JP7157636B2 - Band connection structure and band manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a band connection structure and a band manufacturing method.

As a band for wearing a wristwatch on an arm, there is a band in which a plurality of pieces are connected along the circumferential direction of the wrist. The pieces of such a band are configured by connecting outer pieces arranged at both ends in the width direction of the band and one or more middle pieces arranged between the two outer pieces.

A so-called C-ring system is known as a connection structure between the outer piece and the middle piece. In the C-ring method, a thin hole extending in the width direction of the band is formed in each of the outer and middle pieces, and after arranging the outer and middle pieces side by side, a common thin connecting pin is installed in each hole. It is a structure in which the outer piece and the middle piece are connected through the connecting pin. In this connection structure, a cylinder (C ring) having a C-shaped cross section is arranged in the hole in order to prevent the connection pin from dropping out of the hole.

The inner diameter of the C ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting pin, but the elasticity of the C ring allows the connecting pin to pass through the inside of the C ring. It is integrated with the connecting pin by frictional force due to elastic force.

On the other hand, the portion of the hole in which the C-ring is arranged has a larger diameter than the other portion of the hole. Since the outside diameter is larger than the diameter of the rest of the hole, the C-ring will not fall out of the hole. As a result, the connecting pin integrated with the C-ring is held in the hole without falling out of the hole (see Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2009-28445 A

However, since the connecting pin used in the C-ring type connecting structure is thin and long, the connecting pin may bend or break if an excessive load is applied to the band due to movement of the wrist or the like during wearing. If the connecting pin breaks, the connection between the pieces is broken, the pieces fall off, the band comes off the wrist, and the watch may drop.

In addition, in this connection structure, it is necessary to make a hole in the piece for passing the connection pin, but it is difficult to form a thin and long hole at a low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a band connecting structure and a band manufacturing method that reduce the number of connecting pins and connect pieces with a simple structure.

A first aspect of the present invention is a band connection structure in which a plurality of pieces, which are configured by connecting outer pieces and middle pieces arranged in the width direction of the band, are relatively rotatably connected, One piece of the outer piece or the middle piece has a protruding member integrated with the one piece and protruding toward the other piece in the arrangement direction, and the other piece has the protruding member The connecting structure of the band has a fitting hole to be fitted together, and the protruding member is press-fitted into the fitting hole to connect the outer piece and the middle piece.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a protruding member integrally formed with one of the outer piece and the middle piece is press-fitted into a fitting hole formed in the other piece to connect the outer piece and the middle piece to the band. The frictional force in the press-fitting direction between the outer surface of the protruding member and the inner surface of the fitting hole of the piece formed by connecting the outer piece and the middle piece together in the width direction is In the method of manufacturing a band, the frictional force is increased beyond the force of the protruding member being press-fitted into the fitting hole.

According to the band connecting structure and manufacturing method of the present invention, the number of connecting pins can be reduced, and the pieces can be connected with a simple structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary wristwatch band to which a band connection structure according to the present invention is applied and which is manufactured by a band manufacturing method according to the present invention; It is the perspective view which looked at the band from the back side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an inner piece of the band shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the two outer pieces of the band shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a frame body in which the middle piece shown in FIG. 3 and two outer pieces shown in FIG. 4 arranged on both sides of the middle piece shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a piece body having triangular prism-shaped dowels with a triangular cross-sectional shape. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a piece body having a rectangular columnar dowel with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a piece having a hexagonal columnar dowel with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a piece including a middle piece formed with a second dowel instead of a shaft; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a piece including a middle piece formed with a bearing instead of a shaft; It is the perspective view which looked at the band of other embodiment from the front side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing another example (part 1) in which dowels are formed in the outer piece and fitting holes are formed in the middle piece in the piece in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 ; FIG. 12 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 11 showing another example (No. 2) in which dowels are formed in the outer piece and fitting holes are formed in the middle piece in the piece in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 ; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to FIG. 6 of a bridge member in another example of a wristwatch band to which the band connecting structure according to the present invention is applied and which is manufactured by the band manufacturing method according to the present invention. .

Embodiments of a band connection structure and a band manufacturing method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an example wristwatch band 1 to which the band connection structure according to the present invention is applied and manufactured by the band manufacturing method according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the band 1 as seen from the back side, FIG. 3 is a middle piece 30 of the band 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows one outer piece 20 of them.

