Patents by Inventor Yves Winkler

Yves Winkler 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: 9989921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece assortment including a timepiece component fixed to an arbor with the aid of a fixing element. According to the invention, the fixing element is made of at least partially amorphous metal alloy, is secured to the timepiece component by partial insertion and includes a hole into which the arbor is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Dubois, Yves Winkler, Daniel Mallet, Christian Charbon
  • Patent number: 9933754
    Abstract: Nickel-free bulk amorphous alloy, formed, in atomic percent, of: a zirconium and/or hafnium base, forming the balance, with a total zirconium and hafnium value greater than or equal to 52.0, and less than or equal to 62.0; copper: greater than or equal to 16.0, and less than or equal to 28.0; iron: greater than or equal to 0.5, and less than or equal to 10.0; aluminum: greater than or equal to 7.0, and less than or equal to 13.0; at least two additional metals taken from the family including Ti, V, Nb, Y, Cr, Mo, Co, Sn, Zn, P, Pd, Ag, Au, Pt, Ta, Ru, Rh, Ir, Os, and Hf when the base contains none, and Zr when the base contains none, with the cumulative atomic percentage of these additional metals being greater then 6.0 and less than or equal to 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban Dubach, Yves Winkler, Tommy Carozzani
  • Patent number: 9890447
    Abstract: The invention concerns a zirconium and/or hafnium based, beryllium free, solid, amorphous alloy, with the addition of silver and/or gold and/or platinum to increase its critical diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban Dubach, Yves Winkler, Tommy Carozzani
  • Patent number: 9891587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite component comprising an element with an opening into which extend stressed resilient means confined within a volume of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy, said composite component comprising a passage that, is centered with respect to said stressed resilient means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nivarox—FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Dubois, Yves Winkler
  • Publication number: 20170334236
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a part provided with an external element comprising the following steps: provide an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a pattern forming a recess in said upper surface deposit an electrically insulating layer into the pattern so that the insulating layer extends as far as the upper surface deposit a metal layer onto the upper surface of the substrate by galvanic growth so that at the end of this step the metal layer partly rests on the insulating layer dissolve the insulating layer cover an assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part, wherein the mass forms an imprint of the assembly separate the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, wherein the mass then exhibits an external element with a shape corresponding to the imprint of the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Pascal GROSSENBACHER, Stewes Bourban, Pierry Vuille, Yves Winkler
  • Publication number: 20170336762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a part provided with an external element, wherein the process comprises the following steps: provide an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a raised pattern on said upper surface, wherein the pattern has an crest deposit an electrically insulating layer onto the upper surface of the substrate around the pattern to a thickness less than or equal to the distance between the crest and the upper surface deposit a metal layer onto the crest of the pattern by galvanic growth so that at the end of this step the metal layer partly rests on the insulating layer dissolve the insulating layer cover an assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part, wherein the mass forms an imprint of the assembly separate the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, wherein the mass then exhibits an external element formed by a recess, the shape of which corresponds to the imprint of the pattern an
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pascal GROSSENBACHER, Stewes BOURBAN, Pierry VUILLE, Yves WINKLER
  • Patent number: 9752218
    Abstract: The invention concerns a zirconium and/or hafnium based, beryllium free, bulk, amorphous alloy, with the addition of silver and/or gold and/or platinum to increase its critical diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban Dubach, Yves Winkler, Tommy Carozzani
  • Patent number: 9709954
    Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece assortment including a timepiece component fixed to an arbor with the aid of a fixing element. According to the invention, the fixing element is made of at least partially amorphous metal alloy, is secured to the timepiece component by partial insertion and includes a hole into which the arbor is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Dubois, Yves Winkler, Daniel Mallet, Christian Charbon
  • Publication number: 20170192390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece assortment including a timepiece component fixed to an arbor with the aid of a fixing element. According to the invention, the fixing element is made of at least partially amorphous metal alloy, is secured to the timepiece component by partial insertion and includes a hole into which the arbor is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe DUBOIS, Yves Winkler, Daniel Mallet, Christian Charbon
  • Patent number: 9694386
    Abstract: A method of decorating an element. This method includes the steps of: taking the element (1, 11, 21, 31), the element including anchoring (7) for improving the securing of the decoration (5) to the element; making a mask (4) of the desired thickness of the decorations (5), and having at least one opening (4?); placing the at least one opening in the mask (4) against the place to be decorated so as to form at least one mold (4?, 6, 6?, 6?, 100); filling the at least one mold with an at least partially amorphous material via hot forming; and removing the mask (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yves Winkler, Stewes Bourban, Pascal Grossenbacher
