Movable Ring Or Disk Patents (Class 368/37)
  • Patent number: 11921460
    Abstract: A device (100) for display of an indication of the time or derived from the time includes: a first display mobile unit (10) including a first toothing (11b), a second toothing (11c) and a first disk (12) carrying digits (13) intended to indicate the units of indication of time or derived from time; a second display mobile unit (20) including a third toothing (21b), a fourth toothing (21c) and a second disk (22) carrying digits (23) intended to indicate the tens of indication of time or derived from time; and a mechanism (90) for driving the first and second mobile that includes a command mobile unit (30) including a fifth toothing (30a) adapted to cooperate by obstacle, in particular by meshing, with the first and third toothings, and a second command mobile unit (40) including a sixth toothing (40a) adapted to cooperate by obstacle with the second and fourth toothings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Pierre-Alain Graemiger
  • Patent number: 11899401
    Abstract: A drive device for a display element for displaying a quantity associated with time or derived from time, includes a cam that is pivoted about a first axis and designed to drive the movement of the display element, the cam having a peak, a lever that is pivoted about a second axis, and a spring that is designed to return the lever into contact with the cam, wherein an angle (?) is formed, in a plane perpendicular to the first and second axes, between (i) a straight line passing through (a) the contact point between the peak, in particular the point is farthest from the first axis, and the lever, and (b) the first axis, and (ii) a straight line passing through the first axis (A3) and the second axis, the angle (?) is less than or equal to 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Christian Fleury
  • Patent number: 11853008
    Abstract: A timepiece display mechanism with an instantaneous jump function, including a Maltese cross mechanism with an annular ring controlling, in part of its travel, the pivoting of a planet wheel set and driven by a timepiece movement via a cam wheel set arranged to move the annular ring from an activated position to a deactivated position in an instantaneous displacement in order to pivot a planet wheel set, and vice versa in a controlled return slower than the instantaneous displacement, the cam wheel set includes a coaxial cam and plate including a slot for driving an eccentric finger of the cam which controls the pivoting of a driver driving the annular ring between two extreme activation and deactivation positions, the slot allowing a clear jump of the driver in the deactivation position, and a longer reactivation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Bernat Monferrer, Lilian Joly
  • Patent number: 11703805
    Abstract: A timepiece mobile for a semi-instantaneous jump mechanism, including a stop member, an elastic return device, and a drive wheel including, around an axis a hub for guiding this movable stop member with respect to the drive wheel and including a disengageable stop finger movable between a wound position where its radial extension is maximum with respect to the axis, and an unwound position where its radial extension is minimal with respect to the axis, this stop finger being moved away from the axis by the elastic return device, and the stop member including a housing the walls of which are arranged to bearingly cooperate, during the winding of the elastic return device with a contact surface that this elastic return device includes to limit the value of the winding and to limit the deformation of the elastic return means to its elastic range only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventor: Julien Saglini
  • Patent number: 11619911
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a first motor having a rotor for rotating a hour hand, and a first train wheel group having a wheel gear rotating based on rotation of the rotor. The first train wheel group includes a third intermediate hour pinion, a first intermediate hour pinion, a twenty four hour wheel gear having a first reference load unit disposed to mesh with the third intermediate hour pinion so that a load received by the rotor fluctuates in a case where the twenty four hour wheel gear meshes with the third intermediate hour pinion, and rotating at a first reduction ratio with respect to the rotor, and a second intermediate hour wheel gear having a second reference load unit disposed to mesh with the first intermediate hour pinion so that the load received by the rotor fluctuates in a case where the second intermediate hour wheel gear meshes with the first intermediate hour pinion, and rotating at a second reduction ratio lower than the first reduction ratio with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO WATCH KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Kawata, Katsuya Mugishima, Ken Sato, Yuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11599063
    Abstract: A timepiece, that includes a display mechanism arranged to control the movements of a display organ with respect to an indication scale including different indications having at least two different widths and being separated from one another by corresponding separation spaces, where the separation spaces all have substantially one and the same width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MANUFACTURE D'HORLOGERIE AUDEMARS PIGUET SA
    Inventor: Giulio Papi
  • Patent number: 11550264
    Abstract: A system for adjusting the angular position of a first toothed wheel set relative to a support on which the first toothed wheel set is mounted such that it can pivot. The adjusting system includes an adjusting member allowing an action to be applied to an angular position of the first toothed wheel set so as to adjust the angular position of the first toothed wheel set relative to the support. A timepiece can include such an adjusting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Daniel Matteazzi
  • Patent number: 11550265