The outer piece 10 has a symmetrical shape with the outer piece 20 shown in FIG. 4 with the middle piece 30 interposed therebetween in the width direction W. A symbol indicating each site is shown in parentheses.

In addition, the middle piece 30 in FIG. 3 is shown in a posture in which the front surface 31 is directed upward and the back surface 32 is directed downward in the same manner as the band 1 shown in FIG. On the other hand, like the band 1 shown in FIG. 2, the outer piece 20 in FIG. 4 is shown with its back surface 22 facing upward and its front surface 21 facing downward.

FIG. 5 shows a frame body in which the middle piece 30 shown in FIG. 3 and the two outer pieces 10 and 20 shown in FIG. 50 is a plan view, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

The band 1, as shown in FIGS. The outer piece 10, the middle piece 30, and the outer piece 20 arranged in the direction W are connected to form one piece body 50 (see FIG. 5), which is a repeating unit in the length direction L of the band 1. As shown in FIG.

The linked pieces 50 are aligned so that the front surface 11 of the outer piece 10, the front surface 21 of the outer piece, and the front surface 31 of the middle piece 30 are flush with each other. there is

As shown in FIG. 3, one end surface 33 of the middle piece 30 in the width direction W is a surface adjacent to the outer piece 20 as shown in FIG. 1, it is the surface adjacent to the outer piece 10 .

The middle piece 30 is formed with dowels 35 (projecting members) that are projecting portions projecting from the end face 33 toward the outer piece 20 in the width direction W (arrangement direction). Similarly, the middle piece 30 is formed with dowels 36 (protruding members) that are protrusions projecting from the end surface 34 toward the outer piece 10 in the width direction W. As shown in FIG. These dowels 35 and 36 are portions that connect the middle piece 30 and the outer pieces 20 and 10 .

The middle piece 30 is integrally formed with dowels 35 and 36 as part of the middle piece 30 . Then, for example, after the middle piece 30 is cut out as a member having a uniform cross-sectional shape in the dimension in the width direction W up to the tips of the dowels 35 and 36, the dowels 35 and 36 are cut so as to leave the portions of the dowels 35 and 36. The dowels 35 and 36 integrated with the middle piece 30 can be formed by removing the periphery of the portion 36 up to the end faces 33 and 34 by machining such as turning.

The dowels 35 and 36 are formed by protruding members separate from the middle piece 30, and are later fixed to the middle piece 30 by bonding, crimping, solid phase bonding, etc., and integrated with the middle piece 30. good too.

The dowels 35 and 36 have an elliptical contour shape in a cross section orthogonal to the width direction W, and the dimension along the length direction L of the middle piece 30 is longer than the dimension along the thickness direction T of the middle piece 30. is formed in The dowels 35 and 36 are formed such that the dimension along the thickness direction T is larger than 1/3 of the thickness of the middle piece 30 itself (dimension along the thickness direction T).

Therefore, the dowels 35 and 36 are much thicker than the connecting pin that connects the middle piece and the outer piece in a known band, and the torsional rigidity of the dowels 35 and 36 around the axis is much stronger. The thickness of the dowels 35 and 36 does not have to be larger than 1/3 of the thickness of the middle piece 30 itself.

In addition, the dowels 35 and 36 are formed not at the center of the middle piece 30 in the length direction L, but at positions deviated to one side in the length direction L. As shown in FIG. This biased direction is the same for the dowels 35 and 36 . Furthermore, in the length direction L of the middle piece 30, a through-hole penetrating between the end surfaces 33 and 34 along the width direction W is provided in a biased portion on the side opposite to the direction in which the dowels 35 and 36 are biased. 37 is formed. The through-hole 37 is a hole through which a shaft 42 (see FIG. 5), which is an example of a connecting member described later and which relatively rotatably connects the plurality of pieces 50 in the length direction l, is passed.

As shown in FIG. 4, one end face 23 in the width direction W of the outer piece 20 is a surface adjacent to the middle piece 30 as shown in FIG. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, one end face 13 in the width direction W of the outer piece 10 is adjacent to the middle piece 30 as shown in FIG.

As described above, the outer piece 10 and the outer piece 20 have a symmetrical shape in the width direction W. Descriptions of the pieces 10 are shown only in brackets.

