IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0252168
(2008-10-15)
|
등록번호 |
US-8099915
(2012-01-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Moller, Jr., Jorgen J.
- Shapiro, Jeremiah D.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
53 |
초록
▼
Modular floor tiles and modular floors are described herein. A modular floor tile may include a top surface layer, a plurality of edge surfaces, an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles, and a support system. The support system may additionally include a first rigid level and at le
Modular floor tiles and modular floors are described herein. A modular floor tile may include a top surface layer, a plurality of edge surfaces, an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles, and a support system. The support system may additionally include a first rigid level and at least one resilient support member disposed under the top surface layer, the at least one resilient support member extending to a distance further from the top surface layer than the first rigid level. The at least one resilient support member may be compressible toward the top surface layer. A modular floor may include a plurality of interlocking tiles connected to one another. A method of forming a modular floor that includes an interlocking modular tile is also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A modular floor tile, comprising: a top surface layer defining a top surface of the modular floor tile and a bottom surface facing opposite the top surface;a plurality of edge surfaces;an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles;a support system and comprising: a first rigid level
1. A modular floor tile, comprising: a top surface layer defining a top surface of the modular floor tile and a bottom surface facing opposite the top surface;a plurality of edge surfaces;an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles;a support system and comprising: a first rigid level extending downwardly from the bottom surface;at least one resilient support member disposed entirely under the top surface and extending downwardly from the bottom surface, the at least one resilient support member extending to a distance further from the top surface layer than the first rigid level, wherein the at least one resilient support member is compressible toward the top surface layer. 2. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient support member extends to a distance further from the top surface layer than the plurality of edge surfaces. 3. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient support member has a central axis that is substantially perpendicular to the top surface layer. 4. The modular floor tile of claim 3, wherein the at least one resilient support member comprises: a first perimeter portion extending to a first diameter;a second perimeter portion extending to a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter;a third perimeter portion extending to a third diameter, the third diameter being larger than the second diameter. 5. The modular floor tile of claim 4, wherein the second perimeter portion is located axially between the first perimeter portion and the third perimeter portion. 6. The modular floor tile of claim 4, wherein the third diameter and the first diameter are substantially equivalent. 7. The modular floor tile of claim 4, wherein the resilient support member is configured such that the first perimeter portion and the third perimeter portion are moved closer together when a load is applied to the top surface layer. 8. The modular floor tile of claim 3, wherein the resilient support member comprises: a first perimeter portion extending to a first radial distance relative to the central axis;a second perimeter portion extending to a second radial distance relative to the central axis, the second radial distance being less than the first radial distance;a third perimeter portion extending to a third radial distance relative to the central axis, the third radial distance being greater than the second radial distance. 9. The modular floor tile of claim 3, wherein a perimeter portion of the at least one resilient member surrounding the central axis has a substantially circular shape. 10. The modular floor tile of claim 3, wherein a perimeter portion of the at least one resilient member surrounding the central axis has a substantially rectangular shape. 11. The modular floor tile of claim 3, wherein a perimeter portion of the at least one resilient member surrounding the central axis has a substantially triangular shape. 12. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises: a plurality of lipped loops disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;a plurality of locking tab assemblies disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;wherein each of the plurality of locking tab assemblies comprises a center post configured to extend into the lipped loop and flanking hooks configured to extend outside of and connect to the lipped loops. 13. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the top surface layer comprises a solid surface. 14. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient support member comprises an elastomeric material. 15. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the support system further comprises a second rigid level. 16. The modular floor tile of claim 15, wherein the first rigid level comprises a first set of support legs having a first length extending from the top surface layer, and wherein the second rigid level comprises a second set of support legs having a second length extending from the top surface layer, the second length being shorter than the first length. 17. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein a cavity is defined within the at least one resilient support member. 18. The modular floor tile of claim 17, further comprising a protrusion extending from under the top surface layer, wherein at least a portion of the cavity surrounds at least a portion of the protrusion. 