Patents by Inventor Sylvain Marechal

Sylvain Marechal 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: 10675910
    Abstract: A device for displaying at least one time-related magnitude including a timepiece movement including at least one time base and at least one energy source which extend in a first same plane, and at least one roller pivotably mounted about an axis of rotation A and which extends in a second plane parallel to the first plane, at least one roller including a display strip arranged on an outer periphery and on which at least one indication of the time-related magnitude is inscribed, the timepiece movement driving at least one roller in rotation about axis A via drive device which extend in the same second plane as at least one roller, at least one roller and the timepiece movement being centred on axis A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Dauby, Sylvain Marechal
  • Patent number: 10295960
    Abstract: A musical timepiece includes a gong fastened to a structure or a resonator of a watch case, the resonator rigidly assembled to the structure around a chamber, by lugs allowing vibration of the resonator within a determined frequency range, the chamber enclosing a sealing element forming with the lugs the only mechanical connection between the structure and the resonator. The structure or the resonator includes a groove receiving a gasket in contact with the structure and the resonator The structure structure or the resonator or the sealing element includes a rigid protruding relief portion compressing a gasket in its groove, with a hardness less than 20 Shore A, for minimum damping of the vibration of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Younes Kadmiri, Sylvain Marechal, Stephane Cadau, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 10018967
    Abstract: A method for orienting a timepiece component including ferromagnetic material, where, on both ends of this component, two magnetic fields each attract it onto a pole piece, with an unbalance in the intensity of these fields around this component, in order to create a differential in the forces thereon and to press one of these ends onto a contact surface of one of the pole pieces, and to hold the other end at a distance from the other pole piece. A magnetic pivot includes such a component with two ends. It includes a guide device with surfaces of two pole pieces each generating a magnetic field attracting one of these ends, the magnetic forces exerted on the two ends being of different intensity, in order to attract only one end into contact with only one of these pole piece surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi, Olivier Karlen, Arnaud Todeschini
  • Patent number: 9927771
    Abstract: Watch comprising a case containing an energy accumulator recharged by a winding mechanism, this watch is arranged to receive, attached to the case or in immediate proximity thereto, an additional self-winding mechanism arranged to be worn by a user at the same time as the watch and comprising a transmitter wheel set arranged for contactless cooperation with a receiver wheel set comprised in the winding mechanism, by remote interaction under the action of a field in the air-gap between the transmitter wheel set and the receiver wheel set, the intensity of the field and the maximum air-gap distance being defined to transmit to the receiver wheel set, to recharge the energy accumulator, a torque or a force imparted by a user to the transmitter wheel set, and the additional self-winding mechanism is removable and portable with respect to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Jerome Favre
  • Patent number: 9690256
    Abstract: The device for pivoting an arbor about a determined axis includes at least one magnetic bearing including a magnet which exerts a force of attraction on a pivot, made of magnetic material, of the arbor. Further, the bearing includes a magnetic flux centring structure arranged between the magnet and the pivot, and a support for the centring structure. This centring structure includes a peripheral portion and a central portion resiliently connected to the peripheral portion by at least one connecting element, the central portion being formed of a highly magnetically permeable material and having smaller dimensions than those of the magnet. The peripheral portion is rigidly force fitted to the support so that the central portion is centred on the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Benoit Legeret, Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 9606509
    Abstract: The device for pivoting an arbor of a rotating member, on a determined pivot axis, inside a timepiece movement includes at least one magnetic bearing including a magnet which exerts a force of attraction on a pivot made of magnetic material, of the arbor, and an endstone arranged between the magnet and the pivot, the endstone being formed of a material having a hardness greater than 500 HV and a friction coefficient less than or substantially equal to 0.1 with the material of which the pivot is made. The material forming the endstone has a high magnetic permeability and the endstone has, in cross-section to the pivot axis, smaller dimensions than those of the magnet, said endstone being arranged in the timepiece movement to be centred on the determined pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Benoit Legeret
  • Patent number: 9594350
