EP1593317B1 - Bracelet, in particular for a watch, incorporating an electrically conductive element - Google Patents

Abstract

The wristband has a wristband strand with inner and outer faces, and fixed to a case of a portable electronic instrument. The strand has an electric conductor with a conductive plate (10) of elongated shape arranged longitudinally in the strand. The plate has lugs (20) cut into its thickness and bent along a longitudinal line. The strand has orifices transversally arranged between the faces to electrically access the lugs. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a wristband.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention generally relates to a bracelet for a portable electronic instrument comprising at least a first bracelet strand comprising outer and inner faces and one end of which is intended to be fixed to a casing of the portable electronic instrument, this first strand of bracelet comprising, housed between said outer and inner faces, an electrical conductor comprising a conductive plate of elongate shape arranged longitudinally in the first strand of bracelet. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a bracelet.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Bracelets incorporating electrical conductors are already known. EP 0 125 930 and EP 0 126 629 describe for example a bracelet meeting the general definition given above, the electrical conductor incorporated in the bracelet being used to provide an electrical connection with a component placed in the bracelet (for example a battery) or to form a loop antenna around the wrist. In the latter case, in particular, each strand of the bracelet is provided with an electrical conductor whose one end is connected to the housing of the electronic instrument and the other end is connected to the corresponding end of the other strand by via a bracelet closure device, the latter being itself electrically conductive.

Other examples are known. For example, WO 86/03645 discloses a solution where the bracelet closure device may be of the tongue buckle type or of the plug-in type with male and female parts. The documents US Pat. No. 5,135,694 and US Pat. No. 5,526,006 present a solution where the position of the bracelet closing device can be adjusted on one of the strands of the bracelet, this strand of bracelet including several zones distributed longitudinally on the inner face of the bracelet where the electrical conductor is exposed and with which the bracelet closure device is electrically connected. These documents also present a solution for manufacturing the bracelet which consists in providing one or more extensions on the conductive plate to allow the maintenance of this plate in a mold during an overmolding operation of a synthetic material around the conductive plate, this or these extensions being provided to be broken after overmolding.

In the aforementioned solutions, to ensure electrical contact with the conductive plate while allowing a length adjustment of the bracelet, it will be noted that portions of this conductor are exposed to allow contact elements provided on the strap closure device. come in direct support on the conductive plate. This type of solution has a disadvantage insofar as the exposed portions of the conductive plate can quickly oxidize and thus cause a degradation of the quality of the electrical contact. This oxidation is in particular accelerated by the presence of sweat when this bracelet is worn on the wrist. From an aesthetic point of view, this type of solution is also not very desirable.

Another disadvantage of these solutions lies in the relatively large thickness of the bracelet at the closure device, the two strands of bracelet being superimposed on it. Finally, this type of solution limits the possibilities for producing the bracelet closure device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution for ensuring an adequate electrical connection with the electrical conductor which is incorporated in the bracelet. In particular, the aim is to provide an adequate electrical connection with a bracelet closure device, which is also conductive, in particular for connecting two electrical conductors incorporated in each of the bracelet strands in order to form a conductor in a loop around the wrist of the user. operate as a loop antenna.

The present invention thus relates to a bracelet for portable electronic instrument of the aforementioned type whose characteristics are set forth in claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a bracelet.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is thus proposed to provide at least one ear cut in the conductive plate and folded along a longitudinal line towards one of the outer and inner faces of the bracelet strand, this strap strand further comprising the less an orifice arranged transversely between the outer and inner faces of the bracelet strand and arranged to electrically access said at least one ear.

Preferably, several ears and orifices are thus arranged longitudinally in the bracelet strand to form a plurality of areas of electrical contact with the conductive plate. In this way, the bracelet strand and its incorporated electrical conductor can advantageously be cut along several transverse cutting lines arranged between each electrical contact zone.

Each orifice making it possible to electrically access an ear is preferably a through orifice formed to receive an electrically conductive axis coming into contact with the ear, the ear itself being provided with an orifice for the passage of the axis electrically. driver. The latter is advantageously made in two parts sandwiching the ear, preferably in the form of a screw and a counter-screw.

