Clocks and dials

Abstract

To provide a timepiece and dial, which prevent reduction in appearance quality associated with use of a sheet-like decorative member.SOLUTION: A timepiece provided herein comprises a drive mechanism for driving indicator needles, and a dial comprised of a tabular base material and a sheet-like decorative member lying on a surface of the base material and comprising laminated multiple fibers, the dial being located between the indicator needles and the drive mechanism. The decorative member is provided with a colored area that covers a concealed portion of a front surface of the drive mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece and a dial. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known clock faces with various decorations. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a clock face in which Japanese paper is sandwiched between a translucent upper plate and a reflective plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6814054 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Washi paper is thin and has large gaps between the fibers, so with the dial described above, the internal structure of the watch can be seen through the washi paper, which could degrade the appearance quality.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a timepiece and dial that can prevent the deterioration of appearance quality caused by the use of sheet-like decorative members. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The timepiece of the present invention has a drive mechanism that drives the hands, a dial having a plate-shaped base material and a sheet-shaped decorative member made of a plurality of laminated fibers that is placed on the surface of the base material and is placed between the hands and the drive mechanism, and is characterized in that a colored area is placed on the decorative member so as to cover the concealed portion on the front of the drive mechanism.

[0007] Furthermore, in the timepiece of the present invention, it is preferable that the drive mechanism has a solar cell that is arranged opposite the dial and has a plurality of cell portions and a connection portion that connects the plurality of cell portions, and that a colored area is arranged on the decorative member so as to cover the connection portion as a concealed portion.

[0008] In addition, in the timepiece according to the present invention, it is preferable that a non-colored region is further disposed so as to cover the plurality of cell portions.

[0009] In addition, in the timepiece of the present invention, it is preferable that the drive mechanism further has a movement that drives the hands and an inner frame that holds the movement, and that a colored area is arranged on the decorative member so as to cover the inner frame as the concealed part.

[0010] In addition, in the timepiece according to the present invention, the decorative member is preferably Japanese paper that has been colored by being immersed in a liquid containing indigo as a dye.

[0011] The dial of the present invention is a dial of a watch having hands that indicate the time and a drive mechanism that drives the hands, and is characterized in that it has a plate-shaped base material and a sheet-shaped decorative member made of a plurality of laminated fibers that is placed on the surface of the base material, and is placed between the hands and the drive mechanism, and the decorative member has a colored area that is arranged so as to cover the concealed portion on the front of the drive mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The timepiece and dial according to the present invention make it possible to prevent deterioration in appearance quality caused by the use of sheet-like decorative members. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the timepiece 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the watch 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dial 13. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining examples of patterns that may be displayed on the dial 13. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining examples of patterns that may be displayed on the dial 13. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of a manufacturing method for the dial 13. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the surface of a decorative member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Please note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to the inventions set forth in the claims and their equivalents.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a timepiece 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the timepiece 1 taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1. The timepiece 1 is a solar-powered timepiece that operates using sunlight. The timepiece 1 has an exterior case 11, a crystal 12, a dial 13, hands 14, and a drive mechanism 15.

[0016] The exterior case 11 houses each of the components of the watch 1. The exterior case 11 has a cylindrical body 111, an annular bezel 112 provided at one opening of the body 111, and a back cover 113 that closes the other opening of the body 111. The exterior case 11 is made of stainless steel. The exterior case 11 may also be made of other metals such as titanium, or resin.

[0017] The crystal 12 is attached so as to be surrounded by the bezel 112 of the exterior case 11. The crystal 12 is circular and made of translucent glass such as sapphire glass or mineral glass. The crystal 12 covers the dial 13, hands 14, etc. so that they can be seen from the outside of the timepiece 1.

[0018] Dial 13 is a flat, circular member on which numerals, bar indexes, or other hour symbols H are formed, and which are indicated by hands 14. Dial 13 is housed in case 11 and disposed between hands 14 and drive mechanism 15. As will be described later, a predetermined pattern is expressed on the surface of dial 13 (the surface facing crystal 12) using the traditional Japanese indigo dyeing technique. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the predetermined pattern is a regular hexagonal pattern. The structure of dial 13 will be described later using FIG. 3, so detailed cross-sectional structure of dial 13 is omitted in FIG. 2.

[0019] The hands 14 include an hour hand, a minute hand, and a second hand, and indicate the time by pointing to the hour character H on the dial 13. The hands 14 are connected to the drive mechanism 15 via through holes formed in the dial 13. The hands 14 are driven by the rotational force transmitted from the drive mechanism 15.

