EP2392977B1 - Timepiece with special aesthetic effects - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece with special aesthetic effects. More precisely, the present invention relates to a timepiece exhibiting original plays of light.

Creating timepieces such as wristwatches exhibiting an improved aesthetic appearance is a constant concern among watch manufacturers and in particular among those responsible for designing the various trim elements. It would take too long to list here all the solutions that have been considered to give a timepiece an appearance as neat and aesthetic as possible. By way of example only, mention may be made of the technique of guilloché dialing, the shape and / or color of the appliques of the dial or of the hands or even the addition of precious or semi-precious stones.

The present invention is part of the quest to offer customers watches whose appearance is both aesthetic and surprising.

The document US2008004510A1 discloses an embodiment in which an opening is made in the middle part such that the light guide of the bracelet can be inserted therein in order to improve the coupling of the light coming out of the middle part to the bracelet.

US6690623B1 describes a timepiece having a dial in which the light transported by optical fibers escapes through the appliques.

To this end, the present invention relates to a timepiece defined by independent claims 1 and 2. Dependent claims 3-12 define various embodiments.

The present invention provides a timepiece whose aesthetic appearance can be varied almost infinitely. The light source being housed in the interior volume of the watch case, it is for example possible to envisage the middle part being partially or totally transparent, so that the light produced by the light source diffuses through said middle part. Likewise, it can be envisaged to illuminate the appliques at the level of the dial of the watch, in an example not forming part of the invention. To this end, the dial can be designed to be completely opaque and only let light escape at the level of the appliques. It is also possible to provide for covering a transparent dial with an opaque mask which, itself, only lets light escape at the level of the appliques.

Different light escape modes can be provided. According to a simplified variant not forming part of the invention, the light produced by the light source directly illuminates the transparent or translucent zones of the covering element or elements through which it is desired that the light come out.

This variant, not forming part of the invention, is applicable when no obstacle comes between the light source and the covering element to be illuminated.

According to an alternative embodiment, the light source is a light-emitting diode or LED which emits ultraviolet, violet, blue, white or infrared light and the covering element is made of a plastic material loaded with fluorescent particles and / or phosphorescent. In this way, the fluorescent and / or phosphorescent particles absorb the emitted radiation and re-emit a homogeneous visible light. Depending on the type of particles chosen, fluorescent and / or phosphorescent, the light effect ceases immediately after extinction of the light source or, on the contrary, continues by an afterglow effect.

According to a second variant embodiment, the light produced by the light source is injected into a light guide which then brings the light to the level of the transparent or translucent zone or zones of the covering element or elements considered. According to one variant, the light guide is an optical fiber which makes it possible to bypass any obstacles which may arise between the light source and the transparent or translucent zone of the covering element considered through which the light will escape. the interior volume of the watch case. The optical fiber can be an optical fiber which diffuses the injected light over its entire length.

Preferably, the light source is a light-emitting diode or LED mounted on a support of the printed circuit board or PCB type together with its electronic control circuit. The light source is powered for example by an interchangeable or rechargeable battery or even by a solar cell.

In places where light must not pass, the covering element concerned can be opaque in the mass or be coated with an opaque paint layer.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe d'une boîte de montre équipée d'une source lumineuse selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en coupe d'une carrure de montre dans la région d'un bouton-poussoir ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus d'une carrure de montre le long du côté intérieur de laquelle est fixée une fibre optique diffusante dans laquelle est injectée de la lumière ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'une montre-bracelet comprenant un cadran à travers les appliques duquel passe de la lumière ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus d'une montre-bracelet comprenant deux brins de bracelet dans lesquels la lumière diffuse, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe d'une boîte de montre à affichage digital.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the invention, these examples being given purely by way of illustration and without limitation only in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

• the figure 1 is a sectional view of a watch case equipped with a light source according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a partial sectional view of a watchband in the region of a push-button;
• the figure 3 is a top view of a watchband along the inner side of which is fixed a diffusing optical fiber into which light is injected;
• the figure 4 is a top view of a wristwatch comprising a dial through the appliques of which light passes;
• the figure 5 is a top view of a wristwatch comprising two bracelet strands in which the light diffuses, and
• the figure 6 is a sectional view of a digital display watch case.

The present invention proceeds from the general idea which consists in accommodating at least one light source in the interior volume of a watch case, the light produced by the light source being able to escape to the outside of the watch case through at least one covering element of the watch intended to be at least partially transparent or at the very least translucent. This provides a timepiece with original aesthetic effects and having an extremely attractive appearance in the dark or in the dark.

