WO2006089982A1 - Ergonomic flooring - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to ergonomic flooring which is intended for use as a floor covering and which comprises a stiff, wear-resistant layer (1) and at least one absorbing layer (2). The resistant layer is made from materials having high resistance to wear and stiffness values in order to confer mechanical and durability properties on the flooring and the absorbing layer (2) is made from deformable materials in order for the impacts associated with the movement of users to be absorbed, such that the layers can be joined to one another in the most suitable manner to meet the requirements of each flooring application, including by means of stacking.

Description

 ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to an ergonomic flooring, intended for application as floor covering and with a series of features that allow new and better performance benefits for people who walk about it. The object of the invention is to provide a floor that, on the one hand, guarantees the mechanical and durability performance of the rigid material required in floor coverings, and on the other hand improves comfort and reduces the fatigue of users traveling on the floor itself. pavement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide range of materials can be used in floor coverings, both in shape and nature, whether based on modular rigid plates, or based on continuous coatings, so that depending on the typology of the themselves, the performance of the pavement and its interaction with users, can be varied greatly to try to meet the established needs.

However, some of these benefits may be incompatible with each other, due to the nature of the material itself, for example, stiffness and damping capacity, which has led to the development of construction systems consisting simultaneously of several materials that together allow Access the desired features.

In this sense, some multilayer systems are known in which lower layers of greater rigidity are incorporated to improve the mechanical resistance of the set, for example, glass bonded on ceramics. On the other hand, in the Spanish Utility Model ES 1058248 U, a covering system composed of a rigid surface plate and a lower layer of lower density is described for the purpose of acoustic or thermal insulation of the pavement, the latter layer which can be of natural cork

The covering or pavement described in this Spanish utility model is rigid and without an adequate deformation capacity that allows to moderate its interaction with the user.

On the other hand, it is worth noting the fact that rigid materials in general, such as, for example, natural stone ceramics, terrazzo, concrete, etc., tend to have high mechanical and wear resistance features. However, due precisely to their low deformation capacity, they produce a high concentration of pressures during the support cycle associated with human gait (from landing of the foot to takeoff), and especially at the instant after the impact of the heel, which can result in a detrimental impact on the health of users and an increase in general fatigue during prolonged periods of static and / or dynamic standing. In contrast, low stiffness materials, such as rubber, plastic, carpet, etc., have a lower impact on these biomechanical variables, although they have very limited performance against wear, chemical aggression, etc. In short, there are currently no materials or construction systems capable of guaranteeing a high level of durability and simultaneously reducing fatigue and increasing the user's comfort. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The flooring object of the invention as floor covering, has the particularity of complying with the quality of stiffness and resistance to wear or durability, and at the same time have the ability to deform and absorb impacts to improve the comfort of users, improving the distribution of pressures during the foot support phase and favoring blood circulation in the lower extremities, ultimately reducing the intensity of the impacts that occur on the fly.

Structurally, the floor of the invention is constituted by at least two layers of different materials, one of said layers having a greater stiffness and different nature than the remaining ones, in order to provide tensile strength and wear resistance properties, and therefore provide durability of the whole.

The other layer, or other layers, if they are several, are made of a material that has less stiffness and greater deformability to allow cushioning or absorption of impacts associated with user traffic.

The rigid layer can be formed from ceramic pieces, natural stone, terrazzo, wood laminates, hardened plastics or similar materials of high strength and rigidity, being able to have any configuration or contour and size.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rigid layer is made by joining different pieces, without the existence of any additional elements between adjacent pieces.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the rigid layer is made by joining different pieces existing together between adjacent pieces, such that in this case, the joint between the pieces Adjacent is done through such joints. In this embodiment of the invention the joints are elastic in order to admit deformations produced by varying the relative positions of adjacent pieces or tiles that form the rigid layer.

This is a great advantage over other configurations, since, when there are different weights in adjacent pieces, the horizontal plane in which these pieces are located can experience height variations, and these variations are absorbed by the deformation of the elastic joint, allowing the adequate mechanical response in the assembly and without this joint breaking, quite the opposite of what would happen if a rigid joint were used. On the other hand, the layer or layers with deformation or damping capacity, may be of a suitable material that meets the condition of being able to control the impacts that occur in the walking of people on the pavement in a controlled manner. This material is selected from various materials that have some flexibility and deformability, such as rubber, plastic, various polymers, etc.

The layers may or may not be fixed to each other by adherent materials, with the particularity that the flooring, or may include a layer of wear-resistant or rigid material, and a single layer of deformable or damping material located under the previous one, or It may well include a layer of wear-resistant or rigid material, and more than one layer of deformable or damping material located under the layer of wear-resistant or rigid material.

The thickness of the layers, and the nature of the materials that form the layers are adequate to ensure that the intensity of the impact generated during the heel support can be regulated according to the expected static and / or dynamic standing conditions.

In short, the pavement constituted in the manner described, is susceptible of application for the reduction of fatigue or fatigue and the increase of comfort, both in places or situations where the static position of the user predominates, as in large surfaces where the user is maintained in continuous transit or march. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description that is going to be carried out below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a sheet of drawings is attached to the present specification, in which drawings have been represented on the basis of the which innovations and advantages of the ergonomic flooring object of the invention will be more easily understood.

FIGURE 1.- Shows a sectional view of a portion of pavement formed by two layers, a rigid upper and a deformable or damping lower one.

