Dual-purpose progressive stage load-distributing and absorbing system
AssigneeViconic Sporting LLC
InventorsRichard Francois Audi, Joel Matthew Cormier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-purpose progressive stage load distributing and absorbing system that lies below a superstructure material that is exposed to percussive forces. The progressive stage load distributing and absorbing system is interposed between the superstructure material and a foundation. The system has a barrier layer that lies below the superstructure material and an underlayment infrastructure positioned below the barrier layer. Included in the underlayment infrastructure are hat-shaped absorbing members that have a relatively compliant region and one or more relatively stiff regions.
Claims16
A progressive load-distributing and absorbing system, the system lying below a flooring material that is exposed to percussive or point-applied forces, the system being interposed between the flooring material that overlies a barrier layer and a foundation, the system comprising:
- one or more tiles, at least some of the tiles having
- a plurality of multi-tier, hat-shaped absorbing members to reduce noise and vibration and offer a multi-stage, progressive response to the forces, at least some of the absorbing members having
- a planar basal portion lying within an absorbing member, the basal portion extending uninterruptedly between opposing edge portions of a curvilinear wall associated with the absorbing member, all planar basal portions in a tile being of equal height before compression, the tile being devoid of absorbing members that have planar basal portions of unequal heights,
- the curvilinear wall extending from the basal portion, the curvilinear wall having a compliant region proximate the basal portion, a protective region extending from the compliant region, and a shoulder between the compliant region and the protective region, the shoulder defining a transition region and communicating absorption and rebound forces between the protective and compliant regions to communicate a graduated change in resistance offered by the protective and compliant regions,
- the compliant region providing a soft footfall with a wall thickness (t) and a draft angle (U) degrees before compression and having a relatively lower resistance to the percussive or point-applied forces,
- the protective region having a relatively higher resistance to the percussive or point-applied forces with a wall thickness (T) and a draft angle (L) degrees before compression, thereby providing protection from injury sustained from a fall above the flooring material, where (T)>(t) and (L) is greater than (U),
- wherein the protective region may deflect after the compliant region in response to the load, and
- one or more of the tiles having a ceiling portion extending between absorbing members in a tile, the ceiling portion supporting and separating the absorbing members in a tile,
- wherein the curvilinear walls return to their pre-impact configuration and strength non-destructively after the percussive or point-applied forces no longer impact the flooring material, the compliant region bouncing back before the protective region.
A method for making flooring material in an elder care facility safer by providing a progressive load-distributing and absorbing system that softens a fall thereupon, thereby lessening forces and consequences of impact, the system lying below the flooring material and a barrier layer that lies below the flooring material, the flooring material being exposed to percussive or point-applied forces occasioned by such influences as a falling patient, a rolling bed or a wheelchair, the system being interposed between the barrier layer and a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
- laying one or more tiles of multi-tier, hat-shaped absorbing members between the foundation and the flooring material,
- the absorbing members having planar basal portions of equal height in a tile before compression, each tile being devoid of absorbing members with planar basal portions of unequal heights,
- each planar basal portion extending uninterruptedly between opposing edge portions of a curvilinear wall within an absorbing member, the basal portion in one orientation being positioned adjacent to the foundation, or in another orientation being positioned adjacent to the barrier layer;
- each curvilinear wall in an absorbing member extending from the basal portion, the curvilinear wall having a compliant region proximate the basal portion, a protective region extending from the compliant region, and a shoulder between the compliant region and the protective region, the shoulder defining a transition region between the protective and compliant regions to provide an area of difference between resistance offered by the protective and compliant regions,
- forming the absorbing members so that the protective region has a wall thickness (T) with a draft angle before compression of (L) degrees and the compliant region has a wall thickness (t) with a draft angle of (U) degrees, such that (T)>(t) and (L)>(U);
- enabling the compliant region to provide a soft footfall by the compliant region being provided with a relatively lower resistance to the percussive or point-applied forces;
- enabling the protective region to provide relatively higher resistance in comparison to the resistance offered by the compliant region to the percussive or point-applied forces, thereby protecting from an injury sustained from a fall above the flooring material,
- so that the protective region deflects after the compliant region in response to the load, and at least some curvilinear walls return to their pre-impact configuration and strength after the percussive or point-applied forces no longer impact the flooring material, the compliant region bouncing back before the protective region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.