Patents by Inventor Francois Nikles

Francois Nikles 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: 5014251
    Abstract: The motor driving a minute-indicator in a down counting operation which must count a finite duration is stopped when the terminal post of its control circuit is connected to "earth" potential by an electric line. A seconds-hand, rotating in synchronism with a minute-indicator, effects several revolutions during the counting operation. It is rigid with an elastic arm which, at each revolution, slides on a part of the circuit, connecting the latter to earth. This produces however stopping of the motor only at the last revolution of the seconds-hand, when a contact switch mounted in series with the sliding switch is also closed under the action of a control pin acting on an elastic blade. This pin is carried by a manually operable rocking lever which is provided with a toothed sector meshing with a pinion rigid with the minute-indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Conseilray S.A.
    Inventors: Michiel Groothuis, Francois Nikles
  • Patent number: 4903253
    Abstract: A watch case comprises a frame (5), a crystal (6) that may be welded or glued to the frame, and a base (13) that is fastened removably to the frame. The underside of the frame contains an undercut (16) that is covered by the base and that is shaped like the band end (2) which is inserted therein. The base includes at least one projection (17) shaped so as to pass through a matching opening (18) provided in the end of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Francois Nikles, Gaston Gagnebin, Marco Bettelini
  • Patent number: 4744068
    Abstract: The setting system of this invention includes a contactor provided with a blade adapted to come into repeated contact with a contact stud thereby to act on an electrical circuit. The contactor is operated by a stem bearing a crown and has a lock which prevents the blade from coming into accidental contact with the stud (for instance following a shock) when said stem is in its pushed-in rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Francois Nikles, Cyril Vuilleumier
  • Patent number: 4509867
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece movement includes a control stem slidably guided in a radial passage of a base plate. Pulling on this control stem brings a return spring acting on the stem into contact with a stud which is carried by the substrate of an electronic circuit module of the movement. This connects a conductive lead to ground, which controls an operation function of the timepiece. The pull-out control stem and associated return spring can be replaced by a push-in member and by a return coil spring located in said passage. The stud is then positioned in a hole of the substrate of the electronic circuit, which hole is situated opposite to the longitudinal axis of the passage. Pressure exerted on this push-in member places a portion thereof into electrical contact with the stud and this connects the lead to ground, as before. Thus, the movement can according to choice be completed for operation either by a push-in control movement or by a pull-out control stem movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Ebauches Electroniques S.A.
    Inventors: Willy Cleusix, Francois Nikles