Search Patents
  • Time-keeping instrument, in particular an analog-type electric wrist watch
    Patent number: 5790478
    Abstract: The wrist watch comprises essentially a battery (10), two electric motors (11, 12) which moves the hands (13, 14, 15) on the one hand and a disk of dates (16) on the other hand, an electronic circuit (23) and a watch-type microprocessor (22). When there is a determination by the electronic circuit (23) of the end of the life of the battery, the microprocessor powers the motor (12) in such a manner that the date displayed in the window (17) of the watch is displaced with respect to its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Rene Besson
  • Coloured coating adapted for watch components
    Patent number: 11820911
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coating composition for watch elements, comprising a binder, preferably a two-component polyurethane; one or more pigments, preferably in quantities from 19 to 58% by weight of pigments (based on total solids of the composition); at least one filler; a solvent or a solvent combination, preferably butyl acetate and/or ethyl lactate. optionally one or more commonly used additives, customary auxiliaries or combinations of them. Further disclosed are a kit-of-parts, a coating on a watch element, a process for coating a watch element and a watch obtainable by said process or comprising said coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rolex SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Issartel, Nadji Salhi, Fernanda Rossetti, Helena Schall, Martin Winkler, Stefanie Zuber
  • Device for the transfer of watch components
    Patent number: 10866567
    Abstract: A device (30, 40) for the transfer of a plurality of watch components (2) arranged on a first support (10) to their arrangement on a second support (20), wherein it comprises an inlet surface (31, 41) comprising inlet orifices (33, 43) so arranged as to correspond to a first arrangement of the watch components (2) on a first support (10), an outlet surface (32, 42) comprising outlet orifices (34, 44) so arranged as to correspond to a second arrangement of the watch components (2) on a second support (20), and guide elements (35, 45) adapted to guide the watch components (2) automatically from the inlet orifices (33, 43) to the outlet orifices (34, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Yann Beaufils, Adrien Noel
  • METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A WATCH COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20200086678
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a watch component (10) for a timepiece, wherein it comprises a first stage of manufacturing a watch component (10) comprising a first surface (1), in which there is arranged at least one recess (20), that is to say a surface recessed from the first surface (1), and wherein it comprises a second finishing stage the watch component, leading to a change in the surface condition, more particularly the roughness, more particularly measured by the parameters Ra and/or Str, and/or the gloss, of the first surface (1) but not of the at least one recess (20) or of a portion exclusively of this at least one recess (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Carine Bienvenu, Patrice Nagel, Quoc-Hien Nguyen, Alexandra Roulet
  • SYSTEM FOR FIXING A TIMEPIECE MOVEMENT IN A WATCH CASE
    Publication number: 20190146418
    Abstract: The system (10) for fixing a timepiece movement (2) to a watch case (30) element (3) comprises at least one clamp (1), in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, which is intended to come into contact firstly with the movement and secondly with the watch case element, the at least one clamp being made of a superelastic alloy and/or of a shape memory alloy, particularly of a nickel-titanium alloy such as Nitinol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Benoit Junod, James Rejzner
  • METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SURFACE OF REVOLUTION OF A CLOCK OR WATCH COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20200326656
    Abstract: Method for producing a surface of revolution of a clock or watch component comprising a step of machining, with a femtosecond laser beam, a first surface of the clock or watch component so as to obtain a second surface, in particular so as to obtain a second surface whose roughness Ra is less than 100 nm, or less than 70 nm, and then a tribofinishing step applied to the second surface so as to obtain the surface of revolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Giulio Cunto, Patrice Nagel, Alexandre Oliveira
  • Method of manufacturing a watch component
    Patent number: 11745536
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a watch component (10) for a timepiece, wherein it comprises a first stage of manufacturing a watch component (10) comprising a first surface (1), in which there is arranged at least one recess (20), that is to say a surface recessed from the first surface (1), and wherein it comprises a second finishing stage the watch component, leading to a change in the surface condition, more particularly the roughness, more particularly measured by the parameters Ra and/or Str, and/or the gloss, of the first surface (1) but not of the at least one recess (20) or of a portion exclusively of this at least one recess (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Carine Bienvenu, Patrice Nagel, Quoc-Hien Nguyen, Alexandra Roulet