[0020] Drive mechanism 15 is configured to drive hands 14, and includes solar cell 16, movement 17, secondary battery 18, and inner frame 19. In Figure 2, detailed cross-sectional structures of solar cell 16, movement 17, and secondary battery 18 are omitted.

[0021] The solar cell 16 generates electricity through the photoelectric effect, and the generated electricity charges the secondary battery 18. The solar cell 16 is placed on the front of the drive mechanism 15 so as to face the dial 13. The solar cell 16 generates electricity from light that enters the timepiece 1 and passes through the dial 13.

[0022] The movement 17 is configured to generate a torque to drive the hands 14, and includes, for example, a quartz oscillator, a stepping motor, and a gear train. The quartz oscillator generates a signal at a predetermined frequency when power is supplied from a secondary battery 18. The stepping motor generates a torque at a predetermined cycle based on the signal generated by the quartz oscillator. The gear train is made up of multiple gears and transmits the torque generated by the stepping motor to the hands 14 while varying the rotational speed.

[0023] The secondary battery 18 is a component, such as a lithium-ion battery, for supplying power to the movement 17. The secondary battery 18 is charged by receiving power from the solar cell 16 via a charging circuit (not shown). The secondary battery 18 also supplies power to the quartz oscillator and other components of the movement 17 via a power supply circuit (not shown).

[0024] The inner frame 19 is made of resin or the like, and holds the movement 17 and secondary battery 18 immovably relative to the outer case 11 .

[0025] Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of dial 13. In Fig. 3, the front surface of dial 13 is shown positioned on the upper side, and the back surface of dial 13 is shown positioned on the lower side. Dial 13 has a base material 131, adhesive 132, decorative member 133, and protective plate 134.

[0026] The base material 131 is formed into a flat plate shape from a light-transmitting resin. Examples of the light-transmitting resin include polycarbonate, polyamide, and polyethylene. Preferably, the base material 131 is formed from a colorless and transparent resin. The base material 131 has a thickness of, for example, 100 μm.

[0027] The adhesive 132 bonds the surface of the base material 131 to the back surface of the decorative member 133. The adhesive 132 is, for example, a hot melt adhesive containing ethylene vinyl acetate. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the base material 131 and the back surface of the decorative member 133 are separated by the adhesive 132, but part or all of the back surface of the decorative member 133 may be in contact with the surface of the base material 131.

[0028] The decorative member 133 is a sheet-like member made of multiple layers of fibers, such as plant fibers. The decorative member 133 is, for example, paper (including Japanese paper and Western paper) made of multiple fibers arranged and layered in an irregular pattern. Preferably, the decorative member 133 is Japanese paper, made of multiple fibers layered in an irregularly intertwined pattern. The decorative member 133 is translucent, allowing light to pass through the gaps between the fibers. Because Japanese paper has more gaps between the fibers than Western paper, using Japanese paper for the decorative member 133 increases the transmittance of light incident on the watch 1 and improves the power generation efficiency of the solar cell 16. Furthermore, using Japanese paper for the decorative member 133 enhances the aesthetic appearance of the watch 1, thanks to its unique roughness and texture, which resembles intertwined fibers. The decorative member 133 may also be a fabric made of multiple fibers woven together into a single layer. When the decorative member 133 is Japanese paper, it has a thickness of, for example, 30-50 μm.

[0029] The surface of the decorative member 133 is undulated. The undulations on the surface of the decorative member 133 include undulations formed by deforming some of the fibers of the decorative member 133, in addition to the undulations that the decorative member 133 typically has. For example, the undulations on the surface of the decorative member 133 include undulations formed by bending the decorative member 133 to deform some of the fibers. The undulations on the surface of the decorative member 133 may also include undulations formed by pressing part of the surface of the decorative member 133 to deform some of the fibers. In this way, the sheet-like decorative member 133 expresses a sense of three-dimensionality and depth. Japanese paper, an example of the decorative member 133, is made by layering fibers that are irregularly entangled, so its surface generally has small undulations with a height difference of 5 μm or less. However, by folding or pressing the Japanese paper, large undulations with a height difference of 10 μm or more can be formed.

[0030] The undulations on the surface of the decorative member 133 may include undulations formed using a technique called shibori, which is used to create patterns in indigo dyeing. In the shibori technique, the decorative member 133 is colored by immersing the deformed fibers in a liquid containing indigo as a dye.

