Self-locking Flooring Element with Converging Distancing Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-locking floor covering elements, such as paving stones, fail to adequately resist sagging, tilting, tearing, and shifting under heavy loads or stress, particularly from vehicles, due to insufficient distancing means configurations.
Innovation Solution
The self-locking floor covering element features a distancing means with a lower portion, upper portion, and intermediate portion, where the lateral faces converge, forming acute angles between 45° and 85°, and includes a distal and proximal part with narrowed sections, allowing for enhanced interlocking and stress distribution, preventing dissociation and improving resistance to sagging and tearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple vertical rib is used as distancing means, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is insufficient to prevent sagging, tilting, tearing, and shifting under heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The distancing means is divided into multiple functional portions: an intermediate portion with converging lateral faces that provides self-locking, a distal portion that contacts adjacent flooring elements, and a proximal portion with narrowed sections that enables interlocking. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally, achieving high reliability without requiring an overly complex overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The distancing means employs asymmetric geometry with converging lateral faces in the intermediate portion that form acute angles between 45° and 85° with the lower plane. This asymmetric configuration creates a self-locking mechanism where the geometry naturally resists forces attempting to separate or displace adjacent flooring elements, providing inherent stability without additional complex components.
2Strength
If the distancing means has a simple vertical rib configuration, then the ease of manufacture is high, but the strength is insufficient to resist heavy vehicle loads and prevent element dissociation
Solution Approach 1:
The distancing means is pre-configured with specific geometric features during manufacturing, including converging lateral faces at predetermined angles (45°-85°) and narrowed proximal portions. These preliminary geometric actions create self-locking and interlocking capabilities that automatically engage when flooring elements are assembled, providing high strength without requiring complex assembly operations or additional fastening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes specific parameter ranges for the distancing means geometry, particularly the acute angles between 45° and 85° that the lateral faces form with the lower plane. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the distancing means achieves maximum strength and self-locking capability while remaining manufacturable using standard concrete forming or molding techniques.
3Reliability
If the distancing means has a narrow upper portion, then the interlocking capability is improved, but the area of the distancing means is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The distancing means transitions from a wider base to a narrower upper portion through converging lateral faces, utilizing the vertical dimension to create interlocking geometry. This dimensional transition allows the structure to maintain sufficient contact area at the base for load distribution while creating a narrower profile at the top that fits into complementary housings of adjacent elements, achieving strong interlocking without excessive overall area.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a self-locking flooring element (1) which comprises, on the one hand, a lower face (2) intended to rest on the ground, on the other hand, an upper face (3) opposite the lower face (2) and on which people or vehicles are to circulate, on the other hand, lateral sides (4; 4a; 4b; 4c), which extend between the lower face (2) and the upper face (3), and, on the other hand also, at least one distancing means (5), which equips at least one of the lateral sides (4; 4a; 4b; 4c), which extends in projection from said at least one (4) of the lateral sides (4; 4a; 4b; 4c), and which is configured to maintain another adjacent flooring element at a determined distance.Said at least one distancing means (5) comprises at least a lower portion (6), an upper portion (7) with a width less than the lower portion (6) and an intermediate portion (8), extending between the lower portion (6) and the upper portion (7), connecting the lower portion (6) and the upper portion (7), and comprising lateral faces (80; 80') which converge from the lower portion (6) and in the direction of the upper portion (7).