Building Panel Locking System with Short-Edge Displacement Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building panels suffer from gaps between locking tongues that allow fluid penetration, particularly along short edges, due to manufacturing processes that excise material, creating voids and gaps that allow fluid migration.
Innovation Solution
A building panel design with a first mechanical locking system at long edges for folding displacement and a second mechanical locking system at short edges for vertical displacement, where the displacement groove is positioned below the locking tongue to prevent material excision, ensuring contiguous upper surfaces of adjacent panels and minimizing fluid penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If material is excised during manufacturing to create locking grooves, then locking systems can be formed, but gaps and voids are created that allow fluid penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of material excision into a beneficial feature by positioning the displacement groove above the locking tongue's upper surface. This ensures that the groove is formed in material that would otherwise be removed, transforming the excision process into a way to create the groove without leaving harmful gaps. The groove is filled with material during assembly, converting the void into a beneficial locking feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the displacement groove above the locking tongue's upper surface during the manufacturing process. This preliminary positioning ensures that when material is excised, the groove is already in the correct location and will be filled during assembly, preventing fluid penetration before the panel is installed.
2Ease of manufacture
If gaps are created between locking tongues, then manufacturing is simplified, but fluid migration is enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of gaps into a benefit by ensuring the displacement groove is filled with material during assembly. The groove is positioned to receive material that bridges the gap between locking tongues, transforming the potential fluid passage into a sealed connection that maintains reliability while simplifying assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If upper surfaces of adjacent panels are not contiguous, then manufacturing tolerances are easier to achieve, but fluid penetration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the displacement groove above the locking tongue's upper surface during manufacturing. This ensures that when panels are assembled, the groove is already in the correct position to receive material that creates contiguity between upper surfaces, achieving both manufacturing precision and fluid barrier integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of surface discontinuity into a benefit by using the displacement groove to bridge gaps between adjacent panels. The groove is positioned and filled to create a seamless connection, transforming what would be a fluid penetration path into a feature that ensures surface contiguity and prevents fluid migration.
Data Source
AI summary
A set of building panels including a first mechanical locking system at respective first and second opposite edges. The first mechanical locking system including at one of the first or second opposite edges a tongue groove configured to receive a locking tongue of the other of the first or second edges, for vertical locking of adjacent essentially identical panels in an assembled position. The locking tongue includes an essentially horizontal and/or upwards-facing upper surface. A second mechanical locking system is formed on respective third and fourth opposite edges. The second mechanical locking system includes at one of the third or fourth edges a wedge groove configured to receive a displaceable locking tongue, for vertical locking of essentially identical adjacent panels in an assembled position. The displaceable locking tongue is configured to displace in a displacement groove provided in the said other of the third or fourth edge.