Patents Examined by Jason M Collins
  • Patent number: 11327444
    Abstract: A watch includes a case, a first spring bar support portion and a second spring bar support portion which are provided on the case. Further included is a spring bar supported by the first spring bar support portion and the second spring bar support apportion, a cover member into which the spring bar is inserted and which is between the first spring bar support portion and the second spring bar support portion. The cover member entirely surrounds a circumference of the spring bar. A band is provided between the cover member and the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Mishima, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11320786
    Abstract: A timepiece mainspring including, in the manufactured state, an eye and a portion formed of coils with an outer coil of radius R, the eye and the portion formed of coils being connected by a neck portion having substantially zero curvature, the timepiece mainspring wherein the neck portion has a length LC comprised between 1.5 and 10 times, and preferably between 2 and 8 times, the radius R. The mainspring having this specific geometry reduces the risk of premature breakage during use, typically for an application with a k factor lower than 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Jonas Vannod, Christian Charbon
  • 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: 11300927
    Abstract: A display mechanism a wheel carrying, constrained to rotate with it, a first wheel and a snail-shaped cam, the mechanism having an active first state in which the first wheel is driven in rotation by a driving wheel and a zero reset second state in which it is no longer driven to allow it to return to a predefined position, associated with a predefined position of the display member, the display mechanism further including a feeler-spindle adapted to cooperate with the perimeter of the cam, the feeler-spindle and the perimeter of the cam being adapted and sized so that the feeler-spindle exerts on the cam, in the second state, a return force having a non-radial component adapted to return the first wheel to its predefined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NOGERAH SA
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, Laurent Wiederrecht, Maximilien Di Blasi, Guy Dubois-Ferrière
  • Patent number: 11281167
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a processor configured to implement a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the electronic device. The electronic device further includes a bezel and at least two switches. The bezel is rotatably mounted on a housing of the electronic device. A plurality of teeth of the bezel sequentially activate the at least two switches during rotation of the bezel. The rotation of the bezel allows the user to interact with the electronic device on the basis of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nicolas Dangy Caye
  • Patent number: 11275342
    Abstract: A repeater including an hours piece mounted to rotate between a rest position and a reading position; a device for regulating the angular speed of the hours piece, which includes a rotor and a system for braking the rotor; and a transmission gear train between the hours piece and the rotor, this gear train including a disengageable primary mobile able to adopt two configurations: a) an engaged configuration in which the primary mobile couples the hours piece to the rotor while the hours piece is moved from its reading position to its rest position; b) a disengaged configuration in which the primary mobile decouples the rotor from the hours piece as soon as the latter is stopped in the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA.
    Inventor: Christophe Bifrare
  • Patent number: 11262704
    Abstract: A watch case for a wristwatch including a watch middle, at least one strut for supporting the watch middle, the strut extending beyond the space occupied by the watch middle, a device for removably attaching a watch strap to the strut. The watch case further includes a member for fixing the strut or one of the struts to the watch middle, the removable attachment device being formed when the strut is fixed to the watch middle, and the fixing member includes a device for detaching the strut from the watch middle, configured to allow release of the strut from the watch middle without using tools, the strut being removably fixed to the watch middle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Didier Finck
  • Patent number: 11256218
    Abstract: A zeroing device (200), including a first zeroing unit (71), which consists of a zeroing lever (12) having a zeroing lever arm (12a) and a zeroing lever latch (12b), wherein the zeroing lever latch (12b) has a first end (13) and a second end (14). The zeroing device is characterized by a second zeroing unit (72) that is arranged at an offset to the first zeroing unit (71) in a Z coordinate direction (Z) and is in operative connection with the first zeroing unit (71). The second zeroing unit (72) may also include a pendulum rod (31), a hinge support (34), and a joint rod (35), wherein the pendulum rod (31) is rotatably attached to a cam (33) and to the joint rod (35) and wherein the joint rod (35) is rotatably attached to the hinge support (34) and rests against an eccentric (36) of the zeroing lever (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Uwe Heinz
  • Patent number: 11249441
    Abstract: Provided are a timepiece having a temperature compensator drivable by a low voltage with low current consumption, and a control method of a timepiece. The timepiece includes an arithmetic circuit, a first switch that controls connection of a temperature compensation table storage to a power supply circuit, and a second switch that controls connection of a device-difference compensation data storage to the power supply circuit. The arithmetic circuit calculates a compensation amount based on a temperature measured by a temperature detector, a temperature compensation data, a device-difference compensation data, and outputs to a frequency adjustment control circuit and a theoretical regulation circuit. The first switch is controlled to the connect state during a first power supply connection period including a temperature compensation data read period. The second switch is controlled to the connect state during a second power supply connection period including a device-difference compensation data read period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11249442
    Abstract: A display system for a timepiece is disclosed. The system includes a mobile arranged to be driven by a drive source by first teeth provided on the mobile. The mobile includes second teeth including a teeth module of less than 0.05 mm, the second teeth being arranged so as to drive a display member either directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: GFPI S.A., COMPLITIME S.A.
