Flame-Resistant Embroidery Thread System for Firefighter Uniforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard embroidery on firefighter and similar uniforms is not flame-resistant, posing a risk of burning or becoming an active fire hazard during exposure to flames, which can cause injury.
Innovation Solution
The system uses flame-resistant threads for both primary and bobbin threads, along with a fireproof backing, to create and secure flame-resistant emblems on clothing, ensuring the embroidery remains intact and non-flammable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard embroidery is used on firefighter uniforms, then the uniform can be decorated with patterns and designs, but the embroidery becomes a fire hazard that can catch fire and cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the embroidery threads from standard combustible materials to flame-resistant materials. The system uses specialized threads that have been treated or manufactured to resist ignition and combustion, fundamentally altering the fire safety parameters while maintaining the embroidery function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures including flame-resistant threads, heat-resistant adhesives, and fireproof backing materials. These composite materials combine multiple properties to achieve both decorative functionality and fire resistance, creating an embroidered patch that can withstand high-heat environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard threadwork is used on garments exposed to fire, then the garment can be customized with patches and designs, but the threadwork lacks the properties necessary to resist damage from fire exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the thermal and chemical parameters of the thread materials to resist fire damage. Flame-resistant threads are used that maintain their structural integrity at high temperatures, preventing the threadwork from burning or deteriorating during fire exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fireproof backing materials and heat-resistant adhesives as intermediary elements between the embroidery threads and the garment. These intermediaries provide thermal protection and structural support, ensuring the threadwork remains securely attached and resistant to fire damage
3Ease of manufacture
If regular embroidery materials are used, then the embroidery can be applied to clothing, but the embroidery may burn off during fire exposure and become an active fire hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of embroidery materials by treating them with flame-retardant chemicals or using inherently fire-resistant fibers. The harmful combustibility is transformed into beneficial fire resistance through material selection and chemical treatment, allowing the embroidery to withstand fire exposure without becoming a hazard
Solution Approach 2:
The system fundamentally changes the combustion parameters of the embroidery materials by using threads with high ignition temperatures and low burn rates. These modified materials do not easily ignite or sustain combustion, eliminating the fire hazard while preserving the decorative function
Data Source
AI summary
A system for embroidering a flame-resistant emblem uses flame-resistant threads for both the primary thread and the bobbin thread, as well as any accompanying supplemental fabrics. The flame-resistant primary thread protects the embroidered portion of the underlying material from any direct flame exposure. The flame-resistant bobbin thread ensures that the embroidered pattern cannot fall off of a garment, further flameproofing both the garment and present invention. Furthermore, a backing may be provided as a mechanism for providing a stitchwork surface and for adding dimensionality to the pattern. The backing may also be made of fireproof threads. The apparatus may also be utilized for appending a flame-resistant patch or patches onto a garment. Such a mechanism allows for attachment of flame-resistant threadwork onto any clothing. The primary thread, bobbin thread, backing, and any other additional threads may utilize fire-resistant aramid fibers, which sufficiently fireproofs garments before deployment into potential fire exposure.