Floor Panel Coupling Structure for Watertight Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flooring panels face challenges in coupling and creating a watertight connection, particularly with plastic-based and mineral-based panels, which can be difficult to lock together effectively.
Innovation Solution
The panels feature a coupling mechanism with upward and downward tongues and flanks that include inclined locking surfaces and recesses, allowing for a downward or angling motion to secure the panels, with locking elements that enhance the connection and create a watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tongue and groove coupling is used with gluing, then panels can be installed loosely as floating parquet flooring allowing expansion and shrinkage, but the connection is not watertight and requires subsequent breaking out for changes
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: upward and downward tongues, flanks with upper contact surfaces, and locking elements with inclined locking surfaces. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - the tongues and grooves provide mechanical interlocking, the upper contact surfaces create watertight sealing, and the locking elements prevent disengagement, collectively solving both installation flexibility and watertight connection requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism combines multiple material interaction modes: mechanical interlocking through tongue and groove geometry, friction-based sealing through upper contact surfaces, and locked positioning through inclined locking surfaces. This composite approach integrates multiple connection mechanisms into a single coupling system that simultaneously achieves ease of installation and watertight reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If panels are made from plastic-based or mineral-based materials, then alternative to wood is provided, but coupling and locking together to create watertight connection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed with locally optimized features for different material types. The upward and downward flanks have upper contact surfaces positioned at specific locations to accommodate the rigidity characteristics of plastic and mineral-based panels. The locking elements with inclined surfaces are positioned to work effectively with the specific mechanical properties of these materials, creating reliable watertight connections adapted to each material type's characteristics
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional coupling mechanisms are used, then panels can be joined, but sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances increases and material deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism incorporates dynamic elements that adapt during assembly. The inclined locking surfaces allow for self-adjustment as panels are brought together, accommodating minor manufacturing tolerances through the geometric progression of the locking action. This dynamic coupling process reduces sensitivity to precision requirements compared to rigid fixed-geometry coupling mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism utilizes changes in contact parameters during assembly. The upper contact surfaces transition from initial contact to full engagement, and the locking elements progress through stages of contact along the inclined surfaces. These parameter changes during the coupling process accommodate manufacturing variations and reduce the impact of tolerance sensitivity on final connection quality
Data Source
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AI summary
The last decades has seen enormous advance in the market for flooring for floor covering. It is known to install floor panels on a underlying floor in various ways. The present invention relates to an improved panel, such as a floor panel, in particular a decorative floor panel. The invention also relates to a covering, in particular a floor covering, comprising multiple interconnected panels according to the invention.