FIGURE 2.- Shows a sectional view of a portion of pavement formed by three layers, a rigid top, and the other two deformable or damping. FIGURE 3.- Shows a sectional view of a pavement made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, where the pieces that form the pavement layers, and the joints between adjacent pieces of the rigid layer are appreciated. In these figures numerical references appear denoting the following elements:

1 rigid and wear resistant layer

2 layer of cushioning

2 'additional cushion layer 3 elastic joint - G -

4 piece rigid and wear resistant

5 piece of damping

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In view of the aforementioned figures, it can be seen how the pavement of the invention comprises a rigid and wear-resistant layer 1, and at least one damping layer 2, the wear-resistant rigid layer 1 having wear resistance qualities and stiffness greater than those of the damping layer 2, and said rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 may be materialized in granite, cement or any other material that meets the requirement of presenting a wear resistance and stiffness greater than those presents the damping layer 2, while said damping layer

2 is deformable, constituting a means of damping the pavement assembly, being able to be materialized in rubber or other appropriate material.

The rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 is disposed on the upper part of the damping layer 2, so that in any case, the layers 1 and 2 can simply be superimposed on one another or be conveniently fixed by means of an adhesive.

Accordingly, the floor of the invention is characterized in that it includes a rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 and at least one damping layer 2, the rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 being formed by rigid and wear-resistant parts 4 being able to be be made of ceramic materials, natural stone, terrazzo, laminated wood, hardened plastics, or any other material that has greater strength and greater rigidity than the rest of. layers to guarantee the mechanical and durability properties of the assembly, said rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 being arranged on one or more buffer layers 2, consisting of materials with greater deformation capacity, which allow cushioning the impacts associated with pedestrian traffic.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention, in which three different layers are observed: in the upper area a rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 is arranged, and under it a damping layer 2 and an additional damping layer are arranged 2 ', being able to present these two damping layers 2.2' different configurations from each other, and being able to be made of different materials from each other.

The thickness and nature of the different 1,2,2 'layers is adjusted so that the assembly presents an adequate level of mechanical performance and simultaneously improves the biomechanical variables related to static and / or dynamic standing, favoring the comfort of the users , being applicable both to premises or situations where the static position of the user predominates and to favor the absence of fatigue during transit or prolonged walking.

The construction system is designed from the constructive and / or architectural point of view to present integrated ergonomic functionalities, applying universal design criteria. In this sense, the rigid and wear-resistant layer 1, usually of a rigid nature, can have a specific surface design, consisting of textures of different roughness, non-slip reliefs or tactile elements in order to optimize ergonomic, safety and accessibility features of the pavement.

The rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 may be formed by the union of a set of rigid and wear-resistant parts 4, such as tiles, these rigid parts may have and wear resistant 4 any contour and size, and a thickness suitable for different needs.

Likewise, the damping layer 2 may be formed by the union of a set of damping parts 5, these damping parts 5 having any contour and size, and a thickness suitable for different needs.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 is made by joining different rigid and wear-resistant parts 4, without the existence of any additional elements between adjacent rigid and wear-resistant parts 4.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the rigid and wear-resistant layer 1 is made by joining different rigid and wear-resistant parts 4, there being gaskets 3 between adjacent rigid and wear-resistant parts 4, such that in in this case, the joint between adjacent rigid and wear-resistant parts 4 is carried out through said seals 3. In this embodiment of the invention the seals 3 are elastic in order to admit deformations produced by varying the relative positions of rigid parts 4 or adjacent tiles that form the resistance layer 1. This is a great advantage over other configurations, since, when there are different weights in adjacent rigid and wear-resistant parts 4, the horizontal plane in which said rigid pieces are located and wear resistant 4, you may experience height variations, and these variations are absorbed by deformation n of the joint 3 elastically, allowing proper mechanical response in the set and without this elastic joint 3 reaching break, the opposite of what would happen if a stiff joint were used.

Claims

1.- ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT, which is formed by pieces of any size and configuration whose arrangement on a floor determines layers of continuous coating, is characterized in that it comprises a rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) which has greater strength and rigidity than the rest of layers, and one or more layers of damping (2.2 ') which have deformability to provide improved comfort in pedestrian traffic. 2, - ERGONOMIC FLOOR, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) is superimposed on a damping layer (2). 3.- ERGONOMIC FLOOR, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) and several layers of damping (2.2 '). 4.- ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT, according to claim 3, characterized in that the damping layers (2,2 ') are superimposed on each other, and the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) is superimposed on the upper damping layer (2). 5.- ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid and wear-resistant layer (i) is made of ceramic material, natural stone, cement, terrazzo, wood laminates, hardened plastics or other similar materials resistance, rigidity and other mechanical characteristics. 6. ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layer or layers of damping (2,2 ') are made of rubber, plastic, or other materials that have less stiffness than the rigid and wear-resistant layer 1, in such a way as to improve the feeling of comfort and reduce fatigue to the pedestrian user. 7. ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) and the damping layer (2) are superimposed without any fixing between them. 8. ERGONOMIC FLOOR, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) and the damping layer (2) are superimposed and fixed to each other by means of adhesives or the like. 9.- ERGONOMIC FLOOR, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) consists of rigid and wear-resistant parts (4) and the damping layers (2,2 ') are constituted by damping parts (5), being able to have rigid and wear-resistant parts (4) and damping parts (5) any contour and size, and present the appropriate thickness to provide the pavement with strength, durability, safety and comfort needed in each of the different applications of said pavement. 10.- ERGONOMIC PAVEMENT / according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) is capable of being constituted by rigid and wear-resistant parts (4) with surface finishes of different roughness, non-slip reliefs or tactile elements in order to optimize the ergonomic, safety and accessibility features of the pavement. 11.- ERGONOMIC FLOOR _/ according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that between - Il ¬ the rigid and wear-resistant parts (4) that constitute the rigid and wear-resistant layer (1) exist elastic joints (3) in such a way that the adjacent rigid and wear-resistant parts (4) are joined together by said joints (3) elastic.