WO2004016137A1

WO2004016137A1 - Fastening element and method for the production of a fastening element

Info

Publication number: WO2004016137A1
Application number: PCT/DE2002/004196
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Sand; Frank Bäcker; Christian Hepp
Original assignee: Sand Werner; Baecker Frank; Christian Hepp
Priority date: 2002-07-25
Filing date: 2002-11-13
Publication date: 2004-02-26
Also published as: DE10233990B4; AU2002350391A1; DE10233990A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a fastening element for fixing a prestressed textile material, particularly an upholstery cover, to a seating element or similar, especially an upholstered one, comprising a profiled head section (2) that can be fixed to the seating element and is connected to a stretch (3) of planar textile material (4), which is to be sowed to the textile material, the profiled head section (2) enclosing the planar material (4) between two opposite legs (6) of the profiled head section on one of the long sides (5) thereof. The aim of the invention is to embody the fastening element such that a structurally simple, stable fastening element is created while avoiding the disadvantages known in prior art. Said aim is achieved by extruding the profiled head section (2) on the long side (5) of the planar material (4) and providing said planar material (4) with penetrating intermediate spaces (9) that remain between the textile threads (7) and run in the direction of the normal (8) of the planar material (4). The material of the profiled head section penetrates the intermediate spaces (9) that are located between the legs (6) of the profiled head section by means of holding material bridges (10) which are embodied essentially as a single piece along with the two legs (6) of the profiled head sections and extend therebetween such that the planar material (4) is connected in a permanent prestressed non-retracting manner to the profiled head section (2).

Description

Fastening element and method for producing a fastening element

The invention relates to a fastening element for fixing a textile material, in particular an upholstery cover, under pretension on a, in particular upholstered, seat element or the like, with a head profile which can be fixed on the seat element and which is connected to a sewing tab to be sewn from the textile surface material, wherein the head profile encloses the surface material on one of its long sides between two opposite head profile legs, as well as a method for producing a fastening element and a device for producing a fastening element.

Fastening elements of this type are used in the case of upholstered seats to bring the upholstery material attached to a suitable base into the desired shape suitable for the seat. The cover fabric is sewn onto a sew-on flag, which is provided with a head profile, which is then fixed essentially transversely to the outer surface of the cover fabric lying on the upholstery material in the area of the upholstery material, thereby producing a seam-like curvature in the cover fabric.

EP 403 815 B1 describes a fastening element made up of a profile bar which has a two-legged cross-sectional profile, the profile legs including a sew-on tab, in that the sewing tab is firmly welded to the adjacent inner surfaces of the two profile legs.

It proves to be disadvantageous that the fastening element has to be manufactured in several individual steps. The object of the present invention is to provide a simply constructed, stable fastening element while avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that the head profile is extruded onto the long side of the surface material and the surface material between the textile threads has continuously open spaces in the normal direction of the surface material, the head profile material having the spaces between the head profile legs, each of which is formed in one piece with both head profile legs and passes through between these holding material bridges, so that the surface material is permanently connected to the head profile under the pre-tension.

The fastener is simple. It only consists of a head profile and a sew-on flag, i.e. essentially two parts. Due to the holding material bridges that run through the gaps in the surface material, there is a strong connection between the two head profile legs, which is also made of the same material as the head profile itself. The holding material bridges are created during the anextrusion process and thus together in one process with the manufacture of the head profile. They form a direct, almost right-angled connection between the head profile legs. There is thus a simple and secure connection between the head profile and the sewing flag. The head profile does not have to be produced in an additional operation, but is extruded onto the sew-on flag. The holding material bridges also stabilize the textile in the area of the head profile, since almost the entire free volume (corresponding to the gaps) between the head profile legs is filled with head profile material and improve the pull-out security of the sewing flag from the head profile. This is particularly interesting for upholstered seat covers, as they are exposed to heavy loads that act on the sewing flag in different directions. The textile absorbs the forces on the one hand and on the other hand the textile gives way slightly, so that a continuous, pre-tensioned, not too abruptly changing force affects the head profile area. Between the holding material bridges and the head profile, the rial equality and the uniform manufacturing process even with strong force application / high force application no tensions or cracks, for example due to different dimensions due to shrinkage processes or different elastic behavior. The head profile need not necessarily be formed in one piece by an additional connection. The head profile legs can also be two opposite individual strips, which in turn are then connected by holding material bridges.

A flexible head profile that can withstand changing forces during use without damage and that can be used repeatedly, for example, in the event of failed attempts in production, is provided that the head profile consists of an extrudable thermoplastic.

