Dial for a watch

Abstract

A dial for a watch, in particular a wristwatch, comprises a disk (1) having a surface on which information (3, 4, 5) is arranged. Some of the information (5) is transparent, said transparent information (5) being visible or at least nearly invisible according to the viewing angle. The dial of the invention has a simple and yet sophisticated look. Furthermore, the dial allows a watchmaker's name to be shown without same significantly impacting the look.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a clock face, in particular for a wristwatch, and to a clock. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Much time and attention is devoted to the decoration of watch dials. The appearance of the dial is often a decisive factor in the purchase decision. Some watches offer a wealth of information beyond simply telling the time. Other dials are elaborately decorated or feature a rather unusual or striking design. The logo or company name of the watch manufacturer is usually displayed on the dial.

[0003] Dial designs are subject to fashion trends, and regular innovations are in demand on the market.

[0004] CH 548 367 A4 discloses a dial with a luminescent symbol covered by a transparent block. EP 3 709 102 A1 describes a dial with a recess, a coating, and a transparent top layer. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to create a dial for a watch, in particular for a wristwatch, which has the simplest possible yet elegant appearance.

[0006] This problem is solved by a dial with the features of claim 1 and a clock with the features of claim 10.

[0007] The dial according to the invention for a watch, in particular for a wristwatch, comprises a plate with a surface on which information is applied. According to the invention, part of the information is transparent, wherein this part of the information is visible or at least approximately invisible depending on the viewing angle.

[0008] This allows for a simple dial design. At first glance, the dial displays little to no information. However, if the watch's position changes, for example, by rotating the wrist, the transparently displayed information becomes visible from the appropriate viewing angle.

[0009] From a first viewing angle, also called the viewing angle, the transparent information is therefore not visible or barely visible; from a different second viewing angle, the transparent information is recognizable. Depending on the type and / or size of the applied information, the complete transparent information may be recognizable from a single viewing angle, or the watch may need to be moved to recognize the complete information, thus slightly changing the viewing angle.

[0010] Preferably, the plate is opaque or translucent, i.e., semi-transparent, or dark at least below this transparent information. This allows at least some of the light incident on the plate to be reflected, and thanks to refraction, the transparent information becomes visible at suitable angles of incidence and reflection.

[0011] Preferably, the surface of the plate on which the transparent part of the information is displayed has a glossy finish. This increases the reflected proportion of the incident light, and the transparently displayed information becomes more easily recognizable at a suitable angle of reflection.

[0012] Preferably, the transparent portion of the information includes the manufacturer's name and / or logo. This allows the manufacturer's name to be recognized even when the watch is worn on the wrist, without it being constantly prominently displayed. This sets a new trend and enhances the watch's appearance. Furthermore, the company name does not detract from the overall design of the dial.

[0013] In preferred embodiments, the plate, with the exception of a first through-hole for the hands and any further through-holes for index displays and / or markings, forms a completely closed surface without any additional through-holes. This means the plate has no windows through which the interior of the clock is visible or into which rotating discs or other display elements are mounted. The appearance can thus be kept simple. The plate itself preferably also has no permanently visible imprints or display elements, with the exception of any index markings that indicate the hours or possibly only every three hours.

[0014] In other embodiments, further recesses are present, for example as a receptacle or viewing window for a tourbillon.

[0015] Preferably, the plate has a base body made of a metal and / or an alloy, preferably brass. This base body can be machined and finished in known ways, for example, by grinding, rhodium plating, lacquering, and printing. For example, dial feet can be welded on, holes drilled, and / or the outer diameter stamped.

[0016] In preferred embodiments, the transparent portion of the information is applied as the top layer to this area of ​​the plate. This layer can be flush with the adjacent surface of the plate or raised above it. Preferably, the transparent portion of the information rises above adjacent parts of the plate. Because it rises above its surroundings in this area, or because it forms the top layer, light can enter and be reflected unimpeded by lateral protrusions, so that the normally invisible part of the information is visible at a suitable viewing angle.

[0017] The transparent information can be applied to the plate in various ways. For example, the plate can be printed with the information, fitted with holographic elements, or enhanced with other types of recessed or raised physical elements. The information is preferably 3D printed or otherwise raised. Other methods of information application are also possible.

[0018] The clock according to the invention has a dial comprising a plate with a surface on which information is applied. According to the invention, a portion of the information is transparent, and this portion is visible or at least nearly invisible depending on the viewing angle. The clock has a transparent dial cover that covers the dial, wherein, when viewing the dial in a first direction towards the surface of the plate, the transparent portion of the information remains transparent and not or hardly recognizable, and wherein, when viewing the dial in a second direction towards the surface of the plate, which differs from the first direction, the transparent portion of the information becomes recognizable.

[0019] Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only for illustration and are not to be interpreted restrictively. The drawings show: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a dial according to the invention in a first embodiment, from a first viewing angle; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the dial according to Figure 1 , from a second viewing angle; Figure 3 a photographic representation of the dial according to the invention in a first perspective; Figure 4 a photographic representation of the dial according to Figure 3 in a second perspective; Figure 5 a perspective view of a dial according to a second embodiment, in a first viewing angle and Figure 6 a perspective view of the dial according to Figure 5 , from a second perspective. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0021] In the Figures 1 and 2 A preferred first embodiment of the dial according to the invention is shown. Figures 3 and 4 show photos of this dial.

[0022] This dial is particularly suitable for use on a wristwatch.

