Water Resistant Wood Flooring with Sealed Locking Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wood flooring technologies face challenges in preventing water penetration through seams and surface damage, particularly in solid wood and engineered wood products, with high temperature curing processes complicating material preparation and lacking effective solutions for wood flooring.
Innovation Solution
A wood flooring system incorporating a solid wood component or wood veneer with a core, a locking profile featuring both horizontal and vertical locking elements, and a sealer applied along the locking profile to prevent water infiltration, combined with a durable coating to protect against surface damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperature curing process is used to achieve water resistance, then water penetration resistance is improved, but material preparation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the curing temperature parameter from high temperature to low temperature (below 100°C), enabling water resistance to be achieved through alternative mechanisms such as moisture-curing adhesives and sealants rather than thermal curing, thus resolving the contradiction between water penetration resistance and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal curing mechanism with chemical curing mechanisms (moisture-curing adhesives and sealants), substituting the need for high temperature processing with ambient or controlled low-temperature chemical reactions, thereby eliminating the complexity of high-temperature material preparation while maintaining water resistance
2Reliability
If traditional sealing methods are used along seams, then water resistance is improved, but surface checking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces flexible sealants as intermediary materials along the seams and locking profiles that accommodate wood expansion and contraction without causing surface checking, while still providing effective water resistance through the sealant's waterproofing properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different treatments to different parts of the flooring system - using flexible sealants specifically at the seams and locking profiles where water penetration is most likely, while maintaining the natural surface quality of the wood flooring itself, thus achieving water resistance without compromising overall surface integrity
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 prevents water penetration through seams and enhances durability by using a locking profile with a sealer and a protective coating, ensuring long-lasting performance and resistance to water and wear.
Implementation Method 1
a sealer along the entire surface of the locking profile
Implementation Method 2
a coating on a top surface of the wood flooring component
Data Source
AI summary
Wood flooring is described, which provides resistance to surface liquids by reducing or eliminating checking on the surface of the wood and transmission liquid through the seams in an installed wood floor. This is achieved by combining a surface coating, a wood veneer and core or solid wood, a tongue and groove profile, and application of a sealer along the tongue and groove or locking profile.