FUNCTIONAL SEQUINS, ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING SUCH A SEQUINS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a functional sequin for a garment or textile element, an arrangement comprising such a functional sequin, and a method for manufacturing the arrangement according to the preamble of the independent claims. State of the art

[0002] DE 10 2019 200 093 A1 discloses a sequin with at least one electrical or electronic functional element, which can be attached to a garment and electrically connected. DE 10 2016 209 460 A1 discloses an electronic device that can be attached to a textile by means of an electrical conductor.

[0003] Document DE 10 2016 209460 A1 discloses a functional sequin according to the preamble of claim 1. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] Against this background, the approach presented here introduces a functional sequin for a garment or textile element, which comprises at least one carrier element for at least one electronic component and wherein the carrier element has a rotationally symmetric base with multiple rotational symmetry. Furthermore, the sequin comprises a plurality of contact arrangements arranged rotationally symmetrically to each other on the carrier element for electrically contacting the at least one electronic component, each with at least one first electrical contact and one second electrical contact. The sequin is characterized in that the first electrical contacts of the plurality of contact arrangements are electrically connected and the second electrical contacts of the plurality of contact arrangements are electrically connected.In other words, the sequin has at least two first electrical contacts and two second electrical contacts, wherein the two first electrical contacts are at the same electrical potential and wherein the two second electrical contacts are at the same electrical potential.

[0005] A sequin can be understood as a flat, flat plate suitable for being attached or arranged on a garment or textile. A rotationally symmetric base can be understood as a base that maps onto itself when rotated around its central point by a fixed angle between 0° and 360°. The central point is the pivot point around which the base is mapped onto itself when rotated 360°. Multiple rotational symmetry can be understood as a base that maps onto itself when the angle of rotation corresponds to a quotient of 360° divided by n, where n denotes the degree of rotational symmetry. In the case of twofold rotational symmetry, the base is thus mapped onto itself upon a rotation of 180°, and in the case of threefold rotational symmetry, the base is mapped onto itself upon a rotation of 120°.The base is characterized by a height that is significantly smaller than its planar area. A sequin can be made of, for example, metal or plastic. A functional sequin can be understood as one that incorporates at least one electronic component, in particular other electrical, electronic, optical, or mechanical components, or a combination of these components, or that is connected to them in terms of energy and / or signal transmission. A carrier element can be, for example, a printed circuit board, especially a miniaturized one.

[0006] A contact arrangement can be understood as an electrical connection that allows the sequin to be connected externally for energy and / or signal purposes, and that allows any electronic components arranged on the carrier element to be connected for energy and / or signal purposes. A contact arrangement is formed by at least the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, and may, if required, have further electrical contacts, in particular a third electrical contact and preferably a fourth electrical contact. The electrical contacts belonging to a contact arrangement can be arranged symmetrically or arbitrarily on the carrier element.The first and / or second electrical contact can alternatively or additionally be provided and configured to attach the sequin to the garment or textile element. Preferably, the same means can be used to attach the sequin to the garment or textile element and to make the electrical contact.

[0007] A plurality of contact arrangements arranged rotationally symmetric to each other can be understood to mean that at least two contact arrangements are arranged on the support element and that the contact arrangements are mapped onto themselves in a manner analogous to the rotation of the base surface by a rotation about the central point of the base surface, if the angle of rotation corresponds to a quotient of 360° divided by m, where m again denotes the corresponding order of rotational symmetry. Advantages of the invention

[0008] The rotationally symmetrical design of the base of the functional sequin's carrier element allows for particularly easy alignment of the sequin on the garment or textile element to which it is to be placed. This is especially advantageous when several identical sequins are to be arranged in a specific pattern or manner on the garment or textile element. Because of the rotational symmetry of the base, the bases of the sequins can be aligned by rotating them by fractions of 360°, depending on the degree of rotational symmetry.