19. The modular floor tile of claim 1, further comprising two or more protrusions extending from the top surface layer, the two or more protrusions abutting portions of the at least one resilient support member. 20. The modular floor tile of claim 19, wherein the at least one resilient support member is frictionally held adjacent to the top surface layer by the two or more protrusions. 21. The modular floor tile of claim 19, wherein the two or more protrusions abut an outer surface of the at least one resilient support member. 22. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient support member is nested under the top surface layer. 23. An apparatus, comprising: a modular floor, the modular floor comprising: a plurality of interlocking tiles connected to one another, each of the plurality of interlocking tiles comprising: a top surface layer defining a top surface of the interlocking tile and a bottom surface facing opposite the top surface;a plurality of edge surfaces;a plurality of support levels each independently extending downwardly from the bottom surface, the plurality of support levels comprising at least one rigid level and at least one resilient support member disposed entirely under the top surface, wherein the at least one resilient support member is compressible toward the top surface layer. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of interlocking tiles comprises: a plurality of lipped loops disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;a plurality of locking tab assemblies disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;wherein each of the plurality of locking tab assemblies comprises a center post and flanking hooks. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a first tile of the plurality of interlocking tiles is connected to a second tile of the plurality of interlocking tiles such that at least one of the locking tab assemblies of the first tile is inserted into at least one of the lipped loops of the second tile. 26. A method of forming a modular floor, comprising: providing an interlocking modular tile comprising: a top surface layer defining a top surface of the interlocking modular tile and a bottom surface facing opposite the top surface;a bottom plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the top surface layer;a first rigid support level comprising a plurality of first rigid support members arranged flush with the bottom plane;inserting a plurality of resilient support inserts into associated nests defined between adjacent first rigid support members in a direction from the bottom plane toward the top surface such that the resilient support inserts are disposed entirely below and extending from the bottom surface such that the plurality of resilient inserts protrude beyond the bottom plane. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of resilient inserts are frictionally held in the associated nests. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the interlocking modular tile further comprises a second rigid support level between the bottom plane and the top surface. 29. A modular floor tile, comprising: a top surface layer defining a top surface of the modular floor tile and a bottom surface facing opposite the top surface;a plurality of edge surfaces;an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles, comprising: a plurality of lipped loops disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces;a plurality of locking tab assemblies disposed in at least one of the plurality of edge surfaces, each of the plurality of locking tab assemblies comprises a center post configured to extend into the lipped loop and flanking hooks configured to extend outside of and connect to the lipped loops;a support system extending downwardly from the bottom surface and comprising: a first rigid level;at least one resilient support member disposed entirely under the top surface, the at least one resilient support member extending to a distance further from the top surface layer than the first rigid level, wherein the at least one resilient support member is compressible toward the top surface layer. 30. A modular floor tile, comprising: a top surface layer defining a top surface of the modular floor tile and a bottom surface facing opposite the top surface;a plurality of edge surfaces;an interlocking mechanism for attachment to adjacent tiles;a support system extending downwardly from the bottom surface and comprising: a first rigid level;at least one resilient support member disposed entirely under the top surface, the at least one resilient support member extending to a distance further from the top surface layer than the first rigid level, wherein the at least one resilient support member is compressible toward the top surface layer,wherein the at least one resilient support member comprises: a first perimeter portion extending to a first diameter;a second perimeter portion extending to a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter;a third perimeter portion extending to a third diameter, the third diameter being larger than the second diameter;wherein the third diameter and the first diameter are substantially equivalent. 31. The modular floor tile of claim 4, wherein the second perimeter portion is located axially between the first perimeter portion and the third perimeter portion. 32. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the resilient support member compresses under application of a force to absorb some of the force prior to the first rigid level contacting a ground surface that supports the modular floor tile. 33. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the resilient support member reduces noise by slowing a rate at which the first rigid level approaches a ground surface that supports the modular tile to lessen an impact force with which the first rigid level contacts the ground surface.
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