EP1302137A1 - Display and storage case for a portable object, especially a wristwatch - Google Patents

Abstract

The display case for a wrist watch (12) has two sections (2,4) removable connected together to define upper and lower volumes (6,8) separated by a panel (10). The separation panel is removably mounted on one of the case sections and can be screwed into place onto the lower section , with the upper section also screwed in place.

Description

The present invention relates to a presentation and storage box for a portable object such as, in particular, a wristwatch.

Wristwatch-type timepieces are usually sold stored in a case or, for more expensive watches, in a case. These cases and boxes mainly fulfill two functions: they allow, during transport protect the watch against external aggressions (shocks, humidity, dust etc.) and ensure an attractive presentation of the watch, which is particularly advantageous when the watch is intended to be offered to a third party person. However, after unpacking the watch, the case or box in which the watch was stored is rarely kept by the holder of said watch. To that, we can see several reasons. Either the packaging is for single use, i.e. it must be destroyed in order to unpack the watch, either it is inconvenient to use or still the user wears his watch daily and does not feel the need to put it away when it leaves for the night. It is therefore very often only in the case where the watch is of some value that it may be useful to keep the box in which it was sold so as not to risk damaging it when it is not worn.

As will be understood, the problem of packaging watches has not, so far has been examined very thoroughly by watch manufacturers. But the demand for new types of packaging is growing today more pressing because it is currently appearing on the market for timepieces multifunctional wristwatch type such as agenda watches, watches increasingly complex phones, GPS watches or the like. These multifunction watches indeed allow their wearers to access not only to various time information, but also to a multiplicity of applications of computer type which can, depending on the case, be stored in the watch, in a personal computer (better known by its Anglo-Saxon name "Personal Computer "or" PC ") or be accessible via the Internet. Besides the large number of functions that they are capable of performing, such watches have the particularity of being, most often, heavy consumers of energy. That is why they are usually powered, not by disposable batteries whose capacities energy storage are limited, but by accumulators which can be recharged by means of electric chargers provided for this purpose.

Watches of the kind described above are therefore sold in the company of many accessories including a recharging module can, if necessary, also act as an interface module between the watch and a PC, an AC adapter allowing the charger to be connected to the electrical distribution, a serial cable to connect the watch to the PC, a manual or a CD-ROM to install the software for using the watch on the PC. After unpacking the watch and throughout the period of use of this, the risks of losing one or other of the accessories that accompany said watches are therefore great if the user does not have a storage case designed to be able to store all of said accessories. However, this is not the case here. day, and the user often experiences the greatest difficulty in gathering the material which he needs.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the difficulties of the prior art mentioned above as well as to others by offering a unique packaging, especially for a wristwatch, serving both as a watch display on the place of sale and storage of the watch itself as well as various accessories that accompany it to the user.

To this end, the present invention relates to a box for storing an object portable such as, in particular, a wristwatch, characterized in that it comprises two separate parts capable of being removably mounted one on the other, these two pieces delimiting a lower storage volume and a volume of upper storage separated from each other by an intermediate element of separation.

Thanks to these characteristics, the present invention provides a box which serves firstly to the packaging of the watch at the time of its sale, and which can then serve the user daily to store not only the watch, but also all the accessories that are sold with it. So watch and accessories are stored in one place, which considerably simplifies the use of the shows and allows the user to avoid as much as possible losing one or the other accessory and wasting time looking for it.

