Dial for timepiece, manufacturing method thereof and timepiece

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6697303
  • Patent Number
    6,697,303
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, December 11, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 24, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
With a dial for a timepiece comprising a decoration member 21 having a plurality of through holes 22 formed vertically on a luminescent member 10, the cross-sectional area of lower-side holes 24 of the decoration member 21 is formed to be larger than that of upper-side holes 23. Therefore, even if a substrate is thick, the diameter of the upper-side holes 23 of the through holes 22 can be formed to be small sufficiently. Moreover, compared to a dial size 20 for a timepiece wherein the decoration member 21 is placed on the luminescent member 10, the diameter of the through holes 22 of the decoration member 21 is small. Thus, it is possible to take in enough light from the luminescent member 10 through the lower-side holes 24 to ensure the sufficient amount of light through the through holes 22. It is possible to obtain sufficient illuminance for the dial.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a dial for a timepiece, a manufacturing method thereof and a timepiece.




2. Description of the Related Art




According to an earlier development, there is a dial for a timepiece, such as a wristwatch, comprising a luminescent member made of an EL element (Electro Luminescent element) for emitting light to enable users to recognize time even in a dark place.




As this type of a dial for a timepiece, for example, there is one that comprises a decoration member having a plurality of through holes on a luminescent member so that the luminescent member emits light upwards through each of the through holes for illuminating the upper surface of the decoration member. There are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,838,640, 5,930,204, 5,880,796 and 6,020,943 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/323,449 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,297), Ser. No. 09/152,410 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,591) and Ser. No. 09/702,259, as earlier developments of the present invention.




One problem encountered in such a dial is the through holes. If the diameter of the through holes is small, the light from the luminescent member cannot pass through them enough to illuminate the dial, so that the dial becomes dark. On the other hand, the through holes with a large diameter become so visible that the appearance of the dial leads sense of incongruity.




The object of the present invention is to emit light from the luminescent member upwards effectively and to make the through holes discreet enough to improve a good showing.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention was developed to solve the above-described problem. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a dial (


20


,


29


) comprises a decoration member (


21


) that has a plurality of through holes (


22


) formed vertically and is provided on an upper surface of a luminescent member (


10


). Moreover, the through holes are formed so that the cross-sectional area of holes (


24


,


27


,


28


) that is a lower surface side portion of the through holes is larger than the cross-sectional area of holes (


23


) that is an upper surface side portion of the through holes.




According to the invention, the cross-sectional area of the lower-side holes of the through holes is larger than the cross-sectional area of the upper-side holes. Therefore, the upper-side holes can be formed to be so small that the through holes are discreet from above, when the decoration member is used for a dial. As a result, the dial can have a good showing. Furthermore, it is possible to sufficiently take in light from the luminescent member through the lower-side holes. Therefore, even if the diameter of the upper-side holes is small, the enough amount of light can pass through the through holes to obtain the sufficient intensity of illumination. As a result, the upper portion of the decoration member can be illuminated brightly.




A second aspect of the invention is a manufacturing method of a dial for a timepiece comprising two processes, as shown in

FIGS. 3A-3D

and


9


A-


9


D. According to the first process, masks (


25


,


26


,


35


,


36


) are provided to cover both upper and lower surfaces of a substrate


15


. The masks have openings (


25




a


,


35




a


) on the upper surface and openings (


26




a


,


36




a


) on the lower surface so that the upper-side openings (


25




a


,


35




a


) corresponds to the lower-side openings (


26




a


,


36




a


). Moreover, the upper-side openings (


25




a


,


35




a


) are smaller than the lower-side openings (


26




a


,


36




a


). Therefore, a plurality of through holes are formed on the substrate by etching from both surfaces to provide a decoration member (


21


,


31


,


41


). According to the second process, the decoration member is mounted on an upper surface of a luminescent member (


10


).




According to the invention, a substrate is provided with masks having openings on both surfaces, wherein the upper-side openings are formed at the positions corresponding to the lower-side openings. Thus, through holes are formed at positions corresponding to the openings by etching from both surfaces. Therefore, even if a substrate is thick, it is possible to provide smaller through holes than that provided by etching from only one side. As a result, the through holes can be formed to be discreet.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a first embodiment of the present invention applied to a wristwatch;





FIG. 2

is a front elevation showing a dial for the timepiece of

FIG. 1

, wherein a decoration member thereof is partly shown from the backside;





FIGS. 3A

to


3


D show the process for manufacturing the dial of FIG.


