Functional Textile Structure With Hidden Back-Side Stitching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile structures incorporating functional threads, such as electrically conductive threads, are aesthetically unappealing due to visible stitching points on the front surface, making them unsuitable for applications requiring high quality appearance, like labels and garments.
Innovation Solution
A textile structure is designed with functional threads positioned at the back surface, linked to weft yarns via stitching points between the median lying plane and the back surface, ensuring these points are not visible from the front surface, using a weaving process that incorporates anchoring weft yarns and fixing yarns to conceal the interlacing points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If functional threads are incorporated into the base fabric using conventional weaving methods, then the textile structure gains functional properties (electrical conductivity, heating, RFID), but stitching points become visible on the front surface, degrading aesthetic quality
Solution Approach 1:
The functional thread is positioned in a different spatial dimension (at the back surface) relative to the base fabric's front surface, allowing functional integrity to be maintained without compromising aesthetic quality. The functional thread extends along the weft direction at the back surface and is linked to weft yarns through stitching points that are hidden from the front view.
2Ease of manufacture
If stitching points are positioned at the front surface for functional thread attachment, then functional thread integration is simplified, but visible stitching points degrade the appearance of the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The stitching points are repositioned from the front surface to the back surface of the base fabric, changing their spatial location to a different dimension. This allows the functional thread to be securely attached while the stitching points remain hidden from the front view, maintaining both manufacturing feasibility and aesthetic quality.
3Shape
If functional threads are laid on the base fabric without dipping within the open shed, then aesthetic quality is improved, but the functional thread cannot be securely linked to the weft yarns
Solution Approach 1:
The functional thread is preliminarily positioned at the back surface of the base fabric before the weft yarns are inserted. The stitching points are then formed by dipping the functional thread into the open shed at the back surface, allowing secure linkage to the weft yarns while maintaining aesthetic quality at the front surface.
Data Source
AI summary
In a base fabric (2) having a front surface (F) and a back surface (B) at mutually opposite sides with respect to a median lying plane (P), weft yarns (4a, 4b, 4c) interlace with warp yarns (3) at respective interlacing points (IPa, IPb, IPc) at which the weft yarns cross the median lying plane (P) to override at least one of the warp yarns. At least one functional thread (5) extending along a pre-established pattern at the back surface (B) of the base fabric (2), without crossing the median lying plane (P), and is linked with the weft yarns (4a, 4b, 4c) at stitching points (SP) positioned between the median lying plane (P) and the back surface (B) of the base fabric (2), so that the stitching points (SP) are not visible from a front surface (F) opposite to the back surface (B).