Patents by Inventor Benjamin Krähenbühl

Benjamin Krähenbühl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220104591
    Abstract: A case (2) for a wristwatch (1) including: a middle part (4) including a wall (10) having two attachment areas (12) of the bracelet (24) disposed on either side of a plane (P) transverse to the middle part (4) substantially perpendicular to a back (20) of the case (2); two horns (6) capable of ensuring the complete attachment of the bracelet (24) to the middle part (4) by being connected to different ends of this bracelet (4), said horns (6) being removably and slidably attached to said attachment areas (12), and the back (20) attached to a mounting area (21) of the case (2) participating in blocking the horns (6) in translation in a direction of sliding (D) on the middle part (4) parallel to a central axis (A) of the case (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Olivier MAHLER, Patrick CANO, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL, Roger MULLER
  • Publication number: 20210200157
    Abstract: A testability method (500) for testing the operation of a thermoelectric element (110) of a thermoelectric watch (100) including the thermoelectric element (110), a power circuit supplied by primary storage elements (101) and secondary storage elements (102) so as to move at least one moveable element (190) or display information on an electro-optical display device. The testability method (500) includes steps of applying a heat source (540) to the thermoelectric element (110) so as to make it possible to electrically charge (550) or recharge (550) the secondary storage elements (102) in order to move at least one moveable element (190) or display information on an electro-optical display device, and thus check the functionality of the thermoelectric element (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Alain JORNOD, François GUEISSAZ, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Patent number: 10928778
    Abstract: A timepiece including a case that houses a main plate of a movement surmounted by a dial, and a support including fastening studs arranged on an upper face of the main plate for mounting the dial. The dial and the support include an angular locking mechanism for locking an angular position of the dial on the support, and the dial is assembled to the main plate by at least one flexible fastening element integral with the dial and arranged in the plane of the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Jonathan Collaud, Marco Bettelini, Andre Nussbaum
  • Patent number: 10756316
    Abstract: A device for mounting an electrical energy source in portable electronic equipment is provided, including a cavity and a cover configured to close the cavity, the cover including a housing configured to receive the energy source, the cover and the portable electronic equipment having complementary fixing means in order to retain the cover on the portable electronic equipment and to seal the cavity, and the cover including means for retaining the energy source in the housing of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Martin Jufer
  • Patent number: 10447095
    Abstract: A motor module includes a stator formed of a main plate of a first thickness on which is mounted a rotor The stator has at each end a receiving zone, the thickness of which is less than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Martin Jufer, Yann Lavenu, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl
  • Patent number: 10338535
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a method for unlocking a function of a device using a timepiece including a display device including display elements and a control device driving the display elements in a predefined animation sequence. The method including that the timepiece is placed in front of a detection device, the control device is actuated to drive the display elements in the predefined animation sequence, the predefined animation sequence is detected by the detection device, the detected animation sequence is compared to a reference animation sequence, and if the detected animation sequence is identical to the reference animation sequence, then the function is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Vincent Meyer, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl
  • Publication number: 20180173163
    Abstract: A timepiece including a case that houses a main plate of a movement surmounted by a dial, and a support including fastening studs arranged on an upper face of the main plate for mounting the dial. The dial and the support include an angular locking mechanism for locking an angular position of the dial on the support, and the dial is assembled to the main plate by at least one flexible fastening element integral with the dial and arranged in the plane of the dial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL, Jonathan COLLAUD, Marco BETTELINI, André NUSSBAUM
  • Publication number: 20180039231
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for unlocking a function of a device using a timepiece, the timepiece including: a display device including display elements; control means able to drive the display elements in a predefined animation sequence; the method including the following steps: the timepiece is placed in front of detection means; the control means are actuated so that they drive the display elements in the predefined animation sequence; the predefined animation sequence is detected by the detection means; the detected animation sequence is compared to a reference animation sequence; if the detected animation sequence is identical to the reference animation sequence, then the function is unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Vincent MEYER, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Publication number: 20180034016
