EP3250075A1

EP3250075A1 - Movable decorative elements

Info

Publication number: EP3250075A1
Application number: EP16705286.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guy Bove; Richard HILTBRUNNER
Original assignee: Chopard Technologies SA
Current assignee: Chopard Technologies SA
Priority date: 2015-01-30
Filing date: 2016-01-28
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-28
Also published as: US20180000208A1; TR201901934T4; US10362844B2; ES2715127T3; JP6959137B2; CH710682A1; TW201640236A; CN107404984B; TWI710869B; EP3250075B1; CN107404984A; CH710682B1; WO2016120712A1; JP2018510676A

Abstract

The invention relates to a movable decorative element, intended for being freely rotated and translated between two walls (5, 6), the inner surfaces of which are parallel to one another, at least one of which is transparent, wherein said decorative element comprises a precious or semi-precious stone (2) mounted in a socket (1). The socket (1) comprises a closed bottom (4), the outer surface of which is rounded in order to promote the rotation of the decorative element when said rounded outer surface (7) abuts against the inner surface of one of said walls, and an open outer surface (7) opposite the bottom (4) which is flush with or projects relative to the stone (2) in order to form a bearing surface against the other one of said walls (5, 6) when the decorative element is arranged between the two walls. The precious or semi-precious stone (2) is held in the socket (1) thereof by a plurality of arms (3) which extend above a body (8) of the socket (1) and which set the stone (2), said arms (3) leaving lateral openings (9) between same and above the body (8) of the socket (1), said openings allowing the sides of the stone (2) to be seen between the arms (3), and said bearing surface being made up of the free ends of said arms (3) in the form of separate contact areas separated from one another around the periphery of the open outer surface (7) of the socket (1).

Description

MOBILE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS

The present invention relates to movable decorative elements intended to be rotated and translated into jewelery articles, in particular rings and pendants, as well as in utilitarian articles decorated by movable decorative elements, in particular watches, frames of glasses, or luxury leather goods.

The search for the mobility of decorative elements in a timepiece or jewelery, when the user makes a movement and makes it move offers a strong aesthetic effect and gives an additional visual appeal to the timepiece or jewelery the putting more value. It is known to arrange, around the dial of a timepiece, or even above it, jewelery items, such as stones, or stones mounted in cabochons, which have at least a degree of freedom, in a channel or a closed space in which these jewelry items are movable.

US5319615 describes, at the periphery of the box and beyond the ice, an annular path closed by a transparent ring, on which inserts forming signs defining linguistic elements can move.

The patents CH609517 and EP0965071 in the name of the applicant disclose a movable decorative element, according to the preamble of claim 1, intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls whose inner faces are parallel to each other and of which at least one is transparent. This movable decorative element comprises a precious or semi-precious stone mounted in a socket having a closed bottom whose outer face is curved to promote the rotation of the decorative element when said curved outer face is applied against the inner face of one of said walls. This socket further comprises an open outer face opposite the bottom which is flush or slightly projecting from the stone to form a bearing surface against the other of said walls when the decorative element is arranged between the two walls . CH609517 describes in particular movable decorative elements, especially diamonds, mounted in supports in the form of small cylindrical bushings whose outer face of the bottom is convex. This convex shape was chosen in order to reduce the friction forces, improving the mobility of the support and therefore that of the movable decorative element. This rotational movement has an interesting flickering effect since it highlights the flickering effect given to the diamond by its multiple facets.

EP0965071 describes, for its part, movable decorative elements arranged in a housing whose inner faces of the two walls of the housing are curved in at least one radius of curvature in order to increase the flickering effect of the diamonds as mobile decorative elements.

In all cases of the state of the art, the movable decorative element consists of a precious or semi-precious stone held in a cylindrical sleeve whose cylindrical wall surrounds the stone and whose circular outer face constitutes a continuous bearing surface against the other of said walls as illustrated in Figure 1 attached.

The achievements described in CH609517 and EP0965071 give full satisfaction and have a very great commercial success due to a surprising effect obtained during the rotation and the random translation of the precious stones.

