Display Trains Patents (Class 368/220)
  • Patent number: 11709460
    Abstract: A digital display and a digital time device are provided, which includes a housing, a drive assembly, display assemblies and a mainboard assembly. The housing is provided with seven windows arranged to form the shape of the character “”. The mainboard assembly is fixedly connected to the housing and is located behind the windows. Seven curved grooves are provided inside of the drive assembly. The display assemblies include display sheets and pull rods. One end of each pull rod is fixedly connected to the display sheets. The display sheets are slidingly connected to the mainboard assembly. There are seven display assemblies. Each pull rod is slidingly connected to the curved grooves in one-to-one correspondence, and each display sheet is one-to-one correspondence with the windows. The present invention can achieve many advantages, such as low power consumption, great waterproof, strong moisture resistance capabilities and high stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Sheu
  • Patent number: 11581826
    Abstract: A linear piezoelectric motor including a passive element having an elongated shape, and a piezoelectric actuator including a resonator including a pair of arms connected at one of their ends at a connection zone, the two other ends being called free, the passive element being capable of being moved linearly between the free ends by friction of the free ends against the passive element, the passive element and the resonator being inclined with respect to one another by a non-zero angle (?) of less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Pascal Lagorgette, Pascal Meyer
  • Patent number: 10736220
    Abstract: A substrate includes: a wiring substrate; a lower plate disposed below the wiring substrate; a canted coil spring disposed between the lower plate and the wiring substrate; an electronic component package disposed above the wiring substrate; a sheet disposed between the wiring substrate and the electronic component package and including a plurality of connection members that connects a plurality of first electrodes provided on an upper surface of the wiring substrate and a plurality of second electrodes provided on a lower surface of the electronic component package; an upper plate disposed on the electronic component package; and a coupling member that couples the lower plate and the upper plate, wherein the lower plate, the canted coil spring, the wiring substrate, the sheet, the electronic component package, and the upper plate are laminated and fixed in this order by coupling the lower plate and the upper plate by the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takao, Akira Tamura, Takashi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10656600
    Abstract: A drive device includes a plurality of motors; and a motor control processing unit that drives the motors. When the motor control processing unit drives the plurality of motors, it performs control such that a driving speed of one motor of the plurality of motors decreases and driving of the other motor of the plurality of motors starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mototaka Minakuchi, Noriyuki Kitta
  • Patent number: 10547231
    Abstract: An electric rotation device rotating a rotation target member by torque outputted to an output member includes: a motor; a reduction gear mechanism including transmission gears transmitting torque from the motor to the output member; a rotational position detection gear including a tooth width different from that of a predetermined gear among the transmission gears, and meshing with the predetermined gear; a rotational position detection sensor outputting a signal corresponding to a rotational position of the rotational position detection gear, and detecting a rotational position of the rotation target member; a visual recognition portion configured to distinguish a reference tooth of one gear from the other tooth of the one gear; and a groove filling portion filling a tooth groove of the other gear, the groove filling portion filling a portion of the tooth groove not overlapping the one gear in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotomo Minamiyama, Sayaka Hara
  • Patent number: 10531572
    Abstract: A substrate includes: a wiring substrate; a lower plate disposed below the wiring substrate; a canted coil spring disposed between the lower plate and the wiring substrate; an electronic component package disposed above the wiring substrate; a sheet disposed between the wiring substrate and the electronic component package and including a plurality of connection members that connects a plurality of first electrodes provided on an upper surface of the wiring substrate and a plurality of second electrodes provided on a lower surface of the electronic component package; an upper plate disposed on the electronic component package; and a coupling member that couples the lower plate and the upper plate, wherein the lower plate, the canted coil spring, the wiring substrate, the sheet, the electronic component package, and the upper plate are laminated and fixed in this order by coupling the lower plate and the upper plate by the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takao, Akira Tamura, Takashi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10392094
