This invention relates in general to impact absorbing underlayment panels. In particular, this invention relates to underlayment panels having deformable elements that compress in a plurality of stages such that a load absorbing gradient is provided in response to an applied force.
Surfaces such as playgrounds and athletic mats, for example, are scrutinized for their effect on impact forces that cause related injuries to users. Attempts have been made to minimize the force or energy transferred to a user's body in the event of a fall. Various surface designs that rely on ground materials or layered fabric materials may help reduce the transfer of impact forces. These surface designs, however, are limited by the ability of the materials to spread the impact load over a large area. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a surface having improved impact force absorption and dissipation characteristics.
This invention relates to an impact-absorbing assembly that includes one or more impact absorption panels having a top side and a bottom side. The top side includes a plurality of drainage channels that are in fluid communication with a plurality of drain holes. The plurality of drain holes connect the top side drainage channels with a plurality of bottom side channels. The bottom side channels are defined by sides of adjacent projections that are disposed across the bottom side.
This invention also relates to an impact-absorbing assembly having one or more impact absorption panels having a top side and a bottom side where the bottom side has a plurality of projections disposed across at least a portion of the bottom surface. The projections have a first spring rate characteristic and a second spring rate characteristic. The first spring rate characteristic provides for more deflection under load than the second spring rate characteristic.
In one embodiment, an impact-absorbing assembly includes a covering layer, the covering layer being one or more of artificial turf, rubber mats, polymer mats, short pile carpeting, particulate infill, wood chips, and ground rubber chips. Also included is a layer of one or more underlayment panels positioned beneath the covering layer. The underlayment panels have a panel section having a plurality of drain holes formed therethrough, and a top surface configured to support the covering layer, the top surface further including a texture that maintains the general position of the covering layer on the top surface. The underlayment panels also have a bottom surface with a plurality of bottom projections that cooperate to define bottom side channels suitable to permit water flow across the bottom surface, the channels being in fluid communication with the panel drain holes, the bottom projections having tapered sides such that the bottom side channels will retain up to 25 mm of water for a slower release rate into a substrate than a drainage rate across the channels.
In another embodiment, an impact-absorbing assembly includes a covering layer, the covering layer being one or more of artificial turf, rubber mats, polymer mats, short pile carpeting, particulate infill, wood chips, and ground rubber chips. Also included is a layer of underlayment panels positioned beneath the covering layer. The one or more underlayment panels have a panel section with a plurality of drain holes formed therethrough. A top surface of the panels is configured to support the covering layer, the top surface further including a texture that maintains the general position of the covering layer on the top surface. A bottom surface of the panels has a plurality of bottom projections that cooperate to define channels suitable to permit water flow across the bottom surface, the bottom channels being in fluid communication with the panel drain holes. The underlayment panels have four edges, the edges being configured to abut edges of similar panels, two of the edges having flanges to allow overlapping edges with an adjacent panel when the panel abuts a similar panel. The underlayment panels have a the top surface with a plurality of projections that define top drainage channels. A bottom surface has a plurality of bottom projections that define drainage channels. The panels have a plurality of drain holes connecting the top surface in fluid communication with the bottom surface. The panel is made of a molded polyolefin material. The panel includes at least one locking aperture enabling an interlocking connection to secure the panel together with an adjacent panel when the panel abuts a similar panel.
In yet another embodiment an impact-absorbing assembly includes a covering layer being one or more of artificial turf, rubber mats, polymer mats, short pile carpeting, particulate infill, wood chips, and ground rubber chips. Also included is a layer of underlayment panels positioned beneath the covering layer, the underlayment panels being made of molded polyolefin material, and the underlayment panels have a panel section with a plurality of drain holes formed therethrough. A top surface of the panels is configured to support the covering layer, the top surface further including a texture that maintains the general position of the covering layer on the top surface. A bottom surface of the panels has a plurality of bottom projections that cooperate to define bottom channels suitable to permit water flow across the bottom surface, the bottom channels being in fluid communication with the panel drain holes. The bottom projections define a first spring rate characteristic that is part of a first stage and a second spring rate characteristic is part of a second stage, the first stage having a smaller volume of material than the second stage.
Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
A first edge flange 18 extends along one side of the panel 10 and is offset from the top surface 12 of the panel 10. A second edge flange 20 extends along an adjacent side of the panel 10 and is also offset from the top surface 12. A third edge flange 22 and a fourth edge flange 24 are illustrated as being oriented across from the flanges 18 and 20, respectively. The third and fourth flanges 22 and 24 extend from the top surface 12 and are offset from a bottom surface 26 of the base 12, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the panel 10 may be configured without the first through fourth flanges 18, 20, 22, and 24. In such a configuration, the resulting edges of the panel 10 may be generally flat and straight edges. In another embodiment, the generally straight edge may include projections (not shown) to create a gap between adjoining panels, as will be explained below. In yet another embodiment, the edges may be formed with an interlocking geometric shape similar to a jigsaw puzzle.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Some of the flanges include a standout spacer 34, such as are shown in
Referring now to
The shock absorbing projections 28 are illustrated as having trapezoidal sides and generally square cross sections. However, any geometric cross sectional shape may be used, such as round, oval, triangular, rectangular, and hexagonal. Additionally, the sides may be tapered in any manner, such as a frusto-conical shape, and to any degree suitable to provide a proper resilient characteristic for impact absorption. The projections 28 are shown having two absorption stages or zones 40 and 42. A first stage 40 includes a truncated surface 44 that is configured to support the panel 10 on the substrate or ground. The end of the first stage 40 may alternatively be rounded rather than a flat, truncated surface. In another alternative embodiment, the end of the first stage 40 may be pointed in order to be partially embedded in the substrate layer. A second stage or zone 42 is disposed between the bottom side 26 and the first stage 40. The second stage 42 is larger in cross section and volume than the first stage 40. Thus, the second stage 42 has a stiffer spring rate and response characteristic than that of the first stage 40. This is due to the larger area over which the applied load is spread. In another embodiment, the first stage 40 may be formed with an internal void, a dispersed porosity, or a reduced density (not shown) to provide a softer spring rate characteristic. In yet another embodiment, the first stage 40 may be formed from a different material having a different spring rate characteristic by virtue of the different material properties. The first stage 40 may be bonded, integrally molded, or otherwise attached to the second stage 42. Though the first and second stages 40 and 42 are illustrated as two distinct zones where the first stage 40 is located on a larger area side of the second stage 42, such is not required. The first and second stages 40 and 42 may be two zones having constant or smooth wall sides where the two zones are defined by a volume difference that establishes the differing spring rates. Alternatively, the projections 28 may have a general spring rate gradient over the entire projection length between the truncated end 44 and the bottom surface 26.
Referring to
The projections 28 are also arranged and configured to distribute the impact load over a larger surface area of the panel 10. As the panel 10 is subjected to an impact load, either from the small load f or the larger load F, the projections deflect in a gradient over a larger area than the area over which the load is applied. For example, as the panel reacts to the large impact load F, the projections immediately under the applied load may behave as shown in
Referring now to
The softness for impact absorption of the panel 100 to protect the users, such as children, during falls or other impacts is a design consideration. Impact energy absorption for fall mitigation structures, for example children's playground surfaces, is measured using HIC (head injury criterion). The head injury criterion (HIC) is used internationally and provides a relatively comparable numerical indicator based on testing. HIC test result scores of 1000 or less are generally considered to be in a safe range. The value of critical fall height, expressed in meters, is a test drop height that generates an HIC value of 1000. For example, to be within the safe zone, playground equipment heights should be kept at or lower than the critical fall height of the base surface composition. The requirement for critical fall height based on HIC test values in playground applications may be different from the requirement for critical fall heights in athletic fields and similar facilities. Also, the HIC/critical fall height will vary based on the supporting substrate characteristics. In one embodiment, the panel 10 or the panel 100 may be configured to provide a 2.5 m critical fall height over concrete, when tested as a component of a playground surface, and a 2.7 m critical fall height over concrete in combination with a low pile (22 mm) artificial turf partially filled with sand. In another embodiment, the panel 10 or the panel 100 may provide a 3.0 m critical fall height over a compacted sand base in combination with a low pile (22 mm) artificial turf partially filled with sand. By comparison, conventional athletic field underlayment layers are configured to provide only half of these critical fall height values.
