Patents by Inventor Patrick Ragot

Patrick Ragot 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: 9836027
    Abstract: A device for winding automatic watches, including an electrical energy source and a receptacle support including a surface configured to receive in abutment a back cover of a watch, the device configured to generate a magnetic and/or electrostatic field or eddy currents, in a fixed position underneath the bearing surface and generate, on a substantially annular angular sector, a magnetic and or electrostatic field that varies as a function of time and whose direction is orthogonal to the bearing surface, or generating eddy currents that vary as a function of time. The device can be provided for a watch including an automatic winding mechanism with an oscillating weight including a first ferromagnetic inner part and a second heavy metal peripheral part, and possibly with a paramagnetic conductive disc coaxial to the oscillating weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Jean-Jacques Born, Francois Klopfenstein, Patrick Ragot
  • Patent number: 9483026
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material of which one physical parameter is correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator, the magnetic material being arranged along the annular path so that the physical parameter varies angularly in a periodic manner. The annular path includes, in each angular period, an area of accumulation of magnetic potential energy in the oscillator, radially adjacent to an impulse area. The magnetic material, in each accumulation area, is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jerome Favre, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot, Fanel Piccini
  • Patent number: 9465366
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the resonator includes at least one element for magnetic coupling to the annular magnetic path, this coupling element being formed of a magnetic material having a physical parameter correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator. The radial dimension of the annular magnetic path is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the coupling element, and the magnetic material is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly in order to obtain an angularly extended magnetic potential energy area in each angular period of the annular magnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni Di Domenico, Pascal Winkler, Jerome Favre, Jean-Luc Helfer, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot, Fanel Piccini
  • Patent number: 9389591
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnetic device for regulating the relative angular velocity of a wheel and of at least one magnetic dipole integral with an oscillating device. The wheel or the dipole is driven by a driving torque. The wheel includes a periodic, ferromagnetic pole path which alternates according to a center angle and the at least one dipole is arranged to permit magnetic coupling with the ferromagnetic path and oscillation of the dipole at the natural frequency of the oscillating element during the relative motion of the wheel and of the magnetic dipole to regulate the relative angular velocity. The wheel further includes an assembly to dissipate the kinetic energy of the at least one dipole when it moves away from the ferromagnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Gianni Di Domenico, Jerome Favre, Baptiste Hinaux, Dominique Lechot, Patrick Ragot
  • Publication number: 20160004223
    Abstract: A device for winding automatic watches, including an electrical energy source and a receptacle support including a surface configured to receive in abutment a back cover of a watch, the device configured to generate a magnetic and/or electrostatic field or eddy currents, in a fixed position underneath the bearing surface and generate, on a substantially annular angular sector, a magnetic and or electrostatic field that varies as a function of time and whose direction is orthogonal to the bearing surface, or generating eddy currents that vary as a function of time. The device can be provided for a watch including an automatic winding mechanism with an oscillating weight including a first ferromagnetic inner part and a second heavy metal peripheral part, and possibly with a paramagnetic conductive disc coaxial to the oscillating weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Michel WILLEMIN, Jean-Jacques BORN, Francois KLOPFENSTEIN, Patrick RAGOT
  • Publication number: 20150177697
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material and the resonator includes at least one element for magnetic coupling to the annular magnetic path, this coupling element being formed of a magnetic material having a physical parameter correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator. The radial dimension of the annular magnetic path is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the coupling element, and the magnetic material is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly in order to obtain an angularly extended magnetic potential energy area in each angular period of the annular magnetic path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Pascal WINKLER, Jerome FAVRE, Jean-Luc HELFER, Baptiste HINAUX, Dominique LECHOT, Patrick RAGOT, Fanel PICCINI
  • Publication number: 20150177696
