Floor construction with variable grade of resilience

Abstract

The present invention is related to a floor construction. To provide a floor that is able to serve the different aspects of the use and the user himself, in particular to aspects related to longer standing periods, a floor construction is proposed that comprises a resilient layer (12) with a variable resilience and an adapting surface (14) and means for varying the grade of resilience. In one exemplary embodiment the resilient layer (12) comprises a cavity structure with a number of cavities (18). The cavities (18) are filled with a medium (20) with a variable flexibility. The medium (20) is enclosed in a number of containers 22 with a flexible, non-expandable envelope and the flexibility of the medium can be modified.

Claims

1. A floor construction, comprising: a resilient layer with a variable resilience that has a grade and an adapting surface; and means for varying the grade of resilience.

2. The floor construction according to claim 1, wherein the resilient layer comprises an embedded cavity structure with at least one cavity; wherein the at least one cavity is filled with a medium with a variable flexibility; and wherein means are provided for modifying the flexibility of said medium.

3. The floor according to claim 2, wherein the medium with a variable flexibility is enclosed in at least one container with a flexible, non-expandable envelope.

4. The floor according to claim 3, wherein the medium comprises a material with a temperature-dependent rigidity; and wherein means are provided to change the temperature of the medium.

5. The floor according to claim 4, wherein the material with a temperature-dependent rigidity is a gel; and wherein a floor heating and cooling device is provided.

6. The floor construction according to claim 2, wherein the medium is a fluid; and wherein means are provided to adjust the pressure of the fluid.

7. The floor construction according to claim 6, wherein the medium is enclosed in at least one flexible tube; wherein the at least one flexible tube is arranged within at least one container with a flexible, non-expandable envelope; and wherein the at least one flexible tube is connected to the means to adjust the pressure.

8. The floor construction according to claim 7, wherein the resilient layer comprises a flexible matrix material; and wherein the at least one container is embedded in said matrix material.

9. The floor construction according to claim 6, wherein the fluid is a gas; and wherein a pump device is arranged to pressurize the gas.

10. The floor construction according to claim 6, wherein means are provided to change the temperature of the fluid to adjust the expansion of the fluid.

11. The floor construction according to claim 1, wherein a first group of resilient elements and a second group of firm elements is provided; wherein the first group and the second group are arranged in an essentially alternating distribution; and wherein the elements of the first group are configured such as to be movable in relation to the elements of the second group.

12. The construction floor according to claim 1, wherein means with a variable extension in the supporting direction of the floor are provided; and wherein the means change their extension when supplied with electrical potential.

13. The floor construction according to claim 1, wherein the resilient layer comprises a monolithic material with a temperature-dependent rigidity; and wherein means are provided to change the temperature of the layer comprising the material with a temperature-dependent rigidity.

14. The floor construction according to claim 1, wherein an upper layer with a flooring material is adapted to the adapting surface.

15. A method for automatically adjusting the resilience of at least a part of a floor area comprising the steps of: receiving occupancy data for the floor area; analyzing and comparing the occupancy data with stored occupancy data sets which comprise user profiles with preset floor parameters; selecting one of the occupancy data sets; transferring the preset floor parameters of the selected occupancy data set to a floor surface parameter control unit; and adjusting the resilience of the floor according to the chosen user profile.

16. A floor construction, comprising: a resilient layer with a variable resilience and an adapting surface, said resilient layer comprising a cavity structure having at least one cavity that is filled with a medium of variable flexibility, said medium being enclosed in at least one container having a flexible, non-expandable envelope.

17. The floor construction of claim 16, said medium comprising a material with a temperature-dependent rigidity.

18. The floor construction of claim 17, wherein the material with a temperature-dependent rigidity is a gel.

19. The floor construction of claim 18, further comprising, as a floor heating and cooling device, tubes containing a heating and cooling medium.

20. The floor construction of claim 16, said at least one cavity amounting to a plurality of cavities, said at least one container amounting to multiple containers.

21. The floor construction of claim 16, providing a floor surface with an adjustable softness.

22. The floor construction of claim 21, the resilient layer comprising a flexible matrix material, the at least one container being embedded in said matrix material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically shows a section through a floor construction in a first exemplary embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a floor construction, according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment.

