Fabric Tape Eyelet Alignment Using Integrated Visual Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fabric tapes with visual matching elements for upholstery face issues such as entanglement, complex production processes, and misalignment of eyelets, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs in mass production and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A fabric tape design featuring a flexible stretching rope with equidistant eyelets and contrasting tubular sections serving as visual markers, allowing for precise positioning and tensioning without auxiliary eyelets, produced in a single process on a specialized loom to prevent entanglement and simplify assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If visual matching elements are positioned on one side of the tape and eyelets on the opposite side, then the tape structure is simplified, but misalignment and confusion occur during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetape structureVSAvoideyelet positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines visual matching elements and eyelets into the same lateral end of the tape, eliminating the spatial separation that caused misalignment. The eyelets are positioned in registration with the visual matching elements, allowing assembly operators to easily locate and align eyelets with corresponding hooks during installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If floating fabric visual matching elements are used, then the tape production is simplified, but the elements get entangled during insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetape productionVSAvoidentanglement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flat, non-floating visual matching element that is integrated into the tape structure rather than being a separate floating component. This flat element design prevents entanglement during insertion while maintaining ease of production through single-step loom integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If standard production processes are used for separate eyelets and visual matching elements, then production flexibility is maintained, but production time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction flexibilityVSAvoidassembly efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the production of visual matching elements and eyelets into a single loom operation, allowing both features to be created simultaneously in one production step. This integration maintains flexibility in tape design while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating separate production and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2431506B1Fabric tape with visual matching elements

Publication Date: 2015.04.01 FILMAR

Figure 1~4

AI summary

Fabric tape (10, 10a) comprising a first upper side, a second lower side and a flexible stretching rope (30); the flexible stretching rope (30) is positioned upon a first side (10s) and substantially oriented along a first axis X of maximum extension of the tape (10, 10a); the flexible stretching rope (30) enters and exits from a plurality of eyelets (30p) of the tape (10, 10a) alternatively being on first tracts visible on the first side and upon second tracts visible on the second side.