Multi-purpose sports surface

Abstract

A synthetic turf covering for use in sports courts is disclosed herein. The synthetic turf covering includes a foundation having a topside and a bottom side; a plurality of grass-like pile filaments attached to and extending upward from the topside of the foundation; and a particulate infill disposed between the grass-like pile filaments, where the particulate infill includes both elastic and inelastic particles bound with a binder. The binder creates a bound infill material. Specifically, binding the particles allows the infill to absorb force making it a safer playing surface while allowing a return of the energy to the ball for proper bounce.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A synthetic turf covering for use in sports courts, the synthetic turf covering comprising:
 a foundation having a topside and a bottom side;   a plurality of grass-like pile filaments attached to and extending upward from the topside of the foundation; and   a particulate infill disposed between the grass-like pile filaments, wherein the particulate infill includes both elastic and inelastic particles bound with a binder.   
     
     
         2 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the foundation comprises:
 materials selected from the group consisting of ground, gravel, sand, rubber, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is a geopolymer binder. 
     
     
         4 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the binder initiates a curing process upon hydration. 
     
     
         5 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the particulate infill comprises particles with a granule size ranging from about 0.25 mm to about 6 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the particulate infill is applied to a depth that is between 10% and 95% of the average height of the grass-like filaments. 
     
     
         7 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the particulate infill further comprises materials selected from the group consisting of sand, rubber granules, ceramic beads, soil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the particulate infill is substantially homogeneous. 
     
     
         9 . A method for installing a synthetic turf covering on a sports court, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a foundation with a topside and a bottom side;   attaching a plurality of grass-like pile filaments to the topside of the foundation such that the filaments extend upward;   dispersing a particulate infill among the grass-like pile filaments, the particulate infill comprising elastic and inelastic particles and a binder; and   applying a liquid to the particulate infill to initiate curing of the binder.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the particulate infill is applied to a depth that is between 10% and 95% of the average height of the grass-like filaments. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the binder is a geopolymer binder. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the particulate infill comprises particles with a granule size ranging from 0.25 mm to 6 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the particulate infill further comprises materials selected from the group consisting of sand, rubber granules, ceramic beads, soil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the particulate infill is substantially homogeneous. 
     
     
         15 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the grass-like pile filaments are made from materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, nylon, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         16 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer comprises a woven or non-woven fabric coated with a rubber-type material. 
     
     
         17 . The synthetic turf covering of  claim 1 , wherein the backing layer is flexible enough to conform to the topography of the underlying foundation.