Flame-Resistant Closure With Carrier Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flame-retardant closures, such as Velcro fasteners, do not meet the increased flammability requirements in aircraft technology, particularly the EADS specification FAR25.853(b), and are often expensive to implement, especially when using carbon fiber materials or complex coating processes.

Innovation Solution

A flame-retardant closure is created by using a standard, cost-effective closure part made from conventional plastic materials like polypropylene or polyamide, combined with a special carrier layer containing a flame-retardant medium or active extinguishing substance, which can be attached using an adhesive layer, ensuring effective flame retardancy and ease of use in tight spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional plastic materials (polypropylene, polyamide) are used for closure parts, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but flame-retardant properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost-effectivenessVSAvoidflammability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional plastic closure parts with a carrier layer containing flame-retardant medium. The closure part consists of a base fabric made from conventional textiles or plastics combined with a carrier layer containing flame-retardant substances such as phosphorus compounds, nitrogen compounds, or metal hydroxides. This composite structure maintains the cost-effectiveness of conventional materials while achieving the required flame-retardant properties through the synergistic combination of materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If carbon fiber materials are used for flame-retardant closure, then flame-retardant properties are improved, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflammabilityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive flame-retardant media such as phosphorus compounds, nitrogen compounds, aluminum hydroxide, or magnesium hydroxide instead of expensive carbon fiber materials. These cheaper flame-retardant substances are applied to conventional closure parts through coating, impregnation, or lamination processes, achieving the required flame-retardant performance at a fraction of the cost of carbon fiber solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If complex coating processes are used to achieve flame retardancy, then flame-retardant properties are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflammabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the flame-retardant function with the existing closure part structure by integrating the flame-retardant medium into the carrier layer that is already part of the closure assembly. Rather than adding separate complex coating processes, the flame-retardant properties are combined with the base fabric or backing layer through impregnation or lamination, simplifying the overall structure while achieving the required flame resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If flame-retardant medium is introduced into fastener itself, then flame-retardant properties are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflammabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-treating the base fabric or carrier layer with flame-retardant media before assembling the closure components. The flame-retardant substances are impregnated into the textile base material or applied as a pre-formed coating layer during the fabric manufacturing process, so that when the closure parts are assembled, the flame-retardant protection is already in place, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides a cost-effective flame-retardant closure that meets the stringent flammability requirements while allowing for easy attachment and use in confined areas, such as passenger seat upholstery, without using harmful substances or expensive materials.

Implementation Method 1

a flame-retardant closure having at least one closure part with at least one basic fabric made of warp threads and weft threads and having functional threads protruding on the front side of the basic fabric, which at least partially penetrate the basic fabric and form the closure elements, the basic fabric being of a non-flame-retardant type and at least partially has a carrier layer with a flame-retardant medium and/or with an active extinguishing medium on its rear side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlame retardancy:

Data Source

PatentEP1973440B1Flame-resistant closure
Publication Date: 2011.03.09 GOTTLIEB BINDER
  • EP1973440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a flame-resistant closure comprising at least one closing part having at least one two-dimensional backing fabric (14) from warp threads (10) and weft threads (12) and having functional threads (16) on the right side of the backing fabric (14) that at least partially extend through the backing fabric (14) and that form the closing elements (18). The backing fabric (14) is of the non-flame-resistant type and at least some sections of its reverse side comprise a substrate layer (32) with a hardly inflammable medium and/or with an active extinguishing medium. The closure according to the invention meets even high demands on low inflammability.