Patents by Inventor Willy Meier

Willy Meier 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: 9746831
    Abstract: Regulating body for a wristwatch, comprising: a generator provided with a rotor and a stator with M+N coils, M being a whole number higher than, or equal to, 1; and an electronic regulating circuit having a first load impedance with an adjustable value for adjusting the current in N of said M+N coils, and therefore the rotational speed of the rotor. Only a limited number of coils is therefore used for the braking, the other coils continuing to supply the electronic regulating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Richemont International SA
    Inventors: Daho Taghezout, Willy Meier, Alexandre Michalet, Kurt Straumann
  • Patent number: 9348316
    Abstract: Movement for chronograph watch comprising: a barrel (1); a main gear train (RH) for driving one or more current time indicators (43); a regulator member comprising a generator (8) driven by the main gear train (RH), the generator powering an electronic regulation circuit (80) to control the speed of rotation of the main gear train as a function of a quartz oscillator (81); a chronograph gear train (Rc) that can be brought into mesh with the main gear train (RH) to drive a timer indicator (152). The chronograph gear train can be brought into mesh with a wheel (8) that performs more than one revolution per minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Richemont International SA
    Inventors: Willy Meier, Alexandre Michalet, Kurt Straumann, Daho Taghezout
  • Publication number: 20150316894
    Abstract: Regulating body for a wristwatch, comprising: a generator provided with a rotor and a stator with M+N coils, M being a whole number higher than, or equal to, 1; and an electronic regulating circuit having a first load impedance with an adjustable value for adjusting the current in N of said M+N coils, and therefore the rotational speed of the rotor. Only a limited number of coils is therefore used for the braking, the other coils continuing to supply the electronic regulating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Daho TAGHEZOUT, Willy MEIER, Alexandre MICHALET, Kurt STRAUMANN
  • Publication number: 20150220064
    Abstract: Movement for chronograph watch comprising: a barrel (1); a main gear train (RH) for driving one or more current time indicators (43); a regulator member comprising a generator (8) driven by the main gear train (RH), the generator powering an electronic regulation circuit (80) to control the speed of rotation of the main gear train as a function of a quartz oscillator (81); a chronograph gear train (Rc) that can be brought into mesh with the main gear train (RH) to drive a timer indicator (152). The chronograph gear train can be brought into mesh with a wheel (8) that performs more than one revolution per minute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL S.A.
    Inventors: Willy Meier, Alexandre Michalet, Kurt Straumann, Daho Taghezout
  • Patent number: 8134892
    Abstract: A timepiece includes: a housing (10), a movement (12) provided in the housing, a piece of glass (14) closing the housing, a dial (60) provided between the movement and the glass, wherein the dial can assume a first state in which the elements located behind the dial opposite the glass are visible from the glass side and a second state in which the elements are hidden, a mobile part capable of movement between at least one first position and at least one second position respectively corresponding to the first and second states of the dial, and display members (16) provided between the dial and the glass. The timepiece further includes a lid movably mounted relative to the housing and kinematically connected to the mobile part for urging the same from the first to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Creations Horlogeres de Lully SA
    Inventors: Anouk Danthe, Olivier Leu, Willy Meier, Sébastien Brancucci
  • Publication number: 20110044138
    Abstract: A timepiece includes: a housing (10), a movement (12) provided in the housing, a piece of glass (14) closing the housing, a dial (60) provided between the movement and the glass, wherein the dial can assume a first state in which the elements located behind the dial opposite the glass are visible from the glass side and a second state in which the elements are hidden, a mobile part capable of movement between at least one first position and at least one second position respectively corresponding to the first and second states of the dial, and display members (16) provided between the dial and the glass. The timepiece further includes a lid movably mounted relative to the housing and kinematically connected to the mobile part for urging the same from the first to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: CREATIONS HORLOGERES DE LULLY SA
    Inventors: Anouk Danthe, Olivier Leu, Willy Meier, Sebastien Brancucci
  • Publication number: 20090133438
    Abstract: A bracelet clasp having two closing elements (18,20) arranged on the two ends of a bracelet to be joined thereby and provided with means (28, 40, 42) for the coupling thereof. A band (24, 60) is used to connect the elements and is mounted in such a way that it can be displaced in relation to both elements. Devices are provided for defining the course of band displacement in relation to the open position of the closing elements, and for associating one end of the band with one of the closing elements. The clasp also has a device for defining the course of band displacement in relation to the closed position of the closing elements, this device being arranged on a central portion of the band in relation to its length between the closing elements in their open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Roland Stampfli, Willy Meier
  • Patent number: 7508738
