Transparent flooring modules

Abstract

An apparatus ( 100 ), having: at least one support frame ( 102 ) comprising an upper frame ( 104 ) and a lower frame ( 106 ) configured to nest within the upper frame; at least one transparent panel ( 108 ), one transparent panel of the at least one transparent panel sandwiched in a respective pocket ( 140 ) formed between the upper frame and the lower frame; and a pressure relief path ( 160 ) configured to direct water through the apparatus, effective to dissipate energy from a wave impacting a bottom surface ( 170 ) of the one transparent panel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one support frame comprising an upper frame and a lower frame configured to nest within the upper frame;   at least one transparent panel, one transparent panel of the at least one transparent panel being sandwiched in a respective pocket formed between the upper frame and the lower frame; and   a pressure relief path configured to direct water through the apparatus, effective to dissipate energy from a wave impacting a bottom surface of the one transparent panel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief path is disposed through the one transparent panel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief path is disposed through the at least one support frame. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief path is disposed through the lower frame, then between the at least one support frame and the one transparent panel, and then to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief path comprises an inlet through the lower frame, a passage between the at least one support frame and the one transparent panel, and an outlet through the at least one support frame. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the outlet is oriented transverse to the inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the at least one support frame comprises plural support frames, each support frame of the plural support frames defining a respective pocket therein;   wherein the at least one transparent panel comprises plural transparent panels, each panel of the plural transparent panels being disposed within a respective pocket; and   plural flexible connections, wherein each flexible connection of the plural flexible connections is disposed between a respective pair of adjacent support frames of the plural support frames, and wherein the plural flexible connections cooperate to enable the plural support frames to move in a wave motion;   wherein the pressure relief path is disposed through a vented flexible connection of the plural flexible connections.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure relief path comprises plural holes through the vented flexible connection. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cushion disposed between the lower frame and the bottom surface of the one transparent panel and configured to cause the one transparent panel to yield downward when an upper surface of the one transparent panel is stepped on. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a lateral perimeter support disposed between a side edge of a perimeter of the one transparent panel and the at least one support frame, and a gap in the lateral perimeter support through which the pressure relief path passes. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief path comprises an inlet between the bottom surface of the one transparent panel and the lower frame, a passage between a perimeter of the one transparent panel and the at least one support frame, and an outlet to the atmosphere oriented transverse to the inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising plural supports disposed in the pressure relief path between the bottom surface of the one transparent panel and the lower frame. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plural supports comprise cushions. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one transparent panel comprises a crowned upper surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface comprises an opaque surface. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface comprises a reflective surface. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper frame mount configured to secure the upper frame to a fixed structure, wherein the upper frame mount comprises a resilient member configured to permit the upper frame to move relative to the fixed structure in response to the energy from the wave impacting the bottom surface of the one transparent panel. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 plural support frames, each support frame of the plural support frames comprising an upper frame and a lower frame configured to nest within the upper frame and to define a pocket between the upper frame and the lower frame;   plural transparent panels, wherein each panel of the plural transparent panels is sandwiched between the upper frame and the lower frame in the pocket of a respective support frame; and   plural flexible connections, wherein each flexible connection of the plural flexible connections is disposed between a respective pair of adjacent support frames of the plural support frames;   wherein the plural flexible connections cooperate to enable the plural support frames to move in a wave motion.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a pressure relief path configured to direct water through a transparent panel of the plural transparent panels. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a pressure relief path configured to direct water through the apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the pressure relief path is disposed through a vented flexible connection of the plural flexible connections. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the pressure relief path comprises plural holes through the vented flexible connection. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the pressure relief path is disposed through at least one support frame of the plural support frames. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure relief path comprises an inlet on a bottom side of the lower frame of the at least one support frame and an outlet to a gap disposed between the at least one support frame and an adjacent support frame.