(5) FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 7 schematically shows exemplary embodiments of a resilient layer with different floor surface layers.

(8) FIG. 8 shows another exemplary embodiment of a floor with adjustable resilience with at least two layers.

(9) FIG. 9 shows exemplary embodiments of the resilient layer in relation with a supporting structure of the building.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a floor area of a room with a number of different sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 schematically shows a section through a floor construction with a resilient layer 12 with a variable resilience and an adapting surface 14. Further, means 16 are provided for varying the grades of resilience. Therefore, in FIG. 1 the resilient layer 12 comprises a cavity structure with a number of cavities 18.

(12) The cavities 18 are filled with a medium 20 with a variable flexibility. The flexibility of the medium 20 can be modified by means which are not shown in FIG. 1 but which are described further below in relation with other embodiments. In FIG. 1 the medium 20 with a variable flexibility is enclosed in a number of containers 22 with a flexible, non-expandable envelope.

(13) By providing the medium inside such a container 22 the container itself can either act as a flexible element in case the medium is modified to be flexible itself. To provide certain stiffness, the medium 20 is modified to be stiff or at least harder than in the state when it is flexible, the container 22 is then supported by the medium 20. Thus, the container acts as a stiffening element inside the cavities and stabilizing the resilient layer 12.

(14) The resilient layer may be of a flexible matrix material. This means that without providing any additional stiffening elements, the resilient layer 12 is flexible which leads to a soft surface 14.

(15) In order to provide a layer with a rather stiff or hard surface 14, the medium 20 inside the cavities 18 is modified to be stiff so that the resilient layer 12 is supported in the direction of the supporting direction of the floor surface, in other words, the medium 20 provides for a stiffness in the direction of load gravity acting on the floor.

(16) In FIG. 2 the medium 20 comprises a material with a temperature dependent rigidity. To modify the flexibility of the medium 20 means 24 are provided to change the temperature of the medium. In the example shown in FIG. 2 (in a section through the floor construction) the means 24 comprise a floor heating and cooling device in form of tubes, or a tubular structure, embedded within the material of the resilient layer 12. For example, the material with a temperature dependent rigidity is a gel. The gel can be adapted to the expected use of the floor surface in respect of the temperatures where the room with the floor area is used. For example, if the room is a workshop where temperatures are rather low compared to, for example, office rooms, the temperature dependent rigidity of the gel is set to these operating temperatures. Whereas, for example, if the room is an operation room in a hospital, where temperatures are, for example, above 20 C., the rigidity of the gel is set to these temperatures.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a section through another exemplary embodiment of the invention where the floor heating and cooling device 24 is integrated in a separate layer 26 which is arranged below the resilient layer 12. With the floor heating and cooling device 24 it is possible to heat or cool the resilient layer and therewith to cool and heat the medium 20 inside the containers 22 located in the cavities 18. Hence, by changing the temperature with the heating and cooling device 24 the flexibility of the medium is changed according to the desired stiffness of the resilient layer 12.

(18) In another exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the medium is a fluid. The medium is enclosed in flexible tubes 28 that are arranged in the cavities 18 of the resilient layer 12. The flexible tubes 28 are connected to a pumping device 30 to adjust the pressure of the fluid inside the tubes. For example, the flexible tubes 28 are arranged within a container 32 with a flexible, non-expandable envelope, which container is arranged in the cavities 18.

(19) The resilient layer 12 comprises a flexible matrix material. As the containers 32 are flexible too, the resilient layer provides a soft surface 14. In order to provide a harder surface 14 the pressure device, i.e. the pumping device 30, is activated to increase the pressure of the fluid inside the flexible tubes. Thus, the flexible tubes act as a stiffening element supporting the envelope of the container 32. Due to the supporting effect of the stiff flexible tubes 28, the container 32 itself acts as a supporting element within the resilient layer 12 leading to a resilient layer with a rather stiff characteristic. Thus, the floor surface 14 is not soft anymore but a hard surface.

(20) For example, the fluid inside the flexible tubes 28 is a gas. Preferably the gas is compressed air, which is commonly available in technical building environments anyhow. In such cases where pressurised air is sufficiently available instead of the pumping device 30 a connection to the internal compressed air supply of the building is provided. A control valve is provided to adjust the pressure of the air inside the tubes 28.

