GB2517424A

GB2517424A - Shock mitigation floor

Info

Publication number: GB2517424A
Application number: GB1314767.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Ronald Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-08-19
Filing date: 2013-08-19
Publication date: 2015-02-25
Also published as: GB201314767D0; GB201602236D0; GB2534482A; WO2015025148A1; GB2534482B

Abstract

A shock mitigation floor comprising a layer of flexible resilient tubes 10 and a flexible integument 13 attached to the layer of tubes on one side thereof. Preferably the tubes have a circular cross section, they are made of silicone rubber and they are attached using a silicone adhesive. Preferably, the other side of the tubes comprises a layer of a flexible integument 12 (i.e. a sheet of silicone rubber), a stiff layer (i.e. marine plywood) or a sponge. Preferably the flexible tubes are arranged in an array of parallel tubes and these blocks of tubes are arranged within a plane such that the axes of the tubes in one block are orthogonal to the axes of tubes of the adjacent block. The preferred uses are as seat cushioning, gym or recreation mat, or as shock absorbing floor in rigid inflatable boat (RIB). Preferably the tubes are spaced apart, and the layer on top of the marine plywood 14 comprises a gel coat with glass fibres 15.

Description

SHOCK MITIGATION FLOOR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to flooring which mitigates shock or long term loading or both on a human or animal body. It is especially concerned with the provision of such flooring in small waterborne craft such as rigid inflatable boats but may be of valuable service in many contexts where a human or animal may be exposed to shocks, particularly repeated shocks, whilst standing or sitting or simply standing or sitting in a relatively shock free context for a considerable period of time. I0

Background of the Invention

In the particular context of rigid inflatable boats, often called RIBs, a helmsman very often stands for much of the trip, this for the simple reasons that a screen may become unclear and the seat wet. Driving at some speed and slamming into or from a wave can be dangerous and give rise to physiological problems. Moreover when continuously driving over choppy water such as often occurs when water current and wind are in opposite directions, the standing helmsman, even when perhaps leaning somewhat against his seat, will suffer muscle fatigue and the muscles' ability to react and absorb vibrations and shock is compromised and degraded. This will occur especially around the spinal column and can give rise to serious injury to the inter-vertebral discs of the lumbar spine, potentially causing a disc bulge or prolapse with associated compression of the spinal nerves. However muscle fatigue can also allow the shocks and vibrations to begin to damage other skeletal structures such as ankles, knees and spinal joints. Whole body vibration has also the following known side effects: fatigue, circulatory problems, insomnia, respiratory problems, digestive problems and headaches.

Similar effects can be experienced by animals, particularly large ones such as horses and elephants etc when being transported. Again, a person travelling or simply sitting for a very long period in any vehicle, particularly an invalid chair can experience muscle fatigue which can be damaging physiologically even if not to an existing condition. However, even a shop or bar worker standing for a considerable period can experience muscle fatigue.

Then children's recreational areas and gymnasia may also benefit from improved shock mitigation flooring.

Returning to the small craft context, seats are available from for example Coastal Pro, Scot Seats, Security Structures, Shockwave, UlIman and Wavesoft, which are designed to mitigate shock. However, for the reasons stated above the helmsman in particular may not use one but also they can be rather expensive and also give the user the perturbing feeling of being separate from the boat, that is the seat does not faithfully transmit to the user the general accelerations of the boat and may transmit accelerations of its own.

Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 436 issued by the Department for Transport and entitled "whole Body Vibration: Guidance on Mitigating Against the Effects of Shocks and Impacts on Small Vessels" outlines the associated health risks and recommends they be addressed. EU Directive 2002/44/EC outlines the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from vibration.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention a shock mitigation floor comprises a layer of flexible resilient tubes attached to a flexible integument.

