With Collet Patents (Class 368/177)
  • Patent number: 12045013
    Abstract: An assembly (300) includes (i) a hairspring (2) made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, notably an alloy including the elements Nb and Zr with between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr and an interstitial doping agent including oxygen, and least one fastening part (1; 1?), notably two parts (1; 1?), in particular a stud (1) or a collet (1?), for an end (2a; 2b) of the hairspring (2), the at least one part (1; 1?) having a first portion (10; 10?) that is designed to come into contact with the hairspring (2) and that is made of titanium or titanium alloy or of tantalum or tantalum alloy, notably grade 2 titanium or grade 5 titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Olivier Balague, Dominique Gritti, Thomas Gyger, Ondrej Papes, Antoine Rime
  • Patent number: 11822289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method including: a) obtaining a substrate extending in a predetermined plane with a first layer parallel to the plane; b) forming a through-hole in the first layer; c) depositing a second layer on the first, the second layer filling the a through-hole to form a bridge of material; d) etching a hairspring in an etching layer made up of the second layer or the substrate, the one of the second layer and the substrate in which the a hairspring is not etched constituting a support, the bridge of material connecting the hairspring to the support perpendicular to the predetermined plane; e) removing the first layer, the hairspring remaining attached to the support by the bridge of material; f) subjecting the hairspring to a thermal treatment; and g) detaching the hairspring from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CSEM CENTRE SUISSE D'ELECTRONIQUE ET DE MICROTECHNIQUE SA—RECHERCHE ET DEVELOPPEMENT
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Frédéric Kohler, Olivier Hunziker, Jean-Luc Bucaille
  • Patent number: 11796966
    Abstract: A method for producing a timepiece spring includes the following steps: producing a piece based on silicon, having the desired shape of the timepiece spring; thermally oxidising the piece; deoxidising the piece; annealing the piece in a reducing atmosphere; forming a silicon oxide layer on the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
    Inventors: Sylvain Jeanneret, Frédéric Maier, Jean-Luc Bucaille
  • Patent number: 11573533
    Abstract: An elastic holding organ for fastening a timepiece component on a support element, including a rigid portion provided with an inner face including at least three deformable arms provided with free ends defining an opening into which the support element can be inserted, the arms being configured to perform a coupling with the support element by an elastic clamping in compression of this support element in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Romain Le Moal, Frederic Vaucher, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 10444707
    Abstract: A collet elastically mounted on a staff whose geometry produces fewer internal stresses in particular on the contact points and the vertices of its polygonal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Hernandez, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 10384309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a part intended to be welded comprising a final machining step capable of reducing the contact surface of the face to be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Davy Cretenet, Marc Stranczl, Raphael Garret
  • Patent number: 10343234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fabrication method including an assembly step for inserting an intermediate part intended to ensure the flatness of the face to be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Davy Cretenet, Marc Stranczl, Raphael Garret
  • Patent number: 10338529
    Abstract: A fastening stud (1) for one end of a hairspring, the stud having a first portion (10) designed to come into contact with the hairspring, the first portion being formed such as to have a first surface (10b) and a second bearing surface (10c) with the hairspring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Olivier Balague, Thomas Gyger, Ondrej Papes, Antoine Rime
  • Patent number: 9983548
    Abstract: A balance spring includes a strip wound around itself into several coils, the inner coil being integral with a collet including a band extending substantially in the form of a polygon. The outer contour on each bulging portion of the vertices of the polygon includes two axially extending walls substantially parallel to each other relative to the segment formed between the center of the collet and the end of the bulging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventor: Marc Stranczl
  • Patent number: 9016934
    Abstract: An anti-trip mechanism includes a flange with a radial travel limiting channel and a balance spring with a strip wound into a plurality of coils. The balance spring includes an inner coil fixed, at a first end, to a collet coaxial to the balance spring relative to a pivot axis, and an outer coil fixed, at a second, opposite end, to a hooking element. A coil of the balance spring includes a finger that includes a feeler spindle stud that is mounted integrally with the coil. The feeler spindle stud is moveable without any contact, during the normal extension and contraction of said balance spring, in the radial travel limiting channel of the flange. The radial travel limiting channel limits travel of the finger relative to the pivot axis when an angle of pivoting imparted to the collet is greater than a determined nominal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nivarox—FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Marco Verardo
