Modular tile with shock absorbing properties

Claim 2

Modular tile with shock absorbing properties suitable for sports halls and games areas having a cellular structure resiliently flexible in compression in response to a vertical load and comprising: i) vertical walls having respective upper parts ended by apexes, ii) horizontal walls joining said upper parts so as to be set back therefrom and to leave exposed said apexes, said upper parts forming ribs projecting from said horizontal walls so as to constitute a non-skid surface, and iii) cellular housings delimited by said ribs and by said horizontal walls and each having a bottom provided with non-skid pads and at least one liquid flow groove.

Claim 3

Modular tile according to claim 1 wherein each of said vertical walls has a height, a width, a thickness and a nature of material which determine a degree of relative deformation in compression.

Claim 4

Modular tile according to claim 1 wherein each of said cellular housing has a square shape and comprises in a chequerboard layout four of said non-skid pads which have a quadrangular shape, and which delimit between them two perpendicular grooves which intersect at a center point and which discharge into a peripheral groove adjacent to said ribs.

Claim 5

Module tile according to claim 3 wherein a central drainage hole is provided at said center point.

Claim 6

Modular tile according to claim 1 comprising a raised peripheral rim which is rounded to eliminate a step effect.

Claim 7

Modular tile according to claim 1 wherein said height, width, thickness and nature of material are such as to enable an absorption of at least 30 Joules of energy in response to an impact of 500 kg over 10 cm 2 .

Claim 8

Floor covering with shock absorbing properties suitable for sports halls and games areas, comprising a plurality of modular tiles having a cellular structure resiliently flexible in compression in response to a vertical load and comprising: i) vertical walls having respective upper parts ended by apexes, ii) horizontal walls joining said upper parts so as to be set back therefrom and to leave exposed said apexes, said upper parts forming ribs projecting from said horizontal walls so as to constitute a non-skid surface, and iii) cellular housings delimited by said ribs and by said horizontal walls and each having a bottom provided with non-skid pads and at least one liquid flow groove, said modular tiles being coupled by a plurality of coupling systems each comprising at least two feet joined by a bridge and nested in two respective cavities provided respectively between said vertical walls of two adjacent tiles.

Claim 9

Floor covering with shock absorbing properties suitable for sports halls and games areas, comprising a plurality of modular tiles having a cellular structure resiliently flexible in compression in response to a vertical load and comprising: i) vertical walls having respective upper parts ended by apexes, ii) horizontal walls joining said upper parts so as to be set back therefrom and to leave exposed said apexes, said upper parts forming ribs projecting from said horizontal walls so as to constitute a non-skid surface, and iii) cellular housings delimited by said ribs and by said horizontal walls and each having a bottom provided with non-skid pads and at least one liquid flow groove, said modular tiles being coupled by a plurality of coupling systems each comprising at least two feet joined by a bridge and nested in two respective cavities provided respectively between said vertical walls of two adjacent tiles.

Claim 10

Floor covering according to claim 7 wherein each of said coupling systems is adapted for joining four adjacent tiles, and comprises four feet disposed in a square and joined together by four bridges, said four feet being nested in four respective cavities provided respectively between said vertical walls of said four adjacent tiles.

Claim 11

Floor covering according to claim 7 wherein said coupling system and said tiles present a same degree of relative deformation in compression in response to a vertical load and are respectively obtained by a single operation of molding an elastomer material into a monobloc unit.

Claim 12

Floor covering according to claim 7 wherein each of said vertical walls has a lower part forming a cut-out, and each of said feet has a base from which extends transversely said bridge which has a cross-section matching said cut-out which straddles said bridge when assembled.

Claim 13

Floor covering according to claim 7 wherein said at least two feet are spaced by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of two vertical walls forming said cavities.

Claim 14

Floor covering according to claim 10 wherein the base of said feet comprises a liquid drainage hole.