    Abstract: Example transmissions for rotating coaxial drive shafts in opposite directions are described herein. An example apparatus includes a first face gear coupled to a first drive shaft, a first elliptically interfacing gear coupled to a second drive shaft and facing toward the first face gear, the second drive shaft disposed within and coaxially aligned with the first drive shaft, and a wobble plate disposed between the first face gear and the first elliptically interfacing gear. The wobble plate has a second face gear on a first side of the wobble plate engaged with the first face gear and a second elliptically interfacing gear on a second side of the wobble plate engaged with the first elliptically interfacing gear. The wobble plate is to rotate the first face gear and the first elliptically interfacing gear in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Patent number: 10295961
    Abstract: A process for decorating a dial includes a step (E1) of engraving a pattern in a pad-printing cliché with a femtosecond laser, then a step (E20) of transferring said pattern to the dial using the pad-printing cliché. The process can include surface structuring of the dial, then transferring the pattern to the dial at least partially superposed on surface-structuring obtained by the surface structuring, and can also include an intermediate coloring of the decorated or to be decorated surface in the surface structuring, using a different color from the color used in the transferring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Alexandre Oliveira
  • Patent number: 10008079
    Abstract: A wristwatch-type notification apparatus that displays information by using indicating hands includes a display section that drives and rotates one or more of the plurality of indicating hands to notify a user of time information and a notification section that notifies the user of event information representing that a pre-specified condition is satisfied by moving, on the basis of a trigger produced in accordance with the event information, an indicating hand to a display position specified in accordance with the type of the event information associated with the trigger and causing the indicating hand to make reciprocating motion in the forward and reverse directions over a range including the display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsutoyo Inoue
  • Patent number: 10001756
    Abstract: A watch including a dial pad, a circular movement disposed adjacent to the dial pad, a circular printed circuit board (PCB) having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the PCB including a hole defined as the inner diameter and a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs) disposed in a region between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, in which the movement having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter is shaped and sized to fit into the hole, a first battery disposed adjacent to the PCB and supplies a first operating voltage only to the PCB, and a case dimensioned and shaped to receive the dial pad, the movement, the PCB, and the first battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung-Real Ryu, Ki-Hyoun Kwon, Yong-Jae Kim, Sung Bum Cho
  • Patent number: 9671758
    Abstract: A quartz watch movement includes a minute wheel connected to a handsetting wheel by an intermediate wheel, a shaft of a third wheel placed in a shaft hole in a main plate, elastic connection structures being rotated by a third-wheel shaft gear and a minute wheel piece gear which are engaged together and are arranged between a minute wheel tube and the minute wheel piece gear when a stem is pulled or the minute hand is adjusted through the handsetting wheel, the intermediate wheel and a minute wheel shaft gear, and a second-hand stop lever detachably connected to a second-hand stop electrode. The elastic connection structures are arranged between the minute wheel tube and the minute wheel piece gear, so that the quartz watch is accurate in travel time and has the function of efficiently adjusting the hour hand and the minute hand when omitting a handsetting middle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Zhongyi Wu
  • Patent number: 9435409
    Abstract: A variator assembly for a CVT or an IVT includes an input shaft that defines an axis of rotation, an input disc rotationally coupled to the input shaft and coaxial with the axis of rotation, and an output disc rotationally coupled to the input disc and coaxial with the axis of rotation. The output disc includes a distal portion having an axial width. A gear is connected to the distal portion of the output disc. The gear has a plurality of gear teeth each having a gear tooth face width that is greater than the axial width of the distal portion of the output disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hai Xu, Avinash Singh
  • Patent number: 9329573
