Floor Buffer Structure with Buckling Legs for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cushioning materials for floors struggle to maintain stability during walking while effectively absorbing large impacts, such as those from falls, due to their fixed elastic modulus, which either compromises walking stability or impact absorption.
Innovation Solution
A shock-absorbing structure with a top plate and legs that tilt and buckle upon impact, featuring a convex cross-sectional shape and adjustable rigidity, allowing it to remain firm under normal loads and soft under large impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the elastic modulus is set to be high to maintain stability during walking, then walking stability is improved, but the ability to absorb large impact upon falling over deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The leg structure transitions from a rigid straight configuration to a buckled deformed configuration under load. The leg includes a convexly bent portion that remains straight during normal walking (maintaining stability) but buckles when subjected to large impact forces (absorbing impact energy). This dynamic structural change allows the same component to provide both firmness during walking and softness during falls.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective elastic modulus of the leg structure changes based on the applied load magnitude. During normal walking with small loads, the leg maintains high stiffness for stability. When large impact forces are applied during falls, the leg buckles and the effective elastic modulus decreases, allowing energy absorption. The convex cross-sectional shape and bent configuration enable this load-dependent parameter change.
2Strength
If the elastic modulus is set to be low to absorb large impact upon falling over, then impact absorption is improved, but walking stability deteriorates due to excessive displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The leg structure dynamically adjusts its stiffness based on the magnitude of applied load. The convexly bent portion is designed to remain in a straight, stable configuration during normal walking, providing sufficient rigidity for walking stability. Only when the applied force exceeds a threshold (as during falls) does the leg buckle and deform, at which point the dynamic transition occurs and impact absorption becomes the dominant function.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure exhibits non-linear mechanical behavior where the effective elastic modulus is high under small loads (during walking) and low under large loads (during impacts). The convex cross-sectional geometry and bent configuration create a threshold effect where the leg remains rigid until a critical load is reached, then suddenly becomes compliant, allowing the same structure to prevent both excessive displacement during walking and provide cushioning during falls.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structure provides stable walking surfaces while effectively absorbing large impacts by adjusting rigidity, preventing injuries like fractures.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one leg may have a cross-sectional shape convexly bent toward the one side of the second direction
Implementation Method 2
the at least one leg tilts to an opposite side of the second direction relative to the lower surface of the top plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The shock-absorbing structure 100 includes a top plate 11 including an upper surface to receive a load, and at least one leg 12 extending in the Z-axis direction from the lower surface of the top plate and has a cross-sectional shape convexly flexed toward one side in the X-Y plane. According to this, when the load is applied from the upper surface side of the top plate in the shock-absorbing structure arranged with their legs extending upright on the subfloor, the legs contract in the Z-axis direction to absorb the load until the load exceeds the threshold load, and once the load exceeds the threshold load, the legs become soft by bending (i.e. buckling) toward the opposite side and being displaced largely while spreading their convexly-flexed cross-sectional surfaces in the Z-Y plane, and after the displacement, the legs can further absorb the load by abutting the upper side and the lower side of the side surface on the one side to contract in the Z-axis direction.