Floor Panel Coupling with Elastic Lock-up Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor panel coupling systems, particularly 'drop-in' and 'push-lock' systems, face issues with vertical locking inconsistencies, leading to height differences and instability, especially when subjected to stress or warping, and often require complex or unwieldy installation methods.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a floor panel design featuring coupling parts with a horizontally active locking system and a vertically active locking system, utilizing a male and female projection and seat configuration with an elastically movable lock-up body and co-extruded synthetic material strips to ensure precise alignment and support, minimizing tolerance deviations and providing a secure, user-friendly installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drop-in coupling system is used to allow easy installation by downward movement, then ease of operation is improved, but vertical locking is lost leading to height differences and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is divided into two independent locking mechanisms: a horizontal locking system (first locking system) and a vertical locking system (second locking system). Each system performs its specific function independently, allowing the horizontal locking to provide stability while the vertical locking enables easy installation through downward movement without compromising overall reliability.
2Reliability
If a push-lock system with separate locking element is used to provide vertical locking, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal and vertical locking systems are merged into a single integrated coupling mechanism where both locking actions occur simultaneously during the downward installation movement. This integration reduces the number of separate operations and components needed, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both horizontal and vertical locking capabilities.
3Device complexity
If one-piece embodiment of push-lock system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision becomes difficult to guarantee
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into distinct horizontal and vertical locking components that can be manufactured and assembled separately. This segmentation allows each component to be precision-manufactured using optimized processes, ensuring high joining precision while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through modular construction.
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
This design achieves consistent vertical and horizontal locking, preventing height differences and ensuring stable floor panel alignment, while allowing for easy and precise installation through a downward movement mechanism, enhancing the overall stability and usability of the flooring system.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically movable lock-up body directed downward with a free extremity, which lock-up body, by means of a hinge portion, is connected directly or indirectly to the back part
Data Source
AI summary
Floor panel, which, at least at two opposite sides, includes coupling parts with which two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other; wherein these coupling parts form a horizontally active locking system and a vertically active locking system; wherein the horizontally active locking system comprises a male part in the form of a downwardly directed projection and a female part with a seat open towards the top, which have horizontally active locking surfaces; and wherein the vertically active locking system comprises a vertically active locking element, which forms part of an insertion piece provided in the female part; wherein the insertion piece is formed at least of the combination of a bottom part; a back part adjoining thereto and an elastically movable lock-up body directed downward with a free extremity, which lock-up body, by means of a hinge portion, is connected directly or indirectly to the back part.