Patents by Inventor Jacques Gabathuler

Jacques Gabathuler 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: 9164492
    Abstract: A zero-rest device for a timepiece, including first and second control mechanisms, two zero-reset cams, and two corresponding zero-reset hammers configured to cooperate with the cams. The device also includes two hammer springs exerting a pre-stress force causing a hammer to pivot in the direction of its corresponding cam, a winding and release mechanism and a locking mechanism. The winding and release mechanism is configured to wind the hammer springs during a first phase of an actuation of the first control mechanism and to cooperate, during a second phase of this actuation, with the locking means, such that the locking means passes from a rest position in which the locking means holds the hammers to a release position in which the locking means releases the hammers, which come, in each case under the action of the corresponding hammer spring, into the positions thereof of cooperation with the corresponding cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Société anonyme de la Manufacture d'horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie
    Inventors: Thibaut Philippine, Jacques Gabathuler, Johan Montet
  • Publication number: 20150168919
    Abstract: A zero-rest device for a timepiece, including first and second control mechanisms, two zero-reset cams, and two corresponding zero-reset hammers configured to cooperate with the cams. The device also includes two hammer springs exerting a pre-stress force causing a hammer to pivot in the direction of its corresponding cam, a winding and release mechanism and a locking mechanism. The winding and release mechanism is configured to wind the hammer springs during a first phase of an actuation of the first control mechanism and to cooperate, during a second phase of this actuation, with the locking means, such that the locking means passes from a rest position in which the locking means holds the hammers to a release position in which the locking means releases the hammers, which come, in each case under the action of the corresponding hammer spring, into the positions thereof of cooperation with the corresponding cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Thibaut PHILIPPINE, Jacques GABATHULER, Johan MONTET
  • Patent number: 9042206
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving an indicator for a timepiece includes: a mobile for driving the indicator; a first lever mounted about a first pivot and including a beak to cooperate with a toothing of the mobile; a first cam arranged to rotate the first lever about the first pivot; a second lever mounted about a second pivot and to which the first pivot is rigidly connected; a second cam arranged to rotate the second lever about the second pivot; and elastic elements for maintaining the cooperation between the levers and cams; the levers and the cams being arranged so that the beak of the first lever cyclically describes a closed curve, each cycle including a first motion during which the beak leaves the toothing of the mobile without changing the angular position thereof and a second motion during which the beak re-enters the toothing to move the mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Publication number: 20140160897
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving an indicator for a timepiece includes: a mobile for driving the indicator; a first lever mounted about a first pivot and including a beak to cooperate with a toothing of the mobile; a first cam arranged to rotate the first lever about the first pivot; a second lever mounted about a second pivot and to which the first pivot is rigidly connected; a second cam arranged to rotate the second lever about the second pivot; and elastic elements for maintaining the cooperation between the levers and cams; the levers and the cams being arranged so that the beak of the first lever cyclically describes a closed curve, each cycle including a first motion during which the beak leaves the toothing of the mobile without changing the angular position thereof and a second motion during which the beak re-enters the toothing to move the mobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Patent number: 8675453
    Abstract: A backlash-compensating mechanism includes a cam, an actuating member bearing against the cam and a wheel coaxial to the cam and intended to be driven by a gear train of the movement. The cam and the wheel are connected to each other such that one revolution of the wheel includes a sequence of a first phase in which the wheel drives the cam whilst the co-operation between the cam and the actuating member cocks the latter, a second phase in which the actuating member uncocks and causes the cam to effect an instantaneous jump, and a third phase in which the cam is immobilized and the wheel continues to advance until it catches up with the cam to once again drive it during the first phase of the following revolution. This mechanism includes a resilient element acting between the cam and the wheel and applying a return torque to the wheel during the third phase to compensate the backlash in the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Serge Nicollin
  • Patent number: 8644116
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism for a timepiece, includes: at least one mobile (22; 23) for driving an indicator, a wheel (1) which, during normal operation of the timepiece, is driven in a first direction (S1), a lever (16) for actuating the mobile (22; 23), and first and second cams (2, 3) driven by the wheel (1) and controlling the movements of the actuating lever (16), these first and second cams (2, 3) being arranged so that their relative angular position differs depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel (1) so that the movements of the actuating lever (16) cause the mobile (22; 23) to advance periodically during normal operation of the timepiece and do not permit the mobile to advance during backwards time setting of the timepiece causing the wheel to rotate in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Publication number: 20130051183
