Patents Examined by Jason M Collins
  • Patent number: 11971686
    Abstract: A dial, and timepiece including the dial, including a mother-of-pearl wafer partially covering a support member, and a decorative element arranged on a reverse of the wafer, the decorative element being visible on an obverse of the wafer when subjected to a stimulus and invisible on the obverse of the wafer in the absence of the stimulus. The decorative element has a first empty area on a reverse of the wafer, and a second empty area on the obverse of the wafer, facing the first empty area. A colour compensation layer is deposited on the first empty area or the second empty area, the colour being selected such that the difference in colour ?E in the CIE Lab colour space between the colour compensation layer and the decorative element in the absence of said stimulus, perceived by a user observing the obverse of the wafer, is less than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Agnès Marlot Doerr, Nicolas François, Alexandros Mouskeftaras, Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin, Carole Govaerts
  • Patent number: 11940760
    Abstract: A moon phase display mechanism driven by a horological movement, this moon phase display mechanism including a transparent support provided with an upper face and a lower face which extends at a distance from the upper face, a representation of the Moon being transferred, for example by printing or by engraving, to one of the upper or lower faces of this transparent support, a substrate being disposed under the transparent support, at a distance therefrom, the moon phase display mechanism also including a shutter which is driven by drive means moved by the horological movement and which is arranged so as to displace between the transparent support and the substrate, the shutter and the substrate having display contrasts which are inverted relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Blancpain SA
    Inventors: Nicolas Debaud, Bernat Monferrer, Pierpasquale Tortora, Cédric Blatter
  • Patent number: 11921467
    Abstract: A watch includes a crystal oscillator, a controller including an oscillation circuit configured to cause the crystal oscillator to oscillate, wiring that couples the crystal oscillator with the controller, and the crystal oscillator, a storage container that stores the crystal oscillator, the wiring, and the controller, and an outer case that stores the storage container, in which the crystal oscillator and the controller are placed side by side inside the storage container in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeaki Seki, Yutaka Yamazaki, Atsushi Miyazaki, Toshiya Usuda
  • Patent number: 11914331
    Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a part including a support made of an electrically non-conductive material, the support being provided with at least one recess filled with an aesthetic element made of an electrically conductive material, and the aesthetic element forms a decoration on a side of the part that is intended to be visible. The method includes inlaying by pressing a preform intended to form the aesthetic element into the at least one recess of the support, and treating the surface of the aesthetic element. The at least one recess opens in one or more places onto a side of the part that is intended to be non-visible, to respectively form one or more contact points for carrying current across the aesthetic element during the surface treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Comadur SA
    Inventors: Johan Romand, Damien Le Boudouil, Nicolas Aubry, Pierry Vuille, Alexandre Netuschill
  • Patent number: 11906931
    Abstract: Disclosed is a timepiece component including at least one housing intended to receive at least one precious or non-precious stone and including at least one first end, referred to as the setting end, and a rail. The rail is located on the periphery of the housing, and is arranged to allow the stone or stones to be inserted into the rail at the first end of the housing, such that the stone or stones can slide in the rail along the longitudinal axis of the housing, and to hold the stone or stones once inserted into the rail in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
    Inventor: Eric Le Gall
  • Patent number: 11906933
    Abstract: A dial including a base member having a sheet shape containing reinforced fibers, and a decorative member provided on one surface of the base member containing a brittle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Amano
  • Patent number: 11886150
    Abstract: A push button system for activating an actuation member, the system including a button head, a pusher actuator integral with the button head, a first hollow guide member, the pusher actuator being mounted to slide inside the first hollow guide member, the first hollow guide member being intended to be secured to a fixed element relative to the button head and to the pusher actuator, a second hollow guide member arranged in the button head, and a pin mounted to slide inside the second hollow member, and intended to be secured to the fixed element. The pusher actuator has an upper portion provided on the periphery thereof with a collar intended to cooperate with an internal face of the first hollow guide member to guide the pusher inside the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meco SA
