Floor Panel Locking Bar with Impact Strip Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor panels face challenges in connecting side edges effectively due to damage from collisions, which affects material savings, connection ease, and pull-out forces, as locking bars are prone to damage when projecting outward.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a bumper strip on the base profile that forms an impact strip to absorb collision energy and protect the locking bar, with a recess between the bumper strip and locking bar to facilitate connection and absorption of impact, and using a projection on the second side edge to interact with the locking bar for secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking bar projects outward from the base profile to facilitate connection, then the connection process is simplified, but the locking bar becomes vulnerable to damage from collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning the locking bar within a recess of the base profile, creating a protective cavity that absorbs collision impacts before they reach the locking bar. This preemptive protective structure allows the locking bar to project outward for easy connection while being shielded from damage during handling and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bar is nested within the recess of the base profile, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting arrangement allows the locking bar to be contained within the protective space of the recess, enabling it to extend outward when needed while remaining protected by the surrounding base profile structure.
2Strength
If the locking bar is made more solid to prevent damage, then collision resistance improves, but material usage increases and connection ease decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The base profile is segmented into distinct functional zones: the recess area that provides collision protection, the locking bar area for connection, and the protruding connection elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the recess provides strength without requiring the entire locking bar structure to be massively reinforced.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess provides localized strength and protection precisely where collision impacts occur, rather than requiring the entire locking bar to be uniformly strengthened. This local quality approach reinforces only the critical area while maintaining material efficiency elsewhere in the structure.
3Ease of operation
If the locking bar is positioned closer to the outer surface for easier connection, then connection accessibility improves, but vulnerability to impact damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recess acts as an intermediary protective structure between the external collision force and the locking bar. It serves as a buffer zone that absorbs and dissipates impact energy, allowing the locking bar to maintain its accessible position while being shielded from direct impact forces during handling and installation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
What is represented and described is a floor panel (1, 1') having a first lateral edge (4, 4') and a second lateral edge (5, 5'), wherein the first lateral edge (4, 4') and the second lateral edge (5, 5') are opposite to one another and designed in a corresponding manner to one another so as to be able to connect the first lateral edge (4, 4') to a second lateral edge (5, 5') of a further floor panel (1, 1'), and wherein the first lateral edge (4, 4') has a base profile (8) and a locking bar (9, 9') which can be moved inwardly in order to lock the first lateral edge (4, 4') to a second lateral edge (5, 5'). In order to be able to improve the flexibility and the degrees of freedom during the construction of locking profiles having locking bars without having to accept an increased risk of damage to the locking bars due to an inappropriate handling of the floor panels, it is provided that the base profile (8) has an impact strip (13) defining an outer vertical plane (E), that the locking bar (9, 9') in the unconnected state adopts a position on the inner side of the vertical plane (E) and adjacent to the vertical plane or adjoins the vertical plane (E) or both projects outwardly with respect to the vertical plane (E) and is designed to adopt a position on the inner side of the vertical plane (E) at least during the connection of the first lateral edge (4, 4') to a second lateral edge (5, 5').