Abstract: A response form containing a means of input that on manual influence can switch a conducting electrical circuit connected to an electronic unit (40) incorporated into the response form for registration of the said influence. The present invention provides such a response form at low cost and enables the use of the response form as a patient journal. The patient journal also can be integrated with a pharmaceutical response package. The response package is formed of a disposable material in the form of a sheet (12), and a conducting circuit (26) is printed onto one side (16) of the disposable material. The means of input can consist of circuit makers (30, 32) that are visually marked-on one side of the disposable material and that are arranged to make electrical contact across an interrupted loop (28) of the conducting circuit (26) upon pressing together localized inner surfaces (14, 16) of the disposable material which face each other.

Abstract: Automatic watches use the movements of the wrist to re-wind the barrel spring and thus supply the necessary energy for the correct functioning of the watch. When the user cannot wear the watch it is proposed to place it on an automatic re-winding device. The device according to the invention is compact and modular. Furthermore, in order to avoid any error of manipulation, the starting and stopping of the re-winding device is done automatically by means of a detection of the presence of the watch (3). The passing of the strap in the detachable base (2) produces the tension of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding self-winding watches is described that includes a watch carrier having an axis of rotation of 90° above horizontal and a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation in a given direction, the watch carrier being adapted to support a watch with the plane of the watch face being perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and a drive means for rotating the carrier about the axis until the given direction is above the axis, whereupon the carrier is released to freely rotate about the axis in an oscillating motion to wind the watch.

Abstract: A winder for mechanical manually-wound watches is described that includes a housing, with a watch support in front of the housing front wall to support a watch with its stem aligned along a first given longitudinal axis. A support shaft extending from the housing front wall has an outer end attached to the watch support and is moveable along a parallel second given longitudinal axis. A rotatable shaft having a front end with a crown collet extends from the front wall along the first longitudinal axis to attach the watch crown to the crown collet. The rotatable shaft is rotated on a timed sequence by a motor that is in a circuit with a potentiometer which detects when the motor load increased, indicating that the watch spring is fully wound. A controller disconnects the motor when the potentiometer detects that the watch is fully wound.

Abstract: A winder for mechanical manually-wound watches is described that includes a housing, with a watch support in front of the housing front wall to support a watch with its stem aligned along a first given longitudinal axis. A support shaft extending from the housing front wall has an outer end attached to the watch support and is moveable along a parallel second given longitudinal axis. A rotatable shaft having a front end with a crown collet extends from the front wall along the first longitudinal axis to attach the watch crown to the crown collet. The rotatable shaft is rotated on a timed sequence by a motor that is in a circuit with a potentiometer which detects when the motor load increased, indicating that the watch spring is fully wound. A controller disconnects the motor when the potentiometer detects that the watch is fully wound.

Abstract: A system for managing delivery of pharmaceutical drugs is formed of a blister package that includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. Each of the cells is sealed by a breakable wall and holds a unit-dose of medication. A user gains access to the medication in a given cell by puncturing the breakable wall associated with the given cell. A severable conductor is positioned proximate to each breakable wall. The severable conductor associated with a given cell ruptures upon puncturing of the breakable wall associated with the given cell. A computer chip is electrically connected to the severable conductors. The computer chip senses the puncturing of each cell in the grid by monitoring the rupturing of each of the severable conductors. An RF transmitter is coupled to the computer chip. The RF transmitter sends information corresponding to usage of each of medications stored in the blister package to a remote information transceiver.

Abstract: The invention concerns an oscillating winding weight for a timepiece including a heavy portion secured to a connecting element connecting said heavy portion to an arbour fixed to the movement, said weight being intended to be rotatably mounted on said arbour, characterised in that said connecting element is made of a transparent or translucent material.

Abstract: An orbital watch-winding apparatus includes a base unit and a mandrel rotatably mounted to the base unit. The mandrel is inclined at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. A watch is supported on the outer surface of the mandrel so that it is radially spaced from the axis of rotation. When activated, the watch moves in a circular path about the inclined axis of rotation. The orbital motion of the watch about the inclined axis causes the self-winding mechanism to swing back and forth to simulate the effect produced by normal arm movements when the watch is worn by a user.

Abstract: A winding apparatus for winding a mechanical watch while the watch is being stored or displayed, preferably comprises a housing, a wrist-sized mandrel whereupon the watch is placed and held in the housing. A grasping assembly of multiple claws grasps the crown of the watch and is driven by an electric motor. The claws rotate the crown of the watch to automatically wind the watch a predetermined amount and at a periodic interval. A control circuit adjusts the frequency at which the watch is wound as well as the length of time the claws are driven by the motor each time the watch is wound.

Abstract: An apparatus provides accented vibrations to an object and has a means for elastically suspending said object and at least one disengaging displacement means. The application of current interest is for winding a self-winding mechanical wrist watch during intervals when not worn on the wrist so it will not run down and stop. The apparatus has an enclosure and a holder to accept and position a self-winding watch which is periodically set in motion to simulate wrist action. The holder, within the enclosure, is mounted on springs and driven by a low rpm gearmotor which alternately pushes and releases; then pulls and releases so as to give a sharp acceleration in two or more directions. This action increases effectiveness of the apparatus in winding watches in different positions. The motion produced has other applications such as in testing other motion sensitive equipment or in producing unique patterns of mixing.

Abstract: A manually or automatically wound extra-thin watch movement, comprising at least one barrel (3) and in which all the wheel sets are assembled in cantilever on one sole base plate (1) with the help of one ball bearing only (15 to 21). The ratchet (25) is in the form of a drum surrounding the barrel. It is swivelled by its periphery with the help of at least three rollers, each pivoted on a ball bearing, and the barrel (3) is pivoted within the ratchet by means of a ball bearing (23). This design enables reducing to a minimum the energy losses due to friction.

Abstract: A clock for indicating the different times at different places in the world, comprises a globe and a dial ring rotatable in an annular groove formed around the inside of the globe at its equatorial region. The dial ring is rotated around the globe by a clock movement. A time scale on the dial ring is visible through a transparent zone of the equatorial region of the globe, and the simultaneous times at the different places in the world are indicated by reading the time scale in conjunction with index marks provided on the globe and identifying different places in the world.

Abstract: In a spring driven motor having a drive gear (22) driven by a spiral drive spring (20) operatively connected thereto and a gear train for receiving and changing the rate of rotary motion imparted to the drive gear (22) by the drive spring (20), an improved clutch mechanism comprises an idler gear (30) interposed between the drive gear (22) and a gear (23b) of the gear train immediately adjacent thereto and support means (31) rotatably supporting the idler gear (30) and permitting the idler gear (30) to move translationally between a position in which the idler gear (30) is in simultaneously driven engagement with the drive gear (22) and driving engagement with the adjacent gear (23b) and a position in which the idler gear (30) is out of the aforementioned simultaneous driven and driving engagement.