    Abstract: A timepiece movement driving at least one output arbor for receiving an indicator displaying a physical or temporal magnitude facing and above a complementary indicator or a dial, the complementary indicator or dial being arranged on a local reference or bearing surface included locally in the movement about of each the output arbor of the movement, or being arranged on the local reference or bearing surface. The output arbor includes, on a side of a local reference or bearing surface thereof, a free end which is either recessed or flush with respect to the local reference or bearing surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Baptist Wyssbrod
  • Patent number: 9222567
    Abstract: The invention relates to a toothing, in particular between a starting pinion (22) and a ring gear (25) of an internal combustion engine. The toothing is designed as straight or oblique toothing and comprises a number of individual teeth (202) that mesh with one another. The thicknesses of the individual teeth (212) are asymmetrical, in particular in reduced or widened form on one or both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Tumback
  • Patent number: 9075397
    Abstract: The chronograph mechanism includes a control device and a chronograph gear train designed to be driven directly or indirectly by a barrel, this chronograph gear train including a second-counter mobile and a mobile with a first precision corresponding to a first fraction of a second. The chronograph mechanism also includes at least one indicator which displays the seconds and first fractions of a second of the duration measured. The chronograph gear train includes an additional mobile (5) with a second precision corresponding to a second fraction of a second, which is driven by the mobile (3) for the first fraction of a second by a mobile (4) compensating the backlash; and the chronograph mechanism also includes an indicator for the second fractions of a second, which are smaller than the first fractions of a second, of the duration measured, which indicator is actuated by the additional train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Girardbille, Hugo Lopez, Demetrio Cabiddu
  • Patent number: 9010996
    Abstract: Device for detecting and synchronising the position of at least one first wheel (16) of a timepiece mechanism (1) for an electronic analogue watch, wherein this first wheel (16) extends in one plane, the detection and synchronisation device (30) comprises at least one light source (32) emitting a light beam (34) and at least one light detection system (36), and this detection and synchronisation device is characterised in that a first light-reflecting element (40) projects from one of the upper or lower surfaces of the first wheel (16) of the timepiece mechanism (1), wherein the light source (32) and the light detection system (36) are arranged so that in a determined position of the first wheel (16) of the timepiece mechanism (1), the light beam (34) emitted by the light source (32) is reflected by the first reflective element (40) in the direction of the light detection system (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Pierpasquale Tortora, Cedric Nicolas, Pascal Lagorgette
  • Patent number: 9001627
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece display module intended to display a series of alphanumerical characters and/or pictures at different moments. The display module includes a platform (3) arranged to be actuated in rotation about an axis and several wheel sets (5) arranged on the platform (3) so that each wheel set (5) turns on itself while orbiting about the axis of rotation of said platform (3) when the latter is actuated in rotation. The display module further includes several wings (1) which are arranged on each wheel set so (5) as to be positioned in turn at the center of the display module. Each wing (1) of each wheel set (5) is actuated such that the wings are oriented in a identical plane at the center of the display module and are adjacent to each other so as to form a central display unit (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Harry Winston S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Giguet
  • Patent number: 8976629
    Abstract: Clockwork movement for a wristwatch, comprising a kinematic chain including at least one belt (20, 21) for transmitting the movements and/or couples between at least two pulleys. The pulleys are held on the bottom plate or the bridges by ball bearings (151, 161, 171, 181). The movement is rewound by means of linear oscillating mass (14) charging four barrels (15, 16, 17, 18) through a couple distributor (40). The barrels are non-parallel to one another. The back cover is covered by inclined glasses (110, 120, 130) allowing the barrels, the linear oscillating mass and at least certain pulleys to be seen. The regulating organ (51) is removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Ruchonnet
  • Patent number: 8971157
    Abstract: A display apparatus which includes: a first display wheel that has a first display section; a second display wheel that has a second display section; a driving section that rotates in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and rotates the first display wheel in the forward direction and the reverse direction; and a rotating section that rotates only the first display wheel in the forward direction when the first display wheel is rotated in the forward direction, and rotates the second display wheel in the reverse direction together with the first display wheel when the first display wheel is rotated in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuta Saito
