Patents by Inventor Michel Groothuis

Michel Groothuis 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: 4427300
    Abstract: The mechanism comprises a date-disc (8) actuated at midnight by a lever (1) supporting a rotary part (3) with catches (3a) gearing with the wheel (4) of 24 h. The mechanism is so designed that each transition from a date to the next is effected in less than one hour so that the calendar remains still in synchronism with the hours hand, even in the case of the changing of the indication of time-zones. The disc comprises pins (14) controlling at the end of each month through a star-wheel (13) the rotation of a first (17) and a second (20) cam. The cams bear finger-pieces (17a,17b,21) the ones (17a,17b) of the first cam having variable widths according to the different lengths of the months forming bankings for a catch (9) of the lever (1) for hindering the return motion of this lever thus prolonging the duration of the gearing of the rotary part (3) with the disc (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres Longines
    Inventor: Michel Groothuis
  • Patent number: 4194353
    Abstract: Analog display calendar watch having a window or windows and an hour spindle changing device in which the movements of the hour hand and the disc or discs of the calendar are synchronized.The calendar disc is driven once every 24 hours by a rocker lever which supports a plate having a catch engaging the calendar disc, the plate being rotated by a 24-hour wheel and effecting a whole number, greater than one, of turns in 24 hours. The width of the catch is slightly less than the space between two teeth of the calendar disc, so that any forward or backward movement of the hour hand, controlled by the hour setting spindle, permits an immediate forward or backward movement of the calendar disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA
    Inventors: Michel Thomi, Michel Groothuis, Serge Meylan