According to an important feature of the invention the tubes may be in parallel array, but with at least one thereof at an angle, preferably orthogonal, to the remainder. This can be arranged to have the effect of mitigating sideways rolling of the tubes and limiting stresses on the adhesive layers. Another way of mitigating this sideways rolling may be to link adjacent tubes, perhaps rigidly. However this can be more expensive to manufacture and also be less effective than having blocks of tubes orthogonal one to another. Whilst also placing the tubes side by side contiguously, even attaching them one to another, may mitigate rolling this may cause unwanted stresses in the floor. Depending upon the intended use of the floor the tubes may be separated by something a little less than their diameter -which is to say that tubes of circular section, rather than oval or rectangular, have been found suitable, besides being cheaper. In the context of a 30mm outside diameter tube a spacing of 20mm has been found suitable. An alternative array may comprise concentric circles of tube. However, it is wise for the tubes to be open, probably at the ends thereof, to limit stresses caused by compression.

Preferably also there is a flexible integument attached to the layer on the other face thereof.

A convenient way of establishing a floor in which some of the tubes are orthogonal to others is to create at least a pair of blocks of flooring with the tubes all aligned in one direction and attaching these one to the other in the same plain by means of an integument, preferably one at each face of the array of tubes, with the tube axes of one block orthogonal to those of the other block. These integuments may be ito 3 mm thick.

According to another feature of the invention the floor may comprise a layer which is relatively stiff, for example plywood or a metal or plastics sheet, including glass fibre reinforced sheet, or honeycomb with the honey comb axes orthogonal to the tube layer, the relatively stiff layer, hereinafter called the "stiff layer", having a degree of rigidity depending upon the intended use. Typically the plywood may be 6mm to 9mm thick. Marine ply has

been found suitable.

The stiff layer may in fact constitute the integument. However it can be difficult to establish enduring adhesion to marine ply.

According to yet another feature of the invention there may be a non-slip user interface floor layer, that is, the layer upon which the user -animal or person -actually stands, which may constitute or be additional to the integuments or floor layers above-mentioned. In particular it may be attached to the stiff layer. It may have a ribbed or ridged outer surface. Generally the function of this is as the interface with the feet of the person or animal, and 3.5mm thick black rhombus matting has been found suitable. Alternatively it may comprise decking, that is discrete strips of wood attached to the designated upper integument. In yet another embodiment it may comprise a gel coat. This may incorporate bulking particles to provide a rough, gripping surface. Fibres such as glass fibres may be incorporated in the gel coat for both resilience, strength and gripping purposes. Typically this user interface layer is applied in stages, a first layer, then the fibres before the first layer sets, then a final coating layer. In an alternative embodiment the user interface layer is created by spraying a rubber, bulked with roughening particles, directly onto the stiff layer.

Where the composite block is to be placed upon an existing floor or deck a non-slip floor interface base layer may be employed. This too may constitute the integument or one of such.

There may be an edge wall to the floor to prevent ingress of unwanted detritus. Porous silicone foam sponge may be ideal for this as it will permit the floor respiration between the floor interior and the environment and thus prevent air, or liquid, pressure change stresses arising during use which may be deleterious. The edge wall may be adhered between the integuments and may be 1.5 to 3 cm thick.

A sponge layer, preferably breathable, may also be employed. Typically this may be of the order of 10mm thick.

A particularly suitable tube is 30mm outer diameter silicone rubber tube with a wall thickness of 3mm and a Shore Hardness of 40. The value of using silicone rubber is that it is durable even in marine conditions. Shore Hardnesses of between 30 and 60 may be suitable dependent upon the intended use. The base layer, where employed, may also comprise silicone, with a similar Shore Hardness and 6mm thick. This has been found to provide a reasonable anchorage of the shock mitigation floor to a lower substrate I0 The tube is preferably attached to the integument with an adhesive. In the case of a silicone tube with a silicone integument E43 Silicone adhesive has been found suitable as being effective and durable. Insofar as the adhesive is quick drying a suitable process of manufacture may comprise the building of small sized floor panels or a mechanized mobile nozzle applicator array, unrolling the integument as it is applied. Persons skilled in the art will be aware of suitable pressure, temperature and time parameters to achieve the required adhesion.

A typical embodiment of the invention therefore comprises a first layer of the said flexible resilient tubes in parallel array and an adjacent layer of said flexible resilient tubes in parallel array and orthogonal to the first layer, above and below and attached to the tube arrays a flexible integument 1 to 3 mm thick, attached to the upper integument a stiff layer of for example plywood, attached to the upper face of the layer of relatively stiff material a user interface layer of flexible, ribbed, resilient material and attached to the lower integument a substrate interface layer of flexible resilient material.