  • Publication number: 20170176935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite component comprising an element with an opening into which extend stressed resilient means confined within a volume of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy, said composite component comprising a passage that, is centred with respect to said stressed resilient means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe DUBOIS, Yves WINKLER
  • Patent number: 9669424
    Abstract: A method of decorating an element. This method includes the following steps: taking the element (1, 11, 21, 31), the element including anchoring for improving the securing of the decoration (5) to the element; making a mask (4) of the desired thickness of the decorations (5), and having at least one opening (4?); placing the at least one opening in the mask (4) against the place to be decorated so as to form at least one mould (4?, 6, 6?, 6?,100); filling the at least one mould with an at least partially amorphous material via hot forming; and removing the mask (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yves Winkler, Stewes Bourban, Pascal Grossenbacher
  • Patent number: 9599965
    Abstract: A process for adjusting a device including a first piece and at least one second piece, wherein the at least one second piece is fixed to the first piece by a joint made from a first material arranged between the first and second piece. The first material is an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. The process further includes: heating at least the joint to a heating temperature in a range of between a glass transition temperature and a crystallization temperature of the first material; modifying a position of the at least one second piece until a desired determined position is obtained; cooling at least the joint so that it retains its at least partially amorphous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yves Winkler, Stewes Bourban, Alban Dubach
  • Publication number: 20170038733
    Abstract: Nickel-free bulk amorphous alloy, formed, in atomic percent, of: a zirconium and/or hafnium base, forming the balance, with a total zirconium and hafnium value greater than or equal to 52.0, and less than or equal to 62.0; copper: greater than or equal to 16.0, and less than or equal to 28.0; iron: greater than or equal to 0.5, and less than or equal to 10.0; aluminium: greater than or equal to 7.0, and less than or equal to 13.0; at least two additional metals taken from the family including Ti, V, Nb, Y, Cr, Mo, Co, Sn, Zn, P, Pd, Ag, Au, Pt, Ta, Ru, Rh, Ir, Os, and Hf when the base contains none, and Zr when the base contains none, with the cumulative atomic percentage of these additional metals being greater then 6.0 and less than or equal to 10.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban DUBACH, Yves WINKLER, Tommy CAROZZANI
  • Patent number: 9529333
    Abstract: A method of assembling a device including first and second parts, the method including: taking the first and second parts; assembling the first and second parts provided by their arrangement so a gap is present between the first and second parts; taking a metal alloy, chosen for its ability to become at least partially amorphous; shaping the metal alloy to fill the gap between the first and second parts to join them and thereby form the device, the metal alloy having been subject to a treatment allowing the alloy to become at least partially amorphous, at a latest at a time of the shaping. The metal alloy is subject to a temperature increase above the melting temperature thereof causing the alloy to lose any local crystalline structure, the increase followed by cooling to a lower temperature than vitreous transition temperature thereof allowing the material to become at least partially amorphous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Yves Winkler, Stewes Bourban, Alban Dubach
  • Publication number: 20160324280
    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: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban DUBACH, Stewes BOURBAN, Yves WINKLER, Pierry VUILLE, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20160176228
    Abstract: The method makes it possible to produce a decorated element for a timepiece or piece of jewellery. 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 mould or decorative partitions in a programmed pattern, and filling the mould 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 mould or the partitions are obtained by melting and solidifying a solder paste or powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alban DUBACH, Pierry VUILLE, Yves WINKLER, Stewes BOURBAN, Jean-Claude MARTIN
  • Patent number: 9360349
    Abstract: A capsule including two shells secured to each other so to be joined by a common closed surface and together defining, on both sides of the surface, a closed space delimited by the shells. At least one of the two shells is a flexible membrane configured to deform under effect of a physical magnitude. At least the membrane is made of at least partially amorphous metal alloy to optimize dimensions of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yves Winkler, Yvan Ferri, Nicolas Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 9327481
    Abstract: A method of producing a first part having at least one surface, formed of a first material. The first part includes at least one coating on the at least one surface. The production method includes: a) taking a second part including a cavity forming the negative of the first part; b) depositing the coating, including at least a first layer, onto the second part; c) taking a first metallic material, chosen for its ability to become at least partially amorphous; d) shaping the first material in the cavity of the second part so as to secure the coating to the at least one surface of the first part, the first material having been subject to a treatment allowing it to become at least partially amorphous, at the latest at the time of the shaping operation; e) separating the first part from the second part so as to obtain the first part coated with the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Yves Winkler, Jean-Francois Dionne, Stewes Bourban, Alban Dubach, Yann Fallet
  • Patent number: 9329572
    Abstract: A timepiece hand for abrupt acceleration is mounted to pivot around a staff so as to be able to indicate an item of information. The hand is made from an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Yves Winkler