WO2025041491A1 - Band manufacturing method and band - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a band manufacturing method that enables the appropriate closing of a pin hole.　This band manufacturing method is for manufacturing a band formed by connecting a plurality of pieces to each other, said method including: a preparation step for preparing a band in which a pin hole is formed that stretches in a width direction of the band, the pin hole including a small diameter part, and a large diameter part connected to the outside in the width direction of the small diameter part and having the inner diameter larger than that of the small diameter part; an arrangement step for arranging, outside in the width direction of the pin hole, a lid member including a fixing part and a closing part connected to the fixing part and formed such that the outer diameter decreases toward the fixing part; and a closing step for displacing the lid member inward in the width direction to close the pin hole. In the closing step, the fixing part contacts an inner wall of the small diameter part to fix the lid member to the pin hole, and the closing part closes the outer end of the large diameter part.

Description

Manufacturing method of band and band

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a band and to a band.

Bands formed by connecting multiple links are used in wristwatches and the like. A known method for decorating such bands is to use a pin-shaped cover member to block the pin holes for connecting multiple links. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method in which a pin-shaped member consisting of a first press-fit portion, a second press-fit portion, and a neck portion having a smaller diameter than the first press-fit portion and the second press-fit portion is connected to the first press-fit portion and the second press-fit portion, and is pressed into the pin hole to block it.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-262403

If the hardness of the pin-shaped member is lower than that of the link in which the pin hole is formed, the pin will deform and it will be difficult to press it in. Therefore, pin-shaped members are generally formed to have a harder hardness than the link. On the other hand, when a pin-shaped member with high hardness is used, the pin hole may widen more than necessary due to an error in the pressing direction, etc., and a gap may form between the pressed-in pin-shaped member and its surroundings. The gap may cause liquids such as cleaning fluid used in the band manufacturing process to seep in and seep out, and may also make the boundary between the cover member and the link more noticeable, damaging the aesthetic appearance of the band. Therefore, a method is needed to properly close the pin hole while suppressing the formation of gaps.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a band and a manufacturing method for the band that allows the pin holes to be properly blocked.

The band according to an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of links extending in the width direction so as to penetrate two adjacent links, and having pin holes formed therein, each of which includes a small diameter section and a large diameter section connected to the outside of the small diameter section in the width direction and having an inner diameter larger than that of the small diameter section, and a lid member having a fixed section and a blocking section connected to the fixed section and formed so that the outer diameter decreases toward the fixed section, the fixed section abutting against the inner wall of the small diameter section to fix the lid member to the pin hole, and the blocking section blocking the outer end of the large diameter section.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the fixing portion be formed in a columnar shape with a uniform outer diameter.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the fixing portion is formed in a tapered shape with a smaller taper angle than the blocking portion.

It is also preferable that the band further has a frictional bonding region formed in the bonding region between the fixed portion and the small diameter portion, where the piece and the cover member are frictionally bonded, and a plastic deformation region formed in the bonding region between the closed portion and the large diameter portion, where the piece and the cover member are plastically deformed.

It is also preferable that the plastic deformation region further has a protrusion that is connected to the frictional bonding region and protrudes outward from the frictional bonding region in the radial direction of the cover member.

It is also preferable that the cover member is made of the same material as the piece.

Furthermore, the material is preferably titanium.

The manufacturing method of a band according to an embodiment of the present invention is a manufacturing method of a band formed by connecting a plurality of links to each other, and includes a preparation step of preparing a band in which a pin hole is formed, the pin hole having a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion connected to the outside of the small diameter portion in the width direction of the band and having an inner diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion, a placement step of placing a cover member having a fixing portion and a blocking portion connected to the fixing portion and formed so that the outer diameter decreases toward the fixing portion, outwardly of the pin hole in the width direction, and a blocking step of displacing the cover member inwardly in the width direction to block the pin hole, in which the fixing portion abuts against the inner wall of the small diameter portion to fix the cover member to the pin hole, and the blocking portion blocks the outer end of the large diameter portion.

In addition, in the closing process, it is preferable to press the lid member into the pin hole and press-fit the fixing portion into the inner wall of the first region.

In addition, it is preferable to further include a removal step after the closing step, in which the portion of the lid member that protrudes outward in the width direction from the band is removed.

