Patents by Inventor Jean-Claude Martin

Jean-Claude Martin 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: 10736389
    Abstract: A method for assembling a stone on to a mounting includes sinking the stone into an adhesive layer on a substrate and then positioning a setting sheet around the stone above the adhesive layer so as to form a peripheral free space between the setting sheet and the stone, at least at the level of the girdle and of areas of the crown and the pavilion adjacent to the girdle. Then, a metallic layer is deposited in the peripheral free space from the setting sheet, at least at the level of the girdle and of the areas of the crown and the pavilion adjacent to the girdle, such that the metallic layer and the setting sheet form the mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Stewes Bourban, Pascal Grossenbacher, Jean-Claude Martin, Vladislav Spassov, Cecile Barron, Lionel Blaser, Yann Caloz, Cyrille Gernez, Stephane Lauper, Ahmad Odeh, Simon Springer
  • Publication number: 20200201261
    Abstract: A dial including a mother-of-pearl wafer partially covering a support member, and a decorative element arranged on a reverse of the wafer, the decorative element being visible on an obverse of the wafer when subjected to a stimulus and invisible on the obverse of the wafer in the absence of the stimulus. The decorative element has a first empty area on a reverse of the wafer, and a second empty area on the obverse of the wafer, facing the first empty area. A colour compensation layer is deposited on the first empty area or the second empty area, the colour being selected such that the difference in colour ?E in the CIE Lab colour space between the colour compensation layer and the decorative element in the absence of said stimulus, perceived by a user observing the obverse of the wafer, is less than 3. Also, a timepiece including the dial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Agnès MARLOT DOERR, Nicolas François, Alexandros Mouskeftaras, Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin, Carole Govaerts
  • Patent number: 10691070
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety valve including: a tube intended to be fixed to a watch case, a hollow head mounted for rotation about the tube, a first element fixedly mounted with respect to the head and a second element integral with the head, wherein the first element and the second element each include one or more passages allowing gas to flow, the rotational motion of the head allowing the passages of the first element and of the second element to be placed in communication for gas to escape from the interior to the exterior of the case in case of overpressure inside the case or, conversely, allowing the passages of the first element and of the second element to be moved out of alignment to prevent gas escaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Publication number: 20190365061
    Abstract: A bracelet including two strands provided with a fastening system which includes at least one longitudinal groove on one of the two strands and at least one longitudinal protuberance on the other strand. The material and the shape of the groove and of the protuberance are configured such that these two elements interlock under pressure exerted by the bracelet user, over two overlapping portions of the bracelet strands. The connection between the strands can easily be separated, preferably by peeling the upper strand away from the lower strand. The bracelet is continuously adjustable in length, without requiring heavy or complex elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Claude MARTIN, Cedric NICOLAS
  • Patent number: 10405619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mounting at least one decorative element (3) on a support (2) comprising the steps of: a. taking a support (2) provided with at least one cavity (4); b. taking at least one decorative element (3); c. filling said cavity with a composite filler material comprising at least one metal powder and at least one organic binder and having, at the moment of filling, a viscosity comprised between 1,000 mPa·s and 1,000,000 mPa·s; d. heating the composite filler material to a higher temperature than its melting point to make it liquid; e. allowing the filler material to cool to form a substrate (6); f. making at least one housing (8) in said substrate (6); g. mounting said decorative element (3) in said housing (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban Dubach, Stewes Bourban, Yves Winkler, Pierry Vuille, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 10346830
    Abstract: A portable object includes a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an electronic chip provided with two terminals connected to an electrical circuit including an antenna and a filter. The communication device is provided to receive and transmit at a defined frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit. The portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position in which the communication device is activated and a passive position in which the communication device is deactivated. The electrical circuit includes, furthermore, a bypass branch provided with a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions causing a modification in the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Jean-Claude Martin, Michel Willemin, Thierry Scordilis
  • Patent number: 10334915
    Abstract: An attachment link for a watch band is arranged to attach the band to a watch case between the horns. A first end of the attachment link is fixed to a watch band strand and the second end of the attachment link is fixed to the case with a bar. The link is between the horns and against the case. The attachment link includes a device for blocking pivoting in order to firmly hold the attachment link between the horns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Publication number: 20190196408
    Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding, the process including the following steps: a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel, b) getting hold of a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature, c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel, d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy, e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alexandre Haemmerli, Francois Gueissaz, Jean-Claude Martin, Lionel Paratte, Yves Winkler, Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer, Lionel Tombez, Baptiste Hinaux, Donald William Corson, Michel Willemin
  • Publication number: 20190133270
    Abstract: A method for assembling a stone on a setting support, the stone being cut to exhibit a table, a crown, a girdle and a pavilion. A substrate with a recess for the stone, the recess forming, between the substrate and the stone, a peripheral free space in the vicinity of the girdle and of the zones of the crown and of the pavilion contiguous to the girdle, the peripheral free space including a bottom having a conductive surface. Electroplating, in the peripheral free space, a metal layer in the vicinity of the girdle and of the zones of the crown and of the pavilion contiguous to the girdle, so as to confine the girdle in the metal layer to form, around the girdle, the setting support. The stone and its setting support are released from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Stewes BOURBAN, Pascal GROSSENBACHER, Jean-Claude MARTIN, Vladislav SPASSOV, Cecile BARRON, Lionel BLASER, Yann CALOZ, Cyrille GERNEZ, Stephane LAUPER, Ahmad ODEH, Simon SPRINGER
  • Publication number: 20190133271
