Synthetic Turf System Having Two Types of Fibers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a synthetic turf system including a backing member having a plurality of monofilament ribbons—soft and stiff—projecting there from. A layer of particulate material lies above the backing member and among the monofilament ribbons wherein the soft monofilament ribbons facilitates the stabilization or trapping of the particulate material.

1 . A synthetic turf system comprising:
 a backing member;   a layer of particulate material dispersed above the backing member; and,   a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers, each fiber from the plurality of first fibers and each fiber from the plurality of second fibers being secured to the backing member, the first fiber being a monofilament fiber and the second fiber being selected from the group consisting of: a slit film fiber, a fault-line monofilament fiber, a multi-strand monofilament fiber, and a fibrillated monofilament fiber; and,   
     wherein a portion of each fiber from the plurality of first fibers and a portion of each fiber from the plurality of second fibers extends above the layer of particulate material. 
   
   
       2 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one fiber from the plurality of first fibers and at least one fiber from the plurality of second fibers are formed into a bundle. 
   
   
       3 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 2 , wherein bundle includes four first fibers and four second fibers. 
   
   
       4 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 2 , wherein the bundle includes at least four first fibers and at least four second fibers. 
   
   
       5 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fibers are stiffer than the second fibers. 
   
   
       6 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fibers each have a geometry with a cross section such that the first fibers are stiffer than the second fibers. 
   
   
       7 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 2 , wherein the first fibers are stiffer than the second fibers. 
   
   
       8 . The synthetic turf system of  claim 2 , wherein the first fibers each have a geometry with a cross section such that the first fibers are stiffer than the second fibers.