With all components either of silicone or marine ply this embodiment is particularly suitable for use in small waterborne high speed craft such as RIBs where it can be highly durable and "gives" to the feet, of the helmsman, say, and provides comfort, reasonable friction, good vibration and shock damping without degradation of the "feel" of the craft, that is that via his feet the helmsman still feels entirely integral with the craft. The marine ply may be 9mm thick and the tubes Silex Ltd 31mm OlD silicone with a 3mm wall thickness and a shore Hardness of 40. The two integument layers may be 2mm thick silicone rubber. Floors according to the invention may readily be retrofitted to the craft or vehicle and may readily be constructed have sufficient flexibility to mould to a craft surface which is perhaps not flat.

Testing has demonstrated not only the advantages set out in the paragraph immediately above but also that the floor enables the helmsman to drive the craft faster than has been the case with vessels not equipped with a shock mitigation floor in accordance with the invention.

This is particularly valuable in racing, rescue and urgent delivery contexts. In an experiment a prototype floor in accordance with the invention was placed in a RIB being driven, with other RIBs and craft not so equipped, in an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Ireland. Some quite severe weather was encountered and helmsmen of the non-equipped craft were amazed at the ability of the helmsman of the craft equipped with the floor to ride out those situations.

In this experiment a shock mitigation floor was used which was U-shaped, constructed to embrace the helmsman's seat with the base of the "U" accordingly ahead of the seat and the U sides each to one side thereof. All the tubes in the base of the U were aligned fore and aft whilst all those in the U sides were aligned athwartships.

An embodiment incorporating a stiff layer may, in general, also be suitable in a mobile horsebox or the like vehicle or trailer for a large animal such as a circus or zoo or relocating wild animal and also for use on a floor behind a bar or shop counter. It may also be used beneath vibrating machinery, such as a domestic washing machine, to mitigate the transmission of vibrations to the building floor. For this latter context the floor may be rather a mat having dimensions not much greater than those of the plan of a domestic washing machine. Such a mat may also be used in a sailing craft, adjacent the tiller. A square such mat may comprise four blocks of tubes, each having sides measuring 30cm. These then are attached to the stiff layer, or the substrate layer, with the axes of the tubes in adjacent blocks orthogonal one to the other. A gymnasium mat may rather be rectangular, still perhaps employing an array of squares of tubes laid orthogonally.

Other shape mats are also possible, depending upon the desired context. Particularly, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, even triangular can be envisaged. In these cases the tube axes alignments may not be orthogonal but rather according to the angles set by the shape, for example 1200 in the case of a hexagonal mat.

The floor may incorporate attachment means for attaching the floor to a substrate or to a wall.

The invention may also be adapted for use as an invalid chair seat or cushion, indeed as a cushion for use on any otherwise hard seat, mobile or stationary. In this case the floor may be so-to-speak upside down, with any stiff layer beneath the tube array. In this case an upper layer, attached to the integument, may comprise breathable sponge matting, perhaps covered with a fabric. For this context tubes of a smaller outer diameter than 30mm, for example 20mm may be employed, and/or perhaps a smaller wall thickness or Shore Hardness.

A convenient process of making such a floor comprises the steps, not necessarily in the order listed: a. preparing blocks of tube arrays layered between integuments; b. cutting the stiff layer to shape, then cutting the user interface layer and attaching it to the stiff layer with an adhesive; c. when this is dry turning it over; d. attaching blocks of tube arrays to the stiff layer adjacent one another with the axes of the tubes in at least one of the blocks orthogonal to those in another; and e. attaching a substrate interface base layer to the lower integument.

In an alternative process the user interface layer may be sprayed onto the stiff layer or otherwise coated thereon as a liquid to be cured or set in situ.

