Universal Edge Coupling for Stable Herringbone Panel Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panel systems require multiple types of panels for complex patterns like herringbone, complicating installation and manufacturing, and suffer from suboptimal interlocking that leads to height differences and instability.
Innovation Solution
A rectangular panel design with consistent coupling parts on long and short edges, featuring interlocking tongues and grooves that ensure vertical and horizontal interlocking, allowing for stable installation without height discrepancies, using interlocking lips and grooves that engage across the entire edge for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two different types of panels are used to achieve herringbone pattern, then the panel layout flexibility is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is designed with universal functionality to work with both long and short edges of the same panel type. The coupling part includes an interlocking lip that can engage with grooves on adjacent panels regardless of orientation, allowing a single panel type to achieve herringbone patterns without requiring mirror image panels of different types.
2Device complexity
If coupling parts are made similar on all edges to enable herringbone patterns, then the panel type requirement is reduced to one, but the interlocking stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is designed with different features for different edges: the first coupling part (on long edges) includes a tongue element for vertical interlocking, while the second coupling part (on short edges) includes an interlocking lip for horizontal interlocking. This local differentiation ensures optimal interlocking stability for each edge type while maintaining the ability to use a single panel type for herringbone patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interlocking lip is interrupted repeatedly to enable herringbone patterns, then the panel versatility is improved, but the surface undulation and height differences increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is segmented into distinct functional elements: a tongue element for vertical interlocking and an interlocking lip for horizontal interlocking. This segmentation allows the coupling part to provide both vertical and horizontal interlocking actions simultaneously, preventing surface undulation and height differences while maintaining versatility for herringbone patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A rectangular panel has long and short edges, such that on each long edge and on each short edge. the panel has a coupling part, which allows the panel to be coupled to another similar panel.