In the case of a wristwatch, we can imagine that we will store in the lower storage volume of the cabinet, for example the AC adapter and a serial cable to connect the watch to a PC, while said watch will for its part arranged in the upper storage volume, so as to be well visible in particular at the point of sale. As for the intermediate separation element, it can advantageously be used to support, for example, a CD-ROM for installing the software for using the watch on the PC.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective et à l'état fermé du coffret de rangement conforme à la présente invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective et à l'état dissocié du coffret de rangement de la figure 1 sur laquelle sont représentés les différents éléments constituant ledit coffret;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective et en transparence des pièces de rangement inférieure et supérieure;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus des pièces de rangement inférieure et supérieure de la figure 3, et
• les figures 5a à 5d sont des vues, respectivement en perspective, de face et de dessous du module de recharge et d'interface entre la montre et un PC, la figure 5b étant analogue à la figure 5a, seule la montre-bracelet ayant été retirée du chargeur et reposant à côté de ce dernier.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows of an exemplary embodiment of the storage box according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of illustration and not limitation only, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view and in the closed state of the storage box according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view and in the dissociated state of the storage box of Figure 1 on which are represented the various elements constituting said box;
• Figure 3 is a perspective and transparent view of the upper and lower storage parts;
• FIG. 4 is a top view of the lower and upper storage parts of FIG. 3, and
• FIGS. 5a to 5d are views, respectively in perspective, from the front and from below of the recharging and interface module between the watch and a PC, FIG. 5b being analogous to FIG. 5a, only the wristwatch having been removed from the charger and resting next to it.

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea consisting in provide packaging, in particular for a wristwatch, which acts both as display of the watch at the point of sale, and of storage means, not only of the watch, but also and above all of all the accessories that are sold with the watch, so as to prevent the holder of said watch from losing some of these accessories.

The present invention will be described in conjunction with a timepiece of the wristwatch type. It goes without saying, however, that the present invention can, provided minor adaptations which are within the reach of ordinary skill in the art, apply to any other type of portable object such as, in particular, a telephone portable or wireless.

The storage box according to the present invention is shown in perspective and in the closed state in FIG. 1. Designated as a whole by the general numerical reference 1, this storage case mainly consists of two complementary pieces 2 and 4 respectively delimiting a volume of lower storage 6 and a higher storage volume 8. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1, the lower 2 and upper 4 storage parts have both have a hemispherical shape. This hemispherical shape is particularly well suited to the needs of the invention because it offers an important storage volume for a small footprint, has an aesthetic appearance innovative and allows to represent on its surface, by any appropriate means, by example a world map. Of course, this example is given purely illustrative only, and we can give the two storage rooms 2 and 4 all other desired shape, for example cylindrical.

As is better visible in Figure 2, the storage box 1 according to the invention also comprises an intermediate separation element 10 which separates the lower storage volume 6 of the upper storage volume 8. According to a simplified variant of the invention not shown in the drawing, the element separation 10 can be made in one piece with means for maintaining the watch 12 intended to be stored in the box 1. According to a second variant of embodiment, the separation element 10 serves as a support for a module 14 around which watch 12 is fixed. Advantageously, this module 14 can also act charger and interface between watch 12 and a PC (not shown), like this will be described in detail later.

The present invention takes all its interest when the wristwatch 12 intended to be stored in the presentation box 1 is a multifunction watch allowing, for example, access to various computer applications and powered for this by one or more accumulators which can be recharged using a electric charger provided for this purpose. In such a case, we can imagine that we will store in the lower volume 6 of the presentation box 1 according to the invention a AC adapter 16 for connecting the charging module 14 to the electrical distribution, as well as a serial cable 18 to connect watch 12 to the PC. As for the watch 12 itself and its charging and interface module 14, they will be arranged in the upper storage volume 8 so, in particular, that that watch 12 is clearly visible at the point of sale.

The multifunction watches discussed here are frequently sold accompanied by a CD-ROM for the installation of the software for using these watches on a PC. The intermediate separation element 10 can thus advantageously do support office for a CD-ROM 20 and for this includes retaining means 22 of this CD-ROM. As illustrated in FIG. 2, these retaining means 22 are conventionally formed by several semi-rigid tabs 24 extending perpendicular to the surface of the separating element 10, and arranged in a circle whose diameter is slightly greater than that of the hole made in the center of the CROM 20. Consequently, when the CD-ROM 20 is engaged on the retaining means 22, the tabs 24 deform slightly and are subjected to restoring forces elastic bands that keep them firmly applied against the edge of the hole central of CD-ROM 20, thus ensuring the immobilization of said CD-ROM 20 on the element separation 10.