The outer piece 20 (10) has an end face 23 (13) formed with a fitting hole 25 (15) into which a dowel 36 (35) projecting from the middle piece 30 is fitted. The fitting hole 25 (15), like the dowel 36 (35), is an elliptical columnar space with an oval profile in a cross section perpendicular to the width direction W. As shown in FIG. However, the outer shape of the fitting hole 25 (15) is slightly smaller than the outer shape of the dowel 36 (35).

For this reason, when the dowel 36 (35) is fitted into the fitting hole 25 (15), it is not loosely inserted but tightly inserted. It becomes a press fit to

Also, the fitting hole 25 (15) does not reach the end surface 24 (14) on the opposite side in the width direction W. Therefore, the fitting hole 25 (15) is not exposed on the end surface 24 (14).

The fitting hole 25 (15) is formed not at the center in the length direction L of the outer piece 20 (10), but at a position deviated to one side in the length direction L. This biased direction is opposite to the biased direction of the dowels 35 and 36 in the middle piece 30 . That is, if the biased direction of the dowels 35 and 36 in the middle piece 30 is the far side in the length direction L, the biased direction of the fitting hole 25 (15) in the outer piece 20 (10) is the length direction L. It is on the front side.

In the length direction L of the outer piece 20 (10), both end surfaces 23, 24 (13 , 14) are formed through holes 27 (17). This through-hole 27 (17) is a hole through which a shaft 42, which will be described later, is passed.

As described above, the biased direction of the fitting holes 25 (15) in the outer piece 20 (10) is opposite to the biased direction of the dowels 35 and 36 in the middle piece 30. When the dowels 36 formed on the side are fitted with the fitting holes 25 formed on the front side, the middle piece 30 and the outer piece 20 (10) are aligned in the length direction L as shown in FIG. The through hole 37 of the middle piece 30 is shifted from the outer piece 20 (10) on the back side, and the through hole 27 (17) of the outer piece 20 (10) is shifted from the middle piece 30 on the front side. placed in

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, one frame body 50 (for example, the frame body 50 indicated by the solid line) to which the outer piece 10, the middle piece 30, and the outer piece 20 are connected is replaced with another piece body 50 (for example, two pieces). When the band 1 is formed by relatively rotatably connecting the frame body 50 represented by the dotted chain line, the through holes 27 and 17 of the outer pieces 20 and 10 in one frame body 50 and the other frame body 50 and the through hole 37 of the intermediate piece 30 can be arranged in a straight line.

Then, one common shaft 42 is passed through the through holes 27, 37, 17 arranged in a straight line from the outer side of the outer piece 10 or the outer piece 20 in the width direction W, and the two piece bodies 50, 50 can be connected in the longitudinal direction L.

In addition, the outer piece 20 (10) faces the side surface 36b (35b) that is a part of the outer surface 36a (35a) of the dowel 36 (35) press-fitted into the fitting hole 25 (15), that is, the fitting Intersection extending from the rear surface 22 (12) in a direction (thickness direction T) perpendicular to the extending direction (width direction W) of the fitting hole 25 (15) so as to communicate with the hole 25 (15) A hole 26 (16) is formed. The cross hole 26 (16) does not penetrate the front surface 21 (11) of the outer piece 20 (10).

The cross hole 26 (16) is provided on the center side in the length direction L of the outer piece 20 (10) with respect to the direction in which the fitting hole 25 (15) is provided offset. there is

A fitting member 41 formed in a spherical shape, for example, is inserted into the cross hole 26 (16). Since the fitting member 41 has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the cross-sectional contour of the plane perpendicular to the direction in which the cross hole 26 (16) extends, as shown in FIGS. (16) is inserted loosely.

On the other hand, since the cross hole 26 (16) communicates with the fitting hole 25 (15), as shown in FIG. has entered the cross hole 26 (16). Then, the dowel 36 (35) protruding into the cross hole 26 (16) blocks a part of the cross hole 26 (16). The diameter of the fitting member 41 is set larger than the dimension of the space of the cross hole 26 (16) in the cross section at the depth position where the dowel 36 (35) partially blocks the cross hole 26 (16). .