    Abstract: Drive device (100), notably for a horology calendar system (200), the drive device including a drive mobile (10) for driving an element (4) that is to be driven, notably a calendar element, the drive mobile being intended to be mounted so that it can rotate about an axis (A1) and including (a) a support (11); (b) a first flank (f11) for driving the element that is to be driven; and (c) a second flank (f12?) arranged in such a way as to receive an action to retract the drive mobile, notably extending orthoradially or substantially orthoradially with respect to the axis (A1); the mobile comprising a slide link (111, 121; 11, 120; 110, 120?) connecting the second flank to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Christian Fleury, Denis Rudaz
  • Patent number: 11543777
    Abstract: A date calendar display mechanism driven via a kinematic chain by a horological movement of a timepiece. A first and second date indicators, the first date indicator remaining still during a 24-hour period separating the passage from the last day of a month having 31 days to the end of the first day of the following month, the kinematic chain including a wheel continuously engaged with the horological movement and having a toothing via which the wheel meshes with a pinion which contributes to driving the first indicator, the wheel being, at one point, devoid of teeth such that, during the above 24-hour period, the wheel does not mesh with the pinion and remains still. A dual jumper pivots about an axis with a first beak via which it is engaged with a toothing of the first date indicator and, at a second beak via which it is engaged with a toothing of the pinion, the dual jumper being elastically held engaged with the first date indicator and with the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel Matteazzi
  • Patent number: 11300928
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a movement case, a drive mechanism, a time mechanism driven by the drive mechanism, a day mechanism, and a day adjustment mechanism. The day mechanism is driven by the time mechanism through a frictional engagement therebetween. Once a torque generated by the day adjustment mechanism overcomes the frictional engagement, the day mechanism is permitted to be driven by the day adjustment mechanism. Therefore, an indicated day of the timepiece movement can be adjusted without pulling out of a day adjustment knob or an actuating shaft of the day adjustment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: DONGGUAN YOUNG TOWN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chin-Hsuen Lin
  • Patent number: 11188029
    Abstract: A device for selecting a combination of patterns for a timepiece, including an inner disc including N angular sectors of the same size, each bearing a symbol on its periphery, with N being a whole number greater than 1; an outer disc coaxial to the inner disc and with a larger diameter, the outer disc bearing M symbols distributed over M*N angular sectors of the same size, with M being a whole number greater than 1, each of the M symbols of the outer disc being repeated on N consecutive sectors of the outer disc; a dial extending opposite the inner disc, the dial including an aperture allowing a pattern of the inner disc to be matched with a pattern of the outer disc; an activation device allowing the inner disc to rotate and a meshing device coupling the two discs according to a speed reducing ratio M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Pascal Lagorgette
  • Patent number: 11169486
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism for a timepiece suitable for indicating a piece of information having a period that varies according to at least a first cycle and a second cycle is provided. The mechanism, inter alia, is a system for actuating a lever, in which the actuating system includes a first feeler-spindle intended to come into contact with the first cam and a second feeler-spindle intended to come into contact with the second cam the feeler-spindles being kinematically linked with each other and the actuating system being arranged to move the lever from the inactive position to the active position under the control of each of the cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: GFPI S.A., COMPLITIME SA
    Inventors: Amel Kapetanovic, Adrian Stahel, Stephen Forsey, Christoph Neboisa
  • Patent number: 10520891
    Abstract: A timepiece movement with a movable element capable of being momentarily immobilized in any one of N discrete positions, and with a device including a lever and a first magnet integral with the lever, with N second magnets integral with the movable element and arranged along an axis of displacement, and with a magnetically permeable element arranged facing one polar end of the first magnet located on the side of the movable element. The polarity of the first magnet is reversed with respect to that of the second magnets. A first magnetic torque exerted on the lever has a first direction over a first section and a second direction, opposite to the first direction, over a second section of the distance between two successive stable positions, the first direction defining a return torque towards the movable element for a contact portion of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Davide Sarchi, Deirdre Lenoir, Benoit Legeret
  • Patent number: 10488823
    Abstract: A timepiece movement includes a date ring having display positions, and a device for positioning the ring in a display position. The positioning device includes a lever and a first fixed magnet, a second magnet integral with the lever and a magnetic structure integral with the ring and moving between the two magnets, this magnetic structure being formed of a magnetically permeable material and having a radial dimension that varies periodically to define periods corresponding to the distances between the display positions. The magnetic axes of the two magnets are substantially aligned and their respective polarities are opposite. The magnetic torque applied to the lever can vary, so that it is pressed against the ring in the display positions but tends to move away from the ring on one part of the angular movement between these display positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Davide Sarchi, Deirdre Lenoir, Benoit Legeret
