Covering material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing covering materials for safety systems, such as airbag units, require complex positioning and additional processing steps to ensure correct functioning, with hidden defects in predetermined breaking points being difficult to recognize, leading to potential visual fatigue or cracks on the surface.
Innovation Solution
A textile substrate with threads forming predetermined breaking points, allowing for a covering material with adjustable tensile force and separation force across various temperatures, enabling easy positioning and tear-open functionality without additional processing, using a thermoplastic and/or duroplastic coating for durability and design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If predetermined breaking points are introduced into the covering material, then the airbag unit can be covered and its function ensured, but the positioning process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the textile substrate by incorporating threads with controlled low tear strength, creating predetermined breaking points with specific force thresholds. This allows the covering material to automatically tear at these predetermined points when subjected to sufficient force, eliminating the need for precise positioning while ensuring reliable airbag deployment.
2Reliability
If predetermined breaking points are introduced into the covering material, then the airbag unit can be covered, but additional work processes and quality checks are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of the covering material with the predetermined breaking points by incorporating low-strength threads directly into the textile substrate during manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate processes to introduce breaking points and reduces quality checks to simple visual inspections, as the breaking points are inherently visible through the coating.
3Reliability
If predetermined breaking points are introduced into the covering material, then the airbag unit can be covered, but defects or insufficient breaking points are not immediately recognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the visual contrast between the threads and the coating to make predetermined breaking points visible. The threads are positioned such that they appear as visible indicators through the coating layer, allowing immediate recognition of breaking point locations and easy detection of any defects or insufficient breaking points during inspection.
4Ease of operation
If the covering material is made with low tear strength threads, then easy positioning is achieved, but the material may separate from the coating at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the properties of different components: the textile substrate uses low-strength threads for easy tearing and positioning, while the coating layer uses high-temperature resistant materials and adhesive compositions formulated to maintain strong bonding across the temperature range of -45°C to 130°C. This local differentiation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
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 allows for flexible positioning and reliable tear-open functionality across different orientations and temperatures, reducing installation costs and waste, ensuring the airbag unit's function while maintaining a visually appealing surface without visible defects.
Implementation Method 1
a separating force required to separate the carrier material from the coating is greater than 10 N/5 cm in a temperature range between minus 45° C. and 130° C.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a covering material comprising a textile carrier material (1) made of threads and a coating (2) based on thermoplastic polymers applied to the visible side of the textile carrier material (1), wherein the textile carrier material (1) contains threads of low tensile strength to form predetermined breaking points for the covering material (3), wherein the textile carrier material is formed entirely of threads forming predetermined breaking points and the covering material has a maximum tensile force of 50 to 700 N / 5 cm at any position in the longitudinal and transverse directions as well as at any angles in the plane spanned by the longitudinal and transverse directions and the separation force required to separate the carrier material (1) from the coating (2) in a temperature range between -45°C and 130°C is greater than 10 N / 5 cm.