Subfloor Offset Groove Resilient Component Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resilient floor systems fail to provide a consistent shock-absorbing response across a wide range of impacts, from light to aggressive loads, as materials either compress excessively under heavy loads or do not deflect enough under lighter impacts.

Innovation Solution

The subfloor assembly features a sloped offset groove in the subfloor section to house a resilient component, allowing for a gradual increase in support as pressure is applied, ensuring consistent reaction to impacts through the component's positioning between the groove ceiling and the substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If soft elastic components are used to provide deflection for light impacts, then light impact absorption is improved, but shock absorbing value for aggressive athletic loads deteriorates because the material is already significantly compressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight impact absorptionVSAvoidshock absorbing value for aggressive loads

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient component is positioned in an offset groove that creates a localized support distribution. The groove geometry concentrates support at specific locations rather than uniform distribution, allowing the material to maintain different compression states in different zones - lighter compression for light impacts and progressive compression for aggressive loads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The offset groove introduces a geometric dimensionality change by positioning the resilient component away from the neutral axis of the subfloor. This creates a lever arm effect where small deflections produce larger moments for light impacts, while the geometry prevents excessive compression under aggressive loads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If elastomers that resist compression are used to enhance aggressive loads, then aggressive load support is improved, but deflection for light impacts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaggressive load supportVSAvoiddeflection for light impacts

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The offset groove geometry changes the effective parameters of the resilient component by creating a mechanical advantage system. The groove dimensions and positioning transform the material's compression resistance into progressive support - low compression for light loads and high support for aggressive loads, effectively changing the force-deflection characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If resilient components are positioned parallel to the supporting substrate, then installation simplicity is improved, but consistent shock-absorbing response across various impact loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidconsistent shock-absorbing response

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The offset groove creates an asymmetric positioning system where the resilient component is deliberately placed away from the centerline of the subfloor section. This asymmetric geometry provides consistent shock-absorbing response by creating a predictable mechanical lever arm that works uniformly across different impact scenarios, replacing the simplicity of parallel positioning with engineered geometric consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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

This design effectively absorbs and responds to various impact loads, from light to excessive pressures, maintaining resilience and uniformity over time, as the resilient component recovers nearly to its original state after loading, providing a reliable and responsive athletic floor surface.

Implementation Method 1

The resilient component recovers nearly to its original state after loading, providing a reliable and responsive athletic floor surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11053697B2Subfloor assembly on a support substrate

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 RANDJELOVIC ERLIN A

AI summary

A subfloor assembly that supports a flooring section on a substrate. The subfloor assembly includes a subfloor section and a resilient component. The subfloor section includes an offset groove in an underside of the subfloor section. The offset groove is defined by a side of the groove spaced apart from an opposing side of the groove and a ceiling spanning between the side and the opposing side and sloped relative to an upper surface of the substrate. The resilient component is positioned in the offset groove and between the ceiling and the upper surface of the substrate.