Patents by Inventor Dominique Lechot

Dominique Lechot 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).

  • Patent number: 10394190
    Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism includes a structure and an inertial element oscillating around an axis and subjected to restoring forces exerted by a plurality of elastic blades, each fixed directly or indirectly to the structure at a first end and fixed directly or indirectly to an inertial element at a second end. The elastic blade extends in a perpendicular plane to the pivot axis and is deformable substantially in this plane, where this resonator mechanism includes an axial stop including at least a lower axial stop and/or an upper axial stop, and the axial stop is arranged for the protection of the blade resonator mechanism against axial shocks in the direction of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Dominique Lechot, Pascal Winkler, Gianni Di Domenico, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20190250565
    Abstract: A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is comprised between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome FAVRE, Olivier MATTHEY, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Dominique LECHOT, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20190125041
    Abstract: A device for attaching an end of a bracelet to an object, including a support plate, a control member, two pins slidably mounted on the same axis, called the sliding axis, wherein the control member is mounted to move in translation on an arbor, called the translation arbor, which is substantially perpendicular to the support plate, and wherein the control member is offset with respect to the sliding axis of the pins and connected to the latter by connecting elements able to transform the translational movement of the control member into a sliding movement of the pins when the control member is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Dominique Lechot, Nicolas Francois
  • Patent number: 10241475
    Abstract: Timepiece regulating mechanism including an energy storage means delivering an output torque (CS), via a train (3), to a wheel set (4) forming a magnetic escapement mechanism (10) with a resonator wheel set (5) subjected to the torque from a return means (6) and cooperating therewith, either directly or via a magnetic stop member (7), this magnetic escapement mechanism (10) being arranged to operate when the wheel set (4) receives a torque higher than or equal to a maintenance torque (CE), and the train (3) includes a torque regulating means (30) arranged to deliver to the wheel set (4) a constant torque comprised between 1.0 and 2.0 times the maintenance torque (CE), the torque regulating means (30) including a fusee (8) of continuously variable cross-section, from which unwinds a chain (9), wound by a drum (21), directly or indirectly driven by the energy storage means (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome Favre, Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Jacques Born, Baptiste Hinaux
  • Patent number: 10222748
    Abstract: Watch comprising a movement, with a timepiece balance wheel comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, carried by a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the timepiece balance wheel, the movement further including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilizing the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Donald William Corson, Dominique Lechot
  • Publication number: 20190064741
    Abstract: Isochronous pivot for a resonator including two flexible strips joining attachment points of a first and a second element, defining two strip directions, and a pivot axis, at the intersection of their projections or at their intersection, each strip having a free length between its attachment points, and an axial distance between the pivot axis and the attachment point thereof farthest from the axis, the attachment point ratio X=D/L being greater than one for each strip, the strip directions defining with the axis a first apex angle whose value in degrees is comprised between f1(X)=108+67/(10X?6), and f2(X)=113+67/(10X?6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
  • Publication number: 20190064742
    Abstract: An isochronous pivot for a resonator including two flexible strips joining attachment points of a first and a second element, defining two strip directions, and a pivot axis, at the intersection of their projections or at their intersection, each strip having a free length between its attachment points, and an axial distance between the pivot axis and the attachment point thereof farthest from the axis, the attachment point ratio X=D/L being greater than one for each strip, the strip directions defining with the axis a first apex angle whose value in degrees includes between f1(X)=108+67/(10X?6), and f2(X)=113+67/(10X?6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
  • Patent number: 10216149
    Abstract: Strip resonator for a mechanical watch movement, comprising a structure, an oscillating inertial element, and elastic strips forming a flat bearing for the inertial element, and a flat, anti-shock device arranged to protect each strip from rupture in the event of a shock, and including a first prestressed flexible element arranged to allow a variation in length during the expansion or contraction of a strip within a range of lengths corresponding to normal operation of this strip under the action of a stress of intensity lower than a first threshold, and to prevent the expansion or contraction of this strip when it is subjected to a tensile or respectively compressive stress of intensity higher than the first threshold, and the resonator includes, for the three-dimensional anti-shock protection of the strips, in an axial direction perpendicular to a main plane, axial protection means, which include, on the one hand, axial banking members for limiting the axial travel of at least one inertial element, and on t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20190033784
