Polymer Cladding Panels with Concealed Interlocking Fixings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cladding materials face issues such as unsuitable installation direction, lack of locking systems, visible joints, aesthetic discontinuity, screw exposure leading to rust and mold, and inefficient insulation, requiring high skill and time for installation.
Innovation Solution
A polymer-based panel with an interlocking system featuring tabs and insertion gaps, concealed fixing elements, and decorative surfaces, allowing parallel installation and easy assembly, with integrated insulation and LED channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw-like fixing tools are used to attach cladding materials to the surface, then the cladding can be securely fixed, but the screw heads are exposed and cause aesthetic discontinuity and can rust or mold due to water and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful element (exposed screw head) is extracted from the visible surface by having the subsequent panel cover it. The screw head is still present and functional for fixation, but removed from the aesthetic field of view, resolving the contradiction between secure fixing and aesthetic continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw fixing mechanism is nested within the panel structure itself. Each panel contains concealed fixing elements that are integrated into the panel's design, allowing the fixing function to be embedded rather than exposed on the surface.
2Device complexity
If simple female and male edge lock forms are used for installing cladding materials, then the structure is simple, but the folds on the edges are easily deformed or broken during assembly or transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system combines rigid folding edges with flexible sealing elements and resilient locking mechanisms. This composite approach maintains the simplicity of the folding structure while adding protective and durable components that prevent deformation and breaking during handling and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock system incorporates pre-designed reinforcement structures and protective features in the folding edges that cushion against deformation during transportation and assembly, preventing the edges from breaking while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If cladding materials are installed without an interlocking system, then the installation process is simple, but dust and water can pass between the cladding materials causing undesirable results
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and interlocking function are merged into a single integrated edge structure. The same folding edge that provides mechanical interlocking also creates a sealed joint that prevents dust and water penetration, eliminating the need for separate sealing components while maintaining installation simplicity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cladding materials are installed from the ground upwards, then the installation follows conventional practice, but the design is not suitable for top-to-bottom or side-by-side installation
Solution Approach 1:
The panel design incorporates universal interlocking features that function equally well in any installation direction (bottom-to-top, top-to-bottom, or side-by-side). The symmetric or bidirectional lock system allows the same panel design to be used for any orientation, providing multi-functional adaptability without increasing complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
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AI summary
The invention relates to a panel that can be used on internal and external surfaces and can be easily installed to each other, and to a system that enables these panels to be installed to each other.