Patents Examined by Kevin Andrew Johnston
  • Patent number: 12045011
    Abstract: A horological movement including a mechanical resonator and a hybrid escapement including an escapement wheel and a pallet assembly with at least one magnetic pallet-stone formed of a magnet and associated with a mechanical banking, the escapement wheel including a periodic magnetised structure defining increasing gradients of magnetic potential energy for the magnetic pallet-stone, and protruding parts associated with the increasing gradients of magnetic potential energy. When the force torque is equal to a nominal force torque or has a value within at least an upper part of a given range of values, one of the protruding parts of the escapement wheel is subjected to at least one shock on the mechanical banking of the pallet assembly after the magnetic pallet-stone has climbed any one of the increasing gradients of magnetic potential energy, thus dissipating at least partially a kinetic energy of the escapement wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Marc Stranczl, Benoît Légeret
  • Patent number: 12045012
    Abstract: A watch has a mechanical movement with a force control mechanism arranged in a going train of the mechanical movement between an energy source and an escape wheel set connected to an oscillating oscillator to drive the escape wheel set always in the same direction of rotation. The escape wheel set meshes with a seconds wheel. A rotating locking element is arranged to cooperate with a stop member connected to this seconds wheel in order to lock this going train in a stop mode or to release this going train in a jump mode depending on the angular position of this seconds wheel. A flexure bearing with elastic strips is attached on the one hand to the seconds wheel and on the other hand to the movement support. The pre-wound flexure bearing is arranged to drive in rotation the seconds wheel and the escapement mechanism connected to the oscillator at each half-oscillation of the oscillator in the stop mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Zaugg
  • Patent number: 12038724
    Abstract: Timepiece (1) comprising at least one mechanical movement (10) including at least a main plate (2), a resonator (11) and energy storage and distribution means (3) connected to an escape wheel set (4) by a going train (5), wherein at least one of the wheel sets, comprised in the going train (5) or an escapement mechanism (6) to which the escape wheel set (4) belongs, and which cooperates with the resonator (11), and which moves in a jerky or reciprocating motion during operation of the resonator (11), is a display wheel set (7) which includes at least two distinct pictures or patterns (8), which are arranged to move in succession before a fixed point of the main plate (2), during operation of the resonator (11), and to display thereon a sequence of animated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Pascal Winkler, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Patent number: 12032338
    Abstract: A pointer display apparatus includes a pointer which operates in an operation range; and at least one processor which controls an operation of the pointer. In a first display mode in which the processor displays display contents with the pointer, the processor sets an evacuation state of the pointer in an evacuation operation in which the pointer is temporarily evacuated from a pointing range to be different from an evacuation state of the pointer in a mode other than the first display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiharu Shiratori, Shuto Oikawa, Tomoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 12032334
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an escapement system that can be used, for example, in a measuring device such as in a timepiece. The escapement system comprises a drive axle and at least one escape wheel that has at least one impulse tooth. The at least one impulse tooth is connected to the drive axle via at least one spring element and has a starting position in which it is fixed such that the spring element has a preload torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Creaditive AG
    Inventors: Karl Bernhard Lederer, Georg Von Tardy-Tuch
  • Patent number: 12032333
    Abstract: A time difference correction mechanism includes a cylinder index star wheel that includes teeth and is connected to an hour hand, a cylinder index gear that includes teeth and is connected to a minute hand, the cylinder index gear provided radially outward of the cylinder index star wheel on a same plane as the teeth, a cylinder index lever disposed in the cylinder index gear on a same plane as the cylinder index gear, and a cylinder index spring disposed in the cylinder index gear on the same plane as the cylinder index gear. The cylinder index lever is movable between an engaged position where a claw engages with at least one of the teeth and a disengaged position where the claw disengages with the at least one of the teeth . The cylinder index spring is configured to bias the cylinder index lever to the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Morita, Kazuya Imamura
  • Patent number: 12025956
    Abstract: An apparatus for a wrist-worn device includes a frame and a screen fixed to the frame. The frame is configured to be removably secured to the wrist-worn device so that the screen is positioned in adjacent, overlying relationship with a face of the wrist-worn device. The screen is configured to perform one or more of the following: magnify the face of the wrist-worn device, protect the face of the wrist-worn device, provide an anti-glare surface for the face of the wrist-worn device, and provide a privacy screen for the face of the wrist-worn device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bootstrap Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Aly Khalifa, Fredrik Perman, Mary Lee Mebane, John Mebane