  • Patent number: 8953418
    Abstract: A timepiece includes two hands (14, 16) advancing in superposition to display a first item of information regarding the current time. On demand, by operating a control (17), one of the two hands moves relative to the first to display a second item of information regarding the current time, the two hands returning to a superposed position when the control is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: La Montre Hermes SA
    Inventor: Frederic Crettex
  • Patent number: 8937850
    Abstract: Timepiece displaying the current time and including at least first and second display devices for a time-related quantity, the first and second display devices each being driven by a drive mechanism including a drive wheel (2; 2a), which is itself driven by the movement of the timepiece (3), at least the drive wheel (2; 2a) of one of the drive mechanisms carrying a finger (4; 4a) via which the wheel drives the corresponding display device, the timepiece (3) being characterized in that the finger (4; 4a) is friction fitted onto the drive wheel (2; 2a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres Longines, Francillon S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Mahler, Alphonse Bron
  • Patent number: 8929179
    Abstract: An analog electronic timepiece comprising: a plurality of rotating display bodies; a gear train mechanism; a drive control unit; a detection unit; and a delay cycle counting unit, wherein the delay cycle counting unit adds 1 to the number of delay cycles in a case where it is determined, for each detection cycle of a predetermined reference display mode, that the first rotating display body is stopped during a rotation cycle of the first rotating display body based on detection results by the detection unit at a first timing and at a second timing, and the drive control unit rotationally moves the first rotating display body for a number of times, the number corresponding to the number of delay cycles, in a case where the first rotating display body is capable of operating at the first timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8923097
    Abstract: Backlash take-up timepiece wheel (10), for meshing with a second toothing (21) formed of second teeth (23) of given width (24) arranged consecutively with a second constant pitch (P2) on a second pitch diameter (22) of an opposing mobile component. This backlash take-up wheel (10) comprises, arranged to mesh with this second toothing (21), a first toothing (11) on a first pitch circle (12) comprising a series of identical pairs (2) of teeth arranged consecutively with a first constant pitch (P1) on the first pitch circle (12). Each such pair (2) comprises, on either side of a radial axis (3), a first flexible tooth (4) and a second tooth (5). Each second tooth (5) is a flexible tooth, and the distances (91, 92) measured on the first pitch circle (12) between a successive first tooth (4) and second tooth (5) are different in pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Zaugg
  • Patent number: 8920021
    Abstract: The column wheel (40) for a 3 stroke mechanism has a hub (46) arranged at the centre of a superstructure exhibiting rotational symmetry of order n, the superstructure including n radial arms (48) and n columns (44) parallel to the axis of rotation of the column wheel, the columns being regularly distributed along the circumference of the column wheel and separated from each other by n empty spaces forming as many openings between the columns. The column wheel is characterized in that the width of the columns (44) is larger than the openings between the columns, and in that the width of the arms (48) is less than half the width of the columns (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Olivier Mertenat
  • Patent number: 8902717
    Abstract: A clock assembly containing a specialized clockwork. The clockwork contains a hub of three concentric posts upon which are mounted the second hand, minute hand, and hour hand of the clock. The post that connects to the second hand is the widest and shortest post on the hub. Consequently, when a second hand is connected to this outer-most post, the second hand can rotate under the minute hand and the hour hand closest to the clock face. By positioning the second hand post on the exterior of the hub, a 1:1 ratio can be maintained between the rotations of the clock motor and the rotations of the second hand post. This enables the full power of the motor to be transferred to the second hand post. Accordingly, the clockwork is capable of move, large, heavy, and unbalanced second hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Alex Garzon
  • Patent number: 8891339
