Wristwatch comprising one-piece elastic strap

Abstract

The invention relates to a wristwatch having functional components and a one-piece spring strap consisting of an elastic metal strip ( 12 ) possessing two stable states, in one of which it is straight and in the other of which it is coiled. Its functional components, comprising in particular a flexible liquid-crystal display ( 16 ) and two control buttons ( 26 ), are arranged on a flexible printed circuit fixed to one of the ends ( 28 ) of the strip ( 12 ). The whole is enclosed in a protective sheath ( 50 ) having a transparent window over the liquid-crystal display ( 16 ).

1 .- 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A wristwatch having functional components and a one-piece spring strap made from an elastic metal strip ( 12 ) possessing two stable states, in one of which it is straight and in the other of which it is coiled into a spiral, and which are produced by being put through two rollings, one along its length and the other across its width, which wristwatch is characterized in that its functional components are located on one of the ends of the strip ( 12 ).  
     
     
         14 . The wristwatch as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that said strip ( 12 ) has a thickness of between 0.10 and 0.20 mm, a width of between 2 and 4 cm and a length of between 20 and 30 cm.  
     
     
         15 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that its functional components are fixed to a flexible printed circuit ( 14 ) attached to the strip and having conducting tracks connecting them to each other.  
     
     
         16 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that its rigid components, namely the quartz oscillator ( 18 ), the integrated circuit ( 20 ) and the power source ( 22 ), are positioned on the edges of the strip ( 12 ).  
     
     
         17 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that said printed circuit ( 14 ) is attached to the strip ( 12 ) by a spot of adhesive ( 30 ) positioned at its center on the longitudinal axis of the strip.  
     
     
         18 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that its rigid components, namely the quartz oscillator ( 18 ), the integrated circuit ( 20 ) and the power source ( 22 ), are positioned on the edges of the strip ( 12 ).  
     
     
         19 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 14 , characterized in that its functional components are fixed to a flexible printed circuit ( 14 ) attached to the strip and having conducting tracks connecting them to each other.  
     
     
         20 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that its rigid components, namely the quartz oscillator ( 18 ), the integrated circuit ( 20 ) and the power source ( 22 ), are positioned on the edges of the strip ( 12 ).  
     
     
         21 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that said printed circuit ( 14 ) is attached to the strip ( 12 ) by a spot of adhesive ( 30 ) positioned at its center on the longitudinal axis of the strip.  
     
     
         22 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 21 , characterized in that its rigid components, namely the quartz oscillator ( 18 ), the integrated circuit ( 20 ) and the power source ( 22 ), are positioned on the edges of the strip ( 12 ).  
     
     
         23 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that said printed circuit ( 14 ) is cut to fit around said rigid components, except where the conducting tracks connect these to the other components.  
     
     
         24 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 21 , characterized in that said printed circuit ( 14 ) is cut to fit around said rigid components, except where the conducting tracks connect these to the other components.  
     
     
         25 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 17 , one of the components of which is a control means ( 26 ), which wristwatch is characterized in that said means is positioned over the spot of adhesive ( 30 ), in the longitudinal axis of the strip.  
     
     
         26 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 21 , one of the components of which is a control means ( 26 ), which wristwatch is characterized in that said means is positioned over the spot of adhesive ( 30 ), in the longitudinal axis of the strip.  
     
     
         27 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that its power source is a rechargeable battery ( 22 ) and in that it also comprises a thermoelectric generator ( 24 ) which is connected to the printed circuit ( 14 ) to charge the battery and which is fixed to the strip ( 12 ) itself.  
     
     
         28 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 27 , characterized in that the thermoelectric generator ( 24 ) is bonded to the strip ( 12 ) by means of a layer of elastic heat-conducting adhesive ( 42 ).  
     
     
         29 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that its power source is a rechargeable battery ( 22 ) and in that it also comprises a thermoelectric generator ( 24 ) which is connected to the printed circuit ( 14 ) to charge the battery and which is fixed to the strip ( 12 ) itself.  
     
     
         30 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 29 , characterized in that the thermoelectric generator ( 24 ) is bonded to the strip ( 12 ) by means of a layer of elastic heat-conducting adhesive ( 42 ).  
     
     
         31 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 15 , one of the components of which is a liquid-crystal display, which wristwatch is characterized in that said display ( 16 ) consists of two flexible bands ( 46 ,  48 ), one for displaying the hour and the other the minutes, and respectively comprising twelve boxes aligned in a column bearing the series of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and twelve boxes aligned in a column bearing the series of numbers 00, 05, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55.  
     
     
         32 . The electronic wristwatch as claimed in  claim 19 , one of the components of which is a liquid-crystal display, which wristwatch is characterized in that said display ( 16 ) consists of two flexible bands ( 46 ,  48 ), one for displaying the hour and the other the minutes, and respectively comprising twelve boxes aligned in a column bearing the series of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and twelve boxes aligned in a column bearing the series of numbers 00, 05, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55.  
     
     
         33 . The wristwatch as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that it is enclosed in a flexible plastic sheath ( 50 ).  
     
     
         34 . The wristwatch as claimed in  claim 33 , characterized in that the sheath ( 50 ) has a transparent window ( 52 ) over the liquid-crystal display ( 16 ).