Bracelet for a portable item such as a timepiece, equipped with a magnification device

Abstract

To provide a bracelet with a magnifying device capable of observing a small object.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a bracelet 10 for a portable object 1 including a first strand 11 and a second strand 12, each of the strands 11, 12 including a first end able to be attached to a case 2 of the portable object 1, wherein the first strand 11 includes a first optical device 21 having a first diameter L1; the second strand 12 includes a second optical device 22 having a second diameter L2, smaller than the first diameter L1 of the first optical device 21, the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22 being configured so that the superposition of the first optical device 21 and of the second optical device 22, by the superposition of the first strand 11 and of the second strand, forms a microscope having an eyepiece constituted by the first optical device 21 and an objective constituted by the second optical device 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bracelet intended to be fastened to the case of a portable item such as a timepiece, for example the case of a portable timepiece (eg wristwatch, pocket watch).

[0002] The invention particularly relates to a bracelet equipped with a magnification device that allows a user to observe components or details of a wearable or other item, such as a timepiece. [Background technology]

[0003] Bracelets and straps incorporating magnifying devices such as magnifying glasses or Fresnel lenses are known. For example, US Patent US5601222 describes a portable watch strap incorporating a magnifying strip mounted on one of the strands of the strap. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, such magnification devices have a limited magnification and are not suitable for observing very small details such as a watch movement attached to a timepiece.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for improvements to such magnification devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In this regard, the present invention proposes a bracelet for a portable item, the bracelet comprising a first strand and a second strand, each of said strands having a first end that can be attached to the case of the portable item, said first strand comprising a first optical device having a first diameter, said second strand comprising a second optical device having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of said first optical device, said first optical device and said second optical device being arranged such that the overlapping of said first and second strands forms a microscope comprising an eyepiece constituted by said first optical device and an objective constituted by said second optical device.

[0007] In addition to the features described in the previous paragraph, the bracelet according to the invention may have one or more of the following additional features, considered individually or in any technically possible combination: said first optical device is a first optical lens; said second optical device is a second optical lens; The focal length f1 of the first optical lens of the first optical device is 100 mm and the focal length f2 of the second optical lens of the second optical device is 27 mm. the first optical device and / or the second optical device are made of a synthetic, polymeric or mineral material, preferably glass or sapphire glass; - said first optical device is mounted at least partly, preferably completely, within the thickness of said first strand; - said second optical device is mounted at least partly, preferably completely, within the thickness of said second strands; - the bracelet comprises at least one spacer configured to ensure that there is a gap between the first optical device and the second optical device when the first strand and the second strand of the bracelet overlap. - said bracelet has a loop, said at least one spacer being formed by said loop; - said bracelet comprises two spacers; - The bracelet has a first ring and a second ring that form the two spacers, and the first ring and the second ring have dimensions configured to ensure that there is a gap between the first optical device and the second optical device when the first strand and the second strand overlap. The two rings are adjustable in position to form a protective element for covering the first optical device or the second optical device to protect the optical device, especially when the portable item is worn. - said bracelet comprises means for ensuring concentric overlap of said first optical device and said second optical device; - the bracelet includes a fastening means for holding the overlapping first and second strands in place; - said bracelet is made of leather, metallic material, polymer material, synthetic material, ceramic material, natural material, bio-based material or a combination of at least two of these materials;

[0008] The invention further relates to a timepiece comprising a case incorporating a movement for a watch and a bracelet according to the invention attached to said case.

[0009] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a portable item 1 according to the present invention as viewed from above. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic side view of the portable item 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In all figures, common elements are assigned the same reference numerals unless otherwise stated.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable item 1 according to the present invention as seen from above.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the portable item 1 shown in FIG.

[0014] The portable item 1 is here in the form of a timepiece, such as a wristwatch, intended to be worn on the wrist of a user, although it will be understood that the portable item 1 can also be any other portable item intended to be worn on the wrist, such as via a bracelet.

[0015] The portable item 1 comprises a case 2 designed to receive, for example, a timepiece movement (not shown here for the sake of clarity), which carries and drives means for displaying information, for example the current time.

[0016] The portable item 1 also comprises a flexible or articulated bracelet 10, the two ends of which are intended to be attached, e.g. detachably, to the middle part of the case 2 via an ad hoc fastening system which will not be described in detail here.

[0017] The bracelet 10 comprises a first strand 11 having a thickness e1 and a second strand 12 having a thickness e2, each of which has one end attached to the case 2.

[0018] The bracelet 10 typically comprises a clasp 15, such as a pin buckle, a single or double folding clasp, a clip, a slide, a scratch or an elastic clasp, to which the other two ends of the strands 11, 12 of the bracelet 10 are attached, allowing the portable item 1 to be worn on the wrist.

[0019] The first strand 11 comprises a first optical device 21 mounted at least partially within a thickness e1 of the first strand 11. The first optical device 21 is, for example, an optical lens.

