Patents by Inventor Christian Rüfenacht
Christian Rüfenacht 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).
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Patent number: 11513475Abstract: A timepiece including at least analogue time display device, and an AM-PM display device for displaying day-night information in the dial of the timepiece. The AM-PM display device includes at least two apertures made in the dial of the watch, a rotating display disc bearing at least one first series of inscriptions corresponding to the day and at least one second series of inscriptions corresponding to the night, these two display series being disposed on at least two concentric circles, and a drive mechanism arranged so as to automatically and alternately bring the first series of inscriptions inside a first aperture and the second series of inscriptions inside a second aperture by rotating the display disc.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventor: Christian Ruefenacht
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Publication number: 20210103251Abstract: A timepiece including at least analogue time display device, and an AM-PM display device for displaying day-night information in the dial of the timepiece. The AM-PM display device includes at least two apertures made in the dial of the watch, a rotating display disc bearing at least one first series of inscriptions corresponding to the day and at least one second series of inscriptions corresponding to the night, these two display series being disposed on at least two concentric circles, and a drive mechanism arranged so as to automatically and alternately bring the first series of inscriptions inside a first aperture and the second series of inscriptions inside a second aperture by rotating the display disc.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventor: Christian RUEFENACHT
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Patent number: 9841734Abstract: A display mechanism including a mechanism for fast correction of a position of a display wheel set, an intermediate wheel set ensuring synchronization with an automatic drive mechanism, and, inserted between the intermediate wheel set and the display wheel set, a safety lever driven by the display wheel set during periodic driving thereof, in a trajectory that interferes with a spatial volume of the intermediate wheel set, such that, when the intermediate wheel set is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the lever does not interfere with the intermediate wheel set, and, when the intermediate wheel set is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the safety lever interferes with the intermediate wheel set, which the safety lever then drives in an opposite direction to a single direction of normal operation, to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Antonio Merino, Jean-Luc Helfer, Christian Ruefenacht, Giuseppe Cappadona
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Publication number: 20170075307Abstract: A display mechanism including a mechanism for fast correction of a position of a display wheel set, an intermediate wheel set ensuring synchronization with an automatic drive mechanism, and, inserted between the intermediate wheel set and the display wheel set, a safety lever driven by the display wheel set during periodic driving thereof, in a trajectory that interferes with a spatial volume of the intermediate wheel set, such that, when the intermediate wheel set is correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the lever does not interfere with the intermediate wheel set, and, when the intermediate wheel set is not correctly synchronized, the trajectory of the safety lever interferes with the intermediate wheel set, which the safety lever then drives in an opposite direction to a single direction of normal operation, to resynchronize the intermediate wheel set.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Antonio MERINO, Jean-Luc HELFER, Christian RUEFENACHT, Giuseppe CAPPADONA
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Patent number: 9304494Abstract: An assembly to hold a balance spring includes a balance spring stud, and a stud-holder. The stud-holder includes a housing to receive the stud, a mechanism to secure the stud including a screw orthogonal to the stud, and a mechanism to secure the stud-holder to an escapement mechanism. The stud includes a surface to orient a balance spring. The screw partially passes through the stud to hold the stud in an indexed position. The stud includes an internal thread cooperating with the screw and forming the orientation surface. The stud-holder includes a bore for the passage of the screw, a bearing face arranged at the entry of said bore, on the opposite side to the housing, for the abutment of a head of the screw.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Raphael Courvoisier, Christian Ruefenacht
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Patent number: 9298164Abstract: An assembly for holding a balance spring includes a stud including a surface for orienting a balance spring, and a stud-holder. The stud-holder includes a first housing for receiving the balance spring stud, a mechanism to secure the stud including a screw orthogonal to the stud, and a mechanism to secure the stud-holder to an escapement mechanism. The screw partially passes through the stud to hold the stud in an indexed position. The stud includes a second housing for the contact-free passage of the screw. The stud-holder includes on either side of the first housing an internal thread cooperating with the screw and a third bore for the passage of a head of the screw cooperating in abutment with the orientation surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Raphael Courvoisier, Christian Ruefenacht
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Patent number: 9229432Abstract: A lever for transmitting motion from an input wheel set pivoting about a first axis on a pivoting plate of the lever, to a receiver wheel set, the input wheel set permanently transmitting its motion to an output wheel set carried by the plate and pivoting under the action of the input wheel set about a second axis whose angular position is variable relative to the first axis, and the lever includes a first friction connection between a first friction surface of the input wheel set and a second friction surface of the plate, this first friction connection is weaker or stronger than a second friction connection between a third friction surface of the output wheel set and a fourth friction surface of the plate included in the lever.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Christian Ruefenacht, Raphael Courvoisier, Antonio Merino, Giuseppe Cappadona
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Publication number: 20150331392Abstract: Lever A lever for transmitting motion from an input wheel set pivoting about a first axis on a pivoting plate of the lever, to a receiver wheel set, the input wheel set permanently transmitting its motion to an output wheel set carried by the plate and pivoting under the action of the input wheel set about a second axis whose angular position is variable relative to the first axis, and the lever includes a first friction connection between a first friction surface of the input wheel set and a second friction surface of the plate, this first friction connection is weaker or stronger than a second friction connection between a third friction surface of the output wheel set and a fourth friction surface of the plate comprised included in the lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Christian RUEFENACHT, Raphael COURVOISIER, Antonio MERINO, Giuseppe CAPPADONA
