Shock absorber for a modular floor, and modular floor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shock absorber for a modular floor and to a modular floor, the shock absorber being specially designed for modular floors normally used in sports courts and installed over existing floors, and making use of preferably elastomeric spherical springs together with the body of the shock absorber to cushion impact. The shock absorber provides the novel technical effect of improved, continuous floor impact absorption, since the spherical springs are highly resilient, returning quickly to their original position. The modular floor, for its part, has special holes for receiving the shock absorbers, provided with click connectors for securing the body of the shock absorber, which also allow the shock absorber to move and effectively absorb impact, as well as a plurality of ribs for limiting range of movement.

Description

Shock absorber for modular flooring and modular flooring. Subject:

[0001] This invention patent refers to a shock absorber specially designed for modular flooring typically used in sports courts, installed over existing floors. It utilizes a polymer element with a serrated underside shaped to dampen impact. As a novel technical effect, the shock absorber provides greater impact absorption to the floor in a continuous manner, due to its high resilience index. The kinetic energy applied during exertion is transformed into potential energy, which is returned to the athlete, aiding in their movement. Furthermore, this shock absorber has greater adherence to the ground, absorbing higher impact loads and allowing the modular tile to operate without needing to be fixed to the ground / subfloor.The modular flooring, in turn, has efficient means for fitting shock absorbers that allow them to move and effectively absorb impact, as well as a plurality of ribs that act as limiters of movement range. State of the Art:

[0002] Modular flooring installed in an overlapping manner is already known in the field, generally manufactured from cushioning plastic material, assembled by interlocking the pieces, which are usually square and / or rectangular.

[0003] With regard to patent references, it is known through document BR20201 4024725-0, filed on 9 / 29 / 2014, entitled "Rubber Tactile Flooring and Flooring", by the same holder, which describes a modular tactile rubber flooring that is easy to install because it is installed on a polymer base with a herringbone-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 an expansion joint to fix one base to another.

[0004] Document BR202019028317-9, filed on 12 / 31 / 2019, titled “Impact-Absorbing Floor Tile,” also from the same author, describes a modular, impact-absorbing tile used in flooring for various applications. The impact absorption 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 enhancing the athletic performance of athletes and users in general.In this case the rubber damping pin (7) has a circular shape, equipped with four cavities (1 1 ) homogeneously distributed around its perimeter, which serve the purpose 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] In general, these floor coverings serve a specific purpose, such as in sports areas at schools, and can be installed indoors or outdoors. Other uses also occur, such as delimiting recreation and common areas, or even simply for decorative purposes.

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

[0007] Therefore, the modular panels have expansion joints, formed directly in the male and female type fittings, which allow them to absorb unevenness and defects in the original floor, as well as absorb expansion and contraction movements from the panels themselves. due to temperature differences, depending on the location where they are installed.

[0008] It turns out that rubberized shock-absorbing studs have not proven to be the best way to absorb impact when installed on sports courts, especially high-performance sports. This is because the rubber studs take time to return to their original shape, which means that the cushioning for the athlete's next movement in the same area of ​​the floor is not adequate. Thus, the cushioning is not continuous, as some time, however short, is needed for the rubber to return to its original shape and be able to provide maximum cushioning again.

[0009] Furthermore, with use over time, situations may arise where the rubber pin comes loose from the modular flooring, resulting in the need to replace the pin or even the entire flooring, depending on the situation. It also happens that, depending on the material from which the shock absorbers are made, they end up drying out and losing their absorption capacity, eventually even detaching from the flooring due to drying out.

[0010] Another characteristic of modular flooring is that it is fixed to the ground or subfloor using screws, pins, or similar means, mainly in outdoor areas. This acts as a deterrent to theft and also prevents the planks from moving due to the traction exerted by athletes during sports activities. Inventive Concept:

[0011] The present shock absorber consists of a single element with a substantially C-shaped form, closed at the bottom where there is a serrated surface, developed in this way to meet the following main objectives: - To provide efficient and continuous cushioning for all uses of the modular flooring, especially for high-performance sports with higher load capacity, - increase the adhesion of the flooring plank to the subfloor, allowing the modular planks to float without any type of fixing to the floor, and - To provide greater durability and cushioning, and consequently, to the modular flooring with this shock absorber.