It is advantageous if the head profile is extruded onto the surface material taking into account the melting points, the viscosity of the melted thermoplastic, the wetting properties of the head profile material, the flat material and the thickness of the surface material with an adapted extrusion speed such that an intimate connection of the head profile material with the Surface material is guaranteed and the holding material bridges between the head profile legs provide the pull-out security. Taking into account the different parameters, many different material combinations can be used for the head profile and sew-on flag, all of which ensure good pull-out safety. What is essential here is good penetration of the interstices with head profile material, which is improved by good flow properties, in particular viscosity of the molten material, a high temperature of the head profile material, good wettability of the textile, in particular in the region of the interstices. This process is also supported by an extrusion speed that enables the penetration of the extrusion material. When the optimal conditions are set, a simple and, in addition, very well secured fastener can be obtained in a single operation. If the thermoplastic has a lower melting point than the surface material, the choice of a suitable extrusion temperature between the two melting points ensures that the surface material retains its shape during the extrusion process.

An important parameter for ensuring pull-out safety is the size and shape of the spaces depending on the material properties of the thermoplastic and the surface material. These are coordinated in such a way that the holding material bridges provide pull-out security under the pre-tension.

A low load on the surface material per unit area is given if the covering of the surface material by the head profile legs is so large that a surface of the surface material that provides pull-out security is penetrated by holding material bridges. The number of spaces required to provide a secure hold can be easily determined. Depending on the degree of load, a greater or lesser coverage of the head profile with the surface material can then be used, without fundamentally having to change anything in the structure of the fastening element.

A good force distribution and at the same time sufficient pull-out security while saving material is possible if the envelope of the cross section of the head profile leg is essentially parabolic, the long axis running essentially transversely to the long side of the surface material.

It is advantageous if the thermoplastic of the head profile and the surface material consist of the same type of plastic, the surface material in the extrusion process having to be brought to its melting point with a sufficient temperature difference. Due to the uniformity of the materials, the fastener can be recycled well. The plastic types of surface material and head profile can consist essentially of the same constituents, for example of a polymer with the same monomers or essentially the same monomers, but the types of plastic, for example, due to different densities (e.g. high density for the surface material and lower density for the head profile), may have different melting points and strengths.

An advantageous, because very stable, material combination exists if the thermoplastic of the head profile is an ABS thermoplastic (in particular a polymer made from the monomers acrylonitrile, butadiene, and / or styrene) with a Shore hardness of approximately 100 and the surface material is essentially made of polypropylene with a Shore hardness of 97.

Due to the good pull-out security, it is also advantageous to connect a head profile made of thermoplastic and a surface element made of polyethylene, polyester fabric or cotton.

A surface material with flexible usability, which is also environmentally neutral, is available if the surface element consists of polyethylene.

A further improved pull-out security is provided if the surface material is additionally thickened on the longitudinal side enclosed by the head profile legs in the area of the surface enclosed by the head profile legs. The thickening can be produced by a multilayer structure.

A simple and at the same time very durable type of thickening is supplied if the surface material has a thicker seam on the long side enclosed by the head profile legs. The end seam is advantageously penetrated by individual threads protruding from the surface material on the longitudinal side enclosed by the head profile. As a result, a larger surface is formed for enclosing with head profile material.

A simple and durable construction of the surface material is provided if the surface material is a woven fabric, a scrim or the like, the interstices being formed by meshes. A transition zone between the head profile and the surface material, which reacts very flexibly to changing force attack, is present if the spaces are approximately rectangular and at least in the area of the long side of the surface material enclosed by the head profile legs, the extension of the spaces in the direction of the long axis of the cross section of the head profile is smaller than across it.

If only a simple longitudinal row of spaces is penetrated by the holding material bridges, on the one hand there is a sufficient number of bridges and at the same time an increased mobility or a dodging in the longitudinal direction of the head profile is possible. This increases the load-bearing capacity of the connection between the head profile and the sew-on flag (from the surface material) when force is applied to the connection in the longitudinal direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and safe method for producing fastening elements.

The object is achieved by a method for producing a fastening element according to claim 16.

A method for producing a fastening element is proposed, wherein a head profile is attached to a surface material, in particular for producing a fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the head profile is extruded onto the surface material in an area in which the surface material has gaps , wherein the extrusion is carried out in such a way that the head profile material passes through the an extrusion mold together with a corresponding longitudinal section of the surface material at the extrusion temperature, the head profile material penetrating through the spaces of the surface material which lie between the head profile legs and holding between the head profile legs. Material bridges are formed, which provide pull-out security after cooling. With these methods, only one process step is required to produce a head profile and at the same time secure against being pulled out to connect with the sewing flag. This also improves the precision of the connection, since no additional threading or attachment of a prefabricated head profile is necessary. The holding material bridges are created together with the head profile. The transitions between the holding material bridges and the Kiopfprofil are thus made of the same material under the same external conditions and therefore have the same properties.

