HK1028817B - Watches and method for their production - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement of at least two clocks, a clock separated from this arrangement and a method for manufacturing this arrangement, according to the general terms of the independent claims.

In the past 30 years, the manufacturing process, appearance, use and social status of personal watches have changed. Earlier, the production of watches was a labor-intensive precision work that had to be performed by highly skilled professionals. Watches were mainly made of noble, durable materials such as metal and glass. Therefore, a watch - usually a mechanical wristwatch or pocket watch - was an expensive purchase that was made once or at most several times in a lifetime. Today is different again. Plastic technology and microelectronics allow the cheap mass production of watches by low-skilled personnel.

Such a type of watch is the subject of the invention and is defined in the independent claims, as is a manufacturing process for such watches.

The invention is based on the idea of creating, manufacturing and distributing an arrangement of at least two watches connected by means of connectors. Watches of the arrangement are separable from each other. To this end, the connectors have set breaking points. Thus, it is possible to separate the watches at a later time, freely chosen by the respective owner, and use them as desired. The arrangement has a tread element, which contains the connecting elements and which is at the same time an essential component of each individual watch of the arrangement.

The table clock or the measuring instrument described in the instructions for use DE 87 06 553 U and DE 85 30 739 U have several clocks, but no connecting devices with a break and are not irreversibly separable. The Journal Suisse d'Horlogie et de Bijouterie, No 3,1988, p. 503, Lausanne, shows that one or more clocks are connected by means of a clutch. The same applies to a single watch, but the clutch must not be irreversibly separated from the other.

The connectors in the arrangement of the invention may, for example, be formed by a single support element and/or watch components such as dial, lid glass and/or case, or be on a support element. The support element may include the dials, lid lenses or case of all watches. In a preferred embodiment, the support element includes the dials of all watches, with the lid lenses connected to a first surface of the support element and the case connected to a second surface of the support element. The dials, lid lenses and/or case are preferably made of plastic.

The possibility of separating clocks from each other is achieved by a breakpoint between two clocks of the arrangement. A breakpoint may be realized, for example, as a rejuvenation or reduction of cross-section and/or as a perforation in the connecting medium.

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At least one of the watches of the invention may be fitted with fasteners which enable the watch and/or the watch to be attached to an object and/or surface, as appropriate for use, e.g. a body part, a garment, a bag, a piece of furniture, a vehicle, a plant, etc. Such fasteners may form, material or force-binding connections to the object and/or surface. Examples of fasteners are bracelets, clasps, connectors, threaded fasteners, hanging means, adhesive or sticky surfaces, magnets, etc.

The method of manufacturing an arrangement in accordance with the invention produces the supporting element, the lids and the case containing the dials of all watches; the lids and the case are connected to the supporting element; the supporting element, the lids and the case are preferably made of plastic by injection moulding; the lids and the case are then preferably glued and/or welded to the supporting element.

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It is, of course, up to the owner to separate the clocks or not, and it is also conceivable to use the arrangement as such or parts of it consisting of several clocks, e.g. because of the unusual, conspicuous appearance of several clocks connected to each other, or to set or read different times on the different clocks of the arrangement.

The invention opens up a range of uses not previously imagined. The watch arrangement, parts thereof, or individual watches separated from the arrangement can be used as fashion accessories, jewelry, pendants, promotional gifts, advertising, greeting or greeting cards, business cards, and much more. The design of the watch arrangement and its watches are practically unlimited. The watches of an invention arrangement can have the same or different appearance.

The following is a detailed description of the invention, illustrated by drawings showing: Figures 1-5 - Schematic drawings of different arrangements of clocks,Figures 6-9, 11 - Schematic side views of different arrangements,Figures 13-16 - Different views of a preferred embodiment of the arrangement,Figures 17-21 - Different views of a watch separated from the preferred arrangement, andFigures 22-24 - Different cross-sections of a watch.

Figures 1 to 5 show schematic drawings of various arrangements of clocks in accordance with the invention and mainly deal with possible forms of arrangements.

The arrangement is one-dimensional in the sense that each clock is connected to no more than two other clocks. The clocks 1.1-1.4 are ideally separable from each other, e.g. at breakpoints 3.1-3.1, which are located on the connecting devices 2.1-2.3 between two clocks 1.1-1.4 respectively. The clocks 1.1-1.4 of the arrangement may, as in Fig. 1, have different appearance patterns; this gives the owner the opportunity to display a suitable pattern for each clock, such as the pattern of the day, the shape of the day, the weather, etc. The clocks 1.1-1.4 may also have different appearance patterns, as shown in the following figures.

