PRODUCT OBTAINED BY THE METHOD

CORRESPONDING APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to the earlier Swiss application N°CH 01221/17, filed on October 5, 2017 in the name of Wire Art Switzerland S.A., the content of this earlier application being incorporated in its entirety in the present application by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a metallic design or graphic design present on different objects as a decoration and a method to produce such a design.

More specifically, the invention relates to a graphic design formed on a surface comprising discrete wire elements.

In particular, the present invention describes a method to form and obtain discrete wire elements visible on many different surfaces like metals, treated metallic surfaces, amorphous materials surfaces, amorphous treated surfaces painted surfaces etc. in embodiments, the invention may be used to decorate: watch dials, watch movement components, watch windows, jewellery, souvenirs, commemorative objects, medals, coins and other equivalent/similar objects.

The wires or wire elements may also be used to create optical effects on a surface, such as images or patterns, or a changing image or pattern depending on the viewing angle and many other optical effects, security features that are difficult or impossible to copy etc. Ιί should be appreciated that the present invention describes a technique for forming a graphic image on a surface, and such a technique may have broad fields of use, applicability and create many different objects. The methods according to embodiments of the invention may be applied in similar instances where one would find engraved, embossed, stamped, etched, cast, gilded, painted, printed, metallic inkjet, plated, stencilled and evaporated metal graphics, designs or images etc.

The type of graphics, images or patterns that can be created are anything that can be printed and broken down into discrete elements such as lines or dots that are then realized by the method of the present invention, i.e. using wires or wire elements. They may be 2D or 3D.

Some examples of graphics, which could be rendered using the method according to the present invention, include, but are not limited to:

Symbols such as logos (e.g. organizations, associations, groups, etc.), crests (e.g. university, family coat of arms, military, etc.) emblems (e.g. sports teams, musical bands, etc.), religious images and symbols (e.g. Cross, Buddha, Star of David, etc.), popular symbols (e.g. peace sign, stop sign, etc.), lucky symbols (e.g. horseshoe, astrological, etc.), famous people or faces and celebrities (historical, movie or rock stars etc.), friends & family, fictitious people (e.g. Cartoon, animated, characters, etc.). it can also be used to created image of places, such as landmarks, maps, nature scenes, other things such as animals, objects, paintings, words, letters & script, alphabet and scripts used in any written language, inscriptions, mathematical & scientific symbols, musical symbols etc. it can be appreciated that the graphics formed of metallic elements will have high value in comparison to typical ink printed graphics on paper. These graphics can be combined into various forms to create end uses, which also have high value. A few examples of these types of valuable applications are listed below, but are not ail inclusive or limited to: jewelry (pendants, rings, necklaces), watch faces, framed objects, medallions, paintings, awards & plaques, souvenirs, memorabilia. All these are of course non-limiting examples of what may be obtained with the present invention. Other examples and principles are disclosed in WO 201 1/095868, the figures and corresponding description of this publication being incorporated by reference in the present application. BACKGROU D ART

Because of their brilliant reflectivity and intrinsic aesthetic value, the desire to use metals to produce visually pleasing raised metallic graphics have been a long sought-after characteristics. Unlike ink printing on paper or painting upon canvas for example, metals are difficult materials to work with requiring high temperatures or advanced chemical processing, and therefore not practical to be used as a printing medium for creating graphics.

Common methods to produce graphic designs in combination with metal are typically subtractive, cutting techniques, wherein metal is removed from a larger blank or block piece. However, relatively few additive techniques exist, such as: electroplating, metal evaporation and metal leaf gilding to name a few. it can be appreciated that embossing and engraving can produce a good level of depth and texture as a negative impression, whereas electroplating and metal evaporation produce thin films with no significant depth or texture. Metal containing inks or paints are another additive application technique. However, as they contain elements other than pure metal and are also applied very thin, their value as a raised metal graphic medium is diminished. it is further appreciated that most of the above methods are primarily batch processes, in that large sections of the article must be printed or masked, requiring expensive pre-fabricated tooling or stencil fixtures. Batch processing can be advantageous for large volume mass production of a single design; however, it has significant limitations in flexibility, customization, time to design and efficient use of material.

An example of a method used to produce such graphics is disclosed in WO 201 1/095868, in this publication, a metal graphic formed on a surface or substrate is disclosed. The metal graphic is made of discrete wire elements. In an embodiment of WO 201 1/095888, these discrete wire elements are attached to the surface or substrate. The wire elements can be of any metal, as long as it can be affixed to the surface. The metal comprises precious metals like gold, silver, palladium, platinum, niobium, iridium and rhodium as well as less expensive metals like nickel, copper and aluminium.

In WO 2011/095868, the surface or substrate on which the wire elements are attached can be of any shape and of any thickness. As material, only materials that can be affixed to the wire elements are suitable. For example, the surface can be a thin metallic foil or, a metal plated organic or inorganic material that may be used to create bendable and wearable shapes.

