Watch Band Construction with Segmented Nylon Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch band constructions often compromise on durability, comfort, and ease of use, failing to provide a balance between these characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A strap-type watch band constructed from a single piece of nylon material with three sections: a double layer portion for securing the buckle and keeper, a single layer section with apertures for flexibility, and a folded front tip portion that improves gripping and eliminates raw edges, enhancing durability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional multi-piece watch band construction is used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but durability and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (band pieces, buckle, keeper) into a single integrated blank of material. The entire watch band construction is formed from one continuous piece through folding and stitching operations, eliminating the need to assemble multiple separate parts and thereby improving durability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The single blank of material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it forms the band structure, provides the buckle attachment point, includes the keeper element, and creates the tip portion. This multi-functional design improves structural integrity while streamlining the manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If a single piece construction is used, then durability is improved, but flexibility and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single blank is functionally segmented into distinct zones: a folded double-layer portion for structural strength at the buckle, a single-layer middle section for flexibility and comfort against the wrist, and a folded tip portion for durability. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its properties while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the band have different structural qualities: the buckle area and tip are folded to provide strength and durability, while the middle section remains single-layer to provide flexibility and comfort. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall durability and localized flexibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If the front tip is left as a raw edge, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but durability and aesthetics deteriorate due to fraying
Solution Approach 1:
The tip portion is folded over during the initial blank formation process, creating a finished, non-fraying edge before the band is fully assembled. This preliminary action prevents fraying from occurring and eliminates the need for separate edge-finishing operations, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving durability.
4Reliability
If the band material is stiff for durability, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of insertion and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The band is segmented into stiff folded portions (buckle area, tip) for structural integrity and a flexible single-layer middle section for ease of insertion and comfort. The single-layer middle section naturally forms around the wrist during insertion, facilitating easy donning while the folded portions maintain overall structural strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A strap-type watch band construction is fabricated from a blank. The blank includes three sections. A first section is folded over forming a double layer portion that is stitched and secures a buckle and a keeper and supports a watch casing, which is preferably slidably supported thereon. A second section is a single layer of the blank, extends from the first section, and includes apertures therethrough for receiving the buckle. A third section extends from the second section and is folded over to form a tip portion. The third section improves gripping and facilitates insertion of the tip portion through the buckle and the keeper. The single layer construction of the second section facilitates putting the watch band construction on the wrist as it is flexible and tends to form around the wrist.