Abstract: A bracelet clasp of the unfolding buckle type comprises a base plate (1) on which at least one hinged plate (2) is capable of being folded. A device enabling the two plates to be locked onto each other in a closed position comprises a first tongue (4) raised on the base plate (1) and a second tongue (5) raised on the hinged plate (2). In a closed position the two tongues are situated back to back and head to tail. The existence of a double tongue enables the locking force of one plate on the other to be doubled.

Abstract: A drive device comprises a gearbox (1) of the motorcycle type in which a selector shaft (10), via its angular position, enables the gear ratio in which the gearbox will be engaged to be determined. The device is provided with an electronic control device (DCE) designed to automatically place the gearbox (1), or in other words the selector shaft (10), in the position corresponding to the gear selected by the driver or automatically determined as a function of the speed of the vehicle. The electronic control device (DCE) comprises, in particular, means for down-shifting gently despite the absence of a synchronizer in the gearbox.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle cooling system includes a sleeve-like meter heretically mounted on, and surrounding, a hollow tubular chassis meter of the vehicle. The sleeve is provided with inlets and outlets communicating with the space between the sleeve and the chassis meter and vehicle coolant flows through the inlet and outlet. Air, flowing over the outside surface of the sleeve and the inside surface of the chassis meter, cools the vehicle coolant.

Abstract: The vehicle comprises an electric drive motor, a generator driven by a gasoline engine and a regulating circuit which regulates the speed of rotation of the gasoline engine and the electric power supplied to the electric motor as a function of the position of an accelerator pedal and which is arranged so that this electric power increases at the same time as the speed of rotation of the gasoline engine when the pedal is actuated to increase the speed of the vehicle. This feature removes the delay which, in known vehicles of the same type, separates the actuation of the accelerator pedal from the increase in the electric power supplied to the drive motor.

Abstract: A compact display device for a measuring or control instrument having on the same plate (4) a main dial (8) giving a main reading by means of a first needle (9) moving above secondary dials (8a, 8b, 8c) located inside the perimeter of the main dial (8), the needles of which (9a, 9b, 9c) rotate in a space included between the main dial (8) and the first needle (9) to give readings of different or complementary nature.An instrument panel of a moving vehicle providing a main reading of speed on a circular dial.

Abstract: The control circuit of the piezoelectric vibrator comprises two branches, each comprising switching means (T1, T2) arranged to go into a blocking state and a conducting state following the reception of a control signal, and a series connection of a coil (2,2') with a diode (3,3'), a first terminal (A,A') of said series connection being connected to a voltage supply source (1) and a second terminal (B,B') of said connection being connected to said switching means (T1,T2).The vibrator (4) is connected between said second terminals (B,B') so as to be excited in alternance in a first direction, when said first switching means are in the blocking state and at the same time the second switching means are in the conducting state, and in a second direction, when said second switching means are in the blocking state while at the same time the first switching means are in the conducting state.

Abstract: The vehicle (1) comprises a driving wheel (2) driven by an electric motor (3) whose control circuit (4) is supplied by a generator (6) coupled to a fuel engine (5), and a sensor (18) supplying a power-setting control signal (SC) representative of the position of an accelerator pedal (17) and hence of the desired power that the electric motor (3) has to supply to the wheel (2). To avoid having to provide the vehicle (1) with a large capacity traction battery, the vehicle further comprises means (7, 14 to 16, 19, 20) responsive to the power setting signal (SC) to regulate the rotational speed of the fuel engine (5) to the value at which the latter supplies a mechanical power (Pm) that is equal, firstly, to the desired power and, secondly, to a predetermined fraction of its maximum power.

Abstract: An adjustable link (1) for a bracelet having a plurality of fixed links comprises a cap (6) into which a base (7) slides and a mechanism (8) with push-pieces (9, 10) which enables the length of the link to be extended to at least two different lengths so as to enable the length of the bracelet to be adapted to the variations in diameter of the wrist wearing it. The link may be incorporated in a bracelet carrying a watch.

Abstract: The invention concerns a chassis (1) of the beam type for a motor vehicle comprising a central beam (4), characterised in that it comprises at least one elongated member (6, 8) attached to said central beam (4) and extending substantially parallel to said central beam (4), and in that the end portions (6a, 6b, 8a, 8b) of said elongated member (6, 8) extend beyond the ends (4a, 4b) of said central beam (4) at the front and the rear of said chassis (1) and are arranged to be deformed and to absorb energy in case of a collision.

Abstract: A vehicle (31) has a composite braking system (electric and mechanical). This composite braking system having asynchronous electric motors (4a to 4d) associated with the wheels (2a to 2d) and a mechanical braking device having a hydraulic circuit (14) and mechanical brakes (18a to 18d). The composite braking system also has an electronic measuring device (36) connected to rotation frequency sensors (34a to 34d) disposed on each of the wheels, this electronic device supplying a reference signal to the control circuit (6) of the asynchronous electric motors which regulate the stator frequency of these motors as a function of the value of the reference signal. The braking system of the invention is anti-locking and very effective in any driving situation.

