US 12,104,332 B2
Artificial turf and associated devices and methods for making same
Gregory D. Fowler, Ringgold, GA (US); Phil Stricklen, Dalton, GA (US); and Lisa Porter, Ringgold, GA (US)
Assigned to Columbia Insurance Company, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on Nov. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/504,826.
Application 16/207,776 is a division of application No. 14/712,446, filed on May 14, 2015, abandoned.
Application 18/504,826 is a continuation of application No. 17/583,382, filed on Jan. 25, 2022, granted, now 11,821,149.
Application 17/583,382 is a continuation of application No. 16/207,776, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,268,248, issued on Mar. 8, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/996,815, filed on May 14, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0068175 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. E01C 13/08 (2006.01); D02G 3/44 (2006.01); D05C 15/10 (2006.01); D05C 15/18 (2006.01); D05C 15/36 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 13/08 (2013.01) [D02G 3/445 (2013.01); D05C 15/10 (2013.01); D05C 15/18 (2013.01); D05C 15/36 (2013.01); D10B 2505/202 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making an artificial turf, comprising:
delivering at least first, second, and third distinct yarns from a creel assembly to each respective needle of a plurality of needles;
threading the first, second, and third distinct yarns through an eye of each respective needle of the plurality of needles; and
using the plurality of needles to tuft a plurality of rows of individual tufts into a backing layer, wherein each tuft comprises at least the first, second, and third distinct yarns per tuft, wherein each one of the first, second, and third yarns varies from the other yarns of the first, second, and third yarns of the tuft in at least one of material, color, texture, denier, denier per filament, or cross-section;
wherein the first, second, and third yarns of each tuft are not twisted together prior to threading through the eye of each needle of the plurality of needles, and wherein the at least first, second, and third yarns of each tuft are simultaneously delivered, by a single needle of the plurality of needles, through the backing layer to produce the tuft,
wherein the first yarn is a texturized yarn, wherein the second yarn is a slit tape yarn, and wherein the third yarn is a monofilament yarn.