The object of the present invention is to provide a movable decorative element, of the aforementioned type, configured to make even more spectacular the flickering effect of diamonds.

According to the invention, a movable decorative element, intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls, comprises a precious or semi-precious stone held in its socket by a plurality of arms which extend over a body of the sleeve and which crimp the stone, these arms leaving between them and above the body of the sleeve of the lateral openings revealing the flanks of the stone between the arms. In addition, said bearing surface is constituted by the free ends of said arms in the form of separate contact zones spaced apart from each other around the periphery of the open outer face of the socket, usually contact points for example.

Thanks to the separate contact zones spaced apart from each other around the periphery of the open outer face of the sleeve cooperating with the surface of a wall of the housing, it has surprisingly been found that the translational movement of the stone is accompanied by a longer rotation and that gives the impression of turning more quickly on itself, providing an even more surprising visual effect, in addition because the stone, visible in its almost all through the lateral openings of the sleeve in rotation, gives the impression of turning alone without support.

The socket according to the present invention then highlights the flickering effect given to the diamond by its multiple facets, the whole, accentuated by the increased visibility of the stone.

In a preferred embodiment, said arms of the socket and its closed bottom are made of a piece.

Preferably, said arms and said lateral openings are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the sleeve.

In one embodiment, the socket has three arms but in some embodiments the socket may have four or five arms or even beyond. Preferably, said arms are rounded section claws, which protects in particular the stones during contact between two movable elements between them or between a movable element and a surface of the article in which the movable element is integrated.

Depending on the dimensions of the stone, the sleeve may have one or two rings parallel to the closed bottom, said arms extending from the bottom and above these rings.

To better visualize the stone, the lateral openings of the sleeve occupy for example 40% or 60% of the periphery of the sleeve, preferably at minimum 75% or even 90% of the periphery of the sleeve (1). The larger the openings, the more the stone is visible and highlighted.

Preferably, the socket in which the diamonds are mounted is of precious metal, for example gold, generally used in jewelry for mounting diamonds. However, other metals such as stainless steel could be used, for example.

Different sizes of stones are planned and various forms of stones are also provided. Thus, preferably, the precious or semi-precious stone and the socket have a corresponding shape, among others generally cylindrical, oval, square, triangle or asymmetric.

In a variant, the precious or semi-precious stone and the sleeve have a different shape.

For its application in a jewel or a watch for example, the movable decorative element is mounted free in rotation and in translation between two walls of a decorative article whose internal faces are parallel to each other and at least one is transparent.

To move when mounted in an article, a clearance is required between the walls whose inner faces are parallel and the height of the movable decorative element. The clearance between the height of the movable decorative element and the opposite internal faces of the walls may be between 0.05 and 0.3 mm and preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 mm.

In one embodiment, the two walls extend on a peripheral edge which delimits a free space for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or several decorative elements. In another embodiment, the two walls extend on two edges which define an annular path for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or the decorative elements. According to a feature of the decorative article according to the invention, the parallel inner faces of the walls are flat and according to another characteristic, the parallel inner faces of the walls are curved.

According to a modification of the decorative article according to the invention, the outer face of the bottom of the sleeve is flat and is applied against the domed inner face of one of said walls, thereby promoting the rotation of the decorative element.

The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely by way of example, in no way limiting, as well as an example of the state of the art, with reference to FIGS. schematic, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view and a sectional view of a mobile decorative element, according to the state of the art, intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls;

- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a movable decorative element according to the invention intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls, consisting of a four-armed sleeve and a round stone;

- Figure 3 shows a side view of the movable decorative element of Figure 2; - Figure 3A shows a side view of the movable decorative element of Figure 2 between two walls;

- Figure 4 shows a top view of the movable decorative element of Figure 2;

- Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the movable decorative element of Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a top view of a movable decorative element consisting of a three-armed socket and a heart-shaped stone; - Figure 7 shows a side view of the movable decorative element of Figure 5, the sleeve having an intermediate ring between the convex bottom of the sleeve and the end of the arms;

- Figure 7A shows a side view of the movable decorative element of Figure 5 between two walls;

- Figure 7B is a similar view of Figure 7A of a modification where the outer face of the bottom of the sleeve is flat and is pressed against a curved wall.

