CH715984A1 - Watch face and watch fitted with the dial. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch face (1) comprising a device for generating visual effects, characterized in that the device for generating visual effects comprises: - a frame (10), - a plurality of supports (2) , each support (2) being mounted so as to be able to rotate on the frame (10) on an axis of rotation (22), and comprises at least one magnetic or magnetizable portion (20) and a visible face (21), - means of controlled generation of a magnetic field to cause the rotation of the supports (2) on their axis of rotation (22).

Description

The present invention relates to a watch dial comprising a device for generating a visual effect, that is to say a particular visual animation.

[0002] Document US20170211953 describes a watch comprising a display device comprising a dial, a set of hands arranged on the dial. According to this document, the needle set comprises a rotating indicator needle and a device for magnetic driving the needle. This device does not make it possible to create a visual effect but simply to move a rotating needle, which cannot be considered as a visual effect within the meaning of the present invention.

The device according to the invention aims to provide a device for generating visual effects in a dial.

[0004] For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a watch face comprising a device for generating visual effects, characterized in that the device for generating visual effects comprises: <tb> <SEP> - a frame, <tb> <SEP> - a plurality of supports, each support being rotatably mounted on the frame on a rotational axis and comprising at least one magnetic or magnetizable portion and a visible face, <tb> <SEP> - means for generating a controlled magnetic field to cause the rotation of the supports on their axis of rotation.

It is understood that the controlled movement of the supports caused by the magnetic field makes it possible to create a visual effect within the meaning of the present application, such as an animation.

[0006] According to a first variant embodiment, the axes of rotation of the supports are mutually parallel.

[0007] In addition, the axes of rotation of the supports may be parallel to the plane of the dial of the watch.

[0008] Alternatively, the axes of rotation of the supports may be perpendicular to the plane of the dial of the watch.

[0009] According to another variant embodiment, the frame forms a plane and is parallel to the plane of the dial of the watch.

[0010] According to another variant embodiment, a plurality of supports is mounted on the same axis of rotation.

[0011] According to another variant embodiment, at least a first plurality of visible support faces is contained in a first plane.

[0012] According to another variant embodiment, at least a second plurality of visible support faces is contained in a second plane not coplanar with the first plane.

[0013] The first plane is parallel to the plane of the dial of the watch.

[0014] Each support comprises at least one housing for a precious stone on a visible face.

[0015] According to another variant embodiment, the means for generating a controlled magnetic field are arranged to selectively and individually move each support.

[0016] According to another variant embodiment, the means for generating a controlled magnetic field are arranged to simultaneously move a plurality of supports.

[0017] A second aspect of the invention relates to a watch comprising a horological movement and a watch dial according to the first aspect of the invention, characterized in that the means for generating a magnetic field are driven by the watch movement .

[0018] According to another variant embodiment, the means for generating a controlled magnetic field comprise at least one source of magnetic field and a device for moving each source of magnetic field in the vicinity of the watch dial.

[0019] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

[0020] [Fig.1] shows a sectional view in perspective of a first variant embodiment of a dial according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] shows in section, details of the first variant embodiment of a watch dial according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.3] shows a partial view of a second variant embodiment of a watch dial according to the invention

[0023] [Fig.4] shows a detail view of the second variant embodiment of a watch dial according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.5] shows a top view, a watch equipped with the dial according to the invention.

[0025] For the purposes of the present application, by visual effects is meant a visual animation such as the formation of shapes or symbols. The visual effect can also be obtained by a succession of changes in display, shapes or colors, creating an illusion of movement.

Referring to these drawings, there is shown a dial 1 according to the invention, comprising a device for generating visual effects. The device for generating visual effects comprises a plurality of supports 2 mounted on a frame 10. Each support 2 comprises a magnetic or magnetizable portion 20 and a visible face 21. According to a first variant embodiment, the magnetic portion 20 and the visible face 21 of each support are located on either side of the frame 10. However, it is possible to envisage an assembly in which the magnetic portion 22 is immediately adjacent. to the visible face 20 so that the magnetic portion 22 and the visible face 20 are located on the same side of the frame 10.

The visible face 21 of each support 2 may include a housing arranged to be able to receive a precious or semi-precious stone. According to another variant, the visible face 21 is made of precious metal (gold, silver, platinum) in which a decorative motif is engraved.

The magnetic portion 20 and the visible face 21 of each support 2 are also mounted on an axis of rotation 22 or pivot. According to the embodiment shown, the axis of rotation 22 of each support 2 is mounted through an orifice 23 of the frame 1. The rotation of the axis of rotation 22 is ensured by a bearing 24 or sliding surfaces. of the bearing type, formed for example by stones as used in watchmaking.

According to the embodiment shown, all the axes of rotation 22 of all the supports 2 are mutually parallel. However, an embodiment can be envisaged in which a first plurality of supports 2 has axes of rotation oriented in a first direction and at least a second plurality of supports 2 has axes of rotation oriented in a second direction different from the first. direction.

According to the embodiment shown, the frame 10 forms a plane. The axes of rotation 22 of the supports 2 or of at least a plurality of supports 2 are perpendicular to the frame 10. Similarly, according to this variant, all the visible faces 21 are included in the same plane parallel to the plane of the frame 10. However, it is possible to consider an alternative embodiment according to which several pluralities of visible faces 21 of supports are included in different planes. These planes can be parallel to each other or intersecting.

The positioning of the visible faces 21 of the supports in such or such a plane is adjusted for example by varying the length of the axis of rotation 22. The shape of the magnetic portion 22 of each support 2 is chosen so that the magnetic portion can be oriented along lines of a magnetic field generated in the vicinity of the supports. According to the variant embodiment shown, the magnetic portion 22 is in the form of a block in a magnetic field. The axis of rotation 20 of the support being positioned substantially in the center of the block. Other shapes can of course be chosen; on the other hand, shapes of revolution will be avoided if they are centered on the axis of rotation, in order to have a visible effect.

