Filler for artificial turf system

Abstract

Artificial turf for use with an artificial turf system, which may also include a base layer and a support layer. The artificial turf comprising a backing supporting pile tufts of between ¼″ to 4″ in length, in position on its upper surface. The backing may comprise a porous synthetic foam or backing sheet. A filler of particles shaped to have no sharp edges and of substantially equal size are interspersed over the backing and about the tufts up to at least half thick length. The artificial turf substantially retains its resiliency, porosity and equal density throughout.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An artificial turf for an athletic field, comprising:
 a backing having pile tufts of between ¼″ to 4″ in length secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, said backing comprising one of a porous synthetic foam and a porous backing sheet;   a filler of rounded beads shaped to have no sharp edges, and of a restricted size profile of between 6 and 80 mesh, the beads interspersed over said backing and about said turfs up to at least about half said tuft length, and at between 4 and 6 pounds per square foot, the filler being substantially homogenous and presenting an angle of repose of about 28 degrees;   said filler comprising one of silicon dioxide beads coated with an acrylic polymer sealer and glass beads;   at least one other substance combined with the beads, to affect at least one of the use, texture, odor, and the color of the beads, said other substance including at least one of: natural and synthetic rubber, a plastic polymer, silver ions or nitrate, a fragrance, an ultraviolet stabilizer, a color pigment, and a coolant;   wherein said artificial turf retains a relatively low G-max within throughout extended use.   
     
     
         32 . The artificial turf of  claim 31  wherein the beads are silicon dioxide coated with an acrylic polymer sealer and said other substance is a coolant combined with the acrylic polymer sealer. 
     
     
         33 . The artificial turf of  claim 31  wherein the beads are sized to be within no more than five mesh sizes. 
     
     
         34 . The artificial turf of  claim 31  wherein the silicon dioxide beads are substantially dust free. 
     
     
         35 . An artificial turf for an athletic field, comprising:
 a base;   a porous backing residing on the base, the backing including pile tufts having a length of ¼″ to 4″ secured thereto an extending upwardly therefrom; and   a filler evenly distributed over the backing and supporting the pile tufts, the filler consisting essentially of non-porous, substantially round beads of restricted size profile, wherein the beads resist mounding, repel water, resist compacting, present no damaging sharp edges when incorporated with the turf, and are environmentally safe, the beads having an angle of repose no more than about 30 degrees, the pile tufts extending substantially above the top of the filler;   wherein the artificial turf retains a relatively constant G-max throughout extended use, and wherein the beads have had at least one other substance combined therewith to affect at least one of the use, texture, odor, and color of the beads.   
     
     
         36 . The artificial turf of  claim 35  further comprising:
 a porous foam sheet residing on the base. 
 
     
     
         37 . The artificial turf of  claim 35  wherein the beads comprise glass beads and said other substance combined with the beads affects the color of the beads. 
     
     
         38 . The artificial turf of  claim 35  wherein the at least one other substance includes at least one of: silver ions, nitrate, a fragrance, an ultraviolet stabilizer, a color pigment, and a coolant.