Seam Positioning Profile for Stable Vehicle Trim Stitching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle trim elements face issues with imprecise positioning of decorative seams and weak attachment of positioning profiles, leading to instability and difficulty in precise and durable placement of stitching lines.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle trim element with a support featuring a groove and rib, combined with a positioning profile that interacts with the groove's side walls and rib, ensuring precise and durable positioning of stitching lines through a thermoplastic elastomer profile that secures to the coating layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a positioning profile is attached to the support to position the seam line, then the seam positioning capability is improved, but the attachment robustness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseam positioning precisionVSAvoidattachment robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning profile is divided into a head portion and a body portion, with the head portion inserted into the groove and the body portion extending outward. This segmentation allows the profile to be securely anchored in the groove while providing an external surface for seam positioning, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and attachment robustness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The head portion of the positioning profile is nested within the groove of the support, creating a secure fit. This nesting structure ensures that the positioning profile remains firmly attached to the support while maintaining precise seam line positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the positioning profile is made simple for easy attachment, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidseam line positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning profile is segmented into a head portion that fits into the groove and a body portion that provides positioning reference. This simple two-part structure is easy to manufacture while ensuring precise seam line positioning through the coordinated geometry of the head and body portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning profile utilizes the vertical dimension by extending the body portion outward from the support surface, in addition to the horizontal positioning function. This dimensional approach allows simple manufacturing while achieving precise positioning through the protruding body that references the groove location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4660364A1Trim element comprising a profile for positioning a seam line and associated manufacturing method

Publication Date: 2025.12.10 FAURECIA INTERIEUR IND

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AI summary

The padding element (10) comprises: - a support (12) having a groove (18) defining a channel (20) and comprising a bottom wall (22), a first side wall (24) and a second side wall (26); - a covering layer (40); - a seam (50) passing through the covering layer (40) and extending along a seam line (LC); and - a positioning profile (60) fixed to the covering layer (40) by the seam (50). The support (12) further comprises a rib (30), the positioning profile (60) cooperating with the first side wall (24), the second side wall (26) and the rib (30) to position the seam line (LC) opposite the rib (30).