  • System for fixing a timepiece movement in a watch case
    Patent number: 11327442
    Abstract: The system (10) for fixing a timepiece movement (2) to a watch case (30) element (3) comprises at least one clamp (1), in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, which is intended to come into contact firstly with the movement and secondly with the watch case element, the at least one clamp being made of a superelastic alloy and/or of a shape memory alloy, particularly of a nickel-titanium alloy such as Nitinol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Benoit Junod, James Rejzner, Benjamin Celant
  • METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A CLOCK OR WATCH COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20190171164
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a clock or watch component (19; 29) includes (i) providing (Ell; E21) a wafer (11; 21) having a single slice (12; 22) including a material of the component, notably silicon, diamond, quartz, sapphire or ceramic, optionally first coating the lower surface of the slice (22) with a lower layer (24), (iii) etching (E12 to E14; E22 to E24) the slice (12; 22) starting from its upper surface to form at least one clock or watch component, (iv) revealing (E15; E25) at least one clock or watch component (19; 29), by removing a layer that served as a mask for etching (E15; E25) and (y) optionally releasing (E26) the slice and the at least one etched clock or watch component by removing the lower layer (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Richard Bossart, Nima Merk
  • Perpetual calendar watch with analog time display
    Patent number: 5384754
    Abstract: An electronic watch having an electronic circuit to perform advanced features that is able to distinguish between a first case in which an access code for entry into a programming mode has been correctly entered and the programming operation has been correctly done, from a second case in which the access code has not been correctly entered and/or the programming has not been done correctly. Access to a programming mode of a perpetual calendar feature built into the watch is controlled by requiring at least one manipulation of a time-setting rod in view of its attribution to at least one function other than the functions of correction of the date and day, and to control the watch in the manner of an ordinary watch in the second case and to attribute, in this case to at least one manipulation of the rod, the functions of correction of date and day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Rene Besson
  • Electronic watch with analog time display
    Patent number: 5095469
    Abstract: An electronic watch having an electronic circuit arranged to control at least one function of the watch other than the usual functions of time indication, in which the manipulation of a time-setting rod and/or the position of movable elements of the watch at a given moment define the parameters which, alone or in combination, correspond to access codes which are recognized by the electronic circuit for accessing the advanced features. The present invention proposes to control the advanced features of the watch by means of a single time-setting rod. The time-setting rod of the preferred embodiment detects four parameters for determining an entered access code. These parameters are: (1) the position of the time-setting rod; (2) the rotation of the time-setting rod; (3) the direction of rotation of the time-setting rod; and (4) the rotation velocity of the time-setting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Claude-Eric Leuenberger, Jean-Jacques Burri
  • Method of manufacturing a clock or watch component
    Patent number: 11429065
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a clock or watch component (19; 29) includes (i) providing (E11; E21) a wafer (11; 21) having a single slice (12; 22) including a material of the component, notably silicon, diamond, quartz, sapphire or ceramic, optionally first coating the lower surface of the slice (22) with a lower layer (24), (iii) etching (E12 to E14; E22 to E24) the slice (12; 22) starting from its upper surface to form at least one clock or watch component, (iv) revealing (E15; E25) at least one clock or watch component (19; 29), by removing a layer that served as a mask for etching (E15; E25) and (y) optionally releasing (E26) the slice and the at least one etched clock or watch component by removing the lower layer (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Richard Bossart, Nima Merk
  • WATCH TRANSMISSION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170269550
    Abstract: Transmission device (100), for example for a watch mechanism (110), in particular for a winding train (100, 201) of a watch movement (120), including an input element (6) intended to be driven only in a first direction, an output element, a first mechanical connection arranged such that the displacement of the input element in a first direction causes the displacement of the output element in a second direction, and a second mechanical connection (9?, 9) arranged such that the displacement of the input element in the first direction causes the displacement of the output element in a third direction, the third direction being opposite the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Florian Calame, Adrien Catheline, Sébastien Perseguers
