Artificial turf having integrated shock absorbing structures

Abstract

A shock absorbing artificial surface is disclosed. The shock absorbing artificial surface comprises a flexible, porous, backing member and parallel rows of ribbons projecting through and upwardly from the backing member. The shock absorbing artificial surface further comprises parallel rows of shock absorbing material on the back of backing member overlying the rows of ribbons. The parallel rows of shock absorbing material are spaced apart. A method of manufacturing a shock absorbing artificial surface is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shock absorbing artificial surface comprising
 a flexible, porous, backing member;   parallel rows of ribbons projecting through and upwardly from the backing member; and   parallel rows of shock absorbing material on a back side of the backing member underlying the rows of ribbons.   
     
     
         2 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the parallel rows of shock absorbing material are formed by depositing an adhesive material. 
     
     
         3 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein no additional adhesive is applied between the parallel rows of shocking absorbing material and the back side of the backing member. 
     
     
         4 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive material is a foam. 
     
     
         5 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive material is a frothed foam. 
     
     
         6 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the foam comprises polyether, polyurethane, polyester polyurethane, latex, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material is half-cylinder shaped or dome shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material has a height between about 4 mm and about 15 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material has a height sufficient to cover the rows of ribbons. 
     
     
         10 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material has a width between about 0.5 inches and about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the parallel rows of shock absorbing material are spaced apart by an uncoated gap between about 0.1 inches and about 0.3 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the parallel rows of shock absorbing material are not spaced apart. 
     
     
         13 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a relatively thick layer of particulate material on an upper surface of the backing member that supports the ribbons in an upright position. 
     
     
         14 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the particulate material comprises a mixture of sand and ground rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the backing member comprises two layers of permeable fabric, at least one of which is a needle punched fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material overlies a single row of the ribbons. 
     
     
         17 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material overlies two rows of the ribbons. 
     
     
         18 . A shock absorbing artificial surface comprising
 a flexible, porous, backing member;   parallel rows of ribbons projecting through and upwardly from the backing member;   a layer of particulate material on the backing member; and   parallel rows of shock absorbing material on a back side of the backing member overlying the rows of ribbons,   wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material has a height between about 4 mm and about 15 mm and a width between about 0.5 inches and about 1.5 inches, and   wherein the parallel rows of shock absorbing material are spaced apart by an uncoated gap between about 0.1 inches and about 0.3 inches.   
     
     
         19 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the parallel rows of shock absorbing material are formed by depositing an adhesive material. 
     
     
         20 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein no additional adhesive is applied between the parallel rows of shocking absorbing material and the back side of the backing member. 
     
     
         21 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the adhesive material is a frothed foam comprising polyether, polyurethane, polyester polyurethane, latex, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material overlies a single row of the ribbons. 
     
     
         23 . The shock absorbing artificial surface as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the parallel rows of shock absorbing material overlies two rows of the ribbons. 
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing a shock absorbing artificial surface comprising:
 tufting parallel rows of ribbons through a backing member; and   depositing a predetermined volume of an adhesive material on a back side of the backing member overlying the rows of ribbons,   wherein the volume is sufficient to be provide an integrated shock absorbent.