ES2582466T3 - Artificial grass lining - Google Patents

Abstract

Artificial turf covering (70) comprising a flat support (74) with an upper side (76) and a lower side (78), a grass pile (80) formed by threads of the pile (84, 86) that are attached to the support (74), and a support layer (82) disposed on the upper side (76) of the support (74), crossed by the threads of the pile (84, 86) of the grass pile (80), where said layer consists exclusively of support filaments (88), characterized in that the support layer (82) has a height of at least 2 cm and a density of at least 0.095 g / cm3 and because the support layer (82) is composed of polyamide or polyurethane.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Artificial grass lining

The present invention refers to an artificial grass lining with a special support layer, which is particularly suitable for use in a sports field or in a recreation space temporarily placed.

Artificial grass coverings are often used in sports fields or recreation spaces as an alternative to a natural grass. Compared to the latter, artificial grass coverings offer the advantage of a higher load capacity and can be maintained relatively easily. For that reason they are especially suitable for football or rugby fields. In addition, compared to an artificial grass, they can also play sports in the case of bad weather.

Artificial grass coverings of that class generally comprise a grass pile that is formed by threads of the plastic material pile, which are placed on a support.

In the case of an intense and / or repeated mechanical load, the mentioned battery wires can bend or be damaged, so that they can no longer be straightened. Because of this, the artificial grass lining loses its typical lawn properties.

To prevent mechanical damage to the battery wires, in EP 1 696 077 it is suggested to place a support layer on the support, which surrounds the battery wires that are next to the support. If, as a result of the effect of a force, a thread of the stack is diverted from its original position, then the mentioned support layer prevents the thread of the stack from being directly deflected in the holder. In addition, the support layer helps to recover the threads of the stack.

In order to avoid that the threads of the pile of an artificial grass lining "lie", it is further considered advantageous that the threads of the pile have a high recovery capacity. However, at the same time it is also important that the battery wires consist of a material that does not burn the skin when a user slides on the artificial grass at a relatively high speed.

In that sense, the application EP 2 395 135 reveals a plastic fiber for an artificial grass covering, which comprises two different plastic components. Thus, a first plastic component with a high recovery capacity is incorporated into a second plastic component, which is especially tolerated by the skin.

Together with the aesthetic appearance of an appearance as similar as possible to the grass and together with the avoidance of burns on the skin during use, it is also considered important that the artificial grass coating ensures sufficient impact absorption. In this regard, DIN EN 15336 requires a force reduction of at least 50% and FIFA 1 * of at least 55% for artificial grass coverings on soccer fields.

Therefore, generally, between an artificial grass lining and the base, an additional cushion layer is provided. Said layer must guarantee sufficient shock absorption through the base. Generally, the cushion layer is composed of an elastic material, for example of bound fragments of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and / or cellular polyurethane foam (PU), polyethylene (PE) or expanded polypropylene (EPP) . The damping layer is provided mostly as a roll with a thickness from about 6 mm or in the form of individual mosaics (also called panels) or as a whole with a thickness of up to 30 mm, which is placed on the base. In this way, the prefabricated rolls or mosaics are generally placed loose and joined together by means of adhesive tape, by means of joint connection systems or of groove-tongue joint, or by similar systems. Alternatively, the SBR fragments can be distributed on the base together with the adhesive in pasty form, as an entire buffer layer.

In application EP 1 983 104 an artificial grass with a base layer and a plurality of stems that are fixed in the base layer is disclosed. On the base layer and between the stems there is a damping material that is composed of plastic fibers of various components. In this case, filling is no longer necessary to achieve the desired damping properties.

Additionally or alternatively, an improved impact absorption can be achieved by placing a plastic granulate on the support of the artificial grass covering, as described in application EP 2 331 56. Artificial grass coatings of that class are also referred to as " filled".

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However, both a plastic granulate and an additional damping layer lead to the installation of the artificial grass lining being markedly more expensive and the weight of the material to be transported, as well! As placed, increase significantly.