Accordingly, this technique has the limit to allow to bond the wires or wire elements only on a metallic or bondabie substrate. This constraint limits the estheticai possibilities and constructions, and materials used, and also the products obtained. it is therefore an objective of the present invention, methods and products to improve the known methods, devices and products as discussed above.

More specifically, an aim of the present invention is to provide metal graphics that are raised from a surface and that have depth and texture to form images or patterns or optical effects as discussed herein. In an embodiment, the invention concerns a method for forming an object with a graphic appearance created by additional elements on a base support, the method comprising the steps of

applying an additional surface over the base support,

creating openings in the additional surface and

bonding the additional elements to a surface reachable in the openings.

Preferably, the additional surface is non-bondable to the additional elements. In an embodiment, the additional surface is prepared with openings apart from the base support and then is attached to the base support before the bonding step. in an embodiment, a treatment is applied on the entire piece or at least in the openings, before the bonding step. The treatment may be a galvanic treatment or a chemical treatment or a metallization. in an embodiment, the attachment is made by welding or gluing. in an embodiment, small dots are formed on the additional surface, and wherein the additional elements are bonded to the dots. The dots may be realized by selective metallization, selective galvanic treatment or by selective stripping. in an embodiment, plots in bondabie material of sufficient height are formed on said base support,

the entire piece or at least the surface carrying the plots is covered with the additional surface, the top of the covered plots is cut to expose the naked plots and then the additional elements are bonded to the plots. in an embodiment, the additional elements are wires and/or dots. In an embodiment, the bonded additional elements form a graphic as described herein.

In an embodiment, the order of bonding of the additional elements, their relative asymmetrical arch and/or their relative spacing and/or height is determined or predetermined to create a visual effect. in an embodiment, the invention concerns an object made by the method as described herein comprising additional elements on a base support, wherein said object comprises an additional surface over said base support, whereby said additional surface is not bondable to the additional elements, said additional surface comprising openings and said additional elements being bonded to a surface reachable in the openings. in an embodiment, the object has the additional surface prepared with openings apart from the base support and then the additional surface is attached to the base support. The attachment may be made by welding or gluing.

In an embodiment, the object comprises a treatment applied on the entire piece or at least in the openings, before the additional elements are bonded. The treatment may be a galvanic treatment or a chemical treatment or a metallization. in an embodiment of the object, the additional surface carries small dots and wherein the additional elements are bonded to the dots. in an embodiment of the object, the dots are realized by selective metallization, selective galvanic treatment or by selective stripping. in an embodiment of the object, the base support carries base plots in weldable material of sufficient height, the entire piece or at least the surface carrying the

8 plots is covered with said additional surface, the top of the covered plots is exposed and said additional elements are bonded to the exposed plots.

In an embodiment of the object, the additional elements are wires and/or dots,

In an embodiment of the object, the bonded additional elements form a graphic. in an embodiment of the object, wherein the order of bonding of the additional elements, their relative asymmetrical arch and/or their relative spacing and/or height, and/or their color is determined to create a visual effect on the created object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The principles of the present invention allow to use different, non-metallic, not bondable substrates with wires and so to have much more creative possibilities and designs or graphics than what is possible with, for example, the methods as described in WO 201 1/095868. The invention is generally about processes and methods that allow a desired design to be added onto any substrate, metallic, synthetic or organic resulting in numerous design possibilities for many objects.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a side cut view of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 illustrates a side cut view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a side cut view of an embodiment of the invention.

I Figures 7 and 8 illustrate perspective and top views of embodiments of the invention.

As disclosed in figure 1 of WO 201 1/095888, a basic surface is provided and discrete wire elements are attached to said surface. Typically, the wire elements are attached by welding, bonding, soldering, brazing etc. Therefore, the surface has to be weldable to the wires as indicated in this prior art. In some examples of WO 2011/095688, the surface is a metal or a metal plated organic or inorganic material.

According to the present invention, an improvement of the disclosed principles and methods is to be able to bond such wires (or other equivalent elements) to a surface or support, even if the surface or support is not bondable to the wires. In the context of the present invention, the notion of bonding a wire to a support has to be understood in a broad manner as meaning attaching the wires (or an additional element) using for example the techniques of: welding, bonding, ultrasonic welding or other welding or soldering or brazing or gluing.

One embodiment of the present invention, see figure 1 , is to apply a desired additional surface/material 3 (like galvanic or chemical deposition metallization or iaquer/paint) to which the wires 2 may not be bonded over a base support 1. The base support 1 may be made of metal (or a mix or metals, alloys etc) and is bondable to the wires 2 or has undergone a treatment to allow the bonding to the wires: for example, deposition of material such as metal at least on the surface (or part of it) of the support that will carry the added elements 2 (such as wires, dots etc).

Then openings 4 (for example little holes) are created or formed (for example by engraving, ablation, etching, stripping, grinding or milling or any other suitable technique) in the desired additional surface 3, allowing to see through the surface of the base support. Then wires 2 (for example ihe wire ends, or other additional elements) are bonded (for example by ultrasonic welding or other welding or soldering or brazing or gluing methods) on the surface of the base support 1 that is visible in the openings 4 or reachable through the openings 4.

