Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
  • E01C13/00—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds
  • E01C13/08—Surfaces simulating grass ; Grass-grown sports grounds

Definitions

• the present invention is directed toward a synthetic surface; and more particularly, to a synthetic turf system.
• Some synthetic turf surfaces include fibers or ribbons of various materials representing blades of natural grass that extend vertically from a backing member or mat.
• the backing member is generally placed above a prepared surface, such as compacted soil, rocks, stones, etc., and combinations thereof.
• a layer of particulate material frequently referred to as infill — may be placed over the backing member and interspersed among the fibers, wherein the fibers extend through and above the infill.
• the infill layer may include several courses of particulate material comprising hard and resilient particles, e.g., sand, rubber, and combinations thereof; and is also capable of providing a level of resiliency to the synthetic turf system. If more resiliency is desired, the backing member can be placed over a layer of padding material.
• a synthetic turf system is frequently utilized as a playing surface in many sporting events that include human, as well as animal, participants. Some event participants may have existing lacerations and abrasions to their skin; or may incur such minor injuries during the course of play upon direct contact with other participants or the playing surface . itseii. in addition, a participant's bodily fluid — perspiration or saliva, etc. — may contact the playing surface during play. Obviously, such an environment can promote the growth — or support the existence — of odor causing agents, bacteria, and viruses; and participants are at risk of contacting such microorganisms. Although the periodic cleaning of the playing surface is generally included in a scheduled maintenance program, a desire exists to further deter the proliferation of these microbes and improve the clean up of synthetic turf systems. [Para 6] The present invention is intended to address these as well as other issues.
• the present invention is directed to a synthetic turf system having an antimicrobial cleansing component that is responsive to a light source.
• the synthetic turf system further includes a backing member having a plurality of fibers or ribbons — representing blades of natural grass — operatively attached thereto and an infill layer located proximate the backing member and dispersed among the plurality of fibers.
• the cleansing component includes a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst is incorporated in a portion of at least one of the plurality of fibers and infill layer.
• the photocatalyst is operatively attached to, or integrated within, a portion of at least one of the plurality of fibers and/or the infill layer.
• Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for improving the hygienic environment of a synthetic turf system including a plurality of fibers operatively attached to a backing member and having an infill layer of particulate material proximate the backing member and dispersed among the plurality of fibers.
• the method comprises the steps of selecting a photocatalyst for application to at least a portion of the synthetic turf system, and operatively incorporating the photocatalyst to a portion of the synthetic turf system.
• the photocatalyst is responsive to visible and/or non- visible light.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a cleansing capability to a synthetic turf system to combat impurities, micro organisms, and their associated effects.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide cleansing, disinfecting, and oxidizing properties to a synthetic turf system for improving the hygienic environment thereof.
• FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the synthetic turf system of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention depicting the infill layer including particulate material having portions of the cleansing component operatively attached thereto;
• FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention depicting the synthetic fibers having portions of the cleansing component operatively attached thereto;
• FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention depicting the infill layer including particulate material having portions of cleansing component operatively integrated therewith; and, [Para 20]
• FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention depicting the synthetic fibers having portions of the cleansing component operatively integrated therewith.
• FIG. 1 One embodiment of the present invention is partially shown in FIG. 1 as a synthetic turf system 10 including a backing member 12 placed over a substrate 13.
• the substrate 13 may comprise a prepared surface such as tamped-down soil, asphalt, a bed of stone or gravel, or combinations thereof.
• a plurality of fibers 14 are operatively affixed to the backing member 12.
• the fibers 14 may include various types of synthetic fibers, such as resin, polymer, etc.
• the fibers 14 are attached to the backing member 12 through any acceptable means known to one of ordinary skill in the art of synthetic turf systems, e.g., glued, melted, stitched, or tufted.
• a layer of particulate material 16 often referred to as infill — is disposed above the backing member 12 and interspersed between the plurality of fibers 14.