Precisely for temporary applications, such as the use of an artificial ice rink as a sports or recreation space in the summer, however, it would be desirable to have an artificial grass lining that can be transported, placed and also easily removed again.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an artificial grass lining that can be installed and also removed in a particularly simple manner, where at the same time the requirements regarding a typical appearance of the lawn are met, to the absorption of impacts , and that does not irritate the skin either.

Said object will be achieved through the artificial grass lining according to claim 1, so! as used according to claim 10. Preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.

The artificial grass covering comprises a flat support with an upper side and a lower side, a grass pile formed by threads of the pile that are attached to the support, and a support layer arranged on the upper side of the support, pierced by the threads of the grass pile, where said layer consists exclusively of support filaments. The artificial grass covering according to the invention is characterized in that the support layer has a height of at least 2 cm and a density of at least 0.095 g / cm3, and because the support layer is composed of polyamide or polyurethane.

In the artificial grass lining according to the invention, the support layer not only serves to straighten the deviated pile threads again, but at the same time also provides the artificial grass lining with sufficient impact absorption. Thanks to this, it is not necessary to additionally use a granulate or a buffer layer.

Thus, the artificial grass lining according to the invention is a complete solution for an artificial grass lining that can be transported, installed and also easily removed again. In particular it is suitable for short-term applications, in which the artificial grass lining should only be used temporarily. In particular, the weight of the material necessary for the artificial grass coating is significantly reduced compared to previous solutions, because a buffer layer or plastic granulate is no longer required.

The artificial grass lining according to the invention can be placed directly on a base, without requiring an additional cushion layer for shock absorption. Thus, the reduction in force of the artificial grass covering according to the invention amounts to approximately 55-57%. This value is above the value required by DIN EN 15336 of 50% and that of FIFA 1 *, 55%. For this reason it is optimally suitable for applications in the area of sport, particularly for football or rugby.

It has also been found that the elastic properties of the artificial grass covering according to the invention, which guarantee the absorption of impacts, are not reduced through mechanical stress, but can be used for a longer and / or multiple times. .

In the artificial grass covering according to the invention a flat support is used, as is known from the state of the art (for example in the application EP 2 333 156). It is particularly stable in terms of size, thus presenting a good fixation in place. As a support material, for example, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide and / or a material containing glass fibers can be used. The support may have one or several layers and additionally may comprise an auxiliary support containing glass fibers.

The support layer according to the invention consists exclusively of support filaments that are generally shorter than those of the grass pile wires, and are arranged between the mentioned battery wires. Both the battery wires and the support filaments are attached to the support, for example through insertion (tufting).

The support layer consists exclusively of support filaments. This allows a particularly simple fabrication of the artificial grass covering according to the invention. In particular, the artificial grass lining according to the invention can be manufactured in a single working step through insertion, where both the threads of the stack and the support filaments are attached to the support.

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Alternatively, it is also possible that the support layer, additionally with respect to the support filaments, comprises a felt layer disposed on the upper side of the flat support. The mentioned felt layer is also crossed by the threads of the stack and the support filaments.

According to the invention, the support layer is composed of polyamide or polyurethane. These materials are particularly suitable for the manufacture of support filaments and / or a felt layer. Especially preferably the support layer is composed of polyamide.

In a preferred embodiment, the support filaments of the support layer are screwed or textured. A threaded or textured structure of that kind is achieved according to generally known methods during the manufacture of the support filaments. Through this screwed or textured design, not only the support capacity and impact damping of the support layer are further improved, but also the adhesion of the artificial grass lining.

In a preferred embodiment, the threads of the grass pile are composed of a first polyethylene component and a second polyamide component incorporated in the first component. The threads of the stack of that class are disclosed in the application EP 2 395 135, the description of which is fully included in the present application through references, with respect to the fibers of the grass pile. The mentioned battery threads are characterized by a particularly good recovery capacity and a very good skin compatibility. Additionally or alternatively, the fibers described in application EP 2 395 135 can also be used for the support filaments of the artificial grass covering according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the threads of the grass pile, measured from the upper side of the support, have a length of 2.5 to 4.0 cm. This length corresponds to a usual height of the lawn for recreation spaces and sports fields.