[0020] The first optical device 21 is characterized by a first diameter L1 and a first focal length f1.

[0021] The second strand 12 comprises a second optical device 22 mounted at least partially within a thickness e2 of the second strand 12. The second optical device 22 is, for example, an optical lens.

[0022] The second optical device 22 is characterized by a second diameter L2 and a second focal length f2.

[0023] The diameter L 1 of the first optical device 21 is larger than the diameter L 2 of the second optical device 22 .

[0024] For example, the first optical device 21 is a plano-convex optical lens.

[0025] For example, the first optical device 21 is an optical lens having a diameter L1 of 15 mm, a focal length f1 of 60 mm, and a center thickness of 2 mm.

[0026] For example, the second optical device 22 is a plano-convex optical lens.

[0027] For example, the second optical device 22 is an optical lens with a diameter L2 of 9 mm, a focal length f2 of 13.5 mm, and a center thickness of 2 mm.

[0028] The first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22 are overlapping, and the bracelet 10 is configured to allow the first strand 11 and the second strand 12 to overlap, thereby creating a portable microscope-type magnifying device consisting of an eyepiece formed by the first optical device 21 and an objective formed by the second optical device 22.

[0029] By combining the optical properties of the above optical devices 21, 22 and superimposing them with the first optical device 21 as eyepiece and the second optical device 22 as object at a distance d of 1.5 mm, a microscope-type magnifying device is obtained with a focal length of the order of 11 mm, which corresponds to a magnification of the order of ×22.

[0030] Of course, the overlapping described in the previous paragraph is possible when the user is not wearing the article on their wrist.

[0031] To form the microscope of the portable bracelet 10, a first strand 11 comprising a first optical device 21 constituting the eyepiece of the microscope is placed on a second strand 12 comprising a second optical device 22 constituting the objective of the microscope.

[0032] Therefore, to form a portable microscope, as shown in FIG. 2, the first strand 11 is intended to be on the user side and the second strand 12 is intended to be on the observed object A side.

[0033] The first optical device 21 and / or the second optical device 22 are made of synthetic, polymeric or mineral materials.

[0034] Preferably, the first optical device 21 and / or the second optical device 22 are made of glass or sapphire glass.

[0035] Preferably, the first optical device 21 is mounted entirely within the thickness e1 of the first strand 11. Therefore, the thickness e1 of the first strand 11 is greater than the thickness of the first optical device 21.

[0036] For example, the first optical device 21 is flush with at least the upper outer surface 11.1 or the lower outer surface 11.2 of the first strand 11.

[0037] For example, the first optical device 21 may protrude from the upper outer surface 11.1 of the first strand 11, but to prevent discomfort when carrying the portable item 1, any part of the first optical device 21 should be avoided from protruding from the lower outer surface 11.2.

[0038] Preferably, the second optical device 22 is mounted entirely within the thickness e2 of the second strand 12. Thus, the thickness e2 of the second strand 11 is greater than the thickness of the second optical device 21.

[0039] For example, the second optical device 22 is flush with at least one of the upper outer surface 12.1 or the lower outer surface 12.2 of the second strand 12.

[0040] For example, the second optical device 22 may protrude from the upper outer surface 12.1 of the second strand 12, but to prevent discomfort when carrying the portable item 1, any part of the second optical device 22 should be avoided from protruding from the lower outer surface 12.2.

[0041] In this application, the upper exterior surface is considered to be the surface of the bracelet 10 that is visible to the user, and the lower exterior surface is considered to be the surface of the bracelet that is at least partially in contact with the wearer's skin.

[0042] The bracelet 10 has at least one spacer that provides a separation distance between the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22 when the first strand 11 and the second strand 12 of the bracelet 10 overlap, thereby ensuring that there is the correct gap d depending on the properties of the optical devices 21, 22.

[0043] Preferably, there are two spacers in the bracelet 10. The spacers are, for example, arranged on either side of the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22.

[0044] Typically, the bracelet 10 has two hoops 13, 14 attached to the second strand 12 of the bracelet 10.

[0045] For example, first ring 14 is fixed to second strand 12, and second ring 13 is movable, i.e., can move along second strand 12, and is therefore adjustable to an appropriate position on bracelet 10.

[0046] In one variation, the first ring 14 and the second ring 13 are movable, i.e., they can move along the second strand 12, and thus the position of the first ring 14 and the second ring 13 on the bracelet 10 can be adjusted.

[0047] Naturally, the loops 13, 14 can be attached to the first strand 11 of the bracelet 10, and each strand 11, 12 of the bracelet 10 can carry a loop 13, 14.

[0048] The fact that the rings 13, 14 are movable means that they can be positioned opposite the optical devices 21, 22 to form a protective element over the optical devices 21, 22 when the user wears the portable item 1 on their wrist.

[0049] Preferably, when the first ring 14 is fixed, the second ring 13 is movable and has a width equal to or greater than the diameter L1 of the first optical device 21 so as to completely cover the first optical device 21.

