Laminate Floor Panel Coupling for Linear Push Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laminate floor panels require significant force and space for coupling, which can lead to damage and make installation difficult in confined spaces due to the tilting mechanism, resulting in unreliable and noisy connections.
Innovation Solution
The floor panels feature resiliently formed coupling parts that deform to securely engage with each other, providing a durable and quiet connection through a combination of inner and outer locking mechanisms, preventing vertical displacement and utilizing rigid, solid tongues for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tilting mechanism is used to couple floor panels, then the coupling can be realized, but relatively great forces are exerted on the floor parts resulting in permanent damage (breakage)
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism changes from a tilting motion to a linear pushing motion, fundamentally altering the movement parameter. The guide surfaces (chamferings) enable the panels to be pushed together linearly, eliminating the tilting action that caused excessive forces and damage to floor parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of tilting the panels to engage the coupling elements, the invention inverts the approach by using guide surfaces that direct the panels into a linear pushing motion. The coupling elements are designed to engage through this linear motion rather than through tilting, reversing the traditional coupling mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a tilting mechanism is used to couple floor panels, then the coupling can be realized, but a relatively large amount of space is required which makes coupling difficult or impossible in limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism changes from a tilting motion requiring significant space to a linear pushing motion that can be performed in confined areas. The guide surfaces enable the panels to be pushed together in a straight line, eliminating the need for the wide space required by tilting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the coupling approach by replacing the space-intensive tilting mechanism with a compact linear pushing mechanism. The guide surfaces and coupling element geometry are designed to engage through linear motion, allowing installation in tight spaces such as near walls or under radiators.
3Ease of operation
If resilient locking parts are used in the coupling mechanism, then the coupling can be realized, but material fatigue occurs relatively quickly reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the resilient locking parts from the coupling mechanism, removing the source of material fatigue. Instead of using resilient elements that degrade over time, the coupling relies on the elastic deformation of the tongue and groove interfaces themselves, which are designed to provide the necessary flexibility without requiring separate resilient components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the locking function with the structural tongue and groove elements themselves. Rather than having separate resilient locking parts, the coupling mechanism integrates the locking action into the basic tongue-groove structure, where the elastic deformation of these elements provides both the coupling and locking functions simultaneously.
4Strength
If coupling parts are designed for secure engagement, then the connection becomes durable, but the coupling generates friction noise between parts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses noise by ensuring smooth engagement of the coupling elements through properly designed guide surfaces. The chamferings guide the panels into alignment during the linear pushing motion, minimizing impact and friction noises. The smooth transition surfaces reduce vibrations and noise generated during the coupling process while maintaining secure engagement.
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 solution allows for easy, durable, and quiet coupling of floor panels with reduced risk of damage, enabling reliable connections in tight spaces without material fatigue, while maintaining stability and firmness.
Implementation Method 1
a force will here be exerted on one or both coupling parts, whereby the one or both coupling parts will deform elastically (move resiliently), as a consequence of which the volume taken up by the downward groove and/or upward groove will be increased
Implementation Method 2
The applied aligning edges, generally also referred to as chamferings or guide surfaces, herein facilitate hooking together of the two coupling parts by the substantially linear displacement of the coupling parts relative to each other. Applying the mutually co-acting locking elements prevents a substantially vertical displacement of the two floor panels relative to each other.
Data Source
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AI summary
The last ten years has seen enormous advance in the market for laminate for hard floor covering. An important aspect during the product development of the laminate is the facility with which a laminated floor can be laid. The invention relates to an improved floor panel, in particular a laminated floor panel.