Patents Examined by Matthew Hwang
  • Patent number: 12038723
    Abstract: A shock absorber spring (1) for a timepiece (200), extending substantially in a plane (P1) and having a first axis of symmetry (A1) perpendicular to the plane (P1), the spring including at least two first spring-fixing elements (11, 11?, 11?), these first fixing elements each comprising at least a first fixing surface (11a, 11b, 11a?, 11b?, 11a?, 11b?) oriented at least substantially radially relative to the first axis (A1) and towards the first axis (A1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Eric Jolidon, Daniel Moille
  • Patent number: 12019405
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for verifying the state of a watch and resetting it to the correct time. In a case of the device, a watch can be disposed on a watch support, which can be moved from a position without measurement to a measurement position in a vision system, or vice versa. In a position without measurement, the watch on its support can be observed from the outside of the case of the device through at least one electronic shutter activated or an optical valve activated to be in a transparent state, whereas in the measurement position, the electronic shutter or the optical valve is deactivated to be made opaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cédric Nicolas, Jérôme Favre, Jean-Jacques Born, Hicham Farah
  • Patent number: 12019404
    Abstract: A method for tuning a gong of a striking watch. The gong is fastened at one end to a gong holder, which can be mounted in a watch case. The gong is struck by a hammer to be vibrated on a support of the measuring instrument to determine by a fast Fourier transform frequency peaks in a band of audible frequencies. A comparison in a first natural mode of a vibration frequency in the plane XY with a vibration frequency outside the plane Z is performed and a ratio calculation r=|f1p?f1h|/f1p, where f1p is the vibration frequency in the plane XY, and f1h is the vibration frequency outside the plane Z. If the ratio r is less than or equal to a desired value of 0.006, the gong is tuned. If it is greater, the method is repeated until the ratio value is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Younes Kadmiri, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis
  • Patent number: 12019402
    Abstract: A watch including a dial including a fixed portion superimposed on a portion movable in rotation including a surface on which are arranged areas with visual appearances different from each other, the fixed portion including at least one through opening emerging on at least one of the areas, the movable portion being kinematically connected to a control member so as to be rotated by actuating the control member and being configured so that when it is rotated, the areas of different visual appearance appear successively through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Christan, Ivan Villar
  • Patent number: 12013668
    Abstract: A timepiece (2) includes an actuator, which applies braking pulses to the balance, which has an electromechanical device (6) and an electric control circuit (8). The device (6) includes a flexible member (16), formed by an elastic blade (20) and a mechanical element (22) defining a braking pad, and an electromagnetic system (10) formed by a coil carried by the flexible member and by a permanent magnet rigidly connected to a support (18) of the electromechanical device. When an electric pulse is provided to the coil, an electromagnetic force of repulsion is engendered between the coil and the permanent magnet so the mechanical element moves to a position of contact with the balance. To stabilise the rest position of the flexible member, a magnetic element (26) is rigidly connected to the coil to exert a magnetic return force complementary to the force of the elastic blade is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Imboden, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 12007719
    Abstract: Device for displaying phases of the moon with a fist display member (80) bearing a plurality of first images (81-86) at least partially representing the moon, a display zone, driving means (22, 23, 25, 40, 41, 43, 63, 71, 72, 61, 62) arranged to displace, by successive jumps, the first display member (80) relative to the display zone, to display a succession of representations of the moon. An original feature of the invention is that the periods of display of the first images are not all equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Manufacture D'Horlogerie Audemars Piguet SA
    Inventors: Giulio Papi, Julien Martel
  • Patent number: 11994830
    Abstract: A watch whose watch case includes a case middle and a rotating bezel provided with a bezel locking system. The system includes a rotating crown secured to an arbor, the arbor being arranged inside a radial hole in the case middle. By rotating the crown, the user can screw or unscrew the arbor with respect to the hole. The arbor includes a frustoconical section which interacts with a pin mounted perpendicularly to the arbor and returned towards the arbor by a spring. Screwing the arbor into the hole will cause the frustoconical section to push the pin into a receiving space provided on the lower surface of the bezel, which locks the bezel. Unscrewing the arbor automatically releases the pin from the receiving space by the return force exerted by the spring. The crown can include a helium valve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TISSOT SA
