HK40022405A - Apparatus comprising a glass or a screen - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device incorporating a glass or screen and arranged to provide watertightness and scratch-proofing of the device.

The deterioration of the visual appearance of a device with a mirror or screen, for example a watch, when worn is an essential quality perception factor for the consumer. Alterations of the surface of the items come from stresses of all kinds, especially of mechanical origin. The mirror or watch glass is with the dial an essential element of the watch's image. Its fragility, scratch resistance and transparency are important characteristics.

Moreover, the watertightness of appliances, whether or not portable, with mirrors or screens is fundamental not only for the proper functioning of these appliances but also for the image of manufacturers for whom the feedback from after-sales services is very poorly perceived.

Thus, damage to the screen or the glass is very detrimental to the use or even future proper operation of the device.

To address this dual problem, solutions have been developed to make glass or screens unbreakable or uncrackable.

Highly transparent polycarbonate watch face is used to, for example, improve the decorative quality. In one case where an adhesive is used in a watch face created by gluing a plurality of substrates together, in the form of a plate, air bubbles enter an adhesion layer, a bonding layer between the substrates, and significantly decrease the aesthetic appearance of the watch face as a whole.

EP2508952 describes a watch face comprising a first substrate containing at least 50% by weight of polycarbonate, a second substrate containing at least 50% by weight of polycarbonate and a bonding layer linking the first substrate and the second substrate.

WO2014003495 describes a protective film for a screen, which can be glued in the correct position on a liquid crystal screen of a mobile phone. The protective film structure for a mobile phone screen includes the protective film, which has the same dimension as the liquid crystal screen on the mobile phone and one surface of which is coated with an adhesive agent, a lower anti-adhesive paper, which is glued onto the protective film so that a side surface of the lower anti-adhesive paper comes in close contact with an inner surface of the protective film. The protective film structure also includes an upper anti-adhesive paper, which is glued onto the other outer surface and the upper and secondary protective film and fastening papers, which are located on one end or another of the main end of the phone and are not in close contact with the outer edge of the protective paper and the upper end of the phone.

EP2754739 describes a zipper glass component for an electronic device such as a telephone. The zipper glass component consists of an aluminum oxide ceramic material with first and second main surfaces, the first and second main surfaces defining the zipper glass component between them. A first part of the zipper glass component has a residual compression stress induced in it by selective annealing of the first part of the zipper glass and a second part of the zipper glass component has no residual compression stress induced in the metallic component. The first part of the zipper glass component, where a second residual compression stress is induced, has a substantially larger residual compression stress than the iron-based component.

EP3121002A1 describes a protective hood for a user interface of a solid-state entertainment touch screen of an aircraft seat backrest. The hood consists of an outer protective element comprising an outer surface comprising an ultra-thin layer of glass, the ultra-thin glass comprising an inner surface and an opposite outer surface defining a thickness. The thickness is between 0.02 and 0.15 mm. An inner protective element consisting of a plastic is arranged on the inner surface of the ultra-thin sheet of glass. This system is a kind of safety fencing to prevent the passenger of the aircraft from being injured if he falls from the screen.

EP2644670 describes an adhesive sheet with a first layer of adhesive, a transparent layer of acrylic resin and a second layer of adhesive.

WO2008/002772 describes an optical article comprising a first rigid optical substrate, a second rigid optical substrate and a self-replicating optical adhesive placed between the first and second rigid substrate to replace an anti-reflective layer which may generate air bubbles.

CN204894644 describes a protective sapphire sticker comprising a protective sticker, which is a metal case with a surface attached to an electronic device. The panel has an exposed hollow hole, and a sapphire substrate is installed in the hollow hole, and an adhesive layer capable of adhering the metal shell to the surface of the electronic device is provided on the back of the sapphire substrate.

