Portable object with bracelet and electrical connecting flange penetrating the casing, and method of mounting the flange

The present invention relates to a portable object with a strap provided with means electrical connection through the housing. The portable object comprises essentially The housing in which is arranged at least one electronic circuit, a strap attached the housing, and electrical connection means for electrically connecting at least a conductor track of the bracelet to at least one contact terminal of the circuit electronic.

The present invention also relates to an electrical contact strip for a portable object bracelet.

The present invention also relates to a method for mounting including the electrical contact strip for a portable object with a strap.

In this specification, the term "connection means electric "any driver or conductor set to ensure a electrical connection between at least one contact terminal of an electronic circuit and least one conductor track arranged in the wristband. This conductive track can be an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals or allow to connect electrically an electric component contained in the bracelet and the circuit e in the case.

In a preferred embodiment, the portable object is designed as a portable electronic instrument taking the form of a wristwatch. The wristwatch may include receiving means or signal transmission type radio frequency if the conductor track of the bracelet defines an antenna. In this case, the electronic signal processing circuit of Power to manage the transmission or reception of information signals the antenna.

Such portable objects have already been described in the prior art with means of electrical connection between an electronic circuit arranged in the housing objects and an antenna in the bracelet.

European Patent No. 0,631,341 describes an electronic instrument type wristwatch having an antenna housed in the wristband and connected to a electronic circuit for processing the signals received by the antenna. The circuit processing electronics is arranged inside the housing of the instrument on a printed circuit board. Connecting pads are formed on a region device from the printed circuit board to allow the establishment of a electrical connection between the electronic circuit signal processing and antenna terminals passing through a side wall of the housing. In one first embodiment, the fastening screws pass through apertures adapted the terminals of the antenna to be screwed directly into the circuit board Printed in connection pads for electrical connection.

In a second embodiment, it is provided to employ a connector leaf spring, fixed at the printed circuit board for each terminal of the antenna, on which abuts an electrical conductor connected to the one terminal of the antenna. Each conductor connected to an antenna terminal must pass through the wall side in order to press the leaf spring to establish electrical contact. A joint annular sealing is provided around said conductor in the passage through the side wall,

A disadvantage of the electronic instrument shown in European Patent No. 0,631,341 is a part of the antenna must pass through a side wall of the housing in order to be directly connected on the printed circuit board. Thereby, the seal at the side wall of the housing, even with the annular seal, can not be guaranteed in time and depending on the bracelet manipulations.

Another disadvantage of the first embodiment with the fixing screws is a subsequent replacement of the antenna in case of problems makes it essential complete disassembly of the housing of the instrument, before access to the screw fixation, which can make this tedious operation.

Another disadvantage of the second embodiment with the leaf spring is this blade is typically soldered to the PCB. This must be achieved carefully to ensure sufficient mechanical strength compared to perpendicular stresses exerted on the blade, once the driver Power is placed bearing against it. It may be noted further that the surfaces contact between the blade and the electrical conductor are not protected, which can lead to stability of the electrical connection problems, notably because of a possible oxidation of free metal surfaces. Moreover, this solution this relatively bulky and can therefore not suitable for the realization of a low-volume instrument.

One can also cite US Patent 5,168,281 which describes a device antenna connection for electronic equipment, such as a wristwatch. An antenna end housed in a wristband strand is integrally attached to a electrical conductor. This conductor through a sidewall of the housing to come connect a contact blade of a printed circuit board bearing a circuit electronic. An annular seal is provided around the conductor in the passage through the sidewall.

As with the previous document, one disadvantage of the proposed solution in US Patent 5,168,281 is that the driver of the antenna must cross a sidewall of the housing so as to be connected against the contact blade on the printed circuit board. Therefore, the seal at the side wall of housing even with the annular seal, can not be guaranteed in time and according manipulations of the bracelet.

The invention therefore a main object of overcoming the disadvantages of the art prior by providing a portable object with a strap provided with connection means Power through a side wall of the housing tightly without especially disturbed by various manipulations of the bracelet.

