Patents by Inventor Serge NICOLLIN

Serge NICOLLIN 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: 9042206
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving an indicator for a timepiece includes: a mobile for driving the indicator; a first lever mounted about a first pivot and including a beak to cooperate with a toothing of the mobile; a first cam arranged to rotate the first lever about the first pivot; a second lever mounted about a second pivot and to which the first pivot is rigidly connected; a second cam arranged to rotate the second lever about the second pivot; and elastic elements for maintaining the cooperation between the levers and cams; the levers and the cams being arranged so that the beak of the first lever cyclically describes a closed curve, each cycle including a first motion during which the beak leaves the toothing of the mobile without changing the angular position thereof and a second motion during which the beak re-enters the toothing to move the mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Publication number: 20140160897
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving an indicator for a timepiece includes: a mobile for driving the indicator; a first lever mounted about a first pivot and including a beak to cooperate with a toothing of the mobile; a first cam arranged to rotate the first lever about the first pivot; a second lever mounted about a second pivot and to which the first pivot is rigidly connected; a second cam arranged to rotate the second lever about the second pivot; and elastic elements for maintaining the cooperation between the levers and cams; the levers and the cams being arranged so that the beak of the first lever cyclically describes a closed curve, each cycle including a first motion during which the beak leaves the toothing of the mobile without changing the angular position thereof and a second motion during which the beak re-enters the toothing to move the mobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Patent number: 8675453
    Abstract: A backlash-compensating mechanism includes a cam, an actuating member bearing against the cam and a wheel coaxial to the cam and intended to be driven by a gear train of the movement. The cam and the wheel are connected to each other such that one revolution of the wheel includes a sequence of a first phase in which the wheel drives the cam whilst the co-operation between the cam and the actuating member cocks the latter, a second phase in which the actuating member uncocks and causes the cam to effect an instantaneous jump, and a third phase in which the cam is immobilized and the wheel continues to advance until it catches up with the cam to once again drive it during the first phase of the following revolution. This mechanism includes a resilient element acting between the cam and the wheel and applying a return torque to the wheel during the third phase to compensate the backlash in the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Serge Nicollin
  • Patent number: 8644116
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism for a timepiece, includes: at least one mobile (22; 23) for driving an indicator, a wheel (1) which, during normal operation of the timepiece, is driven in a first direction (S1), a lever (16) for actuating the mobile (22; 23), and first and second cams (2, 3) driven by the wheel (1) and controlling the movements of the actuating lever (16), these first and second cams (2, 3) being arranged so that their relative angular position differs depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel (1) so that the movements of the actuating lever (16) cause the mobile (22; 23) to advance periodically during normal operation of the timepiece and do not permit the mobile to advance during backwards time setting of the timepiece causing the wheel to rotate in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Breitling AG
    Inventors: Jacques Gabathuler, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Serge Nicollin, Florent Zufferey
  • Publication number: 20130051183
    Abstract: Calendar mechanism for a timepiece, includes: at least one mobile (22; 23) for driving an indicator, a wheel (1) which, during normal operation of the timepiece, is driven in a first direction (S1), a lever (16) for actuating the mobile (22; 23), and first and second cams (2, 3) driven by the wheel (1) and controlling the movements of the actuating lever (16), these first and second cams (2, 3) being arranged so that their relative angular position differs depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel (1) so that the movements of the actuating lever (16) cause the mobile (22; 23) to advance periodically during normal operation of the timepiece and do not permit the mobile to advance during backwards time setting of the timepiece causing the wheel to rotate in a second direction (S2) opposite to the first direction (S1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques GABATHULER, Trung Thanh NGUYEN, Serge NICOLLIN, Florent ZUFFEREY
  • Publication number: 20120014224
    Abstract: A backlash-compensating mechanism includes a cam, an actuating member bearing against the cam and a wheel coaxial to the cam and intended to be driven by a gear train of the movement. The cam and the wheel are connected to each other such that one revolution of the wheel includes a sequence of a first phase in which the wheel drives the cam whilst the co-operation between the cam and the actuating member cocks the latter, a second phase in which the actuating member uncocks and causes the cam to effect an instantaneous jump, and a third phase in which the cam is immobilized and the wheel continues to advance until it catches up with the cam to once again drive it during the first phase of the following revolution. This mechanism includes a resilient element acting between the cam and the wheel and applying a return torque to the wheel during the third phase to compensate the backlash in the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: BREITLING AG
    Inventors: Jacques GABATHULER, Serge NICOLLIN