EP0287746A1 - A method for producing a decorative surface structure with holographic or diffraction pattern - Google Patents

A method for producing a decorative surface structure with holographic or diffraction pattern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0287746A1
EP0287746A1 EP87810255A EP87810255A EP0287746A1 EP 0287746 A1 EP0287746 A1 EP 0287746A1 EP 87810255 A EP87810255 A EP 87810255A EP 87810255 A EP87810255 A EP 87810255A EP 0287746 A1 EP0287746 A1 EP 0287746A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
decorative
casting
surface structure
master model
holographic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP87810255A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0287746B1 (en
Inventor
Erich Bloesch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
W BLOSCH AG
Original Assignee
W BLOSCH AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by W BLOSCH AG filed Critical W BLOSCH AG
Priority to EP19870810255 priority Critical patent/EP0287746B1/en
Priority to DE8787810255T priority patent/DE3765776D1/en
Publication of EP0287746A1 publication Critical patent/EP0287746A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0287746B1 publication Critical patent/EP0287746B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G04HOROLOGY
    • G04BMECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B45/00Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
    • G04B45/0084Pictures or inscriptions on the case or parts thereof, attaching complete pictures
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44CPRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
    • B44C3/00Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing ornamental structures
    • B44C3/04Modelling plastic materials, e.g. clay
    • B44C3/042Modelling plastic materials, e.g. clay producing a copy from an original structure
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44FSPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/08Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects characterised by colour effects
    • B44F1/14Iridescent effects
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44FSPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F7/00Designs imitating three-dimensional effects
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25DPROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D1/00Electroforming
    • C25D1/10Moulds; Masks; Masterforms

Definitions

  • watch faces can be produced by tradi­tional methods of printing and engraving onto plane surfaces. It is also known that enhancement of such a product can be obtained by the application of special coatings - for example gold - by galvanic or vacuum deposition.
  • items such as a watch face can be produced by an electroforming process whereby a master model of the watch face is made - commonly in metal -, plastic copies of this master are produced by a process such as casting, and subsequent electroformed metal copies are made from the plastic intermediate.
  • This electroforming process allows considerable product enhancement because relief information (for example raised numerals) can be incorporated into the master model, and are thus also copied onto the subsequent electroform.
  • embossed hologram and a multiplicity of decorative diffraction foils use the presence of a micro-relief structure on a surface to create a surface enhancement which is based on optical diffraction and not on the properties of coloured inks, pigments etc.
  • embossed surfaces may be further enhanced by the application of a thin metal layer (for example vacuum coated aluminium).
  • Products such as the embossed hologram and diffraction foil are available in todays marketplace in the form of thin plastic foils which have been embossed using a suitably made embossing master carrying the diffractive informa­tion as a surface relief structure.
  • This object is attained, according to the invention, by combining the electroforming process used to manufacture a watch face as described above, with the presence over all or part of the required surface of holographic or diffractive patterns in the form of micro relief struc­tures.
  • a holographic or diffractive relief pattern is formed in a metal surface whereby this step may itself involve producing an electroformed copy of a holographic or diffractive relief pattern recorded using laser tech­nology on a photosensitive surface.
  • this metal relief pattern are then in­corporated into a master model of the finally required watch face.
  • this master model will also include non-holographic or non-diffractive areas and elements to provide macroscopic relief effects and surface texturing, and utilitarian features such as apertures for the date wheel and driving axles for the hands.
  • holographic or diffractive elements may be incorporated into different areas of the same watch face.
  • Castings in a polymer system are produced of the master model surface.
  • These castings are coated with a suitable electrically conducting layer, preferentially less than 100 nm, and then in a suitable holder, are electroformed to provide replicas of the original master model surface. It is convenient and economic to use copper as the electro­forming metal.
  • the electroformed watch faces are then finished by applying a further decorative layer to the replica surface, for example of gold in a thin layer of less than 100 nm and various metal finishing operations such as stamping to the final size and machining the rear suface if necessary.
  • a further decorative layer for example of gold in a thin layer of less than 100 nm and various metal finishing operations such as stamping to the final size and machining the rear suface if necessary.
  • the invention described here is not limited to watch faces, but includes metal surfaces where an enhancement is required.
  • the technology described here provides a security feature which can protect the surface of an object into which such a surface is intimately combined, against simulation by conventional printing or engraving methods.
  • the technology can be applied to costume jewelry to provide product enhancement, to medals and coin-like items where the inclusion of holographic or diffractive surface elements can provide both enhancement and proof of authenticity, and to general metal objects which can be produced using an electroforming technique and which can be enhanced by the inclusion of holographic and diffractive effects.