• the infill layer of particulate material 16 may include, for example, one or more courses comprising hard, e.g., sand; and resilient, e.g., rubber, cryogenic rubber, and vulcanized rubber; particles, and combinations thereof.
• a cleansing component 18 responsive to light is operatively incorporated with the fibers 14 and/or the infill 16. See Figs. 2-5.
• the cleansing component 18 can be incorporated throughout the entirety of the fibers 14 and/or infill 16, or portions thereof. That is, the cleansing component 18 may only be incorporated to one or more courses of the infill layer, or to portions of the fibers 14 extending above the infill layer.
• the cleansing component 18 facilitates the cleansing, deodorizing, decontaminating, purifying — and combinations thereof — of the surrounding area by producing an active oxygen on exposure to a light source and utilizes an environmental clean- up material that arises on the surface of fibers 14 — and/or particulate material 16 of the infill — upon receiving light energy. That is, the cleansing component 18 decomposes harmful substances such as NO x in the atmosphere; sorbs and decomposes odors; kills bacteria; and promotes cleanliness by decomposing oils on the surface of the fiber 14 and/or particulate material 16 that gathers impurities, e.g., dust.
• the cleansing component 18 is preferably a photocatalyst that generally amplifies or accelerates the functions of the sun, such as: water purification, contamination prevention, anti-bacteria, deodorization, and air purification (dissolving NO x ). When exposed to a light source, the photocatalyst 18 produces surface oxidation to eliminate or reduce harmful substances such as organic or inorganic compounds, and nearby bacteria or viruses.
• Some types of photocatalysts 18 capable of being utilized in the present invention are titanium oxide or dioxide, e.g., TiO 2 , or ultra fine zinc oxide ZnO; however, other photocatalysts can also be employed, e.g., sulphide-semiconductors, oxide- semiconductors. Titanium oxide is an oxide-semiconductor that can be chemically activated by light. Although titanium oxide is harmless to humans, it is capable of breaking down organic materials drifting into contact with it, and has strong effects on single-celled organisms such as fungi. The anti-bacterial effect of titanium oxide is caused by absorption and decomposition of toxins during the photocatalytic reaction of the titanium oxide.
• the strong anti-bacterial effect is brought out upon exposure to light (ultraviolet radiation).
• a light wavelength suitable for cooperation with the photocatalyst 18 is utilized.
• the light may include various wavelengths, both visible and non-visible, and it may be emitted from a natural or man-made source, e.g., sun, incandescent lamp, fluorescent lamp, and combinations thereof.
• titanium oxide tends to decompose organic materials.
• the bactericidal effect (disinfection) by titanium oxide is approximately three times greater than chlorination, and 150% greater than ozonation.
• the cleansing component 18 may be in various forms, e.g., powder, granule; and may be incorporated with the fiber 14 (or the infill particulate material 16) using any acceptable technique known to one of ordinary skill in the art, e.g., sol-gel process, spraying, coating, dipping, powdering, baking, and spinning.
• the cleansing component 18 is incorporated with the fiber 14 and infill particulate material 16 by being adhered to the respective surfaces through the use of a binder such as an adhesive resin or polymer.
• Adhering the cleansing component 18 to the surface of the fiber 14 is particularly advantageous in applications in which the cleansing component cannot be integral with the fiber.
• a variety of conventional techniques for adhering the cleansing component 18 to the surface of the fiber 14 can be utilized, such as, spraying or coating the dispersion to the fiber, perhaps with a binder.
• the "feel" of the resultant fiber may change and affect the fiber's characteristics.
• the cleansing component 18 may be incorporated with the fiber 14 and/or infill particulate material 16 through affixation to at least some portion that composes me surface oi these elements — and are thus capable to receiving light — it is to be understood that the cleansing component may also be incorporated with these elements by integration throughout the composition of the fibers or the infill particulate material. See Figs. 4 and 5.