- Figure 8 shows a top view of stones to be mounted in the sleeve of a movable decorative element to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls;

- Figure 9 shows a sectional view of a wristwatch in which are inserted between two walls, four movable decorative elements; and - Figure 10 shows a side view of a variant of a movable decorative element intended to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls.

FIG. 1 illustrates a movable decorative element intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls as described in CH609517 and EP0965071. These decorative elements consist of a casing 20 of cylindrical shape, the bottom 4 is slightly concave, having an annular groove for crimping a stone. The stone 2 is visible through the upper open portion and opposite to the concave bottom 4 of the casing 20. A continuous circular contact surface 30 surrounds the upper part of the stone 2 and comes into contact with the ice.

According to the present invention and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, this mobile decorative element execution intended to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls comprises a gemstone 2 of round shape mounted in a sleeve 1. The sleeve 1 comprises, as known from the state of the art, a closed bottom 4 whose outer face is curved to promote the rotation of the decorative element when said curved outer face is applied against the inner face of one of said walls.

The gemstone 2 is held in its socket 1 by four arms 3 which extend above a body 8 of the sleeve 1 and which crimp the stone 2. These four arms 3 leave them and above the body 8 of the sleeve 1 of the lateral openings 9 revealing the sides of the stone 2 between the arms 3.

The gemstone 2 and the bushing 1 have a corresponding round shape in this example (Figures 4 and 5). The sleeve 1 further comprises an outer face 7 open and opposite the bottom 4 which protrudes with respect to the stone 2 to form a discontinuous surface of upper support against the other wall 5 of said walls 5, 6 when the decorative element is arranged between the two walls.

According to the invention, a discontinuous bearing surface is formed by the free ends of the arms 3 in the form of separate contact point zones spaced from each other around the periphery of the open outer face 7 of the sleeve 1. it is through these areas of spaced contacts that the sleeve 1 contacts the inner face of a wall 5 during the rotation of the decorative elements. In addition, thanks to these spaced contact areas the sleeve has a longer rotation and faster appearance of the socket on itself.

As illustrated in Figure 3A, the movable decorative element is disposed between two walls 5, 6, at least one is transparent. In this example, the upper wall 5 must be transparent to reveal the stone 2 in its socket.

The four arms 3, of rounded section, and said lateral openings 9 are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the sleeve 1. According to this embodiment, the stone 2 of round shape may have different diameters, preferably included between 2 and 5 mm. The size between windows is for example preferably between 1.5mm and 5.0mm.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, a movable decorative element consists of a sleeve 1 with three arms 3 and a stone 2 in the shape of a heart. The three arms 3, of rounded section, and the lateral openings 9 are arranged regularly around the axis of the sleeve 1.

The bushing 1 illustrated in FIG. 7 has an open outer face 7 opposite to the bottom 4 which protrudes slightly with respect to the stone 2. In addition, the bushing 1 comprises a ring 1 1 parallel to the bottom 4, the arms 3 being closed. extending from the bottom 4 and above this ring 1 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the movable element of FIG. 7 is disposed between two parallel walls 5, 6. At least the upper wall 5 is transparent but, the two walls 5, 6 can be transparent, according to the configuration of the decorative article in which the movable decorative element is mounted.

According to the modification of FIG. 7B, the movable element has a flat bottom and the windows 5, 6 are curved. In this case, it is the bending of the ice which causes the rotation of the movable element.

Of course, Figure 7B is only one example of a modified decorative item with a flat-bottomed moving member. The other embodiments of mobile elements illustrated can also be modified by replacing the curved bottom by a flat bottom pressed against a curved wall.

In the illustrated embodiments, the lateral openings 9 occupy more than 75% or even 80% of the periphery of the sleeve 1. The sizes of the lateral openings 9 have to be adapted according to the dimensions and the material of the sleeve 1, as well as the size and shape of the stone 2.

