Offset Floor Panel with Anchoring Loops for Rigid Tilt-Proof Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor panels fail to form a rigid, non-tilting unit when connected over a large area, and they do not provide adequate drainage in water-rich soil conditions.

Innovation Solution

The floor panels feature square plate parts and receiving chambers arranged offset in rows and columns, with extended side walls forming ground anchors and loops for rigid connection, and include partial receiving chambers with inclined side walls and connecting tabs for secure locking, as well as continuous drainage channels and plug-in bodies for improved stability and drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If identical floor panels are lined up in a row over a large area, then the coverage area is increased, but the connection between panels becomes unstable and tilting occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The floor panel is divided into multiple functional zones: full receiving chambers in the interior, partial receiving chambers at the edges, extended side walls with loops for connection, and ground anchors. This segmentation allows different parts of the panel to serve specific functions that collectively ensure stable large-area coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The loops on the extended side walls are inserted into the side walls of part-receiving chambers of adjacent panels, creating a nested connection structure. The loops enclose and brace the side walls of ground anchors, forming a hierarchical nested system that prevents tilting and ensures rigid connection between panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If drainage openings are provided in the support plate, then drainage capability is improved, but insufficient drainage remains in water-rich soil areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capabilityVSAvoiddrainage effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving chambers are designed with vertical extension through ground anchors that protrude below the base plate level. This vertical dimension enhancement creates deeper drainage pathways and larger volume for water accumulation and drainage, transforming the limited surface-level drainage openings into an effective three-dimensional drainage system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate and connecting structures are designed with multiple openings and porous characteristics that allow water to penetrate and drain through the entire structure. The combination of drainage openings in the base plate and the open structure of receiving chambers creates a porous system that effectively handles water-rich soil conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Ease of manufacture

If connecting lugs with locking elements are formed on outer sides of support plates, then connection between panels is achieved, but the connection is not tilt-proof and rigid planar unit formation is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection capabilityVSAvoidconnection rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The loops are pre-formed on the extended side walls at predetermined positions and orientations. These loops are designed to be inserted into the side walls of part-receiving chambers of adjacent panels, creating a pre-configured rigid connection system that prevents tilting before the panels are fully assembled into a large-area unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system combines multiple structural elements: loops made from extended side wall material, part-receiving chambers with reduced cross-section, and ground anchors. This composite connection structure integrates multiple functions (mechanical interlocking, bracing, anchoring) into a single rigid connection system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2821550B1Floor panel with panel parts and receiving chambers in offset position in relation to each other and arranged in rows and columns
Publication Date: 2016.05.25 STABLER KARL
  • EP2821550B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2821550B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2821550B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a base plate with plate sections (10) and receiving chambers (11) arranged in rows and columns offset from one another, wherein the receiving chambers (11) have side walls towards the underside of the base plate which are closed off by a base (13), and wherein the plate sections (10) and the receiving chambers (11) are distributed such that plate sections (10) or receiving chambers (11) are arranged in all corner regions of the base plate. In order to enable identical base plates to be joined together and thereby form a rigid unit with a tilt-proof connection, the invention provides that, for connecting identically designed base plates, partial receiving chambers (11') with half the cross-section are formed on all outer sides (A, B, C, D) of the base plates adjacent to the plate sections (10), and partial plate sections (10') with half the cross-section are formed adjacent to the receiving chambers (11).wherein the partial receiving chambers (11') are provided with side walls (18, 19, 20) extending beyond the underside of the base plates and forming base anchors (21), and wherein loops (26) are integrally formed on the outer sides of the extended side walls (18, 19, 20) on two adjacent identical outer surfaces (A, B) of the base plates, which form-fittingly enclose the inserted side walls (18, 19, 20) of partial receiving chambers (11') of an adjoining identically designed base plate, clamp the side walls (18, 19, 20) of the base anchors (21) of both base plates and fix the base plates in a rigid unit to prevent tipping. An alternative solution of the invention is disclosed according to claim 8.