    Abstract: A timepiece balance spring made of micromachinable material including a plurality of stages, each forming a spiral wound spring, parallel to each other and all attached to a common axial collet or to the same balance staff, each stage including, at its respective outer end, its own attachment to a balance spring stud which are independent of those of the other stages, the attachment including a position adjustment with respect to a balance spring stud which are also independent of those of the other stages, the attachment and the position adjustment together forming built-in isochronism correction mechanism for the balance spring, and the position adjustment including a plurality of discrete position adjustment positions including housings each arranged to retain a stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Davide Sarchi, Sylvain Marechal, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis
  • Publication number: 20160370762
    Abstract: The device for pivoting an arbor about a determined axis includes at least one magnetic bearing including a magnet which exerts a force of attraction on a pivot, made of magnetic material, of the arbor. Further, the bearing includes a magnetic flux centring structure arranged between the magnet and the pivot, and a support for the centring structure. This centring structure includes a peripheral portion and a central portion resiliently connected to the peripheral portion by at least one connecting element, the central portion being formed of a highly magnetically permeable material and having smaller dimensions than those of the magnet. The peripheral portion is rigidly force fitted to the support so that the central portion is centred on the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain ZAUGG, Benoit Legeret, Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 9400488
    Abstract: An automatic winding device for a spring of a watch movement including a weight fixed on a support via a bearing including a ring which drives, in only one direction of rotation called the winding direction, a transmission gear in order to wind the mainspring, this winding device wherein, on the one hand, the bearing is of the one-way type and blocks the rotation of the weight in the opposite direction to the winding direction, called the blocking direction and wherein, on the other hand, the device includes a means for decoupling the weight from said bearing in at least the blocking direction when the weight exerts on the bearing a torque higher than a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Benoit Junod
  • Patent number: 9367038
    Abstract: Balance spring stud including, around a housing receiving a balance spring of reference thickness, a one-piece component made of a shape memory alloy and including two lugs, each arranged to rest on one of the surfaces of the balance spring, and wherein, in the free state, the minimum width of the air gap of the lugs is greater than the maximum value of the reference thickness when the component is in an open position corresponding to a martensitic structure, and wherein the maximum width of the air gap is less than the minimum value of the reference thickness when the component is in a closed position corresponding to an austenitic structure, and the balance spring includes an area of lesser thickness having a minimum thickness equal to the reference thickness, surrounded by areas of large thickness having a minimum thickness greater than the reference thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Gaetan Villard, Lucien Germond, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis, Stephane Beugin, Sylvain Marechal
  • Patent number: 9324309
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting the vibration frequency range of a sound producing device with vibrating tongues. The device includes an assembly formed of a comb extended by at least one vibrating tongue, said comb having at least one hole for the securing thereof to a support by means of a support jaw and of a tightening element traversing the support jaw and the hole in the aforecited comb. According to the method, the frequency range is adjusted by reducing the free length of the vibrating tongue or tongues by the localized clamping of said tongues between the support jaw and a local counter-support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Rene Piguet, Benoit Junod, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis, Sylvain Marechal
  • Patent number: 9152128
    Abstract: Escapement mechanism (3) for a watch movement including a pallet lever (7) with a fork (13) and a roller device (4) with an impulse-pin coupled to a balance (2). The fork includes an entry horn (19) and an exit horn (21), the impulse-pin including a first cam portion (12a, 12b) configured to engage the entry horn, and a second cam portion (14a, 14b) configured to engage the exit horn. The first cam portion includes a first cam surface (12a) configured to engage the entry horn on a first level (10a, 10b), and the second cam portion includes a second cam surface (14b) configured to engage the exit horn on a second level (10b, 13b), the first and second levels being staggered in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the roller device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Stephane Beugin, Nakis Karapatis, Benoit Junod
  • Publication number: 20150234361
