Building Panel Locking Strips for Moisture-Resistant Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mechanical locking systems for laminate flooring suffer from water-tightness issues, allowing moisture to penetrate between assembled panels.

Innovation Solution

A building panel design featuring a first mechanical locking system with a first locking strip and a second locking strip, where the second locking strip's thickness exceeds the first, facilitating improved sealing and preventing moisture penetration by overlapping and overlapping edges when panels are assembled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single-layer locking system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the water-tightness deteriorates allowing moisture penetration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater-tightnessVSAvoidlocking system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system is divided into multiple independent locking strips (first locking strip, second locking strip, third locking strip) with different thicknesses, each contributing to the sealing function at different levels, thereby achieving improved water-tightness through segmented protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking strips are arranged in a multi-layered vertical configuration creating a triple-layered joint structure, adding a vertical dimension to the sealing mechanism that effectively blocks moisture penetration paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If locking strips of equal thickness are used, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the sealing effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidlocking strip thickness variation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The locking strips are designed with asymmetric thicknesses where the second locking strip has a greater thickness than the first locking strip, creating an optimized sealing configuration that addresses moisture penetration from different directions with appropriately sized barriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If a thicker locking strip is used, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture resistanceVSAvoidthickness control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the joint structure are assigned different locking strip thicknesses according to their specific sealing requirements, with thicker strips positioned where moisture penetration risk is highest, optimizing both sealing effectiveness and manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250215703A1Building panel

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 VÄLINGE INNOVATION AB

AI summary

Building panels, such as a floor or wall panels. The panels include a first mechanical locking system include a first locking strip at one of the third edge or fourth edge configured to cooperate for horizontal locking with a first locking groove at the other of the third or fourth edge of an adjacent building panel, preferably by means of a folding motion, and a second locking system including a second locking strip at one of the first edge or second edge, configured to cooperate for horizontal locking with a second locking groove at the other of the first or second edge of an adjacent building panel. The thickness of the second locking strip, in a thickness-direction of the building panel, exceeds the thickness of the first locking strip.