Watch with humidity adjusting device arranged in watchcase

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch (1) comprising a watch case (2) comprising a humidity adjusting device (3) located inside the watch (2). According to the invention, the humidity regulating device (3) is in the form of a film made of at least one thermoplastic polymer filled with a superabsorbent polymer and a hygroscopic natural fiber, the film being configured such that the volume changes when water vapour is present inside the case (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch comprising a watch case comprising a humidity regulating device inside the watch. BACKGROUND

[0002] The water resistance of a watch is measured in bars (bar is a unit of pressure, 1 bar is equivalent to 1 atmosphere (atm)). The water resistance rating of a watch is generally expressed in meters (m). A watch that is said to be water resistant is intended to meet the needs of everyday use and should guarantee water resistance during activities such as swimming, or even just showering.

[0003] To guarantee water resistance, a watch is generally equipped with a set of seals that are placed at the junctions of the components of the watch, such as the watch glass, the bezel and the back cover, as well as the moving elements such as the crown and the pushers. Over time and with use, the mechanical properties of the seals can change, which can result in a possible decrease in the water resistance of the watch. At this point, the watch can be more prone to the penetration of water or water vapor. This can result in condensation on the inner surface of the watch glass, and more seriously, oxidation of certain metal components, or degradation of certain polymer components. It is therefore necessary to be able to regularly monitor the relative humidity inside the watch without having to open the watch case, since opening the watch case generally entails replacing the seals and requires the intervention of a watchmaker, which is costly. Indeed, the presence of excess water vapor in the watch can indicate that one or more seals need to be replaced in the short or medium term.

[0004] To meet this need, certain watches comprise a measuring device for measuring the relative humidity inside the watch. This measuring device is in the form of an electronic module that is capable of measuring and recording the values of various environmental parameters, including the relative humidity. Since this electronic module is small in size, it can be arranged inside the watch case of the watch and measures the relative humidity inside the watch case by means of a dedicated sensor. The measured value of the relative humidity can then be transmitted wirelessly to a receiving base of the watch, generally by infrared or radio frequency. For example, the infrared signal emitted by the electronic module passes through the transparent part of the watch case of the watch, which is generally the watch glass, and is received by an infrared sensor of the receiving base. The user of the watch can then view the measured value of the relative humidity by means of a computer connected to the receiving base and equipped with dedicated software, or by means of a smartphone.

[0005] However, one drawback of this electronic measuring device is that it requires a battery to power the various electronic components, which makes it unsuitable in particular for mechanical watches. Furthermore, for electronic watches, this electronic measuring device can affect the autonomy, or require the use of a battery with a greater capacity, which increases the size of the watch.

[0006] Another drawback is that this device is relatively bulky and visible inside the watch. In addition, this electronic measuring device is relatively expensive, which increases the manufacturing cost of the watch. SUMMARY

[0007] One of the aims of the present application is to overcome the various drawbacks of these known technologies.

[0008] More specifically, one aim of the present application is to provide a material suitable for making elastomeric components designed to be in direct or indirect contact with the skin for long periods of time, and to obtain an elastomer whose properties are able to improve comfort, while maintaining good colorability and resistance to aging (UV, sweat, aesthetics).

[0009] According to the present application, these aims, as well as others that will become clearer hereinafter, are achieved using a watch comprising a case comprising, inside the case, a humidity regulating device, characterized in that the humidity regulating device is in the form of a film / membrane made of at least one thermoplastic polymer, in which hygroscopic natural fibers are filled, said film being configured to change volume when water vapor is present inside the case.

[0010] According to other advantageous variants of the application:

[0011] - the thermoplastic polymer is a superabsorbent polymer;

[0012] - the natural fibers are chosen from: cellulose, industrial hemp fibers, ramie fibers, silk;

[0013] - the film comprises a water-chromic pigment;

[0014] - the film comprises a second thermoplastic polymer;

[0015] - the film is in the form of a planar disc;

[0016] - only the part of the disc that is in the form of a ring is hygroscopic, thus forming a unique pattern;

[0017] - the film is applied above or below the dial of the watch;

[0018] - the film is applied to the back cover of the watch. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The use, advantages and characteristics of the watch provided with a humidity regulating device inside the case according to the present application will become clearer in the following description, made with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0020] - Figure 1 a top view of a dial equipped with a humidity regulating device according to the present application is shown, and

[0021] - Figure 2 a watch equipped with a humidity regulating device according to the present application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Figure 1A measuring device for measuring the relative humidity inside the watch 2 is shown. In the present invention, "relative humidity" means "the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in the air to the saturated water vapor pressure (or water vapor tension) at the same temperature". In other words, measuring the relative humidity corresponds to calculating the ratio between the water vapor content in the air and its maximum water vapor content under the same temperature conditions.

[0023] The watch 1 has a watch case 2. The watch case 2 comprises a measuring device 3 for measuring the relative humidity inside the watch 2. The watch case 2 also comprises a middle, a dial 10 and a time display device (the latter is not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity), the measuring device 3 being for example arranged on the dial 10 inside the watch case 2, as Figure 1 shown.

[0024] The measuring device 3 is a device in the form of a film made of at least one thermoplastic polymer filled with hygroscopic natural fibers and superabsorbent polymers / superabsorbent polymers, the film being configured to change volume when water vapor is present inside the watch case. The film can contain a second thermoplastic polymer, or even be composed of several thermoplastic polymers.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the superabsorbent polymers are chosen from the family of cross-linked polyacrylates / cross-linked polyacrylate salts.

[0026] The thermoplastic polymers used contain at least one additive, such as superabsorbent polymers consisting of sodium polyacrylate or potassium polyacrylate, the cationic concentration of which is greater than 0.05 g / kg. The cationic content is generally greater than 5% by weight of the polymer.

[0027] The thermoplastic polymers also contain natural fibers chosen from cellulose, industrial hemp fibers, ramie fibers and silk. Such fibers have good hygroscopic properties and thus can enhance the hygroscopic effect of the polymers.

[0028] The film is configured to change volume and / or color when water vapor is present inside the watch case. To this end, the film is for example deposited on the dial, as Figure 1 shown, and contains a hydrochromic pigment that has been added to the thermoplastic polymer.

[0029] The film is in the form of a flat disc, the center of which can be hollowed out to form a ring-shaped structure.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, only the part of the disc that is in the form of a ring is hygroscopic, thereby forming a unique pattern when the film absorbs moisture.

[0031] The film can be applied above or below the dial, depending on whether the hygroscopic film is visible or not. The film can also be applied to the back cover of the watch.

Claims

1. A watch (1), comprising a watch case (2), said watch case (2) including a humidity regulating device (3) located inside said watch (2), characterized in that, The humidity regulating device (3) is in the form of a membrane made of at least one thermoplastic polymer filled with a superabsorbent polymer and a moisture-absorbing natural fiber, the membrane being configured to change volume when water vapor is present inside the casing (2).

2. The table according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermoplastic polymer is a superabsorbent polymer.

3. The table according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The natural fibers are selected from: cellulose, industrial hemp fiber, ramie fiber, and silk.

4. The table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The membrane contains a water-induced color-changing pigment.

5. The table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The membrane contains a second thermoplastic polymer.

6. The table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The membrane is in the form of a planar disk.

7. The table according to claim 6, characterized in that, Only the annular portion of the disk is hygroscopic, thus forming a unique pattern.

8. The table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The membrane is applied above or below the dial (10) of the watch.

9. The table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The membrane is applied to the back cover of the table.

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