To this end the invention relates to a portable object aforecited that characterized in that the electrical connection means comprise at least one electrical contact flange attached through a side wall of the housing, a first portion of the flange in the housing being electrically connected to the electronic circuit and a second portion of the flange outside of the housing being electrically connected to the conductive track of the bracelet, in that the side wall comprises a cavity first and second portions of the side wall, a passage opening of the flange being provided in each sidewall portion, and in that a material sealing is placed in the cavity between the two wall portions for securing a intermediate portion of the flange and seal portions sealing each opening wall.

An advantage of the portable object to bracelet, according to the invention lies in the fact that the intermediate portion of each flange is fastened by a sealing material introduced into a cavity formed between first and second portions of the sidewall. The sealing material completely surrounds the flange in the cavity which may be a metal blade, and closes off the passage openings of said flange. This sealing material is different from the insulating material used for the wall lateral. In this way, the sealing of said flange through the side wall is watertight, because the properties of the sealing material are not changed during time in the same way that the side wall. It would of course have been imagined overmolded directly contact strip in the side wall hard plastic, but sealing problems arise in the long term in particular with a flange as a metallic blade.

Preferably, the sealing material is a polymerisable glue or silicone which solidifies at room temperature for a period of time which can be of about 24 hours.

The first part of the metal flange inside the housing is advantageously in the form of S to form a compression spring. When an upper housing part is fixed to a lower portion as the bottom of the the housing having side wall, a printed circuit board bearing the circuit electronic compresses the first portion of the flange at a contact pad of said plate. Better electrical contact is thus ensured, because the first part of the compressed flange exerts a contact force against the contact pad of said plate.

The second part of the metal flange under blade shape is arranged above an upper surface of a strap of the mounting flange in position rest, that is to say before the electrical connection to the conductor track of the bracelet. This second part comprises a hole adapted to the passage of a metal screw connection that is screwed into a hole in the rim. The end of the runway conductor also includes a hole suitable for the passage of a metal screw. Of This way, the end of the conductor track and the second portion of the flange can be fixed to one another against the upper surface of the rim by inserting the screw in each of their hole and screwing the screw into the edge of the hole.

Note that each hole in the plastic rim can not understand initial thread, the latter being carried out for the first time by simply screwing of the connecting screw.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable object is a wristwatch having communication means using waves radio frequencies. therefore provided to accommodate an antenna in the wristband, which is constituted by the conductive track. This antenna is connected to at least one circuit electronic processing of information received or transmitted by the antenna signals.

Thanks to the characteristics of the invention, a good seal is ensured to connect the antenna to the electronic processing circuit while exhibiting good resistance over time.

The invention also aims to provide a contact strip means electrical connection of a portable object to overcome the drawbacks of the art earlier mentioned heretofore.

To this end, the invention relates to a contact flange which is characterized in that a first portion of the flange has an S-shape forming a spring to can be compressed to establish an electrical connection with a contact pad a printed circuit board, and in that an intermediate portion and a second portion of the flange have a blade shape.

The invention also aims to provide a mounting method electrical connection means of a portable object, characterized in that comprises the steps of:<ul><li>inserting at least one electrical contact strip through an opening of each wall portion of a cavity formed in a sidewall of the housing, so that a first portion of the flange is positioned within the housing to be electrically connected to at least one contact terminal of a circuit electronics, and a second portion of the flange is positioned outside the housing for being electrically connected to at least one conductor track of the bracelet, the dimension of each opening being equal to or greater than the cross section of each portion of the flange,</li><li>fill using a specific tool cavity of a sealing material in liquid form, and</li><li>solidifying the sealing material introduced into said cavity for securing the intermediate portion of the flange seal and sealing each opening wall portions.</li></ul>

Advantageously, the specific tool to fill the cavity of the material sealing is guided by guide means provided in each portion of side wall to a predetermined distance from the bottom of the cavity, but below of each strap passing through said cavity. By completing this way said cavity, that avoids the creation of air bubbles below the flanges, which may lead to not ensure a good seal once the material sealing solidified. As the cavity is formed in the side wall from an upper edge of the wall in the vertical direction, the caseback with this side wall can be placed on a suitable mounting bracket to bring the tool specific from above to fill the cavity. Thus, in addition to positioning the tool a distance from the bottom of the cavity, form the sealing material liquid can extend over all interior surfaces of the cavity with single acting of gravity.

