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: 9958831
    Abstract: A watch or movement including a timepiece resonator movement including two RCC flexural pivots mounted in series about an intermediate rotary support and having the same virtual pivot axis, each including two straight flexible strips of the same length, whose clamping points opposite to this pivot axis are at the same distance with respect to this axis, and which define linear directions, forming angles, in pairs, with this virtual pivot axis, whose value expressed in degrees is comprised between: 109.5+5/[(D/L)?(2/3)] and 114.5+5/[(D/L)?(2/3)], or more particularly between 107+5/((D/L)?(2/3)) and 112+5/((D/L)?(2/3)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Luc Helfer, Pascal Winkler
  • Publication number: 20180113423
    Abstract: Timepiece movement including a flexible strip resonator cooperating with a magnetic escapement mechanism, wherein an escape wheel set includes tangential magnetized areas repelling first magnetized areas of an inertial element of the resonator, this movement includes isochronism correction means combining the first magnetized areas and compensating magnets on the escape wheel set, each arranged in proximity to a tangential magnetized area and producing a leakage field in a different direction from that of the field of the tangential magnetized area, the leakage field intensity being low compared to that of the field of the second tangential magnetized area, and this leakage field interacting with one of the first magnetized areas to produce a low variation in the operation of the resonator mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jerome FAVRE, Dominique LECHOT, Baptiste HINAUX, Olivier MATTHEY, Jean-Jacques BORN
  • Patent number: 9869972
    Abstract: A watch includes a pedometer mechanism for estimating a physical activity level. The watch includes at least one moving or pivoting weight arranged to drive a ratchet, an elastic or friction holder for holding the ratchet in position between two movements of the moving or pivoting weight, the ratchet driving a gear train displaying, on a display, a value corresponding, to within a multiplicative factor, to the number of pivoting motions of the ratchet, and/or to the value of the cumulative angular rotation of the ratchet, and the pedometer mechanism includes a limiter only allowing the pivoting of the ratchet from a minimum threshold corresponding to a minimum travel of the weight if the weight is movable or to a minimum angular rotation value of the weight if the weight pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Yvan Ferri, Dominique Lechot, Cedric Nicolas
  • Publication number: 20170351218
    Abstract: Watch comprising a movement, with a balance comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, elastically fixed to a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the balance, the movement including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilising the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Lionel PARATTE, Donald William CORSON, Dominique LECHOT
  • Publication number: 20170351219
    Abstract: Watch comprising a movement, with a timepiece balance wheel comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, carried by a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the timepiece balance wheel, the movement further including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilising the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Lionel PARATTE, Donald William CORSON, Dominique LECHOT
  • Publication number: 20170261933
    Abstract: Timepiece regulating mechanism including an energy storage means delivering an output torque (CS), via a train (3), to a wheel set (4) forming a magnetic escapement mechanism (10) with a resonator wheel set (5) subjected to the torque from a return means (6) and cooperating therewith, either directly or via a magnetic stop member (7), this magnetic escapement mechanism (10) being arranged to operate when the wheel set (4) receives a torque higher than or equal to a maintenance torque (CE), and the train (3) includes a torque regulating means (30) arranged to deliver to the wheel set (4) a constant torque comprised between 1.0 and 2.0 times the maintenance torque (CE), the torque regulating means (30) including a fusee (8) of continuously variable cross-section, from which unwinds a chain (9), wound by a drum (21), directly or indirectly driven by the energy storage means (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jerome FAVRE, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique LECHOT, Jean-Jacques BORN, Baptiste HINAUX
  • Publication number: 20170242403
    Abstract: Watch with a timepiece movement, a resonator mechanism, including a magnetic escapement mechanism including an escape wheel set including a magnetized track, with a succession of areas according to a scrolling period in which its magnetic features are repeated, each area including an increasing magnetic field ramp followed by a magnetic field barrier with an increasing field and of higher field gradient that that of the ramp, the track includes a continuous, closed magnetic layer over the entire periphery of the escape wheel set, of constant thickness and variable width, whose geometry defines these magnetic field ramps and barriers, this escape wheel set cooperating with a sprung balance via a pivoting magnetic stop member comprising a pole piece arranged to cooperate alternately with an internal track and an external track of the magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique LECHOT, Jerome FAVRE, Benoit LEGERET, Davide SARCHI