Without the use of further manufacturing processes, only in particular by setting the extrusion parameters, such as the extrusion temperature, in particular the extrusion speed, and the angle at which the extrusion material is brought up to the sheet material, and taking into account the melting points, the viscosity of the melted thermoplastic, and the wetting properties of the two Materials, the thickness of the surface material, good dimensional stability of the head profile is achieved and at the same time an optimal implementation of the spaces with extrusion material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool for producing a fastening element.

The object is achieved by an extrusion die according to claim 18.

An extrusion tool for producing a fastening element in particular according to one of claims 1 to 15 for use in a method according to one of claims 16 or 17, wherein a through opening of the anextrusion tool corresponds to the cross section of the surface material, and a parallel and. Arranged on a longitudinal side of the through opening connected second through-opening with the cross-section of the head profile, and has a feed channel for feeding head profile material, the geometric parameters of the feed channel and the through-openings being selected in such a way that a secure connection between surface material and head material is created during extrusion. It is advantageous if a feed channel of the head profile material is arranged obliquely at a predetermined angle to the common extrusion direction of surface material and head profile material. The extrusion material then has sufficient time to penetrate into the interspaces and to form holding material bridges.

A good pressing of the head profile material onto the surface material is ensured if the feed channel for the head profile material has a clear width tapering in the extrusion direction towards an exit opening of the head profile, in particular a tapering width.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the claims and the following description, in which an exemplary embodiment of the object of the invention is explained in more detail in connection with the drawing; show it:

1 shows a cross section through a fastening element, FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a fastening element and FIG. 3 shows a cross section through an extrusion tool.

1 shows a cross section through a fastening element 1. The fastening element 1 consists of a profile head 2 and a sewing tab 3 made of surface material 4.

The profile head 2, with a maximum height 23 and a width 24 in the direction of a long axis 13, which runs towards the sewing flag 3, extends on a long side 5 of the surface material 4 of the sewing flag 3. The profile head 2 has two profile head legs 6 , which have an overall approximately parabolic shape in cross section and enclose the long side 5 of the sheet material 4. The cross section of the profile head 2 is tapered in the region 20 facing away from the sewing flag and widens in a parabolic shape over a longitudinal surface 14 of the surface material 4. On the side 21 of the profile head 2 facing the surface material 4, the cross-section shows a recess 22. With the aid of this recess 22, the fastening element is hooked into a holder, not shown, whereby the sewing flag 3 sewn onto a cover fabric (not shown) of a cushion seat is pretensioned between the cover and Head profile 2 is held.

The surface 14 of the surface material 4 has intermediate spaces 9, which are square in the present exemplary embodiment and are formed as stitches in a textile fabric by textile threads 7 delimiting the intermediate spaces 9. In the area of the profile head 2, the surface material 4 has a thickness 11 in the normal direction 8 to the surface material 4. The spaces 9 are filled in the area of the surface 14 with head profile material which is introduced into the spaces 9 during the extrusion process. In this way, holding material bridges 10 are formed between the head profile legs 6, which enable the flat material 4 to be firmly seated in the head profile 2. In the illustrated embodiment, two longitudinal rows of spaces 9 are passed through by holding material bridges 10, so that a good hold of the sewing flag 3 in the head profile 2 is ensured.

2 shows a longitudinal section through a fastening element 1 with head profile 2 and sew-on lug 3 made of surface material 4. In the area of the longitudinal side 5, holding material bridges 10 have intermediate spaces 9 between delimiting textile threads 7 in the area of the longitudinal side 5.

3 shows a cross section through an extrusion die 15 with passages 16, 18 for a continuous sheet of sheet material and the head profile material to be extruded. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Fastening element profile head

sew

surface material

long side

Head profile leg

textile threads

normal direction

gap

Retaining material bridge

thickness

Enveloping long axis

area

Anextrusionswerkzeug

Through opening

long side

Through opening

extrusion direction

Area

Return maximum thickness

width

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Fastening element (1) for fixing a textile material, in particular an upholstery cover, under tension on a, in particular upholstered, seat element or the like, with a head profile (2) which can be fixed on the seat element and which has a sewing tab (3) to be sewn onto the textile material. of textile surface material (4), the head profile (2) enclosing the surface material (4) on one of its long sides (5) between two opposite head profile legs (6), characterized in that the head profile (2) on the long side (5 ) of the surface material (4) is extruded and the surface material (4) between the textile threads (7) has remaining gaps (9) that are continuously open in the normal direction (8) of the surface material (4), the head profile material being between the head profile legs ( 6) lying intermediate spaces (9) with essentially one piece with both head profile legs (6) and between passes through this extending holding material bridges (10), so that the surface material (4) is permanently connected to the head profile (2) under the pre-tension.

