EP3250075B1 - Movable decorative elements - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to movable decorative elements intended to be rotated and translated into jewelery articles, in particular rings and pendants, as well as in utilitarian articles decorated by movable decorative elements, in particular watches, frames of glasses, or luxury leather goods.

The search for the mobility of decorative elements in a timepiece or jewelery, when the user makes a movement and makes it move offers a strong aesthetic effect and gives an additional visual appeal to the timepiece or jewelery the putting more value. It is known to have, around the dial of a timepiece, or even above it, jewelery items, such as stones, or stones mounted in cabochons, which have at least a degree of freedom, in a channel or a closed space in which these jewelry items are movable.

US5319615 described, at the periphery of the box and beyond the ice, an annular path closed by a transparent ring, on which inserts forming signs defining linguistic elements can move.

Licences CH609517 and EP0965071 in the name of the applicant disclose a movable decorative element, according to the preamble of claim 1, intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls whose inner faces are parallel to each other and at least one of which is transparent. This movable decorative element comprises a precious or semi-precious stone mounted in a socket having a closed bottom whose outer face is curved to promote the rotation of the decorative element when said curved outer face is applied against the inner face of one of said walls. This socket further comprises an open outer face opposite the bottom which is flush or slightly projecting from the stone to form a bearing surface against the other of said walls when the decorative element is arranged between the two walls .

CH609517 describes in particular mobile decorative elements, including diamonds, mounted in supports in the form of small cylindrical bushings whose outer face of the bottom is convex. This convex shape was chosen in order to reduce the friction forces, improving the mobility of the support and therefore that of the movable decorative element. This rotational movement has an interesting flickering effect since it highlights the flickering effect given to the diamond by its multiple facets.

EP0965071 describes, for its part, movable decorative elements arranged in a housing whose inner faces of the two walls of the housing are curved in at least one radius of curvature in order to increase the sparkling effect of the diamonds as elements mobile decorative.

In all cases of the state of the art, the movable decorative element consists of a precious or semi-precious stone held in a cylindrical sleeve whose cylindrical wall surrounds the stone and whose circular outer face constitutes a continuous bearing surface against the other of said walls as illustrated in the figure 1 attached.

The achievements described in CH609517 and EP0965071 give full satisfaction and are very successful commercially due to a surprising effect obtained during the rotation and random translation of precious stones.

The object of the present invention is to provide a movable decorative element, of the aforementioned type, configured to make even more spectacular the flickering effect of diamonds.

According to the invention, a movable decorative element, intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls, comprises a precious or semi-precious stone held in its socket by a plurality of arms which extend over a body of the sleeve and which crimp the stone, these arms leaving between them and above the body of the sleeve of the lateral openings revealing the flanks of the stone between the arms. In addition, said bearing surface is constituted by the free ends of said arms in the form of separate contact zones spaced apart from each other around the periphery of the open outer face of the socket, usually contact points for example.

Thanks to the separate contact zones spaced apart from each other around the periphery of the open outer face of the sleeve cooperating with the surface of a wall of the housing, it has surprisingly been found that the translational movement of the stone is accompanied by a longer rotation and that gives the impression of turning more quickly on itself, providing an even more surprising visual effect, in addition because the stone, visible in its almost all through the lateral openings of the sleeve in rotation, gives the impression of turning alone without support.

The socket according to the present invention then highlights the flickering effect given to the diamond by its multiple facets, the whole, accentuated by the increased visibility of the stone.

In a preferred embodiment, said arms of the socket and its closed bottom are made of a piece.

Preferably, said arms and said lateral openings are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the sleeve.

In one embodiment, the socket has three arms but in some embodiments the socket may have four or five arms or even beyond.

Preferably, said arms are rounded section claws, which protects in particular the stones during contact between two movable elements between them or between a movable element and a surface of the article in which the movable element is integrated.

Depending on the dimensions of the stone, the sleeve may have one or two rings parallel to the closed bottom, said arms extending from the bottom and above these rings.

To better visualize the stone, the lateral openings of the sleeve occupy for example 40% or 60% of the periphery of the sleeve, preferably at minimum 75% or even 90% of the periphery of the sleeve (1). The larger the openings, the more the stone is visible and highlighted.

