Ceramic Tile Floor Systems With Snap-Fit Coupling Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceramic tile installations are labor-intensive, costly, and require professional expertise, while floating floor systems lack impact strength and sound insulation, and are prone to water penetration and limited configuration options.
Innovation Solution
A floor system with a ceramic tile top layer and a support layer featuring coupling elements, using a coupling insert for easy installation, and reinforced with resin material for impact resistance, and optionally glued to an underlayment for stability, allowing for sound attenuation and expansion gap bridging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ceramic tiles are installed using traditional adhesive bonding to a rigid surface, then impact strength and sound insulation are improved, but installation labor intensity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The floor covering system is divided into separate modular components: a modular support layer with integrated coupling elements and a decorative top layer. This segmentation allows the support layer to provide structural bonding while the top layer provides aesthetics, reducing the need for complex adhesive applications and professional installation skills.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer combines multiple functions into a single component: mechanical coupling between tiles, bonding to the subfloor, sound insulation, and structural support. This merging eliminates the need for separate adhesive compounds and simplifies installation to a snap-fit process.
2Strength
If ceramic tiles are installed using traditional adhesive bonding, then impact strength and sound insulation are improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the bonding function into the support layer's integrated coupling elements, the installation process becomes a simple snap-fit operation rather than requiring time-consuming adhesive application, leveling, and grouting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer's coupling elements are designed to automatically align and secure adjacent tiles together through their interlocking geometry, eliminating the need for professional installers to manually position and secure each tile individually.
3Ease of operation
If floating floor systems are used without adhesive bonding, then installation ease and flexibility are improved, but impact strength and sound insulation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer merges the floating floor concept with structural bonding capabilities through its integrated coupling elements that snap-fit to both adjacent tiles and the subfloor, providing both installation flexibility and impact resistance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer is constructed as a composite structure combining rigid coupling elements with sound-insulating materials, creating a multi-functional layer that provides both mechanical bonding and acoustic insulation in a single component.
4Adaptability or versatility
If floating floor systems are used without adhesive bonding, then installation flexibility is improved, but water resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer integrates water-resistant properties directly into the floating floor structure through its coupling element design and material composition, maintaining water tightness while preserving installation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer uses composite materials that combine the flexibility needed for floating installation with water-resistant properties, creating a material that simultaneously provides both installation adaptability and water protection.
5Ease of operation
If coupling elements are integrated into the support layer, then installation simplicity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are merged with the support layer as an integrated component rather than separate parts, simplifying installation to a snap-fit operation while the modular nature of the support layer keeps the overall system manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The support layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support, enabling tile coupling, ensuring water resistance, and offering sound insulation, which reduces the need for additional separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A floor system comprising a floor element, wherein said floor element comprises a top layer, preferably comprising a ceramic tile, and a support layer, wherein said support layer comprises edges provided with coupling elements, wherein the system comprises at least one coupling insert adapted to interact with one coupling element of the floor element.