  • Patent number: 10345759
    Abstract: A horology calendar system (200) including:—a date wheel (1);—a month cam (300); and—a kinematic connection element (8) arranged so that the date wheel allows the driving of the motion of the month cam. Optionally, the kinematic connection element is arranged so as to allow the driving of the month cam by at most 1/n of a step while the date wheel is driven by one step, where n is a natural integer greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Denis Rudaz
  • Patent number: 10222751
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism including date-discs, a date program unit, a drive unit that drives the date program unit and a drive member for actuating the drive unit. The date-discs include a first lower units disc and a second upper units disc, and a third lower tens disc and a fourth upper tens disc. The date program unit includes date program wheel sets for actuating the date-discs and arranged to mesh selectively with the date-discs so that the last day of the month is displayed with the third lower tens disc and the first upper units disc, and the first day of the following month is displayed with the fourth upper tens disc and the second upper units disc, the change of date between two consecutive months occurring via a single jump of the fourth upper tens disc and of the second upper units disc, regardless of the month. The mechanism may include a month wheel set and a leap-year adjustment mechanism arranged to cooperate with the drive unit, the drive unit being a month program wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventor: Martin Robin
  • Patent number: 10067473
    Abstract: A horology calendar system (100; 200) comprising: —a date display member (10) including an opening (10a); and —a month display member (30) arranged in such a way as to display an indication of the month in the opening (10a), notably when the opening (10a) is visible to a user of the calendar system and/or when the calendar system is indicating the first day of a given month.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: William Carreno, Denis Rudaz
  • Patent number: 9921551
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a receiving device that receives satellite signals; a reception control unit that operates the receiving device and runs a reception process; a chronograph unit that executes a measuring process; an input device; a detection device that detects operation of the input device to start the chronograph, and outputs a chronograph operation signal when this operation is detected; a hand used both to indicate information related to the reception process and information related to the measuring process; and an operating control unit that operates the chronograph unit in addition to the operating reception control unit, and controls operation of the hand that is indicating information related to the reception process to indicate the measured time, if the chronograph operation signal is input while the reception process is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 9874855
    Abstract: An electronic clock mechanism includes an analog display device including a ring of dates and a stopwatch hand associated with a graduation of a small counter. The ring and hand are driven by a same electric motor via a permanent gear train, the hand being mounted on a wheel of the permanent gear train, the wheel arranged between a motor pinion and a movable element including a date driving wheel. The ring and date driving wheel respectively include two sets of teeth forming a permanent gear having a relatively large clearance to define a dead angle region for the date driving wheel as the ring is positioned by a jumper. The dead angle region is used to drive the stopwatch hand independently of the ring. The permanent gear train is arranged such that torque for positioning the rotor creates for the date driving wheel a blocking torque for shock-resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal Lagorgette, Vittorio Zanesco, Daniel Gruenig
  • Patent number: 9703262
    Abstract: In an annual or perpetual calendar mechanism, a day-of-the-month wheel includes a notch. At each actuation of a lever, a first pawl finger effects an actuation of one step, on one of the teeth of the day-of-the-month wheel. Upon actuation of the lever at the end of a month of fewer than 31 days, a second pawl finger effects, in the notch, an actuation of the day-of-the-month wheel by a whole number of steps. The notch is positioned between two consecutive teeth among the teeth of the day-of-the-month wheel. The day-of-the-month wheel has a peripheral edge which forms the profiles of its teeth as well as the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Société anonyme de la Manufacture d'horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie
    Inventor: Giulio Papi
  • Patent number: 9690257
    Abstract: In an annual or perpetual calendar mechanism, a lever bears a maneuvering device of a day-of-the-month wheel. A month wheel defines course beginning stops, each associated with a month and operational for controlling a course beginning position of the lever when the month wheel is in the angular position associated with this month. These course beginning stops are bottoms of slots alternating with the teeth of the month wheel. The month wheel has a peripheral edge which forms the profile of its teeth as well as the course beginning stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Société anonyme de la Manufacture d'horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie
    Inventor: Giulio Papi
  • Patent number: 9557714