    Abstract: Timepiece gear train device (1) of reduced height with a large power reserve, driving display means (4) including a cannon-pinion (5) and an hour wheel (6), which are driven about a main pivot axis (AP), secant to a barrel (3), by a motion work (7) and including a driving wheel (8), which pivots about a secondary pivot axis (AS) external to said barrel (3) and is friction coupled to said motion work (7) on a friction surface (9) coaxial to said secondary pivot axis (AS). Said driving wheel (8) includes a driving cannon pinion (83) pivoting about a wheel body (80) along said secondary pivot axis (AS) and coupled by a friction spring (84) to a shoulder (85) of said wheel body (80) forming said friction surface (9), said driving cannon-pinion (83) cooperating with a minute wheel (14) pivoting about a minute axis (AM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Laurent Kaelin, Julien Moulin
  • Patent number: 8879366
    Abstract: Apparatuses (250) for the display of time with distinctive aesthetic character that include rigid rotating members (220) which are driven by movements (251) and held in place by the force of gravity. The movement (251) rotates drive wheels (256, 257) so that the rigid rotating members (220) indicate the current time and the time is interpreted using traditional clock interpretation methods. The movement (251) may include a support bushing (260) to provide support for output shafts (252, 253) of the movement (251). A cover (262) may also provide support for output shafts (252, 253).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Karl Allen Dierenbach
  • Patent number: 8867316
    Abstract: A support for a mechanism for displaying jumping-type information for a timepiece movement is disclosed. The mechanism may include a display member driven in rotation via a driving star wheel. The support may be positioned between the display member and a frame element of the timepiece movement. The support may include a base that may include at least one first hole configured to receive a shaft for rotating the display member. The support may also include a first arm extending from the base and arranged to ensure the function of a jumper for the driving star wheel, and a second arm extending from the base and arranged to act on the driving star wheel to cause the driving star wheel to rotate in order to correct information displayed in response to a predefined action of a user that deforms the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pequignet S.A.
    Inventors: Huy Van Tran, Ludovic Perez
  • Patent number: 8750080
    Abstract: An instantaneous driving mechanism for a timepiece movement is disclosed. The driving mechanism may include a mobile comprising a first wheel driven by a driving member of the timepiece movement and configured to drive rotation of a first cam of the mobile. The driving mechanism may also include a lever mounted pivotally on at least one frame element of the timepiece movement, the lever being configured to cooperate with the mobile in order to be moved and to cooperate with a counter of the timepiece movement to increment the counter by instantaneous pulses. The first cam may be coaxial with the first wheel and have a periphery of varying radius. In addition, the first cam may be configured to cooperate with a nose carried by a first arm of the lever and to move the first arm progressively away from the center of the mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Pequignet S.A.
    Inventors: Huy Van Tran, Ludovic Perez
  • Patent number: 8750079
    Abstract: Timepiece display device (100) comprising a first display member (1) cooperating with first drive means (10) via a first transmission means (11), and a second display member (2), cooperating with a second drive means (20) via a second transmission means (21). First contactless coupling means (12) are carried by said first display member (1) or by said first transmission means (11), second contactless coupling means (22) are carried by said second display member (2), or by said second transmission means (21), said first coupling means (12) cooperate with said second coupling means (22) in a complementary, contactless, attraction coupling in order, when said coupling means are located in immediate proximity to each other, to unite the motion of said first display member (1) and said second display member (2). Said first coupling means (12) and said second coupling means (22) are magnetic or electrostatic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Pascal Lagorgette
  • Patent number: 8737176
    Abstract: The going train for a timepiece has a mechanical movement having a frame (0), a barrel (1) and an escapement pinion (5) which are connected by the going train. This going train has a stepping-up epicyclic train having a first planet gear (6) with a constant rotational speed during normal operation of the movement, a second planet gear (7) kinematically connected to the escapement pinion (5), at least one satellite gear (9) each meshing with the first planet gear (6) and the second planet gear (7), and a satellite carrier (8) kinematically connected to the barrel (1) and carrying the satellite gear(s) (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Cartier Creation Studio SA
    Inventors: Kewin Bas, Cyrille Chatel
  • Patent number: 8724430