2. Fastening element according to claim 1, characterized in that the head profile (2) consists of an extrudable thermoplastic.

3. Fastening element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the head profile (2) on the surface material (4) taking into account the melting points, the viscosity of the melted thermoplastic, the wetting properties of the head profile material and the surface material (4), the thickness (11) of the sheet material (4) with an adapted extrusion speed is extruded in such a way that an intimate connection of the head profile material with the surface material (4) is ensured and the holding material bridges (10) between the head profile legs (6) provide pull-out security.

4. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thermoplastic has a lower melting point than the surface material (4).

5. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the size and shape of the intermediate spaces (9) are selected depending on the material properties of the thermoplastic and the surface material (4) so that the holding material bridges (11th ) provide pull-out security under the pre-tension.

6. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the overlap of the surface material (4) by the head profile legs (6) is formed such that a surface of the surface material (4) which provides pull-out security with holding material bridges (10 ) is reached.

7. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the envelope (12) of the cross section of the head profile leg (6) is substantially parabolic, the long axis (13) substantially transversely to the long side (5) of the surface material ( 4) runs.

8. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the thermoplastic of the head profile (2) and the surface material (4) consist of the same type of plastic, the surface material (4) at

Anextrusion process with a sufficient temperature difference to its melting point.

9. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the thermoplastic of the head profile (2) is an ABS thermoplastic with a Shore hardness of approximately 100.

10. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the surface element (4) consists of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester fabric or cotton.

11. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the surface material (4) on the longitudinal side (5) enclosed by the head profile legs (6) is additionally thickened in the region of the surface (14) enclosed by the head profile legs (6) is.

12. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the surface material (4) on the longitudinal side (5) enclosed by the head profile legs (6) has a thicker end seam.

13. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the surface material (4) is a woven fabric, a scrim or the like, the intermediate spaces (9) being formed by meshes.

14. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the intermediate spaces (9) are approximately rectangular and at least in the region of the longitudinal side (5) of the surface material (4) enclosed by the head profile legs (6) the extension of the intermediate spaces (9) in the direction of the long axis (13) of the cross section of the head profile

(2) is smaller than transverse to it.

15. Fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that only a simple longitudinal row of spaces (9) is penetrated by the holding material bridges (10).

16. A method for producing a fastening element, wherein a head profile (2) is attached to a surface material (4), in particular for producing a fastening element according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the head profile (2) to the surface material (4 ) is extruded in a region in which the surface material (4) has gaps (9), the extrusion being carried out in such a way that the head profile material passes through the an extrusion mold together with a corresponding longitudinal section of the surface material (4) at the extrusion temperature, the Head profile material penetrates through the gaps (9) of the surface material (4) that lie between the head profile legs (6) and between the head profile legs (6) holding material bridges

(10) are formed, which provide the pull-out security after cooling.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that at the extrusion temperature, in particular the extrusion speed, and the angle at which the extrusion material is brought up to the surface material (4), and taking into account the melting points, the viscosity of the melted thermoplastic, the wetting properties of the two materials, the thickness (11) of the surface material (4), good dimensional stability of the head profile (2) is achieved and, at the same time, an optimal implementation of the spaces (9) with extrusion material.

18. An extrusion tool (15) for producing a fastening element, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 15, for use in a method according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that a through opening (16) of the an extrusion tool (15) with the cross section of the surface material (4) corresponds to a cross-section of the head profile (2), which has a parallel and thus connected second through opening (18) arranged on a longitudinal side (17) of the through opening (16), and has a feed channel for feeding head profile material, the geometric parameters of the feed channel and the through openings (16, 18) are selected in such a way that a secure connection between surface material (4) and head material is created during extrusion.

19. An extrusion tool according to claim 18, characterized in that a feed channel of the head profile material is arranged at an angle to the common extrusion direction (19) of surface material (4) and head profile material.

20. An extrusion tool according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the feed channel for the head profile material has a clear width tapering in the extrusion direction towards an exit opening of the head profile (2), in particular a tapering width.