Patents Examined by Cheryl Juska
  • Patent number: 11377766
    Abstract: Stabilizing a textile sheet structure was achieved by forming a plurality of discrete fiber tufts extending from a first face of a fibrous layer of the textile sheet structure, through the fibrous layer and beyond a second face opposite the first face. Each discrete fiber tuft included a plurality discrete fibers. Each discrete fiber tuft was anchored to the first face and the second face of the fibrous layer by joining together the plurality of each discrete fiber tuft at the first face and the second face and bonding the joined plurality of discrete fiber tuft to the first face and the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ENGINEERED FLOORS LLC
    Inventors: Dimitri Zafiroglu, Stephen Tsiarkezos, John Joseph Matthews Rees
  • Patent number: 11375867
    Abstract: A cleaning article defining an XY plane and a Z direction perpendicular to the plane. The cleaning article has discrete tufts of tow fibers bonded to a carrier sheet by primary bonds. The discrete tufts have secondary bond lines external to the tufts. The secondary bond lines interrupt the Z-direction thickness of the tufts, to provide channels for improved collection and retention of debris from a target surface. The tufts are created by slits between the primary bonds and secondary bonds, which yield plural tuft sizes. The slits may be transversely unequally spaced between adjacent bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Nicola John Policicchio
  • Patent number: 11371194
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Brock USA, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Lee Sawyer, Daniel C. Sawyer, Richard R. Runkles
  • Patent number: 11370194
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for preparing a microfibrous multilayer composite material comprising: 1) realizing a non-woven microfibrous semi-finished product made up of microfibres of one or more polymers dispersed in a polyurethane matrix (semi-finished product IE); 2) cutting the semi-finished product lengthwise into two layers; 3) buffing at least one layer on one side (side N) so as to extract the microfibres and form the nap, thereby obtaining a semi-finished raw product; 4) cutting at least one semi-finished raw product lengthwise parallel to the surfaces, producing an non-woven intermediate product, containing the buffed side (side N) and a waste layer (containing the side that has not been buffed—side S); 5) coupling the non-woven intermediate product (on the side opposite side N) to a fabric made of polyethylene terephthalate fibres by means of the application of a thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive that can be cross-linked between the non-woven intermediate product and the fabric; 6)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ALCANTARA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Marchili, Walter Cardinali, Gianni Romani, Giovanni Lelli, Carmine Carlo Ammirati, Giovanni Palomba
  • Patent number: 11357673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laminate (1) comprising at least one support element (2), for example a nonwoven fabric, in particular an SMS nonwoven, and at least one nonwoven loop fabric (3), in particular a carded nonwoven, secured to the support element (1), in particular by means of calendaring with the first nonwoven fabric, characterised in that the curve representing the force required to stretch the laminate along a given axis (e.g. the MD axis or the CD axis of the laminate) as a function of elongation, comprises a segment in which, starting from a zero elongation value, the force increases from zero up to a maximum force, corresponding in particular to the rupture of the laminate, and the curve comprises an inflection point (Pi) on said segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: APLIX
    Inventors: Nathalie Moinard, Thierry Marche
  • Patent number: 11346047
    Abstract: A moisture resistant carpet composition exhibiting exceptional delamination strength and methods of making same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey Thomas Coon
  • Patent number: 11236471
    Abstract: An artificial turf field system is provided. The system may include a plurality of synthetic turf strands attached to a backing layer and an infill material positioned between the synthetic turf stands. The infill material may include a plurality of porous particles. A sub-layer may be included beneath the backing layer, and may be formed of a resilient material. A support layer may be included beneath the sub-layer, and may include materials configured for drainage. The porous particles of the infill material may include porous ceramic particles and the sub-layer may include rubber. The porous particles may be at least partially coated, for example, by a polymer coating. The infill material may be free of sand and/or crumb rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PROFILE PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Scott Spittle, Joe E. Betulius
  • Patent number: 11230799
    Abstract: An artificial turf mat includes a backing and a number of protruding artificial grass blades divided into rows and connected thereto. The mutual distance between successive blades in a row is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent rows and amounts to at least 10 mm. Such an artificial turf mat can be used to form artificial turf fields, for example, on which sports, and in particular ball sports, are played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Greenfields B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo de Vries
  • Patent number: 11174600
    Abstract: Artificial turf filaments formed from polyethylene are provided that can have desirable properties. In one aspect, an artificial turf filament comprises a composition comprising a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises at least one ethylene-based polymer and wherein the first composition comprises a MWCDI value greater than 0.9, and a melt index ratio (I10/I2) that meets the following equation: I10/I2?7.0?1.2×log (I2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Pradeep Jain, Mehmet Demirors, Rajen M. Patel, Joseph L. Deavenport, David Lopez
  • Patent number: 11142873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an artificial turf. In the present invention, nylon is used as the main material. Through selecting straight fibers and curve fibers with certain cross-sectional shapes, lengths and widths and using the straight fiber and curve fiber together, the obtained grass fibers not only have relatively good temperature resistance, but also good handfeel, wear resistance, anti-aging performance, grass fiber resilience, trampling resistance and grass uprightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO BELLINTURF INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kang Yu, Jiahui Zhou, Bo Yu, Faping Qin