Therefore, the fitting member 41 cannot pass through the cross hole 26 (16) at the depth position blocked by the dowel 36 (35). However, by applying a load that presses the fitting member 41 in the depth direction (thickness direction T) of the cross hole 26 (16), the fitting member 41 can move to the outside of the cross hole 26 (16). The inner surface 26a (16a) of the piece 20 (10) (hereinafter simply referred to as the inner surface of the cross hole 26 (16)) and the side surface 36b (35b) of the protruding dowel 36 (35) are pressed to press the dowel 36 (35). The wall portion of the inner surface 26a (16a) of the intersecting hole 26 (16) and the fitting member 41 are elastically deformed so as to contract.

This allows the fitting member 41 to pass through the depth position of the cross hole 26 (16) blocked by the dowel 36 (35).

The dimension of the dowel 36 (35) protruding into the cross hole 26 (16) is the maximum at the portion of the fitting member 41 that has the maximum diameter in the cross-sectional contour of the plane orthogonal to the cross hole 26 (16). At a position deeper than the depth position of the cross hole 26 (16), the fitting member 41 stops in contact with the bottom surface 26b (16b) of the cross hole 26 (16).

The fitting member 41 in the stopped state is in contact with the bottom surface 26b (16b) of the cross hole 26 (16), the inner surface 26a (16a) of the cross hole 26 (16), and the side surface 36b (35b) of the dowel 36 (35). As a result, the fitting member 41 is stably fixed and does not drop out of the cross hole 26 (16).

In addition, since the side surface 36b (35b) of the dowel 36 (35) is in contact with the fitting member 41, the dowel 36 (35) receives a reaction load from the fitting member 41, causing the fitting hole 25 (15) to close. It is pressed against the inner surface 25a (15a) of the inside opposite to the side where the cross hole 26 (16) communicates.

As a result, the outer surface 36a (35a) of the dowel 36 (35) in a state where the dowel 36 (35) is press-fitted into the fitting hole 25 (15) and the outer surface 36a (35a) of the dowel 36 (35) and the outer surface 36a (35a) of the middle piece 30 defining the fitting hole 25 (15) The frictional force in the press-fit direction (width direction W) with the inner surface (hereinafter simply referred to as the inner surface of the fitting hole 25 (15)) 25a (15a) is applied to the fitting hole 25 (15) by the dowel 36 (35). It strengthens more than the frictional force just press-fitted.

Therefore, the intersecting hole 26 (16) and the fitting member 41 reduce the frictional force in the press-fitting direction between the outer surface 36a (35a) of the dowel 36 (35) and the inner surface 25a (15a) of the fitting hole 25 (15). It functions as a friction force enhancing part to be enhanced.

The fitting member 41 that is inserted into the cross holes 16 and 26 and presses the dowels 35 and 36 protruding into the fitting holes 15 and 25 is not limited to a spherical body. , 26 may have a columnar shape extending in the depth direction, or may have a tapered wedge shape.

In the band 1 described above, the dowels 35 of the middle piece 30 are fitted into the fitting holes 15 of the outer piece 10 by press-fitting, and the dowels 36 of the middle piece 30 are fitted into the fitting holes 25 of the outer piece 20 by press-fitting. As a result, the two outer pieces 10 and 20 and the middle piece 30 are connected in the width direction W of the band 1 to form the piece body 50 .

After that, the fitting members 41 are inserted into the cross holes 16, 26 of the outer pieces 10, 20, the fitting members 41 are pushed into the bottom surfaces 16b, 26b of the cross holes 16, 26, and the dowels 35, 36 of the frame body 50 are and the inner surfaces 15a, 25a of the fitting holes 15, 25 in the press-fitting direction are enhanced beyond the frictional force of the dowels 35, 36 only press-fitted into the fitting holes 15, 25. .

The connecting structure of the band 1 constructed as described above has dowels 35 and 36 which are much thicker than conventionally used thin and long connecting pins and thus have much higher rigidity, and these dowels 35 and 36 are fitted. The outer pieces 10, 20 and the middle piece 30 are connected by press-fitting in which the fitting holes 15, 25 are in direct contact with each other.

Therefore, the piece 50 of the band 1 connected by this connection structure can reduce the number of connection pins compared to the pieces of the conventional band, and can connect the pieces with a simple structure, and furthermore, it can be connected to the wrist. It is possible to remarkably strengthen the strength against the load transmitted from.