[0023] The dial according to the invention comprises a plate 1. Depending on the embodiment, the plate 1 is either planar or has a planar surface. Depending on the embodiment, it has a raised rim 10, as shown here. The rim and the remaining part of the plate, i.e., the base body, can be formed in one piece, or the rim can be attached to the plate.

[0024] The plate 1 is preferably made of a metal and / or an alloy, more preferably of brass. Other materials can also be used. The plate 1 has a first through-opening 2 for connecting hands to a clockwork mechanism. The hands are not shown here. They can be formed in a known manner. Optionally, hour, minute, and second hands and / or other hands can be provided.

[0025] Preferably, indices 3 indicating the hours and / or minutes are distributed around the circumference of the plate 1. Their design is arbitrary and well known in the prior art. In this example, the indices are in the form of bars. Depending on the embodiment, the indices 3 are attached to the plate 1, or the plate 1 has recesses or through-holes into which the indices 3 are inserted.

[0026] Additional elements can also be attached to or within the dial. In this example, the raised rim 10 is marked with markings 4, which, as physical elements or components, are also inserted into recesses or attached to the rim in some other way.

[0027] Plate 1 in this example is circular. Other cross-sectional shapes are also possible, for example elliptical, oval, or rectangular.

[0028] Plate 1 has a surface that is visible when the watch is worn. This surface is preferably polished, for example, with a sunburst finish. Preferably, plate 1, or preferably at least its surface, is rhodium-plated. Preferably, the surface of plate 1 has a glossy finish. Preferably, it is colored, for example, lacquered. Preferably, more than one lacquer layer is present. The surface is preferably dark and preferably opaque. Preferably, all of these properties are present.

[0029] Depending on the embodiment, the surface of plate 1 has a uniform color. Preferably, it is iridescent.

[0030] In this example, indices 3 and markings 4 represent information that is always visible. That is, they are recognizable from every viewing angle of the dial's surface. In the representation according to the Figure 1 and3 , which show a first viewpoint, only this information is visible on the dial.

[0031] However, the dial according to the invention also has at least one piece of information on its surface that is not visible at all times. This information is recognizable from certain viewing angles in the form of a transparent information 5 on the surface. This is shown in the Figures 2 and 4 depicted.

[0032] In this example, this transparent information is the company logo with the company name. Other types of information, such as a dedication or a motto, can be displayed in the same way.

[0033] In Figure 2The lettering appears to have a black outline. This is solely due to the visual representation. The lettering is applied with a transparent material and therefore does not have a black outline. Preferably, it is printed. Printing methods using colored, black, or white prints for such dials are known in the prior art.

[0034] In Figure 4 It is evident that the lettering becomes visible through light reflection and refraction, although in this example it is still not entirely recognizable from a single viewing angle. Rather, the dial must be moved to see the entire lettering, or the entire lettering is only visible within an extremely narrow angle range.

[0035] Preferably, the first viewing angle is formed by a relatively large angular range, and the second viewing angle is formed by a relatively small angular range. The angular ranges can be continuous regions and / or comprise individual, specific angles.

[0036] In the Figures 5 and 6 A second embodiment is shown. Here, the dial has a recess 6 for a tourbillon. Again, in this example, the company logo is transparent, so that it is only visible from certain viewing angles. In the position according to Figure 5 It is not recognizable and remains invisible, in the position according to Figure 6It is recognizable. Here too, the black outline of the lettering is due to the pictorial representation and is not actually present. Rather, here too, the upward-facing surface of the clock face is preferably opaque or only partially translucent, preferably dark and / or preferably glossy and / or reflective.

[0037] A transparent dial cover can be fitted over these dials. This cover can be of any design and in any known manner, provided it allows the two aforementioned viewing angles.

[0038] The dial according to the invention can be designed with a simple yet elegant appearance. In particular, it makes it possible to display a manufacturer's name without it significantly influencing the overall appearance. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0039] 1 plate 4 mark 10 edge 5 transparent information 2 first implementation opening 6 Exclusion 3 index

Claims

1. Dial for a watch, in particular for a wristwatch, wherein the dial has a plate (1) with a surface, with information (3, 4, 5) being provided on the surface, characterized in that some of the information (5) is transparent, and in that this portion of the information (5) is visible or at least approximately invisible depending on the viewing angle.

2. Dial as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate (1) is opaque or translucent or dark at least below said transparent information (5).

3. Dial as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein a surface of the plate (1), on which the transparent portion of the information (5) is presented, is shiny.

4. Dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transparent portion of the information (5) comprises a manufacturer's name and / or a manufacturer's logo.

5. Dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, with the exception of a first passage opening (2) for hands and further passage openings (3, 4), present if need be, for index displays and / or markings, the plate (1) forms a continuously closed face without further passage openings.

6. Dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plate (1) is made of metal and / or an alloy, preferably of brass.

7. Dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the transparent portion of the information (5) is applied to this region of the plate (1) as an uppermost layer.

8. Dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transparent portion of the information (5) is elevated above adjacent portions of the plate (1).

9. Dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the transparent portion of the information (5) is printed onto the plate (1).

10. Watch, in particular wristwatch, having a dial as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the watch has a transparent dial covering which covers the dial, wherein, when the dial is viewed in a first direction with respect to the surface of the plate, the transparent portion of the information is transparent and cannot or can scarcely be seen, and wherein, when the dial is viewed in a second direction, differing from the first direction, with respect to the surface of the plate, the transparent portion of the information allows the transparent portion of the information to be seen.

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