    Abstract: Timepiece movement including a date display drive device formed of a display disc including a toothing, said drive device including driving means and a drive source. The driving means includes a wheel set including pins, having a toothed wheel and a pinion including pins, and an engaging wheel engaging said toothed wheel. The pinion with pins includes a pair of pins configured to be positioned on either side of any tooth of the toothing. The toothed wheel of the pin wheel and the engaging wheel respectively have complementary non-circular profiles. When the two pins are oriented in a tangential direction to the toothing, these two wheels have a first gear ratio that is lower than a second gear ratio between them when the two pins are in perpendicular alignment to said tangential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Daniel Gruenig, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Pascal Winkler, Thierry Altenhoven
  • Patent number: 9530521
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shift register unit, a gate driving circuit and a display device. The shift register unit comprises: an input module for, in response to turn-on level input via the shift register input terminal, providing turn-on level to the first node and providing turn-off level to the second node; a pull-up module for, in response to turn-on level of the first node, providing a clock signal to the shift register output terminal, and also used for, in response to turn-on level output by the shift register output terminal, providing turn-off level to the second node; a reset module for, in response to turn-on level input via the reset signal input terminal, providing the turn-on level to the second node; and a pull-down module for, in response to turn-on level of the second node, providing turn-off level to the shift register output terminal and the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 9459590
    Abstract: A timekeeping, graphical display device and method of operating the same including a movement having a central axis of rotation, a plurality of indicator hands rotationally connected to the movement at the central axis of rotation, and further including a first dial having a plurality of first dial apertures. The plurality of first dial apertures having four first dial apertures, each of the four first dial apertures oriented at an angle of 90 degrees from adjacent ones of the four first dial apertures with respect to the central axis of rotation. The device further including a second dial adjacent the first dial rear side, and a third dial positioned toward the first dial rear side. The second dial and the third dial rotationally connected to the movement to enable independent rotation about the central axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Donald J. Lecher
  • Patent number: 9448534
    Abstract: A perpetual calendar for a watch including a movement controlling the daily release, at the moment that the date changes, of a mechanism actuating a perpetual lever of this perpetual calendar is disclosed. The perpetual calendar includes a calendar mechanism, a daily countdown mechanism including a month-end adjustment mechanism, and a differential mechanism. The calendar mechanism is arranged to determine the duration of the current month and is updated at each current month change by the daily countdown mechanism. The differential mechanism is arranged to control, each day at the moment that the date changes, the motion of an additional adjustment cam comprised in the month-end adjustment mechanism, based on the current day of the month taken from the daily countdown mechanism, and also based on the current month duration taken from the calendar mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Eric Goeller
  • Patent number: 9411311
    Abstract: The timepiece movement is fitted with an analogue indicator (6), particularly a date ring including a toothing (18) mechanically coupled to a drive device, which includes a motor and a drive wheel and pinion (8) and a support for the drive wheel and pinion. This support is pivotally mounted on a main plate about a first axis and it defines a second axis, remote from the first axis, about which the drive wheel and pinion is rotatably mounted. The drive device further includes a strip spring (40) exerting a force on the support such that the meshing means of the drive wheel and pinion press against the toothing of the analogue indicator. The meshing means and the toothing have respective profiles selected such that, at least in a plurality of distinct display positions of the analogue indicator, the drive wheel and pinion and the analogue indicator mesh with each other with substantially no play under the action of the strip spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Baptist Wyssbrod, Julien Christan
  • Patent number: 9389590
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a dial, a day dial disposed on the rear side of the dial, and a movement that rotates the day dial by a predetermined angle every day. Seven openings corresponding to the seven days of the week are formed in the order thereof in the dial, and a mark is formed on a surface of the day dial on the side facing the dial. Whenever the day dial rotates by the predetermined angle, the mark sequentially appears in the order of the days of the week through one of the seven openings when the dial is viewed from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihisa Kakizawa
  • Patent number: 9383724
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system of measuring a piece of time related information connected to a display system for displaying the piece of time related information and to a fast correction system for correcting the time related information display at any time and in a predetermined step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventor: Olivier Rebetez
  • Patent number: 9383723
    Abstract: The invention concerns a grand date display device that can change from displaying the last day of the month to displaying the first day of the following month by means of a single step of the first and of the second upper plates. This feature avoids the requirement for a correction at the end of months of less than 31 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Blancpain S.A.
