Dial for a watch

Abstract

A watch dial for a watch, in particular a wristwatch, having a plate (1) with a surface, wherein information (3, 4, 5) is applied on the surface. A part of the information (5) is transparent, wherein this part of the information (5) is visible or at least approximately invisible in relation to the viewing angle. The watch dial according to the invention has a simple but still valuable appearance. Furthermore it is possible to show a manufacturer's name without this noticeably influencing the appearance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dial for a watch, particularly a wristwatch, and to a watch. Background Technology

[0002] The decoration of a watch dial involves a significant amount of time and effort. The appearance of the dial often plays a decisive role in the purchase decision. Therefore, some watches offer a vast amount of information beyond simple timekeeping. Other dials are intricately decorated or feature unusual or distinctive designs. Often, the watch manufacturer's logo or company name is displayed on the dial.

[0003] The market demands that watch dials keep up with fashion trends and be regularly innovated. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to realize a dial for a watch, especially for a wristwatch, having a simple yet still expensive appearance.

[0005] The dial having the features of the present invention and the watch having the features of the present invention achieve the stated purpose.

[0006] The dial for a watch, particularly a wristwatch, according to the invention has a plate with a surface on which information is applied. According to the invention, a portion of the information is transparent, wherein this portion of the information is visible or at least approximately invisible depending on the viewing angle.

[0007] This allows for a simple dial design. Therefore, at first glance, the dial displays little to no information. However, if the spatial position of the dial changes, such as through hand rotation, the information will become transparently visible from a suitable viewing angle.

[0008] Therefore, in the first perspective, also referred to herein as the viewing angle, transparent information is invisible or almost invisible, while in a different second viewing angle, the transparent information is visible. Depending on the type and / or size of the applied information, the complete transparent information may be visible in a single perspective, or the table may need to be moved to identify the complete information, thus requiring a slight change in the perspective.

[0009] Preferably, the plate is opaque or semi-transparent, i.e., semi-transparent or dark, at least below the transparent information. Thus, at least a portion of the light incident on the plate is reflected, and due to light refraction, the transparent information is visible at a suitable angle of incidence or reflection.

[0010] Preferably, the surface of the transparent portion of the plate on which information is displayed is glossy. This increases the proportion of incident light reflected and allows the transparently displayed information to be better seen at a suitable angle of reflection.

[0011] Preferably, the transparent portion of the information includes the manufacturer's name and / or manufacturer's logo. Thus, the manufacturer's name is visible even when the watch is worn at the wrist joint, but it is never overtly visible. This sets a new trend, resulting in a more refined look for the watch. Furthermore, the company name does not intrusively affect the rest of the dial design.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the plate forms a continuously closed surface without any additional through-holes, except for a first through-hole for the pointer and other through-holes present if necessary for scale display and / or marking. Thus, the plate does not have windows through which the interior of the clock can be seen or in which a dial or other display element is housed. The appearance is thus kept simple. The plate itself preferably also does not have ever-visible markings or display elements, except for scale markings present if necessary, which are indicated by markings to show hours or may only be displayed once every three hours.

[0013] In other embodiments, additional notches exist, for example, as windows or receptacles for the tourbillon.

[0014] Preferably, the plate has a base body made of metal and / or alloy, preferably brass. Preferably, the plate forms the base body. The base body can be processed and refined in known ways, such as polishing, rhodium plating, painting, and printing. For example, the dial base can be welded and / or holes can be drilled and / or the outer diameter stamped.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the transparent portion of the information is applied as the uppermost layer to the area of ​​the plate. This layer may be flush with or protrude from the adjacent surface of the plate. Preferably, the transparent portion of the information protrudes from the adjacent portion of the plate. Because the transparent portion protrudes from its surroundings in the area, or because the transparent portion forms the uppermost layer, light can be incident and reflected without obstruction by lateral protrusions, making normally invisible portions of the information visible at a suitable viewing angle.

[0016] Transparent information can be applied to the board in various ways and methods. For example, the board can be printed accordingly, incorporating holographic elements or other types of recessed or raised solid elements. The information is preferably 3D printed or otherwise raised. Applying other types of information is also possible.

[0017] The watch according to the invention has a dial comprising a plate having a surface on which information is applied. According to the invention, a portion of the information is transparently configured, wherein this portion of the information is visible or at least approximately invisible depending on the viewing angle. The watch has a transparent dial cover that covers the dial, wherein when the dial is viewed in a first direction relative to the surface of the plate, the transparent portion of the information remains transparent and is not visible or almost invisible, and wherein when the dial is viewed in a second direction relative to the surface of the plate, different from the first direction, the transparent portion of the information becomes visible.

[0018] Other implementations are given in the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be limiting. The drawings show:

[0020] Figure 1 A perspective view of the dial according to the invention, based on a first embodiment, is shown from a first viewing angle;

[0021] Figure 2 The second observation angle shows the following: Figure 1 A 3D view of the dial;

[0022] Figure 3 A photograph of the dial according to the invention is shown from a first angle;

[0023] Figure 4 According to the second angle Figure 3 A photograph of the watch face;

[0024] Figure 5 A perspective view of the dial according to the invention, based on a second embodiment, is shown from a first viewing angle; and

[0025] Figure 6 The second observation angle shows the following: Figure 5 A 3D view of the dial. Detailed Implementation

[0026] exist Figure 1 and 2 The diagram shows a preferred first embodiment of the dial according to the present invention. Figure 3 and 4 A photograph of the dial is shown.

[0027] The dial is particularly suitable for use in watches.