The ear or ears thus formed in the conductive plate can advantageously play two roles. The first, as mentioned above, is to access the conductive plate to make an electrical connection with this plate. The second is to allow the conductive plate to be held in a mold during an overmolding operation of a synthetic material around the conductive plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• les figures 1 a, 1 b et 1 c montrent respectivement une vue latérale, une vue en plan côté face externe et une vue en perspective d'une plaque conductrice formant le conducteur électrique destiné à être incorporé dans un brin de bracelet selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention ;
• les figures 2a, 2b, 2c et 2d montrent respectivement une vue en plan côté face interne, une vue latérale en coupe, une vue en plan côté face externe et une vue en perspective d'un brin de bracelet incorporant la plaque conductrice illustrée dans les figures 1a à 1c ;
• les figures 3a, 3b, 3c sont respectivement une vue en coupe, une vue latérale et une vue en plan côté face externe illustrant la manière avec laquelle un contact électrique entre la plaque conductrice et un dispositif de fermeture de bracelet peut être assuré selon un mode de réalisation préféré.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given solely by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

• FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c respectively show a lateral view, an external side-plane view and a perspective view of a conductive plate forming the electrical conductor intended to be incorporated into a strand of a bracelet according to a method of preferred embodiment of the invention;
• FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d respectively show an internal side plane view, a sectional side view, an external side plane view and a perspective view of a bracelet strand incorporating the conductive plate illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1a to 1c;
• FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c are respectively a sectional view, a side view and an external side plane view illustrating the manner in which a contact electrical connection between the conductive plate and a bracelet closure device can be provided according to a preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the remainder of this description, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in which the conductor incorporated in the bracelet is intended to function as an antenna element. More particularly, in the context of this non-limiting example, the bracelet comprises two identical bracelet strands each comprising the same conductor, these two strands being attached to one another by a bracelet closure device which also provides a electrical connection between the two conductors of the bracelet strands so as to form a conductor loop around the wrist for operating as a loop antenna. This type of antenna configuration in a bracelet is well known and its operating principle will not be discussed here. Further information on this point can be found in the documents cited in the preamble.

It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to an application as an antenna. The conductor incorporated in the bracelet can thus play another role, such as electrically connecting a component placed on the bracelet or may be connected to the bracelet to another electrical or electronic component disposed inside the instrument housing portable electronics.

Figures 1a, 1b and 1c respectively show a side view, an external side plane view (by definition the "outer face" is defined as the outward facing face of the wrist when the bracelet is worn, by opposition to the "inner face" which designates the face of the bracelet which is in contact with the wrist when the bracelet is worn) and a perspective view of a conductive plate, designated by the reference numeral 10, forming an electrical conductor for incorporated in a bracelet strand according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. This conductive plate 10 is self-supporting, that is to say that it consists of a plate of an electrically conductive material (for example steel, copper, etc.) which is cut and folded to the appropriate form. . This conductive plate 10 has a substantially rectangular shape whose longitudinal axis corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet strand in which the conductive plate 10 is intended to be incorporated.

In the preferred embodiment, a first end 10A of the conductive plate 10 is folded over and is intended to allow the connection of the plate 10 corresponding components housed in the housing of the portable electronic instrument. This housing is not illustrated in the figures. It is sufficient to know that this housing preferably has a configuration similar to that of a watch case, the end 10A of the conductive plate 10 is thus located at the attachment of the bracelet strand to the box.

The manner in which the conductive plate 10 is electrically connected in the housing of the electronic instrument is not critical to the object of the present invention. According to the configuration illustrated here by way of non-limiting example, the folded end 10A of the conductive plate 10 is provided with two orifices to ensure the electrical connection of the conductive plate 10 by means of screws to tracks or flanges corresponding contacts in the housing of the portable electronic instrument. On the side of the end 10A of the conductive plate 10, there will also be noted the presence of two orifices marked by the numeral 12 on the utility of which we will return later.

In the illustrated example, the other end designated 10B of the conductive plate 10 is intended, as already mentioned, to be electrically connected to another identical conductive plate housed in the other strand of the bracelet. It is this second end 10B and its configuration which interests us more particularly in the context of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1a to 1c, it can thus be seen that the conductive plate 10 comprises a plurality of lugs 20, here eleven in number, arranged longitudinally along the conductive plate 10. These lugs 20 are made by cutting the plate conductive 10 and folding the cut portions out of the general plane of the conductive plate along a line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet. As will be seen later in more detail, the ears 20 are thus folded substantially at right angles to one (internal or external) of the bracelet's faces. In this case, these ears 20 are folded towards the inner face of the bracelet.

The plurality of lugs 20 allows, as will be seen below, several possibilities of rough adjustment of the length of the bracelet, the unused end portion of the bracelet can be cut. For the implementation of the invention, it will be noted that the conductive plate 10 may at the limit comprise only one ear, in which case the length of the conductor in the bracelet is determined once and for all. It could thus be envisaged that only one strand of bracelet has a plurality of ears as illustrated in the figures and that the other strand of bracelet has only one.

