Patents by Inventor Dominique Lechot
Dominique Lechot 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).
-
Patent number: 11927917Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Marc Stranczl, Benoît Légeret
-
Patent number: 11886146Abstract: A horological movement includes an escapement with a magnetic system to generate magnetic force impulses, so as to sustain the oscillation of the mechanical resonator associated with the escapement. In order to make possible an effective self-starting of the assembly formed of the mechanical resonator and of the escapement during a winding of the barrel, after a stop of the horological movement due to the unwound barrel spring, the escape wheel includes teeth and the pallet assembly includes two mechanical pallet-stones arranged to receive, upon starting, at least one mechanical force impulse of the escape wheel via one of the teeth thereof, the mechanical force impulse generating a starting force torque on the pallet assembly that is transmitted to the balance of the mechanical resonator to begin an oscillation of the latter so that the assembly can operate normally after a starting phase.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Marc Stranczl, Benoît Légeret
-
Patent number: 11886151Abstract: A rotary wheel set system of a horological movement with a rotary wheel set, a first and a second bearing, for a first and a second pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the wheel set including a mass center in a position of its arbor, the first bearing including an endstone including a main body equipped with a pyramidal cavity configured to receive the first pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the cavity having at least three faces giving its pyramidal shape, the first pivot being capable of cooperating with the cavity of the endstone to rotate in the cavity, at least one contact zone between the first pivot and a face being generated, the normal at the contact zone or zones forming a contact angle (?h) relating to the plane perpendicular to the arbor of the pivot, wherein the contact angle (?h) is less than 45°.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Dominique Lechot
-
Publication number: 20230393528Abstract: A regulating member for a horological movement including an inertial mass, for example an annular balance, a balance spring, and an index-assembly system for adjusting the rate of the balance spring, the balance spring including a coiled strip and a device for adjusting the stiffness of the balance spring, which are provided with a resilient element arranged in series with the coiled strip, the index-assembly system including a stud-holder including a first stud and a second stud, wherein the resilient element is arranged between the first stud and the second stud, the first stud being capable of moving relative to the second stud, the movement of the first stud changing the stiffness of the balance spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Jean-Luc HELFER, Olivier MERTENAT, Ivan VILLAR, Dominique LECHOT
-
Publication number: 20230176522Abstract: A horological resonator mechanism, including a structure carrying, via a flexible suspension, an anchor unit from which is suspended an inertial element oscillating about a pivot axis extending in a first direction Z, in a first degree of rotational freedom RZ, under the effect of the return forces of a flexure pivot including longitudinal elastic strips, each fixed to the inertial element and to the anchor unit, the flexible suspension allowing the anchor unit to move in five degrees of freedom, this resonator is a composite assembly made of at least two different materials, on the one hand for the flexure pivot, and on the other hand for the flexible suspension.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN, Dominique LECHOT, Pascal WINKLER
-
Patent number: 11644797Abstract: Inertia mobile component (1) for a horological resonator (100), oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D1), and including at least one magnetic area (10), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (10), included in the inertia mobile component (1), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1), this inertia mobile component (1) bearing at least one magnetic compensating element (4), the magnetisation component thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axis of oscillation (D1) can be adjusted in order to obtain a total resultant magnetic moment that is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1).Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Develonment LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jérôme Favre, Olivier Matthey, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Laurent Nagy, Jean-Claude Martin
-
Patent number: 11599064Abstract: Horological resonator (100) including an inertia mobile component (1) oscillating about an axis of oscillation (D1) and including at least one magnetic area (10), the total resultant magnetic moment of all of the magnetic areas (10), included in the inertia mobile component (1), is aligned in the direction of the axis of oscillation (D1), this inertia mobile component (1) bearing at least one balancing magnet (6), the direction of the magnetic moment thereof crosses the axis of oscillation (D1) to obtain magnetic balancing of the inertia mobile component (1).Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jérôme Favre, Olivier Matthey, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Laurent Nagy, Jean-Claude Martin
-
