Two-part watch strap groove and protrusion retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-part watch straps with buckle and hole parts often require a strap keeper or loop to secure the free end, which can inadvertently slip off or get caught, leading to a lost or broken watch due to ineffective retention.
Innovation Solution
A two-part watch strap design that eliminates the need for a strap keeper, featuring a clasping part with a groove and a clasped part with a protruding portion that engages and locks into the groove to securely fasten the free end, preventing unintended disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a strap keeper or loop is used to secure the free end of the hole part, then the free end can be retained against the buckle part, but the keeper can inadvertently slip off or get caught, leading to ineffective retention and potential watch loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the strap keeper or loop component entirely from the watch strap system. Instead of using a separate retention component that can fail, the design integrates the retention function directly into the buckle part through a groove structure that receives and secures the tail end of the hole part, eliminating the need for the keeper while maintaining retention reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The retention function is merged with the buckle part structure itself. The groove is formed as an integral part of the buckle, combining the fastening and retention functions into a single unified component rather than requiring separate keeper and buckle elements working together
2Reliability
If a strap keeper or loop is used to secure the free end, then retention is provided, but the keeper can slip too close to the buckle, allowing too much of the free end to extend past it, causing tangling on clothing or objects
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is pre-formed in the buckle part at a predetermined position and depth, establishing the correct retention point before the strap is assembled or adjusted. This preliminary positioning ensures that the tail end of the hole part is automatically retained at the proper distance from the buckle, preventing both excessive extension and interference with adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The groove acts as an intermediary structure between the buckle part and the hole part tail end. It provides a controlled interface that manages the relationship between these components, ensuring proper spacing and preventing direct contact between the free end and external objects while maintaining secure retention
Data Source
AI summary
A two-part watch strap (1) including a clasping part (2) and a clasped part (3). The clasping part (2) includes: a clasping-part watch-attaching end; a clasping end opposite the clasping-part watch-attaching end; a strap/band/bracelet portion (4) extending between the watch-attaching and clasping ends of the clasping part (2); and a groove (11) arranged in the strap/band/bracelet portion (4). The clasped part (3) includes: a clasped-part watch-attaching end; a free end (9) opposite the clasped-part watch-attaching end; a strap/band/bracelet portion (6) extending between the watch-attaching and free ends of the clasped part (3); and a protruding portion (10) adjacent to, near, or at the free end (9). The protruding portion (10) is configured to engage with and at least partially lock into the groove (11) of the clasping part (2) so as to secure the free end (9) of the clasped part (3) to the clasping part (2).