Of Particular Material Patents (Class 368/280)
  • Patent number: 11169488
    Abstract: A water-resistant watch case of a diving watch, includes at least one back mounted on a lower side of a middle part, and a crystal mounted with a fastening gasket on an upper side of the middle part. The back includes an annular bearing surface for coming into contact with an inner annular surface of the middle part of a shape complementary to the bearing surface during mounting of the back on the middle part. The annular bearing surface and the inner annular surface are inclined towards the inside of the watch case at a determined angle less than 90° relative to a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the watch case so as to distribute stresses between the back and the middle part due to the water pressure during a dive. The annular bearing surface and the inner annular surface are conical in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventors: Cedric Kaltenrieder, Gregory Kissling, Yves Winkler, John Ramsay
  • Patent number: 10474105
    Abstract: Economical method for manufacturing a timepiece display or hand-fitting component: a casing material is chosen for each visible surface: amorphous metal or nanocrystalline alloy or alloy of gold and/or silver and/or copper and/or rhodium and/or titanium and/or aluminium; a thick, hollow blank of a thickness greater than 20 micrometres is created in a first tool, from the casing material with an initial thickness greater than or equal to 50 micrometres, with an overthickness with respect to each visible surface, with a first cavity for reception of a support structure; an interior material is chosen to make a support structure; the support structure is made and joined to the first cavity; one visible surface remaining visible, is diamond tool machined, removing all or part of the overthickness from the blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventor: Christian Charbon
  • Patent number: 9932929
    Abstract: A piston for a diesel engine is prepared as a piston for a direct injection engine, a cavity face of the piston is grinded, and a squish face thereof is masked. Next, a high-purity aluminum coating is formed on the cavity face, and the masking of the squish face is removed and the entire area of the piston top face is subjected to an anodizing treatment. Thereafter, the cavity face is masked, and the squish face is subjected to a sealing treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9751770
    Abstract: Seeded silicon carbide (SiC) for devices and panels are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a device includes a housing and a window. Further, the window is attached to the housing. In this example embodiment, the window of the device is fabricated using the seeded SiC having a single crystalline structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: AYMONT TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Govindhan Dhanaraj, Larry Burton Rowland, Jeffery Lee Wyatt
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9174035
    Abstract: An applicator that has an elastic band to snap a microneedle array against skin with a predetermined force and velocity. The microneedle array, which may be pre-loaded with drug(s), is attached to the elastic band such that the band can be secured in place (e.g., wrapped around a person's arm), pulled away from the arm, and released from a suitable distance so that the microneedle array snaps back against the arm with sufficient force to cause an intended amount of penetration of microneedles. Also, a microneedle application device has an elastic band, a microneedle device, and a structure attaching the band to the microneedle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ted K. Ringsred, Franklyn L. Frederickson
  • Patent number: 9093289
    Abstract: A method for assembling a device on two substantially parallel taut threads. The device includes an electronic chip and two substantially parallel grooves open on opposite sides of the device. The distance separating the grooves corresponds to the distance separating the threads. The device presents a penetrating shape along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the grooves, having a base at the level of the grooves and an apex of smaller size than the distance separating the threads. The method includes the steps consisting in placing the apex of the device between the two threads; in moving the device between the two threads resulting in the threads being separated from one another by the penetrating shape of the device; and in continuing movement of the device until the threads penetrate into the grooves reverting to their initial separation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Dominique Vicard, Jean Brun
  • Publication number: 20150122774
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inlaid ceramic element for a timepiece including: a) forming a ceramic or cermet body; b) etching at least one recess in one face of the ceramic or cermet body, each at least one recess forming a pattern cavity for a decoration; c) changing a surface state of a bottom of the at least one recess to increase contact surface thereof; d) filling the at least one recess with a composite ceramic to form the decoration; e) flattening the composite ceramic so that the composite ceramic remains only in a hollow of the at least one recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Maria Fernandez Ciurleo, Juliette Muller, Stewes Bourban
  • Publication number: 20150124573
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an external part of a timepiece, including: providing a metallic base made of a first material including titanium and/or a first titanium alloy; providing at least one metallic cover plate made of a second material, the second material including a second metal chosen from among gold or platinum, and/or a second alloy including at least gold or platinum, the at least one cover plate being of a thickness greater than or equal to 0.5 millimeters; brazing the cover plate onto the base with a braze material chosen for brazing titanium with gold or respectively platinum to form a bimetallic blank; and shaping the bimetallic blank to give the external part its final form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Daniel Knuchel
  • Patent number: 8864369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a member (1) comprising a ceramic element (3) intended to be fitted against a body (5). According to the invention, the member includes a cooperation device (7) comprising a deformable insert (2) for locking the fit between the ceramic element (3) and the body (5), and a means of adherence (13) between the insert (2) and the ceramic element (3), in order to decrease the relative movement between said ceramic element (3) and said insert (2). The invention concerns the field of external elements for timepieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Comadur S.A.