[0009] Furthermore, the rotational symmetry of the majority of the contact arrangements on the carrier element simplifies the electrical, and in particular energy-related and / or signal-related, contacting of the sequin. Depending on the number of contact arrangements, the sequin can be electrically contacted at various positions on the carrier element, especially from multiple sides.

[0010] Since the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts are at the same electrical potential, the sequin can therefore be electrically contacted at different positions on the carrier element and, in particular, from several sides, regardless of a specific arrangement of the at least one electronic component or a specific arrangement of several electronic components on the carrier element.

[0011] Further advantages arise from the sub-claims.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the number of contact arrangements can correspond to a number of rotational symmetry points of the base of the carrier element. This advantageously ensures that when the base of the carrier element is rotated by an angle equal to the quotient of 360° and the number of rotational symmetry points, the contact arrangements rotate by the same angle. This results in not only the base of the carrier element but also the contact arrangements being mapped onto themselves. Thus, with a previously defined orientation of the base of the carrier element on the garment or textile element, the sequin can always be electrically contacted at the same position on the carrier element.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the base of the carrier element is designed as a regular polygon. A regular polygon can be, for example, an equilateral triangle, a square, an equilateral pentagon, an equilateral hexagon, or the like. The fact that the base of the carrier element has sides of equal length allows the sequins to be placed, positioned, and / or aligned on the garment or textile element in a particularly simple manner. This results in a significant efficiency advantage, especially when the sequins are automatically placed, positioned, and / or aligned by a feeding unit or magazine of a placement machine.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the plurality of contact arrangements each have a third electrical contact or further electrical contacts, wherein the third electrical contact or the further electrical contacts of the plurality of contact arrangements are electrically connected. For example, the first and second electrical contacts can be used for power supply connections, and the third electrical contact, or alternatively the fourth electrical contact, can be used for signal supply connections to the sequin or the at least one electronic component arranged on the carrier element. This significantly expands the possible applications of the sequin.

[0015] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the first electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts, and / or the third or subsequent electrical contacts of the respective contacting arrangements are arranged directly adjacent to one another. This allows the electrically conductive threads intended for electrical contacting, particularly for power engineering and / or signaling purposes, to be bundled and thus supplied to the contacting arrangements of the sequin in a space-saving manner on the garment or textile element.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the first electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts, and / or the third or subsequent electrical contacts of the respective contacting arrangements are arranged essentially at an edge region of the support element. This allows the electrical contacts to be made electrically connected particularly easily by the electrically conductive threads arranged in or on the garment or textile element. It is especially advantageous if the first electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts, and / or the third or subsequent electrical contacts of the respective contacting arrangements are arranged along a line parallel to one side of the base surface. This further simplifies the electrical contacting using the electrically conductive threads.

[0017] In particular, the first, second, and / or third or subsequent electrical contacts may be designed as contact bores for receiving an electrically conductive thread. These contact bores may, for example, be provided with a metallization or an electrically conductive, cured lacquer, the metallization or lacquer extending through the bore and at least around an edge region of the bore on both sides of the support element. This allows the electrical contacts to be connected particularly easily using the electrically conductive threads.In particular, this ensures electrical contact regardless of whether the sequin is arranged, attached or integrated with the top or bottom of the carrier element facing the outside of the textile element or garment.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the carrier element has at least one centering element for aligning the sequin during application to the garment or textile element. Preferably, the at least one centering element can be designed as a bore arranged in the carrier element and / or as a projection arranged on the carrier element. The at least one centering element allows the sequin to be placed, positioned, and / or aligned particularly robustly and easily on the garment or textile element when fed by a feeding unit or magazine of an application device. In particular, if mechanical attachment of the sequin to the contact arrangements cannot be ensured or is insufficiently ensured solely by conductive threads, the sequin can be attached to the

[0019] The centering element(s) are fixed to the garment or textile element with a yarn, preferably non-conductive. Thus, in a manufacturing process, the sequin can, for example, first be correctly fed in using the holes, the same holes then being used for stitching with the preferably non-conductive yarn, particularly at different positions, and subsequently, once the sequin is securely and firmly attached to the garment or textile element, it is electrically contacted via the conductive threads on the contact arrangements.

