Shock-absorbing structure and floor material

Abstract

The shock-absorbing structure includes a top plate including an upper surface to receive a load, and at least one leg extending in the Z-axis direction from the lower surface of the top plate and has a cross-sectional shape convexly flexed toward one side in the X-Y plane. When the load is applied from the upper surface side of the top plate in the shock-absorbing structure, the legs contract in the Z-axis direction to absorb the load until the load exceeds the threshold load, and once the load exceeds the threshold load, the legs become soft by bending toward the opposite side and being displaced largely while spreading their convexly-flexed cross-sectional surfaces in the Z-Y plane, and after the displacement, the legs can further absorb the load by abutting the upper side and the lower side of the side surface to contract in the Z-axis direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shock-absorbing structure for mitigating an impact, comprising:
 a top plate including an upper surface to receive a load; and   at least one leg extending in a first direction directed away from a lower surface of the top plate and having a cross-sectional shape convexly flexed toward one side in a second direction in a plane that intersects with the first direction, wherein   the at least one leg is tilted toward an opposite side in the second direction relative to the lower surface of the top plate, and is formed from an elastic material so that it buckles toward the opposite side in the second direction when a load equal to or more than a threshold load is applied on the top plate.   
     
     
         2 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one leg includes a leading end having a shape similar to the cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         3 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one leg has a cross-sectional shape convexly bent toward the one side of the second direction.   
     
     
         4 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one leg includes a concave portion formed on at least part of a corner on the one side of the second direction.   
     
     
         5 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the concave portion is formed in a region spanning from a base end to a leading end of the at least one leg.   
     
     
         6 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one leg includes a plurality of legs arranged along a circumference of the top plate with the second direction defined as a radial direction having a reference point at a center of the top plate and the one side and an opposite side to the one side defined as an outside and an inside, respectively, associated with the radial direction.   
     
     
         7 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 6 , wherein
 each of the plurality of legs has a cross-sectional shape convexly flexed toward the outside of the radial direction, and is tilted toward the inside of the radial direction relative to the lower surface of the top plate.   
     
     
         8 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 7 , wherein
 two legs adjacent to each other among the plurality of legs form a gap therebetween.   
     
     
         9 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the gap between the two legs becomes wider in the first direction from the lower surface of the top plate.   
     
     
         10 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the top plate has a frame shape with an opening at a center.   
     
     
         11 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the top plate has a rectangular shape, and   each of the plurality of legs is arranged at a corner of the top plate.   
     
     
         12 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the top plate includes an overhang portion that overhangs toward an outside from a location to which the plurality of legs are connected.   
     
     
         13 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 12 , wherein
 a thickness of the overhang portion is equal to or smaller than a thickness of the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         14 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 12 , wherein
 at least one of the plurality of legs includes a rib formed between its side surface on an outside and a lower surface of the overhang portion.   
     
     
         15 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 12 , wherein
 a plurality of top plates, each being identical to the top plate, are arrayed by joining the overhang portions with each other and at least in one of the second direction or a third direction that intersects with each of the first direction and the second direction, and   the plurality of legs are provided in each of the plurality of top plates.   
     
     
         16 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a sliding rib that is formed so as to extend in the first direction from an overhang portion of a top plate located at an outermost part in the plurality of top plates on an outside surface of a leg adjacent to the overhang portion among the plurality of legs provided on the top plate and so as to be tilted toward the outside surface of the leg adjacent to the overhang portion, wherein   the sliding rib includes an end surface extending in the first direction from a side surface of the overhang portion of the top plate.   
     
     
         17 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the top plate includes a claw portion which engages with a claw-reception portion of a top plate of another shock-absorbing structure and/or a claw-reception portion with which a claw portion of a top plate of another shock-absorbing structure engages.   
     
     
         18 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a bottom surface connected to a leading end of each of the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         19 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the bottom surface includes a central portion located at a center of the plurality of legs and a plurality of joint portions each of which being joined from the central portion to the leading end of each of the plurality of legs.   
     
     
         20 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the top plate includes an engagement member that extends toward an outside of the top plate from between two legs adjacent to each other among the plurality of legs and has a shape with a leading end wider than a gap between the two legs.   
     
     
         21 . The shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one leg includes a plurality of legs arranged adjacently near a center of the top plate with the second direction defined as a radial direction having a reference point at the center of the top plate and the one side and an opposite side to the one side defined as an inside and an outside, respectively, associated with the radial direction.   
     
     
         22 . A floor material comprising:
 a surface material; and   the shock-absorbing structure according to  claim 1  that supports the surface material and is arranged on a subfloor.