Locking Panel Structure for Fracture and Liquid Penetration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panels lack sufficient breaking strength and resistance to liquid penetration, particularly at corners and joints, leading to potential damage and mold growth.
Innovation Solution
A panel design featuring a retaining groove on one short side with a locking element, where the groove does not span the entire panel width, combined with reinforcement areas and a locking mechanism that minimizes material loss and hydraulic communication, enhancing fracture and shear resistance while preventing liquid penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retaining groove is provided over the entire transverse extent of the panel, then the locking mechanism is more secure, but the panel's breaking strength is reduced due to material loss
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining groove is positioned to extend over a specific partial area of the short side rather than the entire transverse extent, creating local differentiation. This allows the groove to provide sufficient locking security in the critical joint area while preserving material and strength in the remaining panel regions.
2Reliability
If the retaining groove extends over a large transverse area, then the locking element is more stable, but liquid penetration resistance is reduced due to increased hydraulic communication
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining groove is confined to a partial area of the short side rather than spanning the entire width, creating localized locking functionality. This limitation reduces the groove's exposure to liquid infiltration paths while maintaining adequate locking stability in the critical joint region.
3Strength
If reinforcement areas are added to compensate for material loss, then the panel's breaking strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement areas are integrated directly into the panel body as continuous material extensions rather than separate附加 components. This merging approach strengthens the panel to compensate for the retained groove's material removal while avoiding the complexity of additional discrete reinforcement elements.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a panel (10) comprising: a panel body (28) extending in a longitudinal direction (30) and a transverse direction (32); a retaining groove (20) extending in the transverse direction (32) in an end short side of the panel body (28); and a locking element (22) which is inserted in the retaining groove (20) substantially immovably, wherein, for an extension b0 of the retaining groove (20) in the transverse direction (32) relative to a nominal width B of the panel body (28) between a first edge extending in the longitudinal direction and a second edge of the panel body (28) extending in the longitudinal direction, the following applies: 0.50 ≤ b0/B ≤ 0.97, in particular 0.75 ≤ b0/B ≤ 0.95, preferably 0.85 ≤ b0/B ≤ 0.93 and particularly preferably b0/B = 0.90 ± 0.02. An unbreakable and leak-proof panel (10) having good and material-friendly locking is made possible by the retaining groove (20) which extends over only a large portion of the short side and by the locking element (22) immovably received in the retaining groove (20).