The figure 1 is a sectional view of a caseband 1 delimiting with a back 2 and a dial 3 an interior volume 4 of a watch case 6. For the purposes of the present description, it will be imagined that the watch is an electronic watch and that its movement M is placed in the back of the watch case 6. In this way, it is possible to place above the movement M a support plate 8 of the printed circuit board or PCB type on which are mounted a light source 10, for example of the light-emitting diode or LED type and its electronic control circuit 12. The light source 10 is powered for example by a battery 14 rechargeable or interchangeable and conventionally arranged under the watch movement M on the side of the bottom 2 of the watch case 6. It will be understood that the watch can be electronic, electromechanical or even purely mechanical. In the latter case, it will suffice to provide a housing to receive a battery which will be intended to supply only the light source 10 and its electronic control circuit 12. Thus, such a solution can be applied to any type of wristwatch, the the only constraint to be observed is that there is no obstacle to the propagation of light between the light source and the covering element through which said light must exit.

According to an embodiment illustrated in figure 2 , we create a crown of light around a control member of the watch such as a push-button 16. In an example not forming part of the invention, if the caseband 1 is metallic, we practice in the latter a through hole 18 in which is engaged a transparent or at least translucent cylinder 20 which will serve as a light guide for the light which escapes from the watch case 6. It will be understood that in order to obtain the desired effect, namely forming a crown of light around the head of the push button 16, the outside diameter of the transparent or translucent cylinder 20 must be greater than the outside diameter of the head of the push button 16.

Besides its function of light guide, the cylinder 20 can also serve as a mechanical guide for the push button 16. Of course, it is also possible to introduce into the cylinder 20 an insert which will serve as a mechanical guide for the push button 16. If the middle part 1 is made of a transparent or translucent material such as a plastic material, a ceramic material, sapphire or fused silica, it can be tinted in the mass except in a region surrounding the push-button 16 where the material remains transparent or translucent according to the present invention. It is also possible, to simplify the process for injecting the plastic middle part 1, tint the latter in the mass throughout its volume, then machine a through hole in which a transparent or translucent cylinder is engaged as explained above in conjunction with a metallic caseband. Yet another solution consists of producing the middle part 1 by injecting a transparent plastic material, then coating the inner face of this middle part with a layer of light-absorbing material except in the region surrounding the push-button 16. To vary the effects in particular in the vicinity of the push-button 16, it is also possible to overmold a transparent or translucent plastic material on the covering element in question made of an opaque material.

Any type of light source such as an incandescent lamp, light-emitting diode, organic light-emitting diode or the like can be used. In a particular embodiment, a light-emitting diode emitting ultraviolet, violet, blue, white or infrared light is used in combination with a middle part made of a plastic material loaded with fluorescent and / or phosphorescent particles. In this way, the fluorescent and / or phosphorescent particles absorb the radiation emitted by the diode and re-emit a homogeneous visible light. Depending on the type of particles chosen, fluorescent and / or phosphorescent, the light effect ceases immediately after extinction of the light source or, on the contrary, continues by an afterglow effect.

The watch trim element (s) which allow all or part of the light produced by the light source to pass through can be illuminated directly by this light source. These trim elements can nevertheless also be illuminated indirectly by the light source. By way of example, we have shown figure 3 a middle part 1 of plastic material along the inner side of which has been fixed a light guide 22 which allows the light to be brought from the point where it is injected into the guide 22 up to the level of the transparent or translucent zone (s) of the covering element (s) considered through which the light will escape from the internal volume 4 of the watch case 6. According to a variant , the light guide 22 is an optical fiber which makes it possible to bypass any obstacles which may arise between the light source 10 and the transparent or translucent zone of the covering element considered through which the light will escape from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6. As shown on figure 3 , the optical fiber can be an optical fiber which diffuses the injected light over its entire length.

Until now, the middle part has been described as the only trim element. It must be understood, of course, that we are in no way limited to this single element and that the other elements of the watch which are the back, the dial, the bezel, the flange, the strands of the bracelet and others may be similarly considered. Thus, as shown in figure 4 in an example not forming part of the invention, the appliques 24 can for example be illuminated at the level of the bezel 26 and the dial 3. To this end, the bezel 26 and the dial 3 can be provided completely opaque and do not leave escape of the light only at the level of the wall lights 24. It is also possible to envisage making the bezel 26 and the dial 3 in a material, for example plastic, transparent or translucent, and then cover them with a mask in an opaque color which, also, only lets light escape at the level of the appliques 24. Conversely, the dial 3 can be transparent or translucent and the appliques 24 opaque. It is also conceivable that the bottom 2, the caseband 1 and the dial 3 are opaque and that only a flange disposed between the bezel 26 and the dial 3 is transparent or translucent, thus creating a luminous ring all around the crystal 34.