As illustrated in Figure 8, different forms of stones can be crimped into the socket 1 also called kitten. The stones 2 can be round, heart, square, cushion, triangle, pear, shuttle, oval or rhombus. However, it is not excluded to use other forms of stones 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, a watch shown in section comprises a movement provided with a dial, housed in a case comprising a closed middle part, on the one hand by a bottom, and on the other hand by a ice cream 5. A second ice cream 6 is disposed between the ice cream 5 and a dial. In this example, the internal faces fêspectives each ice 5 and 6 are applied against a scope of the inner face of a middle, leaving between them a free space 12 of determined height. In this example, the respective inner faces of the windows 5, 6 are rigorously flat. In a variant not shown, the respective inner faces of the windows 5, 6 may have a slight bending formed by one or more radii of curvature around one or more centers or axes of curvature, in particular according to different sectional planes according to EP0965071. In this case, the respective curvatures given to these two inner faces 5, 6 are strictly identical to each other, so that the height of the free space formed between them remain constant.

Alternatively as described in EP0965071, considering the bending of the face 6 of the free space 12, the outer face of the bottom 4 of the sleeve 1 could be flat or very slightly curved, without canceling the rotation effect, but reducing it however. On the other hand, this measurement makes it possible to reduce the height of the socket 4 and consequently the distance of the free space 12 between the two windows 5, 6 and therefore that of the watch.

To avoid any wear subsequent to the displacement of the sleeves 1 in the space 12 between the two windows 5, 6, the inner surfaces of the windows 5 and 6 must be smooth and made of a material with a hardness that can not be scratched.

As regards the sockets 1 in which the diamonds 2 are mounted, they are preferably made of a precious metal, for example gold, generally used in jewelry for mounting diamonds. However, other metals such as stainless steel could be used, for example.

In the case where, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the two walls 5, 6 delimiting a space 12 are formed by windows, these will preferably be sapphire or a material having a hardness comparable to that of the sapphire. If the inner ice, or a part thereof, does not cover the dial, but for example is limited to an annular zone disposed around the dial, only one face must be transparent. In this case, instead of a sapphire crystal, the non-transparent wall can be made of another suitable material, for example a stone or ceramic.

In the example illustrated in Figure 9, only the upper face of the window 5 is curved while in a variant the two faces of the outer mirror 5 are parallel and curved. The fact of having in particular a curved outer glaze gives it greater strength, so that its thickness can be reduced, allowing a corresponding thickness gain of the article of jewelry, which has a particular importance for watches. Moreover, a curved mirror also gives a magnifying effect. The optional bending of the walls, according to EP0965071, to obtain an effect on the speed of rotation of the mobile decorative elements is very small. Tests have shown that preferred values are between 0.5 and 1 mm of deflection for a 20 mm diameter ice. A larger arrow is possible, but with a much larger arrow, the movement of diamonds tends to be limited to the peripheral zone of the space 12 delimited by the two walls 5, 6.

In addition, the walls may for example have a spherical bending or barrel bending (in a single axis).

The invention is obviously not limited to round ice. It can also be applied to ice-creams of polygonal shape, for example rectangular or square.

The movement of the movable decorative elements in the space delimited by the two walls 5, 6 is purely random. The higher the speed of rotation, the slower the translation movement and vice versa. The movable decorative elements can rotate in one direction or the other depending on the direction of the torque created to initiate the movement of these decorative elements. As this direction is quite random, when the space 12 between the two walls 5, 6 contains several movable decorative elements, they can rotate in different directions even longer, at different speeds appearing even faster and / or longer thanks to points or contact areas different ones separated from each other, which creates an even more surprising and spectacular effect.

In a variant not shown, the two walls 5, 6 extend on two edges which define an annular path for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or the decorative elements. For example, the movable elements may occupy a peripheral annular area around a dial.

According to another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 10, a movable decorative element can be obtained from a sleeve 1 of cylindrical shape. This sleeve 1 of cylindrical shape is then machined to present lateral openings 9. In this case, the contact points are replaced by zones or segments separated from each other and having a closed bottom 4 whose outer face is curved to favor the rotation of the decorative element when said curved outer face is applied against the inner face of one of said walls, and an outer open face 7 opposite the bottom 4 which is flush with respect to the stone 2 to form segments of a circle forming support walls against the other of said walls 5, 6 when the decorative element is disposed between the two walls. This solution has the advantage of being relatively easy to produce.