The band manufacturing method and band of the present invention allow pin holes to be properly blocked.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the band according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a method for manufacturing a band according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a pin hole and a cover member in a band arrangement step according to the first embodiment. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin hole and a cover member in a closing process of the band according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin hole and a cover member in a closing process of the band according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a link and a cover member of the band according to the first embodiment. 1A is a photograph showing the vicinity of the lid member of the band according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a photograph showing the vicinity of the lid member of the band manufactured by a manufacturing method according to the prior art. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin hole and a cover member in a band closing process according to a second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin hole and a cover member in a band closing process according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin hole and a cover member in a band closing process according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pin hole and a cover member after a band closing step and before a band removal step according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a band link and a cover member according to a fourth embodiment. 13 is a photograph showing a cross section of a band link and a cover member according to a fourth embodiment.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Please note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a band 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Band 1 has a flat plate shape extending in a specific extension direction D1, and is used in wristwatches and the like. Band 1 has a number of links 2, pins 3, and a cover member 4. Hereinafter, the direction along band 1 that is perpendicular to extension direction D1 may be referred to as width direction D2. In particular, the direction toward the center of band 1 in width direction D2 may be referred to as inward D3 in width direction D2, and the direction away from the center of band 1 in width direction D2 may be referred to as outward D4 in width direction D2.

The pieces 2 are connected to each other to form the band 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, each piece 2 is formed as a single piece, and has a generally Y-shaped planar shape in which the center 21 and end 22 in the width direction D2 protrude in different directions along the extension direction of the band 1. The pieces 2 are made of a metal material. Preferably, the pieces 2 are made of pure titanium. The pieces 2 are each formed with a through hole 23 that penetrates the center 21 in the width direction D2 and a through hole 24 that penetrates the end 22 in the width direction D2. When the pieces 2 are connected, the through hole 23 in the center 21 of one of the two adjacent pieces and the through hole 24 in the end 22 of the other piece communicate with each other to form a pin hole 25 that penetrates the band 1 in the width direction D2. In FIG. 1, the pin hole 25 and the configuration arranged therein are illustrated by dashed lines.

Pin 3 is an axial member that is inserted into pin hole 25 to connect pieces 2. When pin 3 is inserted, piece 2 can rotate around pin 3.

The cover members 4 are disposed on both ends of the pin holes 25 to close the pin holes 25. Preferably, the cover members 4 are made of a metal material having the same hardness as the bridge 2. More preferably, the cover members 4 are made of pure titanium, which is the same material as the bridge 2.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing an example of the flow of a manufacturing method for band 1.

First, a preparation step is carried out to prepare a band 1 with pin holes 25 formed therein (step S1). Pins 3 are inserted into the pin holes 25 of the prepared band 1, and multiple links 2 are connected by the pins 3.

Next, a placement process is performed in which the cover member 4 is placed outside the pin hole 25 in the width direction (step S2).

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the pin hole 25 and the cover member 4 during the placement process.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pin hole 25 is composed of a small diameter portion 251 and a large diameter portion 252. The small diameter portion 251 and the large diameter portion 252 are each formed in a circular shape, and the large diameter portion 252 has a larger inner diameter than the small diameter portion 251. For example, the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 251 is 0.98 mm, and the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 252 is 1.1 mm. The large diameter portion 252 is connected to the outside D4 of the small diameter portion 251 in the width direction D2 so as to be coaxial with the small diameter portion 251.

The lid member 4 has a fixing portion 41 and a blocking portion 42. The fixing portion 41 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a uniform outer diameter. The outer diameter of the fixing portion 41 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 251 and smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 252. For example, the outer diameter of the fixing portion 41 is 1.0 mm. The outer edge of one bottom surface of the fixing portion 41 is chamfered to make it easier for the lid member 4 to enter the small diameter portion 251, forming a tapered inclined portion 411. The blocking portion 42 is formed in a shape in which a truncated cone and a cylinder are joined so as to be coaxial, and is connected to the fixing portion 41 at the upper bottom surface of the truncated cone portion. In other words, the blocking portion 42 is formed in a tapered shape such that the outer diameter becomes smaller toward the fixing portion 41. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the blocking portion 42 is larger than the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 252. For example, the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the blocking portion 42 is 1.3 mm. The lid member 4 is positioned so that the fixing portion 41 is located on the inner side D3 in the width direction D2, and the blocking portion 42 is located on the outer side D4 in the width direction D2.