    Inventor: Alexandre Netuschill
  • Publication number: 20130201803
    Abstract: A wristwatch with capacitive touch zones including a case made of a non electrically conductive material, the case including a housing in which a battery is housed and which is closed by an electrically conductive battery cover. The electrically conductive battery cover is mounted on the watch case with interposition of an electrically conductive sealing gasket between the battery cover and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Andre Kaltenrieder, Jean-Luc Bovet, Christian Racine, Sergio Rota
  • Publication number: 20130182544
    Abstract: The invention relates to a member (1) comprising a ceramic element (3) intended to be fitted against a body (5). According to the invention, the member includes a cooperation device (7) comprising a deformable insert (2) for locking the fit between the ceramic element (3) and the body (5), and a means of adherence (13) between the insert (2) and the ceramic element (3), in order to decrease the relative movement between said ceramic element (3) and said insert (2). The invention concerns the field of external elements for timepieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Comadur S.A.
    Inventor: Comadur S.A.
  • Patent number: 8475036
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece face created by bonding a plurality of substrates configured primarily from polycarbonate, excellent bonding strength being achieved between substrates and air bubbles being effectively prevented from forming in the bond layer, and a timepiece including the timepiece face, a timepiece face according to the invention includes a first substrate configured primarily from polycarbonate; a second substrate configured primarily from polycarbonate; and a bond layer for bonding the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koki Takasawa
  • Patent number: 8398300
    Abstract: A watch (100, 200, 300) is disclosed as including a case and a rotation module (106, 206, 306) with a longitudinal axis (L-L, N-N, P-P), in which the rotation module (106, 206, 306) is contained within the case and freely rotatable relative to the case about the longitudinal axis (L-L, N-N, P-P), the rotation module (106, 206, 306) including a number of movement parts (134, 234, 334), and, upon rotation of the rotation module (106, 206, 306) relative to the case, the movement parts (134, 234, 334) are each movable relative to the rotation module (106, 206, 306) and to-and-fro along a respective path (Lm1-Lm1, Lm2-Lm2, Lm3-Lm3, Lm4-Lm4, Nm1-Nm1, Nm2-Nm2, Nm3-Nm3, Nm4-Nm4, Pm1-Pm1, Pm2-Pm2, Pm3-Pm3, Pm4-Pm4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Chung Nam Watch Company Limited
    Inventor: Siu Ming Raymond Chan
  • Publication number: 20130064049
    Abstract: There is described a watch (10) comprising a case (12) enclosing a mechanism or clockwork (14), a clockwork holding support (18) and a strap. The strap consists of at least one flexible sheet (24) made of a metal material, having such a length as to be wound by bending and shaped around the wrist or a generic part of a user's body for steadily keeping the watch (10) in position. The flexible sheet (24) is inserted within a sheath (26) made of a non metal material intended for contacting the part of the user's body. Therefore, no clasp is required for the strap of the watch (10) since the flexible sheet (24) and the relative sheath (26) remain steadily rolled up around the part of the user's body, irrespective of the size of such part of the body (wrist, ankle, forearm, etc.), when the same watch (10) is worn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: OCEAN REEF, INC.
