Floor Protector Assembly with Elastomeric Ramps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor protectors for access control systems often require drilling into the floor, which is undesirable in certain situations, and may not be suitable for uneven surfaces or easy traversal by various users, including wheelchair users.
Innovation Solution
A floor protector assembly featuring a rigid floor plate and base with elastomeric ramps, a castellated base for reinforcement, and adjustable jacking screws to maintain clearance from the floor, allowing for cable passage and accommodating uneven surfaces while being easy to traverse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the floor protector assembly is made rigid and fixed to the floor, then stability and security are improved, but floor damage occurs due to drilling and fixing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful drilling and fixing operations from the installation process. The floor protector assembly is designed to be freely positionable on the floor without any drilling, anchoring, or permanent attachment, thereby eliminating floor damage while maintaining stability through the assembly's own weight and design
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric ramps act as an intermediary between the rigid floor protector assembly and the floor surface. These ramps provide a compliant interface that distributes loads and accommodates minor floor irregularities, enabling the assembly to remain stable without requiring direct rigid contact or fixation to the floor
2Ease of operation
If the floor protector assembly is made low-profile for easy traversal, then accessibility is improved, but stability and resistance to buckling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly combines rigid materials (for the main body and base) with elastomeric materials (for the ramps). This composite construction allows the rigid portions to provide structural stability and resistance to buckling, while the elastomeric ramps provide compliance and a low-profile transition surface that is easy to traverse. The combination enables both stability and accessibility to coexist
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric ramps are designed with curved, arcuate surfaces rather than flat surfaces. This curvature allows the ramps to conform to the low-profile requirement for easy traversal while the elastic nature of the material provides structural integrity and resistance to buckling under load. The curved geometry distributes stresses more effectively than flat surfaces
3Shape
If the base is positioned close to the floor for a low-profile appearance, then aesthetics are improved, but cable passage and adjustment for uneven surfaces become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves the conflict between low-profile appearance and cable passage by moving the cable routing to a different dimension. Cables are routed through vertical channels or conduits within the base structure, allowing them to pass through the base in the vertical dimension rather than requiring horizontal clearance. This enables the base to maintain a low-profile appearance while still accommodating cable passage internally
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 solution provides a low-profile, stable, and adjustable floor protector that minimizes floor damage, ensures secure cable management, and is accessible to all users, reducing the risk of buckling and tripping hazards while allowing for easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the ramps may be made of elastomeric materials such as rubber or a rubber compound of other elastomeric material which are sufficiently strong to withstand the passage of persons
Implementation Method 2
at least one jacking screw is inserted through at least one of the holes and used to adjust the height of the base above the floor
Data Source
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AI summary
A floor protector for a security access system, comprising a rigid floor assembly having front and rear edges, the floor assembly comprising at least one floor plate and a base mounted underneath the floor plate, the base being at least partially spaced from the floor plate enabling cabling to pass between the two, and elastomeric entry and exit ramps supporting the front and rear edges of the floor assembly; wherein the base has protrusions at its front and rear edges which locate within respective grooves in respective elastomeric ramps, spaced a distance above the lower surface of the ramp, so as to support the base spaced above the whole or a major part of the floor that it overlies.