Quilt binding press

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for pressing a straight lengthwise crease in quilt binding fabric are tedious, prone to off-centered or double creases, and lack continuous feeding capability, making the binding process inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A quilt binding press with a platform and upstanding parallel guides that allows continuous feeding of binding fabric across a stationary ironing surface, ensuring a straight crease is imparted in a linear pathway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If hand pressing is done on an ironing board, then the crease can be pressed, but the process is tedious and results in off-centered or double creases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrease alignmentVSAvoidpressing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a press-as-you-fold device as an intermediary tool between the fabric and the ironing board. This device includes alignment guides and a pressing surface that mediate the folding and pressing process, ensuring the fabric remains centered and the crease is straight throughout the operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs preliminary alignment of the fabric edges using guide rails and stop mechanisms before the actual pressing occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures the fabric is correctly oriented and centered, preventing off-centered or double creases during the pressing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If pre-pressed bindings are purchased, then the crease is already made, but continuous feeding capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding preparationVSAvoidcontinuous processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous feeding of binding fabric through the press-as-you-fold device. The fabric can be fed continuously from a roll or stack, and the device maintains consistent alignment and pressing action throughout the entire length of the fabric, eliminating the need to stop and reposition for each section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If the Quilt Binding Express is used, then folding is simplified, but the fabric follows a non-linear pathway and continuous feeding across a stationary pressing surface is not permitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding processVSAvoidcrease linearity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the pressing surface into multiple zones with progressively higher edges, creating a linear pathway that guides the fabric through each section. This segmentation ensures the fabric follows a straight line from the folding point through the pressing area, maintaining crease linearity while enabling continuous feeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11661690B2Quilt binding press

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 ADAMS SUSAN LEE

AI summary

A quilt binding press for folding and creasing a strip of binding fabric in a continuous engagement with a heated iron. The binding press has an iron engagement support platform with a pair of upstanding spaced parallel binding guides provides a folding and guide path for a strip of binding material be folded and pulled there across the support platform for engagement with a heated iron there between the guides in a continuous manner.