For Protection (e.g., Shock Absorbing) Patents (Class 368/326)
  • Patent number: 12038723
    Abstract: A shock absorber spring (1) for a timepiece (200), extending substantially in a plane (P1) and having a first axis of symmetry (A1) perpendicular to the plane (P1), the spring including at least two first spring-fixing elements (11, 11?, 11?), these first fixing elements each comprising at least a first fixing surface (11a, 11b, 11a?, 11b?, 11a?, 11b?) oriented at least substantially radially relative to the first axis (A1) and towards the first axis (A1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Eric Jolidon, Daniel Moille
  • Patent number: 10845763
    Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbor of a timepiece wheel set, particularly for a balance staff. The bearing includes a bearing assembly including a housing, a bearing support arranged inside the housing and including an external centring wall, a pivot bearing mounted on the bearing support for receiving a pivot of a wheel set arbor and an elastic support arrangement for the wheel set arbor pivot. The shock absorber bearing further includes a device for recentring play. This device for recentring play includes, on the one hand, a first part including a centring element having an internal centring wall in which is arranged the external centring wall of the bearing support, and on the other hand, a second part resting on the bearing assembly and arranged to have a return effect on the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Cusin, Ivan Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10599100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing device for a staff of a wheel set of a timepiece arranged on a support, wherein said support is provided with an at least partially through slot for a pivot element cooperating with a pivot shank of the staff of the wheel set to be inserted therein, wherein said device additionally comprises a spring means comprising at least a first blade and a second blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventor: Deirdre Lenoir
  • Patent number: 10012955
    Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbor of a timepiece wheel. The arbor includes a pivot-shank, the bearing includes a support including a housing arranged to receive a suspended pivot mechanism, and the pivot mechanism is arranged to absorb, at least in part, any shocks experienced by the timepiece wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 9829861
    Abstract: Elementary timepiece mechanism comprising a first housing about an axis, a second housing, and a mobile element comprising a first shoulder pivoting in the first housing and a second shoulder pivoting in the second housing, the second housing comprising at least a first abutment surface arranged to ensure the alignment of the mobile element on said axis when the mobile element is in abutment on the first abutment surface, and the elementary mechanism includes at least one elastic return means arranged to return the mobile element to this first abutment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Roman Egli, Matthaus Friedli
  • Patent number: 9817369
    Abstract: To provide a mechanical component, a mechanical component manufacturing method, a movement, and a timepiece allowing the forcing-in portion to be firmly fixed to the shaft member, providing a sufficient buffer effect, and capable of precisely determining the outer diameter dimension. Provided is a mechanical component rotating around a shaft member. This mechanical component includes: a component main body having a through-hole through which the shaft member is passed; and a forcing-in portion formed on the inner surface of the through-hole and fixed to the shaft member through the forcing-in of the shaft member. The component main body has a retaining recess constituting an anchor structure regulating displacement of the forcing-in portion with respect to the component main body. The forcing-in portion is formed of a metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Sachiko Tanabe, Takashi Niwa, Masahiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9753433
    Abstract: A mechanical component includes a component main body having a through-hole through which a shaft member is passed, and a forcing-in portion made of metal material formed on the inner surface of the through-hole and fixed to the shaft member through the forcing-in of the shaft member. The component main body has a retaining recess and the forcing-in portion fills the inner space of the retaining recess so that the retaining recess constitutes an anchor structure regulating displacement of the forcing-in portion with respect to the component main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Sachiko Tanabe, Takashi Niwa, Masahiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9740173
    Abstract: A shock absorber device for an arbour of a timepiece element including a support including a base cup surmounted by a peripheral rim delimited, opposite the cup, by an upper surface and including an outer wall, the cup and the rim defining together a recess. The device further includes at least one pivot module extending along an axis, the at least one pivot module being arranged in the recess and configured to cooperate with the arbour and a cap formed by a hollow part fixed to the support on the peripheral rim, the cap including an inner wall on which at least one groove is arranged so that an elastic mechanism can be placed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Ivan Villar
  • Patent number: 9733621
    Abstract: A shock absorber device for an arbor of a timepiece element including: a support including a base cup surmounted by a peripheral rim, which is delimited, opposite the cup, by an upper surface, the cup and the rim together defining a housing; a pivot system extending along an arbor, the pivot system being arranged in the housing and including a base including an elastic return mechanism at the periphery thereof, formed by at least one curved arm, including an opening in which is inserted a pivot element configured to cooperate with the arbor. The at least one curved arm is used for locking the pivot system in a bayonet fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Dominique Lechot, Alain Zaugg
  • Patent number: 9684283