A method of manufacture of a floor according to the invention has been indicated above. This may also comprise laying the lengths of tube in a jig comprising an array of metal, such as aluminium alloy or plastics extrusions attached to a plate to act as spaces, or just comprising corrugations with suitable dimensions. These are preferably of substantially the same height as the tube diameter, if not very slightly less so that pressure can be applied to facilitate adhesion, so that the integument does not sag on being applied. To avoid the jig tubes being contaminated with glue they may be coated with a film such as a suitable grease. Then an array of adhesive injectors or spray nozzles, or just one nozzle, can be arranged to align adhesive distribution with the top of each tube whilst a roll of integument mounted on a distributor can be arranged to be fed, with pressure as required, over the tube laden jig, unrolling integument immediately behind the injectors or nozzles.

Suitable apparatus can be inferred from the above process description.

A more complex process can employ a jig having an array of corrugations, some aligned at an angle to others, and an adhesive nozzle control mechanism which drives the nozzle array according to a more complex, predetermined pattern.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a RIB shock mitigation floor; Figure 2 is a side view of part of the floor of figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric sketch of an invalid chair cushion; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view of a block making apparatus; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a block making apparatus; Figure 6 is an end view of a shock mitigation floor incorporating decking; Figure 7 is a side view of a shock mitigation floor employing a gel coat.

Specific Description of Embodiments

The embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2 comprises a first layer of silicone rubber tubes in parallel array and an adjacent second layer of silicone rubber tubes 11, also in parallel array but orthogonal to the first layer. The layers of tubes 10, 11 are sandwiched between upper and lower silicone rubber integuments 12, 13.

To the upper integument 12 is attached a stiff layer 14 of 9mm marine plywood and to the outer surface of this is attached a layer of non-slip silicon rubber matting 15. This matting 15 has a raised rhombus tread iSa. I0

To the lower silicone rubber integument 13 is attached a base layer 16. At the edges of the floor is attached, between the integuments 12, 13, porous silicone foam edge strip 17.

In a particular example of the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the tubes 10, 11 are 31mm outside diameter, 3mm wall thickness silicone rubber tubes manufactured by Silex Ltd. They are spaced 20mm apart (51mm centres). The integuments 12, 13 are formed from silicone rubber and are 2mm thick. The matting 14 has an overall thickness of 3mm including 1mm raised treads 10mm square on 5mm spacing. The various components are stuck together using E43 silicone adhesive. The blocks of tubes 10,11 have been formed separately and mounted separately to the plywood with the axes of tubes 10 orthogonal to those of tubes 11. The base layer 16 is 6mm thick silicone rubber with a Shore Hardness of 60. The edge strip 17 is 2 cm thick. In an alternative embodiment employed in the marine context the upper layer 15 comprises a gel coat applied in at least two stages, with a matt of glass fibres in random array between applied before the first gel coat layer hardens.

Figures 1 and 2 also demonstrate the construction of behind-the-counter and children's play area floors but with different component dimensions. The tubes 10, 11 are Silex Ltd 16mm outside diameter 3mm wall thickness silicone rubber tubes. The integuments 12, 13 are 3mm silicone rubber sheet and the stiff layer 14 is 6mm plywood. The base layer 16 is 6mm thick Shore Hardness 60 Silicone rubber. The upper surface 15 comprises, in the context of the -to-behind-the-counter floor, the matting with the raised rhombus treads mentioned above. For the children's play area or gymnasium mat the upper surface 15 is a sprayed on rubber compound containing a quantity of 1-2mm solid rubber particles to ensure a rough surface.

The invalid chair cushion illustrated in figure 3 comprises the tubes 10, 11 and the integuments 12, 13 attached thereto. In this context the stiff layer 14 is below the tubes 10, 11 whilst above the upper integument 13 and attached thereto is a layer of breathable sponge matting 30. The matting 30 is covered with a fabric 31 and the front edge is curved for comfort. The cushion has clips 32 for temporary attachment thereof to the chair. I0

In a particular example of this cushion embodiment the tubes 10, 11 are 21mm outside diameter 3mm wall thickness 300 Shore Hardness Silex Ltd tubes.

Apparatus for making a block of shock mitigation floor is shown diagrammatically in figures 4 and 5. It comprises a jig 40 having a jig base 41 and a plurality of formers 42 in parallel array attached thereto, an integument feeder 43 and a glue nozzle array 44. Typically the formers 42 comprise rectangular section aluminium tubes which, in the context of the first example described with reference to figures 1 and 2 are rectangular in section with sides 31mm by 20mm. The integument feeder 43 is constructed to carry a roll 45 of integument 12 or 13 and to press it to the jig 40 whilst moving forward behind the nozzles 44 and allow it to unroll onto the newly spread glue. An alternative jig 40 effectively comprises a corrugation with integral farmers 42.