The visual effect generation device according to the first variant embodiment also comprises means for generating a controlled magnetic field (not shown) in the vicinity of the supports. We wait for "piloted"; a magnetic field the intensity and orientation of the field lines of which can vary in a chosen manner. Likewise, one or more permanent magnets or one or more electromagnets are expected by "magnet".

By way of non-limiting example, the magnetic field is generated by a permanent magnet secured to a hand of the clock movement of a watch equipped with the dial according to the invention. The rotation of the needle also causes the displacement of the magnet and therefore changes in the orientation of the field lines. Consequently, the modification of the field lines then causes a change in orientation of the magnetic portions 22 of the support. By changing orientation, the magnetic portions 22 cause the visible faces 21 to rotate and thus generate the visual effect.

The controlled magnetic field can also be generated by a device that is mechanically independent of the watch movement of the watch. By way of non-limiting example, the magnetic field is generated by a magnet driven by an oscillating movement in the vicinity of the magnetic portions 22.

One can also consider an alternative embodiment in which the modification of the magnetic field would be caused manually by the user. According to this variant, a magnet is attached to a rotating bezel around the dial of the watch. The manipulation of the rotating bezel moves the magnet around the dial which causes a modification of the orientation of the field lines.

According to a second variant embodiment, each support 5 comprises a magnetic portion 50 and a first visible face 53, and a second visible face 54. Each visible face 53, 54 comprises for example a housing arranged to receive a precious stone or semi precious. In order to generate a visual effect, the color of the stone of a first housing 53 can be different from the color of the second housing 54. The precious stones can be replaced by metals or material of different colors. According to the second variant embodiment shown, the visible faces 53, 54 form an angle between them of approximately 90 °.

According to the second variant embodiment, the supports 5 are each mounted so as to be able to rotate on the frame 4 along an axis of rotation 52. According to the second variant embodiment, the axes of rotation 52 are mutually parallel and contained in a same plane, which is preferably the plane of the frame, so that all first visible faces 53 are located in first planes parallel to each other and that the second visible faces 54 are located in second planes parallel to each other. The supports are arranged so as to pivot, preferably between two stable states, in which either the first visible faces 53, or the second visible faces 54, are parallel to the plane of the dial, and preferably are coplanar. However, it is possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to arrange the axes of rotation 52 so that the first visible surfaces and the second visible surfaces are, in said stable states, in parallel planes but not merged, or in intersecting planes.

According to the second variant embodiment, the controlled generation means of the magnetic are arranged to selectively generate a magnetic field facing each support 5. The controlled generation means of the magnetic field comprise for example a micro coil under each support, of which the magnetic portion will be polarized beforehand. Thus, the magnetic field generated by selectively supplying the micro coils to polarize them positively or negatively, will cause the attraction or repulsion of the corresponding support 5, causing its rotation on its axis of rotation. The rotation of the support 5 will cause the tilting from one visible face 53 to the other 54. It is understood that by correctly synchronizing each tilting of the support 5, it is possible to create a visual effect.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the rotational movement of each support 5 on its axis of rotation 52 is limited by two stops (not shown), making it possible to define said stable states of the supports.

According to Figure 5, the frame 10, 4 occupies the entire surface of the dial of the watch 6. However, the frame 10, 4 could only be visible on a portion of the dial.

In order to limit or eliminate the impact of the magnetic field on the movement of the watch, especially in the case of a mechanical movement, the latter is for example chosen at a low sensitivity (acceptable chronometric disturbance) to the magnetic field generated . According to another variant embodiment, the watch movement is protected from the magnetic field by means of a magnetic shielding.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. Watch dial (1) comprising a device for generating visual effects, characterized in that the device for generating visual effects comprises: - a frame (4, 10), - a plurality of supports (2, 5), each support (2, 5) being mounted movable in rotation on the frame (4, 10) on an axis of rotation (22, 52), and comprises at least one portion (20 , 50) magnetic or magnetizable and a visible face (21, 53, 54), - - Means for generating a magnetic field controlled to cause the rotation of the supports (2, 5) on their axis of rotation (22, 52). 2. Watch dial according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes of rotation (22, 52) of the supports (2, 5) are mutually parallel. 3. Watch dial according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the axes of rotation (52) of the supports (5) are parallel to the plane of the dial (1) of the watch. 4. Watch dial according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the axes of rotation (20) of the supports (2) are perpendicular to the plane of the dial (1) of the watch. 5. Watch dial according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (4, 10) forms a plane and is parallel to the plane of the watch dial (1). 6. Watch dial according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least a first plurality of visible faces (21, 53, 54) of the support (2, 5) is contained in a first plane. 7. Watch dial of claim 3, characterized in that at least a second plurality of visible faces (21, 53, 54) of support (2, 5) is contained in a second plane not coplanar with the first plane. 8. Watch dial according to claim 6, characterized in that the first plane is parallel to the plane of the watch dial. 9. Watch dial according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each support (2, 5) comprises at least one housing (21, 53, 54) for a precious stone on a visible face. 10. Watch dial according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for generating a controlled magnetic field are arranged to selectively and individually move each support (5). 11. Watch dial according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that the means for generating a controlled magnetic field are arranged to simultaneously move a plurality of supports (2). 12. Watch comprising a horological movement and a watch dial according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for generating a magnetic field are controlled by the watch movement. 13. Watch comprising a horological movement and a watch dial according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the means for generating a magnetic field comprise at least one source of magnetic field and a device for moving each. source of magnetic field in the vicinity of the watch face.