Modular Jewelry Element with Moulded Coupling Jaws

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing modular jewelry elements, such as 'tennis' chains, face issues with irregular and aesthetically poor concatenation due to high machining costs and reliance on skilled manual assembly, which limits production to large quantities and compromises quality and cost-effectiveness for smaller items.

Innovation Solution

A modular element with a moulded body featuring protruding jaws and internal channels allows for stable manual coupling without damaging the elements, enabling uniform and aesthetically pleasing chain creation at lower costs, using the lost wax microcasting technique.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If machining is used to create modular elements, then manufacturing precision and aesthetic quality are improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcatenation uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs simple, inexpensive moulded modular elements that can be manually assembled and discarded if needed, replacing expensive machined components. The moulded elements achieve sufficient precision for manual assembly without requiring complex machining operations, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate concatenation uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the manufacturing parameter from machining to moulding, which fundamentally alters the production approach. Moulding allows for simpler, more cost-effective production of modular elements with integrated coupling features, achieving the necessary precision through the moulding process itself rather than subsequent machining operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If manual assembly is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision and concatenation uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidconcatenation uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates preliminary action by pre-forming coupling features (protrusions and recesses) directly into the modular elements during the moulding process. This preliminary structuring of coupling interfaces ensures that manual assembly achieves consistent, uniform results without requiring high operator skill, thereby maintaining concatenation uniformity while reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The modular elements are designed with self-aligning coupling features where protrusions and recesses automatically guide proper positioning during manual assembly. This self-service mechanism reduces dependence on operator skill and ensures consistent concatenation uniformity even with manual assembly, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If filament is used for junction, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability and aesthetic quality worsen due to visible filament and irregular concatenation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidchain integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the modular element body with integrated coupling features (protrusions and recesses), eliminating the need for separate filament components. This merging creates a unified structure where the coupling features are inherent to the elements themselves, improving both reliability through stronger connections and aesthetics by eliminating visible filaments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If machining is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to high hourly machining cost and long production time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelement precisionVSAvoidproduction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, time-consuming machining operations with economical moulding processes that produce sufficiently precise elements quickly. The moulded elements with integrated coupling features can be manufactured in high volumes at low cost and fast speed, dramatically improving productivity while maintaining the precision needed for manual assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3434137B1A modular element for the production of chains

Publication Date: 2020.04.01 LINCETTO GIOIELLI SRL

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5

AI summary

A modular element for the production of chains such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings and the like comprising a shaped body (2) having a head end (3) and a tail end (4) moulded for stable coupling to further respective modular elements (1) so as to make a chain, the shaped body (2) comprising: a pair of openings (6) connected to a channel (9) within the shaped body (2), the openings (6) being spaced with one or more partitions (12) and made at the tail end (4); a pair of jaws (15) connected to the head end (3) and shaped to fit at least partially into the inner channel (9), the jaws (15) emerging from the lateral surface (9) plan projection of the shaped body (2) so that they can be pushed towards each other from outside the shaped body (1).