Floor Panel Locking System With Rocker Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for floor panels, particularly those using flexible tongues, face issues with snapping resistance and material bending, requiring two-way snapping actions and being sensitive to cutting and material handling, which affects stability and ease of connection.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking system featuring a tongue with rocker arms that locks automatically during vertical folding without snapping parts, where the main part of the tongue is fixed in a sideward open fixation groove, and only parts are displaced inside and outside the groove, allowing for limited horizontal turning for secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible tongue is used in the locking system, then the tongue can be displaced inwardly and outwardly during locking, but this creates snapping resistance and requires two-way snapping actions which complicates the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the snapping function from the tongue itself and relocates it to separate rocker arms. The tongue becomes a fixed structural element while the rocker arms provide the necessary displacement and locking action, eliminating the complex two-way snapping requirement and simplifying the overall locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system is segmented into distinct functional components: a fixed tongue, displaceable rocker arms, and separate locking protrusions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the rocker arms handling the snapping action while the tongue provides stable structural support.
2Reliability
If the tongue is made flexible to enable displacement during locking, then locking can be achieved, but the tongue becomes sensitive to cutting and material handling which affects stability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flexibility requirement from the tongue and transfers it to the rocker arms. The tongue can now be made from rigid material that is resistant to cutting and handling damage, while the rocker arms provide the necessary flexibility and displacement capability for reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the tongue flexible to achieve locking, the invention inverts the approach by making the tongue rigid and using separate rocker arms to provide the flexibility and displacement needed for reliable locking, thereby eliminating the sensitivity to cutting and handling.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tongue is fixed in a sideward open fixation groove, then the main part of the tongue remains stable during production and transport, but only parts of the tongue can be displaced during locking
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue is segmented into a fixed main body mounted in the sideward open fixation groove and separate displaceable rocker arms. This segmentation allows the main tongue to remain stable during production, transport, and installation, while the rocker arms can be displaced to achieve locking, combining stability with operational flexibility.
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 enables strong, snap-free vertical locking with reduced material bending and improved stability, facilitating easier installation and handling by eliminating the need for two-way snapping, while maintaining a fixed tongue position during production, transport, and installation.
Implementation Method 1
Each rocker arm comprises a displaceable pressing protrusion that during locking is in contact with the second edge and a displaceable locking protrusion that in locked position cooperates with the tongue groove. The locking protrusions is displaced outwardly away from the main tongue body when the pressing protrusion is pressed and displaced inwardly towards the inner part of the tongue.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5a~5d
Figure 6a~6f
AI summary
Floor panels (1b, 1c) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue with rocker arms that allows locking by vertical turning motion.