In a preferred embodiment, a first part of the threads of the grass pile, measured from the surface of the support, is longer than a second part of the threads of the grass pile, in particular 5 to 10 mm more long Through this design with different length of the threads of the pile the aesthetic aspect of the artificial grass lining is further improved, since also in the case of a natural grass not all grass blades have the same length. It is considered especially preferred that the first part of the threads of the grass pile is more rigid than the second part of the threads of the grass pile.

By properly selecting the length of the battery wires, as! As the difference in terms of the length of the first part of the threads of the stack with respect to the second part of the threads of the stack, this embodiment allows to obtain first an extremely similar appearance, compared to a lawn natural, with high authenticity. The latter can be further increased by the fact that different green shades can be used for the threads of the first part of the battery and for the threads of the second part. In particular, a lighter green is used for the threads of the stack of the second part than for the threads of the stack of the first part.

Secondly, the manner of execution indicated allows optimizing the ball bearing behavior and the rebound behavior of the ball in terms of the use of the artificial grass lining for a football field.

Instead of different lengths of the threads of the stack, in particular as regards the optical appearance, a similar effect can be achieved if a part of the threads of the stack is textured.

The grass pile according to the invention is preferably manufactured by means of an insertion procedure. This allows a very simple fabrication of the artificial grass lining and a secure union of the threads of the pile with the support. Preferably, the grass pile has a linear density within the range of 20,000 to

30,000 per square meter. The fineness of the spinning of the threads of the stack is preferably in a range of

1,000 to 2,000 dtex per pile thread.

In a preferred embodiment, the support filaments of the support layer are also attached to the support by insertion.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the artificial grass covering according to the invention is not filled, that is, it is not provided with a granulate or similar material, for example sand. Through this design, on the one hand, the weight of the artificial grass lining is significantly reduced and, on the other hand, the installation of the lining is greatly simplified.

In another aspect, the present invention refers to the use of artificial grass lining according to the invention for a sports field or a recreation space, in particular for a football field or a rugby field. The artificial grass lining is arranged on a firm base. Preferably, no damping layer is arranged between the artificial grass lining and the base. An especially high fixing in place is achieved when the artificial grass lining in the area of the edge of the sports field or of the recreation space is screwed or adhered to the base.

The artificial grass covering according to the invention can be easily and quickly placed in the desired place and can be transported there! with great ease. Therefore, it is considered especially suitable for use in small sports areas or for the use in summer of artificial ice rinks, as well! as for indoor or outdoor events, where artificial grass lining should only be used for a relatively short period.

In most cases, no special fixation is needed with respect to the base. The artificial grass lining according to the invention is generally manufactured in the form of strips that are placed next to each other, which are joined together with one another through a flat contact or through fastening.

Alternatively, the artificial grass covering according to the invention can also be provided in the form of mosaics (also called panels). These can be transported and placed in a particularly simple way, since due to their size they are relatively manageable. Preferably, the mosaics of that class are fixed on the base with the help of a fastening system, for example with a hook / loop closure, such as the one presented by the Klettostar® line of the company Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co KG 20 (Holzgerlingen, Germany). In this way, on the lower side of the mosaics a part of the fastening system (referred to below as "part of the mosaic") is fixed and on the base the other part of the fixing system is fixed (referred to below as "part of the base "), preferably in the mosaics respectively in the area of the four angles and on the base so that each part of the base of the fixing system can interact respectively with four different mosaics. As an example, on the mosaics, at each angle, a piece of Klettostar® Haft (of adhesion) of a size of 10 x 10 cm can be placed and on the base a piece of Klettostar® Flausch (of loop) of a size of approximately 21 x 21 cm, so that in the extended state the four angles of the mosaics coincide in the center of the piece of Klettostar® Flausch (loop).