[0031] For example, in the technique known as "ori-shibori," a decorative member 133 is folded and immersed in a liquid containing indigo as a dye. Because the dye does not easily penetrate the areas corresponding to the folds, colored and uncolored areas are formed in a geometric arrangement depending on how the member is folded, creating a pattern. As the decorative member 133 is folded, the fibers in the areas corresponding to the folds are deformed, creating undulations on the surface of the decorative member 133. In the technique known as "itajime-shibori," the decorative member 133 is sandwiched and pressed between boards of a predetermined shape and immersed in a liquid containing indigo as a dye. Because the dye does not easily penetrate the areas pressed by the boards, colored and uncolored areas are formed in an arrangement in which the colored areas surround the uncolored areas corresponding to the shape of the boards, creating a pattern. When a portion of the decorative member 133 is pressed, the fibers in the pressed area are deformed so that the pressed area becomes thinner, creating undulations on the surface of the decorative member 133. By doing so, undulations can be easily formed on the surface of the decorative member 133 during the process of coloring the decorative member 133.

[0032] Protective plate 134 is formed in a flat plate shape from a translucent resin that allows decorative member 133 to be visible to the user, and is arranged to cover the upper surface of decorative member 133. Examples of translucent resin include polycarbonate, polyamide, and polyethylene. Protective plate 134 is preferably formed from a colorless, transparent resin. Protective plate 134 has a thickness of, for example, 100 μm.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a pattern that may be displayed on the dial 13. As shown in FIG.

[0034] Decorative member 133 has colored region 133a and non-colored region 133b. Decorative member 133 is colored by indigo dyeing. That is, decorative member 133 is colored by immersing it in a liquid that contains indigo as a dye. This allows the unique indigo hue to enhance the aesthetic appearance of watch 1.

[0035] The dial 13 expresses a predetermined pattern by arranging colored regions 133a and non-colored regions 133b of the decorative member 133. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the colored region 133a has a region C1 at and near the center of the decorative member 133, three straight regions L1-L3 extending from the center to the periphery, and a region E1 along the periphery. This creates a regular hexagonal pattern on the dial 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0036] The solar cell 16, which is arranged opposite the dial 13, has multiple cell sections 161 that generate electricity through the photoelectric effect and connection sections 162 that connect the multiple cell sections 161. The decorative member 133 has a colored region 133a arranged to cover the connection sections 162 when the dial 13 is housed in the case 11. That is, when the dial 13 is housed in the case 11, the connection sections 162 face the colored region 133a. In the example shown in FIG. 4 , the connection sections 162 have a region D1 near the center of the solar cell 16, three linear regions M1-M3 extending from the center toward the periphery, and a region F1 along the periphery. Region C1 of the decorative member 133 covers region D1 of the connection sections 162, regions L1-L3 of the decorative member 133 cover regions M1-M3 of the connection sections 162, respectively, and region E1 of the decorative member 133 is arranged to cover region F1 of the connection sections 162. The non-colored region 133b is disposed so as to cover the cell portion 161.

[0037] In this way, by arranging the colored region 133a so that it covers the connection portion 162 of the solar cell 16, the connection portion 162 is less visible through the dial 13, preventing a degradation in the appearance quality of the timepiece 1 due to the use of the decorative member 133. In other words, the cell portion and connection portion of the solar cell are made of different materials, and therefore have different textures and colors. Therefore, there was a risk that the connection portion, which has a partially different texture and color, would be visible through the dial, degrading the appearance quality of the timepiece. In particular, when a material made of multiple layers of fibers is used as the decorative member, there was a risk that the connection portion would be more visible due to the gaps between the fibers.

[0038] In contrast, in the dial 13, the decorative member 133 has a colored area 133a arranged to cover the connection portion 162. Because the light transmittance of the colored area 133a is low, the connection portion 162 is concealed, preventing a deterioration in the appearance quality of the timepiece 1. The connection portion 162 is an example of a portion to be concealed on the front surface of the drive mechanism.

[0039] Furthermore, by arranging the non-colored region 133b, which has a high light transmittance, so that it covers the cell portion 161 of the solar cell 16, more of the light that enters the watch 1 reaches the cell portion 161, improving the power generation efficiency of the solar cell 16. Note that the non-colored region 133b is not limited to a completely uncolored region, but may include a region that is less colored than the colored region 133a. Generally, an uncolored decorative member 133 is white or a color close to white. In this case, the non-colored region 133b includes a region that is brighter than the colored region 133a.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a pattern that may be expressed on the dial 13. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the colored area 133a has an area C2 at and near the center of the decorative member 133, six linear areas L4-L9 extending from the center toward the periphery, and an area E2 along the periphery. This creates a pattern consisting of the sides and diagonals of a regular hexagon. Similarly to the example shown in Fig. 4, the connection portion 162 of the solar cell 16 has an area D1 near the center of the solar cell 16, three linear areas M1-M3 extending from the center toward the periphery, and an area F1 along the periphery.