    Inventor: Martin Robin
  • Patent number: 9367039
    Abstract: A device (100) for displaying time information, including: (i) a first mobile (3) including a first toothset (31) and a first disk (32) bearing numerals (33) which are intended to indicate the units of the time information, (ii) a second mobile (4) including a second toothset (41) and a second disk (42) bearing numerals (43) intended to indicate the tenths of the time information, and (iii) a mechanism (90) for driving the first and second mobiles, the mechanism including (i) a control mobile (1) including a third toothset (1a) arranged so as to collaborate by obstacle, with the first toothset, a fourth toothset (1b) arranged so as to collaborate by obstacle, with the second toothset, a drive wheel (2) including a fifth toothset (2c) designed to collaborate by obstacle, with the third and fourth toothsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: MONTRES TUDOR SA
    Inventors: William Carreno, Yacine Belkhanfar
  • Patent number: 9292001
    Abstract: Jumper (201) comprising a jumper body (210), a jumper head (203), a first connecting element (292) connecting the jumper head to the jumper body, the first connecting element allowing the jumper head (203) to move relative to the jumper body (210), notably to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Christian Fleury
  • Patent number: 9128463
    Abstract: An assembly of an axially extending member, made of a first material, in an aperture of a part, made of a second material having no plastic domain. The part includes pierced holes forming an elastic deformation mechanism distributed around the aperture thereof. Further, the member includes an elastically and plastically deformed, radially flared portion that radially grips a wall of the part surrounding the aperture by stressing the elastic deformation mechanism, so as to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for the part. The assembly can be used in the field of timepieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Marco Verardo, Igor Saglini, Frederic Kohler
  • Patent number: 9042206
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving an indicator for a timepiece includes: a mobile for driving the indicator; a first lever mounted about a first pivot and including a beak to cooperate with a toothing of the mobile; a first cam arranged to rotate the first lever about the first pivot; a second lever mounted about a second pivot and to which the first pivot is rigidly connected; a second cam arranged to rotate the second lever about the second pivot; and elastic elements for maintaining the cooperation between the levers and cams; the levers and the cams being arranged so that the beak of the first lever cyclically describes a closed curve, each cycle including a first motion during which the beak leaves the toothing of the mobile without changing the angular position thereof and a second motion during which the beak re-enters the toothing to move the mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Patent number: 8995234
    Abstract: A date indication display device for a timepiece includes a support element having a plurality of display areas on which are arranged the indications of the days of the month. The support element moves behind an aperture arranged in a dial of the timepiece. The indications of the days of the month are divided into a first and a second group, the two groups being two different colors. A date indication of the first group is superposed on a date indication of the second group on each display area. A first optical filter whose transmittance is chosen to transmit the first color and to block the second color, and a second optical filter whose transmittance is chosen to transmit the second color and to block the first color, are alternately positioned behind the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Pascal Lagorgette
  • Patent number: 8971153
    Abstract: An information display device includes a dial plate having a display window; a rotatable date display plate provided under the dial plate and having dates to be selectively displayed through the window; an information display plate provided between the dial plate and the date display plate and including a display portion having an information item on a top surface thereof; an information display plate driver capable of moving the information display plate to any one of first and second positions. When the information display plate is in the first position, the display portion does not lie just under the window and a date in a position corresponding to the window is displayed through the window. When the information display plate is in the second position, the display portion is in a position corresponding to the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takenawa
  • Patent number: 8953415
    Abstract: The timepiece movement has an instantaneous actuator controlled by the movement and arranged to actuate a mechanism of the movement by pushing away one element (126) of the mechanism against a return force. The actuator includes a trailing wheel (205) driven by the movement, an eccentric (207) free to rotate coaxially to the trailing wheel and arranged to abut against and therefore be driven by the trailing wheel, a small wheel (219) returned by a spring against the periphery of the eccentric, a pivoting wheel set having a projecting portion (213) free to rotate coaxially to the trailing wheel and arranged to abut against and therefore be driven by the eccentric, the projecting portion (213) of the pivoting wheel set being arranged to push the element (126) of the mechanism away in passing against a return force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventor: Eric Goeller
  • Publication number: 20150036465
    Abstract: Date indication display device for a timepiece including a support element having a plurality of display areas on which are arranged the indications of the days of the month, wherein the support element moves behind an aperture arranged in a dial of the timepiece, wherein: a) the indications of the days of the month are divided into a first and a second group, the date indications of the first group having a first colour, and the date indications of the second group having a second colour, different from that of the date indications of the first group; b) a date indication of the first group being superposed on a date indication of the second group on each display area; c) a first optical filter whose transmittance is chosen to transmit the first colour and to block the second colour, and a second optical filter whose transmittance is chosen to transmit the second colour and to block the first colour, the first and second optical filters being alternately positioned behind the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Pascal LAGORGETTE
  • Patent number: 8942067
    Abstract: A mechanism for displaying and correcting a state of two different time measurable quantities for a timepiece includes a movement driving a first display mechanism to display a first measurable time quantity and a second display mechanism to display a second measurable time quantity, and including an adjusting member. The first and second display mechanisms respectively include first and second drive mechanisms sharing a common drive mechanism driven by the movement, and controlling a driving of one of the display mechanisms by instantaneous jumps and of the other by dragging. The display mechanisms respectively include a first and a second correction mechanism, sharing a common correction mechanism driven by the adjusting member independent of the common drive mechanism, including a friction safety device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Omega S.A.
