Tubular monofilament fiber

Abstract

A tubular monofilament fiber with predefined weak points for an artificial turf system is disclosed. The fiber comprises a tube comprising a perimeter wall enclosing a hollow interior area of the tube, and a plurality of predefined weak points formed in the perimeter wall that divide the perimeter wall into a plurality of fibrils and connect adjacent fibrils. The predefined weak points are easily breakable to disconnect the plurality of fibrils from each other by mechanical means for brushing the fiber, by conventional brushing processes using in installing an artificial turf, or by footsteps of players. The hollow interior area, the perimeter wall, and the plurality weak points extend from a top end of the fiber to a bottom end of the fiber.

1 . An artificial grass monofilament fiber comprising:
 a tube comprising a perimeter wall enclosing a hollow interior area of the tube;   a plurality of predefined weak points formed in the perimeter wall that divide the perimeter wall into a plurality of fibrils and connect adjacent fibrils, the predefined weak points are breakable to disconnect the plurality of fibrils from each other by mechanical means for brushing the fiber or by footsteps of players; and   the perimeter wall and the plurality of predefined weak points extend from a top end of the fiber to a bottom end of the fiber.   
     
     
         2 . An artificial turf system comprising artificial grass monofilament fibers of  claim 1  that are tufted through a backing member and infill that are disposed on the backing member between the artificial grass monofilament fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter wall has a width between an inner surface of the perimeter wall that is closer to the hollow interior area and an outer surface of the perimeter wall that is farther from the hollow interior area. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber according to  claim 3 , wherein the predefined weak points are closer to the inner surface of the perimeter wall than the outer surface of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber according to  claim 3 , wherein the fibrils have a width equal to the width of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber according to  claim 3 , wherein the predefined weak points have a width smaller than the width of fibrils. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the predefined weak points have a width smaller than a width of the fibrils. 
     
     
         8 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fibrils has a diamond shape from a top view or from a cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fibrils has a triangle shape from a top view or from a cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fibrils has an L-shape from a top view or from a cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fibrils has a trapezoid shape from a top view or from a cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , where each of the plurality of fibrils has a cross shape from a top view or from a cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of predefined weak points has a center with a reduced thickness compared to side surfaces of the each predefined weak point contacting the fibrils. 
     
     
         14 . An artificial grass monofilament fiber comprising:
 a tube comprising a perimeter wall and a hollow interior area, which forms an enclosure around the hollow area, wherein the perimeter wall includes plural predefined weak points and a slit formed in the perimeter wall that together divides the perimeter wall into a plurality of fibrils, wherein the predefined weak points connect adjacent fibrils and the predefined weak points are each breakable to disconnect the plurality of fibrils from each other by a threshold level of mechanical force comprising a corresponding level of force from brushing the fiber or by footsteps of players, and the perimeter wall and the predefined weak points extend from a top end of the fiber to a bottom end of the fiber.   
     
     
         15 . The fiber according to  claim 14 , wherein the fiber has a portion extending above an infill and remaining portion buried in the infill when the infill is applied to the fiber, the fibrils are disconnected from each other in the portion extending above the infill via the predefined weak points by the threshold level of mechanical force. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber according to  claim 15 , wherein the fibrils are connected to each other in the remaining portion buried within the infill via the predefined weak point.