Artificial turf system and method of making

Abstract

A recreational surface such as an artificial turf playing field includes a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements, and an infill overlying the backing and being interspersed between the upstanding pile elements. The infill advantageously includes resilient particles as well as particles of a rubber coated hard granular material such as rubber coated sand. The particles of rubber and the particles of rubber coated sand may be mixed together or they may be applied separately in different courses or layers in which the relative proportions of the two types of particles differ. Also disclosed is a method of designing and constructing such a recreational surface in which the properties of the recreational surface are specified according to the intended use of the recreational surface. For example, the impact resistance properties of the recreational surface may be engineered by adjusting the relative proportions of resilient particles and particles of rubber coated hard granular material.

1 . A recreational surface, comprising:
 a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and   an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising resilient particles and particles of a rubber coated hard granular material.   
   
   
       2 . A recreational surface according to  claim 1 , wherein said infill comprises a mixture of resilient particles and particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       3 . A recreational surface according to  claim 1 , wherein said infill consists essentially of resilient particles and particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       4 . A recreational surface according to  claim 1 , wherein said infill comprises more than one layer, and wherein at least one layer has a composition that is different than a composition of another of said layers. 
   
   
       5 . A recreational surface according to  claim 4 , wherein one of said layers has a first weight percentage of particles of rubber coated hard granular material, and wherein another of said layers has a second weight percentage of particles of rubber coated hard granular material, and wherein said first weight percentage is different from said second weight percentage. 
   
   
       6 . A recreational surface according to  claim 4 , wherein said infill comprises a first layer, said first layer being in contact with said backing, and wherein said first layer is fabricated predominantly of particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       7 . A recreational surface according to  claim 6 , wherein said first layer is at least 60% by weight particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       8 . A recreational surface according to  claim 6 , wherein said infill further comprises a second layer, and wherein said second layer is fabricated predominantly of rubber particles. 
   
   
       9 . A recreational surface according to  claim 8 , wherein said second layer is at least 60% by weight rubber particles. 
   
   
       10 . A recreational surface according to  claim 1 , wherein said infill contains substantially no uncoated sand. 
   
   
       11 . An artificial turf installation, comprising:
 a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and   an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising a first layer that is predominantly fabricated from one of either resilient particles or particles of a rubber coated hard granular material, said infill further comprising a second layer that is predominantly fabricated from the other of either resilient particles or particles of a rubber coated hard granular material.   
   
   
       12 . A recreational surface according to  claim 11 , wherein said infill consists essentially of resilient particles and particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       13 . A recreational surface according to  claim 11 , wherein said first layer is fabricated predominantly of particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       14 . A recreational surface according to  claim 13 , wherein said first layer is at least 60% by weight particles of a rubber coated hard granular material. 
   
   
       15 . A recreational surface according to  claim 11 , wherein said second layer is at least 60% by weight rubber particles. 
   
   
       16 . A recreational surface according to  claim 11 , wherein said infill contains substantially no uncoated sand.