IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,312,047
Granted Patent B2
US 11,312,047 · App. 16/466,324 · Granted Apr 26, 2022

Method for making a smart bracelet provided with an electronic component insert

Inventors: Nicolas Francois (Neuchatel, CH); Claire Rannoux (Morges, CH); Cedric Nicolas (Neuchatel, CH)
Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
B29C45/0017A44C5/14A44C5/0015A44C5/0076B33Y30/00B33Y70/00B33Y80/00G06F1/163
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,312,047
App. No.
16/466,324
Granted
Apr 26, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for making a bracelet provided with an electronic component insert, the method includes fabricating a basic, flexible support for an insert in the form of a band, making conductive paths on the flexible support or in the flexible support, disposing on the flexible support various electronic components connected to the conductive paths, and coating the electronic components disposed on the flexible support with a transparent or opaque protective layer to finish the insert of the bracelet.

Claims (33)

1. A method for making a bracelet provided with an electronic component insert, the method comprising:

fabricating a basic, flexible support for the electronic component insert in a form of a band, said flexible support being made of plastic material or of thermoplastic material obtained by molding in a mold adapted to a shape of the bracelet, and including at least two bands disposed one on top of the other or side-by-side, one of the at least two bands having a technical function and the other of the at least two bands having a decorative function;

making conductive paths on the flexible support or in the flexible support;

disposing an electronic component into the electronic component insert such that the electronic component is connected to and placed on one of the conductive paths; and

coating the electronic component disposed in the electronic component insert with a transparent or opaque protective layer to finish the electronic component insert of the bracelet, wherein

the conductive paths are sandwiched between the flexible support and the electronic component.

2. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support is obtained by injection molding or extrusion of a thermoplastic material or of several plastic or thermoplastic materials in an appropriate mold.

3. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein

the band with a technical function provides thermal conductivity for the electronic component or electromagnetic shielding, and

the band with a decorative function is in a fluorescent color or pearlescent or variochromic or phosphorescent.

4. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible support contains an additive in a form of an organic metal complex.

5. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 4 , wherein the conductive paths are obtained on or in the flexible support or in a layer on the flexible support by activation of a physicochemical reaction induced by a focused laser beam, which is programmed according to electrical connection pattern of the components.

6. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic component insert is disposed and secured inside a sheath or between an upper band and a lower band of the bracelet.

7. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 6 , wherein the electronic component insert is disposed and secured inside a sheath or between an upper band and a lower band of at least one strand of a wristwatch bracelet.

8. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 6 , wherein the sheath or the upper and lower bands of the bracelet are made of leather or of synthetic or woven material.

9. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive paths are made by a selective plasma spraying process.

10. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic component insert is coated with a vulcanized elastomer, which is one of a nitrile rubber or a fluorinated rubber, or with a silicone or with a crosslinked polyurethane.

11. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is made with a thermoplastic elastomer resistant to environment and to mechanical shocks.

12. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material is transparent to electromagnetic waves.

13. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 11 , wherein the protective layer is made of overmolded polyurethane.

14. The method for making a bracelet according to claim 11 , wherein the protective layer includes a combination of thermochromic pigments and fillers, to allow a color of the protective layer to change according to thermal activity of the electronic component.

15. A bracelet obtained by the method according to claim 1 , wherein

the bracelet includes an electronic component insert, which includes a flexible support, conductive paths, electronic components connected to the conductive paths and a protective layer on the electronic components and the flexible support,

the electronic component insert is disposed inside a sheath or between an upper band and a lower band of at least one strand of the bracelet, or coated with a vulcanized elastomer or with a silicone or with a crosslinked polyurethane,

the at least two bands including three bands disposed one on top of the other or side-by-side,

a central band is phosphorescent, and

two lateral bands are in a fluorescent color.

16. The bracelet according to claim 15 , wherein

the electronic component insert is confined inside a lining made of leather or of synthetic or woven material, and

a central opening is provided in the lining on the central phosphorescent band of the flexible support.

17. The bracelet according to claim 15 , wherein

the electronic component insert is confined inside a lining made of leather or of synthetic or woven material, and

openings are provided in one part of an edge of the lining on the fluorescent bands of the flexible support in order to display information.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2019
From: FRANCOIS, NICOLAS; RANNOUX, CLAIRE; NICOLAS, CEDRIC
To: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
Reel/Frame 049356/0127 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 16204485 · Dec 15, 2016 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200031029A1 · Jan 30, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,317,974 US 12,377,261