For the sake of convenience in explaining the shape of the lid member 4, the blocking portion 42 is connected to the fixing portion 41 at the upper bottom surface of the truncated cone portion, but the fixing portion 41 and the blocking portion 42 may be formed as a single unit. In other words, in reality, the blocking portion 42 does not need to have an upper bottom surface.

Returning to FIG. 2, next, a closing step is performed in which the lid member 4 is displaced inward in the width direction to close the pin hole 25 (step S3). The lid member 4 is pressed into the pin hole 25 to close it.

Figures 4 and 5 are partial cross-sectional views of the pin hole 25 and the lid member 4 during the closing process. In Figure 5, the shape of the pin hole 25 before the closing process is shown by a dashed line. When the lid member 4 is pressed into the pin hole 25, the side of the fixing portion 41 first comes into contact with the inner wall 253 of the small diameter portion 251, as shown in Figure 4. At this time, because the outer diameter of the fixing portion 41 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 251, a large radial force is applied between the fixing portion 41 and the inner wall of the small diameter portion 251.

When the cover member 4 is further pressed in from the state shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 5, the blocking portion 42 comes into contact with the inner wall 254 of the large diameter portion 252, deforming the large diameter portion 252. At this time, since the blocking portion 42 is formed in a tapered shape, the force applied from the blocking portion 42 to the inner wall of the large diameter portion 252 includes a component F1 in the direction to expand the diameter of the large diameter portion 252 and a component F2 in the direction along the pressing direction D3. Therefore, the force to expand the diameter of the large diameter portion 252 is weaker than when the blocking portion 42 is formed in a columnar shape. Also, since the blocking portion 42 is formed in a tapered shape, even if the diameter of the large diameter portion 252 expands, the gap between the cover member 4 and the piece 2 is filled by the cover member 4 being displaced inward D3 in the width direction D2.

When the lid member 4 is pressed in and the contact area between the fixing portion 41 and the inner wall of the small diameter portion 251 increases, and the pressure generated between the fixing portion 41 and the inner wall of the small diameter portion 251 increases, the lid member 4 stops and the fixing portion 41 is pressed into the inner wall of the small diameter portion 251 at that position. When the fixing portion 41 is pressed in and fixed, the rear end portion 43 of the blocking portion 42 protrudes outward D4 in the width direction D2 from the side of the band 1, as shown in Figure 5.

In this way, in the closing process, the cover member 4 comes into contact with the inner wall of the pin hole 25 at two points, the fixed portion 41 and the blocking portion 42. The contact surface between the fixed portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251 is parallel to the width direction D2, which is the press-fitting direction. Therefore, when the fixed portion 41 is pressed in, a large radial force is applied between the fixed portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251, and the fixed portion 41 is firmly pressed into and fixed to the inner wall 253 of the small diameter portion 251. On the other hand, since the blocking portion 42 is formed in a tapered shape, the contact surface between the blocking portion 42 and the large diameter portion 252 is inclined with respect to the press-fitting direction. Therefore, the diameter of the large diameter portion 252 is prevented from expanding more than necessary, and even if the diameter of the large diameter portion 252 expands, the gap is filled by the blocking portion 42 formed in a tapered shape, and the pin hole 25 is properly blocked. That is, the side of the fixing portion 41 of the lid member 4 is parallel to the press-in direction, so that the lid member 4 is firmly pressed in and fixed, and the blocking portion 42 is tapered to fill the gap, so that the pin hole 25 is properly blocked.

Returning to FIG. 2, a removal process is carried out to remove the rear end 43 of the cover member 4 that protrudes outward in the width direction from the side of the band 1 (step S4). The rear end 43 is removed by cutting or polishing. In this manner, the band 1 is manufactured.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the link 2 and the cover member 4 of the band 1, showing the state after the removal process has been carried out. After the removal process has been carried out, the end face of the link 2 and the end face of the cover member 4 of the band 1 are integrated.