[0050] For example, the rings 13, 14 form spacers for the bracelet 10 and are configured to ensure that there is a gap (i.e., separation distance) d between the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22. In this way, the rings 13, 14 have the necessary dimensions to ensure that there is the required gap d according to the optical devices 21, 22 used.

[0051] The bracelet 10 may comprise means for ensuring the concentric overlap of the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22 .

[0052] The bracelet 10 may also include a coupling element that keeps the two strands 11, 12 overlapping and in contact with each other for ease of viewing by the user, thereby eliminating the need for the user to maintain the two strands 11, 12 in position. The coupling element may be, for example, a reversible mechanical or magnetic coupling element.

[0053] For example, but not limited to, pressure-type mechanical coupling elements, or magnetic and ferromagnetic elements for magnetic coupling.

[0054] For example, rings 13, 14 may each incorporate ferromagnetic materials 13.5, 14.5 within the thickness of their material, and the strand of bracelet 10 that does not carry rings 13, 14 (first strand 11 in this example) may incorporate two magnets 17, 18 within its thickness, which are configured to couple with ferromagnetic materials 13.5, 14.5 by magnetic attraction.

[0055] The bracelet 10 can be made from leather, metal, synthetic material, polymeric material, ceramic material, natural material, bio-derived material, or a combination of at least two of these materials.

[0056] Depending on the material used to manufacture the bracelet 10, the optical devices 21, 22 can be inserted into cutouts or housings formed for this purpose and fixed to such cutouts or housings by gluing, welding, etc.

[0057] Additionally, the optical devices 21, 22 can be attached to the strands 11, 12 of the bracelet 10 by overmolding. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1. Portable items 2 cases 10 Bracelets 11 First Strand 12 Second Strand 13 The First Ring 13.5, 14.5, 17, 18 Coupling means 14 The Second Ring 21 First Optical Device 22 Second Optical Device

Claims

1. A bracelet (10) for a portable item (1), comprising: A first strand (11) and a second strand (12), Each of the strands (11, 12) has a first end that can be attached to a case (2) of the portable item (1); The first strand (11) comprises a first optical device (21) having a first diameter (L1); the second strand (12) comprises a second optical device (22) having a second diameter (L2) smaller than the first diameter (L1) of the first optical device (21); The first optical device (21) and the second optical device (22) are overlapped by bringing the first strand (11) and the second strand (22) close to each other, and the overlapping of the first optical device (21) and the second optical device (22) forms a microscope having an eyepiece constituted by the first optical device (21) and an objective constituted by the second optical device (22). A bracelet (10) characterized by:

2. The first optical device (21) is a first optical lens. A bracelet (10) according to claim 1 .

3. The second optical device (22) is a second optical lens. A bracelet (10) according to claim 1 .

4. The first optical device (21) and / or the second optical device (22) are made of a synthetic, polymeric or mineral material. A bracelet (10) according to claim 1 .

5. The first optical device (21) is mounted at least partially within the thickness (e1) of the first strand (11). A bracelet (10) according to claim 1 .

6. The second optical device (22) is mounted at least partially within the thickness (e2) of the second strand (12). A bracelet (10) according to claim 1 .

7. The bracelet (10) comprises at least one spacer (13, 14) configured to ensure that there is a gap (d) between the first optical device (21) and the second optical device (22) when the first strand (11) and the second strand of the bracelet (10) overlap. A bracelet (10) according to claim 1 .

8. The bracelet (10) has rings (13, 14), The at least one spacer is formed by the ring. A bracelet (10) according to claim 7.

9. The bracelet (10) comprises two spacers (13, 14) A bracelet (10) according to claim 7.

10. The bracelet (10) has a first ring (13) and a second ring (14) that form the two spacers; The first ring (13) and the second ring (14) have dimensions configured to ensure that there is a gap (d) between the first optical device (21) and the second optical device (22) when the first strand (11) and the second strand (12) overlap. A bracelet (10) according to claim 9.

11. The two rings (13, 14) are adjustable in position to form an element for covering the first optical device (21) or the second optical device (22) to protect the optical devices (21, 22). A bracelet (10) according to claim 10.

12. The bracelet (10) comprises means for ensuring the concentric overlap of the first optical device (21) and the second optical device (22). A bracelet (10) according to claim 11.

13. The bracelet (10) comprises connecting means (13.5, 14.5, 17, 18) for holding the overlapping first strand (11) and second strand (12) in place. A bracelet (10) according to claim 12.

14. Said bracelet (10) is made of leather, metallic material, polymer material, synthetic material, ceramic material, natural material, bio-based material or a combination of at least two of these materials. A bracelet (10) according to claim 13.

15. A timepiece comprising a case (2) incorporating a movement for a portable watch and the bracelet according to claim 1 attached to the case (2). A wearable article (1) characterized by:

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