In operation of the apparatus tubes 10 or 11 are placed between the formers 42, the nozzles are advanced and commence delivering the glue at the beginning of the jig. The integument feeder 43 follows behind and presses the integument roll 45 to the tube laden jig so that integument 12, 13 adheres to the tubes 10 or 11 and progressively unrolls.

In one embodiment the full apparatus comprises also a feeder of tube 10, 11 into the spaces between the formers 42 and a guillotine to cut the tubes 10, 11 at the edge of the jig 40.

-II -

Claims

CLAIMS1. A shock mitigation floor comprising a layer of flexible resilient tubes and a flexible integument attached to the layer of tubes on one side thereof.
2. A floor as claimed in claim land wherein the tubes are in parallel array.
3. A floor as claimed in claim 2 and wherein at least one of the tubes is at an angle to the remainder.
4. A floor as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 and wherein at least one of the tubes is orthogonal to the remainder.
5. A floor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 and wherein the tubes have a circular cross section.
6. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the tube is a silicone rubber tube.
7. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the tube has a circular cross section with an outside diameter between 15 and 31mm, a wall thickness of 2 to 5mm and a Shore Hardness between 30 and 60.
8. A floor as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the tube has an outside diameter of 31 mm and a wall thickness of 3mm.
9. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the tubes are separated one from the other by a distance somewhat less than their breadth.
10. A floor as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the separation distance is of the order of 20mm.
11. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having a flexible integument attached to the layer on the other face thereof.
12. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the integument or integuments comprise a sheet of silicone rubber.
13. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the integument or integuments are 1 to 3mm thick.
14. A floor as claimed in claim 13 and wherein the integument or integuments are 2mm thick.
15. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising at least one block of tubes the axes whereof are aligned in one direction and at least one adjacent block of tubes the axes whereof are aligned at an angle to those in the said at least one block.
16. A floor as claimed in claim 15 and wherein the axes are substantially orthogonal one to the other.
17. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising a stiff layer.
18. A floor as claimed in claim 17 and wherein the stiff layer comprises plywood.
19. A floor as claimed in claim 18 and wherein the floor comprises marine ply.
20. A floor as claimed in claim 17 and wherein the stiff layer comprises glass fibre reinforced plastic.
21. A floor as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20 and wherein the stiff layer is about 6mm to 9mm thick. -13-
22. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising a base layer.
23. A floor as claimed in claim 22 and wherein the base layer comprises silicone rubber.
24. A floor as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23 and wherein the base layer is 3mm to 6mm thick.
25. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising a non-slip user interface floor layer.
26. A floor as claimed in claim 25, having a stiff layer, the user interface layer being attached to the stiff layer.
27. A floor as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 and having a rough, ribbed or ridged outer surface.
28. A floor as claimed in claim 27 and comprising a 3.5mm thick black rhombus matting with 1.5mm proud squares with 5mm separation.
29. A floor as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 and wherein the user interface layer comprises decking,
30. A floor as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 and wherein the user interface layer comprises a gel coat.
31. A floor as claimed in claim 30 and wherein the gel coat incorporates glass fibres.
32. A floor as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 and wherein the user interface layer comprises a sprayed on rubber, bulked with roughening particles. -14-33. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the attachment of one layer to another is with silicone adhesive.34. A floor as claimed in claim 33 and wherein the silicone adhesive is E43 silicone adhesive.35. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and an edge wall.36. A floor as claimed in claim 35 and wherein the edge wall comprises porous silicone foam sponge.37. A floor as claimed in claim 35 or claim 36 and wherein the edge wall is adhered to the integument or both integuments.38. A floor as claimed in any one of claims 35 and 37 and wherein the edge wall has a thickness of 1.5 to 3 cm.39. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising sponge layer.40. A floor as claimed in claim 39 and wherein the sponge layer is porous.41. A floor as claimed in claim 39 or claim 40 and wherein the sponge layer is of the order of 10mm to 30mm thick.42. A floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having attachment means for attaching the floor to a substrate or other fixture.43. A shock mitigation floor comprising a first layer of non-contiguous flexible resilient tubes in parallel array and in the same plane thereof and adjacent thereto a second layer of-IS -flexible resilient tubes in parallel array the axes of the tubes in the second layer being orthogonal to those in the first layer, a flexible integument attached to the both first and second layers of tubes on both faces thereof, a stiff layer attached at a first face thereof to one of the integuments, a user interface layer attached to the stiff layer at a second face thereof and a substrate interface layer attached to the other of the integuments.44. A small vessel or craft equipped with a floor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.45. A vessel or craft as claimed in claim 44 and which is a rigid inflatable boat (RIB).46. On or for a vessel or craft as claimed in claim 44 or 45 a shock mitigation floor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43, and which is U-shaped, constructed to embrace the helmsman's seat with the base of the "U" ahead of the seat and the U sides each to one side thereof, the tubes in the base of the U being aligned fore and aft whilst all those in the U sides being aligned athwartships.47. A behind the bar or shop counter or gymnasium or recreation mat comprising a floor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43.48. A cushion comprising a floor as claimed in claim 3, the floor having a stiff layer, an integument, a layer of breathable sponge matting attached to the integument on a face of the layer of tubes opposite that of the stiff layer and a fabric covering.49. A method of making a floor, the floor being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43, the method comprising forming a layer of flexible resilient tubes and attaching a flexible integument to the layer of tubes on one side thereof.50. A method as claimed in claim 49 and wherein the tubes are laid in parallel array.51. A method as claimed in claim 50 and comprising laying at least one of the tubes at an angle to the remainder.52. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 51 and wherein the tubes are silicone rubber tubes.53. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 52 and comprising laying adjacent tubes non-contiguously.54. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 53 and comprising attaching a stiff layer to the or each layer of tubes.55. A method as claimed in claim 54 and wherein the stiff layer comprises plywood.56. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 55 and comprising attaching a base layer to the or each layer of tubes.57. A method as claimed in any one of claims 54 to 56 and comprising attaching a non-slip user interface layer.58. A method as claimed in claim 57 and wherein the user interface layer comprises a 3.5mm thick black rhombus matting with 1.5mm proud squares with 5mm separation.59. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 56 and comprising attaching a user interface layer in the form of decking.60. A method as claimed in claim 57 and comprising spreading on the stiff layer a user interface layer in the form of a gel coat. -I?-61. A method as claimed in claim 60 and comprising incorporating glass fibres in the gel coat.62. A method as claimed in claim 57 and comprising spraying on a user interface layer in the form of a rubber, bulked with roughening particles.63. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 62 and comprising attaching one layer to another with silicone adhesive.64. A method as claimed in claim 63 and wherein the silicone adhesive is E43 silicone adhesive.65. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 63 and comprising attaching an edge wall.66. A method as claimed in claim 65 and wherein the edge wall comprises porous silicone foam sponge.67. A method as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 66 and comprising attaching a sponge layer.68. A method of making a floor) the floor being as claimed in claim 17 when combined with claims 22 and 25, the method comprising the steps, not necessarily in the order listed: a. preparing blocks of tube arrays layered between integuments; b. cutting the stiff layer to shape, then cutting the user interface layer and attaching it to the stiff layer with an adhesive; c. when this is dry turning it over; d. attaching blocks of tube arrays to the stiff layer adjacent one another with the axes of the tubes in at least one of the blocks orthogonal to those in another; and e. attaching a substrate interface base layer to the lower integument.-IS-69. A method of making as claimed in any one of claims 49 to 68 and comprising laying lengths of the tube in a jig comprising a base and spacers, depositing adhesive onto the top of the tubes just ahead of rolling integument thereonto.70. Apparatus for making a floor according to the method claimed in claim 69, the apparatus comprising a jig comprising a base and spacers, an array of adhesive injectors or spray nozzles, or just one nozzle, and an integument feeder.71. A shock mitigation floor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.72. A shock mitigation cushion substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.72. A method of making a shock mitigation floor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.73. Apparatus for making a shock mitigation floor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.