Patents by Inventor Stephan Sick
Stephan Sick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11608572Abstract: A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye. The second dye has a different color than the first dye, the second polymer being of the same or of a different type as the first polymer. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, Dirk Schmitz
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Patent number: 11608599Abstract: A method for producing an artificial turf fiber, comprising: preparing a core polymer mixture from a core polymer and a thread polymer forming beads within the core polymer; coextruding the core polymer mixture with a cladding polymer component into a monofilament, the core polymer mixture forming a cylindrical core, The cladding polymer component forming a cladding encompassing the core with a non-circular profile; quenching the monofilament; reheating the quenched monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the beads into threadlike regions; and providing one or more of the stretched monofilaments as the artificial turf fiber.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GMBHInventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr
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Publication number: 20230016648Abstract: A method of manufacturing an artificial turf includes creating fluid polyurethane mass. The creation including reacting first and second polyols with an isocyanate. The first polyol is a polyether polyol and/or a polyester polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups per molecule, the second polyol being polybutadien diol. The isocyanate including 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. The method further includes 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, adding the fluid polyurethane mass on the back side of the carrier, and hardening the fluid polyurethane mass.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicants: Advanced Polymer Technologies Corp., Synthetic Turf Resources Corp.Inventors: Stephan SICK, Frank LUCARELLI, Axel HINRICHS, Andreas SCHULZE-ISING, Matthew Lee HENSON, Erin Anderson TIDWELL
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Patent number: 11541585Abstract: A coextrusion head for manufacturing a bicomponent polymer fiber, comprising a first inlet for receiving a core polymer component, a second inlet for receiving a cladding polymer component, and a dual-channel nozzle comprising an inner channel and an outer channel encompassing the inner channel. The inner and outer channel are in hydraulic connection with the first and second inlet, respectively. The dual-channel nozzle further comprises a joining path establishing a hydraulic connection between the inner channel, the outer channel, and a nozzle outlet of the dual-channel nozzle. The joining path is adapted for bringing the core polymer component and the cladding polymer component into contact with each other such that a contact layer comprising a mixture of the core polymer component and the cladding polymer component is formed between the core polymer component and the cladding polymer component.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignees: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH, Sima S.R.L.Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr, Andrea Zucconi
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Patent number: 11473249Abstract: A method of manufacturing an artificial turf includes creating fluid polyurethane mass. The creation including reacting first and second polyols with an isocyanate. The first polyol is a polyether polyol and/or a polyester polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups per molecule, the second polyol being polybutadien diol. The isocyanate including 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. The method further includes 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, adding the fluid polyurethane mass on the back side of the carrier, and hardening the fluid polyurethane mass.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignees: Advanced Polymer Technologies Corp., Synthetic Turf Resources Corp.Inventors: Stephan Sick, Frank Lucarelli, Axel Hinrichs, Andreas Schulze-Ising, Matthew Lee Henson, Erin Anderson Tidwell
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Publication number: 20220161477Abstract: The invention provides for a method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000). The method includes creating a polymer mixture, such as polymer mixture (400), where the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system. The polymer mixture includes a first polymer, a second polymer and a compatibilizer. The first polymer is a polyamide (PA) and the second polymer is a polyethylene (PE). The first polymer is included in an amount of 0.125 percent to 5 percent by weight, the second polymer is included in an amount of 60 percent to 97 percent by weight and the compatibilizer is included in an amount of 0.375 percent to 15 percent by weight. The first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, and the first polymer forms polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventor: Stephan SICK
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Publication number: 20220056648Abstract: Playing surface, in particular a sports floor or playing field. The playing surface comprises a substrate layer lying on top of a base layer and one or more additional layers lying on top of the substrate layer. The substrate layer is a leveled, compacted mixture of elastic granules and stones. At least one of the additional layers is an elastic layer. The substrate layer and the one or more additional layers form the playing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan SICK, Kris BROWN, Ivo LOHR, Stefan HALLY
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Patent number: 11180894Abstract: An elastic gel includes a solid component and a liquid component. The solid component is a polyurethane polymer matrix. The liquid component is a plasticizer. The liquid component includes one or more vegetable oils or chemical derivatives of vegetable oils or a mixture thereof and is comprised in cells of the polyurethane polymer matrix.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Advanced Polymer Technology Corp.Inventors: Stephan Sick, Frank Luccarelli, Wesley Baum, Andreas M. Schulze Ising
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Publication number: 20210292966Abstract: The invention provides for a method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000), The method comprising the steps of: —creating (100) a polymer mixture (100, 400, 500) comprising at least one polymer and a nucleat ing agent for crystallizing the at least one polymer; —extruding (102) the polymer mixture into a monofilament (606); —quenching (104) the monofilament; —reheating (106) the monofilament; —stretching (108) the reheated monofilament to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber (1004), wherein during the stretching the nucleating agent boosts the creation of crystalline portions of the at least one polymer within the monofilament; —incorporating (110) the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing, thereby mechanically fixing the monofilaments of the arranged artificial turf fibers in the artificial turf backing. FIG. 2a FIG. 2b FIG.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Bernd JANSEN, James M. TRITT, Dirk SCHMITZ
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Publication number: 20210269989Abstract: The method includes creating a polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture includes a stabilizing polymer, a bulk polymer, a flame retardant polymer combination, and a compatibilizer. The stabilizing polymer polymer and the bulk polymer are immiscible. The stabilizing polymer includes fibers surrounded by the compatibilizer within the bulk polymer. The stabilizing polymer is aramid. The flame retardant polymer combination is a mixture of triazin and melamine. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament. The method further includes quenching the monofilament. The method further includes reheating the monofilament. The method further includes stretching the reheated monofilament to align the fibers relative to each other and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber. The method further includes incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Dirk SCHMITZ, Dirk SANDER, Oliver WAGENER, Stephan SICK