In addition, since the dowels 35 and 36 have an oval columnar shape with an oval cross section, the torque resisting the torque around the axis of the column is greater than that of the columnar dowel with a circular cross section. Bigger than a dowel. Therefore, even if torque around the axis is applied between the outer pieces 10, 20 and the middle piece 30, relative rotation of the outer pieces 10, 20 and the middle piece 30 is prevented or suppressed. It is possible to improve the strength against a prying operation that applies torque around the axis.

The cross-sectional shape of the dowels 35 and 36 is not limited to the above-described elliptical shape, and may be columnar with a non-circular (deformed) cross-sectional shape.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a piece 50 having a triangular prism-shaped dowel 36 (35) with a triangular cross-sectional shape, and FIG. 8 has a rectangular-pillar-shaped dowel 36 (35) with a rectangular cross section. FIG. 9 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing the piece body 50, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG.

In the connecting structure of the band 1 of the embodiment described above, the dowels 35 and 36 are formed in a triangular prism shape having a triangular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be formed into a hexagonal prism shape having the hexagonal cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. These dowels 35 and 36 having non-circular cross-sectional shapes can improve strength against prying operations that apply torque around the axis, as in the connection structure of the band 1 of the above-described embodiment.

The dowels 35 and 36 may have a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section other than the exemplified shape. Moreover, it is preferable that the dowels 35 and 36 have a shape in which the dimension in the length direction L is longer than the dimension in the thickness direction T. As shown in FIG. This is because the outer pieces 10 and 20 and the middle piece 30 are longer in the length direction L than in the thickness direction T, so it is easy to secure the arrangement space for the dowels 35 and 36 and the fitting holes 15 and 25 .

In the connection structure of the band 1 of this embodiment, the shaft 42 connecting the piece bodies 50 is a shaft that is thinner and longer than the dowels 35 and 36 (see FIG. 5). Alternatively, a structure that does not use the thin and long shaft 42 may be used.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a piece body 50 including a middle piece 30 formed with dowels 38a, 38a that serve as second protruding members replacing the shaft 42, and FIG. 11 shows bearings 38b, 38b replacing the shaft 42. 4 is a perspective view showing a piece body 50 including a middle piece 30; FIG.

As an alternative to the shaft 42 connecting the pieces 50 described above, dowels 38a, 38a (second projecting members) shown in FIG. 10 may be provided as connecting members. That is, instead of forming the through hole 37 in the middle piece 30 shown in FIG. Second dowels 38a, 38a projecting in the width direction W are formed. The second dowels 38a, 38a are formed in a columnar shape with a circular cross section in order to ensure the rotation of the connected pieces 50, 50 around the second dowels 38a, 38a.

On the other hand, instead of forming the through holes 17, 27 in the outer pieces 10, 20 shown in FIG. Loose fitting holes 18 and 28 are formed as second fitting holes extending in the width direction W to be loosely inserted. The loose fitting holes 18 and 28 do not penetrate to the outer end faces in the width direction W of the outer pieces 10 and 20 .

Therefore, unlike the frame body 50 shown in FIG. 5, the through holes 17 and 27 are not exposed on the outer end surfaces of the outer pieces 10 and 20 in the width direction W, and a neat appearance can be obtained.

Like the second dowels 38a, 38a, the loose fitting holes 18, 28 are also columnar spaces with circular cross sections. The diameter of the loose fitting holes 18, 28 is slightly larger than the diameter of the second dowels 38a, 38a. As a result, the second dowels 38a, 38a are loosely inserted into the loosely fitting holes 18, 28, and the second dowels 38a, 38a are inserted into the loosely fitting holes 18, 28, and are inserted into the loosely fitting holes 18, 28. It is rotatable around the axis. As a result, the band 1 can be configured by connecting the pieces 50 together in the length direction L by means of the second dowels 38a, 38a and the loose fitting holes 18, 28. As shown in FIG.

Further, bearings 38b, 38b shown in FIG. 11 may be provided instead of the shaft 42 that connects the piece bodies 50 described above. That is, instead of forming the second dowels 38a, 38a in the middle piece 30 shown in FIG. Form 38c. In addition, the shape of the holes 38c, 38c is not limited to the semi-hollow shape, and may be a locking hole.

