Patent ID: 8156696

Claim:
A seismically isolated flooring system comprising: a) one or more horizontal flooring panels, each said panel having a top surface and a bottom surface, b) a frame adapted to support said flooring panel(s), c) a plurality of load-bearing flooring pedestals extending vertically downward from said frame, and d) a plurality of seismic isolation bearings, each such bearing comprising: an upper load plate having a downward facing rigid load surface and defining a recessed load surface comprising a concave or conical surface; a lower load plate having an upward facing rigid load surface opposing and substantially identical to the load surface of the upper load plate, and defining a recessed load surface comprising a concave or conical surface; wherein said opposing load surfaces define a cavity; and a ball disposed within said cavity; wherein each said bearing is directly or indirectly secured to a flooring pedestal, wherein a load placed upon the top surface of said panel(s) is transferred through said frame, pedestals and bearings to a foundation, wherein the flooring system is structured so that a lateral vibrational force applied to the foundation causes the upper plate of a bearing to be displaced relative to the lower plate of the bearing, wherein a gap permitting a full range of motion is maintained around the perimeter of the system, and wherein the system provides seismic isolation restoring force without springs or coils.