EP2271232B1 - Decorative portable object - Google Patents

Description

The present invention generally relates to a portable object that has a decorative effect. Said object comprises at least one decorative transparent or semi-transparent element arranged and held on a support. Said element having the shape and appearance of a gemstone.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

It is known in the prior art portable objects such as watches whose aesthetics is improved by crimping them as decorative elements. Usually, these decorative elements are fixed on a support, generally a cap that can be molded directly on the watch case or be an insert in which the element is crimped and then be attached to the watch. These decorative elements can be real precious stones but also elements such as rhinestones, shiny plastic, glass or crystal.

It is also known from the prior art a way to enhance the aesthetics of the whole by increasing the brightness of the decorative element. This also allows, when said elements are not real gems, to give the illusion of real stones. This increase in brightness is achieved in the prior art by polishing the inner walls of the cap in which the decorative element is crimped to reflect the light passing through said decorative element and thereby increase the brightness produced.

Nevertheless, one of the problems that arises is that this brightness is subordinated to the light passing through said decorative element. So when the night falls or the wearer of the watch is in a dark room, the amount of light passing through the decorative element drastically decreases to a value of zero, and therefore no shine appears in the eyes of the wearer then removing the aesthetic effect produced in normal times by said decorative elements.

We also know from the prior art the documents GB 2,136,672 , DE 203 11,000 and JP2001252112 each disclosing a portable object having a decorative effect comprising at least one decorative transparent or semitransparent element disposed and held on a support. A layer of luminescent material is disposed at least between a portion of the support and the decorative element held on the support to produce a visual effect through the element by reflection and refraction of the light therethrough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable object that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing an arrangement with a decorative element producing a brightness even when the amount of ambient light passing through the element becomes low, or even zero.

To this end, the invention relates to a portable object with decorative effect cited above which comprises a layer of luminescent material being disposed at least between a portion of the support and the decorative element held on the support to produce a visual effect through the element by reflection and refraction of the light passing therethrough, said decorative element comprising a yoke, in which are cut several facets and a crown also faceted and surmounted by a table, the yoke of said element being truncated, and which is characterized by the surface of the truncated yoke of the decorative element facing the bottom of the support is at a distance of 0.25 mm from the layer of luminescent material and in that the support is a cap, whose bottom is flat and the side wall circular cylindrical, the layer of luminescent material being deposited at the bottom of said cap.

Advantageous embodiments of this portable object are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 9.

One of the advantages of the present invention is to have a portable object having an improved aesthetic in that this aesthetic is both visible in the light of day but also when the ambient brightness decreases. This characteristic is due to the layer of luminescent material.

Advantageously, this layer of luminescent material is located between each decorative element and the bottom of the support support thus allowing, in a weak luminous atmosphere, to generate light in order to illuminate the decorative elements such as precious stones or other rhinestones. This then provides an additional aesthetic effect.

In addition to the aesthetic appearance, another advantage of the present invention is that these decorative elements, whose aesthetic effect is perceived even in low light, can be used as an indicator. Indeed, if these decorative elements are arranged at key locations of the watch case, they can then serve as a landmark for the indication of time and the association with a needle, also provided with this luminescent material , allows viewing the time in low light environment while enjoying an aesthetic effect.

Another example could be to arrange the decorative elements to form a figure or a sign that would illuminate once the brightness is low such as a constellation for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1 représente de manière schématique un objet portable sous la forme d'un cadran de montre selon la présente invention,
• la figure 2 représente de manière schématique une première variante de l'élément décoratif selon la présente invention,
• la figure 3 représente de manière schématique une seconde variante de l'élément décoratif.
• la figure 4 représente de manière schématique une troisième variante de l'élément décoratif.

The objects, advantages and characteristics of the portable object according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings on which :

• the figure 1 schematically shows a portable object in the form of a watch face according to the present invention,
• the figure 2 schematically represents a first variant of the decorative element according to the present invention,
• the figure 3 schematically represents a second variant of the decorative element.
• the figure 4 schematically represents a third variant of the decorative element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figure 1 represents a preferred form of the portable object according to the present invention, that is to say in the form of a watch and more particularly a watch dial 1. It is obvious that other forms are possible such as jewelry: rings, necklaces, bracelets or even portable objects such as telephones or other. The dial is attached to the watch's plate and is used for display. Indeed, this piece that is the dial, can include the markings indicating the hours, minutes and seconds, but also the days and so on. The dial may also include a number of windows by which the date indications or moon phases are indicated.

Dial 1 according to the figure 1 has a main opening for the passage of the axes of the needles (not shown) of the watch. We can see on this dial a series of decorative elements 2 arranged to form an aesthetic pattern. In the example shown in figure 1 the series of decorative elements takes the form of a zodiacal constellation, but it goes without saying that any motif can be realized. In addition, another embodiment may be to use these decorative elements 2 for the indication of hours or other.

These decorative elements 2 are represented in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4 . These decorative elements 2 are generally transparent or semi-transparent material having a size similar to that of diamonds, or any other size offering an attractive aesthetic appearance. Possible stone sizes are glossy or wand type or other multi-faceted types. This decorative element thus comprises a yoke 3, in which are cut several facets, and a crown 4 also faceted and surmounted by a table 5. In order to achieve savings, the decorative element 2 may be preferably made of a piece of glass, crystal, transparent plastic or rhinestones. Nothing, however, excludes the use of a gloss.