    Inventors: Anna Maria PILERI, Elisabetta CARMINATI
  • Publication number: 20130010578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (1) for fabricating a matt ceramic part (13, 14, 15, 17, 19) comprising the following steps: a) fabricating (2) a ceramic part; b) sand blasting (7) portions of the ceramic part to make them matt; According to the invention, the method includes the following final step: c) lapping (9) the matt portions in order to level out the surface of the matt portions. The invention concerns the field of timepieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: COMADUR S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain BOUCARD, Jean-Mary HAWRYLKO
  • Patent number: 8303168
    Abstract: A device has a magnetically shielded component that is magnetically shielded from an external magnetic field, and a housing. The housing is made from a ferritic stainless steel that has an austenitized surface layer rendered on the surface, and an internal layer portion having an internal ferrite phase that functions as a magnetic shield for the magnetically shielded component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koki Takasawa
  • Patent number: 8282270
    Abstract: According to this process for manufacturing a ceramic element intended to be fitted onto a watch case, the visible surface of which has features, a soluble layer (2) is selectively deposited on said visible surface, the thickness of said soluble layer being at least equal to the height of said features, a first tie layer (3) of the Ti, Ta, Cr or Th type is vacuum-deposited by magnetron sputtering with a thickness of at least 100 nm by physical vapor deposition (PVD) on said surface thus selectively coated, followed, without venting atmosphere, by PVD deposition of said second layer (4) made of Au, Pt, Ag, Ni, Pd, TiN, CrN, ZrN or alloys thereof with a thickness of at least 100 nm, and then said soluble layer (2) is dissolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Eric Grippo
  • Publication number: 20120230166
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece face created by bonding a plurality of substrates configured primarily from polycarbonate, excellent bonding strength being achieved between substrates and air bubbles being effectively prevented from forming in the bond layer, and a timepiece including the timepiece face, a timepiece face according to the invention includes a first substrate configured primarily from polycarbonate; a second substrate configured primarily from polycarbonate; and a bond layer for bonding the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koki TAKASAWA
  • Publication number: 20120190321
    Abstract: A nonmagnetic stainless steel which has a higher electrical resistivity than existing nonmagnetic alloys, a production process for producing the stainless steel, and a radio wave receiver. The receiver has a main case and rear cover constituted of a nonmagnetic stainless steel having an electrical resistivity as high as more than 100 ??·cm and consisting of C: not more than 0.1%, Si: 4.0-7.5%, Mn: not more than 2.0%, Ni: 25.5-30.0%, Cr: 15.0-20.0%, Mo: 0.1-3.0%, Cu: 0-2.0%, in mass % and the balance Fe and impurities. Even if some variable magnetic flux generated by a coil of an antenna runs through the main case and the rear cover, the receiving efficiency of the antenna can be prevented from being reduced by eddy current loss and a sufficient radio receiving sensitivity can be obtained. This nonmagnetic stainless steel is produced by hot and/or cold plastic working and subsequent solution treating conducted at 1,000-1,180° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicants: HITACHI METALS, LTD., CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Sato, Toshihiro Uehara, Kenji Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120155228
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a timepiece part which has small variation in hardness and a metallic luster is provided. Configuration includes a heat treatment process that heat-treats a timepiece part and coarsens a plurality of crystals of titanium or the like, a shape processing process that processes the shape of the timepiece part, an etching process that etches titanium or the like, mirror-finishes the surfaces of each crystal, and makes the normal directions of the surfaces of each crystal to be different from one another, and an anodizing process that performs anodizing on the surface of the timepiece part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Takuya Murazumi, Akiko Araki, Takashi Niwa, Matsuo Kishi
  • Publication number: 20110229367
    Abstract: An alloy including at least 6 weight percent aluminum, greater than 6 weight percent nickel, and at least 50 weight percent copper. In some embodiments, the alloy includes 6 to 9 weight percent aluminum, 6 to 11 weight percent nickel, 1.5 to 3 weight percent iron, 1.5 to 3 weight percent manganese, 1 to 3 weight percent silicon, 1 to 5 weight percent tin, and 75 to 80 weight percent copper. The alloy is particularly suitable for jewelry, e.g., wrist watches, and materials exposed to aquatic environments for extended periods of time, e.g., boat hulls and boat propellers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: SHAU-KUAN CHIU
  • Patent number: 7988350
    Abstract: The middle part includes an inner metallic middle part (10) and an outer middle part (20) made of a natural or synthetic mineral material, such as ceramics. The inner middle part (10) is itself made up of a top ring (12) and a bottom ring (14), each ring including a radial, peripheral extension (13, 15), whose opposite shoulders can mechanically lock the outer middle part (20), for example by screwing the two rings (12, 14) one inside the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Omega S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-Jean Bonnet, Jean-Claude Monachon
  • Patent number: 7901129
    Abstract: This watch case comprises a protective casing surrounded by a middle (5) and a bezel (9). The protective casing includes a glass (3), a side wall (2) and a bottom (1). A planar peripheral surface extending along the entire edge of the inner face of the glass is in contact with a similar bearing surface on the side wall (2), at least part of which forms the width of the cross section of a pressure resistant structure having parallel lateral faces (SR) perpendicular to the bearing surface, and which extends without a gap as far as the bottom (1) of the casing. The components of the casing are secured and sealed with at least one annular seal (4) surrounding the lateral face of the glass (3) and the outer lateral face of the side wall (2) of the casing, and this seal is clamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bertrand, William Passaquin
  • Publication number: 20100322041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a watch including a timepiece mechanism and a casing particularly including the glass (2) and the middle (4). The middle (4) and the glass form a single piece machined in a block of a transparent mineral material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ATTO HOLDING S.à.r.I.
