Porous Composite Watch Component for Lightness and Robustness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch components face challenges in achieving a balance between lightness, robustness, and aesthetic appeal, with existing solutions often compromising on these properties.
Innovation Solution
A watch component comprising a porous structure in a first material with a second material filling its pores or channels, extending to at least part of its surface, optimizing mechanical performance and appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a watch component is made from a lightweight material, then the weight is reduced and wearing comfort is improved, but the robustness and resistance to external stresses deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a porous first material (such as titanium alloy or ceramic) with a second material (such as resin or polymer) that fills the pores and channels. This composite structure achieves both lightness from the porous framework and robustness from the combined materials, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different properties within the watch component. The porous structure provides lightness in certain regions while the filled second material provides enhanced strength and surface quality in specific areas. This allows different parts of the component to have optimized properties for their specific functions.
2Ease of manufacture
If surface treatments are applied to improve mechanical performance and aesthetic effects, then the appearance and mechanical properties are enhanced, but the complexity of manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural function and surface treatment function into a single integrated process. The second material is infiltrated into the porous structure during manufacturing, simultaneously achieving mechanical reinforcement and surface quality enhancement without requiring separate surface treatment steps, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving mechanical performance.
3Weight of moving object
If a porous structure is used to reduce weight, then lightness is improved, but the robustness and ability to resist external stresses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials where the porous first material provides lightness and the second infiltrating material provides structural reinforcement. The combination maintains the weight benefits of porosity while the second material filling the pores restores and enhances the component's ability to resist external stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the watch component into a porous framework structure and infiltrating material. This segmentation allows the porous structure to handle weight reduction while the infiltrating second material handles stress resistance, with both segments working together to achieve reliable performance.
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 combination of materials achieves a lightweight, robust, and aesthetically pleasing component suitable for luxury watchmaking.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a second step consisting of infiltrating the porous structure with a second material, so as to reach at least a part of the second surface of the watch component and so as to infiltrate by said second material all or part of the pores or channels of the porous structure
Data Source
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AI summary
Watch component (1) for a watch part, characterized in that it comprises a porous structure (2) in a first material (11), comprising pores (4) and/or channels (5), this porous structure (2) extending at least to the vicinity of at least a part of a second surface (19) of the watch component, and in that it comprises a second material (12) filling all or part of the pores (4) and/or channels (5) of the porous structure (2), the second material (12) extending at least to the level of a part of the second surface (19) of the watch component.