Polyurethane Silicone Ribbon for Heat-Sealing Textiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat-sealing ribbons for textiles lack functional and aesthetic differentiation, limiting their technical and fashion applications to simple fastening, trimming, and reinforcement with limited customization options.

Innovation Solution

A ribbon comprising a polyurethane-based laminar support with integrated silicone-based layers, offering enhanced elasticity, friction, and aesthetic appeal, allowing for improved heat-sealing functionality and design versatility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional heat-sealing ribbons are used, then fastening and trimming operations can be performed, but functional and aesthetic differentiation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional and aesthetic differentiationVSAvoidribbon structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ribbon is divided into multiple functional layers: a support layer providing structural basis, a heat-sealing layer enabling thermal bonding to fabric, and an outer layer providing aesthetic appearance and additional functionality. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall ribbon performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ribbon employs composite material construction combining different materials with complementary properties: the support layer uses thermoplastic materials for structural integrity, the heat-sealing layer uses materials with appropriate melting points and adhesion characteristics, and the outer layer uses materials providing desired aesthetic and functional properties. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of mechanical, thermal, and aesthetic requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If ribbons are used only for fastening and trimming, then technical functionality is achieved, but aesthetic customization is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic customizationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The outer layer of the ribbon is specifically designed with localized aesthetic properties including color variations, patterns, textures, and surface finishes. This allows different regions of the ribbon to provide different aesthetic qualities, enabling customization for specific fashion applications while maintaining uniform functional performance in the internal layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The ribbon incorporates various color options, patterns, and surface treatments in the outer layer to provide aesthetic customization. The heat-sealing layer is positioned between the fabric and the aesthetic outer layer, allowing the ribbon to provide both functional heat-sealing capability and desired aesthetic appearance when applied to garments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If a multi-layer ribbon structure is implemented, then functional and aesthetic effects are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat-sealing functionalityVSAvoidribbon structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ribbon integrates multiple functions into a single composite structure: the support layer provides structural integrity, the heat-sealing layer provides thermal bonding capability, and the outer layer provides aesthetic appearance and additional functionality. This merging of functions into one integrated component eliminates the need for separate application of multiple components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the multi-layer construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ribbon is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides structural support, heat-sealing capability, aesthetic appearance, and potential additional functions such as elasticity or friction control. This universal design allows a single ribbon product to replace multiple separate components, reducing manufacturing steps and improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 ribbon provides enhanced heat-sealing capabilities, improved fabric attachment, and aesthetic customization, ensuring the garment maintains its position during wear and offering new technical and fashion effects.

Implementation Method 1

This material not only enables heat-sealing, but in addition has elastic properties making it particularly suitable for coupling to fabrics also of different nature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the presence of the silicone, technical articles of clothing can be made which are able to maintain or ensure the position they have taken, once worn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

a ribbon for heat-sealing of fabrics... made of a material suitable for being heat-sealed to a fabric

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sealing: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2307196B1A ribbon for heat -sealing
Publication Date: 2012.01.04 FRA SER SPA
  • EP2307196B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP2307196B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2307196B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A ribbon for heat-sealing of fabrics has been made which comprises a thin-sheet support (2) of a polyurethane-based material suitable to be heat-sealed to a fabric; at an upper face (2b) of the support, laying of at least one layer (3) of a silicone-based material is provided, said layer being in the form of one or more continuous or interrupted strips extending along the same extension as the ribbon.