Floor Panel Head Spring Segmentation for Alignment Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor coverings with corrugated head springs face issues of undesirable height offset under load due to unequal panel loading, as the continuous corrugation leads to elastic behavior across the entire length, making it difficult to maintain panel alignment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a non-corrugated area between corrugated areas on the head spring, with a ratio of at least 2:1, and varying thicknesses in corrugated and non-corrugated areas to enhance stability and ease of movement, along with an angled orientation of wave crests and troughs to reduce sliding friction, allowing for diagonal movement and improved locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If continuous corrugation is used in the head spring, then the head spring can be moved easily, but height offset occurs under load due to elastic behavior across the entire length
Solution Approach 1:
The head spring is divided into distinct functional zones: corrugated areas for elasticity and movement, and non-corrugated areas for stability and alignment. This segmentation allows different portions of the same component to fulfill conflicting requirements - the corrugated sections enable easy movement while the non-corrugated sections maintain panel alignment under load, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different structural properties are applied to different locations of the head spring. The corrugated areas provide high elasticity and low friction for easy movement, while the non-corrugated areas provide rigidity and dimensional stability for maintaining alignment. This local differentiation of properties allows the head spring to simultaneously achieve ease of movement and prevent height offset under load.
2Ease of operation
If the head spring is made very elastic to allow easy movement, then displacement is facilitated, but panel height alignment deteriorates under unequal loading
Solution Approach 1:
The head spring is segmented into elastic corrugated zones for displacement and rigid non-corrugated zones for alignment stability. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the elastic portions to facilitate easy movement while the rigid portions maintain panel height alignment even under unequal loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the head spring are changed along its length - corrugated sections have high elasticity parameters enabling easy displacement, while non-corrugated sections have low elasticity parameters maintaining stability. This parameter variation allows the head spring to achieve both easy displacement and stable panel alignment under load.
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 ensures easy movement of the head spring while maintaining panel alignment under load, reducing sliding friction and preventing misalignment, resulting in a more stable and efficient laying process without complicating the installation.
Implementation Method 1
the head spring is corrugated in a very special way. Provision is made for the head spring to have at least one non-corrugated area which is arranged between two corrugated areas
Implementation Method 2
The sliding friction forces between the head tongue and the groove walls can be minimized if the wave crests or the respective crest of a wave crest is oriented in the same way as the resulting direction of movement of the head tongue
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed is a floor covering consisting of a plurality of panel elements (1) that can be laid in combination with each other. On the front sides (2, 3) and longitudinal sides (4, 5), the panel elements have locking strips (6, 7) that engage with each other in the assembled position in a covering in which panel elements (1) adjoin each other. The front sides (2, 3) of the panel elements (1) have grooves (19, 20). The grooves (19, 20) of two abutting front sides (2, 3) are aligned and form a locking channel (21) for accommodating a front spring (22) that is pre-assembled in one of the grooves (20). The front spring (22) projects from an end of the groove (20) that faces the longitudinal side (5) of the panel element (1) and can be moved in part from one groove (20) into the corresponding groove (19) of the adjoining panel element (1) by sliding the projecting end (24) of the front spring (22) into the groove (20). The groove (20) that accommodates the front spring (22) has at least one recess (45) within which the stop surface (25) is formed and into which a cam (43) of the front spring (22) engages. The front spring (22) has a wavy shape. The wavy sides of the front spring (22) face a decorative side and a bottom side of the panel elements (1). The front spring (22) should have at least one non-wavy zone (30) that is located between two wavy zones (28, 29), at a distance from the ends (24) of the front spring (22).