EP2644670 describes a double-sided adhesive sheet and a display device for a touch panel including it.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a mobile, handheld, portable and user-portable device, including a wristwatch, smartphone or tablet, and a fixed device, including interactive displays, timers, vending machines, such mobile and fixed devices incorporating a mirror or screen, and arranged to provide watertightness and scratch-proofing of a device intended to display information visible to a user through the mirror or screen, the user being able to replace the components of the device himself and without tools.

According to the invention as defined in claim 1, an apparatus consists of a glass or screen, arranged to provide watertightness and scratch protection of the apparatus, intended to display information visible to a user through the glass or screen. The apparatus consists of a first layer of material of unbreakable transparent plastic polymer, typically at least one hundred to two hundred times stronger than glass, the first layer of material being arranged on the apparatus so that one side is arranged on the information side and a second side on the user side, the first layer of material being secured to the apparatus in a watertight manner.The apparatus consists of a second layer of transparent glass material with an anti-scratch surface, including sapphire glass, superimposed on the first layer and constituting the outer part of the glass or screen of the apparatus, the second layer having an outer face arranged on the user side and a second inner face arranged on the information side. The second layer of material may have the same shape and dimensions as the first layer of material, except for its thickness. However, the second layer of material may be smaller than the first layer of material.the inner face is covered by a transparent retractable glue film, which ensures the retractable adhesion of the second layer of material to the first layer of material, while the second layer of material with its retractable glue film can be removed to be replaced by another layer of material with a transparent retractable glue film, without breaking the seal of the apparatus provided by the first layer of material which remains permanently fixed to the apparatus. The apparatus has positioning devices to facilitate the positioning of the second layer of material on the first layer of material,The positioning medium consists of one or a series of protrusions arranged on the periphery of the first material in such a way that these positioning media surround the second layer of material covering the first layer of material.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the attached dependent claims.

In one embodiment, the apparatus has sealing means consisting of a protrusion, a seal or a bond arranged on the outer periphery of the first material.

In one embodiment, the sealing of the apparatus may be ensured by an o-ring joint which would be positioned between the apparatus and the first layer of material or by an ultrasonic bonding which would be made on the first layer of material.

In a preferential embodiment, the first layer of material, the second layer of material and the repositionable glue film, when stacked, are between 0.8 mm and 5 mm thick, typically 2 mm.

In one embodiment, the positioning means consists of a notch formed in the first layer of unbreakable polymer.

For better visual comfort, the first and/or second material layers are treated with optical anti-reflective radiation in the visible wavelength range.

In a preferred form of execution, the first layer of material is polycarbonate between 0.2mm and 2mm or 3mm thick, typically 1mm. Transparent polycarbonate is a virtually unbreakable material.

Preferably, the second layer of material is a transparent sapphire glass between 0.2mm and 1mm or even 2mm thick, typically 0.55mm. This material is of a particular consistency and is reputed to be scratch-resistant. It is also found in the watch lenses for high-quality watches and this material can be round or square, rectangular, oval, triangular, diamond, or any other shape.

In a work, the first layer of material and the second layer of material are drilled in exact correspondence with each other.

Such a mobile device combining the watertight and the irradiance aspects may be, for example, not only a wristwatch, a smartphone, a tablet or any other similar portable device with a screen such as a portable game console but also a fixed device, such as an interactive terminal, a time-keeping device or an ATM such as an ATM.

A transparent re-placing glue is chosen in a suitable way by adjusting its mechanical properties and so that it is compatible with the support on which it is coated on the one hand, and the support on which it is re-placed. Preferably, the re-placing glue is deposited at the end of the production of the transparent glass pane, for example by spraying and uniformly on the entire glass surface.

In one variant, the glue applied to the inner surface of the second layer is in the form of double-sided adhesive tape with a polyester backing and a high-performance surface adhesive that provides good adhesion on substrates with high and low surface energy. The thickness of the collectible is between 80 microns and 250 microns depending on the model chosen. The double-sided tape is of course transparent.

The device of the invention also has a transparent sapphire glass layer with a scratch-resistant surface on one side, a second opposite side bearing a re-positionable glue film can be provided separately from the system, so that when the non-scratchable but breakable sapphire glass layer breaks, a change of the sapphire glass layer makes it possible to reconstitute the mobile device as new without ever affecting the watertightness of the device.

