Patents by Inventor Nicolas FRANÇOIS
Nicolas FRANÇOIS 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).
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Patent number: 11042125Abstract: A decorative item made from a moulded material having a density of between 2 and 7 g/cm3, wherein the moulded material includes by weight: 60 to 90% of a metallic or ceramic material having a density higher than or equal to 5 g/cm3, 10 to 32% of a plastic material including a thermoplastic resin and a coupling agent, 0 to 8% of a reinforcement, 0 to 3% of a pigment. Also, a method of manufacturing this decorative item by injection moulding.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Pablo Rodriguez, Juliette Muller, Nicolas Francois, Julien Huser, Julien Dahan
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Publication number: 20210170659Abstract: An in-line method for marking a substrate made of extruded synthetic material, the method including the steps of extruding the synthetic material through an extrusion die to form the substrate, marking the substrate by scrolling the substrate obtained from the extrusion die between two rotatably mounted and temperature-controlled rollers with an upper roller and a lower roller, one of the rollers having an impression forming the negative of a decoration or a texture to be marked on one face of the substrate, this same roller or the other of the rollers including at least one notch allowing to guide the substrate as it passes through the extrusion die and between the two rollers. An installation can include in line the extrusion die and the marking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Yannick CÉLÉRIER, Benoît LAFIN, Catherine BLANC PETIOT, Claire RANNOUX, Nicolas FRANCOIS
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Patent number: 11019889Abstract: A device for attaching an end of a bracelet to an object, including a support plate, a control member, two pins slidably mounted on the same axis, called the sliding axis, wherein the control member is mounted to move in translation on an arbor, called the translation arbor, which is substantially perpendicular to the support plate, and wherein the control member is offset with respect to the sliding axis of the pins and connected to the latter by connecting elements able to transform the translational movement of the control member into a sliding movement of the pins when the control member is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Cedric Nicolas, Dominique Lechot, Nicolas Francois
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Patent number: 10996632Abstract: An exterior element for portable objects including a support, on which is arranged a first material, the first material being chosen to be capable of reflecting different visible wavelengths as a function of applied stress.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Claire Rannoux, Nicolas Francois, Milan Calic, Stewes Bourban
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Publication number: 20210088209Abstract: A decorative item including an element made at least partly of a metallic, polymeric or ceramic based material and including a face visible to an observer, at least one light source external or internal to the element, the decorative item further includes at least one optical fibre embedded in the material of the element, the optical fibre serving as a guide for the light from the light source in order to produce, during use, a light effect on the visible face of the element. A method for manufacturing the decorative item is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Olga REINAUER, Agnes MARLOT DOERR, Nicolas FRANCOIS, Pierpasquale TORTORA, Stewes BOURBAN
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Publication number: 20210088973Abstract: A horological component including a substrate and at least one first decoration component including at least one first photoluminescent material configured to procure a phosphorescent appearance. The horological component includes a second decoration component including at least one second material, the second material being metallic and configured to procure a metallic appearance, or variochromic and configured to procure a color that varies under the effect of a stimulus, the first decoration component and the second decoration component being arranged relative to one another on the substrate to form a decoration having a metallic appearance or a color that varies under the effect of a stimulus when the horological component is exposed to light and a phosphorescent appearance when the horological component is in the dark. A timepiece can include such a horological component.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Nicolas FRANCOIS, Agnes MARLOT DOERR, Carole GOVAERTS
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Patent number: 10946414Abstract: A method for core impregnation of a finished part made of plastic material with an additive, including: dissolving the additive in a liquid medium to form a solution; placing the plastic part at ambient pressure in a pressure enclosure; hermetically sealing the chamber; impregnating the plastic part with the solution by a fluid at supercritical or near supercritical conditions in the enclosure at a pressure between 3 MPa and 6 MPa, at a temperature between 25° C. and 65° C. for a duration between 1 minute and 15 minutes; releasing the pressure inside the enclosure so that the liquid medium diffuses outside the plastic part and to trap the additive inside the plastic part.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.Inventor: Nicolas Francois