  • Patent number: 9004748
    Abstract: A balance spring includes a first hairspring, a second hairspring, and an attachment member securing an outer coil of the first hairspring to one end of the second hairspring so as to form a dual balance spring in series. A curve of the first hairspring and a curve of the second hairspring each have a continuously variable pitch and are symmetrical relative to a straight line parallel to first and second planes and pass through a median plane of projection of the attachment member. Each hairspring further includes at least two counterweights so as to compensate for an unbalance formed by a mass of the attachment member and personalize an anisochronism slope of the balance spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Kaspar Trumpy
  • Patent number: 8979359
    Abstract: A balance spring including a first hairspring, the inner coil of which includes a collet arranged to be mounted on a staff, and a second hairspring connected to the outer coil of the first hairspring by a raised terminal curve device. The inner coil of the second hairspring includes a device for shifting the pinning point including a free end arranged to be pinned up to a stud in the plane of the second hairspring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Publication number: 20150023140
    Abstract: An integral assembly of a single or double hairspring and an unsplit collet including two portions opposite one another for receiving the balance staff, one portion including one of the bearing surfaces (2 or 3) for the balance staff and a point (10, 11) for attaching the hairspring, and the other portion including another bearing surface (4, 5 or 14) for the balance staff, the two portions being connected together by two linking portions that are less rigid than the receiving portions so as to be capable of elastically deforming during the fitting of a balance staff. According to another aspect, the invention also relates to an integral assembly of a hairspring and a collet, including at least two stages, as well as to a method for manufacturing such an assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventors: Jerome Daout, Richard Bossart, Jean-Marc Bonard
  • Patent number: 8882341
    Abstract: A hairspring collet for a hairspring for interference engagement and an interference fit with the cylindrical outer surface of the staff of a balance wheel for a timepiece movement, the hairspring collet portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending elastically deformable interconnected arm portions, the arm portions forming an annulus having a central axis and providing an aperture therebetween, wherein each arm portion including a curved concave engagement portion for engagement with the outer surface of a staff of a balance wheel, wherein each engagement portion has substantially the same radius of curvature as each other and are equally spaced from the central axis at a first distance and wherein the first distance is less than the radius of the staff of the balance wheel; the engagement portions have a radius of curvature such that upon deformation of the arm portions and engagement with the outer surface of the staff the engagement portions substantially conform with the outer surface of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Master Dynamic Limited
    Inventors: Siu Kay Chu, Ho Ching, Pui Hang Ko
  • Patent number: 8845184
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system of assembling a member, made of a first material, in the aperture of a part made of a second material having no usable plastic domain, using an intermediate portion (7, 27, 47, 67, 87) made of a third material, mounted between said member and said part. According to the invention, the part is accommodated against a first level (6) of the intermediate portion and is resiliently locked on a second level of the intermediate portion by the member in order to secure together the unit comprising the member—intermediate portion—part. The invention concerns the field of timepieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Marc Stranczl, Daniel Mallet, Emmanuel Graf
  • Publication number: 20140247704
    Abstract: An oscillator (10) comprising a spiral spring (11) made from a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material and an assembled balance wheel (12) comprising a shaft (13) on which the following elements are fitted: a balance wheel (14), a plate (15) and a collet (16) rigidly connected with said spiral spring (11), characterised in that the maximum diameter (Dmax) of the shaft is less than 3.5, or even 2.5, or even 2 times the minimum diameter (D1) of the shaft on which one of the elements is fitted or in that the maximum diameter (Dmax) of the shaft is less than 1.6, or even 1.3 times the maximum diameter (D2) of the shaft on which one of the elements is fitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicants: ROLEX S.A., ROLEX S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bertrand, Benoit Boulenguiez, Thomas Cimprich
  • Publication number: 20140198627