  • Patent number: 12019398
    Abstract: An elastic securing organ for fastening a horological component on a support element including an outer peripheral wall capable of being connected to said horological component and an inner peripheral wall defining a triangular-shaped opening wherein the support element is capable of being inserted, the elastic securing organ includes elastic arms each forming one side of the triangular opening and helping ensure the gripping of the support element in the opening, each arm including: at least one cut-out defined completely or partially along the body of said arm, an elastic contact zone with the support element, and elastic peripheral zones which extend between this contact zone and the ends of this elastic arm, the contact zone having a greater quantity of material than the quantity of material forming each of the peripheral zones thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Nivarox—FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Hernandez, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 12013663
    Abstract: A rigid horological component (6, 7, 8) for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism of a horological movement, the component extending along a principal plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanotubes or nanowires (3) being juxtaposed and disposed substantially parallel with an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the plane (P) of the component, the matrix (2) includes a rigid material (4) to fill the interstices and join the nanotubes or nanowires (3) to one another, the material (4) having rigid mechanical properties to block the elastic deformation of the component, the rigid material (4) comprised in the component having a Young's modulus greater than 2 GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Christian Charbon
  • Patent number: 12007716
    Abstract: A flexible timepiece component, in particular for an oscillator mechanism or for a barrel of a horological movement, the component extending along a main plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanowires (3) being juxtaposed, the matrix (2) including a material (4) for filling the interstices between the nanowires (3) to join them to each other, each nanowire (3) forming a solid one-piece tube, the nanowires (3) being disposed substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the main plane (P) of the component (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Christian Charbon, Alexandre Haemmerli, Lionel Paratte, Matthias Imboden
  • Patent number: 12001170
    Abstract: Display mechanism (10) for a timepiece (1000), with a leap year display integrated in a month display, comprising a control mechanism (3) that drives, once per month, about an axis (D), a month display wheel set (2) arranged underneath a dial (1), having a month window (1C) in a quadrant allowing the display of only one quarter of the month display wheel set (2), which completes one revolution in four years, and bears, on an angular sector of 90°, at least one characteristic leap year marking, and either carries indices, each arranged to indicate one month on a static month scale of the dial (1), or equidistant month markings, wherein one of the month markings is pointed to by a fixed mark of the dial (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: GLASHÜTTER Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Tony Braun
  • Patent number: 11998830
    Abstract: A swimming timer including a fluid container, a fluid channel, a fluid sensor, a control circuit board and a display device. The fluid channel is connected to the fluid container and the fluid sensor, and the control circuit board is wired with the fluid sensor and the display device. The fluid container is installed and mounted on a side-wall of a swimming lane. When a swimmer starts, turns and stops, the fluid container will be touched and compressed forcing the fluid inside to flow into the fluid channel. The fluid sensor detects the fluid flow and generates electronic signals accordingly for the control circuit board and the built-in timing and stopwatch program to use as the input commands of start, lap and stop to compute the swimming time and the number of swimming laps. The display device is to show the results for the swimmer reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventors: Wen-Shen Ko, Chih-Han Ko, Wang-Hsiang Ko
  • Patent number: 11994828
    Abstract: A watch (1) with a mechanical movement with force control mechanism, and of the jumping seconds type. The mechanism is disposed in a finishing train of the mechanical movement between an energy source and an escape wheel set (11) linked to an oscillator (14) in oscillation to drive the escape wheel set in the same direction of rotation. The escape wheel set meshes with a seconds wheel (2). A rotary locking element (7) is arranged to cooperate with a stop member (3) mechanically linked to the accumulation seconds wheel to lock in a stop mode or release in a jump mode the finishing train according to the angular position of the seconds wheel. A stop member spring (4) rotates the accumulation fixed seconds wheel and the escapement mechanism linked to the oscillator at each half oscillation of the oscillator in stop mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Zaugg
  • Patent number: 11988993