As mentioned above, the separating element 10 serves as a support, not only to CD-ROM 20, but also to module 14 for recharging and / or interface around which the watch is fixed 12. It is therefore necessary that the diameter of the separation element 10 is greater than that of the CD-ROM 20 so that the module 14 can rest on said separation element 10 and not on the CD-ROM 20 so as not to risk damaging the latter. For this purpose, the separating element 10 has a peripheral lateral edge 26 against which the module 14 abuts at level of its base 28 for its radial immobilization. Separator 10 also includes one or more ribs 30 arranged concentrically to the lateral edge 26 on which the module 14 is supported, which makes it possible to spare sufficient axial space to accommodate the CD-ROM 20. As can be seen in Figure 2, the intermediate separation element 10 also comprises means 32 for blocking the rotation of the module 14. More precisely, and according to a variant preferred embodiment of the invention, the rim 26 has one or more discontinuities 34 each formed by two returns 36 extending radially by relative to the separation element 10, and delimiting a housing 38 for immobilization and positioning of a complementary shape 40 of the module 14. It will be noted that the returns 36 extend radially without going beyond the space provided for CD-ROM 20. It goes without saying that other means for immobilizing the module 14 on the separation element 10 can be envisaged without depart from the scope of the present invention.

According to the invention, the intermediate separation element 10 is removably mounted on one of the lower storage pieces 2 or upper 4. In the example shown in the drawing, the intermediate element 10 is screwed onto the lower storage part 2, after which the upper storage 4 can, in turn, be screwed onto said storage part lower 2. The fixing device chosen is of the bayonet type. To this end, the lower storage room 2 has internal and external perimeters slides, respectively 42 and 44, in the form of grooves in which come slide pins 46 and 48 carried respectively by the separating element 10 and the upper storage part 4. The screwing is carried out when the pins 46, 48 abut against the bottom of the slides 42, 44.

Figure 3 is a perspective and transparent view of the parts of lower storage 2 and upper 4. It can be seen in this figure that the part of upper storage 4 comprises holding means in the form of several ribs 50 which bear against the module 14 to ensure its axial immobilization when said upper storage part 4 is screwed onto the lower storage room 2. As for the lower storage room 2, it also includes various ribs 52 and notches 54 which allow positioning suitably the AC adapter 16 and wind the serial cable 18 in its bottom.

We now examine, in conjunction with FIGS. 5a to 5d, the module 14 around which the wristwatch 12 is fixed. To this end, the module 14 presents a wide groove 56 whose contours follow the profile of the case 58 of the watch 12 and of the two strands 60 of its bracelet. To ensure reliable maintenance of the watch 12 on module 14, the two strands 60 of the bracelet are bent and slid under said module 14 where a stud 62 projecting from the groove 56 enters one of the holes 64 of the bracelet designed to receive, under normal conditions of use, the barb 66 which is worn by the other strand 60 of the watch strap 12. It can be seen in FIG. 5d that the strand 60 in which the perforations 64 are made covers, at least partially, the closing loop 68, thus ensuring the immobilization of the other strand 60 of the watch strap 12.

In its simplest sense, module 14 only acts as a display of wrist watch 12. Nevertheless, as we are interested here more particularly to multifunction type wristwatches, module 14 can advantageously used to recharge the batteries of watch 12 as well as the communication between said watch 12 and a PC. To this end, the module 14 includes a first connector 70 for the connection of the power adapter 16, which used to connect said module 14 to the electricity distribution network. On the other hand, the module 14 also includes a connector 72 for connecting the watch 12 to a PC (not shown).

The accumulators of the wristwatch 12 are preferably recharged by induction. The module 14 thus comprises a first coil constituting the primary of the transformer, while a second coil constituting the secondary of said transformer is placed in the charging circuit of the accumulators of the shows 12.

