Bracelet Strand Overmoulding Insert Fastening Elements

Solution Overview

Problem

In watch or clock-making, there is a challenge in adding ornamental elements or functionalities to bracelet strands while ensuring aesthetic appeal, mechanical reliability, robustness, and ease of production in a repeatable manner.

Innovation Solution

A manufacturing process involving positioning an insert and fastening elements within a mould, followed by overmoulding with a material such as elastomer to create a bracelet strand that incorporates these elements, ensuring they are securely set and aesthetically integrated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ornamental elements and fastening elements are added to the bracelet strand, then aesthetic appeal and functionality are improved, but manufacturing complexity and risk of deformation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appeal and functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple elements (insert, fastening elements, and bracelet strand material) into a single integrated manufacturing process. The insert and fastening elements are positioned within the mould cavity before the material is injected, allowing all components to be formed and assembled in one operation rather than through multiple separate steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert and fastening elements are positioned in advance within the mould cavity before the material injection process begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the material is injected, the fastening elements are already correctly located and will be properly embedded without requiring subsequent adjustment or assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If ornamental elements and fastening elements are added to the bracelet strand, then aesthetic appeal and functionality are improved, but mechanical reliability and robustness deteriorate due to potential deformation and gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appeal and functionalityVSAvoidmechanical reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple elements (insert, fastening elements, and bracelet strand material) into a single integrated manufacturing process. The insert and fastening elements are positioned within the mould cavity before the material is injected, allowing all components to be formed and assembled in one operation rather than through multiple separate steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert acts as an intermediary component that facilitates the integration of fastening elements into the bracelet strand. The insert provides a structured interface that guides the fastening elements during material injection, ensuring they are properly positioned and embedded without deformation or gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional manufacturing methods are used without overmoulding, then production is simpler, but the integration of fastening elements is less reliable and mechanical properties are weaker

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidmechanical properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple elements (insert, fastening elements, and bracelet strand material) into a single integrated manufacturing process. The insert and fastening elements are positioned within the mould cavity before the material is injected, allowing all components to be formed and assembled in one operation rather than through multiple separate steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracelet strand is formed as a composite structure consisting of the base material (elastomer or thermoplastic polymer) combined with embedded fastening elements and insert. This composite construction provides both the flexibility of the polymer material and the mechanical strength of the embedded elements, achieving superior mechanical properties compared to either material alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20240164494A1Manufacture of a bracelet strand

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 ROLEX SA

AI summary

The process for manufacturing a bracelet strand includes positioning an insert (15) within a cavity (21) of a manufacturing mould (20); positioning at least one fastening element (12) on the insert (15) using at least one guide element (35); filling the manufacturing mould (20) with a material so as to overmould, i.e. at least partially envelop and set, the insert (15) and the at least one fastening element (12) in the material; removing the bracelet strand (10) from the manufacturing mould (20), this bracelet strand (10) being at least partly formed by the material, the insert (15), and the at least one fastening element (12).