Wall or Ceiling Panels with Tongue-Groove Mechanical Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall and ceiling panels often require significant force to couple, leading to potential damage and suboptimal locking, making installation challenging and prone to failure, especially in large surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Rectangular panels with specific male and female coupling parts, including tongues and grooves, and locking parts that facilitate easy installation by one person, allowing for high-quality surface finish without additional processing, using clips on one pair of edges and enabling mechanical locking in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional coupling parts are used to join panels, then mechanical locking is achieved, but significant force is required leading to potential damage and suboptimal locking
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is divided into a male coupling part and a female coupling part with complementary geometries. The male part includes a tongue with locking protrusion, while the female part includes a groove with locking recess. This segmentation allows the panels to be coupled through a simple插入 motion without requiring significant force, as the locking features guide and facilitate the coupling process automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The tongue and groove structure acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two panels. The tongue of the male coupling part fits into the groove of the female coupling part, and the locking protrusion engages with the locking recess to secure the connection. This intermediary structure enables reliable mechanical locking through a gentle insertion motion rather than forceful joining.
2Area of stationary object
If panels are made with large dimensions for large surfaces, then coverage area increases, but installation difficulty increases requiring multiple persons
Solution Approach 1:
The panel system uses standardized rectangular panels with coupling parts at all four edges, allowing large surfaces to be covered by assembling multiple smaller panels rather than using one large panel. The coupling parts enable easy connection between panels, and the system allows installation by one person even with large overall coverage area through the simplified coupling mechanism.
3Strength
If coupling parts are designed for strong mechanical locking, then locking strength increases, but risk of damage during insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue and groove structure serves as a gentle intermediary that guides the male coupling part into the female coupling part. The groove geometry accommodates the tongue during insertion, and the locking protrusion gradually engages with the locking recess, distributing the insertion force evenly and avoiding concentrated stress that could cause damage. This achieves strong locking without high insertion force.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure is designed with sufficient depth and appropriate geometry to accommodate the tongue during insertion, providing a cushioning effect that prevents impact damage. The locking features are positioned to engage gradually rather than suddenly, cushioning the locking process and preventing damage to the coupling parts while ensuring strong final locking.
Data Source
AI summary
A rectangular panel which, on the first and on the second pair of opposite edges, has coupling parts configured for easy installation in a wall or ceiling covering. A locking occurs between the coupled panels; and a wall or ceiling covering that includes such panels.