According to this other aspect of the invention, the thickness of the transparent glass layer of the replaceable component, particularly sapphire, is between 0.2 mm and 1 mm or even 2 mm, preferably 0.55 mm.

In one embodiment, a component according to the present invention has a transparent glass layer, including sapphire, with a scratch-resistant surface on one side, a second opposite side bearing a retractable glue film covered with a removable protective film.

Preferably, the thickness of the clear glass layer is between 0.2mm and 1mm or even 2mm, typically 0.55mm.

In one embodiment, the transparent glass layer is tinted and/or smoked and/or coloured and/or broken and/or screen printed and/or metallized translucent glass.

The invention applies in particular to wristwatches, smartphones, tablets, interactive terminals, game consoles, touch tables or ATMs.

For convenience, particularly for mobile, handheld, portable and user-portable devices, a kit may include one or more components of the present invention, the kit also including a means of cleaning the first layer of material, including a wipe, and/or an extraction system, including a suction cup, to remove the second material to be replaced.

In one variant, the kit has a plurality of components that are different from each other.

This component is available to the user either when the apparatus is purchased with at least a second layer of replacement material of the chosen shape and dimensions, covered with a re-positionable glue film with a protective film on the sticky part, or by purchase from a replacement collection available at a point of sale.

The features of the invention will be more clearly seen by reading the description of several forms of execution given only as an example, but not in any way limiting, by reference to the schematic figures, in which: Figure 1 represents a cut-out view of a material layer stack according to the present invention;Figure 2 represents a cut-out view of an apparatus incorporating a display;Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a wristwatch in which a mirror with a retractable clasp is arranged to be mounted on a watch face;Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a smartphone according to the present invention;Figures 5A to 5E represent products according to the present invention; andFigure 6 represents a partial view of an apparatus according to the present invention incorporating a safety device in the form of a helmet.

As shown in Figure 1, a mobile device has a first layer 1 of unbreakable transparent polycarbonate, a second layer 2 of clear sapphire glass with anti-scratch treatment, superimposed on the first layer 1, the second layer 2 having an outer face arranged on the user side and a second inner face arranged on the information side. The device has positioning devices to facilitate the positioning of the second layer of material (2) on the first layer of material (1), in the form of a notch with a protrusion 8 arranged on the outer periphery of the first layer 1 of polycarbonate so that these positioning devices surround the second layer 2 of sapphire glass covering the first layer 1 of polycarbonate. This new layer 2 of collector's film is placed on the first layer 4 of the collector's transparent glass without being replaced by a new layer 2 of collector's film, and the first layer 2 of this collector's film is placed on the first layer 4 of the collector's transparent glass in such a way that the collector's face 2 can be replaced by a new layer 2 of collector's glass.

An example of a transparent re-placement glue is 3M reference glue 9088FL. Generally, the re-placement glue should be a few tens to a few hundred microns thick, for example 100 microns to 200 microns. Re-placement film 4 is coated on the second layer 2 because it is the layer that is intended to be removed as needed, and this in particular avoids the first layer 1 that remains on the device having to be cleaned before each placement of the second layer on the first layer.

As shown in Figure 2, the movable device of the present invention is arranged to fit into a device 7 without distorting the object. The device of the invention replaces a conventional screen or glass. The device 7 includes sealing means 3 e.g. by welding the peripheral end of the first layer 1 to the outer peripheral of the device 7. Positioning means 8 surround and guide the second layer of material 2 that covers the first layer of material 1. A transparent collectible backing film 4 is placed on the inner layer of the second layer of material 2 in transparent glass, so that the second layer of collectible backing material 4 can be removed from the device without using a new layer of glass 7 and replaced with a transparent backing film.

