Elastic Chain With Sheet Metal Spring For Ornamental Items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extensible chains for ornamental items, such as necklaces and bracelets, have limited elasticity due to the constraints of cylindrical springs, which are costly and difficult to center, limiting their extension capacity and adaptability to various sizes.
Innovation Solution
Replacing spiral springs with a spring made from a thin metal sheet, specifically an alloy like 18k or 24k gold, cut and deformed into an elongated base with L-shaped tabs, allowing for increased extensibility and simplified construction, while maintaining optimal elastic return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cylindrical springs are used in the chain, then the chain has elastic functionality, but the maximum stretching is limited and the construction becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the spring from a standard cylindrical shape to a modified configuration with varied radius along its length. This parameter change allows the spring to achieve greater compression distances and thus enables the chain to stretch further while maintaining elastic functionality. The modified spring geometry also simplifies the overall construction by reducing the need for additional centering mechanisms.
2Volume of moving object
If cylindrical springs with reduced dimensions are used, then the chain can be made smaller, but the manufacturing cost increases and centering becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric spring design where the radius varies along the length of the spring, being larger at the ends and smaller in the middle section. This asymmetric geometry serves multiple purposes: it maintains structural integrity in small dimensions, simplifies manufacturing by providing natural alignment features, and reduces the need for precise centering during assembly. The asymmetric form factor makes the spring easier to manufacture at reduced dimensions while maintaining functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If spiral-shaped springs are used, then the elasticity is improved, but centering and positioning problems arise during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spring structure into distinct functional zones: end sections with larger radius that provide structural stability and centering, and a middle section with smaller radius that provides the elastic compression function. This segmentation allows the spring to deliver high elasticity while the enlarged end sections naturally guide and center the spring within the chain links, eliminating positioning problems during use.
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 solution provides a chain with enhanced extensibility, enabling adaptation to a wider range of sizes and simplifying construction, while ensuring reliable elastic return and minimizing the risk of accidental opening, thus enhancing the usability and aesthetic appeal of ornamental items.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (6) made starting from a plane metal sheet element... the elastic reaction generated by the springs tends to make the chain return to the rest position
Data Source
AI summary
An extensible chain includes a plurality of cage-shaped elements (2) connected to one another in succession, each one of which includes a flat central body (3) from which two or more lateral arms (4) branch off whose free ends are slidingly inserted in an adjacent cage-shaped element. The adjacent elements define an intermediate space in which there is a spring (6) obtained from a plane metal sheet element from which two tabs (6b) depart that are opposite each other with respect to the base of the metal sheet element and are positioned above it at a distance (H) that, when the spring is at rest, exceeds the distance between the free ends of the lateral arms (4) of any cage-shaped element and the central body (3) of the adjacent cage-shaped element.