CH720086A2 - Bracelet including a secret decoration. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bracelet (100) comprising an upper face and a lower face and formed by at least one warp thread (1) and at least one weft thread (2), characterized in that the warp thread (1 ) is made of a hydrophobic material and the weft thread (2) is made of a hydrophilic material, said warp threads (1) and weft threads (2) being woven so as to create an armor forming a bracelet made of hydrophobic material comprising at least one pattern made of hydrophilic material or vice versa.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of bracelets, in particular intended to be attached to a watch or to jewelry, the field of belts, necklaces, etc.

Technology background

[0002] In the field of watchmaking or in the field of jewelry, there are bracelets made entirely or partially of leather, of woven textile fibers, or even of polymers, such as rubber, and the material requirements personalization are becoming more and more selective, particularly to adapt to user wishes.

[0003] Usually, the bracelets can have decorative elements on their exterior surface, the shape of which depends on the material of said bracelets. For example, the decorative elements may take the form of a combination of materials, a particular coloring or finish of the coating of the exterior surface of the bracelet, reliefs resulting from the machining or molding of the material constituting the bracelet. bracelet, etc.

[0004] The production of a decoration on a bracelet depends on a dedicated manufacturing process using specific manufacturing means, specific to each decoration. For example, a decoration can be produced with the use of a specific tool, such as a press comprising a matrix adapted to make specific imprints on the fashion item, or an injection press adapted to overmold a decoration layer on a base layer according to a given mold shape.

[0005] There are also other types of more discreet decorations. Thus, it is known to produce secret decorations which are revealed in the presence of water by means of a layer of hydrochromic ink deposited on the surface of the bracelet, the layer of ink then revealing a decoration in the form of a logo and/or alphanumeric characters

[0006] However, hydrochromic inks do not make it possible to obtain sufficient and satisfactory decoration quality, the inks being whitish when dry and becoming translucent on contact with water.

[0007] There is therefore a need to have a bracelet whose decoration can be personalized according to the wishes of a user, and this in a simple, rapid and low-cost manner.

Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention aims in particular to overcome the various disadvantages of bracelets of the prior art.

[0009] More precisely, an objective of the invention is to provide a bracelet with a secret pattern invisible once affixed to the bracelet.

[0010] For this purpose, the invention relates to a bracelet comprising an upper face and a lower face and formed by at least one warp thread and at least one weft thread, characterized in that at least one of the warp threads is made of a hydrophobic material and at least one of the weft threads is made of a hydrophilic material, said warp and weft threads being woven so as to create an armor forming a bracelet of hydrophobic material comprising at least one pattern of material hydrophilic or vice versa.

[0011] When the bracelet is brought into contact with water, the water remains at the level of the pattern made of hydrophilic material and causes the pattern to appear.

[0012] In accordance with other advantageous variants of the invention: – the material of the at least one hydrophobic chain thread is chosen from: fluoroelastomers, FKM rubbers, silicones, polypropylenes, ultra-high polyethylenes molecular weight (UHMWPE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); – the material of the at least one hydrophilic weft yarn is chosen from: polyurethanes, PVC grafted with PEG monomers, acrylics, or polyamides – the at least one pattern is in the form of a logo or an alphanumeric character; – the warp thread and the weft thread are the same color; – the warp thread and the weft thread are of a different color;

[0013] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a bracelet according to the invention, comprising the following steps: – providing at least one hydrophobic warp thread and at least one hydrophilic weft thread; – weave or knit the at least one hydrophobic warp thread and the at least one hydrophilic weft thread to form a strip with a weave comprising at least one pattern; – cut and/or make the strip to the desired dimensions to obtain a bracelet.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a bracelet according to the invention, comprising the following steps: – providing at least one hydrophobic warp thread and at least one hydrophobic weft thread; – weave or knit the at least one hydrophobic warp thread and the at least one hydrophobic weft thread to form a strip with a patternless weave; – decorate the strip obtained by screen printing, pad printing or inkjet using a hydrophilic ink to form a pattern on the exterior face of the bracelet to be manufactured; – cut and/or make the strip to the desired dimensions to obtain a bracelet.

Brief description of the figures

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 schematically represents a top view of a bracelet according to the invention; – Figure 2 shows a top view of an example of armor for a bracelet according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0016] In the present text, the bracelet according to the invention is described in one of its preferred applications, namely a watch bracelet.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a watch strap 100.

[0018] Obviously, the bracelet 100 can advantageously be used in other applications without this leading to a change in its technical characteristics. As a non-limiting example, it can take the form of a belt, a necklace or even a handbag strap for example.

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a strand of a bracelet according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bracelet comprises an exterior face 3 and an interior face 4. The bracelet 100 is formed by at least one warp thread 1 and at least one weft thread 2.

[0020] According to the invention, the warp thread 1 is made of a hydrophobic material and the weft thread 2 is made of a hydrophilic material, said warp and weft threads being woven so as to create an armor forming a bracelet made of hydrophobic material comprising at least one pattern made of hydrophilic material.

[0021] It is obvious that a person skilled in the art will have no problem reversing the material of the weft 2 and warp 1 threads to obtain a similar effect.

The bracelet according to the invention is preferably obtained by means of weaving or knitting.

[0023] The “warp thread(s”) are the longitudinal threads, stretched from one end of the loom to the other and form the frame of the bracelet.