Preferably, the socket in which the diamonds are mounted is of precious metal, for example gold, generally used in jewelry for mounting diamonds. However, other metals such as stainless steel could be used, for example.

Different sizes of stones are planned and various forms of stones are also provided. Thus, preferably, the precious or semi-precious stone and the socket have a corresponding shape, among others generally cylindrical, oval, square, triangle or asymmetric.

In a variant, the precious or semi-precious stone and the sleeve have a different shape.

For its application in a jewel or a watch for example, the movable decorative element is mounted free in rotation and in translation between two walls of a decorative article whose internal faces are parallel to each other and at least one is transparent.

To move when mounted in an article, a clearance is required between the walls whose inner faces are parallel and the height of the movable decorative element. The clearance between the height of the movable decorative element and the opposite internal faces of the walls may be between 0.05 and 0.3 mm and preferably between 0.05 and 0.1 mm.

In one embodiment, the two walls extend on a peripheral edge which delimits a free space for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or several decorative elements.

In another embodiment, the two walls extend on two edges which define an annular path for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or the decorative elements.

According to a feature of the decorative article according to the invention, the parallel inner faces of the walls are flat and according to another characteristic, the parallel inner faces of the walls are curved.

According to a modification of the decorative article according to the invention, the outer face of the bottom of the sleeve is flat and is applied against the domed inner face of one of said walls, thereby promoting the rotation of the decorative element.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective et une vue en coupe d'un élément décoratif mobile, selon l'état de la technique, destinée à être mis librement en rotation et en translation entre deux parois;
• La figure 2 représente une vue en perspective d'un élément décoratif mobile selon l'invention destiné à être mis librement en rotation et en translation entre deux parois, constitué d'une douille à quatre bras et d'une pierre de forme ronde ;
• La figure 3 représente une vue de côté de l'élément décoratif mobile de la figure 2 ;
• La figure 3A représente une vue de côté de l'élément décoratif mobile de la figure 2 entre deux parois ;
• La figure 4 représente une vue de dessus de l'élément décoratif mobile de la figure 2 ;
• La figure 5 représente une vue de dessous de l'élément décoratif mobile de la figure 2 ;
• La figure 6 représente une vue de dessus d'un élément décoratif mobile constitué d'une douille à trois bras et d'une pierre en forme de coeur ;
• La figure 7 représente une vue de côté de l'élément décoratif mobile de la figure 5, la douille comportant un anneau intermédiaire entre le fond convexe de la douille et l'extrémité des bras ;
• La figure 7A représente une vue de côté de l'élément décoratif mobile de la figure 5 entre deux parois ;
• La figure 7B est une vue semblable de la figure 7A d'une modification où la face externe du fond de la douille est plate et est appuyée contre une paroi bombée.
• La figure 8 représente une vue de dessus de pierres destinées à être montées dans la douille d'un élément décoratif mobile destiné à être mis librement en rotation et en translation entre deux parois;
• La figure 9 représente une vue en coupe d'une montre-bracelet dans laquelle sont insérés, entre deux parois, quatre éléments décoratifs mobiles ; et
• La figure 10 représente une vue de côté d'une variante d'un élément décoratif mobile destiné à être mis librement en rotation et en translation entre deux parois.

The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely by way of example, in no way limiting, as well as an example of the state of the art, with reference to FIGS. schematic, in which:

• The figure 1 represents a perspective view and a sectional view of a mobile decorative element, according to the state of the art, intended to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls;
• The figure 2 represents a perspective view of a movable decorative element according to the invention intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls, consisting of a four-arm socket and a round-shaped stone;
• The figure 3 represents a side view of the movable decorative element of the figure 2 ;
• The figure 3A represents a side view of the movable decorative element of the figure 2 between two walls;
• The figure 4 represents a top view of the mobile decorative element of the figure 2 ;
• The figure 5 represents a bottom view of the mobile decorative element of the figure 2 ;
• The figure 6 is a top view of a movable decorative element consisting of a three-armed socket and a heart-shaped stone;
• The figure 7 represents a side view of the movable decorative element of the figure 5 the socket having an intermediate ring between the convex bottom of the socket and the end of the arms;
• The Figure 7A represents a side view of the movable decorative element of the figure 5 between two walls;
• The Figure 7B is a similar view of the Figure 7A a modification where the outer face of the bottom of the sleeve is flat and is pressed against a curved wall.
• The figure 8 is a top view of stones to be mounted in the socket of a movable decorative element to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls;
• The figure 9 represents a sectional view of a wristwatch in which are inserted, between two walls, four movable decorative elements; and
• The figure 10 represents a side view of a variant of a movable decorative element intended to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls.