(21) In a further example the containers with the tubes are arranged next to each other. A cover is provided on top of the containers to provide for a fixation of the containers. A matrix material is not provided to allow a very light and thin floor construction.

(22) Instead of a pumping device it is also possible to provide means to change the temperature of the fluid inside the tubes. By changing the temperature of the fluid the expansion of the fluid can be adjusted. Hence, depending on the non-expandable envelope surrounding the tubes, the pressure of the fluid can be adjusted too. For example, a heating and cooling device for heating or cooling the resilient layer can be arranged in the vicinity of the tubes containing the fluid. This can either be done by integrating the heating and cooling device into the resilient layer 12 or by arranging such a cooling and heating device below the resilient layer.

(23) In a further exemplary embodiment, according to the invention shown in FIG. 5, the resilient layer 12 comprises a monolithic material 34 with a temperature dependent rigidity. Further, means 36 are provided to change the temperature of the layer comprising the material with a temperature dependent rigidity. For example, the means 36 to change the temperature are integrated into the resilient layer. But of course, it is also possible to locate the means 36 to change the temperature underneath the resilient layer 12. The monolithic material 34 is suitable in particular in rather rough environments, such as outdoor areas. The means 36 to change the temperature can comprise a commonly known cooling and heating device that is used in floor constructions.

(24) In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, a first group of resilient elements 72 and a second group of firm elements 74 is provided. The resilient elements 72 of the first group and the second group are distributed in an alternating fashion as can be seen in the section in FIG. 6. For example, the elements can have a long linear shape extending across the room or they can be arranged in a gridlike manner having smaller shapes each. To provide a floor with an adjustable resilience the elements 72 of the first group are movable in relation to the elements 74 of the second group.

(25) In the embodiment shown, the resilient elements 72 are fixed to a lower base layer. The firm elements 74 can be moved up and down, preferably in a synchronous movement, by a not shown mechanism. The mechanism comprises actuators to provide the movement, for example electromagnetic or electro-hydraulic actuators. The adapting surface 14 is provided as a layer 76 capable of spanning across the distance between each of the group elements.

(26) In FIG. 6a the adapting surface rests on the soft or resilient elements 72. Hence, the floor is having a resilient characteristic. In case of very heavy loads, the firm elements provide a stop position such that the softer elements are not compressed too far.

(27) In FIG. 6b the firm elements are moved upwards such that the adapting surface 14 with its spanning layer 76 rests on both the soft elements 72 and the firm elements 74. Due to the spanning effect of the spanning layer 76, the softer elements 72 will have no influence on the floor's resilience since the firm elements 74 provide for the (only effective) supportiveness.

(28) The adapting surface 14 is provided with a flooring material 38 adapted to the adapting surface 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 7a, the flooring material 38 is a PVC flooring connected to the adapting surface 14 by an adhesive layer. Of course, the flooring material 38 has to fulfil the required specifications depending on the use of the floor construction.

(29) In another example shown in FIG. 7b an intermediate layer 40 is arranged between the adapting surface 14 and the flooring material 38. The intermediate layer 40 can be arranged such that the resilient characteristic of the resilient layer 12 is enhanced or decreased depending on the requirements and the chosen construction of the resilient layer 12. For example, if the resilient layer is not soft enough when the resilient layer is having a stiff resilient characteristic, the additional layer 40 can provide a minimum of a soft characteristic of the floor surface.

(30) However, the materials and layers respectively arranged on top of the resilient layer, i.e. all layers arranged on the adapting surface 14, show certain flexibility in order not to prevent or damp the flexibility or softness of the resilient layer 12 located underneath.

(31) In a further exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7c, the adapting surface 14 is provided with a coating 42 only that serves as a protection layer for the resilient layer 12.

(32) Of course, it is also possible to provide additional layers on top of the resilient layer 12.

(33) For an enhanced adaptability of the floor softness, in an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8 the resilient layer comprises two resilient layers 44, 46 wherein the two layers are laid upon each other. For example, the upper resilient layer 44 can be used for adapting the softness of the floor surface. The lower resilient layer 46 can be used, for example, for adapting the flexibility of the floor construction as this is known from static so-called impact sound insulation layers arranged underneath a stiff floor construction for damping the sound resulting from direct impacts on to the floor surface. In other words, besides the softness that can be felt on the actual surface of the floor it is thereby possible to provide a damping effect on the floor which can provide a relief to staff members moving, i.e. walking, across the floor surface.

