Marble Floor Panel Attachment System with Flexible Interlocking Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor covering systems for marble or marble aggregate panels are prone to edge breaks or spalling due to recesses and projections, and require additional sub-layers or complex auxiliary elements for attachment, which complicates installation and stability.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring solid marble or marble aggregate panels with recesses on their lower surfaces and flexible attachment parts with projecting members that interlock with the panels, eliminating the need for additional layers and reducing edge fragility, while providing a reliable and aesthetically suitable attachment method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If recesses and projections are formed in the edges of covering panels for mutual fitting, then attachment between panels is improved, but the edges become prone to breaks or spalling
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment function is segmented from the covering panel itself. Instead of forming recesses and projections directly in the panel edges, the system uses separate attachment parts that connect to the panels through these recesses. This separates the structural integrity of the panel from the attachment mechanism, protecting the panel edges from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Attachment parts serve as intermediary elements between covering panels. These attachment parts have projections that fit into recesses in the panels and have their own coupling projections that interlock with adjacent attachment parts. This intermediary structure transfers the attachment stress away from the panel edges, preventing breaks and spalling while maintaining stable panel connection.
2Reliability
If additional sub-layers are added to enable tongue and groove coupling, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment parts perform multiple functions: they connect to individual panels through projections fitting into recesses, provide tongue and groove coupling between adjacent attachment parts, and enable stable panel attachment. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components into a single attachment part, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of panel attachment and inter-panel coupling into a single attachment part. The attachment part combines the connection element that attaches to the panel recess with the tongue and groove coupling elements that connect to adjacent attachment parts. This merging eliminates the need for separate sub-layers and auxiliary fixing elements, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable attachment.
3Ease of manufacture
If recesses are formed in the lower surface of panels close to edges, then attachment part integration is improved, but edge fragility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the attachment mechanism from the panel structure. Recesses are formed in the panel lower surface, but the critical coupling projections are located on separate attachment parts rather than directly on the panel edges. This segmentation allows easy formation of recesses in the panel while protecting edge integrity by placing the vulnerable projection elements on the removable attachment parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment parts with their coupling projections act as a protective cushion for the panel edges. By positioning the projections on the attachment parts rather than the panel edges themselves, the system preemptively protects the fragile edge regions from stress and damage during installation and use, while still enabling secure attachment through the recess-projection interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a floor covering that includes covering panels (10A, 10B) made of a hard material, having relatively little thickness (e), with upper and lower surfaces (1a, 2a; 1b, 2b), perimetral edges (3a, 3b) and recesses (4a, 4b), and attachment parts (20) made of a relatively flexible material and having projecting members (21a, 21b) and spacing members (22a, 22b). In practice, the projecting members (21a, 21b) of the attachment parts are introduced in the recesses (4a, 4b) of the covering panels (10A, 10B) assuring the link between covering panels (10A, 10B), and the spacing members (22a, 22b) of the attachment parts (20) remain between the facing edges (3a, 3b) of the covering panels (10A, 10B) filling a gap (G) between them in the form of a joint.