On the other hand, instead of forming the through holes 17 and 27 in the outer pieces 10 and 20 shown in FIG. shaped holes 38d, 38d are formed. The hemispherical hole 38c of the middle piece 30 and the hemispherical holes 38d and 38d of the outer pieces 10 and 20 face each other to form a spherical space. Ceramic balls 38e (spherical bodies) having small diameters are arranged, and a bearing 38b is constituted by the holes 38c, 38d and the balls 38e. Ball 38e functions as a connecting member.

The bearings 38b, 38b connect the piece bodies 50 to each other, and the two piece bodies 50, 50 that are connected can relatively rotate about the axis connecting the bearings 38b, 38b.

As described above, the band 1 obtained by connecting the pieces 50 of Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 does not use the thin and long shaft 42, so that the strength for connecting the pieces 50 can be improved. can. Further, by forming the second dowels 38a and the balls 38e from the same material as the outer pieces 10, 20, the middle piece 30, and the dowels 35, 36, the band 1 can be formed from only a single material. .

In addition, since this connecting structure does not use a thin and long connecting pin for connecting the pieces 50 to each other, a thin and long hole for passing the thin and long connecting pin is provided in each of the outer pieces 10, 20 and the middle piece. There is no need to form holes in the outer pieces 10, 20 or the middle piece 30, which is a difficult process of forming thin and long holes, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, the connection structure of the band 1 of each of the above-described embodiments is such that the outer surfaces 35a, 36a of the dowels 35, 36 and the fitting holes 15, 25 are connected in a state in which the dowels 35, 36 are press-fitted into the fitting holes 15, 25. The frictional force with the inner surfaces 15a, 25a in the press-fitting direction is reinforced by the intersecting holes 16, 26 and the fitting member 41 more than the frictional force of the dowels 35, 36 simply press-fitted into the fitting holes 15, 25. I am letting

Therefore, even if the frictional force of the dowels 35, 36 press-fitted into the fitting holes 15, 25 is insufficient to resist the pullout of the dowels 35, 36 from the fitting holes 15, 25, However, the intersecting holes 16, 26 and the fitting member 41 can increase the frictional force between the outer surfaces 35a, 36a of the dowels 35, 36 and the inner surfaces 15a, 25a of the fitting holes 15, 25. It is possible to increase the resistance to pull-out of the dowels 35 and 36 to W.

In the connecting structure of the band 1 of the embodiment described above, the cross holes 16, 26 formed in the outer pieces 10, 20 are formed from the rear surfaces 12, 22 of the outer pieces 10, 20 as shown in FIG. Since it is not exposed to the front surfaces 11 and 21, the fitting member 41 is visible only when the belt is turned inside out as shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the band 1 of another embodiment as viewed from the front side. In the connection structure of the band 1 of the present embodiment, a design in which the fitting member 41 is positively visually recognized can be adopted. That is, by forming the cross holes 16 and 26 from the front surfaces 11 and 21 of the outer pieces 10 and 20, as shown in FIG. can be made

Thus, when adopting a structure in which the fitting member 41 is visible from the front surface side of the band 1, the fitting member 41 may be colored by plating or the like in a color different from that of the outer pieces 10 and 20. can also be used to create aesthetics. For example, by forming the fitting member 41 by coloring a transmissive material such as glass, the reflected light of the incident light from the outside is emitted from the band 1, so that the design can be improved. Alternatively, the fitting member 41 may be a light-emitting element such as an LED, and the light-emitting element may emit light by supplying power thereto.

FIG. 13 shows that in the frame body 50 of the embodiment shown in FIG. Instead of forming the dowels 19 and 29 as projecting members and forming the fitting holes 15 and 25 in the outer pieces 10 and 20, fitting holes 39 into which the dowels 19 and 29 are fitted are formed in the middle piece 30. 11 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing another example (No. 1) in which is formed.

FIG. 14 is a block body 50 in the embodiment shown in FIG. Instead of forming the dowels 19 and 29 as projecting members and forming the fitting holes 15 and 25 in the outer pieces 10 and 20, fitting holes 39 into which the dowels 19 and 29 are fitted are formed in the middle piece 30. 12 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 11 showing another example (No. 2) in which is formed.