The “weft” thread(s) consist of a continuous thread, wound around a shuttle and which sails above and below the warp threads.

Note that it is also possible to use metallic, synthetic or textile threads impregnated with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic material depending on the role of the thread in the armor. Such a coating can be produced by extrusion coating or by dipping.

As shown in the view in Figure 1, the bracelet 100 comprises an exterior face 3, or called the upper face, and an interior face 4, or called the lower face, which is intended to be in contact with the wrist of a user when the bracelet is worn.

[0027] According to the invention, the warp 1 and weft 2 threads are woven in such a way that the weave has at least one pattern 5 on the surface of the exterior face 3 of the bracelet, namely the visible face of the bracelet. bracelet when worn.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the pattern produced is formed by threads of hydrophilic material so that the water remains on the pattern when the bracelet is exposed to water and reveals the pattern. Obviously, the opposite is also possible without any particular difficulty, the pattern is then surrounded by water.

[0029] To obtain a sufficiently tight texture, we will preferably choose a twill weave and we will use threads of the same diameter (or count) for the warp and for the weft and the packing is adapted so as to obtain the same number of threads of warp per centimeter than of weft threads.

[0030] All known weaves are possible, however jacquard technology makes it possible to produce complex patterns during weaving or knitting. In the context of the invention, the weaves are selected in order to bring out the hydrophobic warp threads via floats on the surface of the textile for the background areas; similarly the hydrophilic weft threads will emerge on the surface of the textile in the decorative areas due to the selection of weaves in these areas.

[0031] Thus, the pattern produced can take the form of a logo or an alphanumeric character. In the case of several openings, all of the openings can form the name of a brand or even a first or last name to personalize the bracelet.

The material forming or coating the hydrophobic thread is chosen from fluoroelastomers, silicones, polypropylenes, ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or even polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The material forming or coating the hydrophilic thread is chosen from polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG) monomers, acrylics or even polyamides.

The diameter (or density) of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic wires can be identical or different depending on the desired weave.

[0035] The hydrophilic and hydrophobic threads may be of the same color or of a different color.

[0036] Thus, thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to locally create an invisible decoration on the exterior face of a woven bracelet which is only revealed in the presence of water on the bracelet.

[0037] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a bracelet according to the invention, comprising the following steps: – providing at least one hydrophobic warp thread and at least one hydrophilic weft thread; – weave or knit the at least one hydrophobic warp thread and the at least one hydrophilic weft thread to form a strip with a weave comprising at least one pattern; – cut the strip to the desired dimensions to obtain a bracelet.

[0038] According to another embodiment, the invention the method of manufacturing a bracelet according to the invention, comprising the following steps: – providing at least one hydrophobic warp thread and at least one hydrophobic weft thread; – weave or knit the at least one hydrophobic warp thread and the at least one hydrophobic weft thread to form a strip with a patternless weave; – decorate the strip obtained by screen printing, pad printing or inkjet using a hydrophilic ink to form a pattern on the surface of the exterior face of the bracelet to be manufactured; – cut the strip to the desired dimensions to obtain a bracelet.

[0039] It is obviously possible to carry out the process using weft and warp threads made of hydrophilic material and by affixing a pattern made of hydrophobic material.

[0040] Thus, it is possible to personalize a bracelet discreetly, or even invisible, without modifying the current bracelets.

Claims (8)

1. Bracelet (100) comprising an exterior face (3) and an interior face (4) and formed by at least one warp thread (1) and at least one weft thread (2), characterized in that the thread of warp (1) is made of a hydrophobic material and the weft thread (2) is made of a hydrophilic material, said warp (1) and weft (2) threads being woven so as to create an armor forming a bracelet made of hydrophobic material comprising at least one pattern (5) of hydrophilic material or vice versa. 2. Bracelet (100) according to claim 1, in which the material of the hydrophobic warp wire (1) is chosen from: fluoroelastomers, FKM rubbers, silicones, polypropylenes, ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPE) , polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or even polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 3. Bracelet (100) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the material of the weft thread (2) is chosen from: polyurethanes, PVC grafted with PEG monomers, acrylics or polyamides. 4. Bracelet (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one pattern (5) is in the form of a logo or at least one alphanumeric character. 5. Bracelet (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the warp thread (1) and the weft thread (2) are of the same color. 6. Bracelet (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the warp thread (1) and the weft thread (2) are of a different color. 7. Method for manufacturing a bracelet (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: – provide at least one hydrophobic warp thread (1) and at least one hydrophilic weft thread (2); – weave the at least one hydrophobic warp thread and the at least one hydrophilic weft thread to form a strip with an weave comprising at least one pattern (5); – cut and/or make the strip to the desired dimensions to obtain a bracelet. 8. Method for manufacturing a bracelet (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: – provide at least one hydrophobic warp thread (1) and at least one hydrophobic weft thread (2); – weave the at least one hydrophobic warp thread (1) and the at least one hydrophobic weft thread (2) to form a strip with a patternless weave; – decorate the strip obtained by screen printing, pad printing or inkjet using a hydrophilic ink to form a pattern (5) on the surface of the exterior face of the bracelet to be manufactured; – cut and/or make the strip to the desired dimensions to obtain a bracelet.