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnetic device for regulating the relative angular velocity of a wheel and of at least one magnetic dipole integral with an oscillating device, said wheel or said dipole being driven by a driving torque, said wheel including a periodic, ferromagnetic pole path which alternates according to a center angle and said at least one dipole being arranged to permit magnetic coupling with said ferromagnetic path and oscillation of said dipole at the natural frequency of the oscillating element during the relative motion of the wheel and of the magnetic dipole to regulate said relative angular velocity, said device being characterized in that said wheel further includes means for dissipating the kinetic energy of said at least one dipole when it moves away from said ferromagnetic path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques BORN, Gianni DI DOMENICO, Jerome FAVRE, Baptiste HINAUX, Dominique LECHOT, Patrick RAGOT
  • Publication number: 20150177698
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material of which one physical parameter is correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator, the magnetic material being arranged along the annular path so that the physical parameter varies angularly in a periodic manner. The annular path includes, in each angular period, an area of accumulation of magnetic potential energy in the oscillator, radially adjacent to an impulse area. The magnetic material, in each accumulation area, is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Gianni DI DOMENICO, Pascal WINKLER, Jerome FAVRE, Jean-Luc HELFER, Baptiste HINAUX, Dominique LECHOT, Patrick RAGOT, Fanel PICCINI
  • Patent number: 8997318
    Abstract: A bracelet including flexible end parts arranged to overlap each other in the closed position of the bracelet. The bracelet includes a first magnetic circuit portion integrated in one of the end parts and a second magnetic circuit portion integrated in the other end part, the magnetic circuit portions being arranged to mutually attract each other to unite the two end parts in the closed position of the bracelet. One end part includes second magnetic circuit portions which are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to enable the length to be selected. The magnetic circuit portions include a soft ferromagnetic alloy yoke arranged transversely to the bracelet and parallel to the surface of the end part in which the magnetic circuit portion is integrated. The first magnetic circuit portion includes bipolar magnets arranged between the yoke and the contact surface of the end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Patrick Ragot
  • Publication number: 20140000312
    Abstract: The bracelet includes two flexible end parts (8, 9) which are separable and arranged to overlap each other in the closed position of the bracelet, the bracelet includes a first magnetic circuit portion (11a, 11b) integrated in one of the end parts and a second magnetic circuit portion (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f) integrated in the other end part, the magnetic circuit portions being arranged to mutually attract each other so as to unite the two end parts in the closed position of the bracelet. One of the end parts (9) includes a plurality of second magnetic circuit portions (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f) which are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to enable the length of the bracelet to be selected. The magnetic circuit portions each include a soft ferromagnetic alloy yoke (14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f) arranged transversely to the bracelet and parallel to the surface of the end part in which the magnetic circuit portion is integrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Cedric Nicolas, Patrick Ragot
  • Patent number: 8588034
    Abstract: A timepiece wheel governor for regulating the pivoting speed (?) of a wheel set, about a pivot axis, including a pivoting inertia-block. It includes a spring to return this block towards this axis, and, when the wheel set pivots at a lower speed than a reference speed (?c), this block remains confined within a first volume of revolution, and, when the wheel set pivots at a higher speed than the reference speed (?c), this block is engaged, in one peripheral portion thereof, in a second volume contiguous with and external to the first one, this peripheral portion cooperating in this second volume with a regulator arranged to brake the wheel set and return the pivoting speed (?) thereof to the reference speed (?c), and to dissipate the surplus energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Jan Pittet, Jean-Jacques Born, Thierry Conus, Eric Goeller, Patrick Ragot, Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi, Jérôme Favre
  • Publication number: 20120207001
    Abstract: Timepiece wheel governor (1) for regulating the pivoting speed (?) of a wheel set (3), about a pivot axis (D1), including a pivoting inertia-block (4). It includes a means (7) of returning said block (4) towards said axis (D1), and, when said wheel set (3) pivots at a lower speed than a reference speed (?c), said block (4) remains confined within a first volume of revolution (VI), and, when said wheel set (3) pivots at a higher speed than said reference speed (?c), said block (4) is engaged, in one peripheral portion (30) thereof, in a second volume (VE) contiguous with and external to said first one (VI), said peripheral portion (30) cooperating in said second volume (VE) with a regulating means arranged to brake said wheel set (3) and return the pivoting speed (?) thereof to said reference speed (?c), and to dissipate the surplus energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Jan PITTET, Jean-Jacques Born, Thierry Conus, Eric Goeller, Patrick Ragot, Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi, Jerome Favre