[0012] The concept of the present shock absorber for modular floors utilizes a substantially C-shaped shock absorber and stops that limit the shock absorber's travel and promote efficient and homogeneous damping. The operating principle is based on a plurality of C-shaped shock absorbers, preferably made of polymer, with a closed lower base and a serrated surface, where the kinetic energy applied in the effort is transformed into potential energy, returned to the athlete, assisting in their movement.

[0013] To achieve this, cushioning is achieved through a plurality of C-shaped shock absorbers distributed across the underside of the modular floor, which fit into holes distributed on the underside of the floor. These C-shaped shock absorbers are properly positioned symmetrically and linearly at strategic points, making the assembly more precise and distributing all impacts on the surface homogeneously.

[0014] C-shaped shock absorbers are formed by a single C-shaped element with a closed bottom and an open top, with the closed bottom in contact with the ground. The closed bottom has a series of deep grooves on its surface, forming a serrated edge that provides greater grip on the ground. The open top moves along with the pavement slab, allowing the C-shaped shock absorber to absorb impact by compressing and expanding. Naturally, after the pressure is released, it returns to its original shape. Since C-shaped shock absorbers are made of flexible material, preferably polymer, their insertion into the underside of the flooring is done manually in a practical and quick way, as is their replacement, if necessary. The number of C-shaped shock absorbers fitted to the underside of the flooring panel can also vary, giving the modular flooring variable damping characteristics, which can be adapted to various types of sports and entertainment activities.

[0015] The existence of a serrated underside on the shock absorber face that comes into contact with the ground / subfloor, which allows for greater grip of the modular plate, also results in the plates not shifting, even minimally, due to the traction exerted by athletes during sports practice, preventing dislodgement or any type of interference with the sporting activity. This factor is important because, in these cases, the modular plates may not need to be fixed to the ground by pins, screws or similar means, as is the case with known models.

[0016] Alternatively, the C-shaped damper can be incorporated into the body of the floor slab, manufactured at the same time as an integral element of it.

[0017] In addition, a plurality of ribs on the underside of the flooring acts as a stop and / or travel limiter, making the flooring more resistant to wear and providing cushioning over time.

[0018] The C-shaped shock absorber assembly is primarily responsible for damping and allows the floor to adapt to surface impacts, as well as providing better adaptation to the ground, which may contain imperfections.

[0019] C-shaped shock absorbers are preferably manufactured from recycled or 100% recyclable virgin polymer material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0020] Modular floor tiles are manufactured from recycled or 100% recyclable virgin polymer material, preferably polypropylene, which helps preserve the environment and reduce waste.

[0021] Furthermore, the upper surface of the floor tile may have evenly distributed holes that promote water drainage and also reduce noise during sports activities, acting as an acoustic technology. Summary:

[0022] The Modular Floor Damper, therefore, is essentially characterized by the fact that the damper has a substantially C-shaped form.

[0023] The Modular Floor Damper is further characterized by the fact that the lower part of the damper has a serrated contact surface; by the fact that it contains two curved supports, arranged at an angle, equipped at their straight ends with a fitting formed by the base and bilateral protrusions; and by the fact that the damper has free space resulting from its C-shape.

[0024] Modular flooring, in turn, is essentially characterized by having at least one shock absorber in a substantially C-shaped form fitted into the holes with protrusions on the modular flooring. Additionally, modular flooring also has a plurality of ribs. Application Field:

[0025] The application of this Modular Flooring Shock Absorber and Modular Flooring is for cushioning modular flooring installed over an open surface. Advantages:

[0026] The Modular Flooring and Modular Flooring Damper offers the following advantages: • It allows for more efficient cushioning, due to the action of the C-shaped shock absorbers, with a high resilience index and assistance to the athlete in their movement; • It allows for efficient cushioning of impacts from higher loads; • It provides efficient, continuous, and homogeneous cushioning throughout the modular floor slab, since the slab has a plurality of ribs that act as movement limiters; • Due to its fastening method, it prevents the shock absorber from detaching from the modular plate; • It is easy to install and remove for eventual maintenance, due to the shock absorber fitting onto the underside of the floors using a click-type fitting, which is made of flexible material; • It is easy and practical to manufacture, since the shock absorbers are easily stored and / or removed from the underside of the floors, fitting together by a click-type fitting; • Because the shock absorber has a serrated surface that comes into contact with the ground / subfloor, it has greater adhesion to it, allowing the modular flooring to float, i.e., without being fixed to the subfloor; • For the same reason, since modular plates have greater grip on the ground / subfloor, during use there are no situations in which the plates move, even minimally, due to the traction exerted by the athlete or user; • Modular floor tiles allow water to drain away due to the holes that may exist on the upper surface. Illustrations:

[0027] In order to facilitate research and provide understanding of the present patent, as outlined in the report, according to a basic and preferred embodiment developed by the applicant, the following is done: with reference to the attached illustrations, which form an integral part of and support this report described where: FIG. 01 - shows the bottom perspective displaying the shock absorbers installed in the modular floor; FIG. 02 - shows the perspective of the shock absorber; FIG. 03 - shows the side view of the shock absorber; FIG. 04 - shows the bottom view of the shock absorber; FIG. 05 - shows the top view of the shock absorber; FIG. 06 - shows a detailed perspective of the modular floor with shock absorber, with the shock absorber fitted into the floor; FIG. 07 - shows a detailed perspective of the modular floor with shock absorbers, with one of the shock absorbers shown transparently; FIG. 08 - shows a detailed perspective of the modular floor with shock absorber, with the shock absorber shown transparently; FIG. 09 - shows a cutaway view of the shock absorber fitting. FIG. 10 - shows a cutaway view of the shock absorber fitting. Description:

[0028] The Modular Floor Damper consists of a damper (1) located on the underside of the modular floor (2), with a plurality of dampers (1) fitted into a modular floor plate (2). Each modular floor (2) has a plurality of dampers (1) distributed evenly across its underside.

[0029] The shock absorber (1) has a shape that resembles a C, with the lower part (3), which is in contact with the ground, being closed, forming a serrated contact surface (4), formed from deep grooves, which makes the shock absorber (1) have greater grip on the ground during use, improving performance conditions.

[0030] The upper part of the shock absorber (1) is open, formed by two curved supports (5), arranged at an angle, which serve for fixing to Modular floor (2), each of the curved supports (5) having at its straight ends a fitting formed by the base (6) and bilateral protrusions (7). Said bilateral protrusions (7) fit into the protrusion (8) of the hole (9), forming a click-type fitting. To fix, simply press the damper (1) on the underside of the modular floor (2) until the bilateral protrusions (7) fit below the protrusions (8). To remove, as the damper (1) is flexible, simply make the opposite movement.

[0031] The presence of the free space (10) left by the C-shaped configuration of the shock absorber (1) is important because it allows it to retract and expand when an athlete or user impacts the floor.

[0032] When impact occurs, the shock absorbers (1) absorb the pressure by compressing. Immediately upon cessation of pressure, the shock absorbers (1) expand, returning to their initial position, assisting in propelling the athlete to the next movement.

[0033] Alternatively, the shock absorbers (1) can be manufactured in an integrated manner with the modular floor (2), i.e., with the bilateral protrusions (7) forming part of the floor plate, while maintaining the other characteristics.

[0034] The modular floor (2) also has a plurality of ribs (1 1 ) that act as limiters of the movement of retraction and expansion of the damper (1 ), ensuring that the damping is uniform across the entire floor plate. The same damper (1 ) can be fitted into the male type fittings (12) of the modular floor (2) or into access ramps fixed to it. Conclusion:

[0035] Thus, the Modular Flooring Damper and Modular Flooring are supported by unprecedented technical and functional characteristics, therefore deserving the legal protection sought.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 . SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MODULAR FLOOR is characterized by the fact that the shock absorber (1) has a substantially C-shaped shape.

2. MODULAR FLOOR SHOCK ABSORBER according to claim 1 is characterized in that the lower part (3) of the shock absorber (1) has a serrated contact surface (4).

3. MODULAR FLOOR SHOCK ABSORBER according to claim 1 is characterized by the fact that it contains two curved supports (5), arranged at an angle, equipped at their straight ends with a fitting formed by the base (6) and bilateral projections (7).

4. MODULAR FLOOR SHOCK ABSORBER according to claim 1 is characterized by the fact that the shock absorber (1) has the free space (10) resulting from its C-shape.

5. MODULAR FLOOR is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one shock absorber (1) in a substantially C shape to be fitted into the holes (9) provided with projections (8), of the modular floor (2).

6. MODULAR FLOOR according to claim 5 is characterized by the fact that it also has a plurality of ribs (11).

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