Patents by Inventor Julien Christan

Julien Christan 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: 20240069493
    Abstract: A balance spring (1) of a sprung balance assembly of a mechanical horological movement, formed by a succession of coils (S1, . . . , Sn) which extend between a first free end, referred to as inner first coil (2), and a second free end, referred to as outer last coil (6). The are arranged off-centre when the balance spring is in the free state, the outer last coil (6) terminating in a stop means for the attachment thereof to a stud (14). The balance spring (1) is centred and its spires concentric when the spring (1) is in the mounted state inside the sprung balance assembly, the coils being rearranged concentrically when the spring is in the mounted state. The attachment of the spring to the stud inducing, in the coils, a resilient stress as a result whereof the stop is attached in a captive manner to the stud (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien CHRISTAN, Raphael COURVOISIER
  • Publication number: 20230393527
    Abstract: A regulating member for a horological movement includes an inertial mass, for example a 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 rigidity of the balance spring fitted with a resilient element arranged in series with the coiled strip, the index-assembly system being configured to adjust the rate of the regulating member with a resolution lower than or equal to 1 second per day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Omega SA
    Inventors: Olivier MERTENAT, Julien CHRISTAN
  • Publication number: 20230393526
    Abstract: A regulating member for a horological movement including an inertial mass, for example a balance, a balance spring, and an index-assembly system for adjusting the rate of the balance spring, the index-assembly system including a stud-holder including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion, wherein the regulating member includes locking device configured to block the second portion of the stud-holder in one position with respect to a plate of the movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN
  • Publication number: 20230375979
    Abstract: A stop pawl for a horological movement, including a body provided on the periphery with a lug for latching with the toothing of a ratchet; a hub intended to cooperate freely in rotation with a fixed rod according to an angular displacement between an active position meshing the lug with the toothing of the ratchet and an inactive position, via intermediate positions; wherein the pawl includes at least one device for returning the pawl during its angular displacement, from the inactive position to the active position; and wherein the return device and the body are made in one piece. A horological movement and timepiece can include such a pawl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN
  • Patent number: 11789406
    Abstract: A stop pawl for a horological movement, including a body provided on the periphery with a lug for latching with the toothing of a ratchet; a hub intended to cooperate freely in rotation with a fixed rod according to an angular displacement between an active position meshing the lug with the toothing of the ratchet and an inactive position, via intermediate positions; wherein the pawl includes at least one device for returning the pawl during its angular displacement, from the inactive position to the active position; and wherein the return device and the body are made in one piece. A horological movement and timepiece can include such a pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Julien Christan
  • Patent number: 11782386
    Abstract: A twisted arbour barrel (1), including a barrel drum (2) provided with a housing, a spring arranged in the housing of the barrel drum (2), an arbour (4) at least partially passing through the housing, the spring being compressed by rotation of the arbour in a first direction of rotation (12), the arbour (4) being provided with a protruding end (9) of the drum (2), a ratchet (3) arranged on the drum (2), the ratchet (3) being configured to allow the rotation of the arbour (4) in the first direction of rotation (12), the protruding end (9) passing through the ratchet (3) through an opening (14) cooperating by interlocking with the protruding end (9), the protruding end (9) of the arbour (4) having a twisted shape around its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Julien Christan, Laurent Kaelin
  • Patent number: 11768464
    Abstract: A horological torque limiting mechanism, including a first wheel with a first elastic arm projecting from a first felloe, a second wheel including a second surface to engage in frictional pressure with the first wheel for the relative actuation thereof, a travel limiter fastened to a structure to hold the first and second wheels in frictional pressure in certain angular positions, the second wheel and/or the travel limiter and/or the structure including a relief forming a ramp, to, in certain angular positions relative to the first wheel, engage in frictional pressure with the first elastic arm, and, in further positions, allow a frictionless travel between the first wheel and the component bearing the relief, the second wheel includes a second arm forming a ramp projecting from a second felloe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Julien Christan