    Abstract: A retrograde display mechanism of a timepiece includes a retrograde display mechanism main body having a time value driving wheel that rotates once every day and that has a time value finger which advances a time value including a date or a day. A time value transmitting wheel has a time value transmitting wheel tooth portion and a drive cam portion which are rotated by one tooth every day by the time value finger. A fan-shaped wheel operating lever has a cam follower portion and a fan-shaped wheel operating tooth portion engaged with the drive cam portion, and a fan-shaped wheel and a fan-shaped wheel display portion which mesh with the fan-shaped wheel operating tooth portion to rotate in response to rocking of the operating lever. The fan-shaped wheel rapidly rotates reversely to return to an initial position whenever the end of the month or the end of the week passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kei Hirano
  • Patent number: 8724432
    Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece with an analogue display, including a timepiece movement (1) provided with a mechanical output, located on an arbour (2) of said movement, and a display assembly (30) provided with at least one time display device (31, 32, 111, 112) driven by said mechanical output, wherein the display assembly is separate from the timepiece movement (1) and linked to a fixed part (10) of said movement (1) by support means which enables said display device to take several different positions around the output arbour (2) of the movement. According to the invention, the support means of the display assembly includes an intermediate support (34, 70, 72, 70?) secured to the fixed part (10) of the timepiece movement (1) and provided with support members (36, 87, 89, 87?, 89?) allowing said at least one display device (31, 32, 111, 112) to be assembled in several positions on the intermediate support (34, 70, 72, 70?). The invention concerns the field of timepiece display members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Raphael Courvoisier, Roman Egli, Thierry Conus
  • Patent number: 8711659
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanical device (100) for the sequential control of at least two levers for a timepiece mechanism, controlling a first lever (1) and a second (2) lever cooperating with a contact surface (10) in accordance with a sequence wherein each changes from a first torque consumption level (11; 21) to a second, higher level (12; 22) during an increasing phase (14; 24) in which it stores torque, then from said second level (12; 22) to said first level (11; 21) during a decreasing phase (15; 25) in which it transmits energy. The device is wherein it includes delaying means (4) creating, during the decreasing phase (15) of said first lever (1), a stabilizing stage at a third, intermediate level (13) between said first (11) and second (12) levels. The invention also concerns a timepiece incorporating a device (100) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Simon Lauper, Jean-François Pesenti
  • Patent number: 8711660
    Abstract: A timepiece, particularly wristwatch, having a dial on which are arranged at least two circular scales having centers which are offset relative to one another. A first hand can sweep over the first scale and a second hand can sweep over the second scale, each hand being rotatable around a hand axis centric to the associated scale, and wherein the scales partially overlap. There is formed in the dial in the area surrounded by the first circular scale an aperture through which an area of the timepiece located behind the plane of the dial is visible. The circle segment of the second scale extending across the aperture is arranged on a separate scale carrier which is pivotable around a pivot axis coaxial to the hand axis of the second hand between a display position covering the aperture into a non-display position not covering the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Lange Uhren GmbH
    Inventors: Nils Bode, Anthonie de Haas, Tino Bobe
  • Patent number: 8705322
    Abstract: A timepiece device with multiple-hand which can be miniaturized and made thin as a whole has a configuration where a hour hand hour wheel positioned close to an hour hand to which a rotation movement of a 3rd motor via an hour hand gear train mechanism and a functional hand hour wheel positioned close to a functional hand to which a rotation movement of a 4th motor via a functional hand gear train mechanism are arranged on a front side of a support plate, and a 4th wheel positioned close to a second hand and a 2nd wheel positioned close to a minute hand are arranged on a rear side of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Makoto Sawada
  • Patent number: 8693289
    Abstract: A timepiece device with multiple-hand includes: one or more hands driven to rotate by one or more driving motors; one or more gear train mechanisms include gears which transmit a rotation movement of the driving motors to the hands; and a support plate which supports the gears; wherein the gears include: a first gear which includes a pair of gear members provided on front and rear sides of the support plate; a second gear which meshes with a gear member provided on the rear side to transmit a rotation movement of one of the driving motors to the first gear; and a third gear which meshes with a gear member provided on the front side to transmit a rotation movement of one of the driving motors to the hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Makoto Sawada
