Bracelet Link Assembly via Adhesive Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The watchmaking and jewelry industry faces challenges in machining threads in hard materials for bracelet links, which are difficult to produce due to complex molds and visible defects from injection processes, limiting the possibility of direct injection into the final form.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an assembly method without screwing between links, using gluing to fix elements with blind recesses and through holes, where the blind recesses have a specific shape to anchor rods and cavities for glue, allowing mechanical connection and simplifying the injection process by avoiding tapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threads are machined in hard material for screwing links, then mechanical connection between links is ensured, but machining difficulty increases and production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screwing system with a chemical bonding system using adhesive. Instead of machining threads and using screws to connect links, the invention uses adhesive applied to bonding surfaces that directly bond the links together, eliminating the need for thread machining and screw assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the threading operation from the manufacturing process. By eliminating the need for threaded holes and screws, the design simplifies the manufacturing process to only require drilling holes for adhesive application and bonding surfaces preparation, without the complex thread machining step
2Ease of manufacture
If complex molds are used for thread production, then threaded holes can be created, but injection possibilities are limited and mold complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for complex threading molds by eliminating the threading operation entirely. The mold design is simplified to only need to create bonding surfaces and holes for adhesive application, without any threading features, thereby reducing mold complexity and expanding injection possibilities
3Ease of manufacture
If injection point is placed on visible face to avoid threads, then injection is possible, but defects appear on visible face requiring machining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the threading requirement that forced the injection point to be on the visible face. With adhesive bonding, the injection point can be placed on the back face or non-visible surface, eliminating the need to machine the visible face for defect removal while maintaining both injection capability and surface quality
4Productivity
If direct injection into final shape is attempted, then production time is reduced, but threading requirements prevent this approach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the threading step from the manufacturing process, enabling direct injection of links into their final shape. Without the requirement to machine threads after injection, the links can be directly molded in their finished form, significantly reducing production time and eliminating the need for post-injection machining
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
This method reduces assembly costs, simplifies the assembly process, and allows direct injection into the final shape of the link, eliminating the need for machining and complex molds, while ensuring a firm mechanical connection between the links.
Implementation Method 1
The fixing within each set and between the two sets is respectively ensured by: a first rod mounted in the first through hole of the third element and fixed at its ends with glue in the first blind recess of the first and second elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a part (21), in particular a bracelet, comprising at least two sets (1) of elements (3, 5, 7), in particular links, assembled together. According to the invention, the fastening between the elements (3, 5, 7) within an assembly and between assemblies is achieved by gluing (glue 15) and not by screwing. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the part (21).