# US 11,306,443 B2 · Polymer panels for walkway and paving > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,443 B2 - Document ID: US11306443B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/915,789 - Filed: 2020-06-29 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-29 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Mohammed Al Mehthel; Waseem Ahmad Abdur Rahim Khatri; Saleh Alwehaiby; Oscar Daniel Salazar Vidal; Mirza Mansoor Baig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306443B2 ## CPC - E01C 5/20: made of units of plastics, {e.g. concrete with plastics, linoleum}(E01C5/18 takes precedence; {of textiles made of synthetic fibres E01C5/008}) - E01C 5/001: {on prefabricated supporting structures or prefabricated foundation elements except coverings made of layers of similar elements} - E01C 11/225: {Paving specially adapted for through-the-surfacing drainage, e.g. perforated, porous; Preformed paving elements comprising, or adapted to form, passageways for carrying off drainage (E01C9/004, E01C9/008, E01C9/08, E01C9/10, E01C11/228, E01C13/00 take precedence)} - E01C 11/24: Methods or arrangements for preventing slipperiness or protecting against influences of the weather {(measures taken in connection with the foundation E01C3/06; paving elements with anti-slip inlays E01C5/22; aggregates resisting to grinding E01C7/085, E01C7/142, E01C7/182; specially for surface layers E01C7/35; reinforcements extending up to the surface E01C11/16, E01C11/18, E01C11/185; drainage E01C11/22; windscreens E01F7/02; snow fences E01F7/02; combating fog E01H13/00)} - E01C 15/00: Pavings specially adapted for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks - E01C 2201/12: vertically interlocking - E01C 2201/20: Drainage details - Y02A 10/30: Flood prevention; Flood or storm water management, e.g. using flood barriers - Y02A 30/30: in transportation, e.g. on roads, waterways or railways - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Embodiments provide a polymeric walkway for mitigating surface water runoff and a method for constructing the same. A polymeric walkway module is secured to a pre-conditioned ground. The polymeric walkway module includes an upper panel, a lower panel, and a plurality of spacers. The upper panel includes a plurality of perforations. The plurality of spacers is positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel defining a hollow space. Surface water permeates through the plurality of perforations and occupies the hollow space during the surface water runoff. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for constructing a walkway for mitigating surface water runoff, the method comprising the steps of: conditioning a ground serving as a base where a walkway module is to be secured, wherein the ground is a well-graded soil; and securing the walkway module to the ground, wherein the walkway module comprises: an upper panel, the upper panel being substantially rectangular and comprising a plurality of perforations; a lower panel, the lower panel having dimensions substantially similar to the upper panel and placed vertically above and in parallel with the upper panel, where the lower panel is free of perforations; and a plurality of spacers, the plurality of spacers positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel such that a hollow space is defined, wherein the perforations extend from a top surface to a bottom surface of the upper panel and are in fluid communication with the hollow space so that surface water exterior of the walkway model permeates through the plurality of perforations and occupies the hollow space, wherein the plurality of spacers is positioned parallel to a longitudinal direction of the walkway module such that water flow is not obstructed during the surface water runoff, and wherein the walkway module further comprises one or more side panels, the one or more side panels placed on any of four outermost sides of the walkway module, oriented perpendicular to the upper panel and the lower panel and extending from the upper panel to the lower panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the upper panel is molded monolithically with one or more of the lower panel and the plurality of spacers such that the walkway module forms a single piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ground has a slope ranging between 1% and 3%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the walkway module has a longitudinal dimension ranging between 0.8 m and 2 m, a lateral dimension ranging between 0.8 m and 2 m, and a height ranging between 5 cm and 20 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the walkway module has a longitudinal-to-lateral dimension ratio ranging between 1 and 2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a total surface area of the plurality of perforations is less than 25% of a surface area of the upper panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the walkway module further comprises anti-skidding means applied to a top surface of the upper panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the walkway module comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: virgin polymers, recycled polymers, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the walkway module further comprises a soft material layer adhered to a bottom of the lower panel, wherein the soft material layer is in contact with the ground and is configured to self-level the walkway module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the soft material layer includes a material selected from the group consisting of: plastomers, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the securing step includes the steps of: applying a cementitious layer on the ground; placing the walkway module on the cementitious layer while the cementitious layer is plastic; and allowing the cementitious layer to harden such that the cementitious layer adheres to both the ground and the walkway module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the cementitious layer has a thickness ranging between 2.5 cm and 5 cm. ### Claim 14 A walkway for mitigating surface water runoff, the walkway comprising: a pre-conditioned ground, the pre-conditioned ground serving as a base where a walkway module is to be secured onto, wherein the pre-conditioned ground is a well-graded soil; and a walkway module, the walkway module secured to the pre-conditioned ground, wherein the walkway module comprises: an upper panel, the upper panel being substantially rectangular and comprising a plurality of perforations; a lower panel, the lower panel having dimensions substantially similar to the upper panel and placed vertically above and in parallel with the upper panel, where the lower panel is free of perforations; and a plurality of spacers, the plurality of spacers positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel such that a hollow space is defined, wherein surface water exterior of the walkway model permeates through the plurality of perforations and occupies the hollow space, where the perforations extend from a top surface to a bottom surface of the upper panel and are in fluid communication with the hollow space, wherein the plurality of spacers is positioned parallel to a longitudinal direction of the walkway module such that water flow is not obstructed during the surface water runoff, wherein the walkway module further comprises one or more side panels, the one or more side panels placed on any of four outermost sides of the walkway module, oriented perpendicular to the upper panel and the lower panel and extending from the upper panel to the lower panel, and wherein the walkway module comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyurethane, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: virgin polymers, recycled polymers, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein the upper panel is molded monolithically with one or more of the lower panel and the plurality of spacers such that the walkway module forms a single piece. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein the pre-conditioned ground has a slope ranging between 1% and 3%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein the walkway module has a longitudinal dimension ranging between 0.8 m and 2 m, a lateral dimension ranging between 0.8 m and 2 m, and a height ranging between 5 cm and 20 cm, wherein the walkway module has a longitudinal-to-lateral dimension ratio ranging between 1 and 2. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein the walkway module further comprises a soft material layer adhered to a bottom of the lower panel, wherein the soft material layer is in contact with the pre-conditioned ground and is configured to self-level the walkway module, wherein the soft material layer includes a material selected from the group consisting of: plastomers, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations of the same. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein a total surface area of the plurality of perforations is less than 25% of a surface area of the upper panel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, wherein the walkway module further comprises anti-skidding means applied to a top surface of the upper panel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The walkway of claim 14, further comprising: a cementitious layer, the cementitious layer positioned between the pre-conditioned ground and the walkway module, wherein the cementitious layer is adhered to both the pre-conditioned ground and the walkway module upon hardening to secure the walkway module to the pre-conditioned ground. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The walkway of claim 22, wherein the cementitious layer has a thickness ranging between 2.5 cm and 5 cm. ### Claim 24 A method for constructing a walkway for mitigating surface water runoff, the method comprising the steps of: conditioning a ground serving as a base where a walkway module is to be secured, wherein the ground is a well-graded soil; and securing the walkway module to the ground with an anchor that extends from a top surface of an upper panel past a bottom surface of a lower panel, wherein the walkway module comprises: the upper panel, the upper panel being substantially rectangular and comprising a plurality of perforations; the lower panel, the lower panel having dimensions substantially similar to the upper panel and placed vertically above and in parallel with the upper panel; and a plurality of spacers, the plurality of spacers positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel such that a hollow space is defined, wherein the perforations extend from the top surface to a bottom surface of the upper panel and are in fluid communication with the hollow space so that surface water exterior of the walkway model permeates through the plurality of perforations and occupies the hollow space, wherein the plurality of spacers is positioned parallel to a longitudinal direction of the walkway module such that water flow is not obstructed during the surface water runoff, wherein the upper panel is molded monolithically with one or more of the lower panel and the plurality of spacers such that the walkway module forms a single piece.