Strip-Shaped Connecting Element for Floorboard Assembly
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for connecting floorboards or panels to beams are inefficient, requiring multiple parts and specific configurations, making it difficult to use a wide variety of materials and causing assembly and alignment issues, especially with wooden boards that expand due to moisture changes.
Innovation Solution
A strip-shaped connecting element with two main surfaces, side surfaces, and end surfaces, featuring transverse grooves on one main surface for frictional and positive connections to multiple carriers, allowing for easy attachment and detachment of floorboards or panels without specific snap-in mounts, using fewer individual parts and accommodating various materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If connecting elements with locking heads are used to connect floorboards to profile rails, then the connection strength is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for precise positioning and coordination of multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is divided into a head portion and a shaft portion, which can be inserted into separate receptacles (groove in floorboard, opening in profile rail). This segmentation allows each component to be simpler while maintaining strong connection through the distributed locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element is designed to work with different floorboard materials (wood, composite, plastic) and different profile rail configurations. The universal design eliminates the need for material-specific connecting elements, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining connection strength.
2Ease of operation
If snap-in receptacles are formed in floorboards for connecting elements, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability worsens because only specific floorboard types with standardized receptacle spacing can be used
Solution Approach 1:
The profile rail acts as an intermediary component that provides the receiving opening. This allows floorboards without pre-formed receptacles to be used, as the profile rail provides the necessary opening. The connecting element's shaft portion inserts into this opening, mediating between the floorboard and the rail system.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forming receptacles in the floorboards (traditional approach), the solution inverts the approach by providing the receiving opening in the profile rail. This allows any floorboard material to be used while maintaining easy snap-in connection.
3Manufacturing precision
If connecting elements must be inserted into grooves of profile rails from end faces, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of operation worsens when end faces are difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting the connecting element into the groove from the end face of the profile rail, the solution inverts the approach by inserting it from the side face. The shaft portion of the connecting element inserts into the opening in the side face of the profile rail, making assembly accessible from any location along the rail.
4Reliability
If multiple connecting elements are used across many profile rails, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the need to correctly position and assign each connecting element
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is segmented into head and shaft portions that can be independently positioned. The head engages with the floorboard while the shaft engages with the profile rail. This segmentation allows for more flexible and faster assembly compared to rigid single-piece connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element incorporates elastic deformation capability, allowing it to flex during insertion and then lock into position. This dynamic behavior enables quick snap-in assembly without requiring precise manual positioning, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining reliable connections.
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
Facilitates the construction and reconfiguration of floor surfaces with reduced effort, allowing for the use of diverse materials and improved load stability, while accommodating moisture expansion in wooden boards, by providing a flexible and adaptable connection system.
Implementation Method 1
come into frictional connection with one another in a frictional and/or form-fitting manner
Implementation Method 2
each carrier in the area of the connecting element comes into frictional and/or positive connection with a region adapted to the grooves of the connecting element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A connecting device according to the invention is designed for connecting planks (1) or panels to beams (2). The beams (2) are aligned parallel in a longitudinal direction and arranged at uniform intervals. The planks (1) or panels extend in a principal direction over a length of at least two beam spacings. The connecting device comprises connecting elements (3) that can be connected to the planks (1) or panels and to the beams (2). The connecting elements (3) extend in a band-like fashion in a longitudinal direction and have as their outer surfaces a first and a second main surface (3a, 3b), two side surfaces (3c) connecting the main surfaces (3a, 3b), and two end surfaces (3d) connecting the main surfaces (3a, 3b) and the side surfaces (3c).The first main surface (3a) can be connected to at least one plank (1) or panel, and the second main surface (3b) has at least two grooves (5) extending transversely to the element's longitudinal direction, each accommodating a section of different supports (2). These connecting elements (3) significantly simplify the construction of a floor with planks (1) or panels, as well as the removal and reinstallation of planks (1) or panels, compared to prior art solutions.