    Abstract: A display device is provided for a watch movement provided with a final gear train intended to drive, at least in a mediated way, means of displaying the time and an energy source driving the final gear train. In one implementation, the display device comprises a display disk for an additional function, and a display gearing of which one moving part carries the display disk. The display device also comprises a second energy source connected mechanically to the display gearing and operating means for the display gearing, designed so as to cause the gearing to be driven by the second energy source when the information for display has to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Eterna SA
    Inventors: Willy Meier, Paul Gerber
  • Patent number: 7357568
    Abstract: A running reserve indicator is provided for a mechanical clockwork provided with a main barrel for driving a gear-train and at least a second barrel for driving a gear-train allocated to an auxiliary function which is performed during a determined period. With the indicator, the running reserve displayed with the aid of a hand and a dial is always equal to the running reserve of the barrel having the smallest reserve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eterna SA
    Inventors: Paul Gerber, Willy Meier
  • Publication number: 20070251340
    Abstract: An escape wheel is disclosed having a direction of rotation, defining an upstream direction and a downstream direction, that may be configured to be used in an escape mechanism. The wheel may include a hub, a felly mounted to the hub, and at least one tooth disposed radially on the felly. Each tooth may include a stem that terminates in a finger. The finger may include a first part having a first thickness on the side of the felly, and a second part having a smaller second thickness disposed on the side of an end of the finger. The boundary between the first and second parts may define a threshold that is configured to form an oil container together with the face of the second part adjacent thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventor: Willy Meier
  • Patent number: 7234858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a watch case comprising a case middle (16), a bezel (18) mounted so that it can turn on the middle and defining between them an annular chamber (36) and a gap (40) open towards the outside of the case, a glass (22) mounted in sealed fashion on the bezel, a seal (42) inserted between the bezel and the middle and arranged in said chamber (36). According to the invention said seal comprises a ring (44) of annular shape made of a material of the highly elastically deformable type, of annular shape, and the cross section of which comprises two lips (44a), one bearing against the bezel (18), the other against the case middle (16), and a compression member (48) arranged in said chamber on the side of the gap, inserted between and collaborating with said lips in order to compress them against the bezel and against the case middle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Eterna SA
    Inventor: Willy Meier
  • Publication number: 20070041277
    Abstract: A running reserve indicator is provided for a mechanical clockwork provided with a main barrel for driving a gear-train and at least a second barrel for driving a gear-train allocated to an auxiliary function which is performed during a determined period. With the indicator, the running reserve displayed with the aid of a hand and a dial is always equal to the running reserve of the barrel having the smallest reserve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Gerber, Willy Meier
  • Publication number: 20060215498
    Abstract: A display device is provided for a watch movement provided with a final gear train intended to drive, at least in a mediated way, means of displaying the time and an energy source driving the final gear train. In one implementation, the display device comprises a display disk for an additional function, and a display gearing of which one moving part carries the display disk. The display device also comprises a second energy source connected mechanically to the display gearing and operating means for the display gearing, designed so as to cause the gearing to be driven by the second energy source when the information for display has to be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: ETERNA SA
    Inventor: Willy Meier
  • Patent number: 4809250
    Abstract: In this reverser mechanism the winding wheel is assembled on a common axis with two ratchet wheels each assigned to one of the pivoting direction of the oscillating mass.The winding wheel is pierced by rivets which bear respectively a pawl and a spring. The spring which is thus mounted on a pivot means of a pawl cooperating with one of the ratchet wheels loads the pawl which cooperates with the other ratchet wheel.The mechanism is for use with timepieces having automatic winding of the mainspring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Fabrique Ebel, Societe Anonyme
    Inventor: Willy Meier
  • Patent number: 4629332
    Abstract: The operation at the desired time of the sound generator associated with the timepiece having a quartz watch movement is initiated by the closure of a switch. One contact pole of that switch is formed at the end of a helicoidal spring arm made integral with a plane thin washer fixed to the hour wheel of the watch movement. The other contact pole of the switch is formed on a disk coaxially rotatable around the movement axis and has the shape of a radial segment. That disc can manually be set in any angular position around the watch axis. The spring arm permanently presses its end against the disk. During the normal movement run, the spring arm end moves along an insulated area of the disk unit it comes in contact with the radial segment of the disk and closes the switch, thereby initiating the sound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Paolo Spadini
    Inventors: Paolo Spadini, Willy Meier