(34) In FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c, three examples are shown how the resilient layer can be supported. In a first example the resilient layer 12 is located on top of a supporting layer 42, for example, a concrete base plate or ceiling panel within a multi-storey building (FIG. 9a). Of course, it is also possible to arrange an intermediate layer 46 between the resilient layer 12 and the supporting layer 44, for example, an acoustic insulation layer provided to damp acoustic impact resulting from direct impacts on the floor surface. Such an insulation layer 46 can also provide a certain thermal insulation as well (FIG. 9b). In case of a rather thin resilient layer 12 or in case of a rather low supporting ability of the layer 12, i.e. in case the layer 12 is rather soft when the supporting means integrated into the resilient layer are not activated, an additional supporting intermediate layer 48 can be provided below the resilient layer 12. The additional intermediate supporting layer 48 serves as a supporting layer distributing the load forces to the insulation layer 46 underneath which is usually not capable of carrying rather point shaped impact loads but only distributed loads. The insulation layer 46 is arranged on top of a supporting layer 44, i.e. on top of the floor or ceiling panel as mentioned in relation with FIGS. 9a and 9b (FIG. 9c).

(35) In FIG. 10 an operation room in a hospital is schematically shown in a perspective view. An operation table 52 to receive a subject to be examined is provided in the centre of the room. An adjustable lighting means 54 with a number of lighting devices is arranged below the ceiling above the operation table 52. On one side of the operation table, in FIG. 10 on the right side behind the table, an X-ray imaging system 56 is provided. The X-ray imaging system 56 comprises an X-ray image acquisition device with a source of X-ray radiation 58 provided to generate X-ray radiation. Further, an X-ray image detection module 60 is located opposite the source of X-ray radiation 58. The X-ray image acquisition device comprises an arm 62 in form of a C where the image detection module 60 is arranged at one end of the C-arm and the source of X-ray radiation 58 is located at the opposite end of the C-arm. The C-arm is moveably mounted and can be moved towards the table 52 where it can be rotated around the object of interest located on the table 52. That means during the radiation procedure the subject is located between the source of X-ray radiation 58 and the detection module 60. The latter is sending data to a data processing unit or calculation unit 64, which is connected to both the detection module 60 and the radiation source 58. Further, a display device 66 is arranged in the vicinity of the table 52 to display information to the person operating the X-ray imaging system, which can be a clinician such as a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon. Preferably, the display device 66 is moveably mounted to allow for an individual adjustment depending on the examination situation. Also, an interface unit 68 is arranged to input information by the user.

(36) The floor in the middle of the room around the operation table 52 is the area where staff members are expected to stay for a longer period during the operation procedure. Usually different members are arranged around the different sides of the table 52. To allow an individual adjustment of the floor softness, according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the floor area is divided into segments 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d. The softness of the floor segments 70 can be controlled independently according to the individual requirements by a control unit that is integrated into the calculation unit 64 of the imaging device. Here, occupancy data for the room can be supplied by a central data processing unit of the hospital. The occupancy data comprises information about when and how the room is used and the data of staff members expected for the use. The occupancy data is analyzed and compared by the calculation unit 64 with stored occupancy data sets which comprise user profiles with preset floor parameters. Then one of the occupancy data sets is selected and the preset floor parameters of the selected occupancy data set are transferred to a floor surface parameter control unit in the calculation unit 64. Then, the resilience of the floor is adjusted according to the chosen user profiles.

(37) In case the staff change their place during the operation it is possible to adjust the softness for this situation by automatically detecting the change with a sensor device (not shown) or by entering a command by the interface 68.

(38) When heavy equipment has to be moved during the operation, for example in case of a moveable C-arm X.ray device, the floor's softness is adjusted to be rather stiff to allow for an easier rolling across the floor surface. For further procedures the floor's softness can be individually adjusted to be soft again in designated zones or parts.

(39) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is to be noted that features described in relation to the above discussed embodiments can also be used with other features of other above described exemplary embodiments.