Decorative Article Production via Segmented Mold Splicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current jewelry production methods often result in dull, poorly designed pieces with weak engagement between decorative and supportive members, lacking durability and aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a steel mold and press-molding process to create a decorative member with intricate designs, followed by surface contact and splicing with a jewelry body using adhesive or gripping claws, with optional padding layers for added functionality and appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If decorative members are simply mounted onto supportive members, then fabrication is simple, but engagement between components is weak and lacks durability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement strengthVSAvoidfabrication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative member is divided into a body portion and a protruding portion (engagement protrusion), while the supportive member is divided into a body portion and a recess portion (engagement recess). This segmentation allows the engagement features to be separately formed and precisely fitted together, enhancing connection strength without significantly complicating the overall fabrication process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement protrusion and engagement recess are pre-formed during the molding process of the decorative member and supportive member respectively. By preparing these engagement features in advance during manufacturing, the components can be quickly assembled with strong engagement without requiring additional complex assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If decorative members are stringed to fabricate jewelry items, then fabrication is simple, but the design style is dull and lacks diversity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign diversityVSAvoidfabrication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a body portion for aesthetic purposes and a protruding portion for mechanical engagement. This segmentation allows the decorative body to be designed with diverse patterns and shapes while the engagement portion provides standardized connection capability, thereby increasing design versatility without proportionally increasing fabrication complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the decorative member have different qualities: the body portion is optimized for aesthetic appearance with various patterns and colors, while the protruding portion is optimized for mechanical engagement functionality. This local differentiation allows diverse decorative designs to be implemented without compromising the engagement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional mounting methods are used, then fabrication is simple, but delicate details are lost and durability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetail preservationVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement protrusion and recess are pre-formed with precise dimensions during the molding process. This preliminary formation of engagement features ensures that delicate details are preserved in the molding process itself, and the precise fit between protrusion and recess provides durable engagement without requiring additional complex finishing or assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method produces decorative articles with enhanced durability, diverse designs, and improved engagement between components, showcasing distinctive patterns and characters while reducing breakage risk.

Implementation Method 1

the mold undergoes the press-molding followed by heating treatment until it is softened so that burrs formed during the press-molding are cut and trimmed off

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

the semi-finished decorative member may be submerged into insulation powder such as gypsum powder or put on an insulation plate such as gypsum plate to allow it to cool down slowly to room temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

submerged into insulation powder such as gypsum powder or put on an insulation plate such as gypsum plate to allow it to cool down slowly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 4

the engagement stage of the body to a film coating treatment such as an electroplating treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentEP1980417B1Method for production of decorative article and decorative article produced therefrom
Publication Date: 2015.03.04 DUTY FREE GROUP CHINA
  • EP1980417B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention provides a method for production of a decorative article, said decorative article comprising a body having at least one engagement stage, and a decorative member made of a decoration material capable of being thermally softened and having at least one surface which is engageable with the engagement stage of the decorative body, said method comprising the steps of: (i) placing softened decoration material into a mold and then press-molding, said mold being shaped and sized to correspond to the decorative member to be produced and having at least one surface that is brought into surface-contact with the engagement stage of the body; (ii) taking the semi-finished decorative member out of the mold to allow it to cool down slowly to room temperature; and (iii) placing the surface of the cooled semi-finished decorative member over the engagement stage of the body and splicing them together. By using the method of the present invention, a wide variety of decorative articles of different designs and high delicacy can be produced.