    Inventors: Nicolas Ehrsam, Laurie Saunders
  • Patent number: 11982978
    Abstract: A system for fastening a horological movement of generally circular shape in a watch case, this fastening system including a casing ring wherein the horological movement is disposed, the casing ring extending between an upper portion and a lower portion, the horological movement being fastened in the lower portion of the casing ring using a first and a second fastening device disposed at two opposite ends of a diameter of the horological movement, at least a third fastening device, angularly offset relative to the first and second fastening device and fastened in the upper portion of the casing ring, allowing the horological movement to be blocked in the casing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventor: Philippe Loetscher
  • Patent number: 11977355
    Abstract: A spring (1) for a notching system, the spring including at least two elastic arms (11, 12), and a first toothset javomg first notching teeth (11a, 12a) disposed on each of the arms, the spring being designed such that, in a position in which one of the arms of the spring is not loaded, the arm is convex as seen from the top of the first notching tooth of this arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Arthur Devillard, James Rejzner
  • Patent number: 11971687
    Abstract: A mechanical horological movement (1) including at least one barrel system (2) for driving a set of wheels and power reserve detector. The detector (10) includes a control wheel (3) disposed opposite the cage of the barrel system (2) and is rotated by a complementary wheel (8) at the differential output to determine a power reserve level. An aperture (13) has a first end (21) to define a complete charge of the barrel system and a second end (22) to define a complete discharge. A lever (4) is rotatably mounted about a lever axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the control wheel. A contact element (5) disposed in the aperture contacts the second end during a zero power reserve indication. A portion of the lever contacts a component of the movement to stop its operation when power reserve indication is at zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Stephane Bachmann, Julien Saglini, Laurent Klinger, Baptist Wyssbrod
  • Patent number: 11960244
    Abstract: A timepiece (100) including a case (10) including a middle (1), the top part whereof is closed by a bezel (2) and the bottom part whereof is closed by a back (3), a horological movement (4) mounted against the middle (1) by means of a casing ring (5), wherein the casing ring (5) comprises at least two clippable parts (50, 51) which hold the horological movement (4), the two parts being inseparable once mounted against the middle (1) when closing the case (10) of the timepiece (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Philipp Tschumi
  • Patent number: 11947318
    Abstract: A Dewar device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, this device including a wristlet, a case including a chamber wherein a case of the watch is capable of being disposed in such a way that a glass of this case is arranged facing a glass of a set of elements of the case defining this chamber, at least one fastening device fastening this watch case in this chamber of the case while maintaining it distant from all of the elements of the case defining this chamber, and a device for actuating at least one push button by the angular movement of a free end of at least one lever element of this device relative to the case, this at least one lever element having another end movably fastened to this case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventors: Antoine Ummel, Serge Droz
  • Patent number: 11934153
    Abstract: A mechanical horological bearing (1) intended to be arranged on a mechanical timepiece movement (10), the bearing (1) including, coaxial around a common rotation axis (D), at least one internal frame (4) and at least one external frame (5) forming a running track (20), as well as a plurality of wheels (12) sliding or rolling in the running track (20), during a relative movement between the internal frame (4) and the external frame (5) that guides them and wherein at least one of the internal frame (4) and external frame (5) is a dynamic frame, at least one structural part of the bearing (1) being produced from an elastic metal material with a high damping capacity, the damping factor of which is greater than 10%, preferably greater than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Sylvain Huot-Marchand
  • Patent number: 11934156