[0020] Furthermore, it can be provided that a plurality of centering elements are arranged rotationally symmetrically on or to the carrier element, and that a number of the centering elements correspond to at least one degree of rotational symmetry of the base of the carrier element. This further improves the handling of the sequins during placement, positioning, and / or alignment on the garment or textile element.

[0021] The aforementioned advantages also apply accordingly to an arrangement comprising a sequin attached to or integrated into a garment or textile element, particularly according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, and comprising at least one first electrically conductive thread and one second electrically conductive thread for mechanically attaching the sequin to the garment or textile element and / or for electrically contacting the sequin, wherein the first electrically conductive thread is connected to one of the first electrical contacts and the second electrically conductive thread is connected to one of the second electrical contacts. This arrangement can be manufactured in a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective manner.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the at least one sequin is attached to or integrated into the garment or textile element with either its upper surface facing an outer surface of the textile element or garment, or with its underside facing the garment or garment. This advantageously provides an arrangement in which it is irrelevant whether the sequin rests on the textile element or garment with its underside or its upper surface. This further simplifies the handling of the sequin in a method for manufacturing such an arrangement.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the arrangement comprises at least one further sequin attached to or integrated into the garment or textile element, particularly according to one of the aforementioned embodiments. Here, the at least one further sequin has at least one further first electrically conductive thread and one further second electrically conductive thread for mechanically attaching the further sequin to the garment or textile element and / or for electrically contacting the further sequin, wherein the further first electrically conductive thread is connected to one of the first electrical contacts and the further second electrically conductive thread is connected to one of the second electrical contacts of the at least one further sequin.Furthermore, in this arrangement, the bases of both sequins on the garment or textile element are shifted parallel to each other, particularly along a horizontal and / or vertical axis, such that their bases do not overlap. In other words, the arrangement comprises a plurality of similar or identical sequins, which are arranged in a shifted configuration, particularly in rows and / or columns. The distances between the sequins are chosen such that they just do not touch. The bases of the sequins all have the same orientation. Since the bases of the sequins are rotationally symmetrical, individual sequins can be rotated relative to other sequins by a specific angle, where the angle corresponds to the quotient of 360° divided by the number of degrees of rotational symmetry.

[0024] The aforementioned advantages also apply accordingly to a method for manufacturing an arrangement according to one of the embodiments described above. The method comprises at least one step of supplying at least one sequin to the garment or textile element via a feeding device, wherein the supply is such that the at least one sequin has a defined or definable orientation on the garment or textile element. Furthermore, the method comprises a step of attaching and / or electrically contacting the at least one sequin by means of at least one first electrically conductive thread and at least one second electrically conductive thread, wherein the first electrically conductive thread is connected to one of the first electrical contacts and the second electrically conductive thread is connected to one of the second electrical contacts. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

[0026] The same reference symbols are used for the elements depicted in the various figures that have a similar effect, without repeating the description of the elements.

[0027] They show: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a functional sequin for a garment or textile element in a top view according to an exemplary embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an arrangement with a plurality of functional sequins made of Figure 1 in a top view according to an exemplary embodiment; Figure 3 a schematic representation of an arrangement with a functional sequin made of Figure 1 in a top view according to a further embodiment; and Figure 4 a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an arrangement.

[0028] As already explained above, the present invention describes a functional sequin for a garment or textile element, an arrangement comprising such a functional sequin, and a method for manufacturing such an arrangement. This allows for the provision and / or manufacture of a functional sequin in a particularly simple manner, characterized by its simplified handling.