Fig. 7(A) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the cover member 4 of the band 1 manufactured by the method according to the embodiment described above. In Fig. 7(A), the gap between the cover member 4 and the link 2 is small, so the boundary between the cover member 4 and the link 2 is not visible, as shown by the dashed rectangle. In addition, because the cover member 4 and the link 2 are made of the same metal material, pure titanium, the appearances of the end faces of the cover member 4 and the link 2 are also roughly the same, and the end faces of the link 2 are integrated to create a highly aesthetic appearance.

Figure 7(B) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the cover member of a band manufactured by a method according to the prior art. In Figure 7(B), the gap between the cover member and the link is large, so the boundary line between the cover member and the link is visible, as shown by the dashed rectangle. In addition, because the link is made of pure titanium and the cover member is made of a titanium alloy, the appearance of the end face of the cover member and the end face of the link are different.

As described above, the manufacturing method of the band 1 includes an arrangement step of arranging the cover member 4 on the outer side D4 of the pin hole 25 in the width direction D2, and a closing step of pressing the cover member 4 into the pin hole 25 to close the pin hole 25. The pin hole 25 also includes a small diameter portion 251 and a large diameter portion 252 that is connected to the outer side D4 of the small diameter portion 251 in the width direction D2 and has an inner diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion 251. The cover member 4 has a fixing portion 41 that abuts against the inner wall of the small diameter portion 251 in the closing step to press and fix the cover member 4, and a closing portion 42 that is tapered so that the outer diameter decreases toward the inner side D3 and closes the outer end of the large diameter portion 252 in the closing step. This allows the band 1 to properly close the pin hole 25.

The fixing portion 41 is also formed in a cylindrical shape with a uniform outer diameter. This allows the fixing portion 41 to be firmly pressed into the small diameter portion 251. Therefore, the band 1 can more appropriately close the pin hole 25.

The cover member 4 is also made of the same material as the links 2. This unifies the appearance of the cover member 4 and the links 2, improving the aesthetics of the band 1.

The following modifications may be applied to band 1 and its manufacturing method.

In the above-described embodiment, the cover member 4 is made of the same material as the link 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the cover member 4 may be made of a material different from that of the link 2. In this case, too, no gap is created between the cover member 4 and the link 2, allowing the band 1 to properly close the pinhole. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the cover member 4 does not need to have a harder hardness than the link 2, which increases the freedom of material selection.

In the above embodiment, in step S3 of the manufacturing method of the band 1, the cover member 4 is press-fitted into the pin hole 25 and fixed to the pin hole 25. This is not a limitation, and the cover member 4 may be fixed to the pin hole 25 by other methods. For example, a screw thread may be formed on the fixing portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251, and the fixing portion 41 may be fixed to the small diameter portion 251 by screwing. In this case, as the cover member 4 is displaced inward in the width direction by screwing, the blocking portion 42 comes into contact with the inner wall of the large diameter portion 252 and blocks the pin hole 25. In this way, the pin hole 25 can be appropriately blocked. In this case, in the removal process of step S4, it is preferable that the rear end portion 43 of the blocking portion 42 is removed together with the screw hole formed in the end face of the blocking portion 42.

In the above-described embodiment, the removal step is performed in step S4 of the manufacturing method of the band 1. This is not a limitation, and the removal step may be omitted. In this case, the length of the cover member 4 in the width direction may be adjusted in advance so that the outer end face D4 of the cover member 4 in the width direction D2 coincides with the side of the band 1 when the cover member 4 is pressed in.

In the above-described embodiment, a tapered inclined portion 411 is formed on the outer edge of one of the bottom surfaces of the fixing portion 41. This is not limited to this example, and the fixing portion 41 does not have to have the inclined portion 411 formed. This makes it easier to manufacture the lid member 4. Generally, if no inclined portion is formed, errors are likely to occur in the press-fitting direction. However, by forming the blocking portion 42 in the lid member 4 in a tapered shape, even if some error occurs in the press-fitting direction, a gap is unlikely to occur between the lid member 4 and the piece 2. Therefore, the lid member 4 can prevent the adverse effects caused by omitting the inclined portion 411.

In the above-described embodiment, the blocking portion 42 has a shape in which a truncated cone and a cylinder are joined together. This is not a limited example, and the blocking portion 42 may have a truncated cone shape. Also, while the cover member 4 has a circular cross-sectional shape, this is not a limited example, and the blocking portion 42 may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape. In this case, the pin hole 25 may be formed with a polygonal cross-sectional shape so as to engage with the cover member 4.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the pin hole and the lid member during the closing process of the band according to the second embodiment. The band according to the second embodiment differs from the band 1 according to the first embodiment in that it has a lid member 5 instead of a lid member 4. The other configurations of the band according to the second embodiment are similar to the corresponding configurations of the band 1, so the same reference numerals are used and the description will be omitted.