To the figure 5 another embodiment has been shown which does not form part of the invention, which aims to inject the light produced by the light source 10 into the strands 30 of a transparent or translucent bracelet. For this purpose, a caseband 1 is provided which has two transparent zones 32a and 32b substantially at noon and at six o'clock, that is to say at the places where the strands 30 of the bracelet are attached to said middle part 1. On the inside of the watch case 6, two light sources 10 can be provided, each facing one of the two transparent zones 32a, 32b of the middle part 1. The light produced by the two light sources 10 emerges from the watch case 6 by said two transparent zones 32a, 32b and is injected into the two transparent or translucent strands 30 of the bracelet in which it broadcasts.

The figure 6 appended to the present patent application shows a sectional view along the axis 3:00 to 9:00 of a watch case 6 with digital display. As can be seen on examination of this figure, the watch case 6 comprises, on the side of the crystal 34, a digital display 36 of the liquid crystal cell type comprising a front substrate 38 extending parallel to and at a distance. a rear substrate 40. The front 38 and rear 40 substrates are joined together by a sealing frame 42 which delimits a sealed volume for the confinement of the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal cell 36 is a so-called backlit cell, that is to say it comprises a light guide 44, for example curved, disposed on the side of the rear substrate 40 and which follows the outer contour of said cell d. display 36. The light produced by a light source 10, typically a light emitting diode or LED, is injected into the light guide 44 and diffuses therein so as to illuminate the display cell 36 and to allow it to be read in. darkness. In this case, the originality of the invention lies in the fact that one uses the light which escapes by the sides 46 of the light guide 44 to illuminate for example the transparent or translucent parts of the middle part 1 of the case. watch. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the light injected into a light guide 44 is used not only to illuminate a liquid crystal display cell 36 from the rear but also to illuminate all or part of the trim elements (middle part 1, bezel 26) of a watch case 6.

It goes without saying that various variants and simple modifications can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus, as will be understood from the foregoing, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising, in addition to a crystal, the following trim elements: a back 2, a caseband 1, a dial 3, a bezel 26 and two bracelet strands 30, at least one of these covering elements being at least partially transparent or translucent, the bottom 2, the middle 1 and the bezel 26 defining an interior volume 4 of the watch case 6 in which is housed a timepiece movement M, the timepiece comprising at least one light source 10 housed in the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6 and producing a light which passes through the transparent or translucent part of the relevant trim element, the timepiece further comprising, on the side of a glass 34, a digital display 36 under which is arranged a light guide 44 into which is injected the light produced by the light source 10 for the rear lighting of said digital display al 36, the timepiece being characterized in that the light which escapes through the sides 46 of the light guide 44 which are opposite the caseband 1 and the back 2 of the watch case 6 passes through the transparent or translucent part of the covering element concerned.

According to the present invention, when the covering element concerned is made of a transparent or translucent plastic material, it is tinted in the mass except at the place or places where it is desired for the light to escape from the volume. interior 4 of the watch case 6. According to a variant, the covering element concerned made of transparent or translucent plastic material may be covered internally or externally with a layer of light absorbing material except at the place or at the places where you want the light to escape from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6.

In the case where the light source 10 emits ultraviolet, violet, blue, white or infrared light, the covering element is charged with fluorescent and / or phosphorescent particles at the place or places where one. want the light to escape from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6.

As will also be understood from the above, an attempt is made to cause light to escape from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6 to the exterior. Another aspect consists in illuminating from the inside 4 of the watch case 6 elements outside the latter. Thus, the middle part 1 can be transparent or at least translucent at least in its parts 32a, 32b facing the areas where the strands 30 of the bracelet are connected, so that the light which passes through the transparent parts 32a, 32b of the middle part 1 diffuses into the strands 30 of the bracelet which are also transparent or translucent.

According to a variant not forming part of the invention, the covering element is made of a metallic material. In this case, there is provided a through passage in which is engaged a transparent or translucent element at the place or places where it is desired that the light escapes from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6. As a 'example, when the timepiece comprises a winding crown or a push-button 16, a transparent or translucent cylinder 20 is engaged in the passage 18 which can serve both as a mechanical guide for the winding crown or the push button 16 and light guide for the light which escapes from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6, the exterior diameter of the transparent or translucent cylinder 20 being greater than the exterior diameter of the crown or push button 16 It will be noted that at least the switching on of the light source 10 can be controlled by the user, for example by pressing a push-button such as push-button 16 or by applying the finger to a tactile key. The extinction of the light source can also be caused by an additional pressure on the push-button 16 or else be controlled by the control circuit 12 after a predetermined time interval. Provision can also be made for the switching on and off of the light source 10 to be controlled by an automatic system such as a photosensitive sensor as a function of the degree of ambient light. The photosensitive sensor will command the switching on of the light source when the degree of ambient light falls below a predetermined threshold and will command the extinction of the light source when the degree of ambient light exceeds a predetermined threshold. According to yet another variant, the switching on and off of the light source can be controlled by applying a shock to the watch case or by a sudden movement of the wrist, the shock or the acceleration being detected by an accelerometer. housed in the watch.