    Inventor: Guy Semon
  • Publication number: 20100110841
    Abstract: According to this process for manufacturing a ceramic element intended to be fitted onto a watch case, the visible surface of which has features, a soluble layer (2) is selectively deposited on said visible surface, the thickness of said soluble layer being at least equal to the height of said features, a first tie layer (3) of the Ti, Ta, Cr or Th type is vacuum-deposited by magnetron sputtering with a thickness of at least 100 nm by physical vapor deposition (PVD) on said surface thus selectively coated, followed, without venting atmosphere, by PVD deposition of said second layer (4) made of Au, Pt, Ag, Ni, Pd, TiN, CrN, ZrN or alloys thereof with a thickness of at least 100 nm, and then said soluble layer (2) is dissolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventor: Eric Grippo
  • Patent number: 7568831
    Abstract: A timepiece movement movement comprises a casing having a mechanical energy source, a work train driven by the energy source, a fixed wheel mounted on the casing, and a tourbillion comprising a cage which bears a balance wheel, an escape mobile provided with a pinion engaging with the fixed wheel, and a cage wheel rotationally joined to the cage and provided on its periphery with a toothing engaging with the work train. The casing of this movement is constituted, in its part occupied by the tourbillion, by a transparent material. In addition, the cage wheel comprises a transparent-material platelet, which extends radially beyond the other constituents of the tourbillion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Tiffany & Co. Watch Center AG
    Inventors: Robert Alain Greubel, Stephen Edward Methuen Forsey
  • Publication number: 20090073815
    Abstract: A device has a magnetically shielded component that is magnetically shielded from an external magnetic field, and a housing. The housing is made from a ferritic stainless steel that has an austenitized surface layer rendered on the surface, and an internal layer portion having an internal ferrite phase that functions as a magnetic shield for the magnetically shielded component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koki Takasawa
  • Publication number: 20070217293
    Abstract: A decorative product having a base member composed of primarily an Fe—Cr alloy, and an austenite layer that is austenitized by adding nitrogen atoms near the surface of the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koki Takasawa
  • Patent number: 7121717
    Abstract: This ceramic element, the visible surface of which includes features, is intended to be fitted onto a watch case. This visible surface has, at each feature, a hollow having the shape of said feature, with a depth at least equal to 0.05 mm, the side walls of said hollow being essentially perpendicular to said visible surface, the bottom of said hollows having a first tie layer of Ti, Ta, Cr or Th type, with a thickness of at least 100 nm and at least a second layer from the group Au, Ag, CrN, Ni, Pt, TiN, ZrN, Pd or alloys thereof with a thickness of at least 100 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Rolex S. A.
    Inventors: Eric Grippo, William Passaquin
  • Patent number: 6935774
    Abstract: A wristwatch case (11) and a method of manufacturing the case, the wristwatch case comprising a wristwatch case body (1) made of titanium or stainless steel and a crown pipe (3) fixed to each other, wherein a stem hole (2) corresponding to the crown pipe (3) is formed in the wristwatch case body (1), a small diameter part is formed in the crown pipe (3), and a small diameter part corresponding to the a small diameter part of the crown pipe is formed in the stem hole (2), the method comprising the step of fitting the crown pipe (3) into the stem hole (2) in the wristwatch case body (1) to form a solid phase diffusion joining part at a portion where the small diameter parts thereof are fitted closely to each other, and to form a brazed connection part at a portion other than that where the small diameter parts are fitted closely to each other, whereby a watch external part having excellent corrosion resistance and waterproof and a large number of design variations can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Fujii, Junji Satoh, Hitoshi Uchida, Norio Hashimoto, Ryo Fujita
  • Publication number: 20040257915
    Abstract: To provide an accessory and a watch that neither necessitates a contact surface for obtaining necessary strength nor peels with time, and can decorate a titanium material and/or a titanium alloy material. On a surface of an exterior case for use in a watch that uses a titanium material as a material, an aluminum material is spray coated to dispose a spray coated layer. The aluminum material of the spray coated layer is disposed so as to be a top surface and an upper side surface of the exterior case for a wrist watch. In portions where the durability and the corrosion resistance are required, for instance, a back surface portion that comes into contact with skin during transportation and portions that are likely to be contaminated by perspiration and dirt, the spray coated layer is removed. Thereafter, the alumite treatment is applied onto the remaining spray coated layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Shigeru Miyama
  • Patent number: 6824304
    Abstract: To provide a thin type timepiece having antimagnetic performance and waterproofness. A case side wall includes therein a movement. A case back lid is fixed to the case side wall by raised portions. Further, the case back uses a two-layer clad material of a soft magnetic material and a non-magnetic material, and the soft magnetic material is disposed on the movement side of the case back lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeru Miyama
  • Patent number: 6746148
    Abstract: The invention concerns a structural component made of hard material for a wristwatch, characterized in that it includes a hole fitted with an inner threading which is integral with said component, said threading being directly obtained by injection and thus without removing any material of said component for example by machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignees: Montres Rado SA, Comadur S.A.
