Patents Examined by Kevin Andrew Johnston
  • Patent number: 11874632
    Abstract: An optical device including a transparent support provided with an upper face and a lower face which extends at a distance from the upper face, the transparent support forming a lens of plano-concave shape delimited on a first side by a planar surface, and delimited on a second side, opposite the first side, by a concave surface, the optical device also including a shutter which is disposed under the concave surface of the transparent support, at a distance therefrom, the optical device finally including a substrate disposed after the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Pierpasquale Tortora, Cédric Blatter, Nicolas Debaud, Bernat Monferrer
  • Patent number: 11868092
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical movement with a mechanical oscillator and an electronic device for regulating the medium frequency of this mechanical oscillator. It includes an electromagnetic transducer and an electric converter which includes a power supply capacitor for powering the regulation circuit. The electromagnetic transducer is arranged to supply a voltage signal exhibiting first voltage lobes in first half-alternations and second voltage lobes in second half-alternations of the oscillations of the mechanical oscillator. The regulating device includes a load pump arranged to store momentarily electric loads which are extracted selectively in different time zones according to a time drift detected in the functioning of the mechanical oscillator relative to an auxiliary oscillator, particularly quartz-based. The electric loads extracted are rendered after a certain delay to the power supply capacitor also according to the time drift detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Lionel Tombez
  • Patent number: 11868093
    Abstract: A method that is for manufacturing a timepiece provided with a personalized decoration, visible in particular when the timepiece is worn, includes constructing the timepiece and producing the personalized decoration on all or part of a body of the timepiece. Producing the personalized decoration includes selecting from a human-machine interface of an electronic device a single portion of a reference digital graphical representation, in particular of an ephemeral reference digital graphic representation, and applying a coating of decorative material on all or part of the body of the timepiece as a function of the descriptive characteristics of the selected single portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Stefan Stark
  • Patent number: 11868089
    Abstract: An escape wheel serving as a watch component that constitutes a drive mechanism of a watch includes a tooth portion, and a base mainly composed of silicon. A contact surface where the tooth portion makes contact with another component includes a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Takeo Funakawa, Katsuo Takano
  • Patent number: 11860576
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct escapement mechanism (1) having an escape wheel (2) provided with a series of peripheral teeth (3), and an anchor (4), having an entry-pallet (10) and an exit-pallet (11) each having a locking plane (10p, 11p) and also having a fork (43). It also comprises a pin (6) which can be rigidly connected to a regulating organ (5) to cooperate at each alternation of said regulating organ (5) with the fork (43) of the anchor in order to unlock at least partially said anchor from the escape wheel (2) as well as at least one impulse pallet (9) which can be rigidly connected to said regulating organ (5) to cooperate with a tooth (3) of the escape wheel to transmit a direct impulse to said regulating organ (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: François Besse
  • Patent number: 11860575
    Abstract: A direct impulse free escapement mechanism for a timepiece includes: an escapement wheel with peripheral teeth; a locking device including a locking pallet engaging an escapement wheel tooth in a locking position of the locking device; and a control pallet actuated by a pivoting regulating organ to engage a complementary unlocking organ of the locking device to release the locking device from the escapement wheel in an unlocking position at each alternation of the regulating organ. Also included are impulse pallets attachable to the regulating organ, cooperating on an impulse plane with a tooth of the escapement wheel to transmit a direct impulse to the regulating organ. The locking device is drawn by the escapement wheel in each locking position. The teeth of the escapement wheel and the impulse pallets are configured so the impulses occur outside the plane of the escapement wheel. A corresponding timepiece is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: François Besse
  • Patent number: 11860585
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a smartwatch including a housing that at least partially defines an internal volume, and a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the internal volume. A front cover can be positioned over the touch-sensitive display and can define a front exterior surface. A seal can be positioned between the housing and the front cover and configured to transition between an uncompressed state and a compressed state in response to an increase from a first external pressure on the front cover to a second external pressure. In the uncompressed state, the seal has a first density and is air-permeable allowing an internal pressure of the internal volume to equalize with external air at the first pressure. In the compressed state, the seal has a second density, greater than the first density, and is configured to inhibit ingress of water at the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Crowley, Eric T. Chiang, Ross L Jackson