    Abstract: A hairspring collet for a hairspring for interference engagement and an interference fit with the cylindrical outer surface of the staff of a balance wheel for a timepiece movement, said hairspring collet portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending elastically deformable interconnected arm portions, the arm portions forming an annulus having a central axis and providing an aperture therebetween, wherein each arm portion including a curved concave engagement portion for engagement with the outer surface of a staff of a balance wheel, wherein each engagement portion has substantially the same radius of curvature as each other and are equally spaced from said central axis at a first distance and wherein said first distance is less than the radius of the staff of the balance wheel; said engagement portions have a radius of curvature such that upon deformation of the arm portions and engagement with the outer surface of said staff the engagement portions substantially conform with the outer surfa
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Master Dynamic Limited
    Inventors: Siu Kay CHU, Ho CHING, Pui Hang KO
  • Patent number: 8757868
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a balance spring assembly (1) in silicon including a hairspring (2) made in a wafer of given crystalline orientation, in a plane (P). The volume of the assembly (1) is broken down into sub-components, inscribed in parallelepiped prisms, in secant pairs, at the junction areas, perpendicular to each other, each made in a wafer selected for the thickness or crystalline orientation thereof. An outer curve (4) is made in an orthogonal plane to that of the hairspring (2) joining it directly to a point in space, the projection of which into the plane (P) is located external to the hairspring (2). The sub-components are assembled at the junction areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Nakis Karapatis, 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
  • Patent number: 8491182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a resonator (11) with a balance (13) and balance spring (15) including a balance (13) mounted on a staff (17), a balance spring (15) integral with a collet (14) and mounted on said staff. According to the invention, the collet (14) includes an integral protruding portion or bump (16) forming a pin arranged for cooperating with an escape system. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Philomène Berger, Emmanuel Graf, Daniel Mallet, Frédéric Vaucher, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 8480294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a balance spring (1, 1?) including a first hairspring (3, 3?) the curve of which extends in a first plane, a second hairspring (5, 5?) the curve of which extends in a second plane parallel to the first plane, an attachment member (4, 4?) securing one end of the curve of the first hairspring (3, 3?) to one end of the curve of the second hairspring (5, 5?) so as to form a dual balance spring (1, 1?) in series. According to the invention, the curve of the first hairspring (3, 3?) and the curve of the second hairspring (5, 5?) each include a continuously variable pitch and are symmetrical relative to a straight line (A) parallel to the first and second planes and passing through the median plane of projection of the attachment member (4, 4?) and in that each curve respects the relations. Px(0)=0 and Py(1)=2Py(0) in order to reduce displacements of the centre of mass thereof during contraction and expansion. The invention concerns the field of sprung balance resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Kaspar Trumpy
  • Patent number: 8425110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon-based Breguet overcoil balance spring (1, 31) that includes a hairspring (3, 33) made integral coaxially with a collet (5, 35), a terminal curve (7, 37) and an elevation device (9, 39) between the outer coil (15, 45) of the hairspring and the terminal curve. According to the invention, the balance spring has two single parts secured to each other to increase the development precision of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare, Sacha Vorpe, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Marc Lippuner
  • Publication number: 20130064046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a balance spring (7, 37) including a first hairspring (11, 41), the inner coil of which comprises a collet (10, 40) arranged to be mounted on a staff (2, 32), and a second hairspring (13, 43) connected to the outer coil of the first hairspring (11, 41) by a raised terminal curve device (15, 45). According to the invention, the inner coil of the second hairspring (13, 43) includes a device (17, 47) for shifting the pinning point comprising a free end (6, 36) arranged to be pinned up to a stud (8, 38) in the plane of said second hairspring. The invention concerns the field of sprung balance resonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Rochat
  • Patent number: 8393783
    Abstract: Hairspring for a balance wheel/hairspring resonator, comprising n blades, where n?2, which are fastened via at least one of their respective homologous ends and wound in spirals with an angular offset capable of neutralizing the lateral forces liable to be exerted on its central arbor when one of the ends of each blade is moved angularly around said central arbor relative to its other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Jerome Daout, Richard Bossart
  • Publication number: 20130047437
    Abstract: A split collet in which the contour of the central opening that is intended to receive a balance staff is not circular. The collet is characterised in that the contour (3) of the central opening (2) comprises a limited number of supporting parts (4, 5, 12, 14, 15) intended to co-operate with the balance shaft, said number being greater than two.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventor: Jerome Daout
  • 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: 8333501