In addition, the artificial grass covering according to the invention has a high load capacity, so that it is particularly suitable for applications with a high load, for example for rugby or football.

In another aspect, the present invention also refers to an artificial grass system comprising the artificial grass coating according to the invention. This artificial grass system can be placed directly on a firm base and does not require an additional cushioning layer or a filling (for example plastic granulate or sand). The artificial grass system is therefore essentially composed of the artificial grass covering according to the invention.

The aforementioned artificial grass system contains the artificial grass covering according to the invention preferably in the form of strips or mosaics. Thanks to this, it can be transported, placed and subsequently can also be removed again particularly easily. In general, a strip of that class has a width of approximately 2 m and, whenever the weight permits, a length that corresponds to the shorter side of the base that must be provided with the artificial grass lining. The mosaics in principle 40 can be of any size, where sizes of 0.25 to 4 m2 are considered preferred.

The artificial grass system according to the invention can additionally also comprise means for joining the artificial grass covering, where for example a fastening system can be provided, or in the form of a known "locking system".

Preferably, the artificial grass system according to the invention additionally comprises a fastening system with a hook / loop closure, in particular corresponding elements of the Klettostar® line of the company Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co KG (Holzgerlingen, Germany ).

In this way, the artificial grass system according to the invention can have an individual mosaic of the artificial grass coating according to the invention, on whose bottom side a piece of Klettostar® Haft (adhesion) of a single-sided adhesion is fixed respectively. 10 x 10 cm size as part of the mosaic and, additionally, two pieces of Klettostar® Flausch (loop) of a size of approximately 21 x 21 cm, which can be placed by the user on the b®ase, as part of the base. Alternatively, the Klettostar Haft (adhesion) part and the Klettostar Flausch (loop) part can naturally be changed or may have other dimensions.

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An artificial grass system with a fastening system provides increased flexibility during placement, since the size of the artificial grass that must be placed can be individually adapted to the user's needs. It also allows a particularly quick and easy placement, and can also be removed again without difficulties. Thus, the particularly stable mosaics of the artificial grass covering according to the invention are particularly suitable for use with a fastening system.

Next, the present invention will be explained in greater depth by drawing.

Strictly schematic, this drawing shows:

Figure 1: a first artificial grass covering corresponding to the state of the art, with a support layer and a damping layer;

Figure 2: a second artificial grass covering corresponding to the state of the art, with a support layer and a damping layer;

Figure 3: a third artificial grass covering corresponding to the state of the art, with a plastic granulate and a damping layer;

Figure 4: a first preferred embodiment of an artificial grass covering according to the invention; Figure 5: a second preferred embodiment of an artificial grass covering according to the invention; Figure 6: a plastic fiber for a grass pile;

Figure 7: two mosaics of an artificial grass system according to the invention, which are attached to the base with a fastening system; Y

Figure 8: a schematic representation of an artificial grass system according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a cross section through a first artificial grass lining 10 according to the application EP 1 696 077. This coating has a damping layer 12 and a use layer 14 disposed thereon. The buffer layer 12 comprises blocks 16 of a material that absorbs impacts, between which channels 18 extend to discharge infiltrated water.

The use layer 14 has a support 20, a support layer 22 and a stack 26 formed by wires of the stack 24, as pastures. The support layer 22 shown in Figure 1 is formed by support threads 28. Both the threads of the stack 24, as well as the support threads 28, are attached to the support 20 through insertion. In the artificial grass lining 10 according to the application EP 1 696 077, the support layer 22 serves to straighten again the strands of the deviated stack 24.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a second artificial grass lining 30 according to the application EP 1 696 077. This coating also has a damping layer 32 and a use layer 34 disposed thereon. Also in this case the buffer layer 32 comprises blocks 36 of a material that absorbs impacts, between which channels 38 extend to discharge infiltrated water.

