Electroluminescent watch dial support and connector assembly

• Main Authors: ANTHONY RINALDI JR, HAROLD THORGERSEN, LYMAN DAIGLE, BRUCE H KAMENS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.01.1996
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVEREDIN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; HOROLOGY; MEASURING; MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; PHYSICS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; TESTING; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS

An electroluminescent dial for an analog timepiece comprising a flexible transparent substrate, an inner layer comprising electrically conductive material adhered to the substrate, an EL layer comprising a mixture of electroluminescent material in a binder adhered to the inner layer, and an outer layer covering the electroluminescent layer comprising electrically conductive material, the substrate and the layers comprising a single flexible laminated assembly and having a hole therethrough for accommodating the rotatable stem, and includes a tab portion comprising the substrate and the inner layer extending beyond the EL and outer layers. A dial support member comprising a rigid plate substantially the size and shape of the electroluminescent dial supports the dial on one side of the frame. A printed circuit board disposed on the opposite side of the frame includes an electrical circuit adapted to cause illumination of the EL layer disposed on the printed circuit board and has first and second terminals connected as outputs of the circuit. In a preferred form of the invention the tab portion is bent around the frame after first coating it with protective and electrically conductive ink, and connected to the first terminal. An elastomeric connector is used for the second connection. A modified form of the invention utilizes a shorter tab and elastomeric connectors for both first and second connectors.