    Abstract: A method for assembling a stone on to a mounting, the stone being cut to have a crown, a girdle and a pavilion, the method including providing a substrate including an adhesive layer; positioning the stone on the adhesive layer; heating the adhesive layer; exerting a pressure on the stone; positioning a setting sheet around the stone above the adhesive layer, so as to form a peripheral free space between the setting sheet and the stone, at least at the level of the girdle and of areas of the crown and the pavilion adjacent to the girdle; depositing a metallic layer in the peripheral free space from the setting sheet, at least at the level of the girdle and of the areas of the crown and the pavilion adjacent to the girdle, the metallic layer and the setting sheet forming the mounting; releasing the stone and its mounting from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Stewes Bourban, Pascal Grossenbacher, Jean-Claude Martin, Vladislav Spassov, Cecile Barron, Lionel Blaser, Yann Caloz, Cyrille Gernez, Stephane Lauper, Ahmad Odeh, Simon Springer
  • Publication number: 20190018369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety valve including: a tube intended to be fixed to a watch case, a hollow head mounted for rotation about the tube, a first element fixedly mounted with respect to the head and a second element integral with the head, wherein the first element and the second element each include one or more passages allowing gas to flow, the rotational motion of the head allowing the passages of the first element and of the second element to be placed in communication for gas to escape from the interior to the exterior of the case in case of overpressure inside the case or, conversely, allowing the passages of the first element and of the second element to be moved out of alignment to prevent gas escaping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry VUILLE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20190018370
    Abstract: A safety valve for a watch including a head that is movably mounted on a tube and able to move between an open position and a closed position, the tube including in its internal volume a first spring and wherein the tube is provided on an external face with a cam surface allowing a manual movement and an automatic movement of the head into its open position, after the first spring, the tube includes a second spring having a higher stiffness than that of the first spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry VUILLE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Patent number: 10086642
    Abstract: The method makes it possible to produce a decorated element for a timepiece or piece of jewelry. This decorated element may be, for example, a watch dial. The method includes the steps of taking a base substrate, and micromachining on said base substrate a mold or decorative partitions in a programmed pattern, and filling the mold or the decorative partitions with at least one filler material to obtain the decorated element. The filler material may be an epoxy resin and the mold or the partitions are obtained by melting and solidifying a solder paste or powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban Dubach, Pierry Vuille, Yves Winkler, Stewes Bourban, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 10031485
    Abstract: Watchmaker's portable lubrication tool including at least one lubricant reservoir, with a plurality of chambers, each only accessible to a user in a first open position of the tool, each reservoir being closable by a sealed lid which, in a second closed position, is kept sealingly pressed on the reservoir, and the tool includes a structure which carries such a lid associated with such a reservoir, and which is a component of a multi-function pocket knife of the “Swiss army knife” type, with a frame on which pivots a plurality of blades, the tool comprises at least one elastic return arranged to exert, in the second closed position, a force on at least one lid to press it sealingly on an associated reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Martin, Michel Willemin
  • Publication number: 20180190455
    Abstract: A portable object including a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an antenna, the ends of which are configured to be connected electrically to an electronic chip, forming, together with the chip, an electrical circuit. In an original manner, the portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position wherein the communication device is activated and a passive position wherein the communication device is deactivated. The portable object includes, furthermore, a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Pierry VUILLE, Jean-Claude Martin, Michel Willemin, Thierry Scordilis
  • Publication number: 20180189770
    Abstract: A portable object includes a near-field communication device. The communication device includes an electronic chip provided with two terminals connected to an electrical circuit including an antenna and a filter. The communication device is provided to receive and transmit at a defined frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit. The portable object includes a control element which is able to be displaced between two predefined positions, i.e. an active position in which the communication device is activated and a passive position in which the communication device is deactivated. The electrical circuit includes, furthermore, a bypass branch provided with a mechanical switch which is able to switch between an open state and a closed state in response to a displacement of the control element from one to the other of its predefined positions causing a modification in the resonance frequency of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Jean-Claude Martin, Michel Willemin, Thierry Scordilis
  • Patent number: 10012955
    Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbor of a timepiece wheel. The arbor includes a pivot-shank, the bearing includes a support including a housing arranged to receive a suspended pivot mechanism, and the pivot mechanism is arranged to absorb, at least in part, any shocks experienced by the timepiece wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Publication number: 20180047013
    Abstract: An assembly includes a main terminal equipped with a communication module using at least a first communications protocol capable of connecting the main terminal to a communication network, which enables the use of at least one function, the main terminal being arranged to use at least one configuration program, and the configuration program enables at least one preferred function to be selected and a code representing the selected preferred function to be generated, and a second communications protocol. The assembly additionally comprises at least one secondary terminal equipped with a passive communication module using the second communications protocol to communicate with the main terminal in order to protect the code representing the selected preferred function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: EM Microelectronic-Marin S.A.
    Inventors: Georges Nicolas HAYEK, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Claude MARTIN, Thomas GYGER
  • Patent number: 9843065
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a battery including an anode case, an anode situated inside the anode case, a cathode case fixed to the anode case, a seal sealing the cathode case to the anode case, a cathode situated inside the cathode case between the anode and the cathode case, and a membrane between the anode and the cathode, said battery being characterized in that one outer surface of said accumulator includes at least one marking created by local heating of material, said marking being electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yves Burri, Michael Stalder, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Publication number: 20170325554
    Abstract: An attachment link for a watch band arranged to attach the band to a watch case between the horns, wherein a first end of the attachment link is fixed to a watch band strand and the second end of the attachment link is fixed to the case with a bar, wherein the link is between the horns and against the case. The attachment link includes a device for blocking pivoting in order to firmly hold the attachment link between the horns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Pierry VUILLE, Jean-Claude Martin