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Publication number: 20210059755Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for patient-specific intervention planning, the system comprising a physical model of an anatomical structure, wherein the physical model is a patient-specific model based on medical image data; a virtual model of the anatomical structure, wherein the virtual model is a patient-specific model based on medical image data; a tracking device configured to track a position of a physical representation of an interventional tool with respect to the physical model of the anatomical structure; a processor configured to perform the step of: registering the physical model of the anatomical structure with the virtual model of the anatomical structure and registering the physical representation of the interventional tool with a virtual representation of the interventional tool based on the position of the physical representation of the interventional tool and the physical model of the anatomical structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Nicolas François Villain, Hernan Guillermo Morales Varela, Mathieu De Craene
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Patent number: 10913196Abstract: A method of fabrication of a wristband of a watch or piece of jewelry, including: providing a first synthetic material; providing an extrusion line with a die plate for making an extrudate from the first material; providing one or more additional materials distinguished in their properties from the first material; providing a die plate including a first zone defining a profile allowing for fabrication of an extrudate having a hollow tubular profile at least at one of its ends in which the extrudate has a width corresponding to the length of one or two strands of the wristband; the die plate further includes a second zone allowing defining of particular profiles selected from among a flat profile, a curved profile, or a profile with projecting zones.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Claire Rannoux, Nicolas Francois, Yannick Celerier, Catherine Blanc Petiot, Benoit Lafin
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Patent number: 10914530Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising: at least one row of tubes (2), at least one fin (4) disposed transversely to said row of tubes (2), the tubes being connected to the fin (4) by clamping the tubes (2) in a collar (6) formed in the fin (4); and at least one row (10) of louvers (12), said row (10) being formed in the fin (4) and interposed between two tubes (2) in the row of tubes. With the fin (4) having a flat rectangular overall shape, the ratio between the number of louvers (12) and the width of the fin (4) is between 0.73 and 1.13.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2016Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Valeo Systemes ThermiquesInventors: Erwan Etienne, Patrick Boisselle, Samuel Bry, Nicolas Francois, Christophe Lenormand
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Patent number: 10881379Abstract: Disclosed is a method (100) of visualizing a sequence of 3D ultrasound images of an object (10) in motion, wherein said motion is a complex motion composed of motion components from a plurality of origins, the method comprising acquiring (120) said sequence of 3D ultrasound images; providing (130) a motion tracking model modelling a contribution to the complex motion, said contribution originating from a subset of said motion components; determining (150) said complex motion from the first and second 3D ultrasound images; and visualizing (160) a contribution of the motion tracking model to the complex motion of said object in order to obtain a motion-decomposed visualization of said complex motion. A computer program product for implementing such a method on an ultrasound system and an ultrasound system including such a computer program product are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Nicolas Francois Villain, Pascal Allain
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Patent number: 10875634Abstract: A drive train for a helicopter, which includes an engine, a reduction gear and a main gearbox, the reduction gear including an output shaft, which are received in assembled front and rear housings, the output shaft being supported and guided rotatably by a plurality of rolling bearings, mounted in the housings. The drive train includes a redundant mount arranged around the output shaft and between a wall of the main gearbox and the front end of the front housing, and the redundant mount is configured, sized and attached to the wall of the main gearbox and to the front end of the front housing so as to create, if the front housing breaks, a secondary path for absorbing loads passing via the redundant mount, via the output shaft of the reduction gear and via the bearings.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMSInventors: Thomas Marie Joseph De Dreuille De Longeville, Frederic Nicolas Francois Laisnez