Publication number: 20230062088Abstract: A horological resonator mechanism includes a structure and an anchoring unit from which at least one inertial element arranged to oscillate along a first degree of freedom in rotation about a pivoting axis extending along a first direction is suspended. The inertial element is subjected to return forces exerted by a return to make the inertial element oscillate. The mechanism includes a stopper to stop the inertial element that can be actuated on demand to prevent the oscillations of the inertial element. The stopper moves the inertial element between a pivoting position and a stopping position in which the inertial element cannot oscillate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventor: Dominique LECHOT
-
Patent number: 11592784Abstract: A bearing for an arbor or staff of a rotary wheel set of a timepiece movement, the bearing including a bearing block provided with a housing and an endstone arranged inside the housing, the endstone having a main body provided with a cavity configured to receive a pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the pivot having the shape of a first cone having a first solid angle, the apex of the first cone being rounded with a predefined first radius of curvature in a range from 0.2 ?m to 50 ?m, the cavity having a second cone shape with a second solid angle, greater than the first solid angle, so that the pivot can rotate in the cavity, the apex of the second cone being rounded and having a predefined second radius of curvature. The second radius of curvature is smaller than the first radius of curvature.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Develonment LtdInventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot, Yves Winkler, Christophe Vincent
-
Patent number: 11567456Abstract: An oscillator includes a resonator, which has an inertial mass returned by an elastic return and carries entry and exit pallets cooperating with teeth of an escape wheel each provided with a magnet. Each pallet includes a magnetic arrangement, with an annular sector, centred on the axis of oscillation of the resonator, defining a first magnetic barrier area extending above and/or below a mechanical pallet-stone of the entry pallet or exit pallet, over the entire length of this mechanical pallet-stone acting as support for the teeth during the supplementary arc, in order to form a magnetic cylinder escapement mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot, Baptiste Hinaux, Olivier Matthey, Pascal Winkler, Marc Stranczl, Michel Willemin, Ahmad Odeh
-
Patent number: 11454932Abstract: A method for making a flexure bearing for an oscillator with an inertial element oscillating in a plane supported by flexible strips fixed to a stationary support returning it to a rest position includes: forming the bearing with basic strips in superposed levels, each having an aspect ratio of less than 10; breaking down the number of basic levels into a plurality of sub-units, each including one or two strips joining a basic support and a basic inertial element, which are made by etching substrates; assembling the sub-units by joining their basic inertial elements; and fixing the basic supports to the support, directly or via translational tables along one or two in-plane translational degrees of freedom, of lower translational stiffness than that of the sub-unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pierre Cusin, Jean-Luc Helfer, Alex Gandelhman, Pascal Winkler, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Olivier Matthey, Laurent Klinger, Jerome Favre
-
Patent number: 11454931Abstract: A chronograph mechanism includes an energy accumulator, a regulating system, and a gear train connecting the energy accumulator to the regulating system. The energy accumulator is formed by a strip-spring and includes a device for driving the gear train arranged to regulate the torque delivered by the strip-spring.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
-
Patent number: 11402804Abstract: A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Jerome Favre, Olivier Matthey, Gianni Di Domenico, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Jacques Born
-
Publication number: 20220187769Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism (100), including a structure (1) carrying, by a flexible suspension (300), an anchoring block (30) from which is suspended an inertial element (2) oscillating about a pivot axis (D) extending in a first direction Z, according to a first rotational degree of freedom RZ, under the action of return forces of a flexible pivot (200) including elastic longitudinal strips (3) each fixed to said inertial element (2) and to said anchoring block (30), the resonator mechanism including a viscous substance (10) arranged at least partly around the flexible suspension (300), the viscous substance (10) being configured to at least partly dissipate the energy due to a shock.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2021Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Jérôme FAVRE, Dominique LECHOT, Baptiste HINAUX, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Pascal WINKLER
-
Patent number: 11334026Abstract: Method for adjusting the rate of a basic oscillator of a watch arranged to oscillate at a nominal frequency N0, with a master oscillator generating an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the master oscillator subjecting the watch to excitation or a modulated motion during a transition phase after which the basic oscillator is stabilised at the excitation frequency NE, and a state of display correction method with a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, moving a support carrying the watch and comprising a state of display correction oscillator, having a lower variation of rate value than the initial variation of rate value DI of this basic oscillator, and oscillating at a correction frequency NC to impose oscillation or a motion on the watch, during a state of display correction phase whose duration is adjusted to exactly correct a state of display error measured at the initial moment of actuation.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Jerome Favre, Michel Willemin, Jean-Jacques Born, Dominique Lechot, Gianni Di Domenico