  • Publication number: 20140086025
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece display module intended to display a series of alphanumerical characters and/or pictures at different moments. The display module includes a platform (3) arranged to be actuated in rotation about an axis and several wheel sets (5) arranged on the platform (3) so that each wheel set (5) turns on itself while orbiting about the axis of rotation of said platform (3) when the latter is actuated in rotation. The display module further includes several wings (1) which are arranged on each wheel set so (5) as to be positioned in turn at the centre of the display module. Each wing (1) of each wheel set (5) is actuated such that the wings are oriented in a identical plane at the centre of the display module and are adjacent to each other so as to form a central display unit (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: HARRY WINSTON S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Giguet
  • Publication number: 20140086024
    Abstract: Apparatuses (250) for the display of time with distinctive aesthetic character that include rigid rotating members (220) which are driven by movements (251) and held in place by the force of gravity. The movement (251) rotates drive wheels (256, 257) so that the rigid rotating members (220) indicate the current time and the time is interpreted using traditional clock interpretation methods. The movement (251) may include a support bushing (260) to provide support for output shafts (252, 253) of the movement (251). A cover (262) may also provide support for output shafts (252, 253).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Karl Allen Dierenbach
  • Publication number: 20140056112
    Abstract: Lever (6) comprising at least a first element (61) for guiding in rotation of a first wheel (1), at least one friction element (62) which is designed to co-operate with an at least substantially cylindrical portion (10c) of the first wheel, and at least one resilient element (63), which is designed to return resiliently the at least one friction element to a state of co-operation with the said portion of the first wheel, notably in contact with the said portion of the first wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Villaret
  • Publication number: 20140022874
    Abstract: An instantaneous driving mechanism for a timepiece movement is disclosed. The driving mechanism may include a mobile comprising a first wheel driven by a driving member of the timepiece movement and configured to drive rotation of a first cam of the mobile. The driving mechanism may also include a lever mounted pivotally on at least one frame element of the timepiece movement, the lever being configured to cooperate with the mobile in order to be moved and to cooperate with a counter of the timepiece movement to increment the counter by instantaneous pulses. The first cam may be coaxial with the first wheel and have a periphery of varying radius. In addition, the first cam may be configured to cooperate with a nose carried by a first arm of the lever and to move the first arm progressively away from the center of the mobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: PEQUIGNET S.A.
    Inventors: Huy Van Tran, Ludovic Perez
  • Publication number: 20140022870
    Abstract: A support for a mechanism for displaying jumping-type information for a timepiece movement is disclosed. The mechanism may include a display member driven in rotation via a driving star wheel. The support may be positioned between the display member and a frame element of the timepiece movement. The support may include a base that may include at least one first hole configured to receive a shaft for rotating the display member. The support may also include a first arm extending from the base and arranged to ensure the function of a jumper for the driving star wheel, and a second arm extending from the base and arranged to act on the driving star wheel to cause the driving star wheel to rotate in order to correct information displayed in response to a predefined action of a user that deforms the second arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: PEQUIGNET S.A.
    Inventors: Huy Van Tran, Ludovic Perez
  • Publication number: 20140016444
    Abstract: A jumper for a timepiece movement is disclosed that includes a base and an elastically deformable arm extending from the base and provided with an abutment surface intended to cooperate with a notch of a mobile. The base may comprise a support element bearing the arm. The base may further comprise two link elements each linking an end of the support element to a fixed element of the base. The jumper may be associated with a control member arranged in such a way that an axial rotation of the control member provokes a displacement of the support element by deformation of a frame, of which the support element and the two link elements form sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: PEQUIGNET S.A.
