External Fitting Device Locking Mechanism for Wristwatch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wristwatch designs lack a secure and user-friendly mechanism for attaching and detaching external fitting members, such as bezels, which can lead to unexpected disengagement during wear.
Innovation Solution
An external fitting device comprising a front wall portion, side wall portion, and locking target portions on the wristwatch case, combined with a fixing member that locks onto these target portions to securely attach and detach the external fitting member, utilizing a deformed shape to ensure strong fixation and easy removal with a jig.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional attachment mechanism is used for external fitting members, then the device structure is simple, but the external fitting member may unexpectedly disengage during wear
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is nested within the fixing member, with the locking protrusion fitting into the locking groove to create a nested locking structure that secures the external fitting member to the case
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates in a radial dimension with the locking protrusion extending radially outward to engage with the locking groove, adding a dimensional aspect to the attachment that prevents disengagement while maintaining structural simplicity
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then the external fitting member is firmly attached, but the fixing mechanism becomes visible from the front side
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism components (locking portion, locking protrusion, locking groove) are extracted and positioned on the rear side of the case, separating the functional locking elements from the visible front aesthetic surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall portion acts as an intermediary structure that connects the front wall portion to the locking mechanism on the rear side, allowing the locking function to be achieved without compromising the aesthetic appearance of the front view
3Reliability
If a complex fixing mechanism is used, then the external fitting member is securely fixed, but the attachment and detachment process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing member is segmented into distinct functional portions (locking portion, side wall portion, front wall portion), allowing the locking action to be concentrated in a specific area that can be quickly engaged and disengaged
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring multiple locking steps, the design inverts the approach by using a single locking protrusion that engages with a corresponding groove, allowing quick attachment and detachment through a simple single-action mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An external fitting device includes an external fitting member having a front wall member configured to cover partially a front side of a case of a wristwatch, a side wall member continuously connected to the front wall member and configured to cover a lateral surface of the case, and a locking target member provided on the side wall member, and a fixing member comprising a locking member being locked on the locking target member, and configured to fix the external fitting member to the case by the locking member.