    Abstract: A method for orienting a timepiece component including ferromagnetic material, where, on both ends of this component, two magnetic fields each attract it onto a pole piece, with an unbalance in the intensity of these fields around this component, in order to create a differential in the forces thereon and to press one of these ends onto a contact surface of one of the pole pieces, and to hold the other end at a distance from the other pole piece. A magnetic pivot includes such a component with two ends. It includes a guide device with surfaces of two pole pieces each generating a magnetic field attracting one of these ends, the magnetic forces exerted on the two ends being of different intensity, in order to attract only one end into contact with only one of these pole piece surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi, Olivier Karlen, Arnaud Todeschini
  • Patent number: 9030070
    Abstract: A method and device for orienting a timepiece component on both ends of which two magnetic/electrostatic fields each attract it onto a pole piece, with an unbalance in the intensity of the fields around the component, in order to create a differential in the forces thereon and to press one of the ends onto a contact surface of one of the pole pieces, and to hold the other end at a distance from the other pole piece. A magnetic/electrostatic pivot includes such a component with two ends. It includes a guide device with surfaces of two pole pieces each attracted by a magnetic/electrostatic field transmitted by one of the ends, or generating a magnetic/electrostatic field attracting one of the ends, the magnetic/electrostatic forces exerted on the two ends are of different intensity, in order to attract only one end into contact with only one of the pole piece surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi, Olivier Karlen, Arnaud Todeschini
  • Publication number: 20150103637
    Abstract: Escapement mechanism (3) for a watch movement including a pallet lever (7) with a fork (13) and a roller device (4) with an impulse-pin coupled to a balance (2). The fork includes an entry horn (19) and an exit horn (21), the impulse-pin including a first cam portion (12a, 12b) configured to engage the entry horn, and a second cam portion (14a, 14b) configured to engage the exit horn. The first cam portion includes a first cam surface (12a) configured to engage the entry horn on a first level (10a, 10b), and the second cam portion includes a second cam surface (14b) configured to engage the exit horn on a second level (10b, 13b), the first and second levels being staggered in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the roller device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Stephane Beugin, Nakis Karapatis, Benoit Junod
  • Publication number: 20140366705
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting the vibration frequency range of a sound producing device with vibrating tongues. The device includes an assembly formed of a comb extended by at least one vibrating tongue, said comb having at least one hole for the securing thereof to a support by means of a support jaw and of a tightening element traversing the support jaw and the hole in the aforecited comb. According to the method, the frequency range is adjusted by reducing the free length of the vibrating tongue or tongues by the localised clamping of said tongues between the support jaw and a local counter-support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Rene PIGUET, Benoit Junod, Polychronis Nakis Karapatis, Sylvain Marechal
  • Patent number: 8858068
    Abstract: The watch movement comprises a motor barrel (102), a fusee (104) having a main surface that has a spiral groove (148), means (192) for winding the movement arranged to drive the fusee, a going train (200) arranged to be driven by the fusee, and a wire (106) extended between the fusee and the barrel. The watch movement additionally comprises a fixed guide (155; 255) and a winding roller (157; 257) mounted to slide on the fixed guide, wherein the winding roller is arranged to guide the wire when the fusee turns and to simultaneously assure the insertion of the wire into the groove (148) and its removal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Eric Goeller, Sylvain Marechal
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8579501
    Abstract: Anti-shock device for the protection of a timepiece component pivotally mounted between a first and a second end in a chamber. The component is freely mounted in the chamber between pole pieces, which are distinct from the component and located in proximity to the chamber and the device includes a device for attracting the first end held in abutment on only the first pole piece, and a device for attracting the second end towards a second pole piece, the devices for attracting the first end and the second end, which are of magnetic and/or electrostatic nature, can move along an axial direction between stop members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 8514669
    Abstract: The strike mechanism of a watch includes a gong secured by one end thereof to a gong-carrier integral with a plate, a hammer rotatably mounted on the plate for striking the gong at predetermined times, a damping counterspring for keeping the hammer at a distance from the gong in an idle mode, and a drive spring for driving the hammer. The drive spring includes one end secured to the plate and one end that is free to move. The spring is windable so that the free end of the drive spring drives the hammer against the gong in a strike mode to generate an acoustic sound. The strike mechanism further includes a stop member on the path of the hammer drive spring in the direction of the gong for increasing the rotational strike speed following contact of an intermediate part of the drive spring acting against the stop member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Jean-François Pesenti, Jérôme Favre, Nakis Karapatis