Abstract: The watch striking mechanism (1) includes at least one gong (11) fixed to a gong-carrier (12) and at least one hammer (2) for activating the vibration of the gong. The striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element (20) in the form of a moving micro-magnet, which is arranged on a striking portion of the hammer, and a second magnetic element (21) in the form of a fixed micro-magnet, which is arranged in one part of the gong. The second magnetic element is at least partly opposite the first magnetic element and is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the first magnetic element. In a striking mode, said hammer may be driven in the direction of the gong to activate the vibration of said gong via a magnetic impulse due to the repulsion force of the two magnetic elements.

Abstract: The striking mechanism (1) for a watch or a music box includes a gong (11) fixed to a gong-carrier (12) and an activation member (2) for activating the gong in a striking mode. The striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element (13) arranged on the gong (11) and second magnetic elements (4) arranged on the periphery of the activation member (2), which is a magnetic wheel. In a striking mode, the magnetic wheel is set in rotation at a determined velocity so that the second magnetic elements (4), in the form of moving micro-magnets, move in succession and repeatedly into proximity with and opposite the first magnetic element (13), which is a fixed micro-magnet of opposite magnetic polarity. The rotation of the magnetic wheel sets the gong vibrating via a periodic variation in the magnetic repulsion or attraction force between the moving micro-magnets and the fixed micro-magnet of the gong.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane includes a first sheet (2) having a certain number of cells (5), which is secured to a first face of a second sheet (3) which has no cells. The membrane may also include a third sheet (4) having a certain number of cells (6) which is fixed to a second face of the second sheet (3). The shape and dimension of the cells are adapted according to the type of material and the note or notes to be radiated by the membrane with uniform amplification within the audible frequency band. The cells (5, 6) of the first and third sheets are configured in a honeycomb arrangement to occupy most of the surface of the membrane, for the uniform amplification and efficient radiation of the note or notes produced.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane is made with at least one area of asymmetrical shape, formed in the material of the membrane or with at least one area of asymmetrical shape having a different thickness from the general thickness of the membrane. It preferably includes two asymmetrical areas of elliptical shape (2, 3) which are partly superposed and have a different thickness from each other. The two ellipses (2, 3), preferably hollowed out of the membrane, are off-centre in relation to each other.

Abstract: The striking watch (1) includes at least one gong (3) fixed to a gong-carrier (2) and at least one hammer (4) for striking the gong. The watch further includes a magnetic gong insulator arrangement (20) for preventing any inadvertent contact between the gong and a neighbouring part (5, 6) of the watch. This magnetic insulator arrangement (20) includes at least one moving permanent magnet (21) arranged on one part of the gong (3) at a distance from the gong-carrier (2) and at least one fixed permanent magnet (22, 23) arranged on a watch part (5, 6) close to the gong. This fixed permanent magnet is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the moving permanent magnet facing the fixed permanent magnet.

Abstract: The gong for the striking work or alarm of a watch is configured to produce a sound within the audible frequency range when it is struck by at least one hammer. This gong is made of a material, wherein the square root of the ratio between the elasticity module of the material divided by the volumic mass of the selected material is less than 3300 m/s, so as to allow the gong to produce a rich sound, comprising a large number of partials, within the audible frequency range. The selected material may be, for example, gold.

Abstract: Method of fabricating a balance spring assembly in silicon including a hairspring made in a wafer of given crystalline orientation, in a plane. The volume of the assembly is broken down into sub-components, inscribed in parallelepiped prisms, in secant pairs, at the junction areas, perpendicular to each other, each made in a wafer selected for the thickness or crystalline orientation thereof. A terminal curve is made in an orthogonal plane to that of the hairspring joining it directly to a point in space, the projection of which into the plane is located external to the hairspring. The sub-components are assembled at the junction areas by assembling device.

Abstract: The gong for the striking work or alarm of a watch is configured to produce a sound within the audible frequency range when it is struck by at least one hammer. This gong is made of a material, wherein the square root of the ratio of the elasticity module of the material divided by the volumic mass of the selected material is less than 3300 m/s, so as to allow the gong to produce a rich sound, comprising a large number of partials, within the audible frequency range. The selected material may be, for example, a material having an amorphous structure, such as a metallic glass.

Abstract: The striking watch (1) includes a watch case, which is formed of a middle part (4) and a back cover (5) removably secured to the middle part, and a crystal (2) that closes the case in a sealed manner. A watch movement (20) is held inside the watch case on a plate (14). The watch movement is provided with a striking mechanism able to be actuated at determined times to produce a sound. At least one acoustic membrane (10) is arranged between the back cover (5) which includes at least one lateral aperture (6) and the plate (14) of the watch movement. This acoustic membrane is made of amorphous metal or metallic glass to radiate the sound produced by the striking mechanism towards the exterior of the case.

