Reversible Riveted Watch Band with Snap-Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing riveted watch bands and jewelry bracelets are difficult to disassemble without damaging the high-value rivets, making it hard to change or reuse them, and screw-in rivets do not provide a secure attachment.
Innovation Solution
A watch band or jewelry bracelet design featuring double rivets with snap means, such as elastic holding plates or clip lips, that allow for reversible assembly and disassembly, enabling easy interchangeability and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rivets are irreversibly secured by pounding, heading, or bonding, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rivet is divided into two separate parts: a lower body with head and an upper body with head. These two bodies are inserted one inside the other coaxially, allowing the rivet to be disassembled into two components. This segmentation enables easy disassembly while maintaining strong attachment when assembled, as the two bodies work together to secure the band portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper body of the rivet is inserted inside the lower body coaxially, creating a nested structure. This nesting arrangement allows both bodies to be contained within a common deformable tube and provides a compact assembly that maintains strength while enabling disassembly by separating the nested components.
2Quantity of substance
If rivets are made of rare materials like titanium alloys or precious materials, then the intrinsic value is improved, but the loss of substance deteriorates when drilling is required for band changes
Solution Approach 1:
The rivet design enables recovery and reuse of the rivet components. By making the rivet reversible with the snap means, the band can be disassembled and reassembled without destroying the rivet, allowing the high-value rivet material to be recovered and used again, thus preventing loss of substance.
3Ease of operation
If screw-in rivets are used for leather goods, then the ease of disassembly is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as they can become unscrewed during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The rivet incorporates a dynamic snap means (elastic holding plate or clip lips) that can deform to allow assembly and disassembly, then returns to a locked position to maintain secure attachment. This dynamic mechanism provides both ease of operation when needed and reliable permanent attachment during normal use, preventing the rivet from becoming loose during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap means changes its physical state between locked and unlocked positions. The elastic holding plate or clip lips deform to change the mechanical parameters of the rivet, allowing easy disassembly when actuated but maintaining fixed, reliable attachment during normal wear, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of disassembly and attachment reliability.
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
Enables safe and easy disassembly and reassembly of the band or bracelet by a watchmaking technician, allowing for the reuse of rivet elements and providing a wide range of customization options with various materials and textures.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic holding plate (41), which is arranged to grip said lower body (31)
Implementation Method 2
each inserted into a common deformable tube (30) and coaxially to said common tube
Data Source
AI summary
Watch band comprising lower and upper half band portions connected at a fold portion to surround a watch lug at the fold portion, each comprising a drilled hole for the passage of a double rivet comprising lower and upper bodies, either inserted one inside the other or each inserted into a common tube, the band including, at each double rivet, a snap means for ensuring a reversible axial stop for the lower body with respect to the upper body, comprising either a holding plate aligning lower and upper grooves of the lower and upper bodies, or two lower and upper clip lips of the common tube each clip fitted onto a complementary lower or upper lip of the lower or upper body.