The figure 1 illustrates a movable decorative element intended to be freely rotated and in translation between two walls as described in CH609517 and EP0965071 . These decorative elements consist of a casing 20 of cylindrical shape, the bottom 4 is slightly concave, having an annular groove for crimping a stone. The stone 2 is visible through the upper open portion and opposite to the concave bottom 4 of the casing 20. A continuous circular contact surface 30 surrounds the upper part of the stone 2 and comes into contact with the ice.

According to the present invention and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 this movable decorative element execution intended to be set freely in rotation and in translation between two walls comprises a gemstone 2 of round shape mounted in a socket 1. The sleeve 1 comprises, as known from the state of the art, a closed bottom 4 whose outer face is curved to promote the rotation of the decorative element when said curved outer face is applied against the inner face of one of said walls.

The gemstone 2 is held in its socket 1 by four arms 3 which extend above a body 8 of the sleeve 1 and which crimp the stone 2. These four arms 3 leave them and above the body 8 of the sleeve 1 of the lateral openings 9 revealing the sides of the stone 2 between the arms 3.

The gemstone 2 and the sleeve 1 have a corresponding shape, round in this example ( Figures 4 and 5 ). The sleeve 1 further comprises an outer face 7 open and opposite the bottom 4 which protrudes with respect to the stone 2 to form a discontinuous surface of upper support against the other wall 5 of said walls 5, 6 when the decorative element is arranged between the two walls.

According to the invention, a discontinuous bearing surface is formed by the free ends of the arms 3 in the form of separate contact point zones spaced from each other around the periphery of the open outer face 7 of the sleeve 1. it is through these areas of spaced contacts that the sleeve 1 contacts the inner face of a wall 5 during the rotation of the decorative elements. In addition, thanks to these spaced contact areas the sleeve has a longer rotation and faster appearance of the socket on itself.

As illustrated in figure 3A the movable decorative element is disposed between two walls 5, 6 at least one of which is transparent. In this example, the upper wall 5 must be transparent to reveal the stone 2 in its socket.

The four arms 3, of rounded section, and said lateral openings 9 are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the sleeve 1.

According to this embodiment, the stone 2 of round shape can have different diameters, preferably between 2 and 5 mm. The size between windows is for example preferably between 1.5mm and 5.0mm.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 6 a movable decorative element consists of a sleeve 1 with three arms 3 and a stone 2 in the shape of a heart. The three arms 3, of rounded section, and the lateral openings 9 are arranged regularly around the axis of the sleeve 1.

The socket 1 illustrated at figure 7 has an open outer face 7 opposite the bottom 4 which protrudes slightly with respect to the stone 2. In addition, the sleeve 1 comprises a ring 11 parallel to the closed bottom 4, the arms 3 extending from the bottom 4 and above of this ring 11.

As illustrated in Figure 7A , the mobile element of the figure 7 is disposed between two walls 5, 6 parallel. At least the upper wall 5 is transparent but, the two walls 5, 6 can be transparent, according to the configuration of the decorative article in which the movable decorative element is mounted.

According to the modification of Figure 7B the movable element has a flat bottom and the windows 5, 6 are curved. In this case, it is the bending of the ice which causes the rotation of the movable element.

Of course, the Figure 7B is just one example of a modified decorative item with a flat-bottomed moving element. The other embodiments of mobile elements illustrated can also be modified by replacing the curved bottom by a flat bottom pressed against a curved wall.