Abstract: Control device for selectively closing electrical contacts situated on a plate (9), formed by a push-button (1) co-operating with a flat spring (3); the spring (3), fastened to a case (5) at one of its ends and attached to the push-button (1) at the other end, comprises strips (31, 32) formed by a series of loops (31i, 32i) giving it elasticity along the axis of the stem (11), and flexible lamellar extensions (35, 36, 38) outside the plane of the spring (3), by the action of the lugs (20, 21, 22) of the stem (11) when the push-button is moved in rotation and/or translation.

Abstract: This gearbox whose arrangement is derived from that of motorcycle gearboxes, comprises organs according to the invention enabling it to be adapted, in particular for a motor vehicle.The selector shaft (10) which ensures the ratio shift by means of forks (29, 30, 31) may be decoupled from the latter thanks to a decoupling shaft (11) which disengages the counter-cams forming one piece with the forks from their respective cams provided on the selector shaft (10).One can thus select any ratio shift without having to shift through the intermediate ratios.

Abstract: A push-piece-crown (1) mounted on a guide tube (T) secured in a case (C) housing a timepiece, and fixed in rotation as well as axially to a control stem (TR) adapted to occupy at least two axial positions, of which a first ("0") is stable and a second ("-1") is transitory, comprising a head (2) fixed to said stem and mounted to be axially movable on said tube (T), and a return spring (8) bearing at one end on said head (2) for urging it towards said stable position, in which said spring (8) also bears at its other end on an annular abutment (9) movable within said head (2) between said stable position, in which said abutment (9) bears on a shoulder (13) on the interior of said head (2) and said transitory position, in which the abutment (9) rests on a shoulder (E3) of said tube (T).

Abstract: A chassis for vehicles, notably for motor vehicles, is characterized in that it includes a rigid base frame 2 and two absorption zones 4, 6 at the front and the rear associated with the frame 2 and in that said frame 2 and the absorption zones 4, 6 have a cell-like unitary structure.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automotive vehicle. This vehicle comprises a dashboard (26), steering control handles (28) distanced from the dashboard (26), the dashboard comprising a compartment (32) closed by a flap (34) and in which is arranged a protective bag (36) of supple material at least partially gas-tight, the vehicle further includes a gas source (38), the bag (36) being coupled to the gas source (38) and one or more accelerometers for automatically releasing the gas source (38) in response to abnormal behaviour of the vehicle, in that the bag (36) may assume a folded first state in which it is entirely housed within the compartment (32) and an inflated second state in which it extends out of the compartment (32) and in that the bag comprises a central portion (46) which is arranged so as to spread out, in the inflated state, over substantially the entire area of the dashboard (26).

Abstract: A watch case (M) including a caseband (1) and a back cover (4) which can be engaged with and clamped in the caseband by imparting a rotational movement to the back cover (4) through a predetermined angle (.OMEGA.) around an axis of closure (O--O'). The back cover (4) and the caseband (1) include wall portions (16, 24) of complementary undercut forms the peripheral profile of which comprises four sections (38, 48) in circular arc form each centered on a center (C.sub.c, C.sub.f) separated from the axis of closure (O--O') . The sections (38, 48) are connected among themselves by a reentrant section (40, 52). Each back cover section (48) is associated with a caseband (1) section (38).

Abstract: The invention concerns a security arrangement intended for the opening and/or closing of at least one door of an automotive vehicle, characterized in that it includes: at least one control keyboard (2) integrated into the coach-work of the vehicle and intended for the introduction of an opening and/or closing code, said keyboard being provided with sensing elements (6) responsive to the touch and furnishing a code corresponding to the actuated keys, a circuit (30, 32, 34, 44) adapted to generate a control signal in response to said code furnished by the control keyboard; and actuating means (36, 38) controlled by said control signal and assuring the latching and/or unlatching of said door.

Abstract: The invention concerns a motor system of an electric type vehicle, comprising at least two asynchronous electric motors (M1, M2) supplied in parallel by a central electric supply. This central electric supply is controlled by a control device supplying thereto a first control signal (SCF) determining the value of the supply frequency (FAL) and a second control signal (SCA) determining the value of the supply amplitude (UAL) of the supply voltage. These first and second control signals are regulated essentially in dependence upon a signal (SMI) which is a measurement of the principal supply current (IAL), an instruction signal (SCS) and a signal (SFMX) representing the maximum value of the rotational frequency of the rotors (R2, R2) of said motors.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cleaning device (14) for removing visibility-impairing foreign matter, e.g. rain, snow or mud, from the surface of a window such as a motor vehicle windscreen (8). The device uses a sensor such as an ultrasonic transducer (12a, 12b) in which the frequency (f) and the spacing (d) between the transmitter (12a) and the receiver (12b) enable the presence of foreign matter to be detected simply by measuring the phase difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal. This device may be used in automatic wiper systems or the like.

Abstract: A charging apparatus comprising discrete charging circuits each for connection to a different group of cells of an accumulator having multiple groups of cells. Each discrete charging circuit comprises a separate transformer the primary winding of which is connected to a source of an a.c. voltage common to all discrete charging circuits. The secondary winding of each transformer is connected to the input of a rectifier whose output is connected to charging terminals for connection to group terminals of a corresponding group of cells. This arrangement enables the accumulator to be completely charged while substantially reducing the risk of damaging the cell or cells of lowermost maximum capacity.