Folded Jewelry Chain Elements Absorb Tensile Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jewelry chains with concatenated elements, especially those without welding, fail to withstand strong tensile stresses without breaking, and existing reinforcement methods do not provide sufficient safety against sudden yank movements or unexpected stresses.
Innovation Solution
A chain design featuring box-shaped elements with symmetric parts folded at 90°, where the central body absorbs tensile stress through appendages that offer maximum flexural resistance, eliminating the need for welding and allowing easy assembly via cutting, cambering, and shaping operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If elements are connected through folding operations to form box-like shapes without welding, then ease of manufacture is improved, but strength and reliability deteriorate as terminal parts can open under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The element is divided into a central body and terminal parts that are folded back. The terminal parts are further segmented into appendages that can flex independently to absorb stress, preventing the entire element from opening under tension.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal parts are folded back beforehand to create a cushioning effect. When tensile stress is applied, the folded terminal parts and appendages flex to absorb the stress energy before it can propagate to open the element, providing prior protection against failure.
2Strength
If terminal parts are reinforced by increasing thickness to prevent opening, then strength is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire element, the invention applies local quality by creating specific folded terminal parts with appendages in critical stress zones. This localized structural modification provides the necessary strength without increasing overall material usage or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat element to a three-dimensional folded structure. By folding the terminal parts back and creating appendages that extend in multiple dimensions, the structure gains increased moment of inertia and flexural resistance without adding material thickness.
3Reliability
If welding is used to ensure elements do not open under stress, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase due to expensive welding and aesthetic finishing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The folded terminal parts with appendages are designed to self-absorb tensile stress through their geometric configuration. The structure serves its own reinforcement function without requiring external welding operations, eliminating the need for additional manufacturing processes and associated costs.
4Strength
If terminal parts are made to resist opening through folding, then strength is improved, but the appendages may still be subjected to tension that could cause opening
Solution Approach 1:
The appendages are designed to be dynamic rather than rigid, allowing them to flex and move in response to applied forces. This dynamic capability enables the appendages to absorb tensile stress through controlled deformation, preventing force transmission that would open the element.
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 chain provides resistance comparable to welded chains while avoiding the need for welding, ensuring durability against sudden stresses and simplifying assembly and finishing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the entire possible tensile stress the element is subjected to with respect to the other is absorbed by the appendages symmetrically arranged so that they offer the maximum flexural resistance modulus under the tensile stress
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
Chain for jewels comprising a plurality of elements (1) directly concatenated to each other, wherein each element (1) is constituted by two symmetric parts (2, 3) joined to each other by a central body (4); an essentially longitudinal body (20; 30) provided with two appendages (21, 22; 31, 32) arranged on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the element and with a terminal part (23; 33) is identified in each of said two parts (2, 3), the appendages and the terminal part folding by about 90° with respect to said longitudinal body (20; 30); the central body (4) of each element (1), which is concatenated in succession with each adjacent element, contrasts against the appendages (21, 22; 31, 32) of the adjacent element when the chain is subjected to a tensile stress, while the terminal parts (23; 33) of each element (1) remain load-free.