Seismically Stable Flooring

1) A method for cushioning an object from the full acceleration provided by an external vibration, comprising:

• placing said object on an isolating flooring system that provides seismic isolation restoring force without springs or coils, said system comprising:
• a) one or more horizontal flooring panels, each said panel having a top surface and a bottom surface,
• b) a frame adapted to support said flooring panel(s),
• c) a plurality of load-bearing flooring pedestals extending vertically downward from said frame, and
• d) a plurality of seismic isolation bearings, each such bearing comprising
• i) an upper load plate having a downward facing rigid load surface and defining a recessed load surface comprising a concave or conical surface;
• ii) a lower load plate having an upward facing rigid load surface opposing and substantially identical to the load surface of the upper load plate, and defining a recessed load surface comprising a concave or conical surface;
• wherein said opposing load surfaces define a cavity;
• and
• iii) a ball disposed within said cavity;
• wherein each said bearing is directly or indirectly secured to a flooring pedestal, wherein a load placed upon the top surface of said one or more panels is transferred through said frame, pedestals and bearings to a foundation, wherein the flooring system is structured so that a lateral vibrational force applied to the foundation causes the upper plate of a bearing to be displaced relative to the lower plate of the bearing, and wherein a gap permitting a full range of motion is maintained around the perimeter of the system;
• whereby during an external vibration the isolating flooring system cushions said object from the full acceleration provided by said external vibration.