The device of the present invention provides watertightness and scratch-resistant protection of the wristwatch 5 for displaying the time through the glass, among other things. In this example, the device of the present invention has a first layer of unbreakable transparent polycarbonate material. The polycarbonate layer 1 is secured to the wristwatch 5 tightly by means of sealing 3, including an tori seal, so that the first face is placed on the side of the watch face 5 and a second face on the side of the user. Polycarbonate is a widely used material in watchmaking for its strength and, in particular,a second layer 2 of clear sapphire glass with a scratch-resistant surface is ready to be placed on the polycarbonate layer 1 mounted on the watch-wristband 5. The layer 2 of transparent sapphire glass carries a retractable film 4 applied to the inner face of the said layer of clear sapphire glass 2. Thus, the layer 2 of sapphire glass with its retractable film 4 can be placed on the first layer of polycarbonate 1 attached to the watch-wristband 5 and if necessary, for example in case of breakage of the layer 2,The said layer of sapphire glass 2 with its glue film 4 can be removed without breaking the seal of the wristwatch 5. A watch face 8 provides a means of positioning the sapphire glass 2 by arranging the watch face on the outer edge of the polycarbonate 1 so that sealing means 3 surround the layer of polycarbonate 1 and are never broken when the sapphire glass 2 is changed.

In an unillustrated variant, the sapphire glass is contained in a piece of ice, housing either in the case's bezel or directly in its frame.

The stacking of layers of polycarbonate, sapphire glass and repositionable glue is, for example, 1.6 mm thick.

In the world of smartphones, the screen is by far the most commonly broken element, even if it is reinforced glass. Sapphire is more robust and more resistant to scratches than glass.

As shown in Figure 4, a smartphone 6 has a touch screen. This touch screen is composed of a first layer 1 of unbreakable transparent polymer plastic material, the first layer 1 of which is sealed to the smartphone 6 in such a way that one side is arranged on the information side and the other on the user side. A second layer 2 of transparent sapphire glass with a scratch-resistant surface is ready to be superimposed on the first layer 1 by means of a transparent resuspended 4 film of collectible material carried by the inner face of the transparent sapphire glass layer 2.

In this example, the reusable glue is compatible with the support on which it is coated on one side, here a sapphire glass, and the support on which it is reusable glued, here a polycarbonate.

According to Figure 4, a notch 3 in the case of the smartphone 6 is an external peripheral protrusion of the first layer of unbreakable material.

In this example, the first layer of material 1 and the second layer of material 2 have an anti-reflective treatment to optical radiation in the visible wavelength range. The second layer of material 2 is a substantially monocrystalline aluminium oxide, more specifically a synthetic sapphire with a scratch-resistant surface on one side, a second opposite side containing a collectible film 4.

According to the present invention, the creation of a sandwich with a layer of polycarbonate, a layer of synthetic sapphire with a repositionable invisible binder worn by the sapphire layer allows never to impact the sealing of the apparatus in case of breakage of the sapphire glass layer. Thus, the broken or damaged layer of sapphire glass can be removed with its repositionable binder film, the apparatus remaining functional and waterproof until the new layer of repositionable sapphire glass is replaced with a repositionable resting film. Thus, we obtain an irradiation-proof surface, and in case of ice shock, the polycarbonate layer does not protect itself and the inside of the repositioned sapphire glass layer from breaking and repositioning the glass layer to replace the dampness.

As shown in Figures 5A to 5E, the sandwich system of the invention described above can be used in many applications. For example, in Figure 5A, the system is integrated into an interactive terminal, and in Figure 5B, the system is integrated into a camera. In Figure 5C, the system is integrated into a touch table, and in Figure 5D, the system is integrated into an ATM. Finally, in Figure 5E, the system is integrated into a tablet. In each of these devices, a first layer 1 is fixed permanently onto the said device while a second layer 2 with its collectible repository film 4 is placed above.

For mobile, handheld, wearable and user-portable devices such as wristwatches, smartphones, tablets, cameras or game consoles, the broken layer of sapphire glass can be removed by the user himself.