  • Patent number: 9733621
    Abstract: A shock absorber device for an arbor of a timepiece element including: a support including a base cup surmounted by a peripheral rim, which is delimited, opposite the cup, by an upper surface, the cup and the rim together defining a housing; a pivot system extending along an arbor, the pivot system being arranged in the housing and including a base including an elastic return mechanism at the periphery thereof, formed by at least one curved arm, including an opening in which is inserted a pivot element configured to cooperate with the arbor. The at least one curved arm is used for locking the pivot system in a bayonet fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Dominique Lechot, Alain Zaugg
  • Publication number: 20170227930
    Abstract: Watch or movement including a timepiece resonator movement including two RCC flexural pivots mounted in series about an intermediate rotary support and having the same virtual pivot axis, each comprising two straight flexible strips of the same length, whose clamping points opposite to this pivot axis are at the same distance with respect to this axis, and which define linear directions, forming angles, in pairs, with this virtual pivot axis, whose value expressed in degrees is comprised between: 109.5+5/[(D/L)?(2/3)] and 114.5+5/[(D/L)?(213)], or more particularly between 107+5/((D/L)?(2/3)) and 112+5/((D/L)?(2/3)), this timepiece resonator mechanism is in an advantageous variant a one-piece temperature-compensated silicon resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Dominique LECHOT, Jean-Luc HELFER, Pascal WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20170115635
    Abstract: A watch includes a pedometer mechanism for estimating a physical activity level. The watch includes at least one moving or pivoting weight arranged to drive a ratchet, an elastic or friction holder for holding the ratchet in position between two movements of the moving or pivoting weight, the ratchet driving a gear train displaying, on a display, a value corresponding, to within a multiplicative factor, to the number of pivoting motions of the ratchet, and/or to the value of the cumulative angular rotation of the ratchet, and the pedometer mechanism includes a limiter only allowing the pivoting of the ratchet from a minimum threshold corresponding to a minimum travel of the weight if the weight is movable or to a minimum angular rotation value of the weight if the weight pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Yvan Ferri, Dominique Lechot, Cedric Nicolas
  • Publication number: 20170115634
    Abstract: A watch includes a pedometer mechanism for estimating a physical activity level The watch includes at least one moving or pivoting weight arranged to drive a ratchet, an elastic or friction holder for holding the ratchet in position between two movements of the moving or pivoting weight, the ratchet driving a gear train displaying, on a display, a value corresponding, to within a multiplicative factor, to the number of pivoting motions of the ratchet, and/or to the value of the cumulative angular rotation of the ratchet, and the pedometer mechanism includes a limiter only allowing the pivoting of the ratchet from a minimum threshold corresponding to a minimum travel of the weight if the weight is movable or to a minimum angular rotation value of the weight if the weight pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Yvan FERRI, Dominique LECHOT, Cedric NICOLAS
  • Patent number: 9535405
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism including an energy accumulator, a regulating system, a chronograph counter train including a minute-counter having a minute wheel set and at least one minute indicator member, and a seconds-counter having a seconds wheel set and a seconds indicator member, a chronograph zero-reset mechanism including a minute zero-reset mechanism. The minute zero-reset mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the minute wheel set, the minute indicator member being permanently integral with the minute wheel set, and the chronograph counter train includes an uncoupling device between the minute-counter and the seconds-counter, arranged to kinematically connect the minute wheel set and the seconds wheel set during the counting and to uncouple the seconds wheel set from the minute wheel set when the chronograph mechanism is reset to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Patent number: 9535402
    Abstract: A timepiece indicates the sunrise and sunset taking into account seasonal variations. The timepiece includes a sphere representing the Earth, a shell arranged concentrically to the sphere and arranged to delimit a part of the globe where it is night time from another part where it is daytime by indicating the position of the Earth's terminator. The shell can pivot around the globe along two perpendicular axes. The shell is driven by the movement in order to revolve at the rate of one revolution every 24 hours around the polar axis. A differential mechanism is controlled by a year cam that has a profile representing the inclination of the sun in relation to the equatorial plane. The differential mechanism controls the inclination of the shell around the axis by a drive shaft concentric to the polar axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat Gilomen, Michel Willemin, Dominique Lechot
