Raised Floor Grid Interlocking Teeth Plank Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing raised flooring systems fail to provide a stable wooden surface as they do not effectively secure wooden planks to the lower supports, leading to clearance formation and instability over time.

Innovation Solution

A supporting system for raised floorings that uses interlocking and slide teeth on the grid edges, combined with a circular crown element and arc bodies, to securely fasten wooden planks, ensuring stability and easy installation, with adjustable height and reinforced teeth for enhanced strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional supporting systems are used to raise floorings, then the flooring structure can be elevated to create inspectionable space, but the wooden planks cannot be stably fixed leading to clearance formation and instability over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of wooden plank fixationVSAvoidstructural integrity of flooring
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mushroom-shaped teeth utilize elastic deformation of their stems to automatically secure planks during installation. The inclined stems deflect during plank insertion and then elastically rebound to lock the planks firmly, creating a self-securing mechanism that maintains stability without additional fastening operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mushroom-shaped teeth feature curved, bulbous heads that provide mechanical interlocking with the planks. The rounded geometry distributes loads more effectively and prevents clearance formation compared to rigid, angular fastening elements, enhancing both stability and resistance to loosening over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Area of stationary object

If multiple grids are placed side by side to expand flooring coverage, then the coverage area increases, but maintaining locking continuity between adjacent grids becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflooring coverage areaVSAvoidlocking continuity between grids
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interlocking tooth design serves dual purposes: it secures planks to individual grids while simultaneously engaging with adjacent grids through the slide tooth mechanism. This universal interlocking feature ensures locking continuity across multiple grids, maintaining structural integrity as the flooring area expands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the supporting system uses complex interlocking mechanisms to ensure stability, then the stability improves, but the ease of installation and manufacturing complexity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of plank fixationVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity of supporting system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting system divides the fixation function into separate modular elements: mushroom-shaped teeth for primary plank securing, interlocking teeth for grid-to-grid connection, and slide teeth for lateral positioning. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes while collectively providing robust stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 system maintains plank continuity and stability by interlocking adjacent grids, preventing clearance formation and ensuring a strong, stable wooden surface, unlike previous solutions that became unstable due to plank misalignment.

Implementation Method 1

the stem of each mushroom-shaped tooth is inclined toward the interlocking tooth to which the plank may be coupled in cooperation with the same mushroom-shaped tooth so as to assist the elastic effect of the tooth in the clip interlocking phases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic effect: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3192938B1Supporting system for raised floors and floor comprising said supporting system
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 DAKOTA GRP S A S DI ZENO CIPRIANI & C
  • EP3192938B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3192938B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3192938B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a supporting system for raised floorings made of wooden planks and to the relative flooring obtained by using said supporting system.