In the illustrated embodiments, the lateral openings 9 occupy more than 75% or even 80% of the periphery of the sleeve 1. The sizes of the lateral openings 9 have to be adapted according to the dimensions and the material of the sleeve 1, as well as the size and shape of the stone 2.

As illustrated in figure 8 , different forms of stones can be set in the socket 1 also called kitten. The stones 2 can be round, heart, square, cushion, triangle, pear, shuttle, oval or rhombus. However, it is not excluded to use other forms of stones 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 9 , a watch shown in section comprises a movement provided with a dial, housed in a housing comprising a closed middle part, on the one hand by a bottom, and on the other hand by a window 5. A second mirror 6 is arranged between the ice cream 5 and a dial.

In this example, the respective inner faces of each mirror 5 and 6 are applied against a bearing surface of the inner face of a middle part, leaving between them a free space 12 of determined height. In this example, the respective inner faces of the windows 5, 6 are rigorously flat. In a variant not shown, the respective inner faces of the windows 5, 6 may have a slight bending formed by one or more radii of curvature around one or more centers or axes of curvature, in particular according to different sectional planes according to EP0965071 . In this case, the respective curvatures given to these two inner faces 5, 6 are strictly identical to each other, so that the height of the free space formed between them remain constant.

Alternatively as described according to EP0965071 , given the bending of the face 6 of the free space 12, the outer face of the bottom 4 of the sleeve 1 could be flat or very slightly curved, without canceling the rotation effect, but reducing it however. By against this measure reduces the height of the bushing 4 and therefore that of the free space 12 between the two windows 5, 6 and therefore that of the watch.

To avoid any wear subsequent to the displacement of the sleeves 1 in the space 12 between the two windows 5, 6, the inner surfaces of the windows 5 and 6 must be smooth and made of a material with a hardness that can not be scratched.

As regards the sockets 1 in which the diamonds 2 are mounted, they are preferably made of a precious metal, for example gold, generally used in jewelry for mounting diamonds. However, other metals such as stainless steel could be used, for example.

In the case where, as in the example illustrated in figure 9 , the two walls 5, 6 defining a space 12 are formed by ice, they will preferably sapphire or a material having a hardness comparable to that of sapphire. If the inner ice, or a part thereof, does not cover the dial, but for example is limited to an annular zone disposed around the dial, only one face must be transparent. In this case, instead of a sapphire crystal, the non-transparent wall can be made of another suitable material, for example a stone or ceramic.

In the example shown in figure 9 , only the upper face of the ice 5 is curved while in a variant the two faces of the outer ice 5 are parallel and curved. The fact of having in particular a curved outer glaze gives it greater strength, so that its thickness can be reduced, allowing a corresponding thickness gain of the article of jewelry, which has a particular importance for watches. Moreover, a curved mirror also gives a magnifying effect.

The optional bending of the walls, according to EP0965071 , to achieve an effect on the rotational speed of the mobile decorative elements is very small. Tests have shown that preferred values are between 0.5 and 1 mm of deflection for a 20 mm diameter ice. A larger arrow is possible, but with a much larger arrow, the movement of diamonds tends to be limited to the peripheral zone of the space 12 delimited by the two walls 5, 6.

In addition, the walls may for example have a spherical bending or barrel bending (in a single axis).

The invention is obviously not limited to round ice. It can also be applied to ice-creams of polygonal shape, for example rectangular or square.

The movement of the movable decorative elements in the space delimited by the two walls 5, 6 is purely random. The higher the speed of rotation, the slower the translation movement and vice versa. The movable decorative elements can rotate in one direction or the other depending on the direction of the torque created to initiate the movement of these decorative elements. As this direction is quite random, when the space 12 between the two walls 5, 6 contains several movable decorative elements, they can rotate in different directions even longer, at different speeds appearing even faster and / or longer thanks to points or contact areas different ones separated from each other, which creates an even more surprising and spectacular effect.

In a variant not shown, the two walls 5, 6 extend on two edges which define an annular path for the free movement in rotation and translation of the decorative element or the decorative elements. For example, the movable elements may occupy a peripheral annular area around a dial.