    Abstract: Mechanical timepiece oscillator comprising, between a first element and a second inertial element, two distinct flexible strips returning the inertial element to a rest position in an oscillation plane, the projections of these strips crossing each other, in the rest position, at a point, through which passes the pivoting axis of the second solid inertial element, the embedding points of the strips in the first element and the second inertial element defining two directions in which each strip has a free length between its embedding points, and an axial distance between the pivoting axis and the the farthest of its embedding points, and, for each strip, the embedding point ratio is comprised between 0 and 1, and the vertex angle at the crossing point of the directions of the strips is less than 70°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique LECHOT, Jerome FAVRE, Baptiste HINAUX, Jean-Jacques BORN, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20180341225
    Abstract: Method for adjusting the rate of a basic oscillator of a watch arranged to oscillate at a nominal frequency N0, with a master oscillator generating an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the master oscillator subjecting the watch to excitation or a modulated motion during a transition phase after which the basic oscillator is stabilised at the excitation frequency NE, and a state of display correction method with a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, moving a support carrying the watch and comprising a state of display correction oscillator, having a lower variation of rate value than the initial variation of rate value DI of this basic oscillator, and oscillating at a correction frequency NC to impose oscillation or a motion on the watch, during a state of display correction phase whose duration is adjusted to exactly correct a state of display error measured at the initial moment of actuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome FAVRE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Dominique LECHOT, Gianni DI DOMENICO
  • Publication number: 20180341226
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the rate of a watch with an oscillator arranged to generate oscillation at a nominal frequency N0, with a servo-system including a master oscillator arranged to generate excitation oscillation at an excitation frequency NE, which is approximately equal to, or equal to the nominal frequency N0, or to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the watch is subjected to excitation oscillation or to a modulated motion, generated by the master oscillator, during a transition phase after which the oscillator of the watch is stabilised at excitation frequency NE, and there is incorporated in the servo-system a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, arranged to move a support on which such a watch is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome FAVRE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Dominique LECHOT, Gianni DI DOMENICO
  • Patent number: 10114340
    Abstract: Timepiece movement including a flexible strip resonator cooperating with a magnetic escapement mechanism, wherein an escape wheel set includes tangential magnetized areas repelling first magnetized areas of an inertial element of the resonator, this movement includes isochronism correction means combining the first magnetized areas and compensating magnets on the escape wheel set, each arranged in proximity to a tangential magnetized area and producing a leakage field in a different direction from that of the field of the tangential magnetized area, the leakage field intensity being low compared to that of the field of the second tangential magnetized area, and this leakage field interacting with one of the first magnetized areas to produce a low variation in the operation of the resonator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 10095187
    Abstract: Watch with a timepiece movement, a resonator mechanism, including a magnetic escapement mechanism including an escape wheel set including a magnetized track, with a succession of areas according to a scrolling period in which its magnetic features are repeated, each area including an increasing magnetic field ramp followed by a magnetic field barrier with an increasing field and of higher field gradient that that of the ramp, the track includes a continuous, closed magnetic layer over the entire periphery of the escape wheel set, of constant thickness and variable width, whose geometry defines these magnetic field ramps and barriers, this escape wheel set cooperating with a sprung balance via a pivoting magnetic stop member comprising a pole piece arranged to cooperate alternately with an internal track and an external track of the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jerome Favre, Benoit Legeret, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 10054905
