Split Floor With Interlocking Grooves and Tenons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional one-piece floors are difficult to replace without damaging the coupling layer and pipe system, making the process troublesome and costly.

Innovation Solution

The development of split floors with bottom and top plates featuring a coupling layer, grooves, and tenons allows for easy connection and disconnection without adhesives, enabling quick and cost-effective replacement by forming an adhesive or vacuum layer on the plates and cutting them into desired sizes with grooves and tenons for interlocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a conventional one-piece floor is used, then the floor structure is simple and strong, but it is difficult to replace without damaging the coupling layer and pipe system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of floor replacementVSAvoiddamage to coupling layer and pipe system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The floor is divided into multiple detachable plates (first plate, second plate, third plate) that can be independently removed and reinstalled. This segmentation allows the floor to be replaced without damaging the underlying coupling layer and pipe system, as each plate can be individually detached and repositioned.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If adhesives are used to connect floor plates, then the connection is strong, but the replacement process becomes complicated and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection force between platesVSAvoidcomplexity of connection and replacement process

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces adhesive bonding with a mechanical interlocking system using grooves and tenons. The tenon of one plate fits into the groove of the adjacent plate, providing strong mechanical connection without requiring adhesives. This mechanical system enables easy detachment and reinstallation, simplifying the replacement process while maintaining connection strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the floor is made as one-piece composite structure, then the structural integrity is high, but the replacement cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of floorVSAvoidtime required for floor replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floor is divided into multiple detachable plates that can be independently removed and reinstalled. This segmentation allows for rapid replacement of individual plates or sections without requiring removal of the entire floor, significantly reducing replacement time while maintaining structural integrity through the interlocking groove-tenon system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If the coupling layer is permanently fixed to the ground, then the floor stability is high, but the pipe system is damaged during floor removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of floor on groundVSAvoiddamage to pipe system during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The floor is segmented into removable plates that sit on top of the coupling layer rather than being permanently bonded to it. This allows the plates to be detached and repositioned without damaging the underlying coupling layer and pipe system, while the groove-tenon interlocking mechanism maintains floor stability during use.

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

This solution allows for easy and rapid replacement of split floors with a connection force twice to ten times stronger than the adhesive layer, protecting the underlying structure and reducing damage, while maintaining recyclability and low costs.

Implementation Method 1

the coupling layer is an adhesive layer or a vacuum layer which is connected on the top of the respective one bottom plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

the coupling layer is an adhesive layer or a vacuum layer which is connected on the top of the respective one bottom plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS12071771B2Split floors and method of making the same

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 ZHENG SUMEI

AI summary

A split floor contains multiple bottom plates and multiple top plates. The multiple bottom plates are fixed on a ground, and multiple top plates connected on the multiple bottom plates. A top of a respective one bottom plate is a plane. A coupling layer is formed on a top of the respective one bottom plate or a bottom of a respective one top plate, and the coupling layer is an adhesive layer or a vacuum layer. The respective one bottom plate includes at least one groove and at least one tenon formed on a peripheral side of the respective one bottom plate, such that any two adjacent bottom plates are connected. The respective one top plate includes at least one groove and at least one tenon formed on a peripheral side of the respective one top plate, such that any two adjacent top plates are connected.