Shock absorber for modular flooring, and modular flooring

Abstract

The invention relates to a shock absorber specially designed for modular flooring normally used in sports courts, installed on top of existing flooring, the shock absorber using a polymer element with a rubberised surface in such a way as to cushion impact. As novel technical effect, the shock absorber provides better continuous impact absorption for the flooring, as it has a high resilience index, and the kinetic energy applied in the effort is transformed into potential energy, which is returned to the athlete, assisting their movement. The present shock absorber further provides greater adherence to the ground, absorbing higher load impacts and making it unnecessary to fasten the modular plate to the ground. The modular flooring, for its part, has shock absorbers integrated into it, as well as a plurality of grooves that act as movement limiters and a plurality of holes in its upper surface, which drain water and absorb noise.

Description

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MODULAR FLOOR AND MODULAR FLOOR Subject:

[0001] This invention patent relates to a shock absorber specially designed for modular flooring typically used in sports courts, installed over existing flooring, which utilizes a polymer element with a rubberized surface shaped to cushion the impact. As a novel technical feature, the shock absorber provides greater continuous impact absorption to the floor, as it has a high resilience index. The kinetic energy applied during the effort is transformed into potential energy, which is returned to the athlete, aiding their movement. Furthermore, this shock absorber has greater ground adhesion, absorbing higher-load impacts and eliminating the need for the modular plate to be fixed to the ground.The modular floor, in turn, has integrated shock absorbers, as well as a plurality of ribs that act as movement limiters and a plurality of holes on its upper face, allowing water to drain and noise to be absorbed. State of the Art:

[0002] Modular floors installed in an overlapping manner are already known in the art, generally made of plastic material with cushioning, assembled by fitting together the pieces, normally square and / or rectangular.

[0003] Regarding patent references, it is known by document BR20201 4024725-0, filed on 9 / 29 / 2014, with the title “Rubber Tactile Floor and Floor”, from the same holder, which describes a modular tactile rubber floor that is easy to install as it is clicked on a polymer base with a fish scale type pin system on the underside of the base for fixing to concrete and sides with a click system with male and female fitting with expansion joint to fix one base to another.

[0004] Document BR202019028317-9, filed on December 31, 2019, titled "Impact-Absorbing Flooring Plate," also from the same owner, describes a modular impact-absorbing plate used to create floors for various uses. The impact-absorbing function is achieved through a plurality of cylindrical pins made of thermoplastic elastomer rubber fitted into a structural base, cushioning the forces transmitted to the joints, reducing injuries to the user's knees, heels, and legs, and improving the athletic performance of athletes and users in general.In this case, the rubber cushioning pin (7) has a circular shape, equipped with four cavities (1 1) evenly distributed around its perimeter, which fulfill the objective of allowing its movement inside the circular opening (4), which occurs naturally as the rubber material expands and contracts as it absorbs the impacts that occur on the floor.

[0005] These floors generally serve a specific purpose, such as in sports areas in schools, and can be installed indoors or outdoors. Other uses also exist, such as delimiting recreational and communal areas, or even simply for decorative purposes.

[0006] These modular panels are installed directly over the previously existing floor, which must be rigid, but is generally not in good condition, with unevenness, cracks and other natural damage resulting from use over time.

[0007] For this reason, modular tiles have expansion joints, formed directly in the male and female joints, which allow for the absorption of unevenness and defects in the original floor, as well as absorbing expansion and contraction movements coming from the tiles themselves. due to temperature differences, depending on the location where they are installed.

[0008] However, rubber shock absorbers haven't proven to be the best way to cushion impacts in sports courts, especially high-performance sports. This is because the rubber spikes take a long time to return to their original shape, which means the athlete's next movement on the same spot on the floor isn't adequately cushioned. Therefore, the cushioning isn't continuous, as it takes some time, albeit a short one, for the rubber to return to its original shape and provide maximum cushioning performance again.

[0009] Furthermore, over time, the rubber pin may become detached from the modular flooring, necessitating replacement of the pin or even the floor itself, depending on the situation. It also happens that, depending on the material used to make the shock absorbers, they dry out and lose their absorbency, eventually becoming detached from the floor due to drying out.

[0010] Another characteristic of known modular floors is that they are fixed to the ground or subfloor by screws, pins or similar, especially in outdoor areas, acting as a deterrent to theft, but also preventing the plates from moving due to the traction exerted by athletes during sports activities. Inventive Concept:

[0011] This Shock Absorber is formed by a single element, preferably integrated into the floor, that is, manufactured together with the floor plate, with its own shape from two curved elements that join together, closed at the bottom where there is a rubberized surface, developed, in this way, to meet the following main objectives: - provide efficient, continuous cushioning for all forms of use of the modular floor, especially for high-performance sports, with greater load capacity, - increase the adhesion of the flooring plate to the subfloor, allowing the modular plates to be floating, without the need for any fixing to the ground / subfloor, and - provide greater durability of the damping, and consequently of the modular floor with the present damper.