    Abstract: A balance spring comprising a flat spiral coil and a non-elastic inner attachment part formed by laser beam cutting. The spring has an outer attachment plate in the plane of the coil formed with a channel which receives and protects the outer winding of the coil. The outer attachment plate has a curved attachment edge which allows the location of the oscillator dead point to be varied without affecting spring frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Carbontime Limited
    Inventor: Gideon Levingston
  • Patent number: 8322914
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overcoil balance spring (1) including a hairspring (3) formed in a single silicon part, coaxially with a collet (5), the balance spring including a silicon terminal curve (7) and a silicon elevation device (9) between the outer coil (15) of said hairspring and said terminal curve so as to form a Breguet® overcoil balance spring. According to the invention, the elevation device (9) has a cross-shaped mechanical fastener (17) including at least two opposite arms (12, 12?, 14, 14?), which cooperate with clamping means (23, 25) respectively secured to the terminal curve (7) and the outer coil (15) of said hairspring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Christophe Bifrare, Alain Zaugg, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 8215828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Breguet overcoil balance spring (1) that includes a hairspring (3) mounted in a single part, made of micro-machinable material, and coaxially with a collet (5). According to the invention, the balance spring has a terminal curve (7) made of micro-machinable material and an elevation device (9) made of micro-machinable material between the outer coil (15) of the hairspring and the terminal curve to improve the concentric development of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare
  • Publication number: 20110310711
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overcoil balance spring (1) including a hairspring (3) formed in a single silicon part, coaxially with a collet (5), the balance spring including a silicon terminal curve (7) and a silicon elevation device (9) between the outer coil (15) of said hairspring and said terminal curve so as to form a Breguet® overcoil balance spring. According to the invention, the elevation device (9) has a cross-shaped mechanical fastener (17) including at least two opposite arms (12, 12?, 14, 14?), which cooperate with clamping means (23, 25) respectively secured to the terminal curve (7) and the outer coil (15) of said hairspring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MONTRES BREGUET SA
    Inventors: Christophe Bifrare, Alain Zaugg, Pierre Cusin
  • Patent number: 8047705
    Abstract: The collet, which can be made in a single piece and at the same time as the balance-spring, is formed by a plate (1) which includes an aperture (3) for attachment to a balance staff (5) and has an asymmetrical contour (9) which follows at a substantially constant distance d the contour of the first coil (11) of the inner terminal curve. The plate can further include recesses (13) for repositioning the centre of gravity g on the balance staff (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Thierry Hessler, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20110249537
    Abstract: Hairspring for a balance wheel/hairspring resonator, comprising n blades, where n?2, which are fastened via at least one of their respective homologous ends and wound in spirals with an angular offset capable of neutralizing the lateral forces liable to be exerted on its central arbor when one of the ends of each blade is moved angularly around said central arbor relative to its other end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventors: Jérôme Daout, Richard Bossart
  • Patent number: 8002460
    Abstract: Hairspring for a balance wheel/hairspring resonator, comprising n blades, where n?2, which are fastened via at least one of their respective homologous ends and wound in spirals with an angular offset capable of neutralizing the lateral forces liable to be exerted on its central arbor when one of the ends of each blade is moved angularly around said central arbor relative to its other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Jérôme Daout, Richard Bossart
  • Publication number: 20110199866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Breguet overcoil balance spring (1) that includes a hairspring (3) mounted in a single part, made of micro-machinable material, and coaxially with a collet (5). According to the invention, the balance spring has a terminal curve (7) made of micro-machinable material and an elevation device (9) made of micro-machinable material between the outer coil (15) of the hairspring and the terminal curve to improve the concentric development of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: MONTRES BREGUET S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100290320
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical oscillator, in particular for watchmaking, comprising a spiral spring (1) having a number N of turns, a central end (2), an eccentric end (3) and a rotary collet (4), connected to the central end (2), comprising an orifice intended to receive an arbor for rotation about an axis (A), and a balance (7), the axis of rotation of which coincides with the rotation arbor (A), the eccentric end (3) being intended to be integral with a stationary element of the “balance-cock” type, said spiral spring (1) being made up of a single-crystal silicon (Si) core (1a) and at least one peripheral coating (1b) based on a material having a thermoelastic coefficient different from that of silicon, the single-crystal silicon (Si) being oriented along the crystallographic axis {1,1,1} to optimize the temperature coefficient of the mechanical oscillator as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Manufacture et Fabrique de Montres et Chronometres Ulysse Nardin Le Locle S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Gygax, Marc-Andre Glassey