It will be understood that each ear 20 is intended to allow a connection Each of these lugs 20 thus defines a zone of electrical contact with the conductive plate 10. In FIGS. 1a to 1c, the eleven contact zones thus defined are delimited by the dashed lines and are indicated by FIG. reference numeral 30.

Each lug 20 preferably comprises a through hole 21 which is intended to allow the electrical connection of the conductive plate 10 via an electrically conductive axis arranged transversely in the bracelet strand between the inner and outer faces of the bracelet. These orifices 21 also advantageously make it possible to hold the conductive plate 10 by means of its lugs 20 in a mold during an overmoulding operation of a synthetic material around the conductive plate 10. In fact, during the overmolding operation of the synthetic material, the conductive plate 10 is in particular held in the mold via one or more of the lugs 20 and by the two bearing points formed by the orifices 12. These points of support are recommended to ensure that the conductive plate 10 is correctly positioned in the mold during the overmolding operation.

FIGS. 2a to 2d show the general appearance of the wristband strand (designated by the reference numeral 50) according to the preferred embodiment after the overmolding operation around the conductive plate 10. This conductive plate 10 is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b to illustrate the position in the bracelet strand after overmolding. The inner and outer faces of the conductive plate 10 are thus completely covered by the synthetic material forming the bracelet strand 50, with the exception of the end portion 10A of the conductive plate 10 which is intended to be electrically connected to the components housed in the case of the portable instrument as already mentioned. It can be seen that this end, designated 50A, of the bracelet strand 50 is configured to provide means for attaching to the casing of the portable instrument. It is here two protuberances 500 each provided with a through hole for the passage of a screw for securing the end 50A of the bracelet strand 50 and the housing of the electronic instrument. Any other suitable attachment means can be provided.

The electrical access points to the conductive plate 10, on the side of the other end 50B of the bracelet strand 50, are formed laterally on the bracelet strand. As illustrated in Figures 2c and 2d, it can thus be seen that a plurality of orifices 51, preferably through, are formed transversely between the inner and outer faces of the bracelet strand to allow access to each of the ears 20 of the conductive plate 10.

On the inside of the bracelet strand 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, there is provided a set of groove and / or recesses. A set of transverse grooves 55 is thus made from the end 50B of the bracelet strand, each of these grooves coinciding with the limits of each electrical contact zone 30 with the conductive plate 10. These grooves 55 thus play the role of markings allowing to facilitate a cutting operation of the bracelet between each electrical contact zone 30. These markings can be made on one and / or the other of the inner and outer faces of the bracelet strand. In addition, instead of grooves, the markings could simply consist of adequate impressions on one or other of the faces of the wristband strand 50.

The set of grooves designated by the reference numeral 56 made on the internal face of the bracelet strand 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, is simply intended to improve the flexibility of the bracelet strand on the side of its attachment to the case. On the inner face of the bracelet strand 50, it will be noted again the presence of two orifices 52 which coincide with the orifices 12 formed in the conductive plate 10. These orifices 52 result from the maintenance of the conductive plate 10 through the orifices 12 during the overmolding operation.

We will now briefly refer to Figures 3a to 3c to present a preferred embodiment for ensuring the electrical connection of the conductive plate 10 via the ears 20. As already mentioned in the preamble, it is particularly desired to electrically connect the conductive plate 10 to the other identical conductive plate disposed in the other strand of bracelet, this through a bracelet closure device itself conductor. In FIGS. 3a to 3c, only a portion of such a bracelet closure device, namely a designated element 60 of a conventional clasp, has been illustrated. It may in particular be a clasp folding clasp or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the element 60 has essentially the shape of a cover made of electrically conductive material provided with two lateral walls 61 which partially cover the edges of the strap strand 50. The electrical connection between the element 60 and the conductive plate 10 is provided by an electrically conductive axis generally designated by the numerical reference 80. This axis 80 is preferably made in two parts 81, 82 to sandwich one of the ears 20. It is advantageously a screw 81 and a counter-screw 82 can be made integral with one another. In the example of Figure 3a, the screw 81 is provided with a threaded end 81 arranged to pass through the orifice 21 formed on the ear 20 and to be introduced into a corresponding thread 82a made on the counter-screw 82 The lug 20 is thus sandwiched between a shoulder of the screw 81 at the base of the thread 81a and the end of the counter-screw 82 thus ensuring the electrical contact with the conductive plate 10. The electrical contact with the element 60 of the clasp is ensured by the support of the heads designated 81b and 82b of the screws 81 and counter-screws 82.

