External components for watches and jewelry

Abstract

The present invention provides the purchaser with external components that can be user customized in any imaginable way. [Solution] The present invention provides an external component 2 for watches and jewelry, which is produced by a polymer matrix in which piezochromic molecules are dispersed, and the piezochromic molecules change from a first stable state to a second stable state while changing color under the influence of applied pressure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to external components for watches and jewelry, and in particular, but not exclusively, to bracelets intended to be fastened to a user's limbs, which may be attached to the user's limbs by themselves or may be used to attach a portable object, such as a watch case, to the user's limb. [Background technology]

[0002] Numerous bracelets are commercially available, which may include bracelets that are used by themselves as ornaments, i.e. bracelets that fasten to portable objects such as watch cases, allowing such portable objects to be attached to, for example, the wrist of a user.

[0003] These bracelets can be rigid or flexible. Without limitation, they can be made of leather, elastomer, fabric, or even steel or ceramic. They can be formed by multiple links hinged together, or they can be made with mesh or straps made of fabric, for example. The systems used to close these bracelets are also very diverse. For illustrative purposes only, reference can be made to tongue and buckle closures or deployant buckle closures.

[0004] Their mechanical structure and the materials from which they are made vary widely, and bracelets also differ from one another in the colors and decorative patterns that adorn them. Nevertheless, the appearance of these bracelets cannot be changed after they leave the factory, so that, for example, all buyers of a given watch model will own the same bracelet.

[0005] To overcome this drawback, particularly in the field of horology, it has already been proposed to market certain watch models with a set of interchangeable bracelets. This way, depending on the user's mood, the user can exchange the bracelet for another one. This solution has the advantage of allowing the user to customize their watch to a certain extent. Nevertheless, the degree of freedom available to the user when customizing, for example, the bracelet of their watch remains limited to the replacement bracelets provided with it. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems and others by proposing an external part for watches and jewelry, which can be used in particular, but not exclusively, as an ornament in itself or to attach portable objects such as watch cases to the user's limbs, and which is of excellent quality and allows the user to customize the bracelet at will. In particular, the present invention aims to provide the purchaser with an external part which can be customized by the user in any imaginable way. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an external component for a watch or jewellery, made using a polymer matrix in which piezochromic molecules are dispersed, which molecules change colour under the influence of an applied pressure, while changing colour from a first stable state to a second stable state.

[0008] Thanks to these features, the invention provides an external part for a watch or jewelry, in particular, but not exclusively, a bracelet used as an ornament or for attaching a portable object, such as a watch, to a user's wrist, which is able to change color when mechanical pressure is applied to it. The appearance of the bracelet may thus be modified and customized during manufacture or by the user.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the piezochromic molecule is 50 N. c m -2 (i.e., about 5 kg.cm -2 ) or greater. Thus, small shocks occurring in everyday life corresponding to pressures below this threshold will not cause the piezochromic molecules to change color. However, this threshold is low enough for a user to cause the piezochromic molecules to change from their first state to their second state without the need for complex tools.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the piezochromic molecules are dispersed in the matrix in a proportion ranging from 2% to 20% by weight, depending on the desired color-changing effect.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the piezochromic molecules are spin-transfer effect nanomaterials or nanometer materials. Compared with other piezochromic materials, piezochromic nanomaterials experience volume contraction and electron transition phenomena under low pressure (about a few bar), which facilitates color change.

[0012] In one advantageous case, piezochromic molecules are pressure-induced spin transition effect nanomaterials in which irreversible color changes are produced.

[0013] In another advantageous case, piezochromic molecules are pressure-induced spin transition effect nanomaterials that produce color changes that can be reversed by hysteresis.

[0014] In the case of piezochromic molecules that undergo a reversible color change, they are to the polymer matrix Application of heat may cause them to return to their initial state.

[0015] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the matrix is ​​formed by an organic or inorganic polymer resin.

[0016] In one advantageous case, the matrix is ​​formed by an elastomeric resin, the hardness of which lies in the range of 50 Shore A to 90 Shore D.

[0017] In another advantageous case, the matrix is ​​formed by a thermoplastic elastomer resin.

[0018] In another advantageous case, the thermoplastic elastomer resin is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic copolyesters and thermoplastic copolyamides.

