Extendable Comfort Link Bracelet Clasp Automatic Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bracelet adjustment solutions face challenges such as limited fine adjustment granularity, complex and voluminous designs, exposure of elastic elements leading to pinching, and increased manufacturing costs due to intricate arrangements of elastic elements.
Innovation Solution
A clasp with an automatic length adjustment device featuring a building articulated around a first fixing axis and an articulated bond element around a second fixing axis, connected by at least one elastic element and a slide. The elastic element is arranged longitudinally and hidden within the bracelet, allowing for smooth and continuous length adjustment without visible mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If elastic elements are arranged to extend along the curvature of each central link, then automatic adjustment range is improved, but manufacturing cost significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracelet is divided into multiple links (central links, lateral links, end links) that can independently articulate and adjust. Each link contains or accommodates elastic elements that operate independently, allowing the bracelet to achieve continuous adjustment through the cumulative effect of multiple segmented components rather than requiring a single complex elastic arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic elements are nested within the link structures themselves, with each link containing its own elastic mechanism. The lateral links are positioned between central links, and end links are positioned between lateral links, creating a nested arrangement where elastic elements are housed within the bracelet's structural framework rather than requiring external arrangement along curvatures.
2Ease of operation
If elastic elements are exposed outside the clasp blades, then adjustment functionality is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to pinching and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic elements are nested within the link structures and positioned inside the clasp assembly. The lateral links and end links contain the elastic elements within their structures, and the clasp cover encloses the entire mechanism. This nested arrangement ensures that elastic elements remain protected from external contamination and pinching while still allowing the bracelet to extend and retract properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The clasp cover acts as a protective enclosure that seals the elastic elements and adjustment mechanism. The cover follows the curvature of the clasp and provides a hermetic barrier that prevents dust, debris, and other contaminants from reaching the elastic elements, while still allowing the bracelet to function properly through the cover's flexible design.
3Reliability
If clasp cover follows curvature to protect elastic elements, then reliability is improved, but torsional stresses on springs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective enclosure is achieved through segmented link structures (lateral links, end links) rather than a single continuous curved cover. Each link segment provides localized protection for its associated elastic elements, allowing the mechanism to flex and articulate without requiring the entire cover to follow a complex curvature that would induce torsional stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The clasp assembly is designed to be dynamic rather than rigid, with links that can articulate and adjust their positions. The protective cover and link structures are configured to move and flex with the bracelet's extension and retraction, distributing stresses evenly throughout the mechanism rather than concentrating torsional loads on the spring elements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple links are arranged to achieve sufficient adjustment range, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each link in the bracelet serves multiple functions: structural support, articulation pivot, elastic element housing, and adjustment mechanism. The lateral links and end links are not merely additional components but multi-functional elements that simultaneously provide structural integrity, accommodate elastic elements, and enable adjustment through their articulation capabilities, thereby achieving continuous adjustment without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges several functions into unified components: the link structures combine structural support with elastic element housing; the clasp cover combines protection with aesthetic integration; and the articulation points combine pivoting motion with adjustment control. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed compared to traditional designs that handle each function with dedicated separate elements.
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 compact, reliable, and cost-effective means of adjusting bracelet length, ensuring comfort and durability by hiding the adjustment mechanism, reducing manufacturing complexity, and minimizing exposure to dust and debris.
Implementation Method 1
a clasp with an automatic length adjustment device featuring a building articulated around a first fixing axis and an articulated bond element around a second fixing axis, connected by at least one elastic element and a slide
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an automatic length adjustment device (17) for a bracelet, comprising a frame (7) articulated around a first fixing axis (9) and a linking element (1) articulated around a second fixing axis (13), characterized in that the linking element (1) is connected to the frame (7) via at least one elastic element (6) and a slide (3), the elastic element (6) being arranged longitudinally in a longitudinal insertion orifice (36) of the slide (3).