Watch Bracelet Link Assembly With Dual-Zone Pin Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch bracelets with link assemblies made of hard materials like diamond or ceramic suffer from pin dislodgment under tensile stress, leading to a need for enhanced strength and stability.
Innovation Solution
The bracelet design incorporates central and lateral links with pins and sockets having distinct fixing zones, including a convex boss and a collar with varying cross-sections, ensuring secure engagement and increased resistance to mechanical stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single fixing zone is used in the socket, then the structure is simple, but the pin can be dislodged under tensile stress
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is divided into two distinct fixing zones: a first fixing zone with a radial boss and a second fixing zone with a collar. This segmentation allows the pin to be secured at two different locations along its length, preventing dislodgment under tensile stress while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing mechanism transitions from a single-point fixation to a distributed fixation along the pin's length. The radial boss provides fixation at one location while the collar provides fixation at another location, creating a multi-dimensional constraint that prevents pin displacement in multiple directions.
2Strength
If pins are merely inserted into sockets, then assembly is easy, but the link assembly lacks strength under tensile stress
Solution Approach 1:
The pins are pre-equipped with features (proximal part and distal part with different cross-sections) that correspond to the two fixing zones in the socket. This preliminary design ensures that during assembly, the pin automatically engages with both fixing zones in the correct sequence, providing strong mechanical connection without requiring complex assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the pin have different cross-sectional characteristics: the proximal part has a larger cross-section for engagement with the radial boss, while the distal part has a smaller cross-section for engagement with the collar. This local differentiation optimizes the mechanical connection at each fixing zone while maintaining overall assembly simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated assemblies (10) formed by two central links (13) joined together by first and second lateral links (11, 12) between which the central links (13) are interposed, the first lateral link (11) comprising two pins (111) each engaged in a hole (131) extending through one of the central links (13), each pin (111) being fixed to a socket (121) with which the second lateral link (12) is fitted, each socket (121) comprising two distinct fixing zones (123) through each of which the pin (111) is driven into the socket (121).