Jewelry Screw Interlock With Flexible Torque-Lock Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Jewelry items with screw and nut assemblies often unscrew accidentally, leading to loss, and materials like gold are prone to damage from excessive torque required for closure.
Innovation Solution
A decorative article with a screw and nut assembly featuring a flexible safety device that prevents relative displacement below a predetermined torque, allowing secure closure and easy unscrewing only when intended, using a toothing and flexible catch assembly to manage torque and prevent accidental unscrewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screw and nut assembly is used to close a necklace or bracelet, then the jewel can be taken off the user to clean it or change it regularly, but the reversible closure could lead to untimely unscrewing and thus the accidental loss of all or part of the jewel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a safety device that changes the torque parameter required for unscrewing. The device includes a screw with a head having a recess and a safety element that engages with the recess, requiring a specific torque threshold to be exceeded for unscrewing to occur. This parameter change ensures that normal movements or accidental forces are insufficient to unscrew the assembly, while intentional unscrewing with a tool can overcome the threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety element acts as an intermediary between the screw head and the nut. This intermediate component provides an additional layer of security by engaging with the screw head recess and requiring a specific mechanical action (exceeding the torque threshold) to disengage. The intermediary prevents direct unscrewing through normal movements while allowing intentional removal when needed.
2Reliability
If sufficient force is applied to press the portions against each other to prevent loss, then the decorative article remains secure, but excessive torque can damage the tapping of the nut and/or the thread of the screw
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device establishes a distinct torque parameter threshold that separates the force required for secure closure from the force that would cause damage. The engagement mechanism is designed to maintain secure closure at normal torque levels while requiring a significantly higher torque threshold to overcome the safety element engagement, thereby preventing damage during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety element engages beforehand with the screw head recess, creating a mechanical interlock that cushions against accidental unscrewing forces. This pre-engagement provides a buffer that prevents the transmission of damaging forces to the thread or tapping during normal wear and movement, while still allowing secure closure.
3Reliability
If excessive torque is applied to ensure secure closure, then the decorative article remains attached, but the head of the screw can be damaged or the areas around the screw can be marked if the screwdriver slips
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device creates a torque threshold parameter that is higher than normal operational forces but can be overcome with a tool. The recess in the screw head is designed to accommodate a tool, and the safety element requires a specific torque threshold to disengage, allowing secure attachment without excessive force during normal use while enabling intentional removal when needed.
4Shape
If the screw and nut assembly is made of precious metal such as gold, then the decorative article has aesthetic value, but the mechanical properties of precious metals are more prone to unscrew due to lower elastic limit, Young's modulus, creep, and hardness
Solution Approach 1:
The safety element serves as an intermediary that compensates for the lower mechanical strength of precious metals. By introducing this additional engagement component that requires a specific torque threshold to overcome, the system achieves reliable resistance to unscrewing even though the precious metal materials themselves have lower elastic limit, Young's modulus, creep resistance, and hardness compared to stronger materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device changes the torque parameter required for unscrewing to a level that accounts for the softer properties of precious metals. The engagement mechanism is designed to maintain its position against the lower strength characteristics of gold or other precious metals, requiring a higher torque threshold that compensates for the material's lower resistance to deformation and unscrewing forces.
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 flexible safety device ensures secure closure without risking damage to the jewelry or accidental loss, allowing for regular use and maintenance while reducing the risk of damaging precious materials like gold.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible safety device so that the screw and nut assembly can continue to be screwed and unscrewed whilst elastically preventing relative displacement between the screw and the nut below a predetermined torque
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a decorative article with a system (7) for interlocking two portions (5, 6) of at least one part (3, 4), comprising a screw (8) and nut (9) assembly which passes through each portion (5, 6) and is intended to press the two portions (5, 6) against each other by screwing. According to the invention, the interlocking system (7) comprises a flexible safety device (13) so that the screw (8) and nut (9) assembly can continue to be screwed and unscrewed whilst elastically preventing relative displacement between the screw (8) and the nut (9) below a predetermined torque.