    Abstract: A pivot for a timepiece mechanism, including a first rotational guide member for radially holding an arbor in a plate, and a second front guide member for axially limiting an end of the arbor, and including at least one resilient shock absorber acting on at least the first rotational guide member and/or the second front guide member. The resilient shock absorber is made in a one-piece manner in a micromachinable material or in silicon or quartz or diamond with a structural element other than the first rotational guide member and the second front guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Thierry Hessler, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Patent number: 9678478
    Abstract: The invention provides bearing systems characterized by single point contact with each jewel segment and a spring-loaded assembly with protection from radial and thrust forces. An important feature of jewel bearings of the invention is that they are self-lubricating, i.e., no oil or grease lubricants are needed. This can be a major advantage in medical and precision equipment. A secondary important feature is the reduced friction and effective heat-dissipation due to the unique design of the invention with significant reduction in contact surfaces and friction, which significantly prolong the lifespan of the bearings. Another advantage of the present invention is the substantial reduction in audible noise due to the unique design. Furthermore, the invention allows the use of relatively low cost synthetic jewel segments in bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventor: Gregory Hendricks
  • Patent number: 9632483
    Abstract: A shock-absorber body (11) for an assembled balance (6) of a horological oscillator (8), comprising a guiding portion (11a) for the shock-absorber body (1) for its mounting on a bridge (2) and a fastening element (13) for an outer end of a spiral spring (5) of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Benoit Boulenguiez, Jean-Louis Bertrand, Frederic Burger
  • Patent number: 9625880
    Abstract: A shock-absorber bearing for a staff of a moving part of a timepiece, the bearing including: a support including a housing configured to receive a pivot module configured to cooperate with the staff; an elastic mechanism configured to exert at least one axial force on the pivot module to retain the pivot module in its housing, the pivot module and the housing having a geometry of revolution defined to have freedom of angular orientation, one relative to the other; and a fixing mechanism for fixing the elastic mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Yves Girardin, Ivan Villar
  • Patent number: 9365941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating a monolayer or multilayer metal structure in LIGA technology, in which a photoresist layer is deposited on a flat metal substrate, a photoresist mold is created by irradiation or electron or ion bombardment, a metal or alloy is electroplated in this mold, the electroformed metal structure is detached from the substrate and the photoresist is separated from this metal structure, wherein the metal substrate is used as an agent involved in the forming of at least one surface of the metal structure other than that formed by the plane surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventor: Clément Saucy
  • Patent number: 9292005
    Abstract: Shock resistant bearing for a timepiece including an elastic structure and a central portion carried by the elastic structure, the central portion having a blind hole intended to receive a pivot of a rotating wheel set of the timepiece. The elastic structure and the central portion are formed by a single-piece part formed of single crystal quartz and the blind hole has at least partially the shape of a truncated or non-truncated trigonal pyramid against which the end of the pivot abuts. The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing a shock resistant bearing of this type wherein the single-piece wafer is machined in an anisotropic etching bath for single crystal quartz. Preferably, two masks are respectively arranged on the two sides of the wafer to simultaneously etch the quartz from both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Thierry Hessler
  • Patent number: 9268305
    Abstract: Device for the micrometric endshake adjustment of a timepiece wheel set in an axial direction in relation to a structure, including a pivot bearing for this wheel set defining an axial stop member for this wheel set in this axial direction, and this device includes an adjustment stage of variable thickness in this axial direction, which includes at least one elastic return for pushing a first component provided with pivot drive means operable by a tool and carrying this bearing onto a second component fixed to this structure directly, or via at least one case, and this elastic return means are supported on this structure directly or via at least one case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventors: Olivier Rebetez, Baptist Wyssbrod
  • Patent number: 9244432
    Abstract: Shockproof timepiece wheel for driving a component having unbalance relative to a pivot axis of this wheel, The wheel includes, on the one hand, an arbour for pivotally guiding the wheel about this pivot axis, and on the other hand, a drive device arranged or assembled on a flange of this wheel, the wheel including at least one flexible element between this arbour and the flange. The flange includes a cylindrical shoulder, which cooperates in abutment for centring purposes with a complementary cylindrical shoulder provided in the arbour to ensure the perfect concentricity of the drive device with the arbour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE
    Inventors: Pascal Lagorgette, Raphael Balmer
  • Patent number: 9235191
    Abstract: A timepiece mechanism structure for receiving and guiding at least one pivoting wheel set is provided. The structure includes at least one inseparable single-piece structure, including one inseparable single-piece frame which includes pivot housings aligned in pairs in a direction of alignment for receiving the pivots of an arbour of this pivoting wheel set, and each pivot housing is an open housing formed by a half bearing or by a dihedral, and includes at one end a stop bearing surface in this direction of alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Thierry Hessler, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Patent number: 8926170
    Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbor of a timepiece wheel set. The arbor includes a pivot-shank extended by a pivot. The bearing includes a support including a recess for receiving a pivot system into which the pivot-shank is inserted. The pivot system is arranged to absorb, at least in part, shocks experienced by the timepiece wheel set and is formed of a single piece made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Yves Winkler, Michel Willemin
  • Publication number: 20140341005
    Abstract: Shock resistant bearing for a timepiece including an elastic structure and a central portion carried by the elastic structure, the central portion having a blind hole intended to receive a pivot of a rotating wheel set of the timepiece. The elastic structure and the central portion are formed by a single-piece part formed of single crystal quartz and the blind hole has at least partially the shape of a truncated or non-truncated trigonal pyramid against which the end of the pivot abuts. The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing a shock resistant bearing of this type wherein the single-piece wafer is machined in an anisotropic etching bath for single crystal quartz. Preferably, two masks are respectively arranged on the two sides of the wafer to simultaneously etch the quartz from both sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Thierry Hessler
  • Patent number: 8777481
    Abstract: The timepiece movement includes a shock absorber bearing for a rotating wheel set, formed of an elastic device having a rigid central part and an elastic structure connected to said central part and extending at the periphery thereof, the central part having an aperture in which a pierced jewel is arranged and being materially connected to the timepiece movement via the elastic structure. This bearing further includes an endstone, which forms a top stop member for the pivot of the rotating wheel set and is assembled to said central part so as to move integrally therewith. This endstone extends at least partially above the elastic structure and is secured to the central part by a material connection between said central part and the bottom surface of the endstone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Jean-Jacques Born
  • Patent number: 8702301
    Abstract: A timepiece bearing has a bearing member of unitary construction that is provided at least at one end portion of a shaft member for undergoing rotation around an axis and that regulates movement of the shaft member in axial and radial directions of the shaft member. An elastic member applies an urging force in an axial direction of the bearing member to hold the bearing member in contact with the shaft member. A frame member supported by and fixed to a support member contains the bearing member. The elastic member is provided so as to establish connection between the bearing member and the frame member. The shaft member is configured to undergo rotation around the rotational axis while the shaft member and the bearing member are held in contact with each other by the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Hiraoka, Masahiro Nakajima, Takashi Niwa
  • Patent number: 8579501
    Abstract: Anti-shock device for the protection of a timepiece component pivotally mounted between a first and a second end in a chamber. The component is freely mounted in the chamber between pole pieces, which are distinct from the component and located in proximity to the chamber and the device includes a device for attracting the first end held in abutment on only the first pole piece, and a device for attracting the second end towards a second pole piece, the devices for attracting the first end and the second end, which are of magnetic and/or electrostatic nature, can move along an axial direction between stop members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Davide Sarchi
  • Publication number: 20130188462
    Abstract: A shock absorber bearing for an arbour of a timepiece wheel set. The arbour includes a pivot-shank extended by a pivot. The bearing includes a support including a recess for receiving a pivot system into which the pivot-shank is inserted. The pivot system is arranged to absorb, at least in part, shocks experienced by the timepiece wheel set and is formed of a single piece made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Helfer, Yves Winkler, Michel Willemin
  • Patent number: 8317391
    Abstract: The device for pivoting an arbour (11) in a timepiece, includes two pivots (12, 12?; 32) each forming one end of the arbour and two bearings for receiving the two pivots. Each of the pivots includes an approximately cylindrical portion (19, 19?; 39) and a convex rounded portion (13, 13?; 33) that extends the approximately cylindrical portion and gradually decreases in the direction of the end. Each of the bearings includes a pivoting structure (25; 35) held in place elastically, which includes an approximately cylindrical passage traversed by said approximately cylindrical portion (19, 19?; 39) of one of the pivots. The pivoting structure also includes a bearing surface against which the end of said pivot will abut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Patent number: 7344303
    Abstract: The housing (6) of the bearing block (1), locks the peripheral ring (11) of a spring (10) with axial and radial deformation further comprising a substantially annular rigid central support (13) which cooperates with a cap (23), fitted by means of lugs (25) to the outside of the central support (13), to hold the pierced stone (4) and the endstone (5). The resilient part (12) of the spring (10) is for example formed of bent arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Thierry Conus, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Patent number: 7234859
    Abstract: This shock-absorbing bearing comprises a bearing block (1), a pierced jewel (3), an endstone (4) and a shock-absorbing spring (5) connected to said bearing block (1) by four linking arms (5a1, 5a2, 5a3, 5a4), parallel to a plane containing the pivot axis (X) of said bearing and forming two suspension elements (5a1, 5c1, 5a2; 5a3, 5c2, 5a4), each having two of said linking arms connected to each other by a branch in the form of an arc (5c1, 5c2) centered on said pivot axis (X) and having a radius greater than that of said endstone (4), these suspension elements being connected to each other by two diametric arms (5e) located on either side of a central support element (5d). The outer ends of said diametric arms (5e) are connected to two of said linking arms (5a2, 5a4) belonging to said respective suspension elements (5a1, 5c1, 5a2; 5a3, 5c2, 5a4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Kohler, Romain Voirol