Displaceable Tongue Locking for Floor Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for floor panels face challenges with high snapping resistance leading to separation forces and material costs, particularly with flexible tongues that require expensive glass fibers and complex installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A displaceable tongue locking system with a sidewardly open tongue groove and displacement groove, allowing vertical locking without snap action, using a flexible protrusion and inclined surfaces for easy installation and reduced material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional flexible tongues with glass fibers are used, then locking strength is maintained, but material costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive glass fiber reinforced tongues with a simpler, cheaper tongue design made from standard floor panel material. The tongue is designed to be sufficiently durable for its intended lifespan without requiring costly reinforcement materials, achieving cost reduction while maintaining adequate locking strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the glass fiber reinforcement component from the tongue design entirely. By extracting this expensive material element and relying on the inherent strength of the floor panel material combined with optimized tongue geometry and locking mechanism design, the system achieves cost reduction without proportionally sacrificing locking strength.
2Strength
If snap action locking systems are used, then locking strength is improved, but separation forces increase and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the tongue is designed to flex and snap into the locking groove during installation, then maintain a stable locked position. The system transitions from a flexible insertion state to a rigid locked state, providing both ease of operation during installation and strong locking once installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses curved or inclined surfaces on the tongue and locking groove that guide the tongue into the locked position through a snapping motion. The curved geometry converts the insertion force into a locking action, reducing the effort required during installation while maintaining strong locking strength.
3Reliability
If complex installation processes are used, then locking reliability is improved, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a self-aligning and self-locking mechanism where the tongue automatically finds its correct position and locks into the groove without requiring precise manual alignment or complex installation procedures. The floor panel itself provides the guiding and locking functions, eliminating the need for additional installation tools or complex processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking features (tongue and groove) are pre-formed during floor panel manufacturing, eliminating the need for on-site machining or complex assembly procedures. The panels arrive ready-to-lock, significantly reducing installation time and increasing productivity while maintaining reliable locking through the pre-engineered geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables automatic locking of floor panels with reduced separation forces and lower material costs, maintaining locking strength over time without the need for expensive materials like glass fibers.
Implementation Method 1
The protrusion comprises a part that is flexible
Data Source
Figure 1a~1f
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
In accordance with the present inventive concept, there is provided building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first (1) and a second (1') building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other. A displaceable tongue (30) provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove (40) at an edge of the second building panel is configured to be displaced into a tongue groove (20) of the first building panel when a tongue pressing surface (32) provided on the displaceable tongue and a strip pressing surface (33) provided on a strip (8) of the first building panel are displaced vertically against each other.