[0041] Area C2 of decorative member 133 covers area D1 of connection portion 162, areas L4, L6, and L8 of decorative member 133 cover areas M1-M3 of connection portion 162, and area E2 of decorative member 133 is arranged to cover area F1 of connection portion 162. Areas L5, L7, and L9 of decorative member 133 are arranged to cover cell portion 161. In this way, colored area 133a may be arranged to cover connection portion 162 and part of cell portion 161. This also prevents connection portion 162 from being visible through dial 13, improving the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece 1. Furthermore, because part of cell portion 161 is covered by uncolored area 133b, the power generation efficiency of solar cell 16 is improved to a certain extent.

[0042] The pattern displayed on the dial 13 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and may be determined arbitrarily based on the shape of the connection portion 162 of the solar cell 16.

[0043] 6 is a flow diagram showing the flow of the manufacturing method for the dial 13. Note that the following describes a manufacturing method in which the decorative member 133 is made of Japanese paper, but the manufacturing method is similar when the decorative member 133 is any sheet-like member made of multiple layers of fibers.

[0044] First, Japanese paper is prepared as the decorative member 133 (step S11). The prepared Japanese paper is larger than the dial 13, for example, A4 size.

[0045] Next, undulations are formed on the surface of decorative member 133 (step S12). Decorative member 133 is folded into a predetermined shape so that a predetermined pattern can be expressed when colored. Decorative member 133 may be sandwiched between plates of a predetermined shape so that a predetermined pattern can be expressed when colored. As a result, undulations are formed on the surface of decorative member 133.

[0046] Next, the decorative member 133 is dyed (step S13). The decorative member 133 is immersed in a liquid containing indigo, and then colored by the oxidation of the indigo in the air. The coloring may be repeated multiple times until the color of the colored region 133a reaches the desired depth. The colored decorative member 133 is then dried in the air.

[0047] Before step S12 or S13, waterproof konjac paste may be applied to one surface of decorative member 133. This improves the water resistance of decorative member 133, making decorative member 133 less likely to tear when immersed in a liquid containing dye.

[0048] Next, decorative member 133 is adhered to base material 131 (step S14). Adhesive 132 is applied in a heated state to the surface of base material 131, and decorative member 133 is placed so as to cover adhesive 132. Then, adhesive 132 is cooled. This adheres decorative member 133 to base material 131.

[0049] In step S14, it is preferable that the adhesive 132 be applied so that it is thinner than the thickness of the decorative member 133. This makes it difficult for the adhesive 132 to penetrate into the surface of the decorative member 133, so the expansion and three-dimensionality of the fibers of the decorative member 133 are visible, improving the aesthetic appearance of the watch 1.

[0050] Next, the base material 131 and the decorative member 133 are cut into a circle that is the shape of the dial 13 (step S15). Preferably, the base material 131 and the decorative member 133 are cut by irradiating them with laser light. This makes it less likely that fibers will fray around the periphery of the decorative member 133 compared to cutting by pressing or the like. Alternatively, the base material 131 and the decorative member 133 may be prepared in advance and cut to the shape of the dial 13. In this case, step S15 is omitted.

[0051] Next, protective plate 134 is placed so as to cover the upper surface of decorative member 133 (step S16). In this way, dial 13 is manufactured. Note that adhesive may be further applied to the surface of decorative member 133 to adhere decorative member 133 and protective plate 134. This prevents protective plate 134 from separating from decorative member 133.

[0052] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the dial 13 according to the embodiment with the protective plate 134 removed. Fig. 7 shows a decorative member 133 that has been colored by folding and drawing. As shown in Fig. 7, a portion of the decorative member 133 is raised by being folded, forming large undulations.

[0053] As explained above, the timepiece 1 has a drive mechanism 15 that drives the hands 14, a plate-shaped base material 131, a sheet-like decorative member 133 made of a plurality of laminated fibers that is placed on the surface of the base material 131, and a dial 13 that is placed between the hands 14 and the drive mechanism 15. The decorative member 133 has a colored region 133a that covers the portion to be concealed on the front of the drive mechanism. This makes it difficult for the portion to be concealed to be seen through the decorative member 133, making it possible for the timepiece 1 to prevent a decrease in appearance quality that would be caused by the use of the sheet-shaped decorative member 133.

