Slide Fastener Stringer Cover Sheet Conceals Substrate Texture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide fastener stringers have limitations in concealing the rough surface structure of the substrate tape while maintaining a visible design on the cover film, which affects the aesthetic and functional performance.
Innovation Solution
A slide fastener stringer design featuring a substrate tape with an irregular surface structure and a cover sheet made of an artificial flexible material with a thermoformable bottom layer, where the cover sheet is attached using a resin film to conceal the rough surface structure, and the thickness of the substrate tape and cover sheet are balanced to prevent excessive thickness, allowing the design to remain visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a cover film is attached to the substrate tape to conceal the rough surface structure, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the design visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover sheet is designed with differentiated local properties: the bottom layer provides smoothing and concealment of the substrate tape's rough surface structure, while the top surface maintains design visibility. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of aesthetic appearance and design visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover sheet is constructed as a composite structure with a bottom layer made of thermoformable material that conforms to and conceals the rough substrate surface, and a top surface that displays the predetermined design. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between concealment and visibility.
2Shape
If the cover sheet thickness is increased to fully conceal the rough surface structure, then the surface smoothness is improved, but the overall thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness of the cover sheet is optimized to a specific range (0.5mm to 2.0mm) that provides sufficient concealment of the rough surface structure while preventing excessive overall thickness. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between concealment effectiveness and thickness control.
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 hides the rough surface structure of the substrate tape while maintaining a visible design, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functional performance of the slide fastener stringer.
Implementation Method 1
the cover sheet is attached to the substrate tape by means of a resin film
Implementation Method 2
a bottom layer made of a thermoformable material having a predetermined thickness
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An objective of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener stringer and a method for fabrication thereof whereby a coarse surface structure on one face of a support layer tape is not perceivable with eyes or by contact, and it is possible to impart a prescribed design to one face of the support layer tape. A slide fastener stringer (1) comprises: a support layer tape (2), further comprising a first main side face (2a) having a coarse surface structure which can be perceived with eyes or by contact, and a second main side face (2b) on the opposite side from the first main side face (2a); retaining means (3) which are anchored along a vertical edge of the first main side face (2a) of the support layer tape (2); and a cover sheet (4) made from an artificial flexible material, further comprising an upper face (4a) having a prescribed design or texture, and a bottom layer (4b) having a prescribed thickness and made with a thermoformable material. The bottom layer (4b) is bonded to the second main side face (2b) of the support layer tape (2) such that the surface structure of the second main side face (2b) of the support layer tape (2) is not perceivable through the cover sheet (4).