The cover member 5 differs from the cover member 4 in that it has a fixing portion 51 instead of the fixing portion 41. The fixing portion 51 is formed in a truncated cone shape whose outer diameter decreases inward D3 in the width direction D2 when the cover member 5 is press-fitted into the pin hole 25. The taper angle of the fixing portion 51 is formed to be smaller than the taper angle of the truncated cone portion of the blocking portion 42.

Because the taper angle of the fixing portion 51 is smaller than the taper angle of the blocking portion 42, the radial force generated between the fixing portion 51 and the inner wall of the small diameter portion 251 is greater than the radial force generated between the blocking portion 42 and the inner wall of the large diameter portion 252. Therefore, by having a small taper angle, the fixing portion 51 can firmly press-fit the cover member 4 into the pin hole 25.

The band according to the second embodiment is manufactured by carrying out a removal process from the state shown in FIG. 8, and the end faces of the link 2 and the cover member 5 are integrated.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lid member and the vicinity of the pin hole during the closing process of the band according to the third embodiment. The band according to the third embodiment differs from the band 1 according to the first embodiment in that it has a link 6 instead of a link 2. The other configurations of the band according to the third embodiment are similar to the corresponding configurations of the band 1, so the same reference numerals are used and the description will be omitted.

Piece 6 differs from piece 2 in that it has pin hole 65 instead of pin hole 25. Pin hole 65 differs from pin hole 25 in that, instead of having small diameter portion 251 and large diameter portion 252, it has an inclined portion 655 whose inner diameter continuously increases toward the outside D4 in the width direction D2. Note that in Figure 9, the shape of pin hole 65 before cover member 4 is pressed in is shown by a dashed line. As shown in Figure 9, the inner wall of inclined portion 655 has a smaller taper angle than closure portion 42.

When the lid member 4 is pressed into the pin hole 65, first, the side of the fixing portion 41 comes into contact with the first portion 656 of the inner wall of the inclined portion 655, and a large radial force is applied between the fixing portion 41 and the first portion 656. When the lid member 4 is further pressed into, the blocking portion 42 comes into contact with the second portion 657 of the inner wall of the inclined portion 655, deforming the second portion 657 and blocking the pin hole 65. The second portion 657 is located outward D4 in the width direction D2 from the first portion 656, and the inner diameter of the second portion 657 of the pin hole 65 is larger than the inner diameter of the first portion 656. The first portion 656 and the second portion 657 are examples of a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion.

In this way, the lid member 4 comes into contact with the inner wall of the inclined portion 655 of the pin hole 65 at two points, the fixed portion 41 and the blocking portion 42. As in the case of the pin hole 25, the side of the fixed portion 41 is parallel to the width direction D2, which is the press-in direction, so that the lid member 4 is firmly pressed in and fixed, and the blocking portion 42 is tapered to fill the gap, so that the pin hole 65 is properly blocked.

The band according to the third embodiment is manufactured by carrying out a removal process from the state shown in FIG. 9, and the end faces of the link 6 and the cover member 4 are integrated.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the pin hole 25 and the cover member 4 during the closing process of the band 10 according to the fourth embodiment, FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the pin hole 25 and the cover member 4 during the closing process and before the removal process of the band 10 according to the same embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the link 2 and the cover member 4 of the band 10 according to the same embodiment. The band 10 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the band 1 according to the first embodiment in that the force used to press the cover member 4 into the pin hole 25 during the closing process is greater than the force used during the closing process of the first embodiment. Other configurations of the band 10 according to the fourth embodiment are similar to the corresponding configurations of the band 1, so the same reference numerals are used and descriptions are omitted.

Figure 10 shows the state of the pin hole 25 and the lid member 4 during the process of pressing the lid member 4 in. In this embodiment, the bridge 2 and the lid member 4 are made of pure titanium, which is an example of titanium. In the closing process, the lid member 4 is pressed into the pin hole 25 to close the pin hole 25. The lid member 4 is pressed into the pin hole 25 in one press, since pure titanium is prone to plastic deformation. In addition, the force PF of pressing the lid member 4 into the pin hole 25 is greater than the force of pressing in the closing process in the first embodiment.