  • Publication number: 20230176523
    Abstract: A bolt (10) configured to limit the axial travel of a moving body (21) of a horological movement (20). The bolt includes a head (11) arranged at the end of an arbor (12) extending according to a longitudinal axis of revolution, the head (11) extending radially with respect to the arbor (12) and including over a portion of its periphery, a radial addendum (110) configured to be arranged opposite said moving body (21), and including, at the interface with the arbor (12), a bearing base (111) through which the bolt (10) is configured to rest against a structure (22) of the horological movement (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN
  • Publication number: 20230107367
    Abstract: A horological mechanism (100) including a controller (300) for controlling the stopping or release of a wheel (200), and a stopping lever (10) guided on a structure (400) and which includes a first arm (16) carrying a control finger (12) that can be set by the controller, and a second arm (17) carrying a stopping finger (13) arranged to bear against the wheel (200) or to release it, and a flexible arm (15), more flexible than the first arm (16) and arranged to bear against a first fixed banking (42) of the structure (400), and which allows the movement of the stopping lever (10) in a single configuration for driving the control finger (12) by the controller pushing the control finger (12), to move the second arm (17) and stop the movement of the wheel (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Julien CHRISTAN, Mark Postmus
  • Publication number: 20230100861
    Abstract: An antimagnetic and antishock protective ring for a horology movement, intended to be fixed to a horology movement, the ring including a tubular body extending between a first and a second axial end and is made of a material having ferromagnetic properties and wherein it is adapted to form, with the first axial end, a stop limiting the angular displacement about a radial axis of an oscillating mass connected to the horology movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN
  • Publication number: 20230098943
    Abstract: A brake spring intended to apply a radial force against a supporting arbor of a display of a watch, including an elastic strip, an elastic casing organ adapted to be fastened to an attachment organ of a structure of a horological movement, and a retaining element of the elastic strip configured to cooperate with the elastic strip, so as to hold it in a first position, the elastic strip being capable of being released from the retaining element so as to occupy a second position under the effect of an elastic return force, wherein it is capable of applying a resulting radial force against the arbor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien CHRISTAN, Fabrice DELEVAUX, Mark POSTMUS
  • Publication number: 20230057274
    Abstract: A timepiece display mechanism includes at least one display having a shaft, and having at least one plate and/or a bridge carrying at least one guide device for carrying and guiding this shaft around an axis, including, on a first side of said axis, a support surface comprising a V-shape or a pad, symmetrical with respect to a bisector plane passing through the axis, to centre the axis of the shaft on this bisector plane, and on a second opposite side, at least one holding element substantially diametrically opposite the support surface, all the holding elements exerting on this shaft a resultant elastic return force directed towards the axis, and preventing any radial exit of this shaft out of the guide bearing which is a platform with two parallel faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Fabrice DELEVAUX, Ivan VILLAR, Julien CHRISTAN, Christophe CATTIN, Anne PHILIPPS
  • Publication number: 20220413443
    Abstract: A watch including a dial including a fixed portion superimposed on a portion movable in rotation including a surface on which are arranged areas with visual appearances different from each other, the fixed portion including at least one through opening emerging on at least one of the areas, the movable portion being kinematically connected to a control member so as to be rotated by actuating the control member and being configured so that when it is rotated, the areas of different visual appearance appear successively through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien CHRISTAN, Ivan VILLAR
  • Patent number: 11480926
    Abstract: A balance-spring stud for fixing with a spot of glue a free end of a last turn on the outside of a spiral spring for a timepiece movement, this balance-spring stud includes a base within a plane, first and second arms extending from the plane and free at their end opposite the base, the first and second arms being separated from one another by a gap in which the free end of the last turn on the outside of the spiral spring that is trapped in the hardened spot of hardened glue is housed, at least one of the first and second arms being provided with a stop device arranged to prevent the spot of hardened glue in which the free end of the last turn on the outside of the spiral spring is trapped from being released from the gap in which the spot of hardened glue is housed when this spot of hardened glue no longer adheres to the balance-spring stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Julien Christan
