Sealing Tape Continuous Barrier Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of sealing tapes with complex designs, such as those requiring multiple incisions and insertions of film elements into foam carriers, is labor-intensive and costly, making them difficult to produce and apply effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sealing tape with a resilient soft foam base body featuring a continuous barrier structure that extends from the side flanks to the underside, incorporating an adhesive layer for easy attachment and adjustable water vapor and air permeability, allowing for simplified production and enhanced sealing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple incisions are made in the foam carrier from both sides and film elements are inserted to form a continuous barrier film, then the sealing properties are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the barrier film and foam carrier into a single integrated component. The barrier film is formed as a continuous layer that is laminated onto the foam carrier in one manufacturing step, eliminating the need for separate incisions and multiple film insertions. This integration maintains the sealing properties while dramatically simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier film is pre-formed as a continuous layer and laminated onto the foam carrier before the sealing tape is assembled. This preliminary action of creating the continuous barrier structure in advance eliminates the need for complex post-manufacturing operations like making incisions and inserting individual film elements, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If a continuous barrier structure is formed by inserting film elements into incisions, then the water vapor diffusion permeability is reduced, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier film and foam carrier are merged into a single laminated component, eliminating the need for separate incisions and multiple film insertions. This integration maintains the water vapor diffusion barrier properties while significantly reducing production costs by simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical process of making incisions and inserting film elements is replaced by a laminating process. The continuous barrier film is applied to the foam carrier through lamination, which is a simpler, more cost-effective manufacturing technique that achieves the same sealing function without the complexity of mechanical incision and assembly operations.
3Reliability
If the barrier structure is made of closed-cell soft foam, then the sealing properties are enhanced, but the material selection becomes more restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining closed-cell soft foam for the barrier film with the foam carrier. This composite material approach maintains the sealing properties provided by closed-cell foam while allowing for flexibility in material selection by combining different foam types or densities to meet specific performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for parameter changes in the foam material properties such as density, thickness, and cell structure to optimize the balance between sealing performance and material flexibility. By adjusting these parameters, the barrier structure can be tailored to achieve reliable sealing while maintaining adaptability to different application requirements.
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 solution enables the creation of a cost-effective, easy-to-produce sealing tape with improved sealing and insulating properties, protecting the barrier structure from damage during handling and offering adjustable permeability, while maintaining ease of application and increased thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous barrier structure for reducing water vapor diffusion permeability and/or air permeability in the functional direction
Implementation Method 2
at least one base body made of soft foam that is resilient after compression
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The sealing tape (2) has at least one base body (4) made of soft, compression-recoverable foam. An adhesive layer (12) is provided on the underside (6) of the sealing tape for adhesion to a component (14), in particular a frame profile of a window or door. The sealing tape has a continuous barrier structure (18) for reducing water vapor diffusion permeability and/or air permeability in the functional direction (F) of the sealing tape. This barrier structure extends on the top surface (6) from at least one side flank (10) to an area between the side flanks, runs from the top surface (6) towards the underside (8), and then extends along the underside of the at least one base body (4) from the area between the side flanks to at least one side flank (10).