2


: wherein

FIG. 3A

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a substrate with masks provided on both upper and lower surfaces of a substrate;

FIG. 3B

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion when both upper and lower surfaces of the substrate are being etched;

FIG. 3C

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a decoration member that is obtained by removing the masks from the substrate after etching; and

FIG. 3D

is a cross-sectional view of the principal portion of the decoration member fixed on an upper side of a luminescent member and comprising a protective film provided on the decoration member;





FIG. 4

is a front elevation showing a dial for a timepiece according to a first modification of the first embodiment, wherein a decoration member is partly shown from the backside;





FIG. 5

is a front elevation showing a dial for a timepiece according to a second modification of the first embodiment, wherein a decoration member is partly shown from the backside;





FIG. 6

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a dial for a timepiece according to a third modification of the first embodiment;





FIG. 7

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a dial for a timepiece according to a forth modification of the first embodiment;





FIG. 8

is a front elevation showing a dial for a timepiece with a decoration member partly shown from the backside, according to a second embodiment of the present invention applied to a wristwatch;





FIGS. 9A

to


9


D show a process for manufacturing the dial of FIG.


8


: wherein

FIG. 9A

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a substrate with masks provided on both upper and lower surfaces;

FIG. 9B

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion when both upper and lower surfaces of the substrate are being etched;

FIG. 9C

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a decoration member that is obtained by removing the masks from the substrate after etching; and

FIG. 9D

is a cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of the decoration member fixed on an upper side of a luminescent member and comprising a protective film provided on the decoration member;





FIG. 10

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a dial for a timepiece according to a first modification of a second embodiment;





FIG. 11

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the principal portion of a dial for a timepiece according to a second modification of the second embodiment;





FIG. 12

is a front elevation showing a dial for a timepiece according to a third embodiment of the present invention applied to a wristwatch;





FIG. 13

is an enlarged view showing the central portion of the decoration member of

FIG. 12

; and





FIG. 14

is an enlarged view showing the peripheral portion of the decoration member of FIG.


12


.











PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION




First Embodiment




Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention applied to a wristwatch will be explained, with reference to

FIG. 1

to

FIGS. 3A

to


3


D.





FIG. 1

is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the principal portion showing the inner structure of the wristwatch. The wristwatch comprises a case complete


1


. A watch glass


2


is mounted on the case complete


1


with a packing


3


between them. A dial


20


for a timepiece and a watch module


5


that are attached to a movement holder


6


are incorporated inside the case complete


1


. Moreover, a case back


7


is attached to the bottom of the case complete


1


with a waterproof ring


8


between them.




The watch module


5


has an analogue function and may have a digital function. The watch module


5


is designed to make hands (not shown) move above the dial


20


. A dial cover


9


covering the top of the movement folder


6


and fitted on the periphery of the dial


20


is provided inside the case complete


1


to protrude inward.




The dial


20


is structured as a bilayer comprising a luminescent member


10


mounted on the watch module


5


and a decoration member


21


mounted on the luminescent member


10


, as shown in FIG.


1


. Moreover, the whole dial


20


has a circular shape, as shown in FIG.


2


.




The luminescent member


10


is a flat illuminant made of a luminescence element, such as EL element, and electrically connected to an electrode (not shown) of the watch module


5


. A hand shaft hole (not shown) for inserting hands (not shown) of the watch module


5


is provided at the center of the luminescent member


10


.




The decoration member


21


is a flat circular plate made of metal, such as a stainless steel. A hand shaft hole


12


is provided at the center of the decoration member


21


to correspond to the hand shaft hole of the luminescent member


10


, as shown in FIG.


2


. Moreover, a large number of through holes


22


perforating vertically are formed in the decoration member


21


. In this case, the diameter of the through holes


22


is formed to be smaller than the thickness of the decoration member


21


that is approximately 0.1 mm. A large number of the through holes


22


can be arranged to have a radial, concentric circular or striped pattern. Furthermore, a protective film


14


that is transparent or semitransparent is flatly provided over an upper surface of the decoration member


21


for protecting the upper surface of the decoration member


21


from corrosion and damage.