    Inventors: Stephen Forsey, Robert Greubel
  • Patent number: 11237520
    Abstract: A pivot arbor for a timepiece movement includes a pivot made of a first non-magnetic metal material at at least one end in order to limit the sensitivity to magnetic fields. An outer surface of the pivot is coated with a first layer of a second material such as Ni, NiB, and/or NiP. The first layer of the second material is partially coated with a second layer of a third material selected from gold, silver, copper, platinum, rhodium, palladium and their alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Fussinger, Christian Charbon, Marco Verardo
  • Patent number: 11231686
    Abstract: The watch bezel system includes a bezel that is removable and replaceable with another bezel. The bezel is removed by pushing a button on the side of the watch case that retracts a pin residing in the case of the watch. At the same time, the user grasps the bezel with their other hand and twists the bezel clockwise and pulls the bezel away from the case of the watch. The replacement of the bezel is done by aligning the interlocking mechanism of the bezel with the interlocking mechanism of the case of the watch, then pushing the bezel against the case, and twisting counterclockwise. The bezel will self-lock in place with the pin attached to the case. When the button is released, the pin will automatically enter a recess in a slot in the bezel, locking the bezel in place, and keep the bezel from rotating or coming off the watch case. Additionally, the interlocking mechanisms on the case and bezel also keep the bezel from coming off the watch case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Walter Neighbors
  • Patent number: 11226595
    Abstract: A coupling system for a chronograph mechanism is presented. The system can include an input wheel intended to be driven by a drive member; an output wheel intended to drive at least one display member; an intermediate wheel continuously kinematically connected to the input wheel or the output wheel, where the intermediate wheel changes between a coupled state where the input wheel is kinematically connected to the output wheel and an uncoupled state where the kinematic connection is broken. The system also includes a first friction wheel constrained to rotate with the intermediate wheel and a second friction wheel constrained to rotate with either the input wheel and the output wheel; a first safety wheel constrained to rotate with said intermediate wheel that includes a first set of safety teeth; and a second safety wheel constrained to rotate with the second wheel that includes a second set of safety teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: NOGERAH SA
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, Laurent Wiederrecht, Maximilien Di Blasi, Guy Dubois-Ferrière
  • Patent number: 11226592
    Abstract: A regulator key whose arms ensure clearance of a balance spring even in event of shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Laurent Kaelin, Fabien Schlup
  • Patent number: 11221588
    Abstract: A dial to be mounted in a watch case includes a first support plate and a second fragile plate, the two plates defining a horizontal plane and being bonded one on top of the other in a vertical direction relative to the horizontal plane. The second plate has a smaller section in the horizontal plane than the section of the first plate in order to leave free on the first plate a peripheral rim to be mounted with play inside the watch case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventor: Bastien Erard
  • Patent number: 11221589
    Abstract: An acoustic timepiece display mechanism includes a chronograph repeater for the acoustic display, by a striking mechanism, of a duration measured by a chronograph mechanism. The striking mechanism includes a winding lever for driving a rack to move a striking unit including a rack pinion integral with a striking ratchet, to move a striking rack to read the magnitude concerned and to release a corresponding strike function. The acoustic display mechanism includes, between a control mechanism included in the chronograph mechanism and the winding lever, a safety mechanism arranged, depending on the position of the strike wheel set, to allow or prevent travel of an operating lever of the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism, which operating lever is arranged to be pivoted under the action of a chronograph start pusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: OMEGA SA
    Inventors: Julien Feyer, Edmond Capt
  • Patent number: 11194291
    Abstract: A timepiece display mechanism includes a rotating display member for displaying a magnitude other than the current time of day, or a position in a cycle. The rotating display member is integral in rotation with a snail cooperating with the beak of a striking rack included in a striking mechanism integrated in or juxtaposed with this display mechanism, to strike a numerical value characteristic of this magnitude, or respectively of this position. The display mechanism is more particularly a chronograph mechanism including a seconds snail integral with a main chronograph wheel, for counting the seconds and cooperating with a seconds rack, and a minute snail integral with a minute counter wheel for counting the minutes and cooperating with a minute rack, in order, after timing a duration, to strike the minutes and seconds of the timed duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: OMEGA SA
    Inventors: Gregory Kissling, Julien Feyer
  • Patent number: 11194297
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose methods and apparatuses for controlling an alarm clock. Processing circuitry of an apparatus determines an alarm time for the alarm clock of a first terminal device. When a time difference between a present time of the first terminal device and the alarm time is determined to reach a preset duration, the processing circuitry determines whether a second terminal device is located within a reachable distance from the first terminal device. The second terminal device is associated with a first wearable device used by a user. When the second terminal device is determined to be located within the reachable distance from the first terminal device, the processing circuitry acquires, from the first wearable device, a sleep signal indicating a sleeping status of the user, and controls the alarm clock and a second wearable device associated with the first terminal device based on the sleep signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yan Xie
  • Patent number: 11194294
    Abstract: Sleep alerts associated with an alarm can be scheduled using a first electronic device. Once scheduled, data can be collected from a second electronic device. This data can be used to determine an appropriate device, other than the first electronic device, at which the sleep alert can be presented. Once determined, the information can be sent to the appropriate device for presenting the sleep alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Roy J. E. M. Raymann, Jay Kriz Blahnik, Stephanie M. Greer, Aroon Pahwa, Jonathan T. Varbel, Kevin M. Lynch
  • 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