Patent ID: 8109050
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: A62B,E04F

Abstract:
1. A floor comprising: a flooring plate; a plurality of spaced apart incompressible stiffening columns extending between an underside of the flooring plate and a support surface, the stiffening columns supporting the flooring plate a distance above the support surface, wherein when the floor is subjected to a compressive pressure between the flooring plate and the support surface less than a critical pressure, defined as the pressure at which the stiffening columns will buckle, the distance between the flooring plate and the support surface is substantially unchanged, and when the floor is subjected to a compressive pressure greater than the critical pressure, at least one of the stiffening columns will deform by buckling, thereby allowing deflection of the flooring plate towards the support surface, changing the distance between the flooring plate and the support surface; and a resilient underlayment at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of spaced apart stiffening columns and substantially filling a space between the plurality of stiffening columns, the resilient underlayment coupled to the stiffening columns in at least one location to influence the post-buckling deformation of the stiffening column, and to substantially prevent permanent deformation of the stiffening column.