Abstract

The method of producing a decorative surface structure comprises the steps of making a metallic master model of the required surface where a macroscopic relief is com­bined with one or more elements carrying a macroscopic relief pattern in the form of holographic or diffracting structures, forming a casting of the surface of the master model in a suitable polymeric material, applying a thin conducting layer to the surface of the casting, and then electroforming the polymeric casting to produce a metallic replica of the desired surface.
In the decorative surface structure formed by the master model and casting steps described, the application of the thin conducting layer provides the decorative effect, and the casting with its conducting layer provides the decorative surface structure.
A thus decorated surface, for example a watch face, has an improved quality and range of decorations as well, utilizing an economic method of mass-production.

Description

  • For many products it is desirable to enhance a surface by means of printing, engraving or mechanical machining to achieve a decorative or utilitarian effect. As an example of such an enhanced surface we here consider a watch face.
  • It is known that watch faces can be produced by tradi­tional methods of printing and engraving onto plane surfaces. It is also known that enhancement of such a product can be obtained by the application of special coatings - for example gold - by galvanic or vacuum deposition.
  • It is further known that items such as a watch face can be produced by an electroforming process whereby a master model of the watch face is made - commonly in metal -, plastic copies of this master are produced by a process such as casting, and subsequent electroformed metal copies are made from the plastic intermediate. This electroforming process allows considerable product enhancement because relief information (for example raised numerals) can be incorporated into the master model, and are thus also copied onto the subsequent electroform.
  • It is also known that decorative effect and surface enhancement can be achieved by means of certain types of hologram and diffractive pattern. The so-called embossed hologram, and a multiplicity of decorative diffraction foils use the presence of a micro-relief structure on a surface to create a surface enhancement which is based on optical diffraction and not on the properties of coloured inks, pigments etc. Such embossed surfaces may be further enhanced by the application of a thin metal layer (for example vacuum coated aluminium). Products such as the embossed hologram and diffraction foil are available in todays marketplace in the form of thin plastic foils which have been embossed using a suitably made embossing master carrying the diffractive informa­tion as a surface relief structure.
  • It is the object of the present invention to improve the quality and the range of the decoration of surfaces.
  • This object is attained, according to the invention, by combining the electroforming process used to manufacture a watch face as described above, with the presence over all or part of the required surface of holographic or diffractive patterns in the form of micro relief struc­tures.
  • A method will be described below by way of an example for producing decorated surfaces.
  • First, a holographic or diffractive relief pattern is formed in a metal surface whereby this step may itself involve producing an electroformed copy of a holographic or diffractive relief pattern recorded using laser tech­nology on a photosensitive surface.
  • All or parts of this metal relief pattern are then in­corporated into a master model of the finally required watch face. In general, this master model will also include non-holographic or non-diffractive areas and elements to provide macroscopic relief effects and surface texturing, and utilitarian features such as apertures for the date wheel and driving axles for the hands. Several different holographic or diffractive elements may be incorporated into different areas of the same watch face.
  • Castings in a polymer system are produced of the master model surface.
  • These castings are coated with a suitable electrically conducting layer, preferentially less than 100 nm, and then in a suitable holder, are electroformed to provide replicas of the original master model surface. It is convenient and economic to use copper as the electro­forming metal.
  • The electroformed watch faces are then finished by applying a further decorative layer to the replica surface, for example of gold in a thin layer of less than 100 nm and various metal finishing operations such as stamping to the final size and machining the rear suface if necessary.
  • The resultant watch face being made of metal is inher­ently very stable and the final quality depends essen­tially upon the care and precision which was exercised in the origination of the initial master model. Only one master model is required for the production of large numbers of identical replicas.
  • It is of course also possible to use the result of the casting process, a polymer replica of the master model surface, directly as the enhanced surface in the final product. If this course is adopted then the master model must be constructed to be the "negative" of the desired final surface. A suitable decorative finish can then be applied to the surface of the polymer casting, for example a vacuum evaporated gold layer, and final operations such as stamping to size or trimming can be performed. Again, a series of replicas can be made from a single model, but the final result will be less stable both mechanically and thermally than the metal version described above. This polymer variation of the product is also included within the spirit of this invention.
  • The invention described here is not limited to watch faces, but includes metal surfaces where an enhancement is required. As an additional feature the technology described here provides a security feature which can protect the surface of an object into which such a surface is intimately combined, against simulation by conventional printing or engraving methods.
  • The technology can be applied to costume jewelry to provide product enhancement, to medals and coin-like items where the inclusion of holographic or diffractive surface elements can provide both enhancement and proof of authenticity, and to general metal objects which can be produced using an electroforming technique and which can be enhanced by the inclusion of holographic and diffractive effects.

