A device for twisting a flat, fibrillated strip for producing artificial turf is disclosed. The device includes a hollow shaft having a central axis of rotation, a deflecting element that is mounted on the hollow shaft and that has a swing region, and a limiting element that is disposed on the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft allows the strip to be continuously passed through a hollow space of the hollow shaft. The deflecting element includes a swing pivot that is offset from the central axis. When the hollow shaft is rotated around its central axis, the swing region of the deflecting element is swung outward from the central axis to a swung-out position. As a result, the strip is rested against the swing region. When the deflecting element is in its swung-out position, the strip is rested against the limiting element that limits the outward deflection of the strip.

Disclosed is shock absorbing pad having a composite nonwoven pad having a nonwoven construction, wherein the composite nonwoven pad has a face surface and an opposed back surface and comprising a nonwoven blend of fibers and a heat set binder material. The nonwoven construction of the composite nonwoven pad provides for a vertical water drainage capability of the composite nonwoven pad, and wherein the vertical water drainage capability is from 10 inches per hour to 500 inches per hour as determined by ASTM D3385.

Method of manufacturing an artificial turf includes: creating fluid polyurethane mass, the creation comprising reacting first and second polyols with an isocyanate, the first polyol being a polyether polyol and/or a polyester polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups per molecule, the second polyol being polybutadiendiol; the isocyanate comprising isocyanate monomers, isocyanate polymers or isocyanate prepolymers or a mixture thereof, the isocyanate monomers, isocyanate polymers and the isocyanate prepolymers having two or more isocyanate groups per molecule; incorporating an artificial turf fiber into a carrier such that a first portion of the fiber protrudes to the front side of the carrier and that a second portion of the fiber is located at the back side of the carrier; and adding the fluid polyurethane mass on the back side of the carrier; and hardening the fluid polyurethane mass.

A tufted article can have a length along a first axis and width along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The tufted article can comprise a backing and a plurality of tufts extending through the backing. The plurality of tufts can be distributed among a plurality of tuft sequences. Each tuft sequence can comprise at least one tuft of the plurality of tufts. The tufts of each tuft sequence can be formed sequentially by a single needle of a tufting machine. Each tuft sequence of the plurality of tuft sequences can be spaced from other tuft sequences of the plurality of tuft sequences along at least one of the first axis or the second axis. In some aspects, no tuft sequence of the plurality of tuft sequences extends across the entire length or the entire width of the backing.

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of spaced apart, upwardly oriented projections that define channels suitable for fluid flow along the top side of the core when the underlayment layer is positioned beneath an overlying artificial turf assembly.

The invention provides for method for forming an artificial turf infill material. The method comprises selecting from a zeolite ore a microporous zeolite mineral using a selection criterion on specific surface area of the mineral, thereby providing the artificial turf infill material.

A manufactured composite comprising synthetic turf and impermeable geomembrane is used in a single-layer capping system as the single layer to provide permanent, impermeable and functional aesthetic cover for a job site. During installation of composite pieces at a job site, an edge portion of a tufted section of a second composite piece is overlaid onto an edge untufted section of the first composite piece already laid and anchored over foundation soil to form a reinforced overlapping seam, through which the two composite pieces are physically and permanently joined together. As composite pieces are joined together, the continuity of synthetic grass and the continuity of impermeability are extended and realized over the entire site to form permanent, impermeable and functional aesthetic cover for a job site.

The invention comprises a method of making synthetic turf. The method comprises applying an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive to a first primary surface of a tufted primary backing to form a coating thereon and wherein the primary backing is tufted with a plurality of synthetic filaments to form a face pile extending outwardly from a second primary surface of the synthetic turf opposite the first primary surface and heating the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive to a temperature above its melting point so that the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive melts and at least partially flows into the primary backing. The method also comprises heating a linear low-density polyethylene film to a temperature below the softening point of the film and pressing the heated linear low-density polyethylene film into contact with the polymer coated first primary surface of the tufted primary backing. The method further comprises allowing the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive and the linear low-density polyethylene film to cool, whereby the linear low-density polyethylene film is adhered to the tufted primary backing.

A playing surface assembly that defines at least a portion of a playing surface. The playing surface assembly has a backing, a plurality of reinforcement elements secured to and extending upwardly from the backing, and an infill material defining a top surface of the playing surface assembly. Each reinforcement element has a top end and a reveal distance corresponding to a vertical spacing between the top surface of the playing surface assembly and the top end of the reinforcement element. The reveal distance of each reinforcement element is less than 0.5 inches. In use, the reinforcement elements restrict lateral and vertical migration of the infill material, and the infill material is the primary source of performance characteristics of the playing surface assembly.

Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.