In the connecting structure of the band 1 of the above-described embodiment, the dowels 35, 36 are formed in the middle pieces and the fitting holes 15, 25 are formed in the outer pieces 10, 20. The connection structure and band manufacturing method are not limited to this form.

That is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, instead of forming the dowels 35 and 36 in the middle piece 30 of the piece body 50 shown in FIGS. Instead of forming dowels 19 and 29 extending in the width direction W toward 30 and forming fitting holes 15 and 25 in the outer pieces 10 and 20 of the piece body 50 shown in FIGS. A fitting hole 39 into which the dowels 19 and 29 are fitted may be formed in the middle piece 30 .

For example, instead of forming the dowels 35 and 36 on the middle piece 30 of the piece body 50 shown in FIG. , 29 are formed, and instead of forming fitting holes 15 and 25 in the outer pieces 10 and 20 of the piece body 50, fitting holes 39 into which the dowels 19 and 29 are fitted are formed in the middle piece 30. may In this case, the cross holes are formed in the middle piece 30 .

Here, the dowels 19 and 29 are the same as the dowels 35 and 36 in shape and the like, and the fitting hole 39 is similar to the fitting holes 15 and 25 . However, the fitting hole 39 may be formed as one hole penetrating between the end surfaces 33 and 34 of the intermediate piece 30 in the width direction W, or may be formed as two holes that do not penetrate.

The structure in which the dowels 19 and 29 are formed in the outer pieces 10 and 20, the fitting hole 39 is formed in the middle piece 30, and both are connected by press-fitting is the same as the connection structure of the above-described embodiment. can obtain the action and effect of

In addition, in the case where the fitting hole 39 is formed as one hole penetrating between the both end surfaces 33 and 34 in the width direction W, compared to the case where the two holes are formed separately from the both end surfaces 33 and 34 side, can facilitate manufacturing.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 15 shows a cross section corresponding to FIG. 6 of a bridge member 50 in another example of a wristwatch band 1 to which the band connection structure according to the present invention is applied and which is manufactured by the band manufacturing method according to the present invention. It is a sectional view showing.

Unlike the frame body 50 shown in FIGS. 1-6, the frame body 50 shown in FIG. is not provided, and instead of the frictional force increasing portion by the cross holes 16, 26 and the fitting member 41, the outer surfaces 35a, 36a of the dowels 35, 36 and the inner surfaces 15a, 15a of the fitting holes 15, 25, 25a in that the frictional force between them is increased by solid phase bonding.

That is, the piece 50 of FIG. 15 is in a state in which the dowels 35 and 36 of the middle piece 30 are press-fitted into the fitting holes 15 and 25 of the outer pieces 10 and 20, and the temperature is below the melting point of the piece 50 (for example, Titanium is heated at 800 degrees Celsius, and stainless steel is heated at 1200 degrees Celsius. As a result, the inner surfaces 15a, 25a of the fitting holes 15, 25 and the outer surfaces 35a, 36a of the dowels 35, 36 are solid phase bonded.

Solid-state bonding is a technique in which two members to be bonded are bonded in a solid state by heating and pressurizing without melting. The inner surfaces 15a, 25a of the fitting holes 15, 25 and the outer surfaces 35a, 36a of the dowels 35, 36 are solid-phase-bonded to each other. Since the frictional force in the press-fitting direction is strengthened by just press-fitting into 25, it functions as a frictional force-enhancing portion.

Since the band 1 obtained by connecting the pieces 50 of Embodiment 2 configured in this way does not use the thin and long shaft 42, the pieces 50 are connected to each other like the band 1 of Embodiment 1. strength can be improved, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Moreover, the band 1 of the second embodiment also exhibits other effects described in the first embodiment.

Furthermore, since the band 1 of Embodiment 2 does not require the cross holes 16 and 26 and the fitting member 41 unlike the band 1 of Embodiment 1, the manufacturing process can be facilitated.

Note that the modified example shown in the first embodiment can also be applied to the second embodiment. Therefore, there are variations in the thickness and cross-sectional shape of the dowel (see FIGS. 7-9), whether the dowel is part of the middle piece 30 or integrated with another member, and the dowel is attached to the middle piece 30 side. Whether it exists (see FIG. 3) or exists on the side of the outer pieces 10, 20 (see FIGS. 13-14), the combination of the shaft 42 and the through holes 17, 27, 37 is used as a connection between the pieces 50. (See FIG. 5) or second dowels 38a (See FIG. 10) and bearings 38b (See FIG. 11). Various variations described in the first embodiment, such as whether or not they are formed from the same material, are similarly applicable to the second embodiment.