• a variety of conventional techniques for integrating the cleansing component 18 to the fiber 14 can be utilized, such as, impregnating the fiber with a dispersion containing the cleansing component 18, with or without a binder.
• the cleansing component 18 may be integrated into the fiber 14 by spinning a composition containing the cleansing component and a polymer capable of being formed into a fiber or ribbon.
• a composition containing the cleansing component and a polymer capable of being formed into a fiber or ribbon For applications incorporating the cleansing component 18 with a synthetic, semi-synthetic, or regenerated fiber, conventional spinning techniques including a formable polymer can be utilized. The spinning process can be selected in accordance with the type of polymer being implemented, e.g., wet-spinning, dry-spinning, wet-dry spinning, melt- spinning, and other known technologies. Integration of the cleansing component 18 to the fiber 14 is advantageous because the cleansing component is firmly supported within the fiber and its surface.
• the cleansing component 18 may be added in the form of a powder, e.g., a fine particle, to the polymer, coagulation of particles may occur such that formation of the fiber 14 may be difficult; and even if a fiber is formed, its strength may be unacceptably weakened. Therefore, the cleansing component 18 may be added in the form of a slurry obtainable by dispersing the powdery cleansing component 18 into a suitable dispersion medium.
• a fiber 14 containing the cleansing component 18 incorporated therein is not limited and may be constructed by any acceptably known techniques, including: adding the cleansing component 18 in a polymerizing process of the fiber, or immediately thereafter; adding the cleansing component to the polymer batch ana iormmg the fiber thereafter; or adding the cleansing component to the polymer at any step prior to the polymer being spun out from a spinning nozzle.
• the production of the infill particulate material 16, e.g., resilient rubber (vulcanized, cryogenic), containing the cleansing component 18 incorporated therein is not limited and may be constructed by any acceptably known techniques. That is, the cleansing component 18 may be operatively integrated within, or attached to, the infill particulate material 16.
• the physical configuration of the fiber 14 or the infill particulate material 16 is not limited and may be selected from a wide range of shapes and sizes according to the use of the product.
• the structure of the fiber 14 may be simple or complex, e.g., a composite (compounded) configuration composed of sections containing different concentrations of the cleansing component 18.
• its size and/or amount relative to the size and structure of the fiber 14, or infill particulate material 16 should also be considered so as not to adversely affect light responsiveness and cleansing efficiency of the cleansing component.
• the synthetic turf system 10 of the present invention may also include various conventional additives such as, antioxidants, flame-retardants, antistatic agents, coloring agents, lubricants, antimicrobes, insect-proofing, mold/mildew- proofing agents, ultraviolet ray adsorbents, delustering agents (flatting agents), heat reserving agents and others.
• an adsorbent component, deodorant, and/or antimicrobial metal component e.g., silver, zinc, copper; can be included to expand the antimicrobial range of the present invention.
• the fiber may be treated by any additional processing technology, such as fibrillation, false- twisting, interlacing, crimping, mercerization, shrink proofing, crease proofing, hydrophilization, water proofing, and resist styling (resist printing).
• additional processing technology such as fibrillation, false- twisting, interlacing, crimping, mercerization, shrink proofing, crease proofing, hydrophilization, water proofing, and resist styling (resist printing).

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
• Road Paving Structures (AREA)
• Carpets (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Catalysts (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2007
  • 2007-02-27 EP EP07705656A patent/EP1991738A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-02-27 JP JP2008555898A patent/JP2009528459A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-02-27 CN CNA2007800146355A patent/CN101426979A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-02-27 CA CA002642806A patent/CA2642806A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-02-27 RU RU2008138537/03A patent/RU2008138537A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2007-02-27 WO PCT/IB2007/000472 patent/WO2007096770A2/en active Application Filing
• 2008
  • 2008-08-29 ZA ZA200807441A patent/ZA200807441B/xx unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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