Tip-resistant pad for use with a heavy article and seismic isolation structure incorporating same

Abstract

In a gravestone structure including a foundation stone ( 2 ) and a headstone ( 3 ), four tip-resistant pads ( 4 ) and as many pressure plates ( 5 ) as the pads ( 4 ) are interposed between the foundation stone ( 2 ) and the headstone ( 3 ). Each of the tip-resistant pads ( 4 ) includes a sheet elastic body ( 6 ) and a point support member ( 7 ) embedded in an eccentric position in the sheet elastic body ( 6 ). The sheet elastic body ( 6 ) is formed of a transparent, flexible and elastic gel material that absorbs vibrations of the headstone ( 3 ). The point support member ( 7 ) is formed of a metal or resin harder than the gel elastic material and undergoes plastic deformation under the load of the headstone ( 3 ). In order to render the gravestone structure ( 1 ) seismically isolated, four tip-resistant pads ( 4 ) are arranged on the top surface of the foundation stone ( 2 ) with the point support members ( 7 ) oriented inward of the foundation stone ( 2 ).

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A manufacture comprising a tip-resistant pad for being interposed between a foundation and a heavy article to prevent said heavy article from tipping over due to an earthquake, said tip-resistant pad comprising a sheet elastic body made of a flexible material for absorbing vibrations of said heavy article, and a point support member made of a material that is harder than said sheet elastic body and that undergoes plastic deformation under a load from said heavy article, wherein said point support member is held in a position deviated from a center of said sheet elastic body. 
     
     
         14 . The manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein said point support member is embedded in a corner of said sheet elastic body. 
     
     
         15 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein said point support member is embedded in said sheet elastic body with a portion of said support member exposed. 
     
     
         16 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises an adhesive layer on a top surface thereof and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface thereof 
     
     
         17 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises a transparent and elastic gel material. 
     
     
         18 . The manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises an adhesive layer on a top surface thereof and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein said point support member is embedded in said sheet elastic body with a portion of said support member exposed. 
     
     
         20 . The manufacture of  claim 19 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises a transparent and elastic gel material. 
     
     
         21 . The manufacture of  claim 20 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises an adhesive layer on a top surface thereof and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The manufacture of  claim 19 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises an adhesive layer on a top surface thereof and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises a transparent and elastic gel material. 
     
     
         24 . The manufacture of  claim 23 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises an adhesive layer on a top surface thereof and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The manufacture of  claim 13 , wherein said sheet elastic body comprises an adhesive layer on a top surface thereof and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface thereof 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus comprising a structure including a foundation, a heavy article, and a plurality of tip-resistant pads interposed between said foundation and said heavy article to prevent said heavy article from tipping over due to an earthquake, wherein each of said tip-resistant pads comprises a sheet elastic body made of a flexible material for absorbing vibrations of said heavy article, and a point support member made of a material that is harder than said sheet elastic body and that undergoes plastic deformation under a load from said heavy article, said point support member being held in a position deviated from a center of said sheet elastic body, wherein at least three of said tip-resistant pads are arranged on said foundation, wherein for each of said three tip-resistant pads, a point support member for said pad is closer to a center of said foundation than said center of said sheet elastic body. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising at least three pressure plates, each of which is interposed between one of said tip-resistant pads and said heavy article, for compressing said sheet elastic body and said point support member to the same level. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein each of said point support members is embedded in a corner of said sheet elastic body. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein each of said point support members is embedded in said sheet elastic body with a portion of said support member exposed above a surface of said sheet elastic body.