In the band 1 of each embodiment, the outer pieces 10, 20, the middle pieces 30, and the dowels 35, 36 are preferably made of the same material. As a result, the band 1 does not contain dissimilar materials, and galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals can be prevented. In particular, when titanium is used as the same material, it is possible to prevent the induction of metal allergy. However, the present invention is not limited to bands made of the same material.

In the band 1 of each of the above-described embodiments, the frictional force enhancing portion is configured by the cross hole and the fitting member, and the portion fixed by solid phase bonding, but the band according to the present invention The connecting structure is not limited to that of the embodiment described above as the frictional force enhancing portion. Any member other than those exemplified above can be applied as long as it exhibits a function of increasing the frictional force of the protruding member more than the frictional force of the protruding member being press-fitted into the fitting hole.

In addition, each embodiment exemplifies the wristwatch band, but the band connection structure and the band manufacturing method according to the present invention are not limited to the wristwatch band connection structure and the wristwatch band manufacturing method. , bracelets and other ornamental band connection structures and methods for manufacturing these bands.

1 Bands 10, 20 Outer pieces 15, 25 Fitting holes 15a, 25a Inner surfaces 16, 26 Intersection holes 30 Middle pieces 35, 36 Dowels 35a, 36a Outer surface 41 Fitting member 50 Piece body C Section L Length direction T Thickness direction W width direction

Claims (10)

A band connection structure in which a plurality of pieces, which are configured by connecting outer pieces and middle pieces arranged in the width direction of the band, are relatively rotatably connected,
One piece of the outer piece or the middle piece has a protruding member integrated with the one piece and protruding in the arrangement direction toward the other piece,
The other piece has a fitting hole into which the protruding member is fitted,
the projecting member is press-fitted into the fitting hole to connect the outer piece and the middle piece,
The frictional force in the press-fitting direction between the outer surface of the projecting member and the inner surface of the fitting hole in a state where the projecting member is press-fitted into the fitting hole is Having a frictional force enhancing unit that enhances the frictional force above the state,
The frictional force enhancing portion includes a cross hole formed so as to face a side surface of the protruding member press-fitted into the fitting hole and extending in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the fitting hole; a fitting member inserted into the intersecting hole sandwiched between an outer surface of a portion of the protruding member press-fitted into the intersecting hole and projecting into the intersecting hole and an inner surface of the intersecting hole; ,
The connecting structure of the band, wherein the fitting member is a sphere . 2. The band connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding member is formed integrally with a part of the one piece. 3. The band connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the frictional force enhancing portion is a portion where the outer surface of the protruding member and the inner surface of the fitting hole are fixed by solid phase bonding. A portion of the fitting member having the maximum diameter in the cross-sectional contour of the plane perpendicular to the cross hole protrudes into the cross hole from the side surface of the protruding member press-fitted into the fitting hole. 4. The band connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the fitting member is arranged at a position deeper than a maximum depth position of the cross hole. The band connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the outer piece, the middle piece and the projecting member are all made of titanium. the one having the protruding member is the outer piece,
The other part in which the fitting hole is formed is the middle piece,
The band connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fitting hole is formed through the middle piece. The band connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the projecting member is formed to have a non-circular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the width direction. The band connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the protruding member has a thickness of 1/3 or more of the thickness of the one piece. A connecting member for relatively rotatably connecting a plurality of pieces is provided on one piece of the outer piece or the middle piece, protrudes toward the other piece in the arrangement direction, and is formed integrally with the one piece. a second protruding member, and
9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein said second protruding member is inserted into a second fitting hole provided in said other piece to relatively rotatably connect said outer piece and said middle piece. The band connection structure according to any one of the above. A connecting member for relatively rotatably connecting a plurality of the pieces is arranged in a spherical space formed by hemispherical holes formed in the outer piece and the middle piece so as to face each other. is the body,
The band connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the spherical body is arranged in the spherical space and relatively rotatably connects the outer piece and the middle piece.

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