Trapezoidal Plank Floor Orientation for Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor constructions, particularly for outdoor areas like balconies and terraces, face issues with deformation over time due to materials like sawn timber, and previous solutions either require complex substructures or result in high material costs.
Innovation Solution
A floor design featuring planks with a trapezoidal cross-section where the upward-facing sides are formed by shorter sides, held in place by rods and spacers, allowing for a stable and deformation-free surface with reduced material costs and simplified installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If planks are oriented with shorter sides facing upwards to reduce deformation, then stability and durability are improved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is divided into modular units with planks arranged in a specific orientation pattern. Each module can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing optimization of material usage while maintaining the stable orientation throughout the entire floor structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The planks are oriented asymmetrically with shorter sides facing upwards, creating a non-traditional configuration that reduces deformation. This asymmetric arrangement is systematically applied across all planks to achieve both stability and material efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If complex substructures and cover profiles are used to maintain plank arrangement, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex substructure and cover profiles from prior art are completely removed from the design. Instead, the plank orientation itself and simple fastening elements provide the necessary stability, eliminating the need for additional complex structural components.
Solution Approach 2:
The planks themselves, through their specific orientation with shorter sides facing upwards, provide the structural stability that previously required complex external substructures. The system serves its own stabilization function without needing elaborate supporting frameworks.
3Strength
If spacers are formed in one piece with planks through complex milling, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing cost and material waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are separated from the planks as independent components rather than being integrated through complex milling. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using simpler, more cost-effective processes while maintaining structural integrity through proper assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers act as intermediary elements between planks, providing the necessary spacing and structural connection without requiring complex integration. These separate spacer components facilitate easier manufacturing while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the floor system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a floor (10), in particular a terrace or balcony floor, comprising several planks (12), each having a substantially rectangular cross-section with two opposite longer sides (14) and two opposite shorter sides (16), wherein the planks (12) are arranged parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the floor (10) and spaced (d) apart from each other in a transverse direction (Q) of the floor (10), and wherein a walkable surface of the floor (10) is formed on the upward-facing sides of the planks (12). According to the invention, the planks (12) are oriented such that their upward-facing sides are formed by one of the shorter sides (16) of the cross-section of the planks (12).