As mentioned above, the invention is not limited to watches, but is applicable to all kinds of articles including jewelery such as rings and pendants, as well as glasses, even pens or other instruments of writing. One could also consider articles with decorative decorative elements according to the invention, associated with luxury leather goods, such as handbags. In general, these movable decorative elements can be applied to any utility article to associate an original aesthetic effect. In particular, it is possible to include several decorative elements of different types in an article to produce a unique aesthetic effect.

Claims

1. A movable decorative element intended to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls (5, 6) whose internal faces are parallel to one another, at least one of which is transparent, the decorative element comprising a precious or semi-precious stone (2) mounted in a socket (1) comprising:

- A closed bottom (4) whose outer face (7) is curved to promote the rotation of the decorative element when the outer face (7) curved is applied against the inner face of one of said walls, and an outer face open (7) opposed to the bottom (4) which is flush or projecting from the stone (2) to form a bearing surface against the other of said walls (5, 6) when the decorative element is arranged between the two walls, characterized in that the precious or semi-precious stone (2) is held in its socket (1) by a plurality of arms (3) which extend above a body (8) of the bushing (1) and which crimp the stone (2), these arms (3) leaving between them and above the body (8) of the sleeve (1) lateral openings (9) revealing the flanks of the stone (2) between the arms (3), and said bearing surface is constituted by the free ends of said arms (3) in the form of separate contact zones spaced from each other around the periphery of the outer face (7) of the open sleeve (1).

2. Decorative element according to claim 1, wherein said arms (3) are made in one piece with the sleeve (1) and closed bottom.

3. Decorative element according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said arms (3) and said openings (9) side are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the sleeve (1).

4. Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, the sleeve (1) comprises at least three arms (3).

5. Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said arms (3) are claws with rounded section.

6. Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (1) comprises a ring (11) parallel to the bottom (4) closed, said arms (3) extending from the bottom (4) and above this ring (1 1).

Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lateral openings (9) occupy at least 40% or 60% of the periphery of the sleeve (1), preferably at least 75% or even 90% of the periphery. of the socket (1).

8. Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, the sleeve (1) is precious metal.

9. Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stone (2) is a gemstone, including a diamond.

10. Decorative element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stone (2) precious or semi-precious and the sleeve (1) have a corresponding shape, among others generally cylindrical, oval, square, triangle or asymmetric.

11. Decorative article comprising at least one decorative element according to any of the preceding claims mounted free in rotation and in translation between two walls (5, 6) whose inner faces are parallel to each other and at least one is transparent.

12. Decorative article according to claim 1 1, wherein the clearance between the height of the sleeve (1) and the opposite inner faces of the walls (5, 6) is 0.05 to 0.3mm and preferably 0.05 to 0.1 mm.

13. Decorative article according to claims 1 1 or 12, wherein the parallel inner faces of the walls (5, 6) are flat.

14. Decorative article according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, wherein the parallel inner faces of the walls (5, 6) are curved.

15. Decorative article according to one of claims 1 1 to 14, wherein the walls (5, 6) are sapphire or a material having a hardness comparable to that of sapphire.

16. Decorative article according to one of claims 1 1 to 15, wherein the two walls (5, 6) are transparent.

17. Article decorative according to one of claims 1 1 to 16, wherein the two walls (5, 6) extend on a peripheral edge which defines a free space for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or several decorative elements.

18. Decorative article according to one of claims 1 1 to 17, wherein the two walls (5, 6) extend on two edges which define an annular path for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or decorative elements.

19. Decorative article according to one of claims 1 1 to 18, in the form of a watch; a writing instrument; a jewel; a spectacle frame; or an article of leather goods.

20. Modification of the decorative article according to one of claims 1 1 to 19, wherein the outer face of the bottom (4) of the sleeve (1) is flat and is applied against the domed inner face of one of said walls. (6).