The use layer 34 also has a support 40, a support layer 42 and a stack 46 formed by wires of the stack 44, in the form of pastures. However, the support layer 42 shown in Figure 2 is formed by a continuous flat structure 48, for example a nonwoven textile product. The threads of the stack 44 are attached to the support 40 through insertion, penetrating the continuous flat structure 48 that rests on the support 40. Also in the artificial grass lining 30 according to the application EP 1 696 077, the support layer 42 it is used to straighten again the strands of the deviated stack 44.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section through an artificial grass liner 50 according to the application EP 2 333 156. This liner has a lower part 52 and a use part 54 disposed thereon. The lower part 52 comprises an elastic layer 56 and at least one additional support layer 58, which must ensure sufficient shock absorption and reliable discharge of infiltrated water.

The use part 54 has a support 60 and a grass-like pile 62, where the latter is formed by first threads of the stack 64, longer, and by second threads of the stack 66, shorter. The wires of the stack 64, 66 are in turn attached to the support 60 by insertion. A layer of plastic granulate 68 is disposed directly on the surface of the support 60. Said layer causes additional shock absorption.

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Figure 4 shows a cross section through an artificial grass lining 70 according to the invention, according to a first preferred embodiment. This artificial grass lining 70 is arranged directly on a base 72, that is, without an additional damping layer.

The artificial grass lining 70 according to the invention comprises a flat support 74 with an upper side 76 and a lower side 78, a grass pile 80 and a support layer 82.

The flat support 74 is composed of polypropylene, polyester and glass fibers. The lower side 78 of the support 74 is resting loosely on the base 72.

The grass pile 80 is formed by first threads of the stack 84 and by second threads of the stack 86 that are attached to the support 74, preferably through insertion. The first threads of the stack 84, measured from the upper side 76 of the holder 74, are longer than the second threads of the stack 86. By way of example, the first threads of the stack have a length of 34 mm and the second The threads of the stack 86 have a length of 29 mm, respectively measured from the upper side 76 of the holder 74. In addition, the first threads of the stack 84 can be stiffer than the second threads of the stack 86. The threads of the stack 84, 86 are preferably composed of polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane and / or polyethersulfone, where the use of plastic fibers, as shown in Figure 6, is considered particularly preferred.

The support layer 82 is arranged on the upper side 76 of the support 74 and is pierced by the threads of the stack 84, 86 of the grass pile. It has a height of at least 2 cm and a density of at least 0.095 g / cm3.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 4, the support layer 82 is composed exclusively of support filaments 88. The support filaments 88 are preferably composed of polyamide and are preferably threaded (as shown in Figure 4).

Figure 5 shows a cross section through an artificial grass lining 70 according to the invention, according to a second preferred embodiment. This second preferred embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment shown in Figure 4 only in the design of the support layer 82. For that reason, only the support layer 82 is described in detail below; for the rest of the elements shown in figure 5, reference is made to the explanations corresponding to figure 4.

In the second preferred embodiment according to Figure 5, the support layer 82, additionally with respect to the support filaments 88, comprises a felt layer 90 disposed on the upper side of the flat support 74. The felt layer 90 is crossed by the threads of the stack 84, 86 and by the support filaments 88.

In addition, the two artificial grass coverings 70 according to the invention, shown in Figures 4 and 5, are not filled.

Figure 6 shows a cross section through a plastic fiber according to the application EP 2 395 135, which, in the artificial grass lining 70 according to the invention, is preferably used for the threads of the stack 84, 86 of the grass pile 80.

The plastic fiber 100 essentially has a cross section in the shape of a rhombus, with rounded corners. The rhombus has a main axis of the cross section A and an axis of the plane of the cross section B that extends at right angles to the same, where both are symmetry axes of the plastic fiber 100. The extension of the plastic fiber 100 in the direction of the axis of the plane of the cross section B is smaller than that in the direction of the main axis of the cross section A.

The plastic fiber 100 comprises a first component 102 and a second component 104 incorporated in the first component 102, where the second component 104, which is composed for example of polyamide, exhibits a higher recovery behavior than the first component 102, the which for example consists of polyethylene.