Holes


23


that are upper portions of the through holes


22


and holes


24


that are lower portions of the through holes


22


differ in size. In other words, a plurality of the through holes


22


are provided in the decoration member


21


so that both upper-side holes


23


of the substrate


15


and lower-side holes


24


of the substrate


15


become circular, as shown in FIG.


2


. However, the lower-side holes


24


are processed to have a larger diameter than the upper-side holes


23


, as shown in FIG.


3


D. Therefore, the through holes


22


are in the shape of an uneven column wherein the diameter of the upper-side holes


23


and the diameter of the lower-side holes


24


differ.




Next, the method for manufacturing such a dial


20


for a timepiece will be explained with reference to

FIG. 3A

to FIG.


3


D.




Firstly, as shown in

FIG. 3A

, resist, such as photosensitive resin, as a masking material is applied on both upper and lower surfaces of a stainless-steel substrate


15


for the decoration member


21


. The resist is developed by exposure to light to remove the resist at the position where the through holes


22


will be formed. As a result, masks


25


or


26


having openings


25




a


or


26




a


at the positions where the though holes


22


will be formed are provided on both upper and lower surfaces of the substrate


15


. In this case, the upper-side mask


25


has the small-diameter openings


25




a


corresponding to the upper-side holes


23


so that the upper surface of the substrate


15


is partly exposed through the openings


25




a


. Furthermore, the mask


26


at the lower surface has the large-diameter openings


26




a


corresponding to the holes


24


. Hence, the lower surface of the substrate


15


is partly exposed through the openings


26




a


. The openings


25




a


of the mask


25


on the upper surface of the substrate


15


are formed at the position corresponding to the openings


26




a


of the mask


26


on the lower surface.




Secondly, the substrate


15


having the masks


25


and


26


is etched from both upper and lower surfaces, and then the portions of the substrate


15


exposed through the openings


25




a


and


26




a


are removed, as shown in FIG.


3


B. After the exposed portions of the substrate


15


are removed to connect each other, the masks


25


and


26


are taken off from the surfaces of the substrate


15


. Thus, the through holes


22


are formed in the substrate


15


. The through holes


22


are in the shape of an uneven column wherein the upper-side holes


23


and the lower-side holes


24


differ in size, as shown in FIG.


3


C. As a result, it is possible to obtain the decoration member


21


having a plurality of the through holes


22


. Therefore, as shown in

FIG. 3D

, the decoration member


21


is fixed on the upper surface of the luminescent member


10


, and the protective film


14


is applied on the upper surface of the decoration member


21


. As a result, the dial


20


for a timepiece can be obtained.




According to such a method for manufacturing the dial


20


, the masks


25


and


26


having the openings


25




a


and


26




a


that differ in size are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate


15


. Therefore, the through holes


22


are provided at the positions corresponding to the openings


25




a


and


26




a


by etching from both surfaces. As a result, even if the substrate


15


is thick, the upper-side holes


23


of the through holes


22


can be formed so that the diameter becomes small sufficiently. Particularly, when the substrate


15


is etched from both upper and lower surfaces to form the through holes


22


, it is possible to form the through holes


22


properly with the upper-side holes


23


and the lower-side holes


24


connected each other, because the diameter of the lower-side holes


24


is larger than that of the upper-side holes


23


. Therefore, it is possible to prevent defective products with the upper-side holes


23


not corresponding to the lower-side holes


24


. Thus, the productivity can be improved.




According to such a dial


20


, the light from the luminescent member


10


is emitted upwards across the protective film


14


through a plurality of the through holes


22


in the decoration member


21


. It is possible to illuminate the upper portion of the decoration member


21


. Moreover, the upper-side holes


23


of the through holes


22


, which are formed on the upper surface of the decoration member


21


, can be small enough to be discreet from above. As a result, the decoration effect can be improved. Particularly, because the diameter of the lower-side holes


24


is formed to be larger than that of the upper-side holes


23


, it is possible to take in enough light from the luminescent member


10


through the lower-side holes


24


. Therefore, the enough amount of the light can be transmitted. Thus, it is possible to obtain the sufficient luminance for illuminating the dial, even if the upper-side holes


23


are small. Furthermore, the dial


20


can have different decoration effects by using the decoration member


21


turned over, because the diameters of the upper-side holes


23


and the lower-side holes


24


differ in size.




