Folding Bracelet Clasp with Elastic Side Rails for Secure Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding buckle clasps lack structural rigidity while maintaining necessary elasticity for secure attachment and easy release, leading to potential unintentional opening.
Innovation Solution
A bracelet clasp design featuring longitudinal members with integrated openings that allow elastic deformation for unlocking, combined with a locking mechanism using hooks and latches, and support elements to limit deformation, ensuring secure attachment and easy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the longitudinal members are made elastic to allow easy opening, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural rigidity deteriorates leading to potential unintentional opening
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal members are segmented by introducing openings that divide them into multiple sections. This segmentation allows specific zones to be more flexible (near the openings for easy opening) while other zones maintain rigidity (away from openings for structural stability), resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the longitudinal members have different mechanical properties. The regions around the openings are designed to be more elastic for easy operation, while other regions maintain higher rigidity to prevent unintentional opening. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of opening and structural stability.
2Reliability
If coil springs are used to hold the folding pieces, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal members themselves provide the elastic retention function through their inherent elasticity and the geometry created by openings, eliminating the need for separate coil springs. The structure serves its own function of holding and releasing folding pieces, reducing component count while maintaining attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil springs are extracted/removed from the design entirely. The elastic function previously performed by separate spring components is transferred to the longitudinal members themselves through strategic opening design, simplifying the overall construction while maintaining the necessary attachment reliability.
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 design provides a simple, reliable clasp with enhanced rigidity and elasticity, preventing accidental opening while allowing easy operation.
Implementation Method 1
pressure exerted simultaneously on each of the longitudinal members in a transverse direction relative to the clasp leading to an elastic deformation of the longitudinal members
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a bracelet clasp of the folding buckle type comprising a base element (10) whose first and second long sides are formed respectively of first (1) and second (2) spars, at least one folding (3, 4) pivoting and articulated on the first and/or second short side of the base element (10), and at least one cover (5, 6) pivoting and articulated on the at least one folding (3, 4), the at least one cover (5, 6) being arranged to be folded down on the base element (10) and to be held therein in response to a flexible member associated with a locking and unlocking mechanism affecting the base element (10) and the at least one cover (5, 6) to allow the at least one cover (5, 6) to be attached to the base element (10) and then detached.According to the invention, the basic element (10) comprises first (11) and second (12) openings attached to the first (1) and second (2) stringers so that they constitute the flexible member, pressure exerted simultaneously on each of the stringers (1, 2) in a transverse direction relative to the clasp leading to an elastic deformation of the stringers (1, 2) and to the unlocking of at least one cover (5, 6) of the basic element (10) to allow the wearer to open the clasp.