Synthetic floor tile having partially-compliant support structure

A compliant insert for flexibly supporting a synthetic floor tile above a ground surface, the insert comprising:

• at least one compressible elongate body having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to a top surface of the floor tile;
• a bottom face of the elongate body having at least one contact flat for contacting the ground surface;
• and
• a top face of the elongate body having an attachment interface for coupling the insert to a tile support structure extending downwardly from an underside of the floor tile, wherein the compressible elongate member has a thickness and stiffness sufficient, in an unloaded state, to elevate the bottom of the support structure a distance above the ground surface and to compress to allow the bottom of the support structure to come into contact with the ground in a loaded state;
• and
• at least one drainage recess for channeling liquids from a first lateral side of the elongate body to a second lateral side of the elongate body.

A compliant insert for flexibly supporting a synthetic floor tile above a ground surface, the insert comprising:

• at least one elongate body having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to a top surface of the floor tile, and with a thickness and stiffness sufficient, in an unloaded state, to elevate a bottom of the floor tile a distance above the ground surface and compress to allow the bottom of the floor tile to come into contact with the ground in a loaded state;
• a bottom face of the elongate body having at least one contact flat for contacting the ground surface;
• and
• a top face of the elongate body having at least one attachment groove formed therein for receiving a support rib extending downwardly from an underside of the floor tile to establish a rib/groove interconnection coupling the insert to the floor tile, wherein a portion of said attachment groove is substantially parallel to a top surface of the floor tile and further comprising a plurality of attachment grooves transverse to the longitudinal axis for receiving a grid of support ribs therein to establish a plurality of rib/groove interconnections.

A modular tile system forming a partially-compliant floor covering over a ground surface, the tile system comprising:

• a modular floor tile, comprising:
• a substantially planar body having a top surface;
• and
• a tile support structure extending downwardly from an underside of the planar body;
• and
• at least one compliant insert, comprising:
• at least one compressible elongate body having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the top surface of the floor tile having a thickness and stiffness sufficient, in an unloaded state, to elevate a bottom surface of the tile support structure a distance above the ground surface and compress sufficient to permit the bottom surface of the tile support structure to come in contact with the ground surface when in a loaded state;
• a bottom face of the elongate body having at least one contact flat for contacting the ground surface;
• a top face of the elongate body having at least one attachment interface for coupling the insert to the tile support structure;
• and
• at least one drainage channel transverse to the longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to the top surface of the tile for channeling liquids away from the floor tile.

A modular floor tile for forming a partially-compliant floor covering over a ground surface, the floor tile comprising:

• a substantially planar body having a top surface;
• a tile support structure extending downwardly from an underside of the planar body, said tile support structure having a bottom surface configured to rest on the ground surface;
• and
• at least one compressible elongate body having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the top surface of the floor tile having a thickness and stiffness sufficient, in an unloaded state, to elevate the bottom surface of the tile support structure a distance above the ground surface and compress to allow the bottom surface of the tile support structure to come into contact with the ground in a loaded state, the elongate body comprising:
• a bottom face having at least one contact flat for contacting the ground surface;
• a top face having at least one attachment interface for coupling the elongate body to the tile support structure;
• and
• at least one drainage channel disposed atop the elongate body transverse to the longitudinal axis and substantially parallel to a top surface of the floor tile for channeling liquids away from the floor tile.