Patent ID: 7784225

Claim:
An isolation platform comprising: an upper plate upon which equipment to be supported is placed, said upper plate having a plurality of downward-facing, conical, rigid bearing surfaces linked by connecting members affixed along one or more edge of each said bearing surface; a lower plate secured to a foundation, said foundation supporting the isolation platform and the equipment to be supported, said lower plate having a plurality of upward-facing, conical, rigid bearing surfaces linked by connecting members affixed along one or more one edge of each said bearing surface and disposed opposite said downward-facing, conical, rigid bearing surfaces, said downward and upward bearing surfaces defining a plurality of bearing cavities between said upper and lower plates; a plurality of rigid spherical balls interposed between said downward and upward bearing surfaces; said downward and upward bearing surfaces comprising central apices having the same curvature as that of said spherical balls, and having recess perimeters having the same curvature as that of said spherical balls, which connects said central apices and recess perimeters with continuous slope, wherein the curvature of said spherical balls and downward and upward bearing surfaces are further configured such that as said spherical balls and upper and lower plates displace laterally relative to one another, a restoring force damping continued movement of the plates is substantially constant; structured so that, in response to an external vibration, said lower plates are displaced laterally with respect to said upper plates such that the rigid spherical balls therebetween roll about their respective bearing surfaces and are raised to higher elevations, the platform further comprising a retention mechanism securing said lower plate and said upper plate together that allows for lateral displacement between said upper and lower plates without separation of said upper and lower plates.