Patents by Inventor Alain Zurcher

Alain Zurcher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230182627
    Abstract: A passenger restraint system for roller coasters designed to maintain a passenger in an essentially seated or lying posture, with suspended feet. The passenger restraint system includes a fixed column and a seat column designed to support and hold the passenger, which seat column is coupled to the fixed column so as to be displaceable with respect to the fixed column during a roller coaster ride. The seat column is coupled to the fixed column by an articulated linkage, and the passenger restraint system further includes a balancing device ensuring a balancing of the seat column, which balancing device is fixed, at a first end, to the fixed column and, at a second end, to the seat column. The balancing device can advantageously be configured to ensure a vertical travel of the seat column during the roller coaster ride in dependence of a vertical acceleration exerted on the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Alain Zürcher, Éric Berra
  • Patent number: 11135988
    Abstract: A passenger restraint system for roller coasters, designed to maintain a passenger in an essentially upright posture, the passenger restraint system including a fixed column and a seat column designed to support and hold the passenger, which seat column is coupled to the fixed column so as to be movable relative to the fixed column and to be adjustable to the size of the passenger during an embarkation phase. The seat column is coupled to the fixed column by an articulated linkage, and the passenger restraint system further includes a device for balancing the seat column, which balancing device includes a cylinder fixed, at a first articulated end, to the fixed column and, at a second articulated end, to the seat column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Bolliger & Mabillard Ingenieurs Conseils S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zürcher, Éric Berra
  • Publication number: 20200298783
    Abstract: A passenger restraint system for roller coasters, designed to maintain a passenger in an essentially upright posture, the passenger restraint system including a fixed column and a seat column designed to support and hold the passenger, which seat column is coupled to the fixed column so as to be movable relative to the fixed column and to be adjustable to the size of the passenger during an embarkation phase. The seat column is coupled to the fixed column by an articulated linkage, and the passenger restraint system further includes a device for balancing the seat column, which balancing device includes a cylinder fixed, at a first articulated end, to the fixed column and, at a second articulated end, to the seat column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Alain Zürcher, Éric Berra
  • Patent number: 9521810
    Abstract: The invention related to a handheld power tool having a linear actuator and a removable member, e.g. a blade, wherein the movable member is directly connected to the actuator via a connecting rod, which pushes the movable member during a work stroke and pulls the movable member to a starting position during a return stroke. One end of the connected rod is connected, via a concentric dual ball-and-socket joint, to the actuator as well as to a guide ring that slides inside the cylindrical body of the tool. Lateral and bending forces are taken up and transmitted to the body of the tool by the guide ring without affecting the actuator. The ring defines a sealed space that houses the actuator. An axial cavity of the connecting rod partially houses the actuator in the retracted position, thus reducing the length of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Felco Motion SA
    Inventor: Alain Zurcher
  • Patent number: 9168667
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handheld power tool (1), including: a mobile element (100) and a stationary element (102); a rotatable actuator; a ball nut (200); a ball screw (202) having a first end (202a) connected to the mobile element (100); and a universal joint (10, 12, 14) arranged so as to be driven by the rotatable actuator and so as to rotate the ball nut (200) on said ball screw (202) in order to move the ball screw (202), and thus the mobile element (100), relative to the stationary element (102). The universal joint can be advantageously retained inside two concentric spherical bearings (50a, 60a, 70a, 80a), thus making it possible to take up the axial forces in two directions. It is thus possible to eliminate any radial force on the ball screw (202) and have angularly variably rotational output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Felco Motion SA
    Inventor: Alain Zurcher
  • Publication number: 20150121706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handheld power tool (1), including: a mobile element (100) and a stationary element (102); a rotatable actuator; a ball nut (200); a ball screw (202) having a first end (202a) connected to the mobile element (100); and a universal joint (10, 12, 14) arranged so as to be driven by the rotatable actuator and so as to rotate the ball nut (200) on said ball screw (202) in order to move the ball screw (202), and thus the mobile element (100), relative to the stationary element (102). The universal joint can be advantageously retained inside two concentric spherical bearings (50a, 60a, 70a, 80a), thus making it possible to take up the axial forces in two directions. It is thus possible to eliminate any radial force on the ball screw (202) and have angularly variably rotational output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Alain Zurcher
  • Publication number: 20150113810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handheld power tool having a linear actuator (10) and a movable member (25), e.g. a blade, wherein the movable member (25) is directly connected to the actuator via a connecting rod (70), which pushes the movable member during a work stroke and pulls the movable member to a starting position during a return stroke. One end of the connected rod (70) is connected, via a concentric dual ball-and-socket joint, to the actuator as well as to a guide ring (80) that slides inside the cylindrical body (38) of the tool. Due to the arrangement of the invention, lateral and bending forces are taken up and transmitted to the body of the tool by the guide ring (80) without affecting the actuator. The ring (80) defines a sealed space that houses the actuator (10). An axial cavity of the connecting rod (70) partially houses the actuator (10) in the retracted position, thus reducing the length of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Alain Zurcher
  • Patent number: 7673559
    Abstract: A device for preparing drinks that incorporate a capsule selection function connected to a system for brewing the contents of the capsules to enable brewing to take place under optimal conditions. The device includes a storage system comprising capsules arranged in several sets, a mechanism for capturing a capsule individually from a set and releasing the capsule into a brewing system. The capture mechanism is able to move between the storage system and the brewing system and is designed in such a way as to adopt at least two positions, a first or reception position in which the capsule is held and is able to be transferred by the capture means and a second or release position in which the capture means can be opened to release the capsule from the capture mechanism. The device provides advantages in the handling of the capsule after its selection, in particular, its transfer, the brewing of its contents, and, optionally, the ejection of the spent capsule in a reliable, rapid and automated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zurcher, Pierre Pillot
  • Publication number: 20040237793
    Abstract: A device for preparing drinks that incorporate a capsule selection function connected to a system for brewing the contents of the capsules to enable brewing to take place under optimal conditions. The device includes a storage system comprising capsules arranged in several sets, a mechanism for capturing a capsule individually from a set and releasing the capsule into a brewing system. The capture mechanism is able to move between the storage system and the brewing system and is designed in such a way as to adopt at least two positions, a first or reception position in which the capsule is held and is able to be transferred by the capture means and a second or release position in which the capture means can be opened to release the capsule from the capture mechanism. The device provides advantages in the handling of the capsule after its selection, in particular, its transfer, the brewing of its contents, and, optionally, the ejection of the spent capsule in a reliable, rapid and automated manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Alain Zurcher, Pierre Pillot
  • Patent number: 4363451
    Abstract: A liquid jet cannon having a reciprocably movable piston device (6). The piston device is held in cocked position against the action of a gas pressure accumulator (19) by liquid pressure in a first chamber (15) until initiation of a power stroke. The power stroke is initiated by depressurization of a control chamber (16), whereby a valve (11) is moved to its open position so that a flow communication (39) is created between the first chamber (15) and a second chamber (17). The first chamber is thus rapidly depressurized so that the pressure in the gas pressure accumulator (19) drives the piston device (6) into a liquid chamber (14) to produce a liquid jet pulse for breakage of the hard material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Inventors: Barry E. Edney, Alain Zurcher