    Inventors: Herve Avril, Samuel Geiser
  • Patent number: 11868096
    Abstract: A system for transforming a regular smartwatch into a luxury item, comprising, a smartwatch unit including at least the display unit of the smartwatch; and a box including a housing to accommodate said smartwatch, said box having a cover being openable and closeable to cover said display unit, wherein said cover has at least one hole so that a corresponding portion of said display unit is visible to a user when said cover is in closed position, wherein when said cover is in closed position, the smartwatch unit displays the output of the smartwatch in on said corresponding portion of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Yoram Ghassabian
  • Patent number: 11868091
    Abstract: A watch includes a power reserve hand configured to be visually recognizable from a watch rear side, an oscillating weight including a weight, a transmission wheel configured to rotate a ratchet wheel, a pawl lever configured to engage with the transmission wheel, an eccentric wheel including an eccentric shaft member to which the pawl lever is attached and an eccentric toothed gear, a train wheel bridge provided between the pawl lever and the oscillating weight, and a seconds wheel and pinion including a seconds hand shaft. The eccentric shaft member and the seconds hand shaft are supported by the train wheel bridge. The power reserve hand is disposed in a position that does not overlap the weight in plan view, and is disposed in a position that overlaps the train wheel bridge in side view orthogonal to the seconds hand shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Eiichi Hiraya
  • Patent number: 11860580
    Abstract: A watch component is provided with a base material having light transmissivity, and a metal film layered on the base material. The metal film includes a plurality of through holes formed penetrating the metal film, and recessed portions are formed in the base material in positions corresponding to the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Daiki Furusato
  • Patent number: 11853010
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for securing and adjusting a bearing in an orifice in a bridge or a plate of a timepiece. It includes a first bearing screw defining a crimping opening of such a bearing and including an external thread, a second screw, so-called locking screw, defining an internal bore and including an external thread and a socket defining a tubular housing extending following a longitudinal axis, the tubular housing including a first tapped section, adapted to screw the first screw, and a second tapped section, adapted to screw the second screw. Advantageously, the external threads of the first and second screws and the corresponding sections of the socket have respective screwing pitches in opposite directions. Also disclosed is a method for securing and adjusting a bearing in an orifice provided for that purpose in a bridge or a plate of a timepiece thanks to such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: François Besse
  • Patent number: 11846915
    Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator and an electromechanical transducer formed by an electromagnetic assembly including a coil and a magnet mounted on the balance of the mechanical oscillator. The induced voltage signal, produced by the electromagnetic transducer during each oscillation, exhibits, in a first half-alternation between the oscillator passes via the neutral position thereof, a first lobe of maximum amplitude having a first polarity and, in a second half-alternation following a passage via the neutral position, a second lobe of maximum amplitude having a second polarity opposite the first. An electric converter includes two power supply capacitors and a device for regulating the medium frequency of the mechanical oscillator. The first power supply capacitor is charged merely with a positive voltage whereas the second capacitor is charged merely with a negative voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Lionel Tombez
  • Patent number: 11835926
    Abstract: A watch cover that covers the face of a watch. The watch cover has a plurality of receivers around the circumference of the watch cover. The plurality of receivers receive either a plastic or a glass capsule that snaps into the plurality of receivers. The plastic or the glass capsules have removable caps that allow the plastic or glass capsules to be filled with either a liquid or solid material prior to the plastic or the glass capsules being snapped into the plurality of receivers. The watch cover can have two wrist bands that attach to the watch cover. The wrist bands will have a plurality of wrist receivers throughout the length of the wrist bands. The wrist receivers will receive either the plastic or the glass capsules after they are filled with the liquid or the solid materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Juan Manuel Trevino De La Garza
  • Patent number: 11829109
