Artificial turf with textured hydrophilic fibers

Abstract

An artificial turf system for installation over a receiving surface is described. The artificial turf system comprising: a sheet member made of a flexible material, the sheet member defining a first surface for interfacing with the receiving surface and a second surface; primary yarns made of straight fibers backstitched in and threaded through the sheet member and upwardly extending from the sheet member to a first elevation; and secondary yarns made of textured fibers backstitched in and threaded through the sheet member and upwardly extending from the sheet member at a second elevation less than the first elevation which is caused by a difference in texture between the primary yarns and the secondary yarns, wherein the secondary yarns are more rigid than the primary yarns, and wherein the primary yarns and the secondary yarns have ends which are cut after being threaded through the sheet member.

1 . An artificial turf adapted to be installed free of infill material, comprising:
 a sheet member comprising a first surface and a second surface;   first yarns made of straight fibers tufted in the sheet member, and having a first pulled length;   second yarns made of air jet textured hydrophilic fibers tufted in the sheet member, having a second pulled length equivalent to the first pulled length, and having a relaxed length of at maximum 50% of the first pulled length.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet member, the first yarns and the second yarns sum up to the artificial turf having a weight density of at least 2000 gram per square meter. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein the second yarns represents a minimum of 50% of the weight density of the artificial turf. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein chock absorption characteristics of the artificial turf is of a value smaller than 200 G according to ASTM F355 method of testing. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein each the first yarns are made of hydrophobic fibers,
 wherein the second yarns have a linear density of between about 4500 and about 7500 deniers, and   wherein the linear density of the first yarns is lower than the linear density of the second yarns.   
     
     
         6 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet member made of a layer of woven polypropylene and at least one extra layer made of one of fiber glass and polyester,
 wherein the artificial turf comprises a curable material to be applied to the first surface of the sheet member,   wherein the sheet member, the first yarns, the second yarns and the curable material are heated together when curing the curable material,   wherein each the first yarns and second yarns have a linear density of between about 4500 and about 7500 deniers, and   wherein the linear density of the first yarns is lower than the linear density of the second yarns.   
     
     
         7 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein the second yarns have a tensile strength of a minimum of about 15 N per filament. 
     
     
         8 . An artificial turf adapted to be installed free of infill material, comprising:
 a sheet member comprising a first surface and a second surface;   exclusively first yarns and second yarns, wherein the first yarns tufted in the sheet member, and having a first pulled length, and wherein the second yarns are made of air jet textured hydrophilic fibers tufted in the sheet member, having a second pulled length equivalent to the first pulled length,   wherein chock absorption characteristics of the artificial turf free of infill is of a value smaller than 200 G according to ASTM F355 method of testing.   
     
     
         9 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , wherein chock absorption characteristics of the artificial turf free of infill is of a value smaller than 130 G according to ASTM F355 method of testing when the first surface of the sheet member is installed over a padding layer. 
     
     
         10 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , further comprising a curable material applied to the first surface of the sheet member, wherein the sheet member, the first yarns the second yarns and the curable material are heated together when curing the curable material,
 wherein once the curable material cured, the sheet material undergoes a puncture process, and   wherein drainage characteristics of the artificial turf free of infill is at least 750 mm of water per hour.   
     
     
         11 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , wherein the sheet member, the first yarns and the second yarns sum up to the artificial turf having a weight density of at least 2000 gram per square meter. 
     
     
         12 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first yarns and second yarns have a linear density of between about 4500 and about 7500 deniers, and wherein the linear density of the first yarns is lower than the linear density of the second yarns. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , wherein the yarns of the artificial turf comprise a mix of hydrophobic material and hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         14 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , wherein the second yarns have a relaxed length of at maximum 50% of the first pulled length. 
     
     
         15 . An artificial turf adapted to be installed free of infill material, comprising:
 a sheet member comprising a first surface and a second surface;   first yarns made of straight fibers tufted in the sheet member, and having a first pulled length;   second yarns made of air jet textured fibers tufted in the sheet member, having a second pulled length equivalent to the first pulled length,   a curable material to be applied to the first surface of the sheet member, wherein the sheet member, the first yarns, the second yarns and the curable material are heated together when curing the curable material; and   wherein the second yarns tufted in the sheet member have a relaxed length of at maximum 50% of the first pulled length prior to curing of the curable material.   
     
     
         16 . The artificial turf of  claim 15 , wherein the sheet member, the first yarns and the second yarns sum up to the artificial turf having a weight density of at least 2000 gram per square meter. 
     
     
         17 . The artificial turf of  claim 15 , wherein the second yarns are hydrophilic textured fibers representing a minimum of 50% of weight density of the artificial turf. 
     
     
         18 . The artificial turf of  claim 15 , wherein chock absorption characteristics of the artificial turf is of a value smaller than 200 G according to ASTM F355 method of testing. 
     
     
         19 . The artificial turf of  claim 18 , wherein chock absorption characteristics of the artificial turf is of a value smaller than 130 G according to ASTM F355 method of testing when the first surface of the sheet member is installed over a padding layer. 
     
     
         20 . The artificial turf of  claim 15 , wherein each the first yarns and second yarns have a linear density of between 4500 and 7500 deniers, and
 wherein the linear density of the first yarns is lower than the linear density of the second yarns.