Floor Covering Electrical Component Adhesion and Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor coverings with embedded electrical components face damage during the application of hardenable materials and lack sufficient adhesion, leading to instability and potential mechanical impairment of the components.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an adhesive layer below the electrical components, which can be continuous or partial, and using a reinforcing fabric to protect them, along with a carrier material to ensure secure attachment and mechanical resilience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If electrical components are embedded in hardenable material without adhesive layer, then manufacturing process is simple, but components can be damaged and lack sufficient adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidcomponent adhesion and protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between the electrical component and the hardenable material. This adhesive layer serves as a mediator that provides secure bonding and protection to the electrical components during the manufacturing process and in the finished product, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and component reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is applied beforehand to the electrical components or substrate before the hardenable material is introduced. This preliminary protective layer cushions and protects the electrical components from potential damage during the subsequent hardening process, ensuring their integrity while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Device complexity

If electrical components are placed directly on substrate without adhesive, then device complexity is reduced, but components may lift off or float when curable material is applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcomponent positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer acts as a mediating substance between the electrical components and the substrate, providing the necessary bonding force to prevent components from lifting off or floating when curable material is applied. This intermediary layer maintains component stability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If adhesive layer covers entire underbody, then component adhesion is maximized, but material usage and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent adhesionVSAvoidadhesive application complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying adhesive uniformly across the entire underbody, the adhesive layer is applied locally only in the areas where electrical components are positioned. This localized approach maintains sufficient adhesion for component stability while reducing material usage and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is applied partially rather than completely covering the entire substrate surface. This partial action provides adequate bonding for the electrical components without the excessive material usage and manufacturing complexity associated with full-surface adhesive application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 solution provides reliable adhesion and protection of electrical components, maintaining their functionality and integrity by preventing damage during material hardening and usage, while also enhancing the floor's tensile strength and moisture resistance.

Implementation Method 1

Below the electrical component is an adhesive layer... the at least one electrical component, for example an electronic component and/or an electrical sensor conductor, is connected to the substrate by means of an adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a layer of a hardenable material which is hardened in the finished state of the floor covering

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHardening: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

the at least one electrical component... is embedded in a reinforcement fabric and in a layer of a hardenable material... the reinforcement fabric protects these components against mechanical influences

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReinforcement: Composite Materials

Data Source

PatentEP3329067B1Floor covering comprising at least one electrical component and method for producing a floor covering
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 BARIT R KUNSTHARZ BELAGSTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3329067B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3329067B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3329067B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a floor covering (10) as a covering for a subfloor (20), wherein the floor covering (10) has a layer which is composed of a curable material (45) which is cured in the finished state of the floor covering (10) and into which a reinforcing fabric (30) and at least one electrical component (85) are embedded. It is provided that the at least one electrical component (85) is connected by way of its bottom side to a subfloor (20), in particular an unfurnished floor, by adhesive bonding, and the reinforcing fabric (30) covers the at least one electrical component (85) by way of its side which is averted from the subfloor (20), so that the top side of the at least one electrical component (85) is covered by the reinforcing fabric (30) and the curable material (45).