Floor mat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing standing workstation mats fail to effectively reduce foot and leg fatigue, as they do not sufficiently activate proprioceptors, leading to monotony and increased need for changing posture during prolonged standing.
Innovation Solution
A floor mat with an elastomeric surface structure featuring irregularly arranged harder elements of varying shapes and sizes, which provide diverse tactile stimuli to the feet, preventing monotonous stress and promoting alertness by activating proprioceptors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mat surface is made soft to provide comfort, then comfort is improved, but proprioceptor activation is insufficient leading to increased fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The mat surface combines a soft elastomeric base material with locally embedded harder elements (such as rubber granules or plastic shapes) distributed throughout the mat structure. This creates zones of different hardness within the same mat, where the overall mat remains soft and comfortable but specific local areas provide harder tactile stimulation to activate proprioceptors, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and proprioceptor activation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the mat structure is made homogeneous to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but tactile stimulus variety is insufficient causing monotony
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges two different material types (soft elastomeric material and harder elements) into a single integrated mat structure. The harder elements are embedded within the elastomeric matrix during the manufacturing process, creating a composite structure that provides varied tactile stimuli. This combining approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving stimulus variety, as the elements are distributed throughout the mat rather than requiring complex multi-layer assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The mat is constructed as a composite material system where harder elements (such as rubber granules or plastic shapes) are incorporated into a softer elastomeric base material. This composite structure provides both the comfort of the soft base material and the proprioceptor-activating stimulus of the harder elements, achieving tactile stimulus variety without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If harder elements are added to activate proprioceptors, then proprioceptor activation is improved, but surface safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The harder elements are distributed locally throughout the mat structure rather than forming continuous hard surfaces. This local distribution ensures that while proprioceptors are activated by contact with harder elements, the overall surface maintains sufficient softness and compliance for safety. The elastomeric base material provides a cushioning effect that mitigates potential harm from the harder elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines harder stimulus-providing elements with a soft elastomeric base material that ensures safety. The softer base material acts as a buffer that prevents the harder elements from causing injury, while still allowing them to provide effective proprioceptor stimulation. This material combination resolves the contradiction between activation effectiveness and surface safety.
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 structure reduces fatigue and maintains alertness by providing varied pressure stimuli, encouraging continuous movement and engagement of proprioceptors, thus delaying the onset of fatigue during prolonged standing.
Implementation Method 1
The areas of different hardness, i.e. the elements, constantly exert different tactile stimuli on the soles of the feet
Data Source
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AI summary
A floor mat (1) at a standing workstation with a mat surface (4) is disclosed, which comprises a mat structure (2) made of an elastomer material and formed beneath the mat surface (4), in which irregularly distributed elements (3) are arranged, the consistency of which is harder than the consistency of the elastomer material of the mat structure (2).