    Abstract: A device for mounting an electrical energy source in portable electronic equipment is provided, including a cavity and a cover configured to close the cavity, the cover including a housing configured to receive the energy source, the cover and the portable electronic equipment having complementary fixing means in order to retain the cover on the portable electronic equipment and to seal the cavity, and the cover including means for retaining the energy source in the housing of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL, Martin JUFER
  • Patent number: 9857772
    Abstract: A watch intended to be removably mounted on a support, including a watch case and an independent removable attachment device arranged to retain the watch case in an opening provided in the support, the watch case including an upper portion, on the dial side, and a lower portion including a back cover, the lower portion being arranged to be housed inside the opening in the support and being of smaller dimensions than those of the upper portion to form a flat peripheral shoulder. The attachment device includes a flange having a central opening arranged to receive the lower portion of the watch case and an inner rim delimiting the central opening, the inner rim being arranged to be housed inside the opening in the support. The inner rim includes a locking device for locking the attachment device on the lower portion of the watch case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Martin Jufer, Roger Mueller, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl
  • Publication number: 20170244290
    Abstract: A motor module includes a stator formed of a main plate of a first thickness on which is mounted a rotor. The stator has at each end a receiving zone, the thickness of which is less than the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Martin JUFER, Yann LAVENU, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Patent number: 9557714
    Abstract: Timepiece movement including a date display drive device formed of a display disc including a toothing, said drive device including driving means and a drive source. The driving means includes a wheel set including pins, having a toothed wheel and a pinion including pins, and an engaging wheel engaging said toothed wheel. The pinion with pins includes a pair of pins configured to be positioned on either side of any tooth of the toothing. The toothed wheel of the pin wheel and the engaging wheel respectively have complementary non-circular profiles. When the two pins are oriented in a tangential direction to the toothing, these two wheels have a first gear ratio that is lower than a second gear ratio between them when the two pins are in perpendicular alignment to said tangential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Daniel Gruenig, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Pascal Winkler, Thierry Altenhoven
  • Publication number: 20160313702
    Abstract: A watch intended to be removably mounted on a support, including a watch case and an independent removable attachment device arranged to retain the watch case in an opening provided in the support, the watch case including an upper portion, on the dial side, and a lower portion including a back cover, the lower portion being arranged to be housed inside the opening in the support and being of smaller dimensions than those of the upper portion to form a flat peripheral shoulder. The attachment device includes a flange having a central opening arranged to receive the lower portion of the watch case and an inner rim delimiting the central opening, the inner rim being arranged to be housed inside the opening in the support. The inner rim includes a locking device for locking the attachment device on the lower portion of the watch case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Martin JUFER, Roger MUELLER, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Publication number: 20160274542
    Abstract: Timepiece movement including a date display drive device formed of a display disc including a toothing, said drive device including driving means and a drive source. The driving means includes a wheel set including pins, having a toothed wheel and a pinion including pins, and an engaging wheel engaging said toothed wheel. The pinion with pins includes a pair of pins configured to be positioned on either side of any tooth of the toothing. The toothed wheel of the pin wheel and the engaging wheel respectively have complementary non-circular profiles. When the two pins are oriented in a tangential direction to the toothing, these two wheels have a first gear ratio that is lower than a second gear ratio between them when the two pins are in perpendicular alignment to said tangential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Daniel GRUENIG, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL, Pascal WINKLER, Thierry ALTENHOVEN
  • Patent number: 9429913