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism for a timepiece, includes: at least one mobile (22; 23) for driving an indicator, a wheel (1) which, during normal operation of the timepiece, is driven in a first direction (S1), a lever (16) for actuating the mobile (22; 23), and first and second cams (2, 3) driven by the wheel (1) and controlling the movements of the actuating lever (16), these first and second cams (2, 3) being arranged so that their relative angular position differs depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel (1) so that the movements of the actuating lever (16) cause the mobile (22; 23) to advance periodically during normal operation of the timepiece and do not permit the mobile to advance during backwards time setting of the timepiece causing the wheel to rotate in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques GABATHULER, Trung Thanh NGUYEN, Serge NICOLLIN, Florent ZUFFEREY
  • Publication number: 20120014224
    Abstract: A backlash-compensating mechanism includes a cam, an actuating member bearing against the cam and a wheel coaxial to the cam and intended to be driven by a gear train of the movement. The cam and the wheel are connected to each other such that one revolution of the wheel includes a sequence of a first phase in which the wheel drives the cam whilst the co-operation between the cam and the actuating member cocks the latter, a second phase in which the actuating member uncocks and causes the cam to effect an instantaneous jump, and a third phase in which the cam is immobilized and the wheel continues to advance until it catches up with the cam to once again drive it during the first phase of the following revolution. This mechanism includes a resilient element acting between the cam and the wheel and applying a return torque to the wheel during the third phase to compensate the backlash in the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques GABATHULER, Serge NICOLLIN
  • Patent number: 7331706
    Abstract: This device for the simultaneous zero-resetting of two counters, the pivot axes of which are fixedly connected to respective heart-shaped zero-resetting cams (7, 8), comprises a zero-resetting lever (2) containing two hammers (6c, 6d), means (5) for exerting upon this lever (2) a torque for pressing the two hammers (6c, 6d) against the zero-resetting cams (7, 8), and articulation means (2d, 2e, 6a, 6b) for articulating these hammers relative to the lever (2). These articulation means comprise two pins (2d, 2e), one of which (2d) is engaged in a guide slot with limited amplitude (6a), orientated in order that the direction of the perpendicular, dropped from the axis of the pin (2d) onto this guide slot (6a), intersects the straight line joining the axes (7a, 8a) of the zero-resetting cams (7, 8) at a point capable of improving the distribution of the torque transmitted to these cams (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cedric Jacot
  • Publication number: 20070019507
    Abstract: This date mechanism comprises a calendar mobile (1), a driving mobile (3) an instantaneous-jump cam (7), a finger (9b) kinematically connected to this cam (7) in order to drive the calendar mobile (1). The driving finger (9b) is borne by a release member (9) which is mounted pivotably about two axes (3a, 7a), one (3a) of which is that of the driving mobile (3), this release member (9) having an opening (9a) configured to allow an angular displacement about the second of these two axes (7a), whereby the driving finger (9b) can be released from the toothing (1a) of the calendar ring while the calendar is corrected. A return spring (8) tends to rotate the driving finger (9b) about the second pivot axis (7a) in order to bring it to butt against an edge of the opening (9b), a position in which the driving finger is engaged with the toothing of the calendar ring (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cedric Jacot, Trung Thanh Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20070019509
    Abstract: This device for the simultaneous zero-resetting of two counters, the pivot axes of which are fixedly connected to respective heart-shaped zero-resetting cams (7, 8), comprises a zero-resetting lever (2) containing two hammers (6c, 6d), means (5) for exerting upon this lever (2) a torque for pressing the two hammers (6c, 6d) against the zero-resetting cams (7, 8), and articulation means (2d, 2e, 6a, 6b) for articulating these hammers relative to the lever (2). These articulation means comprise two pins (2d, 2e), one of which (2d) is engaged in a guide slot with limited amplitude (6a), orientated in order that the direction of the perpendicular, dropped from the axis of the pin (2d) onto this guide slot (6a), intersects the straight line joining the axes (7a, 8a) of the zero-resetting cams (7, 8) at a point capable of improving the distribution of the torque transmitted to these cams (7, 8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cedric Jacot
  • Patent number: 7158448