The objects, advantages and features of the portable object to strap and the contact strip and the method for mounting electrical connection means the portable object more apparent from the following description of at least one mode embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the drawings in which: <ul><li>Figures 1 a and 1 b show a partial sectional view of the object laptop and a top view of the housing base with the side wall and the flange contactless sealing material of the portable object according to the invention,</li><li>2a and 2b show a three dimensional view of the bottom with the sidewall and the contact strips, and two strands of the strap resting on a mounting flange, and a three-dimensional partial exploded view concerning fixing the ends of the conductive track of the bracelet and contact strips on the chime,</li><li>Figures 3a and 3b show an enlarged sectional view of the bottom of housing at the two-step cavity in the mounting method of the flange the portable object according to the invention,</li><li>4 shows a perspective view of a contact flange used in the portable object according to the invention, and</li><li>5a and 5b show a side view of the contact flange and a section on AA of Figure 5a of the flange to a portable object according the invention.</li></ul>

In the following description, all the elements of the portable object which are well known to a person skilled in the art, are not explained in detail. The embodiment described specifically relates to a portable object to By way of nonlimiting example in the form of a wristwatch which has features reception or emission of radiofrequency waves. It is to highlight that all elements of the wristwatch described below in Figures 1 to 5 are Reference signs identical. Therefore for simplification, it will not be repeated the description of each item for all figures.

1a shows a schematic sectional view of the wristwatch 1 as an object portable. This wristwatch 1 includes a housing having a upper or middle part 3 and a lower portion or bottom 2, a wristband equipped with two strands 4 and 5 attached to the housing, and at least one button or crown of not shown control. The top 3 and bottom parts are assembled 2 one on the other housing in the closed position with one end of each strand 4 and 5 by conventional fastening means not shown in 1 a. Said ends of the strands 4 and 5 are sandwiched between the base 2 and caseband 3. An annular seal 17 is placed in an annular groove of the middle part to engage an upper edge of a side wall 15 of the bottom 2 to to seal the closed enclosure. This case is further closed at the top by a mirror 13, conventional and made for example of plastic or sapphire according to the level desired range.

In the case of the wristwatch 1 are arranged a battery or accumulator 14 in a bottom of the housing 2 of the housing, a printed circuit board 10 on which is mounted at least one electronic circuit 11 powered by the battery or the accumulator and a liquid crystal device LCD 12 to display particular time information, text or other functions. The display device 12 is controlled by the electronic circuit 11. slopes electrical conduction not shown are arranged on the printed circuit board to connect electrically including electrical contact pads 30 disposed at the periphery said plate to terminals of the electronic circuit 11.

An intermediate spacer 32 is disposed between the LCD device 12 and the printed circuit board 10 to ensure a sufficient height between these two elements and allow the arrangement of the components, such as the circuit electronics 11 shown in the intermediate space thus defined.

According to the invention, the wristwatch also comprises means for electrical connection which comprise in particular electrical contact of flanges 8, which in this embodiment number 4 as shown in particular in Figure 1b.

Referring to Figure 1a, the flanges 8 are provided to contact electrically the contact pads 30 on the printed circuit board 10 with ends of at least one conductive track 6 and 7 disposed in each strand 4 and 5 the bracelet. Preferably the conductive track 6 and 7 of each strand defines a antenna for transmitting and receiving information in cooperation with the circuit electronic. To do this, the electronic circuit 11, which is placed inside the watch case 1 comprises an information processing unit.

As shown in Figure 1b, the side wall 15 comprises two cavities 26 performed from an upper edge of the wall in a vertical direction to define a bottom, a first inner portion 27 and a second outer portion 28 of the wall 15. These cavities are arranged in the side wall 15 in opposition diametrically, and located at the connection of each end of the strands 4 and 5 of the bracelet to the case. Two pairs of contact clips 8 which are placed parallel relative to each other, pass through the openings of two wall portions 27 and 28 of the two cavities 26 of the side wall 15 of the bottom 2. The intermediate portion of each pair of flanges 8 is fixed by a sealing sealing material 9 not shown in Figure 1b, which is inserted into each cavity 26 as hereinafter described with particular reference to Figures 3a and 3b.

