Load supporting panel having impact absorbing structure
AssigneeBrock USA, LLC
InventorSteven Lee Sawyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An impact absorption panel is adapted for playground use and comprises a panel section and a plurality of projections. The panel section is defined by a top surface and a bottom surface. The plurality of projections extend from the bottom surface of the panel section. The plurality of projections have a first stage and a second stage. The first stage is configured to collapse initially when subjected to an impact load. The second stage is configured to provide greater resistance to the impact load than the first stage. The panel section is configured to provide greater resistance to the impact load than the first and second stages. The first stage can also be distinguished from the second stage by virtue of having a comparatively smaller volume.
Claims20
An impact absorption panel having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface including a plurality of drainage channels that are in fluid communication with a plurality of drain holes, the plurality of drain holes connecting the top surface drainage channels with a plurality of bottom surface channels, the bottom surface channels being defined by sides of a plurality of adjacent projections disposed across the bottom surface and projecting downwardly.
An impact absorption panel system comprising:
- a first panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge having a flange that is offset from the top surface and a second edge having a flange that is offset from the bottom surface, a plurality of projections are disposed across the bottom surface and projecting downwardly, the projections having a first spring rate characteristic and a second spring rate characteristic;
- and
- a second panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge having a flange that is offset from the top surface and a second edge having a flange that is offset from the bottom surface, a plurality of projections are disposed across the bottom surface and projecting downwardly, the projections having a first spring rate characteristic and a second spring rate characteristic, wherein one of the second panel first edge flange and second edge flange engages one of the first panel second edge flange and the first panel first edge flange to form a base layer configured to have a generally continuously flat top surface.
An impact absorption panel comprising:
- a top surface having a three dimensional textured surface and a plurality of intersecting drainage channels;
- a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface and defining a panel section therebetween;
- a plurality of projections projecting downwardly and disposed across at least a portion of the bottom surface, the projections having a first stage that defines a first spring rate characteristic and a second stage defining a second spring rate characteristic wherein the first spring rate characteristic provides for more deflection under load than the second spring rate characteristic, the plurality of projections cooperating during deflection under load such that the adjacent projections provide a load absorption gradient over a larger area than the area directly loaded, the first stage having a smaller volume of material than the second stage, and wherein adjacent projections define a bottom surface channel to form a plurality of intersecting bottom surface channels;
- and
- a plurality of drain holes connecting the top surface drainage channels with the plurality of bottom surface channels at the drainage channel intersections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.