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Publication number: 20210238771Abstract: A method for manufacturing an artificial turf fiber includes creating a polymer mixture that includes, 60-99% by weight of an LLDPE polymer and 1-15% by weight of an LDPE polymer. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; and stretching the reheated monofilament to form the monofilament into the artificial turf fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Bernd JANSEN
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Publication number: 20210230813Abstract: The invention relates to an elastic layer (202) for use as a support layer of sports floor (302), the elastic layer being made of a mixture of fibers (206), elastic granules (208), and a binder (204).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicants: APT Advanced Polymer Technology Corp., Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan Sick, Kris Brown, lvo Lohr, Stefan Hally
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Publication number: 20210230814Abstract: An artificial turf system (100, 500) comprises an artificial turf layer (102), an upper elastic layer (104) positioned below the artificial turf layer, and a geogrid (106). The geogrid is positioned between the first elastic layer and a lower elastic layer. The lower elastic layer (108) is positioned below the geogrid.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicants: APT Advanced Polymer Technology Corp., Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan SICK, Kris BROWN, Ivo LOHR, Stefan HALLY
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Patent number: 11060244Abstract: The method includes creating a polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture includes a stabilizing polymer, a bulk polymer, a flame retardant polymer combination, and a compatibilizer. The stabilizing polymer and the bulk polymer are immiscible. The stabilizing polymer includes fibers surrounded by the compatibilizer within the bulk polymer. The stabilizing polymer is aramid. The flame retardant polymer combination is a mixture of triazin and melamine. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament. The method further includes quenching the monofilament. The method further includes reheating the monofilament. The method further includes stretching the reheated monofilament to align the fibers relative to each other and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber. The method further includes incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2015Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Dirk Schmitz, Dirk Sander, Oliver Wagener, Stephan Sick
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Publication number: 20210189122Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a polyurethane floor panel, the method comprising mixing rubber powder, a polyol, an isocyanate component and a thermo-selective catalyst for creating a liquid two-component polyurethane reaction mixture, the thermo-selective catalyst being adapted to trigger the reaction of the polyols and the isocyanate into polyurethane selectively in case the temperature of the reaction mixture exceeds an activation temperature of the thermo-selective catalyst stirring the reaction mixture for at least 15 minutes filling the stirred liquid reaction mixture into a mold applying pressure under a temperature that exceeds the activation temperature on the mold and removing the hardened polyurethane floor panel from the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan SICK, Zdenka FINDER
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Patent number: 11015302Abstract: A method for producing polyurethane flooring includes providing polyurethane reactive components including a isocyanate component and a polyol component, determining environmental data, determining process parameters for mixing the polyurethane reactive components, wherein the process parameters depend on the environmental data, mixing the foam for the polyurethane flooring by mixing the isocyanate component and the polyol component using a froth foam process with the process parameters, applying a first lane of the liquid foam to a ground, applying a second lane of the liquid foam to the ground, wherein a side edge of the second lane gets in contact with a side edge of the first lane, wherein the process parameter are determined so that the foam of the first lane is not cured before applying the foam of the second lane. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus and a system for producing a polyurethane flooring.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: POLYTEX SPORTBELAGE PRODUKTIONS-GMBHInventors: Stephan Sick, Zdenka Finder, Ivo Lohr
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Patent number: 11015268Abstract: A method for manufacturing an artificial turf fiber includes creating a polymer mixture that includes, 60-99% by weight of an LLDPE polymer and 1-15% by weight of an LDPE polymer. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; and stretching the reheated monofilament to form the monofilament into the artificial turf fiber.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen
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Patent number: 10983037Abstract: A synthetic turf testing apparatus includes a test element, wherein the test element has a contact surface for contacting a synthetic turf surface, wherein the test element includes a temperature sensor for measuring a time dependent surface temperature of the contact surface; a pedestal attached to the test element, wherein the pedestal is configured for applying force to the test element; a carriage for translating the pedestal along a translational path; a guide structure for supporting the carriage and guiding the carriage along the translational path; and an actuator for moving the carriage relative to the guide structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignees: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH, Labosport InternationalInventors: Stephan Sick, Bernd Jansen, Ivo Lohr, Dirk Sander, Pascal Haxaire, Loïc Dreau, Roberto Armeni, Aurelien Le Blan
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Patent number: 10968565Abstract: A method of manufacturing artificial turf includes the steps of: creating a polymer mixture including at least one polymer and a nucleating agent for crystallizing the at least one polymer, extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber, wherein during the stretching the nucleating agent boosts the creation of crystalline portions of the polymer within the monofilament; incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing, thereby mechanically fixing the monofilaments of the arranged artificial turf fibers in the artificial turf backing.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: POLYTEX SPORTBELÄGE PRODUKTIONS GMBHInventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, James Tritt, Dirk Schmitz
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Publication number: 20200407533Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer-based artificial turf fiber comprising substances (216) adapted for protecting the fiber against UV radiation. The substances comprise a hindered amine light stabilizer—HALS and a first and a second UV-absorbent substance. The molecular weights of the first and the second UV-absorbent substances differ from each other by at least 100 g/mol.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbHInventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Dirk SCHMITZ, Bernd JANSEN, Ivo LOHR