Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C15/00—Other forms of jewellery
  • A44C15/0025—Reversible or double face jewellery
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C13/00—Connectible jewellery
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
  • G04G17/00—Structural details; Housings
  • G04G17/08—Housings

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a modular piece of jewelry, in particular a ring, an earring, a pendant or a time instrument such as a watch, comprising at least one hollow element and a central element having a shape complementary to the recess of the hollow element, this central element being removably coupled to the hollow element.
• the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a piece of jewelry such as a ring, an earring, a pendant or a watch having a conventional aesthetic appearance, however, allowing access to various non-conventional functions, this part being made so that these functions can be combined according to the wishes of the user.
• a piece of jewelry as defined in the preamble and characterized in that the hollowed-out element is reversible and comprises at least one so-called functional face comprising means for accessing at least one additional function to the original function. of said piece of jewelry.
• one of the faces of the hollowed-out element is a so-called decorative face arranged to give the room an aesthetic appearance and the other face is said functional face.
• the central element comprises at least one decorative part.
• the central element comprises a housing in which is disposed the movement of a time instrument driving at least one indicator.
• the functional face of the hollowed-out element preferably comprises at least one digital information display device.
• the functional face of the hollowed-out element may include a display screen covering the central element when this hollowed-out element is in its functional position. It can also include at least one solar cell.
• the hollow element advantageously comprises mechanical fixing means to said central element.
• the hollowed-out element may comprise means of electrical, optoelectronic or radioelectric connection to said central element.
• the piece of jewelry according to the present invention preferably comprises at least one storage device arranged to store information.
• the hollowed out element comprises at least one sensor arranged to measure a physical and / or chemical quantity external to the piece of jewelry.
• This hollow element may also include connection means making it possible to connect an external sensor to said part to a device for displaying the part.
• the hollowed out element comprises means for transmitting and / or receiving signals.
• the hollowed-out element may also include at least one reserve of electrical energy and / or a programmable microprocessor. According to a particular embodiment, this hollow element can be sliding relative to the central element.
• FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a modular piece of jewelry according to the present invention, being in the form of a wristwatch,
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the hollowed-out element of the watch in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the element in FIG. 2,
• FIGS. 4 to 7 schematically illustrate different embodiments of the watch of FIG. 1, each mode corresponding to functions accessible by means of a different hollow element,
• FIG. 8a is a partial sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the watch of FIG. 1, equipped with a blind recessed element,
• FIG. 8b is a view of the watch illustrated in FIG. 8a, when the hollowed-out element is in its inverted position relative to the position it occupies in FIG. 8a,
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the hollowed out element in FIGS. 8a and 8b.
• FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the modular piece of jewelry according to the present invention, being in the form of a ring.
• the modular piece of jewelry according to the present invention illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 9 is a time instrument 10 such as a wristwatch essentially comprising a case 11 forming the central element and containing a movement causing indicators 12, an element reversible hollow 13 and a bracelet 14.
• the case has a substantially circular shape and has two extensions 15 allowing it to be connected to the bracelet.
• the hollow element 13, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a recess 16 having a shape adapted to the shape of the housing, and two notches 17, 18 on each face. These notches are arranged in such a way that they allow the extensions 15 to pass when the hollowed-out element is coupled to the central element, that is to say to the housing 11.
• One of the faces of the reversible hollow element 13 comprises decorative elements giving the watch an aesthetic appearance. This face is called the decorative face 19 of the hollow element.
• the other side has elements allowing access to certain functions of the watch. This face is called the functional face 20 of the hollow element.
• the notches 17, 18 on one of the faces are offset by 90 ° relative to the notches on the other face. This offset makes it possible to produce a hollow element of small thickness without these notches weakening it.
• the hollowed-out element 13 further comprises four spring blades 21 made of an electrically conductive material. These spring blades make it possible to establish electrical contact between elements arranged inside the hollowed-out element and elements arranged inside the housing. These blades also make it possible to ensure a removable coupling between the hollow element and the housing. It is clear that the electrical connection and mechanical coupling functions can be performed by different devices. In this case, the electrical contact can be made by means of two cylindrical contacts 22 arranged in one of the notches of the hollowed-out element and placed opposite two similar contacts arranged under one of the extensions 15 of the housing 11 .
• the hollow element 13 has a decorative face 19 and a functional face 20.