    Abstract: Disclosed is an escapement mechanism (1) for a timepiece, designed to cooperate with an oscillator arranged to carry out oscillations, said mechanism (1) comprising:—a count wheel (7) arranged for step-wise forward rotation depending on the oscillations of the oscillator;—an impulse wheel (11) designed to be kinematically linked to a power source, said impulse wheel (11) being arranged to be periodically blocked and released under the control of the count wheel (7) and to supply impulses to the oscillator, characterized in that:—when said escapement mechanism (1) is operating, the count wheel (7) is continuously subjected to a torque;—and the count wheel (7) is arranged to rotate forward by one half-step of its toothing for every vibration of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: COMPLITIME SA, GFPI SA
    Inventors: Stephen Forsey, Robert Greubel, Fabrice Deschanel, Christophe Zwahlen, Florian Corneille
  • Patent number: 11934150
    Abstract: A horological movement includes a resonator and an escapement wheel with flexible teeth, and an anchor formed of two mechanical pallets capable of abutting, when the anchor switches between its two rest positions, with any one of the flexible teeth depending on the angular position of the escapement wheel. Each flexible tooth is arranged to bend by undergoing an elastic deformation under a radial force that can be exerted by one of the two mechanical pallets abutting against this flexible tooth while the escapement wheel has an unfavourable angular position and the resonator is braked by the anchor. Each tooth has an elastic capacity to elastically absorb, in a radial direction, most of a maximum mechanical energy that the mechanical resonator may have during normal operation of the horological movement, to avoid breakage or deterioration of the escapement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Gérard Surmely, Marc Stranczl
  • Patent number: 11927917
    Abstract: The horological movement includes a mechanical resonator and an escapement including an escapement wheel, which has a plurality of teeth, and an anchor formed by a stick and two arms having respectively two mechanical pallets likely to come into contact, when the anchor is subject to an alternative movement, with any of the teeth according to the angular position of the escapement wheel. To avoid damage to the escapement during rocking of the anchor while the escapement wheel is positioned in an unfavourable angular position, the anchor is arranged, during the rocking of this anchor, to be able to bend being subjected to an elastic deformation. The anchor has an elastic capacity between each of the two mechanical pallets and a fork of the anchor, enabling it to absorb elastically, during the elastic deformation, a maximum mechanical energy that the mechanical resonator can have during the normal functioning of the horological movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Marc Stranczl, Benoît Légeret
  • Patent number: 11927920
    Abstract: Disclosed is a case including a first compartment capable of accommodating a first device, possibly associated with a first display, the first compartment being delimited by at least a first wall delimiting a first opening and a first bottom integral with or capable of being fixed to the first wall. The case includes a second compartment which is removable with respect to the first compartment and which is delimited by at least one second wall and a second bottom which is integral with or capable of being fixed to the second wall and which extends along or parallel to a plane forming an obtuse angle with an extension plane of the first wall and/or the first bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: IMERIUM SÀRL
    Inventor: Bernard Schenk
  • Patent number: 11927918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for displaying an information for a timepiece, comprising a mobile (10) intended to be driven in rotation by the movement of the timepiece about a display axis (17), a satellite (20) pivoted on the mobile (10) about a satellite axis (27) parallel to the display axis (17) and remote from a non-zero distance d1 thereof, a display area (80), an indicator (50) secured to the satellite (20) and the position of which relative to the display area (80) provides the information, and a crown (30) centered on the display axis (17) and kinematically connected to the satellite (20). The mechanism is particular in that the indicator (50) is located at a distance d2 from the satellite axis (27), which is greater than or equal to the distance d1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Manufacture D'Horlogerie Audemars Piguet SA
    Inventors: Gilles Rey-Mermet, Sylvain Cornibé
  • Patent number: 11927916
    Abstract: For example, an escape gear wheel part as a watch component includes a base member including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the base member being mainly composed of silicon, and a light reflecting layer provided at the first surface of the base member, the light reflecting layer having a three-layer structure in which a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon layer, and a second silicon oxide layer are layered in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 11921461
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for fixing a timepiece component (2) on a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connection areas (9) contributing to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5) each rigid arm (6) being provided with two flat contact areas (8) of the retaining member (1) able to cooperate with corresponding convex contact portions (10) of the support element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nivarox—FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Hernandez, Pierre Cusin