Post-Assembly Coating for Personalized Timepiece Decoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing timepieces with personalized decorations are costly, laborious, and time-consuming due to the need for extensive manual handling and application of decorative materials before assembly.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a human-machine interface and a server-based database to select and apply decorative material coatings to a timepiece after assembly, allowing the wearer to choose a unique decoration directly, reducing manual operations and costs by using an electronic device and a material coating application device connected to the server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If decorative material coating is applied to each component before assembly, then personalized decoration is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized decorationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional sequence by applying decorative material coating to the assembled timepiece body rather than to individual components before assembly. This reversal simplifies the manufacturing process while still achieving personalized decoration, directly resolving the contradiction between customization and process complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple operations into a single step by applying decorative material to the complete assembled timepiece body in one operation rather than separately treating each component. This consolidation reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the personalized decoration capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If decorative material coating is applied to each component before assembly, then personalized decoration is achieved, but manual handling time and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized decorationVSAvoidmanual handling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the conventional approach by delaying the decorative coating operation until after assembly, thereby eliminating the need for repeated manual handling of individual small components and significantly reducing the time required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows the wearer to personally select and define their unique decoration through an electronic interface, reducing the need for extensive manual intervention by operatives in the decoration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If decorative material coating is applied to each component before assembly, then personalized decoration is achieved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized decorationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the processing sequence to apply decorative material after assembly, which reduces manufacturing cost by eliminating the need for complex fixture setups and repeated handling of individual components, while still achieving personalized decoration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual operative handling with an automated material coating application system that can directly coat the assembled timepiece body, reducing labor costs and simplifying the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid, simple, and cost-effective production of timepieces with personalized decorations that are visible when worn, reducing manual handling and enhancing the visibility of the decoration through translucent or transparent components.

Implementation Method 1

application of a coating of decorative material to all or part of the body of the timepiece

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11868093B2Method and system for manufacturing a timepiece provided with a personalized decoration

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 ETA SA MFG HORLOGERE SUISSE

AI summary

A method that is for manufacturing a timepiece provided with a personalized decoration, visible in particular when the timepiece is worn, includes constructing the timepiece and producing the personalized decoration on all or part of a body of the timepiece. Producing the personalized decoration includes selecting from a human-machine interface of an electronic device a single portion of a reference digital graphical representation, in particular of an ephemeral reference digital graphic representation, and applying a coating of decorative material on all or part of the body of the timepiece as a function of the descriptive characteristics of the selected single portion.