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Publication number: 20150138931Abstract: Assembly for holding a balance spring including a stud including a surface for orienting a balance spring, and a stud-holder, which includes: a first housing for receiving the balance spring stud; means for securing the stud including a screw orthogonal to the stud; means of securing the stud-holder to an escapement mechanism. The screw partially passes through the stud to hold the stud in an indexed position. The stud includes a second housing for the contact-free passage of the screw. The stud-holder includes on either side of the first housing: an internal thread cooperating with the screw; a third bore for the passage of a head of the screw (5) cooperating in abutment with the orientation surface (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Raphael COURVOISIER, Christian Ruefenacht
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Publication number: 20150138930Abstract: Assembly (20) for holding a balance spring (21) including a balance spring stud (1), and a stud-holder (2) which includes: a housing (3) for receiving the stud (1); means (4) for securing the stud (1) including a screw (5) orthogonal to the stud (1); means (6) of securing the stud-holder (2) to an escapement mechanism (30), the stud (1) including a surface (7) for orienting a balance spring (21). The screw (5) partially passes through the stud (1) to hold the stud in an indexed position. The stud (1) includes an internal thread (8) cooperating with the screw (5) and forming the orientation surface (7), and the stud-holder (2) includes: a bore (11) for the passage of the screw (5); a bearing face (11) arranged at the entry of said bore (11), on the opposite side to the housing (3), for the abutment of a head (51) of the screw (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventors: Raphael COURVOISIER, Christian RUEFENACHT
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Patent number: 8834017Abstract: A corrector (1) for a function indicator (20) for a movement (100) including: a first control mechanism (30) for a first function, in a let down (31) or wound (32) position, a second control mechanism (40) for a second function, in a let down position (41) or release control position (42) followed by a return to the preceding position, and a display indicator (20) for a third function. First mobile part (50) driven by the first control mechanism (30) occupies a letting down (51)/winding (52) position, when the mechanism occupies the let down (31)/wound (32) position. Second mobile part (60) actuating the indicator (20) is driven by the second control mechanism (40) changing into the control position (42) when the first mobile part (50) is in a winding position (52) and cooperates with this latter in the letting down position (51), under the action of return mechanism (70).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Omega SAInventors: Adrien Farron, Christian Rüfenacht
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Publication number: 20120182838Abstract: A corrector (1) for a function indicator (20) for a movement (100) including: a first control mechanism (30) for a first function, in a let down (31) or wound (32) position, a second control mechanism (40) for a second function, in a let down position (41) or release control position (42) followed by a return to the preceding position, and a display indicator (20) for a third function. First mobile part (50) driven by the first control mechanism (30) occupies a letting down (51)/winding (52) position, when the mechanism occupies the let down (31)/wound (32) position. Second mobile part (60) actuating the indicator (20) is driven by the second control mechanism (40) changing into the control position (42) when the first mobile part (50) is in a winding position (52) and cooperates with this latter in the letting down position (51), under the action of return mechanism (70).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: OMEGA SAInventors: Adrien FARRON, Christian RÜFENACHT
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Patent number: 7301854Abstract: The annual calendar mechanism comprises a drive wheel set (1) fitted with a first finger (2) driving a date disc (4) through one step once a day and a second finger (5) driving a plate (6) secured to an annual wheel (7) arranged coaxially to the date ring at the end of the months of less than thirty one days. An intermediate wheel (8) connects the annual wheel (7) to the date ring (4) at the end of each month. The annual wheel (7) comprises twice as many teeth (30) as there are months in a year and the intermediate wheel (8) comprises a first wheel (40) meshed with the annual wheel (7) and a second wheel (50) fixed to the first wheel, said second wheel being meshed, at the end of each month, with a snug (60) arranged inside the date ring (4).Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere SuisseInventor: Christian Ruefenacht
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Patent number: 7287900Abstract: The timepiece includes means for adjusting the shake of a rotating part or wheel set, in particular a balance one bearing of which is arranged in a bar (4). This bar comprises a base (18) associated with a adjusting screw (34) one end (36) of which rests on the bottom plate. Rotating this adjusting screw varies the distance between the base and the bottom plate (14). The center of the adjusting screw is pierced for the passage of a tightening screw (32) for fixing the bar to the bottom plate. This adjusting screw is arranged in a hole (42) passing through the base (18) and can be rotated through the hole from the top face (46) of the bar in order to adjust the balance shake.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogére SuisseInventors: Christian Rüfenacht, Ivan Villar
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Publication number: 20060120219Abstract: The annual calendar mechanism comprises a drive wheel set (1) fitted with a first finger (2) driving a date disc (4) through one step once a day and a second finger (5) driving a plate (6) secured to an annual wheel (7) arranged coaxially to the date ring at the end of the months of less than thirty one days. An intermediate wheel (8) connects the annual wheel (7) to the date ring (4) at the end of each month. The annual wheel (7) comprises twice as many teeth (30) as there are months in a year and the intermediate wheel (8) comprises a first wheel (40) meshed with the annual wheel (7) and a second wheel (50) fixed to the first wheel, said second wheel being meshed, at the end of each month, with a snug (60) arranged inside the date ring (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2005Publication date: June 8, 2006Inventor: Christian Ruefenacht