Patent Application
20240365936
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 23171138.3 filed May 2, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a bracelet intended to be fixed to the case of a portable object, such as a timepiece, for example to the case of a watch.
The invention relates more particularly to a bracelet comprising a magnifying device enabling the user to observe components or details of the wearable object or of another object, for example a timepiece.
Such bracelets or straps incorporating a magnifying device such as a magnifying glass or Fresnel lens are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,222 describes a watch strap incorporating a magnifying strip integrated into one strand of the strap.
However, the magnification of such a device is limited and unconvincing when it comes to observing very small details, for example of a watch movement fitted to the timepiece.
Consequently, there is a need to improve such devices.
In this context, the invention proposes a bracelet for a portable object comprising a first strand and a second strand, each of the strands comprising a first end capable of being attached to a case of the portable object, characterised in that:
In addition to the features mentioned in the previous paragraph, the bracelet according to the invention may have one or more additional features from among the following, considered individually or in any technically possible combination:
The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a case incorporating a watch movement and a bracelet according to the invention attached to the case.
The aims, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below with reference to the following figures:
In all figures, common elements have the same reference numbers unless otherwise specified.
This portable object 1 here takes the form of a timepiece, such as a wristwatch intended to be worn on the user's wrist. It will also be understood that the portable object 1 may be any other portable object intended to be worn via a bracelet, for example on the wrist.
The portable object 1 comprises a case 2, designed to receive a horological movement, for example (not shown here for reasons of clarity).
The horological movement carries and drives means for displaying information, for example the current time.
The portable object 1 also comprises a flexible or articulated bracelet 10, two ends of which are intended to be coupled, for example removably, to the middle of the case 2, via an ad hoc fastening system which will not be detailed in this application.
The bracelet 10 comprises a first strand 11 with a thickness e and a second strand 12 with a thickness e2, each of the strands 11, 12 being attached at one end to the case 2.
The bracelet 10 typically comprises a clasp 15, for example a pin buckle, a single or double folding clasp, a clip, slide, scratch or elastic clasp, enabling the other two ends of the strands 11, 12 of the bracelet 10 to be attached and the portable object 1 to be worn on the wrist.
The first strand 11 comprises a first optical device 21 integrated, at least partially, into the thickness e1 of the first strand 11. The first optical device 21 is, for example, an optical lens.
The first optical device 21 is characterised by a first diameter L1 and a first focal length f1.
The second strand 12 comprises a second optical device 22 integrated, at least partially, into the thickness e2 of the second strand 12. The second optical device 22 is, for example, an optical lens.
The second optical device 22 is characterised by a second diameter L2 and a second focal length f2.
The diameter L1 of the first optical device 21 is greater than the diameter L2 of the second optical device 22.
For example, the first optical device 21 is an optical lens with a plano-convex shape.
For example, the first optical device 21 is an optical lens with a diameter L1 of 15 mm, a focal length f1 of 60 mm and a central thickness of 2 mm.
For example, the second optical device 22 is an optical lens with a plano-convex shape.
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 central thickness of 2 mm.
The bracelet 10 is configured to allow the first strand 11 and the second strand 12 to be superimposed so as to superimpose the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22 in order to create a magnifying device of the portable microscope type consisting of an eyepiece formed by the first optical device 21 and an objective formed by the second optical device 22.
By combining the optical properties of the optical devices 21, 22 described above, and superimposing them with a separation distance d of 1.5 mm, with the first optical device 21 as the eyepiece and the second optical device 22 as the objective, we obtain a microscope-type magnifying device with a resulting focal length of the order of 11 mm, which corresponds to a magnification of the order of ×22.
Of course, the superimposition mentioned in the previous paragraph is possible when the user is not wearing the object on his wrist.
To form the portable microscope of the bracelet 10, the first strand 11 comprising the first optical device 21 constituting the microscope eyepiece is positioned above the second strand 12 comprising the second optical device 22 constituting the microscope objective.
Thus, to form the portable microscope, the first strand 11 is intended to be on the user's side and the second strand 12 is intended to be on the side of the object A to be observed, as shown in
The first optical device 21 and/or the second optical device 22 are made of synthetic material, polymer material or mineral material.