As an alternative to the use of a conductive axis 80 formed of two parts, one could imagine directly screw the screw 81 in the ear 20 and do not use a counter-screw 82, in which case the transverse orifice 51 may not be through. The embodiment in two part of the axis 80 for sandwiching the ear 20 nevertheless appears preferable to ensure good electrical contact with the conductive plate 10 and the element 60 of the clasp.

It has already been mentioned above that the bracelet strand 50 could be cut to roughly adjust the length thereof. This cutting operation is performed, if necessary, during a first fitting of the electronic instrument and its bracelet around the wrist. The proper length of bracelet is determined and the superfluous length of bracelet is cut according to the appropriate marking 55 on the bracelet. The element 60 of the clasp is then mounted by means of the axis 80 at the appropriate position on the bracelet.

Preferably, as already mentioned, the bracelet comprises two identical strands whose conductors are connected together via the bracelet closure device to form a loop conductor for operating as a loop antenna. In the context of such use, it is preferable to ensure that the bracelet closure device is located equidistant from the housing of the portable electronic instrument. This makes it possible to minimize the effects of a contact of the closure device with the skin of the user on the operation and tuning of the antenna. This is also preferable from a comfort point of view. When rough adjustment of the length of the bracelet strands, it should therefore be ensured that the two bracelet strands have substantially identical lengths after cutting.

In the context of use as an antenna, it will be noted that the fact of cutting off a part of the conductive plate 10 will affect the tuning of the antenna. This must be taken into account to tune the antenna to the desired frequency, this can be done directly by a suitable tuning circuit in the radio-frequency receiver that is connected to the antenna.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the embodiment described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. In particular, the electrical connection of the conductive plate to the components housed in the housing of the electronic instrument could also be achieved by means of a folded ear as described, the electrically conductive axis ensuring the electrical contact with the conductive plate can then be configured as a bracelet bar similar to those conventionally encountered. In addition, as already mentioned, the invention is not limited to a bracelet comprising a conductive plate acting as an antenna element but includes any solution requiring a driver to be incorporated into a bracelet.

Claims (10)

1. Wristband for a portable electronic instrument including at least a first wristband strand (50) including outer and inner faces and one end (50A) of which is intended to be fixed to a case of said portable electronic instrument, this first wristband strand (50) including, housed between said outer and inner faces, an electric conductor including a conductive plate (10) of elongated shape arranged longitudinally in said first wristband strand (50),
   characterized in that said conductive plate (10) includes at least one lug (20) cut into its thickness and bent along a longitudinal line in the direction of one of said outer and inner faces of the first wristband strand (50), said first wristband strand (50) further including at least one orifice (51) arranged transversally between said outer and inner faces of said first wristband strand (50) and arranged for electrically accessing said at least one lug (20).
2. Wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of lugs (20) and orifices (51) are arranged longitudinally in said first wristband strand to form a plurality of electric contact zones (30) with said conductive plate.
3. Wristband according to claim 2, characterized in that said first wristband strand (50) is arranged to be cut along several transverse cutting lines located between each electric contact zone (30).
4. Wristband according to claim, 3 characterized in that at least one of said outer and inner faces of the first wristband strand (50) is provided with transverse markers (55) arranged on said cutting lines to facilitate the cutting of said first wristband strand (50).
5. Wristband according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a second wristband strand identical to the first wristband strand (50), said first and second wristband strands being attached to each other by a wristband fastening device.
6. Wristband according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said orifice (51) for electrically accessing said lug is a through orifice arranged for receiving an electrically conductive pin (80) that comes into contact with said lug (20), the lug (20) being itself also provided with an orifice (21) for the passage of said electrically conductive pin (80).
7. Wristband according to claim 6, characterized in that said electrically conductive pin (80) includes a screw (81) and a counter-screw (82) that sandwich said lug (20).
8. Wristband according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the other end (50B) of the first wristband strand (50) is attached to a wristband fastening device (60) and in that this wristband fastening device (60) is electrically connected to said conductive plate (10) via said electrically conductive pin (80).
9. Wristband according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conductive plate (10) forms an antenna element.
10. Method for manufacturing a wristband according to any one of the preceding claims, including an overmoulding step of overmoulding a synthetic material on said conductive plate (10) to form said first wristband strand (50), this method being characterized in that said at least one lug (20) is used to hold said conductive plate (10) in place in a mould during said overmoulding step.

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