Set of luminous display hands for a portable object such as a watch or a measuring instrument

• US 9,292,003 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Inventors: Tortora, Pierpasquale, Faure, Cdric, Springer, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kayes, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/688,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20150346691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 368/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/26 adapted to perform a further operation, e.g. making electrical contact
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/305 the hands carrying the light source hands and manufacture thereof G04B19/042; projection of hands or dials G04B19/34; illumination of scales and/or hands on moving scales H03J1/02; on compasses G01C17/24; on weighing apparatus G01G23/18; on measuring instruments G01D11/28

Abstract

Set of luminous display hands for a portable object which houses an electrical energy supply source, the set of luminous display hands including first and second superposed luminous display hands each provided with a hole for the passage of a drive arbour, the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand being arranged concentrically inside the drive arbour of the first hand with insertion of an insulating layer between the two drive arbours, the first and second luminous display hands respectively carrying a first and a second light source, the first pole of the first light source being electrically connected to a first terminal of the power supply source via the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, the second pole of the first light source being connected to the first pole of the second light source via a contact piece, and the second pole of the second light source being connected to the second terminal of the power supply source via the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand.

Claims

1. A set of luminous display hands for a portable object which houses an electrical energy supply source, wherein the set of luminous display hands includes at least first and second superposed luminous display hands each provided with a hole for the passage of a drive arbour, wherein the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand is arranged concentrically inside the drive arbour of the first hand with insertion of an insulating layer between the two drive arbours, wherein the first and second luminous display hands respectively carry a first and a second light source, wherein the first and second light sources each includes a first and a second pole, wherein the first pole of the first light source is electrically connected to a first terminal of the power supply source via the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, wherein the second pole of the first light source is connected to the first pole of the second light source via a contact piece which ensures electrical continuity between the first and second luminous display hands, and wherein the second pole of the second light source is connected to the second terminal of the power supply source via the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand.

2. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 1, wherein the contact piece is centred on the drive arbour.

3. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second luminous display hands is respectively formed of a first and a second annular element extended by a portion which extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the first and second annular elements respectively each has at the centre thereof a hole for the passage of the drive arbour of the first and second luminous display hands respectively, wherein the first and second annular elements each is provided with an upper surface portion facing an observer, and a lower surface portion opposite the upper surface portion, wherein the upper and lower surface portions of the first and second annular elements are connected to each other by a lateral surface, wherein the upper and lower surface portions and the hole in the first and second annular elements are coated with a layer of electrically conductive material.

4. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface portion of the second annular element is brought to the same electrical potential as the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench, arranged in the lower surface portion of the second annular element, surrounds the drive arbour, so as to electrically insulate the lower surface portion from the drive arbour, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench is arranged in the upper surface portion of the second annular element, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the upper surface portion, wherein a metallized through hole made in the thickness of the second annular element makes it possible to electrically connect to each other the island arranged in the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion, wherein the lower surface portion of the first annular element is brought to the same electrical potential as the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench, arranged in the upper surface portion of the first annular element, surrounds the drive arbour so as to electrically insulate the upper surface portion from the drive arbour, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench is arranged in the lower surface portion of the first annular element, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the lower surface portion, wherein a metallized through hole pierced in the thickness of the first annular element makes it possible to electrically connect to each other the island arranged in the lower surface portion and the upper surface portion, and wherein the lower surface portion of the second annular element is placed in electrical contact with the upper surface portion of the first annular element via an elastic electrically conductive contact piece disposed between the first and second luminous display hands.

5. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 4, wherein the first pole of the first light source is electrically connected to a first terminal of the power supply source via the lower surface portion of the first annular element and the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, wherein the second pole of the first light source is connected to the first pole of the second light source which is in turn electrically connected to the island arranged in the upper surface portion of the second annular element via the contact piece which ensures electrical continuity between the first and second luminous display hands, and wherein the second pole of the second light source is electrically connected to a second terminal of the power supply source via the upper surface portion of the second annular element and the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand.

6. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 2, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are made in one piece, wherein the first luminous display hand includes a lower surface portion and an upper surface portion connected to the lower surface portion by a lateral surface, and wherein the second luminous display hand includes a lower surface portion and an upper surface portion connected to the lower surface portion by a lateral surface, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are metallized on all surfaces.

7. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 6, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are made of a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material selected from the group formed by plastic, quartz, silica, sapphire and ruby.

8. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 7, wherein, for each of the first and second luminous display hands, a continuous electrically insulating trench is arranged in the lower surface portion of the first luminous display hand and second luminous display hand respectively, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the lower surface portion, wherein the lower surface portion remains electrically connected to the upper surface portion via the lateral surface of the first luminous display hand or second luminous display hand respectively, and wherein a continuous electrically insulating trench arranged in the island surrounds the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, respectively the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand, so that the island is electrically insulated from the drive arbour.

9. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 6, wherein, for each of the first and second luminous display hands, a continuous electrically insulating trench is arranged in the lower surface portion of the first luminous display hand and second luminous display hand respectively, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the lower surface portion, wherein the lower surface portion remains electrically connected to the upper surface portion via the lateral surface of the first luminous display hand or second luminous display hand respectively, and wherein a continuous electrically insulating trench arranged in the island surrounds the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, respectively the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand, so that the island is electrically insulated from the drive arbour.

10. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second luminous display hands is respectively formed of a first and a second annular element extended by a portion which extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the first and second annular elements respectively each has at the centre thereof a hole for the passage of the drive arbour of the first and second luminous display hands respectively, wherein the first and second annular elements each is provided with an upper surface portion facing an observer, and a lower surface portion opposite the upper surface portion, wherein the upper and lower surface portions of the first and second annular elements are connected to each other by a lateral surface, wherein the upper and lower surface portions and the hole in the first and second annular elements are coated with a layer of electrically conductive material.

11. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 10, wherein the upper surface portion of the second annular element is brought to the same electrical potential as the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench, arranged in the lower surface portion of the second annular element, surrounds the drive arbour, so as to electrically insulate the lower surface portion from the drive arbour, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench is arranged in the upper surface portion of the second annular element, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the upper surface portion, wherein a metallized through hole made in the thickness of the second annular element makes it possible to electrically connect to each other the island arranged in the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion, wherein the lower surface portion of the first annular element is brought to the same electrical potential as the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench, arranged in the upper surface portion of the first annular element, surrounds the drive arbour so as to electrically insulate the upper surface portion from the drive arbour, wherein an electrically insulating continuous trench is arranged in the lower surface portion of the first annular element, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the lower surface portion, wherein a metallized through hole pierced in the thickness of the first annular element makes it possible to electrically connect to each other the island arranged in the lower surface portion and the upper surface portion, and wherein the lower surface portion of the second annular element is placed in electrical contact with the upper surface portion of the first annular element via an elastic electrically conductive contact piece disposed between the first and second luminous display hands.

12. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 11, wherein the first pole of the first light source is electrically connected to a first terminal of the power supply source via the lower surface portion of the first annular element and the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, wherein the second pole of the first light source is connected to the first pole of the second light source which is in turn electrically connected to the island arranged in the upper surface portion of the second annular element via the contact piece which ensures electrical continuity between the first and second luminous display hands, and wherein the second pole of the second light source is electrically connected to a second terminal of the power supply source via the upper surface portion of the second annular element and the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand.

13. The set of luminous display hands according to of claim 1, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are each formed of a printed circuit board, used to form the first and second annular elements, and of a light guide.

14. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 13, wherein the printed circuit boards are metallized on the top and bottom, but not on the edge, and wherein the light guide is fixed under the first annular element to form the first luminous display hand, whereas the light guide is fixed onto the second annular element to form the second luminous display hand, wherein the first and second light sources are fixed onto an entry face of the light guides.

15. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 1, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are made in one piece, wherein the first luminous display hand includes a lower surface portion and an upper surface portion connected to the lower surface portion by a lateral surface, and wherein the second luminous display hand includes a lower surface portion and an upper surface portion connected to the lower surface portion by a lateral surface, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are metallized on all surfaces.

16. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 15, wherein the first and second light sources are fixed to the respective free ends of the first and second luminous display hands.

17. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 15, wherein the first and second light sources are fixed under the surface of the first and second luminous display hands and wherein a hole made in proximity respectively to the end of the first luminous display hand or the second luminous display hand, allows the light produced by the light source to escape upwards towards the observer.

18. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 15, wherein the first and second luminous display hands are made of a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material selected from the group formed by plastic, quartz, silica, sapphire and ruby.

19. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 18, wherein, for each of the first and second luminous display hands, a continuous electrically insulating trench is arranged in the lower surface portion of the first luminous display hand and second luminous display hand respectively, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the lower surface portion, wherein the lower surface portion remains electrically connected to the upper surface portion via the lateral surface of the first luminous display hand or second luminous display hand respectively, and wherein a continuous electrically insulating trench arranged in the island surrounds the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, respectively the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand, so that the island is electrically insulated from the drive arbour.

20. The set of luminous display hands according to claim 15, wherein, for each of the first and second luminous display hands, a continuous electrically insulating trench is arranged in the lower surface portion of the first luminous display hand and second luminous display hand respectively, so as to create an island electrically insulated from the rest of the lower surface portion, wherein the lower surface portion remains electrically connected to the upper surface portion via the lateral surface of the first luminous display hand or second luminous display hand respectively, and wherein a continuous electrically insulating trench arranged in the island surrounds the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, respectively the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand, so that the island is electrically insulated from the drive arbour.