  • Patent number: 9483026
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material of which one physical parameter is correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator, the magnetic material being arranged along the annular path so that the physical parameter varies angularly in a periodic manner. The annular path includes, in each angular period, an area of accumulation of magnetic potential energy in the oscillator, radially adjacent to an impulse area. The magnetic material, in each accumulation area, is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jerome Favre, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot, Fanel Piccini
  • Patent number: 9477205
    Abstract: A timepiece oscillator including a resonator formed by a tuning fork which includes at least two mobile oscillating parts, fixed to a connection element by flexible elements whose geometry determines a virtual pivot axis having a determined position with respect to this connection element and around which the respective mobile part oscillates, and the center of mass of the mobile part coincides in the rest position with the respective virtual pivot axis, and, for at least one of the two mobile parts the flexible elements are formed of intersecting resilient strips extending at a distance from each other in two parallel planes, and whose directions, in projection on one of the parallel planes, intersect at the virtual pivot axis of the mobile part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Gianni Di Domenico, Baptiste Hinaux, Jerome Favre, Dominique Lechot
  • Patent number: 9465366
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the resonator includes at least one element for magnetic coupling to the annular magnetic path, this coupling element being formed of a magnetic material having a physical parameter correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator. The radial dimension of the annular magnetic path is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the coupling element, and the magnetic material is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly in order to obtain an angularly extended magnetic potential energy area in each angular period of the annular magnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jerome Favre, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot, Fanel Piccini
  • Publication number: 20160246256
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism including its own energy accumulator, its own 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: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain ZAUGG, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20160246261
    Abstract: A chronograph mechanism including an energy accumulator, a regulating system, a chronograph counter train comprising including a minute-counter having a minute wheel set and at least one minute indicator member, and a seconds-counter having a seconds wheel set and a seconds indicator member, a chronograph zero-reset mechanism including a minute zero-reset mechanism. The minute zero-reset mechanism is arranged to cooperate with the minute wheel set, the minute indicator member being permanently integral with the minute wheel set, and the chronograph counter train includes an uncoupling device between the minute-counter and the seconds-counter, arranged to kinematically connect the minute wheel set and the seconds wheel set during the counting and to uncouple the seconds wheel set from the minute wheel set when the chronograph mechanism is reset to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain ZAUGG, Stefan Rombach, Dominique Lechot, Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Patent number: 9389591
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnetic device for regulating the relative angular velocity of a wheel and of at least one magnetic dipole integral with an oscillating device. The wheel or the dipole is driven by a driving torque. The wheel includes a periodic, ferromagnetic pole path which alternates according to a center angle and the at least one dipole is arranged to permit magnetic coupling with the ferromagnetic path and oscillation of the dipole at the natural frequency of the oscillating element during the relative motion of the wheel and of the magnetic dipole to regulate the relative angular velocity. The wheel further includes an assembly to dissipate the kinetic energy of the at least one dipole when it moves away from the ferromagnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot
  • Publication number: 20160179058
    Abstract: A timepiece oscillator including a resonator formed by a tuning fork which includes at least two mobile oscillating parts, fixed to a connection element by flexible elements whose geometry determines a virtual pivot axis having a determined position with respect to this connection element and around which the respective mobile part oscillates, and the centre of masse of the mobile part coincides in the rest position with the respective virtual pivot axis, and, for at least one of the two mobile parts the flexible elements are formed of intersecting resilient strips extending at a distance from each other in two parallel planes, and whose directions, in projection on one of the parallel planes, intersect at the virtual pivot axis of the mobile part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Baptiste HINAUX, Jerome FAVRE, Dominique LECHOT