    Abstract: A device (10) for fastening an external or display element (20) onto a horological structure (100), including a retaining key (1) including a post (2) fastened to the structure (100) and a head (9) with a truncated flange (3) having a first lip (31) cooperating by bearing, in a blocking manner, with a face (41) of a fastening element (4) integral with this display element (20), which first lip (31) is delimited by non-coplanar edges (51, 52), this retaining key (1) includes, joined to each edge (51, 52) and radially retracted relative to the periphery (30) of the first lip (31), a second lip (6) having an upper surface (68) which is, at each edge (51, 52), tapered relative to the upper surface (38) of the first lip (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventor: Laurent Kaelin
  • Patent number: 11815858
    Abstract: A switch device including a base member provided with a stem insertion hole, an operation member which is slidably inserted into the stem insertion hole of the base member and has an engaging groove provided in an outer circumference surface, a stopper member having an engaging section which is arranged in the engaging groove of the operation member and moved along with sliding of the operation member, and a separation regulation section which prevents the engaging section from being separated from the engaging groove, in which a leading end portion of the engaging section is positionally regulated toward axial center of the operation member by the separation regulation section when the operation member is pulled toward the outside of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hosobuchi
  • Patent number: 11809139
    Abstract: A watch case having a locking system for at least one control element of a timepiece, the locking system including a manipulable element, a locking element for the at least one control element, and a kinematic link linking the manipulable element to the locking element, the locking system being arranged on the outside of a chamber (63), more particularly on the outside of a water-resistant chamber, defined by the case, the locking element being rotatably mounted, more particularly rotatably mounted about a second axis (A1) of the at least one control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Mesut Kanmaz
  • Patent number: 11809144
    Abstract: A timer to monitor lapse of time relative to a total amount of allowed time includes: a body and a foot on or of the body, a sensor; a processor connected to the sensor and configured to monitor a lapse of time; and an output device connected to the processor. The processor is configured to control the output device to generate a signal at least indicating the monitored, lapsed time relative to the total amount of allowed time. The sensor is configured to indicate whether the timer rests on the foot; and the processor is configured to monitor the lapse of time, during which it is indicated by the sensor that the timer rests on the foot, and stop or pause to monitor the lapse of time, when the timer rests not or not only on the foot. The processor is configured to control the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: YKO Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Renatus Wilhelmus Seraphinus Overhoff
  • Patent number: 11768468
    Abstract: A regulator for a striking mechanism of a mechanical watch including a base, which can be assembled in a fixed manner with regard to the housing and which rotatably mounts a rotary wheel. At least two mass elements are arranged on the rotary wheel and by way of a rotation of the rotary wheel are deflectable radially outwards counter to a spring force on account of the centrifugal force, in order to regulate the rotation speed of the rotary wheel. At least three bearing elements are attached to the base, the bearing elements engaging peripherally on the rotary wheel, in order to mount this relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: BUCHERER AG
    Inventors: Samir Merdanovic, Markus Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11768467
    Abstract: The invention concerns a watch 1 comprising a watch case 2, the watch case 2 containing a watch movement 6 and two dials 8a, 8b. The watch 1 further includes a casing ring 3 arranged inside the watch case 2, the watch movement 6 being mounted in the casing ring 3 so as to be suspended in a cantilever arrangement inside the watch case 2, said casing ring 3 supporting the two dials 8a, 8b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Montres Jaquet Droz SA
    Inventors: David Hurni, Philippe Willemin
  • Patent number: 11762339
    Abstract: A hands-free visual timer enables a person to wash his or hands for the duration of time recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Upon activation, the timer displays an annular ring of thirty triangles and a first icon. After five seconds have passed, a second icon is displayed indicating the user should apply soap. After twenty-five seconds, a third icon is displayed indicating the user should rinse. After thirty seconds, the screen goes blank and all the triangles have disappeared. The central display of triangles is illuminated by a liquid crystal display. The icons are illuminated by light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Time Timer, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Rogers, Heather Rogers, Tricia L Wright