Leather with alteration of surface colour depending on temperature and method for producing the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor vehicle seats lack a mechanism to inform users of excessively high temperatures, which can impair the driving experience, as they do not visually indicate high temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A leather material with a reversible heat-sensitive color change agent is applied in a specific pattern, such as a logo, that changes color between 30°C and 80°C, allowing users to assess the temperature visually and take appropriate measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional leather materials are used for motor vehicle seats, then aesthetic appearance and design flexibility are improved, but the ability to inform users of excessively high temperatures is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature informationVSAvoidleather structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a heat-sensitive color change agent in the functional layer that changes color when the temperature reaches 30-80°C, providing visual temperature information to users. This directly addresses the loss of temperature information while maintaining aesthetic appearance through patterned application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The leather is divided into multiple functional layers: leather base material layer, first lacquer layer, and functional layer with heat-sensitive color change agent. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a heat-sensitive color change agent is applied to the leather surface, then temperature indication capability is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature indicationVSAvoidproduction process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-sensitive color change agent is incorporated into the functional layer during the leather manufacturing process, before the product is delivered to the user. This preliminary action ensures temperature indication capability is built-in without requiring additional manufacturing steps later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The functional layer serves multiple purposes: it provides aesthetic appearance through patterns (such as logos), maintains protective functionality, and enables temperature indication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall manufacturing process.

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

3Shape

If the functional layer is applied in specific patterns, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern designVSAvoidpattern application
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-sensitive color change agent is applied locally in specific patterns (such as logos) on the functional layer, rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This local quality approach allows aesthetic pattern design while reducing manufacturing precision requirements compared to uniform application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 color change alerts users to high temperatures, improving both the aesthetic appearance and safety of the vehicle interior by providing a visual indication of temperature, and returns to the original color when temperatures decrease.

Implementation Method 1

in the above-mentioned functional layer an agent with reversible heat-sensitive color change is present, so that the above-mentioned functional layer when a temperature of 30-80 ° C is reached Color change takes place

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermochromism: Thermochromism

Data Source

PatentEP3617331B1Leather with alteration of surface colour depending on temperature and method for producing the same
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 BENECKE KALIKO AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a leather with a surface color change depending on the temperature, wherein the leather comprises at least a leather base material layer and a lacquer layer, wherein the lacquer layer comprises at least a first lacquer layer applied to the leather base material layer and a functional layer applied to the first lacquer layer, wherein the functional layer contains an agent with reversible, heat-sensitive color change, such that the functional layer undergoes a color change upon reaching a temperature of 30-80°C. The present invention also relates to a method for producing the leather. The leather is used in surface materials for motor vehicle seats, etc.applied, whereby, when the temperature of the leather in question reaches a certain temperature within a range of 30-80°C, the functional layer undergoes a color change and the user is alerted to an excessively high temperature of the leather.