Retaining Profile with Groove for Composite Part Sewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing composite parts with skin and holding profiles face challenges such as difficult skin positioning, complex seam adjustment, and inefficiencies in adhesive and sewing processes, leading to increased production time and material waste.
Innovation Solution
A retaining profile with a groove guides the skin end sections, allowing for simplified positioning and connection via functional seams, eliminating the need for prior gluing and reducing material usage, while wings on the profile facilitate precise positioning and a planar closure without noticeable elevation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive process is used to connect skin to retaining profile before sewing, then connection strength is improved, but production time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive process from the production sequence entirely. The retaining profile connects directly to the carrier structure through mechanical means (clips, fasteners, or integration), eliminating the need for adhesive bonding before sewing. This extraction of the adhesive step reduces production time while maintaining connection strength through the sewing operation alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the connection functions into distinct stages: the retaining profile provides initial positioning and temporary support, then the sewing operation creates the permanent structural connection. This segmentation allows each process to be optimized independently, with sewing providing both connection and reinforcement without requiring prior adhesive application.
2Manufacturing precision
If seam blades are milled with great effort according to CAD data to align seam position, then seam positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining profile is designed with self-aligning features such as guide channels, positioning ribs, or geometric constraints that automatically guide the skin material into the correct position during assembly. This self-service positioning mechanism eliminates the need for complex pre-milled seam blades, as the retaining profile itself provides the alignment function through its structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining profile acts as an intermediary element between the carrier structure and the skin material. It provides a standardized interface with built-in positioning features that simplify the sewing operation. The intermediary profile absorbs the complexity of alignment, allowing standard sewing blades to be used without requiring custom-milled geometries.
3Ease of operation
If retaining profile protrudes clearly from carrier to allow seam introduction, then seam accessibility is improved, but flat seam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension solution by providing the retaining profile with a downward-extending flange or base portion that contacts the carrier surface. This flange creates a stable reference plane, allowing the sewing operation to proceed with the profile protruding for accessibility, while the flange ensures the seam remains flat by preventing profile movement or tilting during sewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining profile is pre-positioned and secured to the carrier before the sewing operation begins. This preliminary action establishes a fixed reference geometry, allowing the skin material to be sewn with consistent flatness. The profile's preliminary placement includes alignment features that guide the sewing path, ensuring both accessibility and flat seam quality.
4Shape
If decorative seams are sewn to retain profile after functional seams, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functional and decorative seam operations into a single integrated sewing pass. The retaining profile is designed with geometric features, edge profiles, or integrated trim elements that serve both structural and aesthetic functions. This merging allows the sewing machine to create both the functional connection and the decorative appearance in one operation, eliminating separate decorative sewing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining profile is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously provides structural support, positioning guidance, and aesthetic finish. Its geometry, surface treatment, or integrated features serve multiple purposes: maintaining tension during sewing, defining the seam path, and providing the final visual appearance. This universality eliminates the need for separate decorative components or operations.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a composite part and to a composite part, a sewing device used to produce the composite part, and a holding profile. The composite part (1, 1', 1'', 1''', 1'''') comprises a first skin (3), a second skin (4), and a holding profile (2). The holding profile (2) comprises a groove (20), to which a first flank (21, 21') and a second flank (22, 22') are connected. The end sections (31, 41) of the first or second skin (3, 4) are introduced into the groove (20, 20') and the partial sections (32, 42) are then connected by means of a seam (5, 6) to the first or second flank (21, 21', 22, 22').