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Publication number: 20200395656Abstract: An antenna arrangement (6) for an external watch part (2) of a timepiece. The antenna arrangement is formed of a technical embroidery, which includes an embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres (10) and at least one conductive wire (12) embroidered so as to produce a fine coil integrated in the embroidered structure of insulating wires or natural fibres. The conductive wire is connected to a radiofrequency integrated circuit (8).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Nicolas Francois, Zoran Randjelovic, Thierry Scordilis
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Publication number: 20200383438Abstract: The present invention relates to a piece, in particular for jewellery or timepieces, made of a material comprising a synthetic matrix (2) loaded with particles (3) of a precious or semi-precious stone, said particles (3) having a particle size d90 comprised between 50 ?m and 2 mm, preferably between 100 ?m and 1 mm, and, more preferably between 150 ?m and 500 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Nicolas FRANCOIS, Stephane LAUPER, Gregory KISSLING, Stewes BOURBAN, Agnes MARLOT DOERR
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Publication number: 20200367617Abstract: A piece of jewellery made of a natural elastomer composite material, wherein the natural elastomer composite material includes a natural elastomer matrix wherein between 0% and 6% cellulose fibres, between 0 and 5% anti-odour agents, and between 0 and 30% silica are dispersed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Nicolas Francois, Julien Dahan, Gregory Kissling
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Patent number: 10821559Abstract: An electrode in which the metallurgical structure of the active surface includes incoherent chromium precipitates, more than 90% of which have a surface of projection of less than 1 ?m2, the incoherent chromium precipitates having a size at least between 10 and 50 nm. The electrode further has a fibrous structure that is visible in a cross-section of the active surface of the electrode following surfacing and chemical etching. The fibrous structure includes a plurality of radial fibers having a thickness of less than 1 mm and of a substantially central fiberless region that has a diameter of less than 3 mm. The electrical conductivity of the electrode is greater than 85% IUPAC. The method for obtaining the electrode in a continuous casting process as well as to a use of the electrode in a resistive spot welding process.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: LEBRONZE ALLOYSInventors: Nicolas Francois, Thierry Soreau, Francois Primaux
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Publication number: 20200305560Abstract: A piece of jewellery made from elastomer composite material, wherein the elastomer composite material includes a matrix made of elastomer in which between 0.5% and 4% by mass of cellulose fibres, between 0 and 2% by mass of an antibacterial additive, between 0 and 5% by mass of thermally conductive fillers, between 0 and 1% by mass of anti-odour agents, and between 0 and 1% by mass of silica are dispersed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Omega SAInventors: Nicolas FRANCOIS, Julien DAHAN, Gregory KISSLING
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Publication number: 20200245732Abstract: External part for a timepiece or piece of jewellery, this external part being produced by means of a polymer matrix in which piezochromic molecules are dispersed that change from a first stable state to a second stable state while changing colour under the effect of applied pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Nicolas FRANCOIS, Claire RANNOUX, Stewes BOURBAN
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Patent number: 10732573Abstract: An elastomer material for a wristband or components for horology configured to be in contact with skin, the elastomer material including a moisture wicking mechanism. The wicking mechanism includes hydrophilic microfibers capable of wicking away and neutralizing moisture through the material.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Omega SAInventor: Nicolas Francois
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Publication number: 20200201261Abstract: A dial including a mother-of-pearl wafer partially covering a support member, and a decorative element arranged on a reverse of the wafer, the decorative element being visible on an obverse of the wafer when subjected to a stimulus and invisible on the obverse of the wafer in the absence of the stimulus. The decorative element has a first empty area on a reverse of the wafer, and a second empty area on the obverse of the wafer, facing the first empty area. A colour compensation layer is deposited on the first empty area or the second empty area, the colour being selected such that the difference in colour ?E in the CIE Lab colour space between the colour compensation layer and the decorative element in the absence of said stimulus, perceived by a user observing the obverse of the wafer, is less than 3. Also, a timepiece including the dial.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Agnès MARLOT DOERR, Nicolas François, Alexandros Mouskeftaras, Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin, Carole Govaerts