    Abstract: Device with coaxial disengageable wheels for a timepiece movement including an input wheel, an output wheel, a hub, and a jumper mechanism including a spring and positioning elements defining a certain number of discrete angular positions of the input wheel with respect to the output wheel around an axis of rotation. The positioning elements including hollow elements and protruding elements, the spring being configured to apply an elastic force pushing the protruding elements against the hollow elements to couple the wheels to each other below a disengagement torque. The protruding elements and the hollow elements extend in the axial direction and the spring is configured to apply an elastic force in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Daniel Gruenig, Baptist Wyssbrod, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl
  • Patent number: 9329577
    Abstract: A timepiece including a case that accommodates a movement including a lower peripheral bearing surface, the case including a case middle to which a back cover and a crystal are respectively assembled. The timepiece further includes a clamping element including a lower retaining surface and the movement includes an upper peripheral bearing surface, the lower retaining surface of the clamping element and the upper peripheral bearing surface being in mutual contact. The back cover includes an annular peripheral shoulder, against which is affixed the lower peripheral bearing surface of the movement, which is compressed between its lower peripheral bearing surface and its upper peripheral bearing surface respectively by the annular peripheral shoulder of the back cover and the lower retaining surface of the clamping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Roger Mueller, Marco Bettelini, Ines Ruestenberg
  • Publication number: 20160098011
    Abstract: Device with coaxial disengageable wheels for a timepiece movement including an input wheel, an output wheel, a hub, and a jumper mechanism including a spring and positioning elements defining a certain number of discrete angular positions of the input wheel with respect to the output wheel around an axis of rotation. The positioning elements including hollow elements and protruding elements, the spring being configured to apply an elastic force pushing the protruding elements against the hollow elements to couple the wheels to each other below a disengagement torque. The protruding elements and the hollow elements extend in the axial direction and the spring is configured to apply an elastic force in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Daniel GRUENIG, Baptist WYSSBROD, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Publication number: 20160054707
    Abstract: A timepiece including a case that accommodates a movement including a lower peripheral bearing surface, the case including a case middle to which a back cover and a crystal are respectively assembled. The timepiece further includes a clamping element including a lower retaining surface and the movement includes an upper peripheral bearing surface, the lower retaining surface of the clamping element and the upper peripheral bearing surface being in mutual contact. The back cover includes an annular peripheral shoulder, against which is affixed the lower peripheral bearing surface of the movement, which is compressed between its lower peripheral bearing surface and its upper peripheral bearing surface respectively by the annular peripheral shoulder of the back cover and the lower retaining surface of the clamping element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL, Roger MUELLER, Marco BETTELINI, Ines RUESTENBERG
  • Patent number: 9234572
    Abstract: Timepiece wheel (10) comprising teeth (2) with play compensation each including a catch (3) projecting from a catch foot (31), and an elastic strip (4) projecting from a strip foot (41) opposite said catch (3) from which said strip (4) is separated by a ventral notch (5) and an intrados profile (43) of which, on the side opposite said catch (3), delimits a dorsal notch (6), said strip foot (41) being delimited, towards the pivot axis (D) of said wheel (10), by an inner end (51) of said ventral notch (5) and by an inner end (61) of said dorsal notch (6). Said inner end (61) is located closer to said axis (D) than said inner end (51) and extends, on the side of said axis (D) underneath said catch foot (31) or underneath the inner extension (52) of said ventral notch (5) towards said pivot axis (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: OMEGA SA
    Inventors: Laurent Klinger, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Thomas Stoeckli
  • Publication number: 20130333504
    Abstract: Timepiece wheel (10) comprising teeth (2) with play compensation each including a catch (3) projecting from a catch foot (31), and an elastic strip (4) projecting from a strip foot (41) opposite said catch (3) from which said strip (4) is separated by a ventral notch (5) and an intrados profile (43) of which, on the side opposite said catch (3), delimits a dorsal notch (6), said strip foot (41) being delimited, towards the pivot axis (D) of said wheel (10), by an inner end (51) of said ventral notch (5) and by an inner end (61) of said dorsal notch (6). Said inner end (61) is located closer to said axis (D) than said inner end (51) and extends, on the side of said axis (D) underneath said catch foot (31) or underneath the inner extension (52) of said ventral notch (5) towards said pivot axis (D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Laurent KLINGER, David Benjamin Kraehenbuehl, Thomas Stoeckli