The sealing material is preferably a polymerizable glue or silicone. This sealing material 9 is different from the plastic insulating material used in particular for the side wall 15. In this way, the sealing of said flange 8 through the sidewall 15 is sealed because the properties of the material sealing do not change over time in the same way as the wall side, which is for example hard plastic.

The electric contact strip 8 used as connection means Electric is shown more clearly in Figure 4 which shows a view Three Dimensional of this flange, as well as 5a and 5b. This contact strip 8 is made from a band a good conductive metal material electricity, such as a copper alloy compound. The thickness of this strip may be of the order of 0.1 mm.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5a, the flange comprises a first portion 8a S-shape, a second portion 8b and the intermediate portion 8c which is intended to be affixed through the sidewall of the housing base by the sealing material.

The first part 8a S-shape of the flange 8 constitutes a spring compression. In the closed position of the housing, the printed circuit board compressed with a given force F each first part of the flanges 8 level of the contact pads of the printed circuit board. This enables a good electrical contact between the flange and the corresponding contact pad. The first part 8a of the flange 8 thus compressed is shown in broken lines in Figure 5a.

As shown in Figure 1a, the printed circuit board 10 rests on a spacer 19 separating the battery 14. This can also afford not unnecessary damage to the first part of each flange 8 at the time of Closing the case.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5a, the intermediate portion 8c and the second portion 8b of the flange have the general shape of blade. The second part 8b of the flange is a hole 18 so as to be fixed to one end of a track conductive as explained below. In addition, the end of the second portion 8b of the flange is tapered so as to facilitate the mounting of the flange through the openings of the wall portions welcoming before securing the material sealing.

A boss 29 can be performed in particular by stamping or punching 8c in the intermediate portion of this flange to serve to position said flange in apertures in each side wall portion. Each opening is thus provided of sufficient size in said wall portions to facilitate the introduction of the second part. The height of each opening can be for example 0.2 mm, while the thickness of the second part is 0.1 mm. Against by the height of the protrusion may be substantially equal to the height of each opening which enables to position the intermediate portion of the flange before the introduction of the sealing material in the cavity of the side wall. The width of each opening of the wall portions receiving a flange can be substantially equal to or slightly greater than the width of the flange.

As shown in Figures 1a, 2a and 2b, the second outer portion each flange 8 is thus connected to a respective end of a conductor track 6 and 7 defining a particular antenna of each strand 4 and 5 of the bracelet. This electrical connection is made by means of headed stems, such as screw connection 24 screwed into respective holes 23 formed in a plastic rim 20 of the bottom 2 in extension of the side wall 15. Each hole can be self-tapped by connecting screws or may initially include a thread.

Each threaded part of the connecting screw 24 passes through a suitable hole 18 of the second portion of the flange 8 and a hole 42 adapted to the end of the runway conductor 6 and 7 corresponding to connect. As the screw head is of larger diameter than the holes 18 and 42, the second portion of the flange and the end of the conductive track can come into direct contact with the surface top of the insulating flange 20 completely screwing each screw connection 24 into threaded holes 23.

The end of each strand 4 and 5 of the bracelet is attached to the housing between the rim 20 of the bottom extension of the side wall 15 and the middle part 3 by the attachment means which hold the upper portion 3 of the lower part 2 of housing.

As can be seen in Figures 1b and 2b, two tubular portions 22 are formed on each flange 20 for receiving the corresponding end of the strand to fix the housing. Each end of the strands comprises two openings 41 additional forms to be fitted on the tubular portions 22. Screws attachment 40, shown in Figure 2a, pass through each hole 21 portions tubular 22 and each opening 41 of the bracelet strands to be screwed in threads of the upper part not shown. Thus, the strap is attached to housing when the latter is closed.

It should be noted that as regards a possible replacement of the bracelet, or at least the strands 4 and 5, simply loosen the screws of the housing 40, of remove at least 41 holes of the strands to separate the bottom 2 of the middle part 3 housing and unscrew the screw connection 24.

