Decking Connector with Sliding Lock for Removable Floor Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flooring systems face difficulties in efficiently removing and reinstalling floor panels without damaging components, and they often require complex processes to manage the transverse distance between panels.
Innovation Solution
A flooring system with a connecting device that features a displaceable portion allowing for horizontal displacement, enabling easy removal and reinstallation of floor elements by transitioning between two horizontal states, with a locking mechanism to maintain connection strength and control panel distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional clips or rails are used to connect floor panels, then the connection strength is maintained, but the removal and reinstallation of arbitrary floor panels becomes cumbersome and may require damaging components
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting device incorporates a displaceable portion that can transition between a first horizontal state (connected) and a second horizontal state (disconnected). This dynamic state change allows the connection to be easily released by displacing the connecting device, enabling arbitrary floor panel removal without damaging components while maintaining reliable connection when in the connected state
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting device is divided into distinct functional portions: a body portion that connects to the support structure, a displaceable portion that can move between states, and a locking device with first and second locking elements. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function while enabling easy state transition for panel removal and reinstallation
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to maintain connection strength, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to automatically engage and lock when the connecting device transitions to the connected state, and can be easily unlocked by displacing the connecting device to the disconnected state. This self-locking mechanism maintains reliable connection strength without requiring additional complex locking operations or components
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is integrated into the displaceable portion of the connecting device itself, rather than being a separate independent mechanism. The first and second locking elements work together with the displacement action to provide both locking and state transition functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining connection reliability
3Ease of operation
If the connecting device allows easy removal of floor panels, then the ease of operation is improved, but the control over transverse distance between panels may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting device is pre-configured with a specific geometry and displacement range that inherently controls the transverse distance between floor panels. When the displaceable portion transitions between horizontal states, it maintains predetermined spatial relationships, ensuring proper panel spacing is automatically maintained during easy removal and reinstallation operations
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2e
Figure 3a~3f
AI summary
A decking system with a connecting system comprising a connecting device (300) for connecting a first (100) and a second (200) floor element. The connecting device is removably connectable to a support member (500) and comprises a first and a second connecting portion configured to cooperate with a first (122) and a second (222) engagement portion of the respective floor element for vertically connecting them. The connecting device further comprises a horizontally displaceable portion which can assume a first state (S1 ), in which the first and second floor elements are vertically connected, and a second state (S2), in which a strength of the vertical connection of the pair of floor elements is reduced compared to a strength of the vertical connection of the pair of floor elements in the first horizontal state, wherein a horizontal extension of the connecting device is smaller in the second horizontal state than in the first horizontal state.