Floor Panel Locking Edge with Elastic Spring Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor covering technologies face challenges in securely locking panels without causing damage, particularly due to the need for forceful engagement of spring elements or complex production processes, and often result in gaps due to expansion and shrinkage.
Innovation Solution
A floor covering system with elements that feature a spring element connected via an elastic material, allowing for a pivoting motion behind a horizontal locking edge, which breaks at a predetermined point to secure the panels without initial force application, and additional locking strips to prevent vertical displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If spring elements are used to lock panels without hammer blows, then damage to floor panels is prevented, but the spring elements require horizontal force to be pushed back before snapping into place, complicating the assembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring element system with a locking strip system that uses a form-fitting connection between a locking edge on one panel and a receptacle on the adjacent panel. This eliminates the need for spring elements that require horizontal force to be pushed back, allowing panels to be locked together through simple vertical joining movements without complex assembly operations.
2Strength
If traditional tongue and groove connections are used with hammer blows, then panels can be locked together securely, but there is a risk of damage to the floor panels even with careful work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the forceful mechanical connection method (hammer blows on traditional tongue and groove) with a form-fitting connection system where a locking edge engages with a receptacle. This allows panels to be locked securely through controlled vertical movements without the need for hammer blows, eliminating the risk of panel damage while maintaining locking security.
3Ease of operation
If spring elements are used for locking, then hammer blows are not needed, but sufficient clearance behind the spring is required to allow the spring to be pushed back before snapping into place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the spring element system entirely and replaces it with a direct form-fitting connection between a locking edge and a receptacle. This substitution removes the need for clearance behind spring elements to be pushed back, simplifying the structural requirements while maintaining the benefit of eliminating hammer blows from the assembly process.
4Ease of operation
If panels are twisted or clicked into one another along long sides, then locking strips can engage on ends more easily, but the process still requires light hammer blows that can cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the twisting and clicking process that requires hammer blows with a vertical joining movement where the locking edge directly engages with the receptacle. This allows panels to be aligned and locked together through controlled vertical movements alone, eliminating the need for hammer blows while maintaining ease of operation for panel alignment.
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 enables secure locking of panels with minimal effort, preventing gaps and damage, while maintaining stability through elastic connection and self-locking mechanisms, allowing for easy assembly and reassembly.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element which is connected to one of the elements in some areas via an elastic material with a core of the element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a covering comprising elements (1, 2) that can be connected to each other mechanically, at least one of the elements (1, 2) being a panel, wherein the elements (1, 2) have on their opposite sides a corresponding profiled section and can be locked together via said profiled section. The locking is caused by at least one spring element (11) which is connected to one of the elements (2) in an articulated manner and which can be pivoted during the joining movement behind a locking edge (22) of the adjacent element (1), said locking edge extending essentially in the horizontal direction. According to the invention, the spring element (11) is connected on the one hand in some areas to a core (12) of the element (2) by means of an elastic material (18) and on the other hand is a one-piece component of the element (2) prior to the joining movement, wherein the one-piece connection between the spring element (11) and the element (2) is configured as a predetermined breaking point (19) which is provided to fail, in particular break, when the spring element (11) is pivoted.