  • Patent number: 11853007
    Abstract: Horological component (100) having a first opening (1) intended to receive a member (20) driven into the first opening, the component having an axis (A1; 1A1) centered in the first opening and at least two structures (10; 110) intended to receive the member, each comprising a receiving element (4b; 14b) intended to come into contact with the member and extending at least substantially orthoradially relative to the axis (A1; 1A1), a first connecting element (4c; 14c) extending at least substantially radially relative to the axis (A1; 1A1) from a first end of the receiving element, a second connecting element (4d; 14d) extending at least substantially radially relative to the axis (A1; 1A1) from a second end of the receiving element, a first elastically deformable element (4a; 14a) extending at least substantially orthoradially relative to the axis (A1; 1A1), and a second elastically deformable element (4a?; 14a?) extending at least substantially orthoradially relative to the axis (A1; 1A1), the first connectin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Dany Comment
  • Patent number: 11853011
    Abstract: A watch case for a wristwatch including a case middle having a central axis, a case back, bracelet attachment device removably connected to the case middle, and an annular ring rotatably mounted about the central axis of the case middle, the annular ring being provided with mechanical locking device capable, when the annular ring is in a locking position, of cooperating with complementary engagement device arranged on the bracelet attachment device, in order to secure the attachment device to the case middle. The annular ring is held between the case middle and the case back and the mechanical locking device include at least one resilient member, the member being elastically engaged with the complementary engagement device when the annular ring is in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: OMEGA SA
    Inventor: Nicolas Lazzari
  • Patent number: 11846913
    Abstract: Disclosed is an escapement mechanism with a locking anchor for a timepiece including a sprung-balance regulating organ, including an escapement wheel provided with a series of peripheral teeth, and a locking anchor including first and second locking pallets arranged respectively at one end of first and second arms to allow alternately engaging a tooth of the escapement wheel at each rotation step of the escapement wheel and of the anchor about their respective axis of rotation. This mechanism includes an impulse pallet adapted to be fixed to one the regulating organ to transmit an impulse by sliding a tooth of the escapement wheel on an impulse plane of the impulse pallet once at least every two oscillations of the regulating organ while the locking anchor includes a connecting member for permanent kinematic engagement in rotation to the regulating organ. Also disclosed is a timepiece incorporating such an escapement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: François Besse
  • Patent number: 11842713
    Abstract: The resonant member for a striking mechanism of a watch or of a music box includes at least one resonant part, such as one or more gongs, arranged to vibrate and resonate once activated, and an attachment part. The resonant part is made from a copper alloy with more than 70% of copper in the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Laurane Chevallier, Julien Peter
  • Patent number: 11829107
    Abstract: The micromechanical clockwork part is cut from a plate-like silicon substrate. The cut edges of the part include portions intended to serve as contact surfaces arranged to slide against corresponding contact zones of another micromechanical part in a clockwork piece. The cut edges have a ribbed surface including an alternating set of ribs and furrows, the ribs and the furrows being straight and each contained in a plane parallel to the plate. Moreover, the ribs and furrows which the cut edges have form a stepped pattern on the cut edge, with first intervals in which the spacing separating the ribs from one another is equal to a first distance, and at least one second interval in which the spacing between the ribs is equal to a second distance different from the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
    Inventors: Julien Perret, Rémy Fournier, Sylvain Jeanneret
  • Patent number: 11822294
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a magnetic escapement formed of a magnetic escape wheel with an annular magnetized structure and a pallet fork whose shaft is formed by a ferromagnetic material. The pallet shaft exerts on the escape wheel a magnetic disturbance torque due to the fact that the annular magnetized structure exhibits an angular variation of at least one defining physical parameter thereof, such that the magnetic attraction varies as a function of the angular position of the escape wheel and has a tangential component. A magnetic compensation pin is incorporated in the timepiece movement, this magnetic compensation pin being arranged such that the second magnetic disturbance torque that it exerts on the escape wheel exhibits an angular phase shift relative to the first magnetic disturbance torque generated by the pallet shaft, so as to compensate largely for this first magnetic disturbance torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Marc Stranczl, Benoit Legeret, Rene Piguet