    Inventor: Ivan Villar
  • Patent number: 8917578
    Abstract: An information display device of the present invention includes an hour plate having an opening, a rotor which is rotatably placed below the hour plate and has a display section which is partially exposed corresponding to the opening of the hour plate, and a braking member which gives a load to the rotor when the rotation of the rotor is stopped, and reduces the load on the rotor when the rotor is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takenawa
  • Patent number: 8861313
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism of a timepiece includes a date indicator having a date wheel portion provided with a notched portion. An operation lever attached to the date indicator is pivotable between a pre-feed allowing position, where a tooth-shaped engaged portion thereof is inserted into the notched portion whereby excess feeding of the date indicator is possible, and a normal feed allowing position, where the tooth-shaped engaged portion retreats from the notched portion whereby normal feeding is possible. The date indicator is rotated by a day earlier than the normal feeding when set to the pre-feed allowing position. A driving lever structure includes a cam follower engaged with a month cam and is driven in response to rotation of the month cam to allow the operation lever to be pivoted between the normal feed allowing position and the pre-feed allowing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeo Suzuki, Mamoru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140301171
    Abstract: Mechanism for driving an information indicator connected to a timepiece movement and varies according to a plurality of periods, during each of which the information changes, step by step, to a maximum value that varies between n and n?m. The mechanism includes a drive wheel including a first set of gear teeth arranged to advance by n steps per period, m retractable teeth borne by the wheel, encoding cams corresponding to the retractable teeth, each cam corresponding to one maximum value n?x of the information, x being between 1 and m, for a period, and a drive unit to provide adequate rotation speed to the cams relative to the wheel such that, when the information reaches a maximum value n?x for a period, x retractable teeth pass in an operative position and then return to an inoperative position, the wheel advancing by x additional steps for the period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen Forsey, Christoph Neboisa
  • Publication number: 20140301170
    Abstract: A display mechanism is disclosed for displaying the day and date in large date form, for a timepiece movement. The display mechanism may include first and second concentric disks, respectively for displaying the tens of the date and for displaying the units of the date. The first disk may have a diameter greater than that of the second disk. The first and second disks may be respectively attached to first and second star wheels each having a toothing. The display mechanism may also include a programmed wheel arranged to drive the first and second star wheels in rotation. The programmed wheel may include first and second outer toothings arranged to cooperate respectively, at least indirectly, with the first and second star wheels. The first toothing may have a diameter less than that of the second toothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: PEQUIGNET S.A
    Inventors: Huy Van Tran, Ludovic Perez
  • Patent number: 8848489
    Abstract: A calendar mechanism of a timepiece includes a month cam having a cam surface distinguishing between a long month (31 days) and a short month (30 days or less) and makes one rotation a year. A date indicator driving wheel has a date finger that makes one rotation every 24 hours and engages with a date wheel of a date indicator to rotate the date indicator. An operating lever structure has a proximal portion friction-engaged with an offset shaft to rotate around the offset shaft offset with respect to the rotation center of the date indicator driving wheel. The operating lever structure has a first distal end portion engaged with the month cam and a second distal end portion engaged with a month end tooth of the date indicator to effect additional date feeding by one day with respect to the date indicator at the end of a short month.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeo Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140286135
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with a solar cell is provided with a solar cell, a solar cell holding member, a light-transmissive character plate, a ground plate, and a ring-shaped calendar wheel. The solar cell includes a base material that is made of an insulating material, and a light-receiving unit that is arranged on a first surface of the base material. The solar cell holding member is fixedly attached to a second surface of the base material. The light-transmissive character plate is arranged on a timepiece front side of the solar cell. The ground plate is arranged on a back surface of the solar cell. The ring-shaped calendar wheel is disposed between the character plate and the ground plate. The solar cell holding member is arranged on a character plate side of the calendar wheel to position the calendar wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Reiko NAGAHAMA