Figure 2 shows a two-dimensional, e.g. T-shaped arrangement of five clocks 1.1-1.5. This arrangement is two-dimensional in the sense that there is at least one clock 1.2 in the arrangement that is connected to more than two clocks 1.1, 1.3, 1.4. The one-dimensional arrangement of six clocks 1.1-1.6 in Figure 3 is O-shaped, that of four clocks 1.1-1.4 in Figure 4 is glue-sheet-shaped. The two-dimensional arrangement of clocks 1.1-1.9 shown in Figure 5 is similar to a chocolate table or a postage stamp sheet.

Figures 6-9, 11 show schematic side views of various one-dimensional arrangements of the invention with four clocks 1.1-1.4 each, and mainly deal with the connectors between clocks 1.1-1.4 The main components of the clocks 1.1-1.4 are shown in the case of the cover glass 11.1-11.4, the dial 12.1-12.4 and the case 13.1-13.4.

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The embodiment of Fig. 6 is preferably produced by first making the supporting element 20 containing the dials 12.1-12.4, the cover glass 11.1-11.4 and the casing 13.1-13.4, e.g. from plastic by injection moulding, and then connecting the cover glass 11.1-11.4 and the casing 13.1-13.4 to the supporting element 20, e.g. by gluing and/or welding, with the possibility of using ultrasonic welding.

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In the arrangement shown in Figure 7, the connecting devices 2.1-2.3 between clocks 1.1-1.4 are formed by their cover glass 11.1-11.4. The cover glass 11.1-11.4 separated from each other by the break points 3.1-3.3 can be considered as a support element 20 of the arrangement.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 8, the connecting elements 2.1-2.3 between clocks 1.1-1.4 are formed by their housing 13.1-13.4.

Figure 9 shows an arrangement of four clocks 1.1-1.4 of which two clocks 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, 1.4 are connected to each other by means of their dials 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3, respectively, which form the first connectors 2.1 and 2.2 respectively, thus forming two sub-arrangements 10.1, 10.2. In this example, the clocks 1.1, 12 of a sub-arrangement 10.1 are not separable from each other because there is no breakpoint between them.

Figure 11 shows an arrangement with further different connectors 2.1-2.4 between clocks 1.1-1.5. A first connector 2.1 may be, for example, formed as a thin rod or as a thin plate and formed out of or attached to the two clocks 1.1, 1.2 to be connected. The first connector 2.1 forms at the same time a target breakpoint because of its small cross-section 3.1. A second connector 2.2 is designed as a form-locked reversible connection, e.g. as a (schematically shown) snap-lock with a sliding part 2.21, which is held by two flexible parts 2.22, 2.23.

The connecting devices shown in Figures 6 to 9 and 11 are of course only illustrative in nature; if the person concerned is familiar with the invention, he can design and/or combine the connecting devices in a different way, thus creating other arrangements not shown here, but which are also part of the present invention.

Figures 13-16 show various views of a preferred embodiment of the arrangement of the invention. The arrangement corresponds approximately to that of Figures 1 and 6. It has four in a row of clocks 1.1-1.4 which are connected to each other by means of their dials 12.1-12.4; the connectors 2.1-2.3 are therefore formed by deformations on the dials 12.1-12.4. The dials 12.1-12.4 are comprised of a single supporting element 20. The supporting element 20 should produce a break of 3.1-3.3 in the form of perforations and cross-sectional reductions between the clocks. The individual clocks 1.1-1.4 are e.g. square; 1.1-1.14.4 shows a break on all four sides of the clock in such a way that they are marked with a letter reminiscent of their corresponding sign on Figures 15.1-14.14. (Figures 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.1-14.14, 17.14.14, 17.14.14, 17.14.14, 17.14.14, 17.14.14, 17.14.14.14, 17.14.14, 17.14.14.14, 17.14.14.14, 17.14.14.14, 17.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.14.1

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Figures 17-21 show a single watch 1 according to the invention, which is separated from the arrangement shown in Figures 13-16; this watch 1 according to the invention is distinguished from the state of the art watches, among other things, by having connectors for connecting to other watches and/or traces of previously existing connectors. The watch shown here (as in Fig. 6-12) was originally connected to another watch on at least one of the first 25 pages via the dial 12 on at least one of the first pages. After separating the watch 1 along a break, the fracture surface 26 on the first page 25 can be clearly identified as a fracture due to its structure, which makes the watch of the invention be made of a similar but different adhesive material.