In accordance with the first embodiment described above, both of the upper-side holes


23


and the lower-side holes


24


are formed to be circular. However, the shapes of those holes can be formed to be different from each other, as shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. In other words, according to the through holes


22


of a first modification shown in

FIG. 4

, the upper-side holes


23


are formed to be in the shape of the circle with the same size as the first embodiment, while lower-side holes


27


are formed to be in the shape of a square whose area is larger than that of the holes


23


. According to the through holes


22


of a second modification as shown in

FIG. 5

, the holes


23


at the upper side are formed to be in the shape of the circle with the same size as the first embodiment, while the holes


28


at the lower side are formed to be in the shape of a toothed wheel or a flower whose area is larger than that of the holes


23


. The first modification and the second modification have the same effect as the first embodiment has.




The dial


20


according to the first embodiment and the modifications thereof comprises the decoration member


21


that is directly mounted on the upper surface of the luminescent member


10


. However, the dial can have the structure of a third modification as shown in

FIG. 6

, as an example. That is, the dial


29


for a timepiece of the third modification as shown in

FIG. 6

has the three-layer structure wherein a transparent member


19


is provided on the upper surface of the luminescent member


10


and the decoration member


21


is provided on the upper surface of the transparent member


19


. The dial


29


having such a structure also has the effect of the first embodiment. Moreover, the strength of the dial


29


can be enhanced by mounting the transparence member


19


.




According to the first embodiment described above, the depth of upper-side holes


23


of the through hole


22


is equal to that of lower-side holes


24


. However, the lower-side holes


24


can be formed to be deeper than the upper-side holes


23


, as shown in FIG.


7


. For an example, the depth of the upper-side holes


23


can be approximately one third of the thickness of the substrate, and the depth of the lower-side holes


24


can be approximately two third of the thickness of the substrate. As a result, the diameter of the upper-side holes


23


at the upper surface side can be formed to be even smaller.




Second Embodiment




Next, a second embodiment of the present invention applied to a wristwatch will be explained with reference to FIG.


8


and

FIGS. 9A

to


9


D. In these figures, the same reference numerals are attached to the same portions as the first embodiment shown in

FIG. 1

to

FIGS. 3A

to


3


D.




A dial


30


for a timepiece of the wristwatch has the same structure as the first embodiment except for the sizes and relationship of holes


33


placed at the upper side and holes


34


placed at the lower side of through holes


32


of a decoration member


31


.




That is, as shown in

FIG. 8

, a plurality of the through holes


32


are formed in the decoration member


31


so that the cross-sectional area of the lower-side holes


34


, formed in the substrate


15


for the decoration member, is larger than the cross-sectional area of the upper-side holes


33


. Moreover, three upper-side holes


33


are formed to be within the area of a single lower-side hole


34


. In this case, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the holes


33


are formed to be circular with the diameter equal to or slightly smaller than that of the first embodiment. The lower-side holes


34


are formed to be in the shape of a long hole or an ellipse so that the area thereof is large enough to have three upper-side holes


33


.




Next, the method of manufacturing such a dial


30


for a timepiece will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 9A

to


9


D.




Firstly, as shown in

FIG. 9A

, resist, such as photosensitive resin as a masking material is applied on both the upper and lower surfaces of a stainless-steel substrate


15


for the decoration member


31


. The resist is developed by exposing to light to remove the resist at the position where the through holes


32


will be formed. As a result, masks


35


and


36


having openings


35




a


or


36




a


at the positions where the though holes


32


will be formed are provided on both upper and lower surfaces of the substrate


15


. In this case, the upper-side mask


35


has the small-diameter openings


35




a


corresponding to the upper-side holes


33


. Therefore, the upper surface of the substrate


15


is exposed through the small openings


35




a


. Furthermore, the openings


36




a


having the large cross-sectional areas are formed on the lower-side mask


36


to correspond to the lower-side holes


34


of the through holes


32


. Therefore, the lower surface of the substrate


15


is partly exposed through the large openings


36




a


. The openings


35




a


on the upper-side mask


35


are formed to be correspond to the openings


36




a


on the lower-side mask


36


, and three small-diameter openings


35




a


on the upper surface correspond to a single opening


36




a


on the lower surface.




Secondly, the substrate


15


having the masks


35


and


36


is etched from both surfaces. Thus, the portions of the substrate


15


exposed through the openings


35




a


and


36




a


are removed by etching from both sides, as shown in FIG.