[0029] In Figure 1 A functional sequin 1 is shown in a top view. The functional sequin 1 has a carrier element 10 designed as a printed circuit board 10a. A plurality of electronic components 12 are arranged essentially arbitrarily on the printed circuit board 10a. The electronic components 12 can be, for example, actuators, sensors, LEDs, or the like.

[0030] A base surface 20 of the support element 10 is designed as a regular polygon. In this case, the base surface 20 is configured as a square 21. The square 21 is rotationally symmetric with a rotational symmetry order of four. This means that the base surface 20 is mapped onto itself by 90° (360° / 4) when rotated about a central pivot point 25. The support element 10 also has four contact arrangements 30, which are likewise arranged rotationally symmetrically about the central pivot point 25. Furthermore, the four contact arrangements 30 can be configured as shown in the Figure 1 The contact arrangements 30 are essentially arranged centrally between two parallel sides 22 and in the immediate vicinity of another side 22 of the square 21. However, other arrangements of the contact arrangements 30 are also possible.

[0031] Each of the four contact arrangements 30 has a first electrical contact 31 and a second electrical contact 32. All four first electrical contacts 31 and all four second electrical contacts 32 are electrically connected to each other (not shown). Thus, the sequin 1 can be electrically contacted at four different positions. Provided that the orientation of the base surface 20 of the carrier element 10 does not change (regardless of whether the arrangement of the electronic components 12 located on it changes), a sequin 1 rotated by 90°, 180°, or 270° about the central pivot point 25 can therefore be electrically contacted in the same way, for example, on the lower side 22 of the square 21.Optionally, each of the four contact arrangements 30 can additionally have a third electrical contact or even a fourth electrical contact, wherein all four third electrical contacts and all four fourth electrical contacts are electrically connected to each other. Preferably, all electrical contacts 31, 32 of a contact arrangement 30 are arranged along a line, in particular parallel to a side 22 of the square 21. Furthermore, preferably, all electrical contacts 31, 32 are designed as contact bores, such that an electrically conductive thread can be guided through the respective contact bores for electrical connection, in particular for power engineering and / or signaling purposes.

[0032] Furthermore, the base surface 20 has at least one centering element 40 designed as a bore 41, a centering opening 42, and / or a projection 43. The centering element 40 serves to align the sequin 1 or the base surface 20 of the carrier element 10 when the sequin 1 is to be arranged and / or applied to a garment or textile element (not shown here). In particular, this facilitates the feeding of the sequin 1 by means of a feeding unit or a magazine of a placement machine. The centering element 40, designed as a bore 41, a centering opening 42, and / or a projection 43, can additionally or alternatively serve as a fastening element.In particular, if mechanical fastening of the sequin 1 cannot be ensured, or is insufficiently ensured, solely by conductive threads to the contact arrangements 30, the sequin 1 can be fixed to the centering element 40 or centering elements 40 with a yarn, preferably electrically non-conductive, on the garment or textile element. Thus, in a manufacturing process, the sequin 1 can, for example, first be correctly fed in using the bores 41, the same bores 41 then being used for stitching with the preferably non-conductive yarn, and subsequently, once the sequin 1 is securely and firmly attached to the garment or textile element, it can be electrically contacted via the conductive threads on the contact arrangements 30.Particularly advantageous are bores 41 which are arranged, in particular evenly, distributed on an edge area, preferably along a line parallel to one side (22) of the base surface (20) of the support element (10), so that an even mechanical attachment of the sequin 1 to the garment or textile element can be achieved.

[0033] Preferably, the base surface 20 has a plurality of centering elements 40. The centering elements 40 are arranged rotationally symmetrically around the central pivot point 25. Preferably, the rotational symmetry of this arrangement of the centering elements 40 has the same number as the rotational symmetry of the base surface 20 of the support element 10.

[0034] Preferably, the sequins 1 can be used electrically and mechanically with a garment or textile element by means of the electrical contacts 31, 32 designed as contact bores and / or mechanically by means of the centering elements 40.