Claims (8)

1. A method for forming decorative surface structure by making a metallic master model of the required surface where a macroscopic relief is combined with one or more elements carrying a macroscopic relief pattern in the form of holographic or diffracting structures, forming a casting of the surface of the master model in a suitable polymeric material, applying a thin conducting layer to the surface of the casting, and then electroforming the polymeric casting to produce a metallic replica of the desired surface.
2. The method of claim 1 to which an additional thin metallic layer such as gold is applied to enhance the decorative effect.
3. A decorative surface structure formed by the master model and casting steps described in claim 1 where the application of the thin conducting layer provides the decorative effect, and the casting with its conducting layer provides the decorative surface structure.
4. The metallic master model of the required decorative surface structure made according to claim 1 or 2 where the macroscopic relief regions have been formed by con­ventional machining operations, and the holographic or diffracting elements are themselves in the form of an electroformed replica of an optically recorded holo­graphic or diffractive microscopic relief structure recorded using the interference between coherent wave-­fronts on a suitable photosensitive recording medium.
5. A decorative surface structure according to claim 3 in the form of a watch face.
6. A decorative surface structure according to claim 3 which provides the decorative part of a piece of jewelry.
7. A decorative structure according to claim 3 in the form of a medallion or coin.
8. The surface structure made according to claim 1 or 2 where the role of the holographic or diffractive ele­ments incorporated into the surfcace is to provide a security feature to guard against the simulation of a similar surface by conventional printing or non-holo­graphic or non-diffractive finishing methods.
EP19870810255 1987-04-22 1987-04-22 A method for producing a decorative surface structure with holographic or diffraction pattern Expired - Lifetime EP0287746B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19870810255 EP0287746B1 (en) 1987-04-22 1987-04-22 A method for producing a decorative surface structure with holographic or diffraction pattern
DE8787810255T DE3765776D1 (en) 1987-04-22 1987-04-22 METHOD FOR PRODUCING A DECORATIVE SURFACE STRUCTURE WITH A HOLOGRAM OR A DIFFUSION PATTERN.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19870810255 EP0287746B1 (en) 1987-04-22 1987-04-22 A method for producing a decorative surface structure with holographic or diffraction pattern

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0287746A1 true EP0287746A1 (en) 1988-10-26
EP0287746B1 EP0287746B1 (en) 1990-10-24

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Family Applications (1)

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EP19870810255 Expired - Lifetime EP0287746B1 (en) 1987-04-22 1987-04-22 A method for producing a decorative surface structure with holographic or diffraction pattern

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0287746B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3765776D1 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0484974A1 (en) * 1990-11-09 1992-05-13 Luis Remba A method of making artistic prints (II)
WO1992022226A1 (en) * 1991-06-13 1992-12-23 Australian Gem Exchange Pty. Ltd. Simulated objects
DE4323554A1 (en) * 1993-07-14 1995-01-19 Reinert Udo Dipl Ing Process for producing redundant holographic information stores for the rotative reconstruction of the holograms and their projection on sheet-like image sensors
ES2159477A1 (en) * 1999-08-17 2001-10-01 Montana Exposito Vicenta De Metal coating of eg. sports shoes for decoration purposes consists of application of eg. gold by electrolysis after covering the shoe with a conductive metal and varnish mixture
DE4211235C2 (en) * 1992-04-03 2003-04-17 Gao Ges Automation Org Method and device for producing metallic surface elements on substrates and their use
CH697447B1 (en) * 2003-12-23 2008-10-15 3D Ag Substrate's i.e. embossing matrix, surface structure producing method for e.g. manufacturing decorative pattern, involves applying surface reliefs, and forming impression of substrate before formation of production unit
US20170130353A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-11 Nivarox-Far S.A. Method for fabrication of a metal component with at least one optical illusion design
EP3181006A1 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-21 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Zirconia panel element with selective colouring
EP3181007A1 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-21 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Zirconia panel element with selectively conductive areas for electronic applications
EP3266905A1 (en) 2016-07-04 2018-01-10 Richemont International S.A. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component
JP2020011282A (en) * 2018-07-20 2020-01-23 アサダメッシュ株式会社 Decorative sheet, and manufacturing method thereof