9


B. After the exposed portions of the substrate are removed to penetrate vertically, the masks


35


and


36


are taken off from the surfaces of the substrate. Therefore, the uneven through holes


32


wherein three upper-side holes


33


correspond to a single lower-side hole


34


are formed in the substrate


15


, as shown in FIG.


9


C. Thus, it is possible to obtain a decoration member


31


having a plurality of the through holes


32


. Furthermore, the decoration member


31


is fixed on the luminescent member


10


, and the protective film


14


is applied on the decoration member


31


. As a result, the dial for a timepiece


30


can be obtained.




According to the method for manufacturing such a dial


30


for a timepiece the diameter of the upper-side holes


33


of the through holes


32


can be formed to be sufficiently small, even if the substrate


15


is thick, like the first embodiment. Moreover, the cross-sectional areas of the lower-side holes


34


are formed to be larger than that of the upper-side holes


33


, while three holes


33


correspond to a single hole


34


. Therefore, it is possible to prevent defects in making the through holes


32


caused by gaps between the holes


33


and the holes


34


, when the through holes


32


are formed by etching the substrate


15


from both surfaces. As a result, the productivity can be improved. Furthermore, the number of openings


35




a


on the upper-side mask


35


corresponding to a single openings


36




a


on the lower-side mask


36


can be changed accordingly by changing only the upper-side mask


35


without changing the lower-side mask


36


. For example, the number of openings


35




a


on the upper-side mask


35


corresponding to a single openings


36




a


on the lower-side mask


36


can be one or two. As another example, each opening


36




a


on the lower-side mask


36


can have the different number of openings


35




a


on the upper-side mask


35


.




According to such a dial


30


, it is possible to illuminate the upper portion of the decoration member


31


while the through holes


32


in the decoration member


31


are discreet from above, like the first embodiment. Moreover, as well as the first embodiment, enough light from the luminescent member


10


can be taken in through the lower-side holes


34


. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the sufficient illumination. In addition, it is possible to obtain a different decoration effect by using the decoration member turned over. Particularly, the amount of the transmitted light can be changed accordingly by changing the number of upper-side holes


33


corresponding to a single lower-side hole


34


. Thus, the intensity of illumination can be changed




According to the second embodiment described above, the lower-side holes


34


are formed so that a single lower-side hole


34


corresponds to three upper-side holes


33


. However, the lower-side holes


34


can be formed more widely so that a single lower-side hole


34


corresponds to four or more upper-side holes


33


. Moreover, the shape of the holes


34


is not limited to a long hole or an ellipse, and then it can be a polygon, such as a triangle or a square, or a circle.




Furthermore, the dial


30


according to the second embodiment described above and the modifications thereof has the structure wherein the decoration member


31


is directly mounted on the upper surface of the luminescent member


10


. However, the dial


30


may have a different structure as shown in FIG.


10


. That is, the dial


37


shown in

FIG. 10

has the three-layer structure wherein the transparent member


19


used for the first embodiment is provided on the luminescent member


10


and the decoration member


31


is provided on the transparent member


19


. The dial


37


having such a structure also has the effect of the second embodiment. Moreover, the strength of the dial


37


can be enhanced by the transparent member


19


. As a result, it is possible to obtain the high strength as well as the third modification of the first embodiment.




According to the second embodiment, the walls of the lower-side holes


34


are formed vertically, as shown in FIG.


11


. However, if the walls are formed diagonally, it is possible to take in light from the luminescent member


10


effectively for the upper-side holes


33


.




Third Embodiment




Next, a third embodiment of the present invention applied to a wristwatch will be explained with reference to

FIG. 12

to FIG.


14


. In these figures, the same reference numerals are attached to the same portions as the first embodiment shown in FIG.


1


and

FIGS. 3A

to


3


D.




According to a dial for the wristwatch, the densities of through holes of a decoration member


41


differ between at the center portion


42


and at the peripheral portion


43


. The holes are formed at the center and the vertexes of an equilateral hexagon, while the lines of the holes are arranged at intervals of 0.45 mm, at the center portion


42


, as shown in FIG.


13


. The holes are formed in a line at intervals of 0.25 mm, and the lines of the holes are arranged alternatively, at the peripheral portion


43


, as shown in FIG.