-
Publication number: 20220137559Abstract: Method for adjusting the rate of a basic oscillator of a watch arranged to oscillate at a nominal frequency N0, with a master oscillator generating an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the master oscillator subjecting the watch to excitation or a modulated motion during a transition phase after which the basic oscillator is stabilised at the excitation frequency NE, and a state of display correction method with a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, moving a support carrying the watch and comprising a state of display correction oscillator, having a lower variation of rate value than the initial variation of rate value DI of this basic oscillator, and oscillating at a correction frequency NC to impose oscillation or a motion on the watch, during a state of display correction phase whose duration is adjusted to exactly correct a state of display error measured at the initial moment of actuation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Jerome FAVRE, Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Dominique LECHOT, Gianni DI DOMENICO
-
Publication number: 20220091562Abstract: A horological resonator mechanism, including a structure and an anchoring unit from which is suspended at least one inertial element arranged to oscillate along a first degree of freedom in rotation RZ about a pivoting axis extending along a first direction Z, the inertial element being subjected to return forces exerted by a virtual pivot including a plurality of substantially longitudinal elastic strips, each fastened, at a first end to the anchoring unit, and at a second end to the inertial element. Each elastic strip is deformable essentially in a plane XY perpendicular to the first direction Z. The anchoring unit is suspended from the structure by a flexible suspension arranged to allow the mobility of the anchoring unit along a plurality of degrees of freedom including at least two in the plane XY, along a direction X and along a direction Y orthogonal to the direction X.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Pascal WINKLER, Raphaël COURVOISIER, Jean-Luc HELFER, Jérôme FAVRE, Dominique LECHOT
-
Publication number: 20210405587Abstract: A rotary wheel set system of a horological movement with a rotary wheel set, a first and a second bearing, for a first and a second pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the wheel set including a mass center in a position of its arbor, the first bearing including an endstone including a main body equipped with a pyramidal cavity configured to receive the first pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the cavity having at least three faces giving its pyramidal shape, the first pivot being capable of cooperating with the cavity of the endstone to rotate in the cavity, at least one contact zone between the first pivot and a face being generated, the normal at the contact zone or zones forming a contact angle (?h) relating to the plane perpendicular to the arbor of the pivot, wherein the contact angle (?h) is less than 45°.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Jean-Luc HELFER, Dominique LECHOT
-
Publication number: 20210405588Abstract: A rotary wheel set system of a horological movement with a rotary wheel set a first and a second bearing for a first and a second pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the wheel set including a mass center in a position of its arbor, the first bearing including an endstone including a main body equipped with a conical cavity configured to receive the first pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the first pivot being capable of cooperating with the cavity of the endstone to rotate in the cavity, at least one contact zone between the first pivot and the cavity being generated, the normals of the contact zone forming a minimum contact angle relating to the plane perpendicular to the arbor of the pivot, the minimum contact angle being less than or equal to 30°, preferably less than or equal to arctan (½)Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère SuisseInventors: Jean-Luc HELFER, Dominique LECHOT
-
Publication number: 20210294270Abstract: A horological movement includes an escapement with a magnetic system to generate magnetic force impulses, so as to sustain the oscillation of the mechanical resonator associated with the escapement. In order to make possible an effective self-starting of the assembly formed of the mechanical resonator and of the escapement during a winding of the barrel, after a stop of the horological movement due to the unwound barrel spring, the escape wheel includes teeth and the pallet assembly includes two mechanical pallet-stones arranged to receive, upon starting, at least one mechanical force impulse of the escape wheel via one of the teeth thereof, the mechanical force impulse generating a starting force torque on the pallet assembly that is transmitted to the balance of the mechanical resonator to begin an oscillation of the latter so that the assembly can operate normally after a starting phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique LECHOT, Marc STRANCZL, Benoit LEGERET