    Abstract: A clockwork column selector mechanism, including a mobile with columns protruding above a base surface separated by clearances, forming slots along a profile, arranged to, in certain positions of the mobile, enable the insertion of a feeler-spindle into a clearance in a transverse direction substantially normal to the profile and parallel to the reference surface, and to, in other positions of the mobile, stop a feeler-spindle on a transverse surface of a column, at least one column including an intermediate transverse stopping surface constituting a stop bearing surface of a feeler-spindle and enable a partial insertion of a feeler-spindle in the thickness of one the slot, and which is located, in a transverse direction, between the geometric envelopes of two end transverse surfaces transversely delimiting this column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventor: Jérôme Favre-Bulle
  • Patent number: 11934152
    Abstract: A device for illuminating luminescent watch displays containing luminophore material, including a case arranged to receive at least one receptacle for receiving at least one watch, the device including a illuminating device arranged to light up the displays of each said watch. The illuminating device include a control device and a time base, and at least one light source capable of exciting said luminophore material for a pre-determined charge time, or corresponding to a wearing duration chosen by the user via a control device included in the device, and watch self-winding device, including at least one such illumination device, and universal device for winding and setting the hands of a watch, including such a watch self-winding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jérôme Favre, Cedric Nicolas
  • Patent number: 11927921
    Abstract: The main element 2 is connected to the mechanism of the movement, having parts 4, 5, by an arbor about which it can turn. To this end, it comprises an attachment 6 for fixing to the movement, which is for example formed by a small ring arranged in the opening 9 of the ring of the main element 2. The attachment 6 is thus composed of the same material as the main element and is arranged in the same plane. By virtue of the attachment 6, the winding mass can make a circular movement about the arbor, when it oscillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Loïc Oberson
  • Patent number: 11929640
    Abstract: A stator includes a magnetic plate material that has a main plate surface that is a surface to face a main plate of a movement when assembled to the main plate and that has a rotor accommodating hole formed in a part thereof; and a non-magnetic region that is made non-magnetic by applying chromium on the main plate surface around the rotor accommodating hole and irradiating the chromium with a laser from the main plate surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamamoto, Shinji Kinoshita, Hitoshi Takeuchi, Tatsuya Omura
  • Patent number: 11906934
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes a driver controlled to be in an ON state in which a drive current is supplied to a coil of a watch motor, and an OFF state in which the drive current is not supplied, a current detector that detects a current value flowing through the coil, a driver controller that controls the driver, a polarity switching controller that alternately switches a polarity of the drive current to a first polarity and a second polarity, a sampling controller that, at a sampling cycle, intermittently causes the current detector and the driver controller to operate, and a sampling cycle setting controller that detects a sampling cycle setting condition and changes the sampling cycle in at least two stages of a first cycle and a second cycle longer than the first cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11892804
    Abstract: Disclosed is a timepiece mechanism which has a mobile including a tooth of a first type and a tooth of a second type, and a pawl that is intended to move the mobile by at least one step on each actuation and has a travel that is liable to move the mobile by two steps on each actuation. This timepiece mechanism has a correction mobile designed to define different paths of the pawl, depending on the state thereof, the pawl and the correction mobile being designed such that, on each actuation of the pawl: the pawl moves the mobile by one step; and the pawl moves the mobile by an additional step only when the correction mobile is in a predefined state and the tooth of the second type is situated along the travel of the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MANUFACTURE D'HORLOGERIE AUDEMARS PIGUET SA
    Inventor: Giulio Papi
  • Patent number: 11892806
    Abstract: An oscillating weight (I) with variable geometry for a timepiece mechanism has a first and a second part (10; 20), and an axis of rotation (40) shared by the first and the second part (10; 20). At least one part (10; 20) is arranged in order to oscillate about the axis of rotation. A differential mechanism (30) is connected to the first and to the second part (10; 20) so as to vary the position of one part relative to the other through a rotational movement of at least one of the parts about the axis of rotation (40). Owing to the presence of the differential mechanism (30), the user of the watch can vary the geometry of the oscillating weight (I) directly and therefore the position of its centre of gravity, and thus adapt it to their lifestyle (for example, sport mode, normal mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Guenat Sa Montres Valgine
    Inventors: Pedro De Oliveira, Frédéric Crettex