  • Patent number: 11058228
    Abstract: Flame retardant panels generally include an adaptive cover layer and underlying batting layer. The cover layer includes a moisture vapor permeable synthetic fibrous layer, and a liquid impermeable but moisture vapor permeable thermoplastic layer disposed on an outer face of the cover layer, wherein the liquid impermeable but moisture vapor permeable thermoplastic layer is in an amount of about 2 to 15% by weight based on a total weight of the synthetic fibrous layer and the thermoplastic layer. The underlying batting layer can have a top surface and a bottom surface, the layer comprising a plurality of substantially vertically oriented flame retardant treated fibers extending from the top surface to the bottom surface; and a binder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: DREAMWELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Michael S. DeFranks, James P. Ross
  • Patent number: 11041258
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a linear low density polyethylene composition, tapes, fibers and filaments, artificial turfs, and method of making the same. The linear low density polyethylene composition according to the present disclosure exhibits each of the following properties: (1) a CEF fraction from 70 to 90° C. of equal to or greater than 80% of the total CEF fractions; (2) a melt index, I2, measured according to ASTM D 1238 (2.16 kg @190° C.), in the range of equal to or greater than 2.0 g/10 min and equal to or less than 5.0 g/10 min; and (3) a melt flow ratio, I10/I2, of equal to or less than 6.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David Lopez, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Jesus Nieto, Barbara Bonavoglia, Frederik E. Gemoets
  • Patent number: 11021842
    Abstract: An artificial turf system includes a turf assembly having a turf backing and stands of artificial grass blades extending from the turf backing to form an artificial turf layer. Infill material is placed in between the blades of artificial grass and on top of the turf backing. The infill material has a composition of sand and organic particles. The infill material organic particles includes a plurality of wood particles where at least a portion of the wood particles define a length dimension oriented generally parallel to a grain structure of the wood particles. The length dimension is greater than a width or a thickness dimension and, in one example, may be in a range of about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm. The length dimension and one of the width or thickness dimensions may, in another example, define an aspect ratio within a range of 1:2 to 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Brock USA, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Sawyer, Stephen Keyser, Steven L. Sawyer, Richard R. Runkles
  • Patent number: 11015268
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen
  • Patent number: 10982383
    Abstract: Floor coverings having a greige good, an adhesive layer, and a secondary backing material. The greige good has a primary backing component having adjoined first and second portions, and a plurality of fibers. The secondary backing material has an attached portion and a first exposable portion, with the attached portion adhered to the first portion of the primary backing component by contact with the adhesive layer. The second portion of the primary backing component is unattached to the first exposable portion of the secondary backing material, and the first exposable portion defines a portion of the first end edge of the floor covering. The second portion of the primary backing component is selectively moveable relative to the first portion to a position in which at least a portion of the second portion of the primary backing component does not overlie the first exposable portion of the secondary backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Fain Alexander Cochran, III, Jill Glascock Suhm
  • Patent number: 10982395
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Brock USA, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Lee Sawyer, Daniel C. Sawyer, Richard R. Runkles
  • Patent number: 10975533
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a method and system for synthetic turf and the installation thereof. Modular turf sections are formed by attaching a turf section to a corresponding base structure of any desired size and shape. The base structure has a smooth top surface and smooth edges, and can be cut to any desired shape, angle or cutout. The base structure may include a PVC flushing system. The modular turf sections are laid side by side to cover a surface having any size and shape. The modular turf sections are portable and can be individually lifted after having been installed, thereby allowing for cleaning, repair and/or access under one or more selected modular turf sections, or for the replacement of selected modular turf sections which become worn or damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Perfet Turf LLC
    Inventors: David J. Sternberg, Matthew V. Scavo
  • Patent number: 10968554
    Abstract: A fabric made of yarns interlooping with each other or passing through an inner layer at looping intervals. The fabric is embossed with a micro-pattern extending into the yarns or into a layer underneath the fabric. The micro-pattern contains a pre-defined pattern of a plurality of binding points attaching the yarns to the inner layer or to the added underlayer. This micro-pattern has an inter-point spacing between adjacent binding points that is less than the interlooping intervals. The fabric can also be embossed with a macro-pattern separate from and coarser than the micro-pattern. The macro-pattern establishes a desired aesthetic in the fabric, and the micro-pattern does not interfere with the desired aesthetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ENGINEERED FLOORS LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Tsiarkezos, Dimitri Zafiroglu, John Joseph Matthews Rees
  • Patent number: 10968565
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: POLYTEX SPORTBELÄGE PRODUKTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, James Tritt, Dirk Schmitz
  • Patent number: 10907276
    Abstract: Artificial grass (100, 200, 320) with good fire-retardant performance including its manufacturing process (300) is disclosed, particularly to be used for indoor applications. The fire retardant, particularly of halogen-based type (311), is incorporated within the artificial fiber filaments (101, 201, 301). The backing (102, 202, 302) onto which the artificial fiber filaments (101, 201, 301) are attached, may also be provided with a fire retardant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BFS Europe NV
    Inventors: Daan Robert De Keyzer, Marc Verleyen, Joris Degroote