Watch 12 can communicate with a PC, for example via a link infrared. Watch 12 then comprises a light-emitting diode intended for transmit information by emitting light signals. These signals light will be detected by a phototransistor placed in the module 14, in look of the emitting diode. Under the effect of the incident light, the phototransistor will produce an electrical signal which is then amplified and compared to levels of logic voltages by an electronic circuit (not shown) mounted inside the module 14. After amplification and comparison, the electrical signal produced by the phototransistor is conventionally converted by the electronic circuit into thresholds of voltage 0 / + 5 volts which will be applied to an also integrated interface circuit in module 14 and which will, in turn, transform the 0 / + 5 volts signals into levels voltage -12 or +12 volts which can be processed by the PC.

Conversely, the PC can also transmit information to of the wristwatch 12. For this purpose, the module 14 also includes a diode light emitting disposed opposite a phototransistor mounted in the box 58 of watch 12. Logic signals -12 / + 12 volts transmitted by the PC via the cable series 18 are converted into voltage levels 0 / + 5 volts by the electronic circuit enclosed in module 14 and will control the switching on or off of the diode of said module 14. Under the effect of the illumination, the phototransistor placed in the watch 12 will produce an electrical signal which can be used by the circuits logic of said watch 12.

A diode and a phototransistor are usually mounted in pairs on a same printed circuit board. A hole 74 is provided in the bottom of the box 58 of watch 12 to receive the printed circuit board carrying the two components. This bore 74 comes opposite a boss 76 provided on the module 14 and in which are also incorporated a diode and a phototransistor.

Finally, the module 14 includes louvers 78 for cooling the primary winding of the transformer for recharging the accumulators of watch 12. On the other hand, module 14 is provided, on its lower surface, with several studs 80 made of a non-slip material allowing it not to slide when placed on a flat surface.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. which has just been described, and that various variants and simple modifications can be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

Presentation and storage box for a portable object such as, in particular, a wristwatch (12), characterized in that it comprises two separate parts (2, 4) capable of being mounted one on the 'other removably, these two parts (2, 4) respectively delimiting a lower storage volume (6) and an upper storage volume (8) separated from each other by an intermediate separation element (10) . Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate separation element (10) is removably mounted on one of the lower (2) or upper (4) storage parts. Box according to claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate separating element (10) is screwed onto the lower storage part (2), after which the upper storage part can, in turn, be screwed onto the lower storage room (2). Box according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate separation element (10) and the upper storage part (4) are mounted on the lower storage part (2) by means of a fixing device of the type bayonet. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the intermediate separation element (10) comprises means for retaining (22) a CD-ROM (20). Box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate separation element (10) serves as a support for a module (14) around which the wristwatch (12) is fixed. Box according to claim 6, characterized in that the intermediate separation element (10) has a peripheral lateral flange (26) against which the module (14) abuts for its radial immobilization. Box according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate separation element (10) comprises means (32) for blocking the rotation of the module (14). Box according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking means (32) are formed by one or more discontinuities (34) of the peripheral lateral edge (26), these discontinuities (34) being each delimited by two returns (36) s 'extending radially with respect to the intermediate separation element (10) and constituting a housing (38) for the immobilization and positioning of a complementary shape (40) of the module (14). Box according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the module (14) bears on one or more ribs (30) in order to provide an axial space between said module (14) and the intermediate separation element (10). Box according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the module (14) acts as a display for the wristwatch (12). Box according to claim 11, characterized in that the module (14) comprises a connector (70) for the connection of an AC adapter (16) for recharging the battery or batteries of the wristwatch (12). Box according to claim 12, characterized in that the accumulator or batteries of the wristwatch (12) are recharged by induction. Box according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the module (14) comprises a connector (72) for the connection of the wristwatch (12) to a PC. Box according to claim 14, characterized in that the wristwatch (12) is capable of communicating with the PC via an infrared link.

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