.  
   
   
       13 . An artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf comprising, in combination: a plurality of rotatable support members coupled to a plurality of fibrillating members, each one of said support members coupled to a neighboring support member; and power source means for rotating said support member for impacting the artificial grass turf comprising a plurality of broad artificial grass blades so that said fibrillating members produce a fibrillated artificial grass turf having narrow artificial grass blades.  
   
   
       14 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 13  further comprising at least an end portion of each one of said support members having a plurality of openings, each one of the openings for receiving one of said fibrillating members, each one of said fibrillating members selectively coupled to each one of said support members; at least one of said support members having a hole for receiving a shaft, a first end of said shaft securely coupled to one of said support members and a second end of said shaft coupled to said power source means for rotating said support members, said power source means providing sufficient torque to cause visible fibrillation of the plurality of broad artificial grass blades when said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf.  
   
   
       15 . The artificial turf fibrillating apparatus for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 13  wherein said support members are rigid and substantially planar so that turbulence and suction are minimized when said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf, and said fibrillating members are rigid to provide random fibrillation of each one of the artificial grass blades.  
   
   
       16 . A method for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf comprising the steps of: 
 providing a rotatable support member coupled to a plurality of fibrillating members;    providing power source means for rotating said support member; and    impacting the artificial grass turf comprising a plurality of broad artificial grass blades so that said fibrillating members produce a fibrillated artificial grass turf having narrow artificial grass blades.    
   
   
       17 . The method for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least an end portion of said support member having a plurality of openings, each one of the openings for receiving one of said fibrillating members;    providing a portion of each one of said fibrillating members comprises a threaded portion of a bolt for receiving a nut to securely couple each one of said fibrillating members to an upper portion of said support member and a second nut to securely couple each one of said fibrillating members to a lower portion of said support member; and    selectively coupling each one of said fibrillating members to said support member.    
   
   
       18 . The method for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing each one of said fibrillating members comprises a bolt having a head, a threaded portion of said bolt for receiving a nut to securely couple each one of said fibrillating member to a lower portion of said support member, said head sized to couple to an upper portion of said support member to prevent each one of said fibrillating members from decoupling from said support member; and    selectively coupling each one of said fibrillating members to said support member.    
   
   
       19 . The method for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 16  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing said support member having a hole for receiving a shaft, a first end of said shaft coupled to said support member and a second end of said shaft coupled to said power source means;    rotating said support member with said power source means, said power source means providing sufficient torque to cause visible fibrillation of the plurality of broad artificial grass blades when said fibrillating member impacts the artificial grass turf;    providing said support member is rigid and substantially planar so that turbulence and suction are minimized when said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf;    providing said fibrillating members are rigid to randomly fibrillate each one of the artificial grass blades;    providing the plane of rotation of said support member is at an acute angle to the plane of a backing of the artificial grass turf so that said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf during operation of the artificial turf fibrillating apparatus; and    providing the broad artificial grass blades are reduced in width to a plurality of narrow fibrillated artificial grass blades each one of the narrow fibrillated artificial grass blades having a random width of less than about 0.15 inches.    
   
   
       20 . A method for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of rotatable support members coupled to a plurality of fibrillating members, each one of said support members coupled to a neighboring support member;    providing power source means for rotating said support member; and    impacting the artificial grass turf comprising a plurality of broad artificial grass blades so that said fibrillating members produce a fibrillated artificial grass turf having narrow artificial grass blades.    
   
   
       21 . The method for transforming artificial grass turf having broad artificial grass blades to a fibrillated artificial grass turf according to  claim 20  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least an end portion of each one of said support members having a plurality of openings, each one of the openings for receiving one of said fibrillating members;    selectively coupling each one of said fibrillating members to said support members;    providing at least one of said support members having a hole for receiving a shaft, a first end of said shaft securely coupled to one of said support members and a second end of said shaft coupled to said power source means;    rotating said support members with said power source means, said power source means providing sufficient torque to cause visible fibrillation of the plurality of broad artificial grass blades when said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf;    providing said support members are rigid and substantially planar so that turbulence and suction are minimized when said fibrillating members impact the artificial grass turf; and    providing said fibrillating members are rigid to provide random fibrillation of each one of the artificial grass blades.