[0054] The drive mechanism 15 also has a solar cell 16 that is positioned opposite the dial 13 and has multiple cell sections 161 and connection sections 162 that connect the multiple cell sections. A colored area 133a is positioned in the decorative member 133 so as to cover the connection sections 162 as a concealed section. This makes the connection sections 162, which tend to be visible through the decorative member 133, less visible, and therefore the timepiece 1 can prevent a decrease in appearance quality that would otherwise be caused by using a sheet-like decorative member 133.

[0055] That is, because the decorative member 133 is made of multiple layers of fibers, the density of the fibers varies from place to place, resulting in variations in light transmittance. On the other hand, if the drive mechanism 15 includes a solar cell 16, the light transmittance of the decorative member 133 must be set to a predetermined value or higher to achieve the desired power generation efficiency. As a result, the light transmittance of the decorative member 133 is set to a large value, including a margin, so that the desired power generation efficiency can be achieved even if the light transmittance of the decorative member 133 varies. Setting the light transmittance of the decorative member 133 to a large value in this way makes the connection portion 162 of the solar cell 16 more visible to the user through the decorative member 133, which could have a significant impact on the appearance quality of the watch. By arranging the colored region 133a in the decorative member 133 so as to cover the connection portion 162 as a concealed portion, the connection portion 162 is more easily visible through the decorative member 133, preventing the above-mentioned adverse effects.

[0056] Additionally, decorative member 133 has uncolored regions 133b arranged to cover multiple cell sections 161. Uncolored decorative member 133 is generally white or a color close to white, and therefore has high light transmittance. By arranging uncolored regions 133b in decorative member 133, much of the light that enters watch 1 reaches solar cell 16, improving the power generation efficiency of solar cell 16.

[0057] The decorative member 133 is made of Japanese paper that has been colored by immersing it in a liquid containing indigo as a dye. This allows the indigo color to be colored, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the watch 1. The rough texture and intertwined fibers that are characteristic of Japanese paper also enhance the aesthetic appeal of the watch 1.

[0058] The embodiment of the timepiece 1 is not limited to the above-described example. For example, the timepiece 1 may be implemented by applying the following modified examples.

[0059] In the above description, the timepiece 1 is a solar-powered timepiece having a solar cell 16, but it may also be a quartz or mechanical timepiece that does not have a solar cell 16. In this case, the decorative member 133 may have a colored region 133a arranged to cover the inner frame 19 as a part to be concealed on the front surface of the drive mechanism 15. The decorative member 133 may also have a colored region 133a arranged to cover the rotating parts of the movement 17 that are exposed on the front surface of the drive mechanism 15 as a part to be concealed on the front surface of the drive mechanism 15.

[0060] In the above description, the decorative member 133 is colored by indigo dyeing, but the present invention is not limited to this example and the decorative member 133 may be colored by any dye or pigment in any manner.

[0061] In the above description, the dial 13 is circular, but this is not a limitation. The dial 13 may be any shape, such as a polygon, depending on the design of the timepiece 1.

[0062] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the above-described embodiments and modifications may be implemented in appropriate combination within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1. Clock 13 Dial 131 Base material 133 Decorative materials 14 Guidelines 15 Drive mechanism 16 solar cells 161 Cell Division 162 Connection 17 Movement 19 Middle Frame

Claims

1. a drive mechanism for driving the hands; a dial having a plate-shaped base material and a sheet-shaped decorative member formed by laminating a plurality of fibers and disposed on the surface of the base material, the dial being disposed between the hands and the drive mechanism; a colored area is disposed on the decorative member so as to cover a portion to be concealed on a front surface of the drive mechanism; the drive mechanism includes a solar cell disposed opposite the dial and having a plurality of cell units and a connection unit connecting the plurality of cell units; The decorative member further includes a non-colored region disposed to cover the plurality of cell portions, The decorative member is colored Japanese paper. A watch characterized by

2. The colored region is disposed so as to cover the connection portion as the portion to be concealed.

2. The watch according to claim 1.

3. The Japanese paper is colored by being immersed in a liquid containing indigo as a dye.

3. The watch according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A timepiece dial having hands that indicate the time and a drive mechanism that drives the hands, A plate-shaped substrate; a sheet-like decorative member in which a plurality of fibers are laminated and which is placed on the surface of the base material; disposed between the pointer and the drive mechanism; a colored area is disposed on the decorative member so as to cover a portion to be concealed on a front surface of the drive mechanism; the drive mechanism includes a solar cell disposed opposite the dial and having a plurality of cell units and a connection unit connecting the plurality of cell units; The decorative member further includes a non-colored region disposed to cover the plurality of cell portions, The decorative member is colored Japanese paper. A dial characterized by

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