Mono-Material Floor Mat Fastening for Easy Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor mat arrangements are difficult to recycle due to their complex material compositions, requiring high effort to separate and process the various components.
Innovation Solution
The floor mat arrangement is made from a single monomaterial, such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyamide, with a hook-and-loop connection system that allows for easy disassembly and recycling by using a form, material, and force fit, eliminating the need for separate component separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If floor mat arrangements use multiple materials for different components, then functional performance and durability are improved, but recycling difficulty and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by making the floor covering, floor mat, and connecting parts entirely from rubber material, eliminating material diversity. This allows the entire assembly to be recycled together as a single material type, resolving the contradiction between functional performance (achieved through optimized rubber formulation) and recycling complexity (eliminated by material uniformity).
2Ease of manufacture
If floor mat arrangements use multiple materials for different components, then component-specific optimization is improved, but separation effort and recycling cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate materials (floor covering in rubber, floor mat in foam, connecting parts in thermoplastic) into a single rubber material system. This combining eliminates the need for separation during recycling, reducing recycling time and effort while maintaining component-specific optimization through varied rubber formulations and structural designs.
3Reliability
If floor mat arrangements use traditional multi-material construction, then functional requirements are met, but environmental sustainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By making all components from rubber material, the patent enables complete recycling of the floor mat arrangement as a single material stream, eliminating waste from难以回收的复合结构 and reducing environmental harm while meeting all functional requirements through optimized rubber properties.
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 monomaterial design facilitates efficient recycling by allowing the entire assembly to be recycled directly, reducing waste and simplifying the recycling process while maintaining a stable and space-saving installation.
Implementation Method 1
a first hook-and-loop fastener element (18) attached to the floor covering (12)... a second hook-and-loop fastener element (20) attached at least partially to the underside (22) of the floor mat (10)... wherein the second hook-and-loop element (20) is connected to the first hook-and-loop element (18) by a hook-and-loop connection (36)
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention relates to a floor mat assembly (8) with a floor covering (12). A first hook and loop element (18) is fastened to the floor covering (12) by a form fit, material fit and/or friction fit. The floor mat assembly (8) further comprises a floor mat (10) and a second hook and loop element (20), wherein the second hook and loop element (20) is at least partially fixed to an underside (22) of the floor mat (10). The first hook and loop element (18) and the second hook and loop element (20) form a hook and loop connection (36). At least the floor covering (12), the first hook and loop element (18), the floor mat (10) and the second hook and loop element (20) are made of the same monomaterial.