Load bearing surface

摘要

An elastomeric load bearing surface with different load support characteristics in different directions. In one embodiment, the surface includes an elastomeric membrane that is oriented in only a single direction, for example, by compression or stretching. In another embodiment, the surface includes mechanical structures, such as connectors, variations in thickness and apertures, that vary the load support characteristics in different directions. In another aspect, the present invention provides a multilayer load bearing surface in which the layers cooperate to provide a controlled force/deflection profile that is variable in different regions of the surface. In one embodiment, the upper layer includes a plurality of loosely connected nodes and a lower layer having a plurality of resilient elements that separately support each node.

主权项

1. A load bearing surface comprising:
a support structure; a first layer secured with said support structure, said first layer being deflectable under a load in accordance with a first deflection profile, said first layer including a plurality of nodes, wherein said plurality of nodes are interconnected by a plurality of connectors, wherein said plurality of connectors are integrally formed with said plurality of nodes; a second layer secured with said support structure; a plurality of spring elements disposed between said first layer and said second layer to operatively interact when said first layer deflects under a load, wherein each of said plurality of nodes is operatively interconnected with a unique one of said plurality of spring elements, wherein said plurality of spring elements are integral with at least one of said first layer and said second layer, wherein each of said spring elements is a cantilevered extension of at least one of said first layer and said second layer, wherein each of said spring elements includes a gimbal.