Segmented Adhesive Fasteners for Floating Floor Tile Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flooring systems using chemical adhesives for attaching floor tiles are harmful to surfaces and the environment, and they restrict the ability of floor tiles to move as a single unit, which is desirable in certain applications.

Innovation Solution

A flooring system utilizing individual adhesive units as fasteners, composed of a multi-layered composite with an adhesive layer and a polymer film or textile substrate, allowing floor tiles to be interconnected and move freely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If chemical adhesive compositions are used to attach floor tiles to the flooring surface, then the floor tiles are securely attached, but the floor tiles cannot move as a single unit and chemical adhesive materials are harmful to surfaces and the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharmful effects of chemical adhesive materialsVSAvoidability of floor tiles to move as a single unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is segmented into individual adhesive units (tiles, dots, strips) rather than using continuous chemical adhesive. Each adhesive unit is a discrete element that can be independently applied, allowing the floor covering to be installed without harmful chemical adhesives while maintaining the ability of tiles to move together as a floating floor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces chemical adhesive compositions with mechanical adhesive units (such as interlocking tiles, dots, or strips). This mechanical system eliminates the need for harmful chemical adhesives while providing secure attachment between floor tiles and enabling the floating floor configuration where tiles can move as a single unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If conventional chemical adhesive compositions are used to adhere floor tiles to the flooring surface, then attachment is achieved, but the floor tiles are individually attached and cannot shift as one unit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stability of floor tilesVSAvoidability of floor tiles to shift as one unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive units are designed to provide stable attachment between floor tiles while allowing the entire floor covering to move together as a floating floor. The mechanical connection through adhesive units enables both stability (tiles attached to each other) and adaptability (ability to shift as one unit), resolving the contradiction between stability and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If traditional adhesive compositions are used to adhere floor tiles to the flooring surface, then floor tiles are securely attached, but the use of chemical adhesive materials is harmful to the environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliability of floor tilesVSAvoidenvironmental harm from chemical adhesive materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates harmful chemical adhesive materials entirely by replacing them with mechanical adhesive units. This conversion transforms the harmful chemical attachment method into a beneficial mechanical attachment system that is environmentally friendly while maintaining or improving attachment reliability through the designed mechanical interlocking or bonding of adhesive units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 provides a safer, environmentally friendly method for attaching floor tiles, allowing them to move as a single unit and facilitating easy replacement and installation, while maintaining stability and preventing moisture buildup.

Implementation Method 1

at least one adhesive unit as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS11732484B2Flooring system

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 MILLIKEN & CO

AI summary

This invention relates to a method for adhering floor tiles together and the flooring system thereby created. The method utilizes individual adhesive units as fasteners for attachment of each floor tile to the next contiguous floor tile. The adhesive units are a multi-layered composite comprised of at least one adhesive layer and at least one layer of polymer film or textile substrate. When a series of floor tiles are attached to one another in this manner, a floating floorcovering article is achieved.