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2086223A1 (en) * 1970-04-21 1971-12-31 Patek Philippe Sa
US3867264A (en) * 1973-03-30 1975-02-18 Bell & Howell Co Electroforming process
CH601500A5 (en) * 1975-04-25 1978-07-14 Liss Sa Decorative metal parts and jewellery
US4184700A (en) * 1975-11-17 1980-01-22 Lgz Landis & Gyr Zug Ag Documents embossed with optical markings representing genuineness information
EP0175460A1 (en) * 1984-08-08 1986-03-26 Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH Manufacture of diffraction gratings

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2086223A1 (en) * 1970-04-21 1971-12-31 Patek Philippe Sa
US3867264A (en) * 1973-03-30 1975-02-18 Bell & Howell Co Electroforming process
CH601500A5 (en) * 1975-04-25 1978-07-14 Liss Sa Decorative metal parts and jewellery
US4184700A (en) * 1975-11-17 1980-01-22 Lgz Landis & Gyr Zug Ag Documents embossed with optical markings representing genuineness information
EP0175460A1 (en) * 1984-08-08 1986-03-26 Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH Manufacture of diffraction gratings

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
XEROX DISCLOSURE JOURNAL, vol. 7, no. 6, November/December 1982, pages 379-380; C.J. KRAMER: "Replication of diffraction gratings by embossing techniques" *

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0484974A1 (en) * 1990-11-09 1992-05-13 Luis Remba A method of making artistic prints (II)
WO1992022226A1 (en) * 1991-06-13 1992-12-23 Australian Gem Exchange Pty. Ltd. Simulated objects
US5599594A (en) * 1991-06-13 1997-02-04 Australian Gem Exchange Pty. Ltd. Simulated objects
DE4211235C2 (en) * 1992-04-03 2003-04-17 Gao Ges Automation Org Method and device for producing metallic surface elements on substrates and their use
DE4323554A1 (en) * 1993-07-14 1995-01-19 Reinert Udo Dipl Ing Process for producing redundant holographic information stores for the rotative reconstruction of the holograms and their projection on sheet-like image sensors
ES2159477A1 (en) * 1999-08-17 2001-10-01 Montana Exposito Vicenta De Metal coating of eg. sports shoes for decoration purposes consists of application of eg. gold by electrolysis after covering the shoe with a conductive metal and varnish mixture
CH697447B1 (en) * 2003-12-23 2008-10-15 3D Ag Substrate's i.e. embossing matrix, surface structure producing method for e.g. manufacturing decorative pattern, involves applying surface reliefs, and forming impression of substrate before formation of production unit
KR20170055428A (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-19 니바록스-파 에스.에이. Method for fabrication of a metal-based component with at least one optical illusion pattern
EP3168057A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-17 Nivarox-FAR S.A. Method for manufacturing a metal part with at least one optical illusion pattern
EP3168058A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-17 Nivarox-FAR S.A. Method for manufacturing a metal part with at least one optical illusion pattern
US20170130353A1 (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-11 Nivarox-Far S.A. Method for fabrication of a metal component with at least one optical illusion design
JP2017089008A (en) * 2015-11-11 2017-05-25 ニヴァロックス−ファー ソシエテ アノニム Method for fabrication of metal-based component with at least one optical illusion design
US11866837B2 (en) 2015-11-11 2024-01-09 Nivarox-Far S.A. Method for fabrication of a metal component with at least one optical illusion design
WO2017102239A3 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-09-14 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd External part made of zirconia with selective colouring
EP3181007A1 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-21 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Zirconia panel element with selectively conductive areas for electronic applications
WO2017102399A3 (en) * 2015-12-18 2018-03-01 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd External part made of zirconia with selectively conductive regions for electronic functions
CN108471851A (en) * 2015-12-18 2018-08-31 斯沃奇集团研究和开发有限公司 The outer member in the selective conductivity region for electric function is made and had of zirconium oxide
US11144012B2 (en) 2015-12-18 2021-10-12 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd Zirconia covering element with selective coloring
US11467540B2 (en) 2015-12-18 2022-10-11 The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd External element made of zirconia with selectively conductive zones for electronic applications
EP3181006A1 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-21 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Zirconia panel element with selective colouring
EP3266905A1 (en) 2016-07-04 2018-01-10 Richemont International S.A. Method for manufacturing a timepiece component
JP2020011282A (en) * 2018-07-20 2020-01-23 アサダメッシュ株式会社 Decorative sheet, and manufacturing method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0287746B1 (en) 1990-10-24
DE3765776D1 (en) 1990-11-29

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