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Christophe Guerry, Olivier Bucher
  • Patent number: 6724690
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a wrist watch containing an RFID tag which maintains a sense of luxury and has comparatively high sensitivity. The wrist watch containing tag of this invention comprises a watch case having a ring-shaped frame, a glass lid, and a bottom lid; a drive section which is accommodated inside the watch case; a display section for displaying time which is driven by the drive section; and an RFID tag which is accommodated inside the watch case and comprises an antenna and an IC chip; the ring-shaped frame and/or the bottom lid having at least one slit therein, and the antenna comprising a wound coil which runs along the inner face of the ring-shaped frame so as to surround the drive section. The slit is filled with a nonconductive resin, affixing the opposing cutaway planes together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Endo, Takashi Tsuchida, Seirou Yahata
  • Patent number: 6695468
    Abstract: Several watches (1.1-1.4) are placed in an arrangement and interconnected by connecting means (2.1-2.3). The watches (1.1-1.4) have cover glasses (11.1-11.4), dials (12.1-12.4), cases (13.1-13.4), winders (14.1-14.4) and time indicating means (15.1-15.4). The connecting means (2.1-2.3) are e.g. located on a carrier element (20) containing the dials (12.1-12.4) of all the watches (1.1-1.4). The carrier element (20) has preset breaking lines (3.1-3.3) in the form of perforations and cross-sectional reductions between the watches (1.1-1.4), so that said watches (1.1-1.4) can be separated from one another. The arrangement or watches (1.1-1.4) separated therefrom can be used as fashion accessories jewellery, pendants, etc. There are no practical limits to the design of the arrangement and its watches (1.1-1.4). The arrangement can be manufactured in a simple, advantageous manner, so that it is in particular possible to take account of rapidly changing fashions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Time-House Handels GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Gschwind
  • Patent number: 6685353
    Abstract: A clock apparatus comprises a clock case made of either an opaque material or a translucent material, the clock case enclosing an electronic circuit comprising electronic circuit elements including: a clock timer, a source of electrical current, a power switch, a switching device, and a means for illumination. The clock case comprises a pair of cubes, with an upper one of the cubes mounted at one corner, on a face of a lower one of the cubes. The cubes provide apertures having a distribution on the clock case in correspondence with the dots of a pair of dice. Windows made of either an opaque or a translucent material, cover the apertures so that light from the illumination means of the electrical circuit is visible through either the clock case or the windows as a light show in accordance with the switching device. A clock face is engaged with the clock timer and is mounted on one of the faces of the upper one of the cubes so as to be visible to a viewer of the light show.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Vincent Arroyo
  • Patent number: 6502982
    Abstract: A structural component made of hard material for a wristwatch, characterized in that it includes a hole fitted with an inner threading which is integral with said component, said threading being directly obtained by injection and thus without removing any material of said component for example by machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignees: Montres Rado SA, Comadur SA
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Christophe Guerry, Olivier Bucher
  • Publication number: 20030002393
    Abstract: The invention concerns a structural component made of hard material for a wristwatch, characterised in that it includes a hole fitted with an inner threading which is integral with said component, said threading being directly obtained by injection and thus without removing any material of said component for example by machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Christophe Guerry, Olivier Bucher
  • Publication number: 20020191494
    Abstract: The invention concerns a structural component made of hard material for a wristwatch, characterised in that it includes a hole fitted with an inner threading which is integral with said component, said threading being directly obtained by injection and thus without removing any material of said component for example by machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Christophe Guerry, Olivier Bucher
  • Patent number: 6406769
    Abstract: The invention concerns a watch crystal (1) made of hard mineral material, in particular a crystalline material such as corundum, sapphire or spinel, including a non-circular optical lens (4) shaped in the thickness of the material of the crystal. The lens is formed by machining and polishing a recess (5) preferably situated in the lower face (3) of the crystal. Its contour can have reentering angles, and can be for example rectangular. The machining is effected by means of a brush which hits the bottom of the recess with the addition of a polishing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Comadur S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Delabre