[0028] The dial according to the invention has a plate 1. The plate 1 is configured with its surfaces parallel to each other or having a planar surface, according to an embodiment. According to an embodiment, the plate has a raised edge 10, as shown herein. The edge and the rest of the plate, i.e., the basic body, may be configured together as a single piece or the edge may be fixed to the plate.

[0029] Plate 1 is preferably made of metal and / or alloy, more preferably brass. Other materials may also be used. Plate 1 has a first through-hole 2 for connecting the pointer to the watch mechanism. The pointer is not shown here. The pointer can be configured in known ways and methods. Hour, minute, and second hands and / or other pointers may be selectively present.

[0030] The scale 3 is preferably displayed distributed around the circumference of the plate 1, the scale indicating hours and / or minutes. Its design is arbitrary and well-known in the art. In this example, the scale has a bar shape. According to embodiments, the scale 3 is fixed to the plate 1, or the plate 1 has a notch or through-hole into which the scale 3 is inserted.

[0031] Other elements may also be placed in or on the dial. In this example, the raised edge 10 is provided with a mark 4, which is also inserted into the notch or fixed to the edge in other ways and methods as a solid element or component.

[0032] In this example, plate 1 is circular. Other cross-sectional shapes are also possible, such as elliptical, oval, or angular.

[0033] Plate 1 has a surface visible when the watch is worn. This surface is preferably polished, for example, with a Sonnenschliff finish. Preferably, plate 1, at least its surface, is rhodium-plated. Preferably, the surface of plate 1 is glossy. Preferably, the plate is stained, for example, lacquered. Preferably, more than one lacquer layer is present. The surface is preferably dark-colored and preferably opaque. Preferably, all these characteristics are cumulative.

[0034] The surface of plate 1 has a uniform color according to the embodiment. Preferably, the surface is iridescent.

[0035] In this example, scale 3 and mark 4 are always visible. That is, the information is visible from any viewing angle on the dial surface. The first viewpoint is shown below. Figure 1 and 3 In the diagram, only this information is visible on the dial.

[0036] However, the dial according to the invention also has at least one piece of information on its surface that is not always visible. This information is visible on the surface from a specific viewing angle in the form of transparent information 5. This is in Figure 2 and 4 As shown in the image.

[0037] In this example, the transparent information is a company logo with the company name. Other types of information, such as inscriptions or proverbs, can, however, be displayed in the same way.

[0038] exist Figure 2 In the center, the characters are bordered in black. This is achieved solely through graphic display. The characters are applied using a transparent material, thus eliminating the black border. Preferably, the characters are printed. Printing methods with colored, black, or white markings for such dials are known in the prior art.

[0039] exist Figure 4 As can be seen, the characters become visible through light reflection and specular reflection, wherein the characters in this example are never fully visible from a single viewing angle. More precisely, the dial must be moved so that the entire character is visible, or the entire character is visible only within a very narrow angular range.

[0040] Preferably, the first perspective is formed over a relatively large angular range, while the second perspective is formed over a relatively small angular range. The angular range can be a continuous range and / or include a single specific angle.

[0041] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 The second embodiment is shown. The dial here has a notch 6 for the tourbillon. Also in this example, the company logo is made transparent, so that it is only visible from a specific viewing angle. According to... Figure 5 In its location, the company logo is not visible and remains invisible, according to Figure 6 It is visible in its position. Here, the black border of the characters is also due to the graphic display and does not exist in reality. More precisely, the dial's upward-facing surface is preferably opaque or only partially transparent, preferably dark and / or preferably glossy and / or specularly reflective.

[0042] A transparent dial cover can be mounted on these dials. This can be arbitrary and constructed in a known manner, as long as the dial cover allows for both of the aforementioned viewing angles.

[0043] The dial according to the invention can be configured to have a simple yet elegant appearance. In particular, it is possible to display the manufacturer's name without significantly affecting the appearance.

[0044] List of reference numerals

[0045] 1 board

[0046] 10 Edges

[0047] 2 First through opening

[0048] 3 scales

[0049] 4 marks

[0050] 5 Transparent Information

[0051] 6 notches

Claims

1. A dial for a watch, wherein the dial has a plate (1) with a surface, wherein information (3, 4, 5) is applied to the surface. Its features are, A portion of the information (5) is transparent and that portion of the information (5) is visible or at least approximately invisible in relation to the viewing angle.

2. The dial according to claim 1, The transparent portion of the information (5) is printed onto the plate (1).

3. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The surface of the plate (1) on which the transparent portion of the information (5) is displayed is glossy.

4. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The transparent portion of the information (5) includes the manufacturer's name and / or manufacturer's logo.

5. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, Except for the first through-hole (2) for the pointer and other through-holes (3, 4) for scale display and / or marking if necessary, the plate (1) forms a continuous closed surface without any additional through-holes.

6. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The plate (1) therein is made of metal and / or alloy.

7. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The transparent portion of the information (5) is applied as the uppermost layer of the plate (1).

8. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The transparent portion of the information (5) protrudes from the adjacent portion of the plate (1).

9. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The plate (1) is opaque or semi-transparent at least below the transparent information (5).

10. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The plate (1) is dark at least below the transparent information (5).

11. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The table mentioned is a wristwatch.

12. The dial according to claim 1 or 2, The plate (1) therein is made of brass.

13. A watch having a dial according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the watch has a transparent dial cover covering the dial, wherein when the dial is viewed in a first direction about the surface of the plate, transparent portions of the information remain transparent and invisible or nearly invisible, and wherein when the dial is viewed in a second direction about the surface of the plate, different from the first direction, the transparent portions of the information become visible.

14. The watch according to claim 13, wherein the watch is a wristwatch.

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