• the functions accessible via this hollow element can be very varied. They can be classified into different categories according to the different elements they involve.
• Figures 1 and 5 illustrate examples of functions which involve only the hollowed-out element, the case and the movement, to the exclusion of any external element.
• the functional face 20 of the hollowed-out element is used as a stopwatch.
• This stopwatch includes a start button 24, a stop button 25 and a reset button 26. It also includes a digital display device 27 of the measured time.
• This stopwatch is however managed by a time base also managing the movement of the watch indicators.
• This embodiment illustrates a transmission of information from the housing 11 to the hollowed-out element 13, this transmission being able to be done by means of the two cylindrical contacts 22.
• the digital display of the elapsed time is easier to read and more precise. than analog display.
• the use of such a hollow element therefore makes it possible to increase the precision of reading the chronometer while retaining a conventional aesthetic appearance to the watch. When the user no longer needs the chronometer function of his watch, he returns the hollow element so that its decorative face 19 is visible. In this configuration, the watch regains its conventional appearance.
• the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 provides access to two separate functions.
• One of these functions is a function for triggering an alarm signal.
• the functional face 20 of the watch then comprises two keys 30, 31 for adjusting the time of triggering of the alarm signal, making it possible respectively to adjust the hour and the minute of this triggering. These data are displayed on a display device 32, which makes it possible to verify the adjustment made.
• a third key 33 enables or disables this alarm function. If this function is activated, the alarm signal is emitted when the watch indicators reach the position corresponding to the recorded time.
• the alarm signal can be an audible or visual signal or can generate a vibration of the time instrument, which is felt by the wearer of the watch.
• This embodiment requires the transmission of information introduced via the hollow element 13 to the movement of the watch.
• the second function accessible via this embodiment of the hollowed-out element 13 is a pure display function.
• the hollowed-out element comprises a display device 34 and storage means 35 for prerecorded data.
• This data may for example include personal data and / or medical concerning the wearer of the watch, such as for example his date of birth, his blood group, information concerning some of his diseases or allergies to certain drugs.
• This information can be viewed one after the other, the device 34 displaying the following information each time a button 36 of the watch is pressed. Once the information is recorded, its display no longer requires communication with the movement of the watch or with the external environment.
• This display only involves the hollow element 13 and possibly a power source placed inside the housing 11.
• the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 represents functions which associate a sensor with a display. These sensors can be incorporated into the hollowed-out element and measure physical and / or chemical quantities relating to the environment of the watch. This is the case for a temperature sensor 40 associated with a display 41 or for a pressure sensor 42 associated with a display 43. The sensor can also be distant from the hollowed-out element and be connected to the watch for example by a connector electric 44. This is the case, for example, for a device for measuring (not shown) heartbeats, associated with a display device 45 for these pulses. In this case, the sensor can be incorporated into the bracelet 14 of the watch or be fixed around the user's chest. This embodiment requires the transmission of information external to the watch to the hollow element which processes and displays this information. It is also possible to use a watch indicator, for example the seconds indicator, to display some of the information received.
• a watch indicator for example the seconds indicator
• the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 has two distinct functions. One of these functions consists in transmitting a positioning signal from the wearer of the watch by means of a transmitter 50. This signal allows remote monitoring of people. U also makes it possible to search for missing persons, for example in an avalanche or at sea. It can be associated with a positioning device such as the device known by the abbreviation GPS (Global Positioning System).
• the second function illustrated by this figure is the emission of an identification code.
• This code is generated by means of four keys 51 arranged on the hollowed-out element and allows, for example, the opening of an access door to a monitored place.
• This embodiment illustrates the emission by the watch, of a signal towards an external detection device. The emission of such signals is made by means of an antenna placed in the hollowed-out element.
• the antenna can also be formed by the hollowed-out element itself or be produced on the surface of this hollowed-out element.
• This antenna consists of a coil of metal wires wound in the hollow element.
• This embodiment is interesting in that the antenna can have a relatively large dimension, which gives it great sensitivity, while being perfectly invisible. On the other hand, depending on the signals to be received, it is possible to change the antenna easily, simply by changing the hollow element.
• the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises a hollow element 13 whose functional face 20 is covered with solar cells 70.
• This hollow element further forms a housing for capacitors 71 or batteries for storing electrical energy.
• the face comprising the solar cells 70 is arranged upwards, the light received by these cells is transformed into electrical energy and is used to charge the capacitors.
