Sealing Plastic Floor Edges via Local Thermal Plasticization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sealing and connecting adjacent plastic floor covering elements often result in visible seams, which can be prone to water penetration and mechanical damage, compromising the waterproof and aesthetic integrity of the floor covering.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for sealing and connecting multi-layer or single-layer plastic floor covering elements by locally increasing the temperature of their side edges using energy input, allowing for a cohesive connection without visible edges or steps, using a combination of transparent and absorbent layers and optional bridging profiles to ensure a seamless and durable bond.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If floor covering elements are sealed and connected using existing methods, then the floor covering is waterproof and durable, but visible seams are created that compromise aesthetic integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The floor covering elements are designed with differentiated local structures: the connection edges feature a first material layer (e.g., PVC) that is visible from above, while the underside features a second material layer (e.g., polyolefin) for welding. This local quality differentiation allows the visible seam to be aesthetically pleasing while the hidden seam provides waterproof integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structure employs a nested configuration where the first material layer extends beyond the second material layer at the connection edges, creating an overlapping arrangement. The second layer is nested beneath the first layer, forming a hierarchical structure that separates the aesthetic function from the sealing function.
2Productivity
If floor covering elements are connected with visible seams, then the connection is simple and fast, but the floor covering is prone to water penetration and mechanical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection edges are designed with differentiated local structures: the visible first material layer maintains aesthetic appearance while the hidden second material layer provides waterproof sealing. This allows simple installation with visible seams while the hidden structure prevents water penetration.
3Reliability
If floor covering elements use different materials for connection edges, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor covering elements utilize composite material construction with a first material layer (e.g., PVC) and a second material layer (e.g., polyolefin) that are integrally formed. This composite structure provides the benefits of different materials for sealing and aesthetics while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through integral formation.
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 solution ensures a seamless, waterproof, and aesthetically pleasing floor covering by eliminating visible seams and enhancing durability against mechanical stress and cleaning, while allowing for efficient and easy installation.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature of at least one of the adjacent floor covering elements along its lateral edges adjacent to the lateral edges of another floor covering element, in a vicinity of its edges, is temporarily increased locally by energy input relative to the room temperature to such an extent that at least one layer of the floor covering elements is at least partially plasticized locally
Data Source
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AI summary
Sealing/joining method and sealing/joining device for butt joints of at least two adjacent planar floor covering elements (1, 1') made of plastic material along their mutually facing, directly adjacent and at least partially touching lateral edges (7, 7'), wherein the floor covering elements (1, 1') are arranged lying on a floor in a room of a building and the floor covering elements (1, 1') do not overlap completely or partially in the area of their lateral edges (7, 7') in such a way that one floor covering element (1) covers another floor covering element (1') on its surface with its entire material thickness.Single-layer or multi-layer floor covering elements (1, 1') are used as floor covering elements (1, 1'), wherein the temperature of at least one of the adjacent floor covering elements in a connection area along its lateral edges in the vicinity of the lateral edges is temporarily increased locally by energy input to such an extent that at least one layer of the floor covering elements (1, 1') is at least partially plasticized locally in the connection area (3), thereby bonding one floor covering element (1) to the other floor covering element (1'). The lateral edges (7, 7') of the floor covering elements (1, 1') in a connection area (3) are first provided with a chamfer (8), a step (13, 15, 16) or a groove and preferably bonded together there.