In the closing process, because the outer diameter of the fixing portion 41 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 251, as described above, a large radial force is applied between the fixing portion 41 and the inner wall 253 of the small diameter portion 251. Here, when a pressing force PF larger than that of the first embodiment is applied, the bridge 2 and the cover member 4 are frictionally joined using the frictional heat generated by the relative movement of the pure titanium members while they are in contact and pressurized, as a heat source.

Furthermore, when a pressing force PF larger than that of the first embodiment is applied during pressing, the relationship between the outer diameter of the fixed portion 41 and the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 251, and the formation of a frictional bonding region 110 to frictionally bond the piece 2 and the cover member 4, suppress the movement of the fixed portion 41 inward D3. Therefore, the portion of the blocking portion 42 connected to the fixed portion 41 is sandwiched between the fixed portion 41 and the force PF, and a radially outward force F3 is generated in the cover member 4, causing plastic deformation. Furthermore, due to the cover member 4 plastically deformed by the force F3 and the component F2 in the direction along the pressing direction D3, a radially inward force F4 is generated in the inner wall 254 of the large diameter portion 252, causing plastic deformation.

Figure 11 shows the state of the pin hole 25 and the cover member 4 after the cover member 4 has been pressed in. After the cover member 4 has been pressed in, a joint area 100 is formed where the piece 2 and the cover member 4 are joined. Since the joint area 100 is the area where the piece 2 and the cover member 4 are joined, it can be said that the piece 2 and the cover member 4 each have a joint area 100.

The joining region 100 has a friction joining region 110 formed in the joining region 100 between the fixed portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251, where the piece 2 and the cover member 4 are frictionally joined, and a plastic deformation region 120 formed in the joining region 100 between the blocking portion 42 and the large diameter portion 252, where the piece 2 and the cover member 4 are plastically deformed.

The frictional bonding area 110 is an area where the pure titanium of the bridge 2 and the cover member 4 melts and bonds due to the frictional heat generated during the closing process. The frictional bonding area 110 has a portion where the pure titanium has melted due to the frictional heat, and its cross section has a whitish color. The frictional bonding area 110 is an area where the bridge 2 and the cover member 4 are in close contact, and has rubbing marks. The rubbing marks are not smooth, and it can also be said to be an area where the pure titanium has burned together.

The plastic deformation region 120 is a region formed because pure titanium is a material that easily undergoes plastic deformation, in other words has a low Young's modulus, and is the joining region 100 other than the frictional joining region 110 that is fused and joined by frictional heat. The plastic deformation region 120 is connected to the frictional joining region 110, and has a protrusion 121 that protrudes outward from the frictional joining region 110 in the radial direction of the cover member 4. The protrusion 121 is formed by the forces F3 and F4 described above (see FIG. 10).

FIG. 12 shows the state of the link 2 and the cover member 4 after the removal process has been performed. After the removal process has been performed, the band 10 has a joint area 100, and the end face of the link 2 and the end face of the cover member 4 are integrated.

FIG. 13 is a photograph showing a cross section of the link 2 and the cover member 4 of the band 10 according to this embodiment. Of the bonding area 100, the friction bonding area 110 is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape, and as mentioned above, has a whitish color. The plastic deformation area 120 has a protrusion 121 at the connection portion with the friction bonding area 110, and the area outside the protrusion 121 in the width direction of the band expands in diameter as it moves outward.

The band 10 according to this embodiment has a frictional bonding region 110 formed in the bonding region 100 between the fixed portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251, where the link 2 and the cover member 4 are frictionally bonded, and a plastic deformation region 120 formed in the bonding region 100 between the blocking portion 42 and the large diameter portion 252, where the link 2 and the cover member 4 are plastically deformed. This allows the band 10 to properly block the pin hole 25 without going through a process such as using an adhesive or applying heat. Furthermore, by having the frictional bonding region 110, the band 10 can prevent the cover member 4 from coming off the link 2.