For shared-use devices, such as timepieces, ATMs or interactive terminals, a safety device may be incorporated to prevent the layer of sapphire glass, whether broken or not, from being removed by an unauthorised person. This safety device consists, for example, of a helmet 9 (Figure 6) surrounding all or part of the peripheral surface of the sapphire glass. Thus, the authorised person should first have the appropriate equipment, such as a key, or a custom-made screw to remove the helmet 9 in order to be able to intervene on the layer of sapphire glass 2.

Claims (18)

1. An apparatus including a crystal or a screen wherein the crystal or the screen is arranged to ensure sealing and an anti-scratch protection of said apparatus which is intended to display an information visible to a user through the crystal or the screen, said apparatus including:

   - a first material layer (1) made of an unbreakable transparent plastic polymer, the first material layer (1) being arranged on said apparatus so that a first face is arranged on the information side and a second face on the user side, the first material layer being fastened on the apparatus in a tight manner,

   - a second material layer (2) made of a transparent glass having an anti-scratch surface, in particular a sapphire glass, superimposed on the first layer (1) and constituting the outer portion of the crystal or the screen of the apparatus, the second layer having an outer face arranged on the user side and an inner face arranged on the information side, and in which the second material layer (2) made of a transparent glass includes, carried by its inner face, a transparent repositionable glue film (4), this repositionable glue film (4) ensuring the repositionable adherence of the second material layer (2) on the first material layer (1), whereas the second material layer (2) with its repositionable glue film (4) can be removed so as to be able to be replaced by another second material layer (2) provided with a transparent repositionable glue film (4), without breaking the sealing of said apparatus ensured by the first material layer (1) which remains permanently fastened on said apparatus, The apparatus also including positioning means (8) for facilitating the positioning of the second material layer (2) on the first material layer (1), said positioning means (8) including a protrusion or a groove, arranged on the outer or inner periphery of the first material (1) so that these positioning means (8) surround all or part of the second material layer (2) which covers the first material layer (1).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, including sealing means (3) including a protrusion, a gasket or a gluing arranged on the outer or inner periphery of the first material (1).
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first material layer (1), the second material layer (2) and the repositionable glue film (4), once stacked, have a thickness comprised between 0.8 mm and 5 mm, typically 2 mm.
4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning means (8) include a notch formed in the first material layer (1) in an outer peripheral protrusion of the first material layer (1).
5. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first material layer (1) and/or the second material layer (2) have an anti-reflective treatment to optical radiation in the visible wavelength range.
6. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first material layer (1) is a polycarbonate or an acrylic material with a thickness comprised between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, typically 1 mm.
7. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second material layer (2) is a sapphire glass with a thickness comprised between 0.2 mm and 1 mm, typically 0.5 to 0.6 mm.
8. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first material layer (1) and the second material layer (2) are cambered in exact correspondence with each other.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, including a screen.
10. A wristwatch that is an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8.
11. A smartphone that is an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8.
12. A tablet, an interactive terminal, a camera, a game console, an automated teller machine or a touch table that are apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8.
13. A set including an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 12 and at least one removable component, the removable compenant including a layer (2) made of a transparent glass, in particular of sapphire, having an anti-scratch surface on a first face, an opposite second face carrying a repositionable glue film (4) covered with a protective sheet.
14. A set according to claim 13, wherein the transparent glass layer (2) of the removable component is made of sapphire.
15. A set according to any of claims 13 or 14, wherein the thickness of the transparent glass layer (2) of the removable component, is comprised between 0.2 mm and 1 mm, typically 0.5 to 0.6 mm.
16. A set according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the transparent glass layer (2) of the removable component is a tinted and/or smoked and/or colored and/or broken and/or screen-printed and/or metallized translucent transparent glass.
17. A set according to any of claims 13 to 16, including a kit comprising a plurality of removable component, said kit further comprising means for cleaning the first material layer (1), in particular a wipe, and/or an extraction system, in particular a suction cup, for removing the second material (2) to be replaced.
18. A set according to any of claims 13 to 17, comprising a plurality of removable component including a plurality of removable components different from each other.