This allows to create a graphic design as discussed above on the support 1 although the additional surface 3 is not bondable to the wires 2 or other added elements 2, A second embodiment of the invention, see figure 2, is to apply the desired additional surface 3' on a conductive base support T (brass for example or another material like aluminium or a precious metal or alloys).

Then openings 4' (such as holes or openings) are drilled in the desired additional surface 3'. Then a galvanic or chemical treatment or metallization is applied on the entire piece, or with a mask, to obtain a bondable surface at least in the openings 4' on the base support V, for attachment of the wires 2 or other added elements 2. if the desired additional surface is conductive, it might colorize, with an estheticai effect. If the desired additional surface is not conductive, only in the little holes 4' the galvanic or chemical treatment will sustain. The galvanic or chemical treatment can be replaced by any other metallic deposition (metallization for example).

The desired surface 3,3' can also be prepared with openings 4,4' apart from the support 1 , 1' and then be fixed on the support 1 , 1' (by welding, gluing or similar processes). Then, the above-mentioned steps may be applied to this assembly: for example wires 2 (for example wire ends) are bonded (as described above) on the galvanic or other treatment of the surface of the support visible in the openings 4,4 .

Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in figures 1 and 2.

A third embodiment of the invention is to realize small dots 6 on the surface of the desired additional surface 3, these dots can be realized by selective metallization, selective galvanic treatment or by selective stripping (removing) of the entirely covered surface, whereby only the dots 6 remain.

The wire(s) 2 (for example the wire ends or other additional elements) are then bonded to the dots 6 by any appropriate technique, for example as described in the present application. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an example of this embodiment. in another embodiment, the method comprises the steps of metallizing a surface of a basic support, to bond a wire 2 on the surface and strip the metal afterwards. In this case, the volume of metallization below the welding points is protected so that the bonded wire(s) 2 (or any other added element) remain(s) in place. Then the desired surface 3 may be applied to the basic support . in another embodiment, one adds on the surface of a basic support 1 a series of plots 7 in weidable material and of sufficient height, then one covers the entire piece, or at least the surface with the plots with a desired surface 3 (see fig.5) and then one cute the top of the covered plots 7 and (or at least the surface 3 covering the plots 7) to expose the naked plots 7 and then one bonds them to the wires 2 (see fig. 8). The two first embodiments and the embodiment presented hereabove allow then also to change the color of the wires 2 without changing the color of the desired surface 3, 3' if this surface is non-conductive, for example by a galvanic treatment, as the wires 2 are all conductively connected to the basis 1 , .

In embodiments, the method according to the invention may comprise the covering (partial or total) of the parts forming the object. For example, since the wire elements can be very fragile, the metal graphic is protected from mechanical damage by a transparent cover. The cover can be of any colour and of any transparent material. Typical materials comprise glass, an inorganic polymer like quartz and an organic polymer like Plexiglas. in embodiments, the wire elements 2 (or other added parts according to the principle of the present invention) are not only covered but are also enclosed in a transparent or semi-transparent medium. For this purpose, different polymers like methacrylates, polycarbonates, cyclic olefin polymers, styrenic polymers, polyesters, polyimides or polyethersuifones are suitable.

According to the present invention, the wires 2 may be of any suitable size to realize the desired object or graphic. For example, they may have a diameter of approximately 25 to 100 microns and this size may also vary along the length of the wires 2. Also different wires 2 may have different diameters. The shape of the section of the wires 2 (in a view cut perpendicularly to their longitudinal axis) may be circular or not, for example oblong, square, triangular, symmetrical or asymmetrical, may change along the length of the wire etc. Their height with respect to the surface may be for example approximately from 0.2 to 2mm. Other values are of course possible depending on the circumstances and the graphic to be formed.

The wires 2 may be parallel or not, may form different patterns mixing asymmetrical arches and heights, have variable distances between them, angles etc. The visual effect they produce may then vary depending on the angle of view. Wires 2 may also have different colors. As is clear from the above description, the interest of the present invention is to provide original graphics, designs, patterns with bonded wires while still having freedom to choose the additional surface (materials, colors, designs etc).

Using the principles of the present invention, it is for example possible to create an impression of woven wires by choosing the order of bonding of each wire 2 as illustrated in figures 7 and 8, thus forming 2D and 3D effects, depending on the viewing angles. Also the spacing of the wires 2 allow to combine with the additional surface which is underneath and provide optical effects between the wires and said surface which can be hidden, partly visible or totally visible depending on the viewing angle of the object. The wires 2 may be crossing each other, on top of each other, interwoven, knitted etc. Exemplary embodiments have been described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the systems and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the systems and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. A number of problems with conventional methods and systems are noted herein and the methods and systems disclosed herein may address one or more of these problems. By describing these problems, no admission as to their knowledge in the art is intended. A person having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, although certain methods and systems are described herein, the scope of the present invention is not so limited. Moreover, while this invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace ail such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of this invention.