In addition, in the band 10 according to this embodiment, the plastic deformation region 120 is connected to the frictional bonding region 110 and has a protrusion 121 that protrudes outward from the frictional bonding region 110 in the radial direction of the cover member 4. This allows the band 10 to better prevent the link 2 and the cover member 4 from coming off the link 2 when they engage with each other.

Furthermore, in the band 10 according to this embodiment, the cover member 4 is formed from the same material as the links 2, which is pure titanium. This makes it easier for the links 2 and the cover member 4 to join together during the closing process, and makes it possible to properly close the pin holes 25, compared to bands made from other metals. Furthermore, because titanium has bioaffinity (biocompatibility), the band 10 can be designed with the user in mind.

In the above-described fourth embodiment, the piece 2 and the cover member 4 are made of the same material. However, as in the first embodiment, the piece 2 and the cover member 4 may be made of different materials.

In the above-mentioned fourth embodiment, the bridge 2 and the cover member 4 are made of pure titanium. However, the bridge 2 and the cover member 4 may be made of a titanium alloy or other metal material. For example, the bridge 2 and the cover member 4 may be made of brass or gold.

In the above-mentioned fourth embodiment, the joining region 100 has the frictional joining region 110 and the plastic deformation region 120, but the joining region 100 does not have to have the plastic deformation region 120. In addition, the joining region 100 between the fixing portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251 does not have to be a region formed by frictional joining as long as the movement of the fixing portion 41 in the press-fitting direction (inward D3) is suppressed.

One example of a joint region 100 between the fixed portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251 that is not a friction joint is a spiral joint. A spiral joint is formed, for example, by making one of the fixed portion 41 and the small diameter portion 251 a male screw shape and the other a female screw shape, and inserting the lid member 4 into the pin hole 25 while spiraling it during the closing process.

Those skilled in the art should understand that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the above-described embodiments and modifications may be implemented in appropriate combinations within the scope of the present invention.

Reference Signs List 1, 10 Band 2 Link 25 Pin hole 251 Small diameter portion 252 Large diameter portion 4 Lid member 41 Fixing portion 42 Closing portion

Claims (10)

a plurality of links each having a pin hole formed therein, the pin hole extending in a width direction so as to penetrate two adjacent links, the pin hole including a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion connected to the outside of the small diameter portion in the width direction and having an inner diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion;
a cover member having a fixing portion and a closing portion connected to the fixing portion and formed so that the outer diameter of the closing portion decreases toward the fixing portion;
the fixing portion is adapted to abut against an inner wall of the small diameter portion to fix the cover member to the pin hole,
The blocking portion blocks an outer end of the large diameter portion.
band. The fixing portion is formed in a columnar shape having a uniform outer diameter.
2. The band according to claim 1. The fixing portion is formed in a tapered shape having a smaller taper angle than the closing portion.
2. The band according to claim 1. a frictional bonding region formed in a bonding region between the fixing portion and the small diameter portion, where the bridge and the cover member are frictionally bonded;
The connecting portion further includes a plastic deformation region formed in a joining region between the closing portion and the large diameter portion, where the bridge and the cover member are plastically deformed.
2. The band according to claim 1. The plastic deformation region is connected to the frictional bonding region and further includes a protruding portion protruding outward from the frictional bonding region in the radial direction of the cover member.
5. The band according to claim 4. The cover member is made of the same material as the piece.
A band according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The material is titanium.
7. The band according to claim 6. A manufacturing method of a band formed by connecting a plurality of links to each other, comprising the steps of:
a preparation step of preparing a band having a pin hole formed therein, the pin hole extending in a width direction of the band and having a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion connected to the outside of the small diameter portion in the width direction and having an inner diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion;
a placement process of placing a cover member having a fixing portion and a blocking portion connected to the fixing portion and formed so that an outer diameter of the cover member decreases toward the fixing portion, on the outside of the pin hole in the width direction;
a closing step of closing the pin hole by displacing the cover member inward in the width direction,
In the closing step, the fixing portion abuts against an inner wall of the small diameter portion to fix the cover member to the pin hole, and the closing portion closes an outer end of the large diameter portion.
Manufacturing method. In the closing step, the cover member is press-fitted into the pin hole to press-fit the fixing portion into an inner wall of the small diameter portion.
The method according to claim 8. The method further includes a removing step of removing a portion of the lid member protruding outward in the width direction from the band after the closing step.
The method according to claim 8.

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