Synthetic flooring apparatus

Abstract

A modular floor tile is disclosed having a top surface made of a plurality of rib members defining openings between the rib members. A plurality of edge surfaces defines a perimeter about the top surface and a support system is integrally formed with and disposed at least partially beneath the top surface. The support system is capable of maintaining the top surface elevated above a ground surface when a load is not placed on the top surface. The support system has a primary support member disposed within the openings between the rib members. The primary support member is operably connected to a plurality of arms extending laterally from the structural member to the primary support member and is capable of vertical movement within the opening when a load is applied to the top surface.

1 . A modular floor tile comprising:
 a top surface comprising a plurality of structural members defining openings between the structural members;   a plurality of edge surfaces defining a perimeter about the top surface;   a support system integrally formed with and disposed at least partially beneath the top surface, the support system capable of maintaining the top surface elevated above a ground surface when a load is not placed on the top surface;   wherein the support system comprises a primary support member disposed within the openings, the primary support member being (i) operably connected to a plurality of arms formed from and extending laterally from the structural members to the primary support member and (ii) capable of vertical movement within the opening when a load is applied to the top surface.   
     
     
         2 . The modular floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of each of the plurality of arms is disposed beneath a top surface of the structural members and coupled to the structural members. 
     
     
         3 . The modular floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of arms are adjacent to one another, and wherein an internal angle between the at least two adjacent arms at a point where the arms couple to the primary support member is substantially equal to or greater than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The modular floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of arms extend from a single primary support member and are substantially collinear. 
     
     
         5 . The modular floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the openings comprise an upper plane defined by a top surface of the structural members and a bottom plane defined by a bottom surface of the structural members and wherein the primary support member is disposed within the area defined by the upper plane and lower plane. 
     
     
         6 . The modular floor tile of  claim 5 , wherein, in an unbiased state, the primary support member comprises a vertical post having a top surface disposed between the upper plane and lower plane of the opening, the vertical post being capable of moving upward and downward within said opening. 
     
     
         7 . The modular floor tile of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of secondary support members elevated above the ground surface when the tile is in an unloaded state. 
     
     
         8 . The modular floor tile of  claim 7 , wherein the primary support member is configured to move upward relative to the opening when a load is placed on the top surface, and the secondary support members are configured to concurrently move downward relative to the primary support member toward a bottom surface of the primary support member. 
     
     
         9 . The modular floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the openings defined by the structural members comprise a quadrilateral defined by intersecting rib members. 
     
     
         10 . The modular floor tile of  claim 9 , wherein each one of the plurality of arms extends outward from the vertices of the quadrilateral towards the center of the opening, wherein each arm is formed from and integrated with a vertex of the quadrilateral. 
     
     
         11 . The modular floor tile of  claim 9 , wherein each one of the plurality of arms extends outward from the structural members towards the center of the opening, wherein each arm is formed from and integrated with a vertex of the quadrilateral. 
     
     
         12 . A modular floor tile, comprising:
 a top surface comprising a plurality of openings defined by a plurality of rib members;   an edge surface defining a perimeter about the floor tile;   a support system formed from and disposed beneath the top surface, the support system comprising:
 a plurality of first vertical support posts operably connected to a plurality of arms extending laterally from the rib members, each one of the plurality of first vertical support posts disposed substantially within a center of each one of the plurality of openings and spaced apart from the rib members to move within the openings without contact with the rib members; and 
 a plurality of second vertical support posts extending downward from a bottom of the rib members; 
 wherein (i) when the floor tile is in an unloaded state the first vertical support posts are in contact with the floor and elevate a bottom of the second vertical support posts above the floor; and (ii) when a load is placed on a top of the modular floor tile, a portion of the plurality of laterally extending arms flex to facilitate vertical movement of the second vertical support posts into contact with the ground. 
   
     
     
         13 . The modular floor tile of  claim 12 , wherein each one of the plurality of arms are operatively coupled to each one of the plurality of second vertical support posts. 
     
     
         14 . The modular floor tile of  claim 12 , wherein the first vertical support posts are longer than the second vertical support posts. 
     
     
         15 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The tile of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of arms extend outward from a top portion of the first vertical support posts. 
     
     
         22 . The tile of  claim 12 , wherein a top portion of the first vertical support posts is substantially coplanar with a top of the interconnected rib members when a load is placed on a top of the tile. 
     
     
         23 . The tile of  claim 12 , wherein the openings comprise a plurality of vertices, the plurality of arms being formed from the ribs at the vertices of the openings. 
     
     
         24 . The tile of  claim 12 , wherein each one of the plurality of second vertical support members is disposed adjacent to each one of the vertices of the openings. 
     
     
         25 . A single-piece unitary modular floor tile, comprising:
 a substantially planar upper playing surface having a plurality of ribs with openings between the ribs, a bottom surface, and side surfaces forming a periphery about the tile;   a plurality of secondary support members extending downward from the bottom of the floor tile;   a plurality of vertical primary support members disposed within the openings between the ribs and coupled to the ribs by a plurality of flexible arms extending laterally outward from the primary support members and integrally formed with the ribs, the flexible arms biased to position the vertical primary support members downward such that a bottom of the secondary support members is elevated a distance above the ground surface when the tile is in an unloaded state;   wherein, the primary support members are configured to move vertically within the openings with respect to the ribs.   
     
     
         26 . The tile of  claim 25 , wherein the flexible arms have a height that is less than a height of the ribs.