Preferably, the first optical device 21 and/or the second optical device 22 are made of glass or sapphire glass.
Preferably, the first optical device 21 is completely integrated into the thickness e1 of the first strand 11. Thus, the thickness e1 of the first strand 11 is greater than the thickness of the first optical device 21.
For example, the first optical device 21 is flush with at least an upper external surface 11.1 or a lower external surface 11.2 of the first strand 11.
For example, the first optical device 21 may project from the upper external surface 11.1 of the first strand 11, but a portion of the first optical device 21 projecting from the lower external surface 11.2 should be avoided to prevent discomfort when carrying the portable object 1.
Preferably, the second optical device 22 is completely integrated into the thickness e2 of the second strand 12. In this way, the thickness e2 of the second strand 11 is greater than the thickness of the second optical device 21.
For example, the second optical device 22 is flush with at least one upper external surface 12.1 or lower external surface 12.2 of the second strand 12.
For example, the second optical device 22 may project from the upper external surface 12.1 of the second strand 12, but a portion of the second optical device 22 projecting from the lower external surface 12.2 should be avoided to prevent discomfort when carrying the portable object 1.
In the present application, the upper external surfaces are considered to be the surfaces of the bracelet 10 visible to the user, and the lower external surfaces are the surfaces of the bracelet in contact, at least partially, with the wearer's skin.
The bracelet 10 comprises at least one spacer to provide 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 are superimposed, so as to ensure the correct spacing d according to the characteristics of the optical devices 21, 22.
Preferably the bracelet 10 comprises two spacers. The spacers are located, for example, on either side of the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22.
Typically, the bracelet 10 has two loops 13, 14 mounted on the second strand 12 of the bracelet 10.
For example, a first loop 14 is fixed to the second strand 12 and a second loop 13 is mobile, i.e. movable along the second strand 12 and therefore adjustable in position on the bracelet 10.
According to one variant, the first loop 14 and the second loop 13 are mobile, i.e. they can be moved along the second strand 12 and their position on the bracelet 10 can therefore be adjusted.
Of course, the loops 13, 14 can be mounted on the first strand 11 of the bracelet 10, or each strand 11, 12 of the bracelet 10 can carry a loop 13, 14.
The mobility of the loops 13, 14 means that they can be positioned opposite the optical devices 21, 22 so as to cover them and form a protective element when the user wears the portable object 1 on his wrist.
Preferably, when the first loop 14 is fixed, the second loop 13 is movable and has a width equivalent to or greater than the diameter L1 of the first optical device 21 so that it can completely cover the first optical device 21.
For example, the loops 13, 14 are configured to form the spacers of the bracelet 10 and ensure a spacing (or separation distance) d between the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22. In this way, the loops 13, 14 have the dimensions required to ensure the spacing d required according to the optical devices 21, 22 used.
The bracelet 10 may comprise means for ensuring concentric superposition of the first optical device 21 and the second optical device 22.
The bracelet 10 can also comprise coupling elements to keep the two strands 11, 12 superimposed on each other in contact, so as to facilitate observation by the user who does not need to keep the two strands 11, 12 in position. The coupling elements are, for example, reversible mechanical or magnetic coupling elements.
Non-limiting examples comprise mechanical coupling elements of the pressure type or magnetic and ferromagnetic elements for magnetic coupling.
For example, each of the loops 13, 14 can incorporate a ferromagnetic body 13.5, 14.5 in its material thickness and the strand of the bracelet 10 that does not carry the loops 13, 14 (in our example, the first strand 11) can incorporate two magnets 17, 18 in its thickness, configured to cooperate with the ferromagnetic bodies 13.5, 14.5 by magnetic attraction.
The bracelet 10 can be made of leather, metal, synthetic material, polymer material, ceramic material, natural material, biosourced material, or a combination of at least two of the said materials listed. Depending on the material used to manufacture the bracelet 10,
the optical devices 21, 22 can be inserted into cut-outs or housings provided for this purpose and then secured together by gluing, welding, etc.
The optical devices 21, 22 can also be attached to the strands 11, 12 of the bracelet 10 by overmoulding.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23171138.3 | May 2023 | EP | regional |