According to another embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 10 , a movable decorative element can be obtained from a sleeve 1 of cylindrical shape. This sleeve 1 of cylindrical shape is then machined to present lateral openings 9. In this case, the contact points are replaced by zones or segments separated from each other and having a closed bottom 4 whose outer face is curved to favor the rotation of the decorative element when said curved outer face is applied against the inner face of one of said walls, and an outer open face 7 opposite the bottom 4 which is flush with respect to the stone 2 to form segments of a circle forming support walls against the other of said walls 5, 6 when the decorative element is disposed between the two walls. This solution has the advantage of being relatively easy to produce.

As mentioned above, the invention is not limited to watches, but is applicable to all kinds of articles including jewelery such as rings and pendants, as well as glasses, even pens or other instruments of writing. One could also consider articles with decorative decorative elements according to the invention, associated with luxury leather goods, such as handbags. In general, these movable decorative elements can be applied to any utility article to associate an original aesthetic effect. In particular, it is possible to include several decorative elements of different types in an article to produce a unique aesthetic effect.

Claims (20)

1. A movable decorative element intended to be freely rotated and translated between two walls (5, 6) whose inner faces are parallel to each other, at least one of which is transparent, the decorative element including a precious or semi-precious stone (2) mounted in a socket (1) including:

   - a closed bottom (4), whose outer face (7) is bulged to promote the rotation of the decorative element when this bulged outer face (7) is applied against the inner face of one of said walls, and

   - an open outer face (7) opposite to the bottom (4) which is flush with or protrudes relative to the stone (2) to form a bearing surface against the other of said walls (5, 6) when the decorative element is disposed between the two walls,

   characterized in that the precious or semi-precious stone (2) is held in its socket (1) by a plurality of arms (3) which extend above a body (8) of the socket (1) and which crimp the stone (2), these arms (3) leaving, therebetween and above the body (8) of the socket (1), lateral openings (9) letting appear the flanks of the stone (2) between the arms (3), and said bearing surface is constituted by the free ends of said arms (3) in the form of separate contact areas spaced from each other around the periphery of the open outer face (7) of the socket (1).
2. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein said arms (3) are made in one piece with the socket (1) and its closed bottom.
3. The decorative element according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said arms (3) and said lateral openings (9) are disposed symmetrically about the axis of the socket (1).
4. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, whose socket (1) includes at least three arms (3).
5. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said arms (3) are rounded sectional claws.
6. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, whose socket (1) includes an annulus (11) parallel to the closed bottom (4), said arms (3) extending from the bottom (4) and above this annulus (11).
7. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral openings (9) occupy at least 40% or 60% of the periphery of the socket (1), preferably at least 75% or even 90% of the periphery of the socket (1).
8. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, whose socket (1) is made of precious metal.
9. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, whose stone (2) is a precious stone, in particular a diamond.
10. The decorative element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the precious or semi-precious stone (2) and the socket (1) have a corresponding shape which is, inter alia, generally cylindrical, oval, square, triangular or asymmetric.
11. A decorative item including at least one decorative element according to any one of the preceding claims freely mounted in rotation and in translation between two walls (5, 6) whose inner faces are parallel to each other and at least one of which is transparent.
12. The decorative item according to claim 11, wherein the clearance between the height of the socket (1) and the opposite inner faces of the walls (5, 6) ranges from 0.05 to 0.3 mm and preferably from 0.05 to 0.1 mm.
13. The decorative item according to claims 11 or 12, wherein the parallel inner faces of the walls (5, 6) are flat.
14. The decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the parallel inner faces of the walls (5, 6) are bulged.
15. The decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the walls (5, 6) are made of sapphire or a material having a hardness comparable to that of sapphire.
16. The decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the two walls (5, 6) are transparent.
17. The decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the two walls (5, 6) extend over a peripheral edge which delimits a free space for the free displacement in rotation and in translation of the decorative element(s).
18. The decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the two walls (5, 6) extend over two edges which delimit an annular path for the free displacement in rotation and in translation of the decorative element(s).
19. The decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 18, in the form of a watch; a writing instrument; a jewel; a spectacle frame; or a leather item.
20. A modification of the decorative item according to any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the outer face of the bottom (4) of the socket (1) is flat and is applied against the bulged inner face of one of said walls (6).

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