Patents by Inventor Dirk Sander

Dirk Sander 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).

  • Publication number: 20250101633
    Abstract: An extrusion apparatus suitable for manufacturing artificial turf polymer fiber, in particular from LLDPE that is free of fiber splitting, wherein the extrusion apparatus is characterized in that a ratio of an equivalent diameter of the nozzle outlet over an axial length of the inner channel of the nozzle is from 0.90 to 1.10, or from 0.95 to 1.05.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Sven HAMANN, Dario GROCHLA, Dirk SANDER
  • Patent number: 12247327
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of delaying and reducing texture reversion of a textured artificial turf yarn (145), characterized by using a stretched and textured monofilament yarn as the textured artificial turf yarn, the stretched and textured monofilament yarn comprising a polymer mixture (400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibilizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, Ivo Lohr, Kris Brown
  • Publication number: 20250075442
    Abstract: The invention provides for an artificial turf fiber comprising a polymer grafted with one or more siloxanes, the polymer being a polyolefin or a polyamide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Thorsten VAN DEN BERG, Marco REHOSEK, Dirk SANDER, Oliver WAGENER
  • Patent number: 12195931
    Abstract: An artificial turf fiber comprising at least one monofilament, each monofilament comprising a cylindrical core and a cladding. The core comprises a core polymer and threadlike regions formed by a thread polymer and embedded in the core polymer. The cladding is formed by a cladding polymer surrounding the core. It has a non-circular profile and is miscible with the core polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr
  • Patent number: 12152318
    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 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen
  • Patent number: 12134687
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Dirk Schmitz, Bernd Jansen, Ivo Lohr
  • Publication number: 20240336764
    Abstract: A polymer-based artificial turf fiber including substances 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: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Dirk SCHMITZ, Bernd JANSEN, Ivo LOHR
  • Publication number: 20240084525
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Ivo LOHR
  • Publication number: 20240084524
    Abstract: The invention provides for an artificial Turf fiber comprising a polyolefin grafted with one or more siloxanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Thorsten VAN DEN BERG, Marco REHOSEX, Dirk SANDER, Oliver WAGENER
  • Patent number: 11905666
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr
  • Publication number: 20230416996
    Abstract: An artificial turf fiber comprising at least one monofilament, each monofilament comprising a cylindrical core and a cladding. The core comprises a core polymer and threadlike regions formed by a thread polymer and embedded in the core polymer. The cladding is formed by a cladding polymer surrounding the core. It has a non-circular profile and is miscible with the core polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Ivo LOHR
  • Patent number: 11788237
    Abstract: An artificial turf fiber comprising at least one monofilament, each monofilament comprising a cylindrical core and a cladding. The core comprises a core polymer and threadlike regions formed by a thread polymer and embedded in the core polymer. The cladding is formed by a cladding polymer surrounding the core. It has a non-circular profile and is miscible with the core polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions—GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr
  • Publication number: 20230243072
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of delaying and reducing texture reversion of a textured artificial turf yarn (145), characterized by using a stretched and textured monofilament yarn as the textured artificial turf yarn, the stretched and textured monofilament yarn comprising a polymer mixture (400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibilizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, Ivo Lohr, Kris Brown
  • Publication number: 20230193568
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Ivo LOHR
  • Publication number: 20230183888
    Abstract: 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 of a different color than the first dye. 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: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Bernd JANSEN, Dirk SCHMITZ
  • Patent number: 11655566
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of delaying and reducing texture reversion of a textured artificial turf yarn (145), characterized by using a stretched and textured monofilament yarn as the textured artificial turf yarn, the stretched and textured monofilament yarn comprising a polymer mixture (400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibilizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, Ivo Lohr, Kris Brown
  • Patent number: 11608572
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Bernd Jansen, Dirk Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11608599
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr
  • Patent number: 11541585
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH, Sima S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stephan Sick, Dirk Sander, Ivo Lohr, Andrea Zucconi
  • Publication number: 20210292966
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan SICK, Dirk SANDER, Bernd JANSEN, James M. TRITT, Dirk SCHMITZ