  • Patent number: 6337836
    Abstract: A programmable electronic reminder device for providing a signal at a selectively predetermined date and time includes a programmable real time clock circuit, a thin, sheet-like battery, a light emitting polymer for illuminating a predetermined alert message and a programming interface mounted to a pliant substrate in a layered arrangement. The reminder device is configured as a card or label on which human readable indicia corresponding to the predetermined date and time may be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Arthur F. Eidelson
  • Patent number: 6267499
    Abstract: A wrist watch case consisting of a case element housing the clockwork with a crystal closing the case on the top and with a cover closing the case on the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Konrad Damasko
  • Patent number: 6123450
    Abstract: The invention concerns a decorative element which includes a substrate coated at least partially with a protective decorative film made of a hard material, characterised in that the material of said film has a microcrystalline structure and an external surface having a regular cauliflower type topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Montres Rado SA
    Inventor: Michael Bach
  • Patent number: 6116774
    Abstract: A bonded body uses an adhesive having high water resistance to realize an adhesive-fixed structure having excellent waterproof properties and exhibiting relatively low changes in properties of the adhesive layer over time. The adhesive-fixed body of the present invention can be obtained by bonding and fixing a body and a glass cover as exterior pairs of a watch with an adhesive layer. The adhesive of the invention can be a curable adhesive containing 100 parts by weight of prepolymer resin having polytetramethylene oxide as a main chain and methacryl groups or acryl groups at both ends of the main chain or in side chains, 50 to 300 parts by weight of at least one selected from acrylic monomers or methacrylic monomers comprising isobornyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate or a mixture thereof, and a coupling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Sasaki, Tsutomu Saito
  • Patent number: 6111821
    Abstract: A transparent and scratchproof watch crystal, characterized in that it is made of polycrystalline diamond. The invention also concerns a watch case fitted with such a watch crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Montres Rado S.A.
    Inventor: Michael Bach
  • Patent number: 6102563
    Abstract: A wrist watch which encloses clockworks is made of a hardenable, nickel-free stainless steel with a carbon content greater than 0.4% and a chromium content greater than 12%, molybdenum greater than 0.2% and vanadium greater than 0.2%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Konrad Damasko
  • Patent number: 6019860
    Abstract: Method for fixing two elements together, in particular links (1) of a metal wristwatch strap, according to which a metal pin (2) made of a moulding memory alloy with large hysteresis--programmed such that it turns from the martensitic structure to the austenitic structure in a first temperature range which is situated above the service temperature of the elements and whereby its thickness increases, and such that it turns back from the austenitic structure to the martensitic structure in a second temperature range which is situated under the above-mentioned service temperature--is clamped in the martensitic structure in at least one either or not blind hole (3) in at least one of the elements to be linked; the pin (2) is subsequently heated to a temperature higher than the first temperature range, such that the thickness of the pin (2) is increased, whereby the clamping force of the pin (2) in the hole (3) becomes very large; and the pin (2) is finally cooled down to service temperature, characterized in that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignees: Advanced Materials and Technologies, afgekort "A.M.T.", naamloze vennootschap, Gay Freres Vente Et Exportation S.A.
    Inventors: Willy A. Turler, Jean Schwob, Wilfried Van Moorleghem
  • Patent number: 5699325
    Abstract: The invention concerns a transparent scratchproof watch case closure element, characterized in that it is realized by sintering a pressed part or a injected part having a general shape similar to that of said closure element, said part being essentially formed of a powder or a mixture of powders of ceramic material and in that said closure element is transparent in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Montres Rado Sa
    Inventor: Michael Bach
  • Patent number: 5502690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing casings for time pieces and, more particularly, a process for producing casings from disposable metal containers for receiving watch movements and the resulting time pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Crash Holding AG
    Inventor: Robert Wohlfahrt