Figure 7 shows a section of an artificial grass system 108 according to the invention with two mosaics 110 of the artificial grass lining 70 according to the invention according to Figure 4. It has a flat support 74 and a grass pile 80 with a support layer 82. On the lower side 78 of the flat support 74, respectively in the corner area, a part of the mosaic 112 of a fastening system is arranged. As an example, this can be a piece of Klettostar® Haft (of adhesion) of a size of 10 x 10 cm.

To fix the mosaics 110 on the base 72, on the base 71 a part of the base 114 of the fastening system is arranged. As an example, this can be a piece of Klettostar® Flausch (loop) of a size of approximately 21 x 21 cm. The individual mosaics 110 of the artificial grass system 108 according to the invention are placed on the base 72, so that respectively four parts of the mosaics 112 are

they engage with a part of the base 114 of the fastening system. Preferably, each of the four mosaic corners 110 arranged next to each other is located in the center of the base part 114.

Figure 8 shows an artificial grass system 108 according to the invention with 12 mosaics 110 arranged next to each other on a base. Depending on the use and the size of the surface to be covered 5, more or less mosaics 110, of course, can also be used naturally! as larger or smaller mosaics. The mosaics 110 are connected to the base by a fastening system composed of several parts of the mosaic 112 and several parts of the base 114. In an internal area 116 of the artificial grass system 108, respectively a part of the mosaic 112 of four mosaics 110 different, respectively, is located on a part of the base 114, that is, in total four parts of the mosaic 112 by the base 114. On the other hand, in a 10 area of the edge 118, the parts of the base 114 are relatively displaced with respect to the mosaics 110, towards the internal area 116, so that respectively a part of the mosaic 112 of two mosaics 110 interact with the part of the individual base 114, that is, in total two parts of the mosaic 112 by the base 114, where the parts of the base 114 do not protrude above the mosaics 110.

Claims (13)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. Artificial grass covering (70) comprising a flat support (74) with an upper side (76) and a lower side (78), a grass pile (80) formed by battery wires (84, 86) which are attached to the support (74), and a support layer (82) disposed on the upper side (76) of the support (74), pierced by the threads of the pile (84, 86) of the grass pile (80) , wherein said layer is composed exclusively of support filaments (88), characterized in that the support layer (82) has a height of at least 2 cm and a density of at least 0.095 g / cm3 and because the support layer (82) is composed of polyamide or polyurethane. 2. Artificial grass covering (70) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support layer (82) additionally comprises a felt layer (90) disposed on the upper side (76) of the flat support (74). 3. Artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support filaments (8) of the support layer (82) are screwed or textured. 4. Artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the threads of the pile (84, 86) of the grass pile (80) are composed of a first component (102) of polyethylene and by a second component (104) of polyamide incorporated in the first component (102). 5. Artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the threads of the pile (84, 86) of the grass pile, measured from the upper side (76) of the support (74), They have a length of 2.5 to 4.0 cm. 6. Artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a first part of the threads of the pile (84) of the grass pile (80), measured from the surface (76) of the support (74), is longer than a second part of the threads of the stack (6) of the lawn stack (80), in particular 5 to 10 mm longer. 7. Artificial grass covering (70) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first part of the threads of the pile (84) of the grass pile (80) is more rigid than the second part of the threads of the pile ( 86) of the grass pile (80). 8. Artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the grass pile (80) is manufactured by an insertion process. 9. Artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is not filled. 10. Use of the artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 9 for a sports field or a recreation space, in particular for a football field, where the artificial grass covering (70) is arranged on a firm base (72). 11. Use according to claim 10, characterized in that a damping layer is not arranged between the artificial grass covering (70) and the base (72). 12. Use according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the artificial grass lining is present in the form of mosaics (110) and is fixed on the base (72) by a fastening system, in particular by a fastening system of hook / loop. 13. Artificial grass system (108), which comprises the artificial grass covering (70) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and a means for attaching the artificial grass covering (70) to the base (72), in particular a fastening system.