    Abstract: Watch comprising a movement, with a balance comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, elastically fixed to a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the balance, the movement including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilizing the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Lionel Paratte, Donald William Corson, Dominique Lechot
  • Publication number: 20180181069
    Abstract: A timepiece movement, a calendar mechanism and device for indicating the sunrise and sunset that takes account of seasonal variations. The simple calendar mechanism includes a display mechanism for displaying the date and a display mechanism for displaying the month. The sunrise and sunset indicating device also includes an annual cam having a profile representative of the tilt of the sun with respect to the equatorial plane and arranged to be driven in rotation via the hour wheel set through a kinematic chain that passes through the month display device and has a transmission ratio of 1:744.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat GILOMEN, Dominique LECHOT
  • Publication number: 20180181074
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a timepiece movement, a calendar mechanism and a mechanism for indicating the sunrise and sunset that take account of seasonal variations. The calendar mechanism includes a date display and a month display. The sunrise and sunset indicating mechanism also includes an annual cam having a profile representative of the tilt of the sun with respect to the equatorial plane and arranged to be driven in rotation by the date wheel set via a third kinematic chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat Gilomen, Dominique Lechot
  • Publication number: 20180143591
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a flexible strip, including forming a plate of the required thickness with one or more micromachinable substrate wafers; affixing, on either side of the plate, an upper mask with an upper window and a lower mask with a lower window, of identical geometry; etching the plate, at least to mid-thickness, from the upper side of each upper etching window, and from the side of each lower etching window; removing the upper mask and the lower mask, to delimit a flexible strip having a height equal to the thickness of the plate, and whose edges are as-etched. A flexible strip made of micromachinable material, including, between two parallel upper and lower surfaces, two peripheral, tapered and reverse-tapered edge surfaces, for a flexible pivot, a resonator, a movement or a watch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Pierre Cusin, Alex Gandelhman
  • Publication number: 20180136609
    Abstract: Strip resonator for a mechanical watch movement, comprising a structure, an oscillating inertial element, and elastic strips forming a flat bearing for the inertial element, and a flat, anti-shock device arranged to protect each strip from rupture in the event of a shock, and including a first prestressed flexible element arranged to allow a variation in length during the expansion or contraction of a strip within a range of lengths corresponding to normal operation of this strip under the action of a stress of intensity lower than a first threshold, and to prevent the expansion or contraction of this strip when it is subjected to a tensile or respectively compressive stress of intensity higher than the first threshold, and the resonator includes, for the three-dimensional anti-shock protection of the strips, in an axial direction perpendicular to a main plane, axial protection means, which include, on the one hand, axial banking members for limiting the axial travel of at least one inertial element, and on t
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pascal WINKLER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Dominique LECHOT, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Publication number: 20180136607
    Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism includes a structure and an inertial element oscillating around an axis and subjected to restoring forces exerted by a plurality of elastic blades, each fixed directly or indirectly to the structure at a first end and fixed directly or indirectly to an inertial element at a second end. The elastic blade extends in a perpendicular plane to the pivot axis and is deformable substantially in this plane, where this resonator mechanism includes an axial stop including at least a lower axial stop and/or an upper axial stop, and the axial stop is arranged for the protection of the blade resonator mechanism against axial shocks in the direction of the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Dominique LECHOT, Pascal WINKLER, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Patent number: 9964926
    Abstract: A watch includes a pedometer mechanism for estimating a physical activity level The watch includes at least one moving or pivoting weight arranged to drive a ratchet, an elastic or friction holder for holding the ratchet in position between two movements of the moving or pivoting weight, the ratchet driving a gear train displaying, on a display, a value corresponding, to within a multiplicative factor, to the number of pivoting motions of the ratchet, and/or to the value of the cumulative angular rotation of the ratchet, and the pedometer mechanism includes a limiter only allowing the pivoting of the ratchet from a minimum threshold corresponding to a minimum travel of the weight if the weight is movable or to a minimum angular rotation value of the weight if the weight pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Yvan Ferri, Dominique Lechot, Cedric Nicolas