# US 2013/0153289 A1 · Crystal used for closing the top of the case of a portable object and method of welding a crystal of this type > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153289 A1 - Document ID: US20130153289A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/818,222 - Filed: 2011-09-26 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-27 - Assignees: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Inventors: Gian-Carlo Poli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153289A1 ## CPC - B29C 65/56: using mechanical means {or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits} - G04B 39/004: {from a material other than glass} - G04B 39/025: {without special sealing parts} - G04G 21/08: Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - H05K 1/0306: {Inorganic insulating substrates, e.g. ceramic, glass} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) - G04G: ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A crystal and an ultrasonic welding method for a crystal. The crystal is used to close a top of a case of a portable object, the crystal being made of a transparent plastic material and being secured to the case of the portable object by ultrasonic welding. The crystal includes a top surface and a bottom surface that carry one or more conductive paths made of a transparent conductive material, and a peripheral rim that extends along at least one portion of the perimeter of the crystal. The peripheral rim provides at least one surface for the ultrasonic welding of the crystal to the case of the portable object. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-8. (canceled) ### Claim 9 A crystal used to close a top of a case of a portable object, wherein the crystal is made of a transparent plastic material and is secured to the case of the portable object by ultrasonic welding, the crystal comprising: a top surface and a bottom surface that carries one or more conductive paths made of a transparent conductive material; a peripheral rim that extends along at least one portion of the perimeter of the crystal, wherein the peripheral rim provides at least one surface for ultrasonic welding of the crystal to the case of the portable object, wherein the peripheral rim includes a top ultrasonic welding surface and a bottom ultrasonic welding surface, the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being closer to the top surface of the crystal than to the bottom surface of the crystal, the top surface and the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being connected to each other by a third ultrasonic welding surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The crystal according to claim 9, wherein the peripheral rim has a smaller thickness than a section of the crystal in an area where the peripheral rim is connected to the crystal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The crystal according to claim 9, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The crystal according to claim 10, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 13 A case of a portable object whose top is closed by a crystal made of a transparent plastic material and secured to the case of the portable object by ultrasonic welding, wherein the crystal includes has a top surface and a bottom surface that carries one or more conductive paths made of a transparent conductive material, and a peripheral rim that extends along at least one portion of the perimeter of the crystal, wherein the peripheral rim provides at least one surface for ultrasonic welding of the crystal to the case of the portable object, wherein the peripheral rim includes a top ultrasonic welding surface and a bottom ultrasonic welding surface, the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being closer to the top surface of the crystal than to the bottom surface of the crystal, the top surface and the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being connected to each other by a third ultrasonic welding surface, wherein the case comprises: a bezel that abuts on the top surface of the crystal; an assembly formed by the crystal and the bezel being mounted on a middle part to form the case of a portable object; wherein the crystal is ultrasonic welded, via at least one of the welding surfaces provided by the peripheral rim, to the middle part or the bezel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The crystal according to claim 13, wherein the peripheral rim has a smaller thickness than a section of the crystal in an area where the peripheral rim is connected to the crystal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The crystal according to claim 13, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The crystal according to claim 14, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 17 A method for ultrasonic assembly of a crystal used to close a top of a case of a portable object, wherein the crystal is made of a transparent plastic material and is secured to the case of the portable object by ultrasonic welding, wherein the crystal includes a top surface and a bottom surface that carries one or more conductive paths made of a transparent conductive material, and a peripheral rim that extends along at least one portion of the perimeter of the crystal, wherein the peripheral rim provides at least one surface for ultrasonic welding of the crystal to the case of the portable object, wherein the peripheral rim includes a top ultrasonic welding surface and a bottom ultrasonic welding surface, the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being closer to the top surface of the crystal than to the bottom surface of the crystal, the top surface and the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being connected to each other by a third ultrasonic welding surface, wherein the method includes: taking the crystal and ultrasonic welding the crystal to the case of the portable object via at least one of the welding surfaces provided by the peripheral rim. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly method according to claim 17, wherein the peripheral rim has a smaller thickness than a section of the crystal in an area where the peripheral rim is connected to the crystal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The assembly method according to claim 17, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The assembly method according to claim 18, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 21 A method for ultrasonic assembly of a crystal used to close a top of a case of a portable object, wherein the crystal is made of a transparent plastic material and secured to the case of the portable object by ultrasonic welding, wherein the crystal includes a top surface and a bottom surface that carries one or more conductive paths made of a transparent conductive material, and a peripheral rim that extends along at least one portion of the perimeter of the crystal, wherein the peripheral rim provides at least one surface for ultrasonic welding of the crystal to the case of the portable object, wherein the peripheral rim includes a top ultrasonic welding surface and a bottom ultrasonic welding surface, the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being closer to the top surface of the crystal than to the bottom surface of the crystal, the top surface and the bottom surface of the peripheral rim being connected to each other by a third ultrasonic welding surface, wherein the case of the portable object includes a bezel that abuts on the top surface of the crystal, an assembly formed by the crystal and the bezel being mounted on a middle part to form the case of the portable object, wherein the method includes: taking the crystal and ultrasonic welding the crystal to the middle part of the case by the bottom welding surface thereof and to the bezel by at least one of the top welding surface and the third welding surface thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The assembly method according to claim 21, wherein the peripheral rim has a smaller thickness than a section of the crystal in an area where the peripheral rim is connected to the crystal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The assembly method according to claim 21, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The assembly method according to claim 22, wherein a section of the peripheral rim is rectangular or square.