[0019] In one advantageous case, the matrix is ​​formed by a vulcanizable elastomer selected from the group consisting of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) rubber and silicone, acrylonitrile butadiene polymer rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) and fluorocarbon (FKM) rubber.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the polymer matrix is ​​premixed with at least one color additive, allowing the initial color of the matrix to combine with the color generated by the piezochromic effect.

[0021] In one advantageous case, the color additive is selected from the group consisting of translucent, fluorescent and / or phosphorescent dyes and metallic or pearl effect pigments.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of an example of an external component according to the present invention, which example is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates the behavior of a piezochromic molecule that irreversibly changes from a first stable state having a first color to a second stable state having a second color under the influence of mechanical pressure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates the hysteresis behavior of a piezochromic molecule that can reversibly change from a first stable state having a first color to a second stable state having a second color under the influence of mechanical pressure, and can return to its initial stable state by the application of heat. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 illustrates customization of external components by applying mechanical pressure with a stylus. [Figure 4] 10A-10C illustrate the customization of external components according to the present invention by applying mechanical pressure using a shaped punch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention draws from a general inventive idea consisting of producing external components for watches and jewelry, particularly, but not exclusively, bracelets, using a polymer matrix dispersed with piezochromic molecules capable of changing color under the application of mechanical pressure. The appearance of the bracelet can thus be altered during manufacture or by the user by applying pressure with a finger or a tool, e.g., a stylus. More specifically, the pressure sensitivity of the piezochromic molecules can be adjusted during their synthesis so that this sensitivity is high enough to prevent slight impacts that may occur from everyday use from changing the appearance of the external component, yet low enough to match that of the user. Depending on the type of piezochromic molecule used, the color change may be irreversible or may exhibit hysteresis, allowing it to return to its initial state, for example, by the application of heat. Users can thus modify and customize the external component at will according to the present invention, thus obtaining an external component with a unique appearance. This customization can be done using a finger, a stylus, or other raised object, which can be applied freely according to patterns suggested by the user or by the manufacturer, or even using a punch provided by the manufacturer. This completes the degree of freedom available to the user when customizing an external part. The user may apply decorations, logos, trademarks, or even a signature to the external part, which may be transferred using a stylus or using a shaped punch that may be provided there by the external part manufacturer. The present invention is also of interest to manufacturers that may produce only a single type of external part or a limited number of different types of external parts, and that may leave the completion of the final decoration to the user.

[0025] The piezochromic molecules or compounds are preferably spin-transfer effect nanomaterials, such as those disclosed in International Patent Application WO 2007 / 065996 A1. These piezochromic compounds have the ability to change color when mechanical pressure is applied to them. This color change is generally explained by a change in the spatial arrangement of the piezochromic molecules, going from a relaxed state to a compressed state. The piezochromic pigments used can also be based on 9,10-bis((E)-2-(pyrid-2-yl(vinyl(anthracene))) (BP2VA), which is known to change color from green (λ = 528 nm) to orange / red (λ = 590 nm), or on 11-(3'-oxodihydrobenzothiophen-2'-ylidene)cyclopenta[1,2-b:4,3-b']dibenzothiophene, which is known to change color from red (λ = 600 nm) to black (λ = 750 nm).

[0026] 1A-1C show the behavior of piezochromic molecules 1 embedded in a polymer matrix forming an external component 2 for a watch or jewelry, particularly, but not exclusively, a bracelet, under the application of mechanical pressure. In FIG. 1A, the piezochromic molecules 1 are in their initial, relaxed, stable state. In FIG. 1B, mechanical pressure is exerted on the external component 2, causing it to compress and corresponding compression of the piezochromic molecules 1. In FIG. 1C, the mechanical pressure on the external component 2 is released, causing the external component 2 to recover its initial shape. However, the piezochromic molecules 1 have irreversibly changed from their first stable state, relaxed and having a first color, to a second stable state, compressed and having a second color.