  • Patent number: 7758237
    Abstract: A balance spring-collet assembly for a timepiece movement comprises a collet (1) and a balance spring (3) attached at its inner end to the collet (1). The collet (1) is capable of being mounted onto a shaft (2). The external periphery of the collet (1) defines abutments (10a, 10b, 10c) against which the inner turn of the balance spring (3) may come to rest during a shock before the elastic limit of the inner turn is exceeded. The abutments (10a, 10b, 10c) are situated at respective distances (Ra, Rb, Rc) from the center (O) of the shaft (2) that increase in the direction (D) of the balance spring (3) from the inside to the outside starting at the point (8) of junction between the balance spring (3) and the collet (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Patek Philippe SA Geneve
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Musy, Frédéric Maier, Stéphane Von Gunten
  • Publication number: 20100157743
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for making an isochronous balance-wheel-and-spring assembly for a horological movement in which one spring out of a series of springs is paired with a balance wheel. The spring has characteristics that vary by comparison with other springs of the series, and the spring is designed to be mounted on the staff of the balance-wheel via a collet. One collet out of a set of collets of different sizes is selected on the basis of the spring's characteristics. The collets of different sizes have connection points for attachment of the spring that are located (after assembly) at different distances from the center of the balance staff, the choice of the collet of the most appropriate size facilitating the adjustment of the balance-wheel-and-spring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: MANUFACTURE ROGER DUBUIS SA
    Inventor: Sergio SILVA
  • Publication number: 20100149927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon-based Breguet overcoil balance spring (1, 31) that includes a hairspring (3, 33) made integral coaxially with a collet (5, 35), a terminal curve (7, 37) and an elevation device (9, 39) between the outer coil (15, 45) of the hairspring and the terminal curve. According to the invention, the balance spring has two single parts secured to each other to increase the development precision of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: MONTRES BREGUET SA
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare, Sacha Vorpe, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Marc Lippuner
  • Publication number: 20100110840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Breguet overcoil balance spring (1) that includes a hairspring (3) mounted in a single part, made of micro-machinable material, and coaxially with a collet (5). According to the invention, the balance spring has a terminal curve (7) made of micro-machinable material and an elevation device (9) made of micro-machinable material between the outer coil (15) of the hairspring and the terminal curve to improve the concentric development of the balance spring. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the balance spring. The invention concerns the field of timepiece making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: MONTRES BREGUET S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Zaugg, Christophe Bifrare
  • Publication number: 20100061192
    Abstract: The collet, which can be made in a single piece and at the same time as the balance-spring, is formed by a plate (1) which includes an aperture (3) for attachment to a balance staff (5) and has an asymmetrical contour (9) which follows at a substantially constant distance d the contour of the first coil (11) of the inner terminal curve. The plate can further include recesses (13) for repositioning the centre of gravity g on the balance staff (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Thierry Hessler, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Publication number: 20090245030
    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: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: NIVAROX-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-Andre Buhler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
  • Publication number: 20090135679
    Abstract: A balance spring—collet assembly for a timepiece movement comprises a collet (1) and a balance spring (3) attached at its inner end to the collet (1). The collet (1) is capable of being mounted onto a shaft (2). The external periphery of the collet (1) defines abutments (10a, 10b, 10c) against which the inner turn of the balance spring (3) may come to rest during a shock before the elastic limit of the inner turn is exceeded. The abutments (10a, 10b, 10c) are situated at respective distances (Ra, Rb, Rc) from the center (O) of the shaft (2) that increase in the direction (D) of the balance spring (3) from the inside to the outside starting at the point (8) of junction between the balance spring (3) and the collet (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Musy, Frederic Maier, Stephane Von Gunten
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040174775
    Abstract: Spiral spring for horology instrument produced all in one piece without molecular discontinuity with its collet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Frank Muller Watchland S.A.
    Inventor: Francesco Muller