Interlocking Tile With Tilt Portion For Water Runoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tiles with self-interlocking mechanisms tend to allow rainwater to leak through horizontal joints due to their flat surfaces, which slows down water runoff and increases the risk of water ingress.
Innovation Solution
The tiles feature a tilt portion on their front surface, which narrows towards the bottom, allowing rainwater to flow faster and reducing leakage, along with a self-interlocking mechanism that includes underlap and overlap portions for vertical and horizontal arrangement, and a rear foot portion for secure alignment with backing materials, eliminating the need for additional fillets and supporting stands during manufacturing and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tiles are arranged with flat surfaces, then the self-interlocking mechanism provides excellent waterproofness in joints, but rainwater flows slowly and leaks through horizontal joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a tilt portion only on the front surface of the tile base, while maintaining the flat surface characteristics in other areas. This localized inclination accelerates water runoff from the front surface without compromising the self-interlocking waterproof mechanism at the joints, thus resolving the contradiction between joint waterproofness and water leakage prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a tilt portion is added to accelerate water runoff, then water leakage is reduced, but the tile structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tilt portion with the existing tile base structure, making it an integrated component rather than a separate addition. The tilt portion is formed as part of the tile base itself, combining the water runoff function with the structural body of the tile, thereby reducing overall structural complexity while still achieving effective water leakage prevention
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional flat tiles are used, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but water runoff speed is slow causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the tile surface by introducing a tilt angle to the front surface. This parameter change accelerates water runoff speed by utilizing gravity more effectively, while the tilt portion is designed with dimensions and angles that can be easily incorporated into standard manufacturing processes, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving water runoff performance
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 design enhances water runoff, reduces water ingress through joints, provides aesthetic appeal, and increases construction efficiency by allowing for varied tile combinations and applications, including walls, floors, and roofs, while minimizing material usage and installation complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the tilt portion increases the speed of movement of rain water along the surface of the tiles
Data Source
AI summary
A tile having a self-interlocking mechanism urges rain water running on the surface of the tile to run downward thus making it for rain water to leak less through a joint. The tile includes a tile base, an underlap portion on each of an upper side area and one of a left-hand side area and a right-hand side area of the tile base, and an overlap portion on each of a lower side area and the other of the left-hand side area and the right-hand side area of the tile base. The tile may be arranged horizontally and vertically in a plain in a self-interlocking manner. The tile includes a tilt portion tapered thinner toward the lower end of the tile base.