  • Patent number: 11822290
    Abstract: A horological Tourbillon comprising A) a cage CC rotating around an axis (ZC), divided in two half-cages (1a,b) by a medial plane (RC) perpendicular to the rotation axis (ZC); a double tourbillon (TD) with two regulation systems each made of an oscillator (OSa,b), a lever and it's escapement mobile (MEa,b), installed in their respective half-cage (1a, 1b); the two regulation systems being made of identical elements but organized in an opposite configuration and installed in each half-cage (1a, 1b) symmetrically relatively to the medial plan (RC) so that, in the medial plane, the rotation direction of the two escapement mobiles (MEa,b) are identical; each regulation system has a compensating wheel (RFa,b) that meshes with its escapement mobile (MEa,b); B) a differential (D) made of: two outputs S (a,b) each meshing into a compensating wheel (RFa,b), thus creating a position compensation; one input pinion (ED) linked to the horological mechanism (MH); C) one linkage (EC) between the horological mechanism (MH) a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: Vianney Halter
  • Patent number: 11796962
    Abstract: An escapement mechanism of a timepiece, including: a first escapement wheel, a second escapement wheel called an impulse pinion and a drive pinion; the impulse pinion, the drive pinion and the first escapement wheel being mounted on the same axis; an intermediate wheel meshing with the drive pinion; a balance plate carrying a plate peg and a direct impulse pallet stone arranged to cooperate with the first escapement wheel; pallets including a pallet entry cooperating with the plate peg, an impulse pallet stone arranged to cooperate with the impulse pinion, and first and second support pallet stones arranged to cooperate with the first escapement wheel. The first escapement wheel, the drive pinion and the impulse pinion are mounted in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventor: Ivan Villar
  • Patent number: 11782388
    Abstract: Horological device (100) comprising two oscillators (1a,b) with rotating and spiral (12a,b) balance wheels (11a,b), coupled for their synchronization. The oscillators (1a,b) are identical and their axles (22a,b) are parallel. The spirals (12a,b) are connected to a shared stud (13) by a link in the same direction but in the opposite direction, the stud being fixed to the rest of the horological movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Vianney Halter
  • Patent number: 11782386
    Abstract: A twisted arbour barrel (1), including a barrel drum (2) provided with a housing, a spring arranged in the housing of the barrel drum (2), an arbour (4) at least partially passing through the housing, the spring being compressed by rotation of the arbour in a first direction of rotation (12), the arbour (4) being provided with a protruding end (9) of the drum (2), a ratchet (3) arranged on the drum (2), the ratchet (3) being configured to allow the rotation of the arbour (4) in the first direction of rotation (12), the protruding end (9) passing through the ratchet (3) through an opening (14) cooperating by interlocking with the protruding end (9), the protruding end (9) of the arbour (4) having a twisted shape around its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Julien Christan, Laurent Kaelin
  • Patent number: 11774910
    Abstract: A resonant member for a striking mechanism of a watch or of a music box includes at least one resonant part, such as one or more gongs, arranged to vibrate and resonate once activated, and an attachment part. The resonant part and/or the attachment part is made from an alloy of palladium or platinum with more than 51% of palladium or platinum in the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Laurane Chevallier, Julien Peter
  • Patent number: 11774911
    Abstract: A timepiece indexing element cooperating coaxially with a component including an indexing relief element defining indexing positions, including a first bearing surface cooperating in abutment with the component, elastic return device exerting a radial thrust on this component to press it onto this first bearing surface, and indexing device cooperating with the indexing relief element, these elastic return devices include at least a first elastic arm including a first indexing surface comprised in this indexing device and arranged to exert a radial thrust force on the component and, at least a second elastic arm arranged to exert a radial thrust force on the first elastic arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Julien Saglini
  • Patent number: 11754976
    Abstract: Timepiece striking mechanism, including a fixed structure supporting at least one gong or radiant element and a mobile hammer in a plane under the action of an activation mobile component controlling the pallet of the hammer (3) and the release thereof for the percussion of the gong, and including, for the suspension of the hammer, at least one planar flexible guide between the structure and the hammer (3) to allow movements of the hammer solely on the plane, forming the sole mechanical link between the structure and the hammer, and, more particularly, for the execution of a striking mechanism, the striking mechanism (drives the activation mobile component, and has same carry out a winding cycle during which it supplies constant quantity of energy to the flexible guide while driving the hammer before releasing same for the execution of the striking mechanism by percussion of the gong during letting down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Marc Stranczl