[0035] In Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an arrangement 2 with a functional sequin 1 made of Figure 1 shown in a top view according to an exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the pallet 1 is arranged on a garment 60 or a textile element 60 and is shown in four different orientations. Each of the four functional sequins 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d corresponds to the sequin 1 from Figure 1The individual sequins 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are arranged from left to right, each rotated 90° relative to the others. This is illustrated by arrow 26. Since each base 20 of the sequins 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d has four rotationally symmetrical contact arrangements 30, each of the sequins 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d can be electrically contacted by means of two preferably parallel and essentially one-way electrically conductive threads 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. The electrically conductive threads 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d can be integrated into or arranged on the garment 60 or the textile element 60 and lead to an external energy source 61. The external energy source 61 can serve for the energy-related and / or signal-related contacting of the sequin 1 or the electronic components 12 arranged on it.This integration of the electrically conductive threads8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and / or their electrical contacting at the contact arrangements 30 can be carried out by means of an automated embroidery process or by means of an embroidery program.

[0036] The at least one sequin 1 can be attached or integrated to the garment 60 or the textile element 60 with either an upper side of the carrier element 10 facing an outer side of the textile element 60 or the garment 60, or with an underside of the carrier element 10. In other words, it is irrelevant for the sequin 1 and / or the arrangement 2 whether the sequin is attached or integrated as shown in Figure 2 shown or rotated by 180° about an axis parallel to an axis lying in a plane of the support element 10, aligned and arranged or integrated on the textile element 60 or the garment 60.

[0037] In Figure 3is a schematic representation of a further arrangement 2 with a plurality of functional sequins 1 made of Figure 1A top view of a further embodiment is shown. Here, three functional sequins 1a, 1b, 1c are arranged on the textile 60, each parallel to the others. In this case, the arrangement of the electronic components 12 on the square base 20 of the functional sequin 1 remains unchanged. The contact arrangements 30, located on each side 22 of the square base 20 of the functional sequins 1a, 1b, 1c, allow each functional sequin 1a, 1b, 1c to be electrically contacted via the external power source 61 by means of two preferably parallel electrically conductive threads 8a, 8b, 8c. Depending on how the functional sequins 1a, 1b, 1c are parallel to each other, an advantageous positioning and / or orientation of the electrically conductive threads 8a, 8b, 8c can be achieved.The electrically conductive threads 8a, 8b, 8c can be treated analogously to the description given above. Figure 2 be integrated or arranged in or on the garment 60 or the textile element 60 and lead to an external energy source 61.

[0038] In Figure 4Figure 100 shows a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an arrangement 2 according to one of the embodiments described above. In step 101, at least one sequin 1 is provided via a feeding device on a garment 60 or a textile element 60 such that the sequin 1 has a defined or definable orientation on the garment 60 or the textile element 60. In a further step 102, the at least one sequin 1 is fastened and / or electrically contacted by means of at least one first electrically conductive thread 8 and one second electrically conductive thread 8, wherein the first electrically conductive thread 8 is connected to one of the first electrical contacts 31 and the second electrically conductive thread 8 is connected to one of the second electrical contacts 32.The centering element 40, designed as a bore 41, a centering opening 42, and / or a projection 43, can additionally or alternatively serve as a mechanical fastening means. In particular, if mechanical fastening of the sequin cannot be ensured, or is insufficiently ensured, solely by the electrically conductive threads 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d to the contact arrangements 30, the sequin 1 can be fixed to the garment or textile element 60 with a yarn, preferably a non-conductive one. Steps 101 and 102 can then be repeated to provide, fasten, and / or electrically contact another sequin 1 on the garment 60 or textile element 60.

