US 12,460,427 B2
Dual-purpose progressive stage load-distributing and absorbing system
Richard Francois Audi, Dearborn, MI (US); and Joel Matthew Cormier, Lathrup Village, MI (US)
Assigned to VICONIC SPORTING LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by VICONIC SPORTING LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/854,604.
Prior Publication US 2024/0003143 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. E04F 15/22 (2006.01); E04F 15/10 (2006.01); E04F 15/18 (2006.01); F16F 7/12 (2006.01); E01C 13/02 (2006.01)
CPC E04F 15/225 (2013.01) [E04F 15/107 (2013.01); E04F 15/185 (2013.01); E04F 15/22 (2013.01); F16F 7/121 (2013.01); E01C 13/02 (2013.01); E04F 2290/044 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A progressive load-distributing and absorbing system, the system lying below a flooring material that is exposed to percussive or point-applied forces, the system being interposed between the flooring material that overlies a barrier layer and a foundation, the system comprising:
one or more tiles, at least some of the tiles having
a plurality of multi-tier, hat-shaped absorbing members to reduce noise and vibration and offer a multi-stage, progressive response to the forces, at least some of the absorbing members having
a planar basal portion lying within an absorbing member, the basal portion extending uninterruptedly between opposing edge portions of a curvilinear wall associated with the absorbing member, all planar basal portions in a tile being of equal height before compression, the tile being devoid of absorbing members that have planar basal portions of unequal heights,
the curvilinear wall extending from the basal portion, the curvilinear wall having a compliant region proximate the basal portion, a protective region extending from the compliant region, and a shoulder between the compliant region and the protective region, the shoulder defining a transition region and communicating absorption and rebound forces between the protective and compliant regions to communicate a graduated change in resistance offered by the protective and compliant regions,
the compliant region providing a soft footfall with a wall thickness (t) and a draft angle (U) degrees before compression and having a relatively lower resistance to the percussive or point-applied forces,
the protective region having a relatively higher resistance to the percussive or point-applied forces with a wall thickness (T) and a draft angle (L) degrees before compression, thereby providing protection from injury sustained from a fall above the flooring material, where (T)>(t) and (L) is greater than (U),
wherein the protective region may deflect after the compliant region in response to the load, and
one or more of the tiles having a ceiling portion extending between absorbing members in a tile, the ceiling portion supporting and separating the absorbing members in a tile,
wherein the curvilinear walls return to their pre-impact configuration and strength non-destructively after the percussive or point-applied forces no longer impact the flooring material, the compliant region bouncing back before the protective region.