Bonded Managed Friction Material Surface for Abrasion Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sewn seams in fabric materials used for support surfaces, such as wheelchair cushions and bedding, can cause abrasion and ulceration due to their roughness and increased friction, posing a significant risk to individuals with compromised skin integrity, and are difficult to sew smoothly, especially with low-friction materials that tend to slide and wrinkle during the sewing process.
Innovation Solution
A bonded managed friction material surface is created with uniform bonded seams, featuring zones of high and low friction, where the plies are selectively bonded to form high friction areas and remain unbonded in low friction zones, allowing adjacent plies to move freely, thus reducing shear stress and eliminating abrasive seams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sewn seams are used to join multiple panels or plies of fabric materials, then the material surface can be constructed with zones of high and low friction, but the seams become rough and abrasive causing skin damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful sewing process and replaces it with bonding technology. Multiple plies are joined through bonding instead of sewing, eliminating the abrasive seam structure while maintaining the ability to create zones of high and low friction through selective bonding patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical sewing system is replaced with a bonding system. Instead of using needles and thread to mechanically join fabric plies, the invention uses bonding agents or thermal bonding processes to join the plies, resulting in smooth surfaces that do not abrade skin
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low friction fabric plies are used to reduce skin abrasion, then skin comfort is improved, but the materials become difficult to sew as they slide and wrinkle during the sewing process
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the sewing operation from the manufacturing process for low friction materials. By using bonding instead of sewing, the problematic interaction between low friction fabric and sewing machine feed mechanisms is eliminated, allowing these difficult-to-sew materials to be manufactured effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical feeding and stitching system is replaced with a bonding system that does not require the fabric to be fed through machines. Low friction plies can be bonded together without sliding or wrinkling issues because the bonding process does not involve mechanical feeding mechanisms that struggle with slippery materials
Data Source
AI summary
A substantially smooth, seamless managed friction material surface and apparatus for placement on a support surface between the support surface and a living being for preventing abrasion or decubitus ulcers in a living being. The managed friction material surface comprises a plurality of plies having a smooth side and a first, high friction zone and second, low friction zone. At least one adhesive ply is interposed partially between adjacent plies; and the plies are selectively bonded to form adjacent frictional zones of high and low friction. Unbonded plies are allowed to move substantially freely with respect to one another thus providing a lower friction zone. The apparatus comprises the managed friction material surface such that the bonded zone is configured for positioning remote the bony prominence and the unbonded zone for positioning proximate the bony prominence, seamlessly occupying different areas on the same side of the material surface.