Referring to Figure 2b showing a partial exploded view of the mounting the end of the wristband strand to the watch case, each end of the runway conductor 7 is positioned on the second portion of the corresponding flange 8 so that the holes 18 and 42 are arranged substantially coaxially. Once the end of the strand is well positioned, connecting screw 24 can be inserted into the holes 18 and 42 in order to be screwed into the threaded holes of the rim 20. As the second portion of the flange 8 is spaced from the surface upper flange 20, the second part can flex elastically when the screw connection is screwed until it comes into contact with the upper surface of the flange. Thus, a good electrical connection is established between each flange and the end corresponding to the conductor track.

Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, the steps of the method for mounting the electrical connecting means of the portable object, such as contact strips electrical, are explained in more detail.

The bottom 2 of the housing is first placed and held on a surface of job. Each electric contact strip 8 is introduced from the second part, whose end is narrowed, through each opening 31 formed in the portions 27 and 28 of the side wall 15. Thanks to this narrowing of the second part and that the thickness of the blade is almost two times lower than the height of the opening 31, the introduction of this flange is facilitated. Said flange 8 is therefore introduced through the openings 31 from inside the housing until the hole 18 of the second part is positioned substantially coaxially with the hole threaded 23 formed in the flange 20. The intermediate portion of the flange is thus positioned in the openings 31 of the portions 27 and 28 through 29, the boss height is substantially equal to the height of each opening 31.

As two brackets must be mounted through each cavity 26 of the side wall, the operations indicated above are carried out either simultaneously for all flanges or separately for each flange 8.

Once the two flanges 8 are positioned through the openings 31 of a cavities 26, a specific tool 50 such as a syringe, is fed into the cavity 26 to a certain distance from the bottom of the cavity to introduce the material sealing 9 in liquid form, as the polymerizable silicone or glue. The tool specific is guided in its descent by guiding means 16, visible also in Figures 1b, 2a and 2b. These guiding means 16 made partly in each portion 27 and 28 of the side wall are located between the two flanges to stare. These guiding means have a shape substantially complementary to the part conical the specific tool. This allows to stop the tool during its descent in the cavity up to a determined distance from the bottom of the cavity below each intermediate portion of the positioned flanges. The location of the tool specific in the cavity is shown by dashed lines in Figure 3a.

Once the specific tool 50 is in position in the cavity 26 described by the broken lines in Figure 3a, a determined quantity of glue polymerizable liquid is introduced into the cavity from the lower end of the tool. The liquid adhesive 9 spreads into the cavity 26 by blocking also each opening 31 portions 27 and 28 without overflowing and coating the part intermediate flanges 8. By introducing the glue from the bottom of the cavity, it avoid creating air bubbles in the cavity which could affect the sealing flanges fixed through the side wall. In addition to the effect of gravity, the glue spreads uniformly in said cavity to fill it full.

Once the liquid adhesive was introduced until the upper edge of the cavity 26, the tool 50 is removed progressively from the cavity. The tool can introduce of the adhesive while leaving the cavity so that the level of the introduced adhesive reaches the upper edge of the cavity 26. From this moment, a certain period of time should be counted so that the adhesive solidifies as shown in Figure 3b. This period of time may be of the order of 24 h at room temperature. As the adhesive is relatively elastic with good adhesion on the surfaces interior of the cavity 26, this allows to seal said sealing flange in the cavity 26 of the side wall 15 which is one of the goals sought by the invention.

It may be observed in Figures 3a and 3b that the outer portion 28 of the side wall comprises a flare 25 as a result of the opening 31 of passage of the flange. This widening 25 is provided to allow the second portion the flange, which is remote from the upper surface of flange 20 in position rest, able to bend without permanent deformation. In this way, this second flange portion can be fixed with one end of the bracelet strip conductor by means of screw connection until it comes into contact with the upper surface of flange 20 as explained above.

Once the contact clips 8 are secured through the side wall, mounting all the components of the case and bracelet can be undertaken with in particular the printed circuit board which compresses the first part of flange at each of the contact pads upon closure of the housing.

From the description that has just been given multiple variants realization of the bracelet portable object can be designed by the skilled without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. It may be provided that instead of the boss of the intermediate portion of each flange, it is practiced two blisters to be accommodated each in an opening in each side wall portion. It may only be provided by a flange cavity to connect each end of a single conductive track accommodated in the strap.