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Watches of the invention may be fitted with (non-exhibited) fixing devices to attach the watches to objects and/or surfaces. Examples of fixing devices are bracelets, clasps, plug-ins, threaded fixings, hanging devices, sticky or adhesive surfaces, magnets, etc. Such fixings are known in themselves and are easy for the professional to place in suitable places of the watches of the invention.

In Figures 17-21 various cross-sections are shown by a clock of the invention 1 shown in Figures 17-24. The plane of the cutouts are indicated in Figures 18 and 19. In all these Figures 22-24 the three main components of the top glass 11, dial 12 and case 13 are visible. The top glass 11 and case 13 are preferably securely connected to the dial 12, e.g. glued and/or welded to it. For the inclusion and precise positioning of the top glass 11 and/or case 13, recesses or grooves 24 are provided in sheet 12.

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The cross-sectional plane of Figure 24 runs parallel to that of Figure 23, but at the edge of the watch 1 according to the invention, so that welded eyes 17.1, 17.4 are visible. Such welded eyes 17.1, 17.4 can form material-bound connections between dial 12 and case 13 of plastic. For the manufacture of such connections, exceptions 27.1, 27.4 and knobs 37.1, 37.4 respectively are provided at the appropriate places. The parts to be connected 12, 13 are positioned and stacked on top of each other. At least one of the parts 12, 13 is subjected to an ultrasonic vibration (not shown) which makes the two parts 12, 13 blend.

The figures show analogue clocks 1, 1.1-1.9 with hands 15. Of course, the invention also covers clocks with other means of time indication, e.g. digital clocks.

Claims (13)

1. Arrangement of at least two watches (1.1-1.9), wherein the watches of the arrangement are connected by connecting means (2.1-2.6), and wherein the connecting means (2.1-2.6) comprise preset breaking points (3.1-3.4), such that watches are irreversibly separatable from one another, characterized by a carrier element (20), which contains the connecting means (2.1-2.6) and at the same time is a substantial component (11.1-11.4, 12.1-12.4, 13-1-13.4) of each individual watch (1.1-1.9).
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that each watch (1.1-1.9) of the arrangement comprises a cover glass (11.1-11.4), a dial (12.1-12.4) and a case (13.1-13.4), and that the carrier element (20) contains the cover glasses (11.1-11.4), dials (12.1-12.4) and cases of all watches (1.1-1.9).
3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the carrier element (20) contains the dials (12.1-12.4) of all watches (1.1-1.4) and that the cover glasses (11.1-11.4) are connected to a first surface (21) of the carrier element (20) and the cases (13.1-13.4) are connected to a second surface (22) of the carrier element (20).
4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover glasses (11.1-11.4) and the cases (13.1-13.4) are joined in a substance to substance bond to the carrier elements (20).
5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the preset breaking point (3.1-3.4) is designed in the form of a constriction or cross-sectional reduction and/or as a perforation in the connecting means.
6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the covering glasses (11.1-11.4), the dials (12.1-12.4) and the cases (13.1-13.4) consist of plastic.
7. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the watches (1.1-1.4) have different appearances.
8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that on at least one watch (1.4) of the arrangement fastening means (2.41) are attached for fastening the at least one watch (1.4) and/or the arrangement to an object and/or a surface.
9. Watch (1), characterized in that it is separated from an arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8.
10. Method for the manufacture of an arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the carrier element (20), the cover glasses (11.1-11.4) as well as the cases (13.1-13.4) are manufactured and the cover glasses (11.1-11.4) as well as the cases (13.1-13.4) are connected to the carrier element (20).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the carrier element (20), the cover glasses (11.1-11.4) and the cases (13.1-13.4) are manufactured from plastic by means of injection moulding.
12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the carrier element (20) is manufactured in that a plastic film (23) is printed, placed in an injection mould and sprayed with plastic.
13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the covering glasses (11.1-11.4) and the cases (13.1-13.4) are bonded and/or welded to the carrier element (20).