This decorative element 2 is housed in a support 6 and then fixed so as not to leave said support. In a preferred embodiment, the support 6 takes the form of a cap, whose bottom 8 is flat and the side wall 7, circular cylindrical. The upper edge 9 of the wall 7 is folded over the laminate 4a of the decorative element 2. It thus constitutes a crimp of the latter in the cap 6, which holds it firmly in place. It will be understood, however, that any form of support 6 possible is possible and that supports 6 may include several decorative elements 2 are also possible. In addition, it will also be understood that any means for holding said decorative element 2 to the support 6 can be envisaged.

What makes the present invention solves the above problem is that the cap 6 is arranged to include a layer of luminescent material 10. Indeed, it is expected that a layer of luminescent material 10 is deposited in the bottom 8 of the cap . Thus the luminescent material can emit light which will then pass through the decorative element 2 and by reflection and refraction, give it an additional brightness.

It can also be provided that a layer of luminescent material 10 can be deposited in addition on the inner faces of the walls 7 of the cap 6, as shown in FIG. figure 4 , respectively to increase the amount of light that will pass through the element 2 or simply to modify the diffusion of said emitted light.

In a preferred embodiment, the luminescent material is expected to be a phosphorescent material. Indeed, such a material is very practical in that in the light of day, there is no need to artificially increase the brightness of the decorative element 2, daylight ample amply. But when the ambient light falls, the daylight becomes insufficient to maintain the brightness of said element 2. For this a phosphorescent material takes all its value since said material can accumulate daylight when the ambient brightness is good and when it decreases, the phosphorescent material will emit light to fill this decrease. This then preserves the brightness of the decorative element 2 thus improving the aesthetic rendering.

Even more preferentially, LUMINOVA® may be chosen as a phosphorescent material which has the characteristic of having to emit a brighter light and this, for a longer period, while being devoid of radioactive chemical components. .

The cap 6 is made so that a decorative element cut to take the appearance and shape of a gemstone can enter entirely into said cap 6 as shown in FIG. figure 3 . Nevertheless for a saving of space, it can be expected that the decorative element 2 is truncated. In the case of a cut element such as a diamond, it would be the yoke 3 of said element which would be truncated. In this configuration, it will be ensured that the surface 11 thus formed by this truncation is located at a distance from the layer 10 of luminescent material. This configuration then allows a better diffusion of the light emitted by the luminescent material and therefore a stronger visual effect compared to a configuration where the truncated surface 11 of the decorative element 2 would be directly in contact with said layer of material 10. It will be noted that a distance between 0 mm and 0.25 mm provides an optimal visual effect.

The assembly, comprising the cap on which is crimped the decorative element 2, is fixed to the dial by gluing the bottom of the cap 6 at the bottom of the housing. To avoid internal tensions in the dial, the diameter of the cap 6 may be slightly less than that of the housing. Nevertheless, it is also possible to provide for the fact that the cap 6, in which the decorative element 1 is crimped, is directly integrated into the dial during its manufacture. thus avoiding the problems of tension between the different parts. Of course the description above concerned the case where the decorative elements 2 are located on the dial of a watch, but it is possible that these elements 2 are also integrated into the watch case and therefore no significant change n ' is to be expected.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention set out above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. Portable object (1) including at least one transparent or semi-transparent decorative element (2) arranged and held on a support (6), said element taking the form and appearance of a precious stone, a layer of luminescent material (10) being arranged at least between one part of the support (6) and the decorative element (2) held on the support, to produce a visual effect through the element, by reflection and refraction of the light passing therethrough, said decorative element including a pavilion (3), in which several facets are cut and a crown (4), which is also faceted and on which a table (5) is mounted, the pavilion of said element being truncated, characterized in that the surface (11) of the truncated pavilion of the decorative element (2) opposite the bottom of the support is at a distance of 0.25 mm from the layer of luminescent material (10) and in that the support (6) is a dome, the bottom (8) of which is flat and the lateral wall (7) is circular and cylindrical the layer of luminescent material being deposited in bottom of said dome.
2. Portable object according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral walls (7) of said support are also covered with the layer of luminescent material (10).
3. Portable object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the support (6) is a dome, the bottom (8) of which is flat and the lateral wall (7) is circular and cylindrical and can hold only one decorative element (2) and in that the layer of luminescent material (10) is of the phosphorescent type.
4. Portable object according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support (6) is a part that can be slid into a housing in said portable object, and fixed by securing means.
5. Portable object according to claim 4, characterized in that the support (6) is secured inside the housing thereof by bonding.
6. Portable object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said object takes the form of a watch including at least a watchcase, a dial and a time base.
7. Portable object according to claim 6, characterized in that the watch dial (1) acts as a support for one or more decorative elements.
8. Portable object according to claim 6, characterized in that the watch dial and/or the watchcase act as a support for one or several decorative elements (2).
9. Portable object according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that several decorative elements (2) can be arranged and held in a single support.

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