Patents by Inventor Christophe Bifrare

Christophe Bifrare 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: 20100149927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon-based Breguet overcoil balance spring (1, 31) that includes a hairspring (3, 33) made integral coaxially with a collet (5, 35), a terminal curve (7, 37) and an elevation device (9, 39) between the outer coil (15, 45) of the hairspring and the terminal curve. According to the invention, the balance spring has two single parts secured to each other to increase the development precision of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: MONTRES BREGUET SA
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare, Sacha Vorpe, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Marc Lippuner
  • Publication number: 20100110840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Breguet overcoil balance spring (1) that includes a hairspring (3) mounted in a single part, made of micro-machinable material, and coaxially with a collet (5). According to the invention, the balance spring has a terminal curve (7) made of micro-machinable material and an elevation device (9) made of micro-machinable material between the outer coil (15) of the hairspring and the terminal curve to improve the concentric development of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: MONTRES BREGUET S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare
  • Patent number: 6789300
    Abstract: The tool, which can be adapted to a bracket for fitting hands on a dial by driving them in, including a lower rod (11) which slides in a tubular part (13a) of an intermediate cylindrical element (13) compressing a spring (33) abutting against first tension adjustment means (43) and with an overlap that can be checked by a movement indicator (34) for a first force F1, said intermediate cylindrical element (13) itself sliding in the upper tube (15) compressing a second spring (35) abutting against second tension adjustment means (45) and with an overlap that can be checked by a movement indicator (36) for a second force F2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nouvelle Lemania SA
    Inventor: Christophe Bifrare
  • Publication number: 20030200640
    Abstract: The tool, which can be adapted to a bracket for fitting hands on a dial by driving them in, including a lower rod (11) which slides in a tubular part (13a) of an intermediate cylindrical element (13) compressing a spring (33) abutting against first tension adjustment means (43) and with an overlap that can be checked by a movement indicator (34) for a first force F1, said intermediate cylindrical element (13) itself sliding in the upper tube (15) compressing a second spring (35) abutting against second tension adjustment means (45) and with an overlap that can be checked by a movement indicator (36) for a second force F2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: NOUVELLE LEMANIA SA
    Inventor: Christophe Bifrare