Patents by Inventor Pierre-André Bühler

Pierre-André Bühler 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: 11524381
    Abstract: A machining centre includes a base supporting several superposed stages. At least one stage is movable and can be position indexed relative to the base. Each stage includes distinct stations at a constant angular pitch including machining units or grippers. The combination of stations from adjacent stages defines a plurality of machining locations each combining a unit and a gripper. Each relative movement between two indexing positions of two stages changes the composition of the locations. Each gripper has at least one rotational degree of freedom relative to the stage that carries it. At least one station includes both at least one machining unit and at least one gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Patric Pham, Pierre-Andre Buehler
  • Publication number: 20200086447
    Abstract: A machining centre includes a base supporting several superposed stages. At least one stage is movable and can be position indexed relative to the base. Each stage includes distinct stations at a constant angular pitch including machining units or grippers. The combination of stations from adjacent stages defines a plurality of machining locations each combining a unit and a gripper. Each relative movement between two indexing positions of two stages changes the composition of the locations. Each gripper has at least one rotational degree of freedom relative to the stage that carries it. At least one station includes both at least one machining unit and at least one gripper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Patric PHAM, Pierre-Andre BUEHLER
  • Patent number: 9459589
    Abstract: The invention relates to a double balance spring (21) including, made in a layer of silicon-based material (11), a first balance spring (23) coaxially mounted on a collet (13, 27), the collet (13, 27) including an extending part (9) that projects from said balance spring and which is made in a second layer of silicon-based material (5). According to the invention, said extending part extends (17) into a third layer (7) of silicon-based material coaxially with a second balance spring (25) so as to form a one-piece double balance spring (21) made of silicon-based materials. The invention also relates to a timepiece including a balance spring of this type and the method of manufacturing the same. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 8550699
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composite balance (45, 45?) formed in a layer of silicon-based material (21) and including a hub (39, 39?) connected to a felloe (37, 37?) by at least one arm (40, 41, 42, 43). According to the invention, the felloe (37, 37?) includes at least one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring (23, 23?) of higher the than the silicon-based material, which increases the inertia of the balance. The invention also relates to a method 1 of manufacturing this type of balance. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 8523426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece regulating member including a balance cooperating with a hairspring made in a layer of silicon-based material and including a balance spring coaxially mounted on a collet. According to the invention, the collet includes one extending part that projects from the balance spring and which is made in a second layer of silicon-based material and is secured to the balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
  • Publication number: 20120320718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece hairspring (21, 21?) including, a balance spring (25, 25?) coaxially mounted on a collet (27, 27?), made in the same layer of silicon-based material. According to the invention, the hairspring includes an elevation device (2, 2?) for the outer coil of the balance spring above the layer of silicon-based material so as to improve the concentric development of the hairspring. The invention also relates to a timepiece including a hairspring of this type and the method of manufacturing the same. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André BÜHLER, Marco VERARDO, Thierry CONUS, Jean-Phillipe THIEBAUD, Jean-Bernard PETERS, Pierre CUSIN
  • Patent number: 8296953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece hairspring (21, 21?) including, a balance spring (25, 25?) coaxially mounted on a collet (27, 27?), made in the same layer of silicon-based material. According to the invention, the hairspring includes an elevation device (2, 2?) for the outer coil of the balance spring above the layer of silicon-based material so as to improve the concentric development of the hairspring. The invention also relates to a timepiece including a hairspring of this type and the method of manufacturing the same. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
  • Publication number: 20110103197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece regulating member including a balance cooperating with a hairspring made in a layer of silicon-based material and including a balance spring coaxially mounted on a collet. According to the invention, the collet includes one extending part that projects from the balance spring and which is made in a second layer of silicon-based material and is secured to the balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiébaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 7213966
    Abstract: The collet is formed by a metal band (10) whose inner contour (11) delimits the recesses (11a, 11b, 11c) for driving the collet onto a balance staff (2) and whose outer contour (12) includes a function point (4) between the collet and the balance spring (9) located at the end of an arm (14) at a distance R from the centre 0 of the staff (2) greater than that of any other point (6, 8, 13, 15, 17) of the outer contour (12). It is characterised in that the inner contour (11) includes a discrete number of points of contact (1, 3, 5, 7) with the staff (2) distributed along identical or different angular apertures ? and in that width “I” of the band (10) varies such that the compression forces of the contact points (1, 3, 5, 7) on the staff (2) do not substantially alter the distance R after driving in, leading to a friction torque allowing angular orientation of the collet on the staff (2) and not introducing any unbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Nivarox-Far SA.
    Inventors: Roger Lambert, Raymond Gabus, Pierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Jean-Luc Bazin