[0012] The concept behind this modular flooring shock absorber utilizes a substantially curved shock absorber, preferably integrated into the same floor extrusion, with a single support element and stops that limit the shock absorber's travel and promote efficient and uniform damping. The operating principle is based on a plurality of curved shock absorbers, preferably made of polypropylene, which is also the preferred material for the floor plate, with a closed lower base and a grooved rubber surface, where the kinetic energy applied during the effort is transformed into potential energy, returned to the athlete, aiding their movement.

[0013] To this end, damping is provided by a plurality of curved dampers distributed throughout the underside of the modular floor, integrated into it. These curved dampers are properly positioned symmetrically and linearly at strategic points to make the assembly more precise, evenly distributing all impacts on the surface. Ideally, in a curved damper distribution line, these dampers are positioned inverted relative to each other, forming a zigzag pattern.

[0014] Shock absorbers are formed by a single element in a substantially curved shape, formed by two curved elements that connect, with only one of them interconnecting the shock absorber with the floor plate. The lower part is closed and has a grooved rubber surface on the outside, which provides greater grip on the ground. The upper part contains only the curved element connecting to the floor, allowing the curved shock absorber to absorb the impact by being compressed and expanding naturally after the pressure is released, returning to its original shape.

[0015] The fact that the shock absorber has only one interconnecting element to the floor plate is important because it allows the shock absorber to move laterally, to one side or the other, in addition to retraction and expansion, depending on the traction and impact the athlete applies to the plate. The arrangement of the shock absorbers, forming a plurality of zigzag lines on the underside of the floor, further improves the absorption of tensile and compressive forces, making the damping highly efficient.

[0016] The number of curved shock absorbers fitted to the underside of the floor plate can also vary, giving the modular floor varying damping characteristics, which can be adapted to different types of sporting and entertainment activities.

[0017] Alternatively, instead of the damper being integrated into the same extrusion as the floor, it can be manufactured separately and attached in some known manner to the underside of the plate and floor.

[0018] The grooved rubber surface on the shock absorber face that contacts the ground / subfloor, which allows for greater grip for the modular plate, also prevents the plates from shifting, even minimally, due to the traction exerted by athletes during sports, preventing disengagement or any other impact on the sport. This factor is important because, in these cases, it prevents the modular plates from being fixed to the ground with pins, screws, or similar devices, as is the case with standard models.

[0019] In addition, a plurality of ribs on the underside of the floor act as a stop and / or stroke limiter, making the floor more resistant to use and cushioning over time.

[0020] The set of curved shock absorbers is primarily responsible for cushioning and allows the floor to adapt to surface impacts, as well as allowing better adaptation to the ground, which may contain imperfections.

[0021] Curved shock absorbers are preferably manufactured from 100% recyclable recycled or virgin polymer material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0022] The modular floor tiles are made from 100% recyclable recycled or virgin polymer material, which, like the shock absorbers, helps with environmental preservation and waste utilization.

[0023] Additionally, the top of the floor plate has evenly distributed holes that promote water drainage and reduce noise during sports, acting as acoustic technology. Summary:

[0024] The Modular Floor Shock Absorber, therefore, is essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one smaller curved element that connects to the larger curved element.

[0025] The Modular Floor Shock Absorber is additionally characterized by the fact that the smaller curved element connects to the larger curved element in its middle portion, with the larger curved element being interconnected or fixed to the modular floor, the rubberized finish with grooves being arranged between the smaller curved element and the larger curved element and the fact that the shock absorber has the free space resulting from the union between the smaller curved element and the larger curved element.

[0026] The Modular Floor, in turn, is essentially characterized by the fact that it has at least one shock absorber equipped with at least one smaller curved element that connects to the larger curved element. .Additionally, the modular floor also has a plurality of ribs. Field of Application:

[0027] The application of this Shock Absorber for Modular Flooring and Modular Flooring is as shock absorber for modular flooring with overlapping installation. Advantages:

[0028] The Modular Floor Shock Absorber and Modular Floor has the following advantages: • Allows for more efficient cushioning, due to the action of curved shock absorbers, with a high level of resilience and assistance to the athlete in their movement; • Allows for efficient cushioning of higher load impacts; • Provides efficient, continuous and homogeneous cushioning across the entire modular floor plate, as the plate has a plurality of ribs that act as movement limiters; • Due to its fixing method, it prevents the shock absorber from coming loose from the modular plate; • It is easy and practical to manufacture, since the shock absorbers are preferably manufactured in the same extrusion as the floor plate; • Because the shock absorber has a rubberized surface that is in contact with the ground / subfloor, it has greater adhesion to it, allowing the modular floor to float, that is, without being fixed to the subfloor; • For the same reason, as modular plates have greater adhesion to the ground / subfloor, during use there are no situations in which the plates move, even minimally, as a result of the traction exerted by the athlete or user; • Modular floor plates allow water to drain due to the holes on the upper surface; • Modular floor tiles allow for better noise absorption due to the holes on the top surface acting acoustically. Illustrations:

[0029] In order to facilitate research and provide understanding of this patent, as recommended in the report, according to a basic and preferred form of implementation prepared by the applicant, reference is made to the attached illustrations, which form part of and support this report described where, the: FIG. 01 - shows the bottom perspective showing the shock absorbers installed on the modular floor; FIG. 02 - shows the perspective of the shock absorber; FIG. 03 - shows the perspective of the shock absorber in a detail of the floor; FIG. 04 - shows the side view of the shock absorber; FIG. 05 - shows the bottom view of the shock absorber; FIG. 06 - shows the rear view of the shock absorber; FIG. 07 - shows the front view of the shock absorber; FIG. 08 - shows the perspective of the shock absorbers in detail of the floor; FIG. 09 - shows the bottom view of the floor with shock absorbers. Description:

[0030] The Modular Floor Shock Absorber consists of a shock absorber (1) arranged on the lower part of the modular floor (2), with each modular floor (2) having a plurality of shock absorbers (1) distributed homogeneously across its lower surface.

[0031] The shock absorber (1) has a substantially curved shape formed by the union of two curved elements, with only one of these elements interconnecting to the modular floor (2). Thus, the shock absorber (1) comprises the smaller curved element (3) that connects to the larger curved element (4) in its middle portion, with the larger curved element (4) being interconnected and / or fixed to the modular floor (2). Preferably, the connection between the larger curved element (4) and the modular floor (2) occurs by extruding both at the same time, in the same shape, resulting in a single object. However, optionally, the larger curved element (4) can be fixed to the modular floor (2) by some known gluing or welding technique, or even by some other alternative form of coupling.

[0032] On the lower part that is in contact with the ground, between the smaller curved element (3) and the larger curved element (4), there is a rubber finish (5) with grooves (6), which makes the shock absorber (1) have greater adhesion to the ground during use, improving the damping conditions.

[0033] The presence of free space (7) left by the union between the smaller curved element (3) and the larger curved element (4) is important, as it allows it to retract and expand when an athlete or user impacts the floor.

[0034] When an impact occurs, the shock absorbers (1) absorb the pressure by compressing. Immediately after the pressure is released, the shock absorbers (1) expand, returning to their initial position, helping to propel the athlete into the next movement. The fact that the shock absorber (1) is connected to the modular floor (2) only by the larger curved element (4) allows it to also move laterally depending on the traction and impact resulting from the athlete's activities, propelling their movement and resulting in better and greater cushioning.

[0035] In the lower part of the modular floor (2), the shock absorbers (1) are preferably arranged in distribution lines, in which the shock absorbers (1) are placed in inverted positions in relation to each other, forming a zigzag line, absorbing even better the different traction and compression efforts applied by the athletes.

[0036] The modular floor (2) also has a plurality of ribs (8) that act as limiters for the retraction and expansion movement path. of the shock absorber (1), ensuring that the damping occurs uniformly across the entire floor plate. The same shock absorber (1) can be fitted into the male fittings (9) of the modular floor (2) or into access ramps fixed to it. Conclusion:

[0037] In this way, the Modular Floor Shock Absorber and Modular Floor is subsidized by unprecedented technical and functional characteristics, therefore deserving the legal protection requested.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. MODULAR FLOOR SHOCK ABSORBER is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one smaller curved element (3) that connects to the larger curved element (4).

2. SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MODULAR FLOOR according to claim 1 is characterized by the fact that the smaller curved element (3) connects to the larger curved element (4) in its middle portion, and the larger curved element (4) is interconnected or fixed to the modular floor (2).

3. MODULAR FLOOR SHOCK ABSORBER according to claim 1 is characterized in that the rubberized finish (5) with grooves (6) is arranged between the smaller curved element (3) and the larger curved element (4).

4. MODULAR FLOOR SHOCK ABSORBER according to claim 1 is characterized by the fact that the shock absorber (1) has the free space (7) resulting from the union between the smaller curved element (3) and the larger curved element (4).

5. MODULAR FLOOR is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one shock absorber (1) equipped with at least one smaller curved element (3) that connects to the larger curved element (4).

6. MODULAR FLOOR according to claim 5 is characterized by the fact that it also has a plurality of ribs (8).

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