Roll-up Mat With Segmented Pockets For Uneven Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface coatings for uneven terrain are heavy, bulky, and costly, making them inefficient for storage and use in humanitarian and airport applications, as they require significant space and materials for production.
Innovation Solution
A mat designed to roll up compactly, featuring pockets with free end side edges that allow for easy rolling and reduced weight, incorporating a stiffening device for improved traction and bearing capacity, with optional polymer or rubber coatings for enhanced adhesion and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal blades are used to create a resistant coating for vehicle passage, then the coating can withstand heavy loads, but the weight and bulkiness of the coating increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into discrete modular elements (pockets) rather than a continuous rigid structure. Each pocket is formed by separate first and second portions that can be independently positioned and connected, allowing the coating to distribute loads through multiple discrete contact points rather than requiring a solid continuous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating combines different materials with complementary properties: a flexible base material (textile or polymer) provides flexibility and light weight, while stiffening devices (metal or rigid plastic bars) inserted into the pockets provide localized structural support and load-bearing capacity. This composite approach achieves strength without the weight of a fully rigid coating.
2Strength
If a resistant coating is designed to withstand vehicle passage, then the coating provides sufficient strength, but the production cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into discrete modular elements (pockets) rather than a continuous rigid structure. Each pocket is formed by separate first and second portions that can be independently positioned and connected, allowing the coating to distribute loads through multiple discrete contact points rather than requiring a solid continuous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating combines different materials with complementary properties: a flexible base material (textile or polymer) provides flexibility and light weight, while stiffening devices (metal or rigid plastic bars) inserted into the pockets provide localized structural support and load-bearing capacity. This composite approach achieves strength without the weight of a fully rigid coating.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the first portions of the pockets form a single piece, then the structural integrity is improved, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first portions of adjacent pockets are separated into distinct elements rather than forming a continuous piece. These discrete portions are connected only at their ends through the second portions, creating a segmented structure that reduces material usage while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating combines different materials with complementary properties: a flexible base material (textile or polymer) provides flexibility and light weight, while stiffening devices (metal or rigid plastic bars) inserted into the pockets provide localized structural support and load-bearing capacity. This composite approach achieves strength without the weight of a fully rigid coating.
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 mat effectively reduces weight and manufacturing costs while maintaining resistance and flexibility, allowing for efficient storage and deployment on uneven surfaces, improving vehicle and pedestrian access without getting stuck.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first and second portions comprises a first face covered with a layer of polymer... the carpet offers by this characteristic a satisfactory coefficient of adhesion between, on the one hand, the means of movement of the vehicle or of the individual circulating on the carpet, and, on the other hand, the carpet and the surface on which it is placed
Implementation Method 2
the polymer is an elastomer; it is also possible to provide the presence, on the first face, or even on both faces, of one and/or the other of the first and second portions, of any other material, such as rubber, having elongation properties breakage and interesting adhesion
Data Source
Figure 1A~3
Figure 4~5A
Figure 5B~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-rolling conveyor belt (10) having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T), the belt comprising at least a first (20) and a second (20') pocket extending along the transverse direction of the belt, each of the first and second pockets being defined between at least a first portion (22, 22') and a second portion (28, 28') attached to the first portion. The invention is characterized in that the first portion of each pocket has a free end lateral edge (26, 24') positioned opposite the other pocket and extending along the transverse direction of the belt, the free end lateral edge (26) of the first portion (22) of the first pocket (20) being separate from and distinct from the free end lateral edge (24') of the first portion (22') of the second pocket (20').