  • Watch transmission device
    Patent number: 10222745
    Abstract: Transmission device (100), for example for a watch mechanism (110), in particular for a winding train (100, 201) of a watch movement (120), including an input element (6) intended to be driven only in a first direction, an output element, a first mechanical connection arranged such that the displacement of the input element in a first direction causes the displacement of the output element in a second direction, and a second mechanical connection (9?, 9) arranged such that the displacement of the input element in the first direction causes the displacement of the output element in a third direction, the third direction being opposite the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Florian Calame, Adrien Catheline, Sébastien Perseguers
  • Watch components
    Patent number: 9920245
    Abstract: Watch component made of a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state, the watch component having a surface which comprises an area which shows phosphorescent emission and an area which does not show phosphorescent emission or which shows phosphorescent emission with an intensity which is lower than that of the emission of the other area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rolex SA
    Inventors: Detlef Berner, Romain Girod, Ollivier Pujol, Isabelle Rigot
  • COLORED WATCH GLASS
    Publication number: 20200262740
    Abstract: A transparent timepiece component, in particular a watch glass, has a substantially planar or curved interior surface, and has mainly a transparent material colored by a zone of modified chemical composition within the component through an introduction of at least one coloring chemical element of the transparent material, this zone of modified chemical composition extending in one part only of the total thickness of the timepiece component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Maria-Isabel Borges-Machado, Alexandra Roulet
  • Device for controlling or correcting the readout of the day of the week or date for a wrist watch
    Patent number: 4837755
    Abstract: A device for controlling or correcting the readout of the day of the week or date for an analog watch, comprising a crown cogged on the inside and integral with a date or day disk, a bi-directional drive motor and a drive wheel coupled to the drive motor, the drive wheel having two opposite spring-loaded clicks and an arcuate slot in which a fixed stud is engaged, the stud cooperating with the edges of the slot to limit the travel of the drive wheel. The drive mechanism of the date or day disk can thus be recentered automatically after the watch has stopped while simultaneously compensating the rated steps of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Rene Besson
  • DEVICE FOR FIXING A WRISTBAND TO A WATCH CASE
    Publication number: 20190332062
    Abstract: A strand of a wristband (10) comprising an end intended for fixing removably to a watch case, wherein said strand comprises a projection (16) or a groove arranged at said end, said projection (16) or groove being intended to become lodged within a groove or projection of a watch case, and wherein said strand comprises at least one vertical opening (17) arranged in the thickness of said projection (16) or of a wall forming said groove and wherein said strand comprises an elastic element (30), so as to be able to accept a pin (20) through the elastic element (30) and through at least part of the length of said at least one vertical opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Fabien Grand, Flavien Kressmann, Jean-Baptiste Robin
  • Watertight control device for watches
    Patent number: 5383166
    Abstract: A watch control device comprises a crown with a central cavity surrounded by an annular cavity in the bottom of which is formed a groove. The lateral external face of the annular cavity has a thread adapted to be screwed onto a thread formed on the lateral external face of an external part of a tube screwed into a watch casing. An injected thermoplastic elastomer seal is disposed in the annular cavity. This seal comprises two parts of the same external diameter, but of different internal diameter, the portion of greater diameter engaging in the groove and the portion of smaller diameter being that on which the tube acts in the screwed up position of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventor: Jacques-Andre Gallay
  • ASSEMBLY OF A WRISTBAND TO A WATCH CASE
    Publication number: 20230141715
    Abstract: The device for fixing a wristband to a watch middle includes a connecting element (11) for connection to a wristband (10) or a watch middle (20), at least one pin (1) able to occupy two positions, one projecting from the connecting element (11) and another retracted into a housing (11a) of the connecting element (11), and a receiving element (21) for connection to a watch middle (20) or a wristband (10), having at least one bore (21a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Martin Christian, Stéphane Dufour
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