Luminous Watchband

Abstract

A watchband segment includes a flexible substrate and a luminous inset attached to or formed integrally with the flexible substrate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to watchbands. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a watchband including luminescent features.

SUMMARY

An inexpensive flexible watchband that glows in the dark.

A watchband segment comprises a flexible substrate and a luminous inset attached to or formed integrally with the flexible substrate.

Preferably, the substrate comprises silicone.

Preferably, the luminous inset comprises silicone and luminescent material selected from the group consisting of: silver-activated zinc sulphide; and strontium aluminate blended therewith.

Preferably, the luminous inset is heat-pressed to the substrate.

Preferably, the substrate comprises an array of pin apertures which do not pass directly through the luminous inset, but are bounded by it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a luminous inset for a watchband segment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a watchband segment including the luminous inset of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the watchband segment taken at III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a luminous inset for a complementary watchband segment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the complementary watchband segment including the luminous inset of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the watchband segment taken at VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional end elevation of either watchband segment taken at VII-VII in either FIG. 2 or FIGS. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of detail indicated at VIII in FIGS. 3 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a pair of watchband segments each comprising a substrate 12 formed a flexible material such as leather, but typically a plastics material such as silicone rubber is chosen.

Set into the upper surface of the substrate 12 is a “glow light” or luminous inset 11. The luminous inset 11 typically comprises luminescent material such as silver-activated zinc sulphide, or doped strontium aluminate mixed with a base of silicone. The luminous inset is typically heat-pressed into a recess (visible at FIG. 7) during the manufacturing process.

The substrate has a row of apertures 13. These apertures do not pass through the luminous inset, but rather are positioned in an area bounded by the luminous inset. The apertures 13 are simply those through which a buckle pin (not shown) extends when attaching the watch about a wearer's wrist.

As shown in FIG. 8, the luminous inset 11 at one end of the each watchband segment wraps partially around a transverse watch-connection pin aperture 14.

As the luminescent material is relatively expensive, the entire surface area of the watchband is not covered by the luminous inset. Rather, a large non-luminous area is bounded by it.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the silicone substrate could be light transmissive so that light emanating from the luminous inset passes into the substrate and is visible at the sides.

Claims

1. A watchband segment comprising a flexible substrate and a luminous inset attached to or formed integrally with the flexible substrate.

2. The watchband segment of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises silicone.

3. The watchband of claim 1 wherein the luminous inset comprises silicone and luminescent material selected from the group consisting of: silver-activated zinc sulphide; and strontium aluminate blended with silicone.

4. The watchband of claim 1, wherein the luminous inset is heat-pressed to the substrate.

5. The watchband of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an array of pin apertures which do not pass directly through the luminous inset, but are bounded by it.