Artificial turf-like product

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, the primary and principal object of the present invention is to provide a synthetic turf-like product which provides a game playing surface having game playing characteristics which are superior to previously known artificial turfs.
Further, it is an aim of the invention to provide such a product which has game playing characteristics substantially equal to or superior to natural turf.
The foregoing objects, aims and purposes are substantially realized and the problems and difficulties of the prior art as set forth above generally have been solved through the use of a treated synthetic turf-like product which provides a game playing surface, closely resembling natural turf, particularly in its ability to absorb shock.
The product comprises basically a pile fabric including a relatively flexible backing and normally generally upstanding pile elements which resemble grass and which have free ends spaced from the backing providing an upper game playing surface.
In accordance with the invention the treated product additionally comprises a quantity of non-compacting granular material comprising irregular, angular particles having a U.
S.
screen mesh size between 6 and 100, interspersed on the backing and among the elements, said material being present in sufficient quantity to substantially absorb the shock of objects impacting thereon whereby to provide game playing characteristics approaching those of natural turf.
The pile elements and the interspersed granular material interact with each other to produce beneficial results.
The granular material counteracts the tendency of the artificial turf to become grainy because of the pile elements laying down in various directions and stabilizes the pile elements in a generally upright position so that a ball will roll or bounce true on the playing surface.
The pile elements stabilize the granular material against shifting under the influence of forces such as a ball impacting thereon or a player treading thereon or the force of water or windstorms which would cause plain uncompacted granular material to shift thereby rendering the surface of the playing area uneven