Viscoelastic Floor Panel Connecting Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synthetic floor coverings face issues with mechanical stress buildup and panel separation due to rapid loss of tension forces between interlocking profiles, leading to potential bulging or displacement, especially under temperature and humidity variations.
Innovation Solution
The use of viscoelastic connecting profiles that deform and persistently relax stress, reducing mechanical stress by at least 40% within 12 hours, allowing for even stress distribution and preventing panel separation, with profiles designed for easy installation and durable performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional rigid connecting profiles are used to mechanically interlock floor panels, then initial tension force is sufficient to prevent panel separation, but rapid stress relaxation occurs leading to loss of tension and potential panel displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting profiles are made from viscoelastic material instead of conventional rigid materials, fundamentally changing the mechanical parameters of the connection system. This allows the material to exhibit time-dependent stress relaxation behavior, initially providing high tension force to prevent panel separation, then gradually relaxing to accommodate dimensional changes without losing the beneficial interlocking effect
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses viscoelastic material that combines properties of both elastic and viscous behavior, creating a composite mechanical response. This material composition enables the connecting profiles to provide initial rigid-like tension for panel stabilization while subsequently allowing controlled deformation and stress relaxation to prevent panel displacement under environmental variations
2Reliability
If high initial tension is maintained between connecting profiles to prevent panel separation, then panel stability is improved, but stress buildup occurs leading to potential bulging or displacement under temperature and humidity variations
Solution Approach 1:
By using viscoelastic material, the connecting profiles can dynamically adjust their mechanical properties. The material maintains high initial tension for panel stability but automatically reduces stress over time through stress relaxation, preventing the buildup that would lead to bulging or displacement when environmental conditions change
Solution Approach 2:
The viscoelastic material inherently provides a cushioning effect by absorbing and dissipating stress over time. This beforehand cushioning prevents excessive stress accumulation that would otherwise occur with rigid materials subjected to temperature and humidity variations, protecting the floor covering from deformation
3Stress or pressure
If viscoelastic material is used for connecting profiles to enable stress relaxation, then mechanical stress decreases significantly within 12 hours, but the material properties and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from conventional rigid materials to viscoelastic materials, achieving significant stress reduction (at least 40% within 12 hours). While this may increase manufacturing complexity, the benefit of preventing panel displacement and bulging outweighs the manufacturing challenge, and the viscoelastic material can be integrated into existing extrusion or molding processes
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 solution effectively reduces mechanical stress within the connecting profiles, preventing panel separation and bulging, while maintaining durability and comfort, with stress relaxation facilitating even stress distribution across the floor covering.
Implementation Method 1
the stress within the first and/or the second connecting profile decreases by at least 40% within 12 hours after the first and the second connecting profiles have become coupled
Implementation Method 2
the first and/or the second connecting profiles are made of viscoelastic material, which undergoes significant stress relaxation
Data Source
AI summary
A synthetic multilayer floor covering has floor panels, each of which comprises at least a first and a second edge with a first and a second connecting profile, respectively. The connecting profiles are complementarily shaped so that adjacent floor panels may be coupled to one another. The first connecting profile of a first floor panel and/or the second connecting profile of a second floor panel is deformed when connecting profiles become coupled with each other. The deformation comprises a component that persists as the connecting profiles remain coupled. The persistent deformation results in stress within the connecting profiles, which are made of viscoelastic material. That material undergoes significant stress relaxation. At standard ambient temperature and pressure, the stress within the first and/or the second connecting profile decreases by at least 40% within 12 hours after the connecting profiles have become coupled.