Abstract: The watch striking mechanism (1) includes a gong, which is fixed via one end thereof to a gong-carrier integral with a plate, a hammer rotatably mounted on the plate to strike the gong at determined times, a damper counter-spring (5) for keeping the hammer away from the gong in an idle mode, and a drive spring (3) for the hammer. The drive spring includes an end (3b) fixed to the plate and an end (3a) that is free to move. The spring can be wound so that the free end (3a) of the spring drives the hammer (2) against the gong (21) in a strike mode to produce an acoustic sound. The striking mechanism includes means (10) for actuating the damper counter-spring (5) in a strike mode with a time lag after the hammer (2) strikes the gong, so that after the hammer strikes the gong, the counter-spring pushes said hammer towards an idle position. The actuating means includes a stop member mounted on the damper counter-spring to be actuated via the drive spring when in action just after the hammer strikes the gong.

Abstract: The strike mechanism (1) of a watch includes a gong (21), which is secured by one end thereof to a gong-carrier (22) integral with a plate, a hammer (2) rotatably mounted on the plate for striking the gong (21) at predetermined times, a damping counterspring (5) for keeping the hammer at a distance from the gong (21) in an idle mode, and a spring (3) for driving the hammer. The drive spring includes one end (3b) secured to the plate and one end (3a) that is free to move. The spring is capable of being wound so that the free end (3a) of the spring drives the hammer (2) against the gong (21) in a strike mode to generate an acoustic sound. The strike mechanism further includes a stop member (10) on the path of the hammer drive spring in the direction of the gong for increasing the strike speed following contact of an intermediate part of the drive spring (3) in action against the stop member.

Abstract: The striking work device of a timepiece includes a gong (4) surrounding a movement and extending in approximately one plane, and a gong-carrier secured to a watch plate of the timepiece. The gong is fixed to the gong-carrier. At least one hammer (6) of the striking work device strikes an impact surface (8) of the gong (4) to cause said gong to vibrate. The surface (8) of said gong which the hammer strikes is inclined relative to the normal to said plane.

Abstract: The striking work device of a timepiece (1) includes a gong (2) surrounding a movement and extending in approximately one plane (x, y), and a gong-carrier (3) secured to a watch plate (8). The gong is fixed to the gong-carrier. At least one hammer (5) strikes the gong (2) to cause said gong to vibrate. The hammer (5) strikes the gong at an inclined incidence relative to said plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece movement that includes at least one bridge (1) mounted on a bottom plate using at least one securing device (2, 4, 6) to carry at least one member of said movement. According to the invention, said at least one bridge or the bottom plate is made from a plate of micromachinable material and includes at least one bearing formed in a single-piece to carry at least one member of said movement.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of marking an article using a laser emitting radiation of wavelength ?, the article being formed of a material that is slightly absorbent at said wavelength ?, characterized in that it includes the following main steps: taking a support formed of a metal that is highly absorbent at wavelength ? and capable of converting at least in part the light energy absorbed into thermal energy, arranging the article directly against the support so as to form a sufficient thermal contact between the article and the support to transfer the thermal energy from the support to the article, the article being inserted between the laser and the support, locally illuminating said support through said article in conditions able to generate, at the surface of the support, sufficient thermal energy for the thermal energy transfer from the support to the article to produce on the surface of the article a local physical or chemical transformation resulting in a contrast at the origin of the marking.

Abstract: The invention concerns a watch with a striking work including a bottom plate and a gong including two ends, the gong being secured via a first end to the bottom plate. According to the invention, the second end of the gong is also secured to said bottom plate.

Abstract: The gong for the striking work or alarm of a watch is configured to produce a sound within the audible frequency range when it is struck by at least one hammer. This gong is made of a material, wherein the square root of the ratio of the elasticity module of the material divided by the volumic mass of the selected material is less than 3300 m/s, so as to allow the gong to produce a rich sound, comprising a large number of partials, within the audible frequency range. The selected material may be, for example, a material having an amorphous structure, such as a metallic glass.

Abstract: The gong for the striking work or alarm of a watch is configured to produce a sound within the audible frequency range when it is struck by at least one hammer. This gong is made of a material, wherein the square root of the ratio between the elasticity module of the material divided by the volumic mass of the selected material is less than 3300 m/s, so as to allow the gong to produce a rich sound, comprising a large number of partials, within the audible frequency range. The selected material may be, for example, gold.

Abstract: The invention concerns a watch including a case fitted with a glass and containing display means able to be observed through the glass, characterised in that said glass is made from a plate formed of a fiber optic group.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fastening band (1) of the belt type or a wristband or bracelet for a portable device (40) for example, including fastening and length adjustment means (5). The fastening band includes an element (6, 42) for indicating the fastening tension thereof that has a specific visual appearance identifiable to the user in order to indicate to the latter when the fastening tension of the band is sufficient for a given application. The fastening band of the present invention is particularly interesting when it is implemented in the form of a wristband for a pulsometer worn on the wrist comprising optical type measuring means. In this application, a fastening tension value sufficient to guarantee proper measurement precision is predefined, the features of the indicator element being adapted to this value in order to indicate to the wearer that he has reached said value when the wristband is being fitted to his wrist.