Claims

1. Functional paillette (1) for an item of clothing (60) or a textile element (60), comprising • at least one carrier element (10) for at least one electronic component (12), wherein the carrier element (10) has a rotationally symmetrical basic surface area (20) with a multiple rotational symmetry, • a plurality of contacting arrangements (30), which are arranged rotationally symmetrically in relation to each other on the carrier element (10), for electrically contacting the at least one electronic component (12), each contacting arrangement having at least a first electrical contact (31) and a second electrical contact (32), • characterized in that the first electrical contacts (31) of the plurality of contacting arrangements (30) are electrically connected and the second electrical contacts (32) of the plurality of contacting arrangements (30) are electrically connected.

2. Paillette (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a number of the contacting arrangements (30) corresponds to a multiplicity of the rotational symmetry of the basic surface area (20) of the carrier element (10).

3. Paillette (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the basic surface area (20) of the carrier element (10) is configured as a regular polygon.

4. Paillette (1) according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plurality of contacting arrangements (30) each have a third electrical contact or each have further electrical contacts, wherein the third electrical contact or the further electrical contacts of the plurality of contacting arrangements (30) are electrically connected in each case.

5. Paillette (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first electrical contacts (31), the second electrical contacts (32) and / or the third or further electrical contacts of each one of the contacting arrangements (30) are arranged directly adjacent to each other.

6. Paillette (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first electrical contacts (31), the second electrical contacts (32) and / or the third or further electrical contacts of each one of the contacting arrangements (30) are arranged substantially at an edge region, in particular along a line parallel to one side (22) of the basic surface area (20), of the carrier element (10).

7. Paillette (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first electrical contacts (31), the second electrical contacts (32) and / or the third or further electrical contacts are formed as contact holes for receiving an electrically conductive thread (8).

8. Paillette (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier element (10) has at least one centring element (40) for aligning and / or fixing the paillette (1) as it is attached to the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60), wherein the at least one centring element (40) is preferably configured as a bore (41), centring opening (42) and / or projection (43) arranged in / on the carrier element.

9. Paillette (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that a plurality of centring elements (40) are arranged rotationally symmetrically at or on the carrier element (10) and a number of the centring elements (40) corresponds at least to a multiplicity of the rotational symmetry of the basic surface area (20) of the carrier element (10).

10. Arrangement (2), comprising at least one paillette (1) according to any of Claims 1 to 9 attached to or integrated with an item of clothing (60) or a textile element (60), and at least a first electrically conductive thread (8) and a second electrically conductive thread (8) for mechanically fastening the paillette (1) to the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60) and / or for electrically contacting the paillette (1), wherein the first electrically conductive thread (8) is connected to one of the first electrical contacts (31) and the second electrically conductive thread (8) is connected to one of the second electrical contacts (32).

11. Arrangement (2) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the at least one paillette (1) is fastened to the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60) by means of at least one centring element 40, in particular formed as a bore 41, as a centring opening 42 and / or as a projection 43.

12. Arrangement (2) according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one paillette (1) is attached to or integrated with the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60) by way of a top side of the carrier element (10), the top side facing an outer side of the textile element (60) or the item of clothing (60), or by way of a bottom side of the carrier element (10).

13. Arrangement (2) according to any of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the arrangement (2) has at least one further paillette (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) according to any of Claims 1 to 9 attached to or integrated with the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60), wherein the basic surface areas (20) of both paillettes (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) are displaced in parallel in relation to each other on the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60), in particular along a horizontal and / or vertical axis, in such a way that their basic surface areas (20) do not overlap.

14. Method (100) for producing an arrangement (2) according to any of Claims 10 to 13, comprising the steps of: - providing (101) at least one paillette (1) via a feed device on an item of clothing (60) or a textile element (60) in such a way that the paillette (1) has a defined or definable orientation on the item of clothing (60) or the textile element (60); and - fastening (102) and / or electrically contacting (102) the at least one paillette (1) by means of at least a first electrically conductive thread (8) and a second electrically conductive thread (8), wherein the first electrically conductive thread (8) is connected to one of the first electrical contacts (31) and the second electrically conductive thread (8) is connected to one of the second electrical contacts (32).