    Abstract: This date mechanism comprises a calendar mobile (1), a driving mobile (3) an instantaneous-jump cam (7), a finger (9b) kinematically connected to this cam (7) in order to drive the calendar mobile (1). The driving finger (9b) is borne by a release member (9) which is mounted pivotably about two axes (3a, 7a), one (3a) of which is that of the driving mobile (3), this release member (9) having an opening (9a) configured to allow an angular displacement about the second of these two axes (7a), whereby the driving finger (9b) can be released from the toothing (1a) of the calendar ring while the calendar is corrected. A return spring (8) tends to rotate the driving finger (9b) about the second pivot axis (7a) in order to bring it to butt against an edge of the opening (9b), a position in which the driving finger is engaged with the toothing of the calendar ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cedric Jacot, Trung Thanh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6958952
    Abstract: According to this method the units and tens numerals are placed onto respective indicator runners (1, 2). Two drivelines are formed, one being a daily driveline between the clock movement and the indicator runners, for moving the units indicator runner (1) selectively step by step by one step every 24 hours, and for moving the tens indicator runner (2) by one step for every ten steps of the units indicator runner (1), in order to move on from one multiple of ten to the next, and for moving the tens indicator alone by one step to move on from “31” to “01” on a 31-day cycle, and an annual driveline between the clock movement and the tens indicator runner, which driveline is programmed to move the tens indicator runner (2) by one step at the same time as the units indicator runner (1) is moved by the daily driveline, to move on from “30” to “01” at the end of the months which comprise less than 31 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Rolex SA
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cédric Jacot
  • Patent number: 6738316
    Abstract: This date mechanism comprises a units runner (1, 3) equipped with ten teeth or with a multiple of ten teeth and a tens runner (2, 4) equipped with four teeth or with a multiple of four teeth, a transmission connecting these runners to move the tens runner on by one step for every ten steps of the units runner (1, 3) and a drive runner (7, 8) for driving the units runner (1, 3). One tooth of the units runner (1, 3) for moving on from “1” to “2” is a tooth of an auxiliary runner (12) secured to the units runner (1, 3) and which is able to engage alternately with the teeth of the tens indicator runner (2, 4) and with a cam (15) secured to the tens runner (2, 4) and intended to allow the auxiliary runner (12) to drive said tens runner (4) by one step between “31” and “01” without driving the units runner (1, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Rolex SA
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cédric Jacot
  • Publication number: 20030103416
    Abstract: This date mechanism comprises a units runner (1, 3) equipped with ten teeth or with a multiple of ten teeth and a tens runner (2, 4) equipped with four teeth or with a multiple of four teeth, a transmission connecting these runners to move the tens runner on by one step for every ten steps of the units runner (1, 3) and a drive runner (7, 8) for driving the units runner (1, 3). One tooth of the units runner (1, 3) for moving on from “1” to “2” is a tooth of an auxiliary runner (12) secured to the units runner (1, 3) and which is able to engage alternately with the teeth of the tens indicator runner (2, 4) and with a cam (15) secured to the tens runner (2, 4) and intended to allow the auxiliary runner (12) to drive said tens runner (4) by one step between “31” and “01” without driving the units runner (1, 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cedric Jacot
  • Publication number: 20030103417
    Abstract: According to this method the units and tens numerals are placed onto respective indicator runners (1, 2). Two drivelines are formed, one being a daily driveline between the clock movement and the indicator runners, for moving the units indicator runner (1) selectively step by step by one step every 24 hours, and for moving the tens indicator runner (2) by one step for every ten steps of the units indicator runner (1), in order to move on from one multiple of ten to the next, and for moving the tens indicator alone by one step to move on from “31” to “01” on a 31-day cycle, and an annual driveline between the clock movement and the tens indicator runner, which driveline is programmed to move the tens indicator runner (2) by one step at the same time as the units indicator runner (1) is moved by the daily driveline, to move on from “30” to “01” at the end of the months which comprise less than 31 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cedric Jacot
  • Patent number: 6409379
    Abstract: A self-winding watch includes a self-winding mass having a central part surrounded by raceways of a ball bearing. One raceway is integral with the central part. Another raceway is integral with means for positioning and means for removably fastening to watch frame. A reduction gear train for connects the self-winding mass to a barrel arbor. A reversing mechanism converts the two-directional rotational movement of said self-winding mass into a one-directional rotational movement. Two first pinions of the reversing mechanism freely pivot, concentrically, with said central part. Each of the first pinions meshes with a planet pinion. The pivot pin is integral with the central part and the toothing is shaped so as to allow only unidirectional rotations of said first pinions in two opposed respective directions of rotation. The first pinions are integral with two second respective moving parts of the gear train, the directions of rotation of which are opposite, one with respect to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Cédric Jacot, Christophe Lyner, David Nicolet