These HIC/critical fall height characteristic and figures are provided for comparison purposes only. The panel 10 or the panel 100 may be configured to absorb more or less energy depending on the application, such as swings, monkey bars, parallel bars, vertical and horizontal ladders, along with the ages of the intended users. In one embodiment, the projections 28 or 128 may have a first stage height range of 10-15 mm and a second stage height range of 15-25 mm. In another embodiment, the projections 28 or 128 may be configured to be in a range of approximately 12-13 mm in height for the first stage and 19-20 mm in height for the second stage in order to achieve the above referenced HIC figures. The panel 10 or the panel 100 may be made of any suitable material, such as for example, a polymer material. In one embodiment, the panel 10 or 100 is a molded polypropylene panel. However, the panel may be formed from other polyolefin materials.
The panels 10 or 100 may be assembled and covered with any suitable covering, such as for example, artificial turf, rubber or polymer mats, short pile carpeting, particulate infill, or chips such as wood chips or ground rubber chips.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/877,762, filed on May 19, 2020 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,975,532 on Apr. 13, 2021. U.S. Pat. No. 10,975,532 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/103,228, filed on Aug. 14, 2018 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,655,282 on May 19, 2020. U.S. Pat. No. 10,655,282 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/496,536, filed on Apr. 25, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,047,484 on Aug. 14, 2018. U.S. Pat. No. 10,047,484 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/206,987 filed Jul. 11, 2016, and issued Apr. 25, 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,631,326. U.S. Pat. No. 9,631,326 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/636,719 filed Mar. 3, 2015, and issued Jul. 19, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,651. U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,651 a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/204,700, filed Mar. 11, 2014 and issued Mar. 3, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,906. U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,906 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/741,953, filed Jan. 15, 2013, and issued Mar. 11, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,403. U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,403 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,745, filed Feb. 11, 2011 and issued Jan. 15, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,640. U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,640 is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/009,835, filed Jan. 22, 2008, and issued Aug. 7, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,236,392. U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,640 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/830,902, filed Jul. 6, 2010, and issued Mar. 4, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,787. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,745, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,353,640 also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,350, filed Feb. 11, 2010. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/830,902, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,787 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/223,180, filed Jul. 6, 2009, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/228,050, filed Jul. 23, 2009, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/239,206, filed Sep. 2, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/297,236, filed Jan. 21, 2010. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/009,835, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,236,392 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/881,293, filed Jan. 19, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/927,975, filed May 7, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/000,503, filed Oct. 26, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/003,731, filed Nov. 20, 2007. The disclosure of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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9828729 | Maritano | Nov 2017 | B1 |
10047484 | Sawyer | Aug 2018 | B2 |
10655282 | Sawyer | May 2020 | B2 |
D886333 | Vachon | Jun 2020 | S |
10975532 | Sawyer | Apr 2021 | B2 |
20080113161 | Grimble | May 2008 | A1 |
20130280468 | Gomibuchi | Oct 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210230812 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
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61303350 | Feb 2010 | US | |
61297236 | Jan 2010 | US | |
61239206 | Sep 2009 | US | |
61228050 | Jul 2009 | US | |
61223180 | Jul 2009 | US | |
61003731 | Nov 2007 | US | |
61000503 | Oct 2007 | US | |
60927975 | May 2007 | US | |
60881293 | Jan 2007 | US |
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Parent | 12009835 | Jan 2008 | US |
Child | 12830902 | US |