  • Publication number: 20210302912
    Abstract: A stop pawl for a horological movement, including a body provided on the periphery with a lug for latching with the toothing of a ratchet; a hub intended to cooperate freely in rotation with a fixed rod according to an angular displacement between an active position meshing the lug with the toothing of the ratchet and an inactive position, via intermediate positions; wherein the pawl includes at least one device for returning the pawl during its angular displacement, from the inactive position to the active position; and wherein the return device and the body are made in one piece. A horological movement and timepiece can include such a pawl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN
  • Publication number: 20210263471
    Abstract: A twisted arbour barrel (1), including a barrel drum (2) provided with a housing, a spring arranged in the housing of the barrel drum (2), an arbour (4) at least partially passing through the housing, the spring being compressed by rotation of the arbour in a first direction of rotation (12), the arbour (4) being provided with a protruding end (9) of the drum (2), a ratchet (3) arranged on the drum (2), the ratchet (3) being configured to allow the rotation of the arbour (4) in the first direction of rotation (12), the protruding end (9) passing through the ratchet (3) through an opening (14) cooperating by interlocking with the protruding end (9), the protruding end (9) of the arbour (4) having a twisted shape around its axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Julien CHRISTAN, Laurent KAELIN
  • Patent number: 11073796
    Abstract: An assembly for holding or supporting a timepiece balance spring, includes a balance spring stud and a stud-holder, the stud-holder includes a base having at least one circular portion, the base including, on the circular portion, a first lug and a second lug each extending radially. One of the two lugs includes an elastic arm extending from the lug, in a direction parallel to that of the base, towards the other lug, the elastic arm forming with the base a housing for housing the balance spring stud therein and the first and second lugs are able to cooperate with a tool to allow the balance spring stud to exert a stress on the elastic arm to deform the latter and permit the assembly or disassembly of the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Christan, Patrick Moller
  • Publication number: 20200285196
    Abstract: A horological torque limiting mechanism, including a first wheel with a first elastic arm projecting from a first felloe, a second wheel including a second surface to engage in frictional pressure with the first wheel for the relative actuation thereof, a travel limiter fastened to a structure to hold the first and second wheels in frictional pressure in certain angular positions, the second wheel and/or the travel limiter and/or the structure including a relief forming a ramp, to, in certain angular positions relative to the first wheel, engage in frictional pressure with the first elastic arm, and, in further positions, allow a frictionless travel between the first wheel and the component bearing the relief, the second wheel includes a second arm forming a ramp projecting from a second felloe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN
  • Patent number: 10761484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a balance-spring stud-holder for a mechanical timepiece movement, which comprises a pair of tabs, namely a front tab and a rear tab, jointly defining a notch, the tabs being arranged in such a way that a balance-spring stud can be held in the notch, wherein the rear tab of the balance-spring stud-holder comprises an extension which defines, beyond the notch, a bend forming a retaining abutment for the balance-spring stud after said balance-spring stud has been extracted from the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Christan, Thierry Conus
  • Publication number: 20190346812
    Abstract: A balance-spring stud for fixing with a spot of glue a free end of a last turn on the outside of a spiral spring for a timepiece movement, this balance-spring stud includes a base within a plane, first and second arms extending from the plane and free at their end opposite the base, the first and second arms being separated from one another by a gap in which the free end of the last turn on the outside of the spiral spring that is trapped in the hardened spot of hardened glue is housed, at least one of the first and second arms being provided with a stop device arranged to prevent the spot of hardened glue in which the free end of the last turn on the outside of the spiral spring is trapped from being released from the gap in which the spot of hardened glue is housed when this spot of hardened glue no longer adheres to the balance-spring stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Julien CHRISTAN