Variable Thickness Leather Strip Slicing for Patterned Ornamentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processes for creating ornamental and/or coating elements in leather or similar materials are complex and inconvenient, lacking a simple and efficient method to produce elements with predefined patterns for applications like furniture, leather goods, luggage, and jewelry.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the provision of leather or juice strips with variable thickness, assembly into a block, slicing into predetermined thicknesses, and assembly into ornamental or coating sub-elements to form a patterned element that can be fixed onto a support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If existing processes are used to create ornamental and/or coating elements in leather or similar materials, then the production of patterned elements is achieved, but the process is complex and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The leather material is divided into multiple strips of varying thicknesses, which are then individually arranged and assembled into a block structure. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing by breaking down the complex pattern creation into manageable strip assembly steps, directly addressing the contradiction between ease of manufacture and process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The strips are pre-cut to specific thicknesses and pre-assembled into a block structure before the final pattern formation. This preliminary preparation simplifies the subsequent slicing and pattern assembly steps, making the overall manufacturing process more convenient and less complex

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If existing processes are used to create ornamental and/or coating elements in leather or similar materials, then the production of patterned elements is achieved, but the method lacks simplicity and efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the leather into standardized strips with specific thickness variations, the invention enables efficient assembly into patterned blocks. The strips can be systematically arranged and sliced into uniform sections, significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes systematic variations in strip thickness as a key parameter to create diverse patterns from identical base materials. By changing the thickness parameter of individual strips rather than modifying the entire material structure, the process achieves high productivity with simple manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4249611B1Method for producing a leather or leather substitute or similar decorative and/or covering element to be fastened to a support for furnishing, leather goods, jewellery
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 HERMES SELLIER (SOCIETE PAR ACTIONS SIMPLIFIEE)
  • EP4249611B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4249611B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP4249611B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a leather ornament and/or covering element, comprising the steps of providing (120) strips extending globally longitudinally and having a variable thickness from a first end of the thinnest thickness to a second end opposite the first end; of assembling (130) the strips by superimposing them to form a block of strips having a first thinned end formed by the first thinner ends of the plurality of strips and a second end opposite the first thinned end and formed by the second ends of the strips, the block having a variable thickness formed by the sum of the variable thicknesses of the strips; of slicing (140) the block of strips along a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of extension of the strips to obtain slices of predetermined thickness;and to assemble (170) securely slices and/or portions of slices forming sub-elements of ornament and/or cladding so as to obtain the ornament and/or cladding element having a defined pattern.;