    Inventors: Huy Van TRAN, Ludovic PEREZ
  • Patent number: 8614931
    Abstract: Timepiece movement including a module fitted with a first wheel set meshing with a second wheel set, which pivots on a base on which the module is mounted. The movement includes a means of positioning the module formed by a cam, at least most of the periphery of which forms an Archimedes' spiral. The cam is arranged so as to allow the distance of centers between the first and second wheel sets to be adjusted, when the cam is rotated on itself about the center of the Archimedes' spiral. The cam is preferably calibrated. The invention also concerns a method of adjusting the distance of centers between the two wheel sets using said cam to optimise the gearing efficiency of the two wheel sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Moulin, Ivan Villar, Laurent Kaelin, Baptist Wyssbrod
  • Publication number: 20130329534
    Abstract: Clockwork movement for a wristwatch, comprising a kinematic chain including at least one belt (20, 21) for transmitting the movements and/or couples between at least two pulleys. The pulleys are held on the bottom plate or the bridges by ball bearings (151, 161, 171, 181). The movement is rewound by means of linear oscillating mass (14) charging four barrels (15, 16, 17, 18) through a couple distributor (40). The barrels are non-parallel to one another. The back cover is covered by inclined glasses (110, 120, 130) allowing the barrels, the linear oscillating mass and at least certain pulleys to be seen. The regulating organ (51) is removable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA
    Inventor: Jean-Francois RUCHONNET
  • Patent number: 8605553
    Abstract: The annual calendar device carries a date ring (1) and a drive wheel (5) for said ring. The drive wheel (5) carries a mechanism (10) including a first finger (6) driving the ring (1) through one step each day and a second finger (7) which is inserted, at the end of the months of less than thirty-one days, into the trajectory of the teeth (4) of the ring (1) to move said ring forward one additional step. The second finger (7) is inserted into said trajectory by a kinematic chain (9) controlled by a toothing (8) carried by the ring (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Julien Chaignat, Stefan Rombach
  • Patent number: 8529121
    Abstract: The column-wheel (1) for a chronograph includes: a ratchet (2) provided with a plurality of teeth (3) the shape of which defines the direction of rotation of the column-wheel; a superstructure coaxial to the wheel and having n>=3 order rotational symmetry, the peripheral part of the superstructure forming n columns (10) parallel to the wheel axis and arranged substantially along the periphery of the ratchet (2), each column including an outer part, the cross-section of which is substantially shaped like a truncated triangle with a base substantially parallel to the circumference of the wheel and a front side (12), called the leading edge, and a back side (13), called the trailing edge, extending from the base towards the interior of the wheel. The column-wheel is characterized in that said cross-section is asymmetrical, a first angle ? between the leading edge (12) and the base (14) being smaller than a second angle ? between the base and the trailing edge (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Compagnie des Montres Longines, Fracillion S.A.
    Inventor: Olivier Mertenat
  • Patent number: 8498180
    Abstract: Clockwork movement for a wristwatch, comprising a kinematic chain including at least one belt (20, 21) for transmitting the movements and/or couples between at least two pulleys. The pulleys are held on the bottom plate or the bridges by ball bearings (151, 161, 171, 181). The movement is rewound by means of linear oscillating mass (14) charging four barrels (15, 16, 17, 18) through a couple distributor (40). The barrels are non-parallel to one another. The back cover is covered by inclined glasses (110, 120, 130) allowing the barrels, the linear oscillating mass and at least certain pulleys to be seen. The regulating organ (51) is removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Ruchonnet
  • Publication number: 20130182543
    Abstract: A timepiece includes two hands (14, 16) advancing in superposition to display a first item of information regarding the current time. On demand, by operating a control (17), one of the two hands moves relative to the first to display a second item of information regarding the current time, the two hands returning to a superposed position when the control is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: La Montre Hermes S.A.
    Inventor: Frederic Crettex
  • Patent number: 8477567
    Abstract: A timepiece having a mechanical clock movement and separate first and second cases (2, 3), the movement including first and second portions housed in the first and second cases (2, 3), respectively, the cases (2, 3) being mutually connected in a rotatably hinged manner via a hinge (4) defining a pivot axis so as to be capable of forming a variable angle between the cases, the part further including a controller arranged to transmit information from one portion of the movement to the other. The controller includes at least one rod (15) slidably mounted in the hinge along an axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis and engaging with the first and second portions of the clock movement for transmitting information from one portion of the movement to the other, by a linear, alternating movement, regardless of the relative position of the two cases (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: CompliTime SA
    Inventors: Robert Greubel, Stephen Forsey