According to yet another variant, the light produced by the light source 10 is injected into a diffusing optical fiber 22 which diffuses the light over its entire length.

In an example not forming part of the invention, it is also possible to envisage making the light come out via the dial 3. In this case, the dial 3 is opaque except at the level of the appliques 24 which are transparent or at the very least translucent and through which the light can escape from the interior volume 4 of the watch case 6. The dial 3 can be made of an opaque material or else be transparent and in this case be covered with a layer of an opaque material except at the wall lights 24.

Claims (12)

1. Timepiece which includes, in addition to a crystal, the following external elements: a back cover (2), a middle part (1), a dial (3), a bezel (26) and two wristband strands (30), wherein at least one of these external elements is at least partially transparent or translucent, the back cover (2), the middle part (1) and the bezel (26) define an internal volume (4) of the watch case (6) which houses a watch movement (M), the timepiece includes at least one light source (10) housed in the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6) and producing a light which passes through the transparent or translucent part of the external element concerned, the timepiece further includes, on the side of a crystal (34), a digital display (36) underneath which there is arranged a light guide (44) into which the light produced by the light source (10) is injected for back lighting said digital display (36), and the timepiece is characterized in that the light which escapes through the sides (46) of the light guide (44) which are opposite the middle part (1) and the back cover (2) of the watch case (6) pass through the transparent or translucent part of the external element concerned, the external element concerned is made of a transparent or translucent material selected from the group comprising plastic materials, ceramic materials, sapphire or silica glass, the external element concerned is dyed in the mass except at the location(s) where the light is required to escape from the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6).
2. Timepiece which includes, in addition to a crystal, the following external elements: a back cover (2), a middle part (1), a dial (3), a bezel (26) and two wristband strands (30), wherein at least one of these external elements is at least partially transparent or translucent, the back cover (2), the middle part (1) and the bezel (26) define an internal volume (4) of the watch case (6) which houses a watch movement (M), the timepiece includes at least one light source (10) housed in the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6) and producing a light which passes through the transparent or translucent part of the external element concerned, the timepiece further includes, on the side of a crystal (34), a digital display (36) underneath which there is arranged a light guide (44) into which the light produced by the light source (10) is injected for back lighting said digital display (36), and the timepiece is characterized in that the light which escapes through the sides (46) of the light guide (44) which are opposite the middle part (1) and the back cover (2) of the watch case (6) pass through the transparent or translucent part of the external element concerned, the external element concerned is made of a transparent or translucent material selected from the group comprising plastic materials, ceramic materials, sapphire or silica glass, the external element concerned is internally or externally coated with a layer of light absorbent material except at the location(s) where the light is required to escape from the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6).
3. Timepiece according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the light source (10) emits ultraviolet, violet, blue, white or infra-red light, and in that the external element is charged with fluorescent and/or phosphorescent particles at the location(s) where the light is required to escape from the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6).
4. Timepiece according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the middle part (1) is transparent or at the very least translucent, at least in the parts thereof (32a, 32b) opposite the areas where the wristband strands (30) are connected, so that the light which passes through the transparent parts (32a, 32b) of the middle part (1) is diffused into the wristband strands (30) which are also transparent or translucent.
5. Timepiece according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the switching on of the light source (10) is controlled by the user.
6. Timepiece according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switching on of the light source (10) is controlled by an automatic system.
7. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the light guide is an optical fibre (22) which can move around any obstacles which may stand between the light source (10) and the transparent or translucent area of the external element concerned through which the light will escape from the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6).
8. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that the optical fibre (22) is an optical fibre which diffuses the injected light over the entire length thereof.
9. Timepiece according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the dial (3) is opaque except at the location of the appliques (24), which are transparent or at the very least translucent and through which the light can escape from the internal volume (4) of the watch case (6).
10. Timepiece according to claim 9, characterized in that the dial (3) is made of an opaque material.
11. Timepiece according to claim 10, characterized in that the dial (3) is transparent and is coated with a layer of opaque material except at the location of the appliques (24).
12. Timepiece according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the dial (3) is transparent and in that the appliques (24) are opaque.

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