  • Patent number: 8842500
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism comprising a day program wheel 13 that is driven by a clock movement and actuates a wheel train for display of the days of the month (16-24). The day program wheel 13 comprises a day indexing gear 13? that is advanced by one step each day by said clock movement, and at least one retractable tooth (128, 129, 130) capable of being driven by the clock movement and mounted to pivot between an active position (128A, 129A, 130A), in which it is driven, and an inactive position (128I, 129I, 130I), in which it is not driven by the clock movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8834017
    Abstract: A corrector (1) for a function indicator (20) for a movement (100) including: a first control mechanism (30) for a first function, in a let down (31) or wound (32) position, a second control mechanism (40) for a second function, in a let down position (41) or release control position (42) followed by a return to the preceding position, and a display indicator (20) for a third function. First mobile part (50) driven by the first control mechanism (30) occupies a letting down (51)/winding (52) position, when the mechanism occupies the let down (31)/wound (32) position. Second mobile part (60) actuating the indicator (20) is driven by the second control mechanism (40) changing into the control position (42) when the first mobile part (50) is in a winding position (52) and cooperates with this latter in the letting down position (51), under the action of return mechanism (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventors: Adrien Farron, Christian Rüfenacht
  • Patent number: 8830797
    Abstract: This timepiece comprises an indicator dial (40), a days-of-the-month mechanism (1) comprising a days-of-the-month mobile (10) and a stepper drive member (13) for driving the days-of-the-month mobile (10), a months mobile (30) coaxial with the days-of-the-month mobile placed beneath said dial (40) and connected to the days-of-the-month mobile (10) by stepper drive means (12, 20) formed so that the months mobile (30) turns through an angle of 30° each month. The dial (40) has twelve windows (41) that are angularly equidistant and the months mobile (30) supports a distinctive zone (32) of which the trajectory passes through said windows (41) and of which the maximum angular extent is 30° and the minimum angular extent corresponds to that of said windows (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Dominique Dubugnon, Adrien Farron, Christian Fleury
  • Patent number: 8830798
    Abstract: Gear wheel for a clock mechanism, including a toothed gear provided with a homogeneous integral peripheral tooth system with at most 16 teeth in a first meshing level; a first meshing sector that is rotationally fixed with the toothed gear and meshes in a second meshing level, wherein the first meshing level is superposed on a first tooth of the toothed gear; a second meshing sector that is rotationally fixed with the toothed gear and meshes in a third meshing level, wherein the second meshing level is superposed on a second tooth of the toothed gear; a third meshing sector that is rotationally fixed with the toothed gear and meshes in a fourth meshing level, wherein the third meshing level is superposed on a third tooth of the toothed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8811125
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism comprising a program wheel device 100 for a calendar mechanism, wherein the program wheel 100 comprises: a day program wheel 13 that performs a complete turn each month, is driven by a clock movement and actuates a wheel train for display of the days of the month 16-24, and a month program gear 43 that performs a complete turn each year, which are mounted coaxially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Glashuetter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8760975
    Abstract: This device for displaying time periods comprises a display element (A), an indicator component (1), a drive component (3) for driving the indicator component (1), an instantaneous-jump cam (6) engaged with the drive component (3), a drive mobile (5) for driving the cam (6) and correction means (4) for coming into direct engagement with the indicator component (1). A one-way connection device (3b, 11, 12) connects the drive mobile (5) to the cam (6). The drive component (3) is engaged with the cam (6) by elastic return means (3d) and guidance means (3b) defining a degree of freedom of the drive component (3) in order to allow the indicator component (1) to move the drive component (3) against the elastic return means (3d) when the latter occupies a position interfering with the movement of the indicator component (1) by the correction means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Rudaz