14


. Thus, it is possible to enhance the decoration effect by making the densities of the holes differ between at the center portion and at the peripheral portion, like the third embodiment.




According to the first to third embodiments and the modifications thereof as described above, the protective film


14


is provided on the decoration member


21


,


31


or


41


. However, it is not limited to this, and a light-transmissive color film may be provided instead. In this case, the color film may have a color or colors with patterns. Thereby, it is possible to illuminate by light with the color of the color film, because the light from the luminescent member


10


is transmitted through the color film. As a result, it is possible to offer an enhanced variety of decoration.




Moreover, according to the first to third embodiments and the modifications thereof described above, the present invention is applied to a wristwatch having an analogue function. However, it is not limited to this, and the invention can be applied to a wristwatch having a digital function or both of an analogue function and a digital function. Furthermore, the invention can be widely applied to timepieces, such as a table clock, an alarm clock, a travel watch, a wall clock or the like.



Claims
  • 1. A dial for a timepiece, comprising:a luminescent member; and a decoration member in which a plurality of through holes are formed vertically, the decoration member being disposed at an upper position of the luminescent member, wherein each of the through holes comprises an upper-side hole formed in an upper side of the decoration member and a lower-side hole that is connected to the upper-side hole and is formed in a lower side of the decoration member so that the cross-sectional area of the lower-side hole is larger than that of the upper-side hole.
  • 2. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower-side hole is formed to be large enough to correspond to a plurality of the upper-side holes.
  • 3. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of a protective film having light permeability and a color film having light permeability is provided on an upper surface of the decoration member.
  • 4. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the densities of the through holes differ between at a center portion and at a peripheral portion of the decoration member.
  • 5. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower-side holes are formed to be deeper than the upper-side holes.
  • 6. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein walls of the lower-side holes are formed to be oblique so that the diameter of the holes is larger at the lower surface side.
  • 7. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of a protective film having light permeability and a color film having light permeability is provided on an upper surface of the decoration member.
  • 8. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein the densities of the through holes differ between at a center portion and at a peripheral portion of the decoration member.
  • 9. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower-side holes are formed to be deeper than the upper-side holes.
  • 10. The dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 2, wherein walls of the lower-side holes are formed to be oblique so that the diameter of the holes is larger at the lower surface side.
  • 11. A method for manufacturing a dial for a timepiece, comprising steps of:providing masks comprising a plurality of openings on upper and lower surfaces of a substrate, an area of the openings on the upper surface being smaller than an area of the openings on the lower surface; making a decoration member by forming a plurality of through holes in the substrate, the openings of the through holes at the upper surface being smaller than the openings of the through holes at the lower surface by etching the substrate having the masks on both surfaces from both sides; and mounting the decoration member at an upper position of a luminescent member.
  • 12. The method for manufacturing a dial for a timepiece as claimed in claim 11, wherein the substrate is etched while a single opening of the mask on the lower surface corresponds to a plurality of the openings of the mask on the upper surface.
  • 13. A timepiece comprising:a case complete; a dial for a timepiece placed inside the case complete; and a timepiece glass mounted in the case complete to be above the dial for a timepiece, wherein the dial for a timepiece comprises a luminescent member and a decoration member having lower and upper sides and a plurality of through holes formed vertically therein, the decoration member being provided at an upper position of the luminescent member; and wherein the through holes are formed so that the cross-sectional area of the lower-side holes is larger than that of the upper-side holes.
  • 14. The timepiece as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lower-side hole is formed to be large enough to correspond to a plurality of the upper-side holes.
  • 15. The timepiece as claimed in claim 13, wherein the dial for a timepiece comprises a protective film having light permeability or a color film having light permeability on the decoration member.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2000-11537 Apr 2000 JP
Parent Case Info

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 USC 371 of International Application PCT/JP01/03113 (published in English) filed Apr. 11, 2001.

PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/JP01/03113 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO01/79939 10/25/2001 WO A
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5426621 Akasaka Jun 1995 A
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6512721 Amano et al. Jan 2003 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
1 191 592 Dec 1960 DE
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 1999, No. 09; Jul. 30, 1999 & JP 11-095698 (Casio Computer Co., Ltd.) Apr. 9, 1999 & USP 6,208,591 (Casio Computer Co., Ltd.) Mar. 27, 2001.