Fired Floor Tile With Integrated Joints for Fast Dry Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Classical floor tiles are costly, inconvenient to lay, and require professional installation, and traditional floor tiles require a period of time to lay and grouting, and are cumbersome to install and are not suitable for easy laying by non-experts, necessitating professional installation and involving significant mess and downtime after installation.
Innovation Solution
A floor tile with a flat main body featuring integrally joined tongue-and-groove joints that allow for easy interlocking without adhesives, enabling non-experts to lay the tiles quickly and allowing immediate foot traffic, using materials like quartz and calcium aluminosilicate for strength and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If classical floor tiles are used, then structural robustness and thermal conductivity are improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floor tile is divided into modular units with integrated tongue-and-groove joints, allowing individual tiles to be easily interlocked without requiring complex adhesive applications or professional installation expertise. Each tile functions as an independent unit that can be quickly assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The tongue-and-groove joint structure merges the connection mechanism directly into the tile body, eliminating the need for separate adhesives or fasteners. The joint is integrally formed with the main body, simplifying both the tile structure and installation process while maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If classical floor tiles are installed, then durability is improved, but installation time and mess increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue-and-groove joints are pre-formed and integrated into the tile bodies during manufacturing, so that during installation, users only need to connect the pre-prepared joint structures rather than creating connections from scratch. This preliminary preparation dramatically reduces installation time and mess.
Solution Approach 2:
The tiles are designed to be self-connecting through the tongue-and-groove mechanism, allowing non-experts to install them without requiring professional skills, adhesives, or complex tools. The interlocking structure guides the installation process and eliminates the need for additional grouting or sealing steps.
3Temperature
If classical floor tiles are used, then thermal conductivity is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tile system is segmented into modular units with standardized tongue-and-groove connections, making each tile easy to handle and interlock. This segmentation allows non-experts to quickly assemble the floor without requiring complex installation techniques, while the material composition maintains thermal conductivity properties.
4Strength
If classical floor tiles are installed, then structural integrity is improved, but removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue-and-groove joint provides a mechanical connection that is strong enough to maintain structural integrity during use but can be easily released when removal is needed. The interlocking mechanism allows for straightforward disassembly without requiring complex tools or causing damage to the tile bodies, enabling flexible renovation or relocation.
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
Facilitates easy and clean installation by non-experts, reduces installation time and mess, and allows immediate use, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
The main body is fired
Data Source
AI summary
A floor tile includes a main body which is arranged to be flat. The main body has, at at least two opposite edges, a tongue-and-groove joint which is interlockable and which is integrally joined to the main body. The main body is fired.