• the hollowed out element is in its decorative position, the movement of the watch uses the energy stored in the capacitors of the hollowed out element. Electric energy could also be supplied by thermal cells using heat from the body of the watch wearer, this heat being transformed into electricity. It is possible to charge the capacitors or the batteries by means of a transformer connected to the conventional supply network.
• FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9 The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9 is equipped with a recessed element 13 in which the recess 16 is in the form of a blind hole, the functional face 20 comprising a digital display screen 23 intended to cover the entire housing 11.
• the watch has a conventional appearance.
• the housing 11 is housed inside the recess 16 and the screen 23 is placed under the watch. This screen is therefore completely invisible.
• the hollowed-out element is in a position such that the functional face is visible, the screen 23 covers the case 11 of the watch.
• the indicators 12 are then no longer visible, but different information may appear on the screen.
• the hollowed-out element is also provided, under the decorative face, with a device 60 for receiving electromagnetic signals and a storage device 61.
• the reception device 60 of signals includes an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves. These waves can be radio waves emitted by an appropriate transmitter or light waves emitted by a transmitting device associated with a computer.
• the signals received by the reception device are decoded so as to extract the information which they contain. This information is stored in the storage device 61. If the warning means 62 are visual, when a message is stored, these means notify the wearer of the watch that a message has been received. They are placed so as to be visible to the wearer when the hollowed-out element 13 is in its decorative position and must be as discreet as possible so as not to harm the aesthetics of the watch.
• warning means 62 can for example include a light diode placed under a translucent stone. If the warning means 62 are audible, an audible signal is emitted when a message has been stored.
• the user wishes to view the message received, he places the hollow element 13 in the functional position. In this position, the screen 23 completely covers the watch and the message is displayed.
• a key 65 placed near this screen allows the following message to be viewed if several messages have been recorded.
• Another key 66 makes it possible to erase the displayed message, so as to free up space in the storage device 61.
• This embodiment allows display on a relatively large surface. It illustrates the use of this watch as a receiver of information transmitted from external devices to the hollowed out element.
• FIG 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the modular piece of jewelry according to the invention when it is in the form of a ring.
• This ring 80 comprises a support 81 constituting the central element in which a stone 82 is set, this support being integral with an O-ring 83 intended to be placed around a finger of the wearer.
• a hollow element 84 having the shape of a reversible disc is placed around the support 81 and comprises a functional face 85 and a decorative face 86. When this decorative face is visible from the wearer of the ring, this ring has a conventional aesthetic appearance. When the functional face is visible, various functions are accessible via the hollowed-out element 84.
• the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but extends to any modification or variant obvious to a person skilled in the art.
• the shape of the central element can be oval, rectangular, polygonal or of any shape provided that the hollowed element has a shape complementary to be able to be placed around the housing or the support in two different positions so that the two faces 19, 20 of the hollow element are alternately visible.
• the hollowed-out element could also be incorporated into the housing of the time instrument so that it is not visible when it is not in use. This can be done by placing this item under the watch case or even inside it. Access means are then provided to place the hollow element in a functional position.
• the hollowed-out element into a decorative part and a functional part, the decorative part comprising a decorative face and an intermediate face and the functional part comprising a functional face and an intermediate face, the two intermediate faces always being in contact with each other.
• the decorative part comprising a decorative face and an intermediate face
• the functional part comprising a functional face and an intermediate face, the two intermediate faces always being in contact with each other.
• connection devices between the hollowed-out element and the movement could be used, provided that they allow the transmission of energy and / or information.
• connection devices could for example be optical, optoelectronic and / or electromagnetic devices.
• the piece of jewelry could be connected to a network allowing the transmission of information.
• the hollowed-out element could have the shape of a portion of a ring and be fixed to the housing or to the support by means of a screw thread, a device comprising a thrust spring or any suitable means.
• this hollow element can in particular be adapted on wristwatches, pocket watches, clocks, on any other time instrument, on rings or pendants.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9484510

Family Applications (1)

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• 1995
  • 1995-11-06 FR FR9513423A patent/FR2740664B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1996
  • 1996-11-05 AU AU72758/96A patent/AU7275896A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-11-05 US US09/068,170 patent/US6164815A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-11-05 WO PCT/CH1996/000389 patent/WO1997016993A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-11-05 EP EP96934301A patent/EP0859562A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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