[0027] 2A-2C show the hysteresis behavior of piezochromic molecule 4, which reversibly changes from a first stable state (FIG. 2A) in which it is relaxed and has a first color under the application of mechanical pressure (FIG. 2B) to a second stable state (FIG. 2C) in which it is compressed and has a second color. Reference numeral 6 in FIG. 2C indicates that piezochromic molecule 4 returns to its initial relaxed state under the application of heat.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates customizing the external component 2 by applying mechanical pressure with a tool such as a stylus 8. By locally pressing down on the external component 2 with the stylus 8, the matrix and the piezochromic molecules embedded in this matrix are compressed. Under this compression, the piezochromic molecules reversibly or irreversibly change from their initial relaxed stable state to their final compressed state, while also changing color. Thus, by changing the color of the external component in several locations, it is possible to create a unique decoration for this external component that will not correspond to that of any other user.

[0029] Alternatively, Figure 4 shows the customization of an external part 2 according to the invention using a shaping punch 10 carrying a basic pattern 12 that may be supplied by the manufacturer of the external part 2. Depending on how many times the basic patterns 12 of the shaping punch 10 will be reproduced in the external part 2 and how these basic patterns will be arranged relative to each other, an original decoration may be created that does not correspond to that of any other user.

[0030] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various simple alternatives and modifications may be considered by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. In particular, although the present invention has been described with reference to bracelets that are worn as jewelry ornaments or used to fasten portable objects, in particular watch cases, to the wrist of a user, it will be understood that the present invention relates in particular to any other type of external part for a watch or jewelry, such as a bezel or the middle part of a watch case, a ring, a clasp or other element. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Piezochromic molecules 2 External Components 4. Piezochromic molecules 6. Application of Heat 8 Stylus 10 Shaping punch 12 Basic Patterns

Claims

1. 1. An external part (2) for a watch or jewelry used as decoration or for attaching a portable object to a user's body, comprising an optional part to which pressure is intentionally applied from the outside through a user, the entire part including said optional part being made of a polymer matrix in which piezochromic molecules (1, 4) are dispersed, the piezochromic molecules changing from a first stable state having a first color to a second stable state having a second color when pressure is applied, thereby enabling the user to change the color of said optional part at a position of their choice at their own will to suit their own preferences.

2. The piezochromic molecules are applied to the external component with a force of 50 N.cm. －２ 10. An external component according to claim 1, characterized in that it changes state under the influence of an applied pressure.

3. 3. The external component according to claim 1, wherein the piezochromic molecules are dispersed in the matrix in a proportion ranging from 2% to 20% by weight, depending on the desired color-changing effect.

4. 4. The external component according to claim 1, wherein the piezochromic molecules are spin-transfer effect nanomaterials.

5. 5. The external component of claim 4, wherein the piezochromic molecules are spin-transfer effect nanomaterials arranged to irreversibly change color under the influence of pressure.

6. 5. An external component according to claim 4, characterized in that the piezochromic molecules are spin-transfer effect nanomaterials arranged to change colour under the influence of pressure in a way that can be reversed by hysteresis.

7. 7. The external component of claim 6, wherein the piezochromic molecules return to their first stable state by the application of heat to the polymer matrix.

8. The external component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the matrix is ​​formed by an organic or inorganic polymer resin.

9. 9. The external component according to claim 8, wherein the matrix is ​​formed from an elastomer resin, and the hardness thereof is in the range of 50 Shore A hardness to 90 Shore D hardness.

10. 10. The external part according to claim 8, wherein the matrix is ​​made of a thermoplastic elastomer resin.

11. The external component according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer resin is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic styrene-based elastomer, thermoplastic copolyester, and thermoplastic copolyamide.

12. 10. The external component according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the matrix is ​​formed by a vulcanizable elastomer selected from the group consisting of fluorinated ethylene propylene rubber and silicone, acrylonitrile butadiene polymer rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber and fluorocarbon rubber.

13. 13. An external component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the polymer matrix is ​​premixed with at least one color additive to enable the first color of the matrix to be combined with the second color produced by the piezochromic effect brought about by the piezochromic molecules.

14. 14. The external component of claim 13, wherein the color additive is selected from the group consisting of translucent, fluorescent and / or phosphorescent dyes and metallic or pearlescent effect pigments.

15. The external part according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the external part is at least one of a bracelet, a bezel, a middle part of a watch case, a ring and a clasp.

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