# US 12,181,838 B2 · Flexible guide with translation table for a rotating resonator mechanism, in particular for a horological movement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,838 B2 - Document ID: US12181838B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/481,821 - Filed: 2021-09-22 - Published: 2022-05-05 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-29 - Assignees: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Applicants: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Inventors: Mohammad Hussein Kahrobaiyan; Pascal Winkler; Jean-Luc Helfer; Gianni Di Domenico; Grégory Musy; Florent Cosandier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181838B2 ## CPC - G04B 17/045: {with oscillating blade springs (mechanical oscillations maintained by electro-magnetic means, e.g. tuning forks G04C3/10)} - G04B 17/32: Component parts or constructional details, e.g. collet, stud {, virole or piton} - F16C 11/12: incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs - G04B 17/063: {Balance construction (balances with frequency adjustment screw G04B18/006; balances with temperature compensation G04B17/222; balancing devices G04B17/28)} - F16C 2370/00: Apparatus relating to physics, e.g. instruments - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A flexible guide for a rotating resonator mechanism, in particular of a horological movement, the guide including a fixed support, an element that is capable of moving relative to the fixed support, at least one main flexible blade allowing the movable element to move relative to the fixed support by bending the one or more main flexible blades via a rotary motion about a centre of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in one plane, and includes at least one translation table joined to one end of the main flexible blade, the main flexible blade and the translation table forming a pair connected to the fixed support, to the movable element, or to an intermediate movable part, such that the translation table is configured to move in translation at least in part under the effect of the bending of the main flexible blade. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible guide for a rotating resonator mechanism of a horological movement, the flexible guide comprising: a fixed support, a movable element configured to move relative to the fixed support, at least one main flexible blade allowing the movable element to move relative to the fixed support by bending the one or more main flexible blades via a rotary motion about a center of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in one plane, and at least one translation table, wherein each translation table of the at least one translation table is joined to one end of a corresponding main flexible blade of the at least one main flexible blade, the corresponding main flexible blade and the translation table being arranged in series and forming a pair connected to the fixed support such that the translation table is configured to move in translation at least in part under an effect of the bending of the corresponding main flexible blade, wherein each translation table of the at least one translation table is arranged in series between the fixed support and the corresponding main flexible blade, the translation table being joined to the fixed support and to a first end of the corresponding main flexible blade, the correspond main flexible blade is joined to the movable element at a second end, and the movable element comprises a central part to which each of the at least one main flexible blades are joined. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one main flexible blade includes three main flexible blades and the at least one translation table includes three translation tables such that the flexible guides comprises three pairs, each pair being formed by a corresponding main flexible blade and a corresponding translation table of the three translation tables, the three pairs being angularly distributed so as to form a symmetrical pivot, each corresponding main flexible blade being joined at one end to one of the three translation tables. ### Claim 3 A flexible guide for a rotating resonator mechanism of a horological movement, the flexible guide comprising: a fixed support; a movable element configured to move relative to the fixed support; at least one main flexible blade allowing the movable element to move relative to the fixed support by bending the one or more main flexible blades via a rotary motion about a center of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in one plane; and at least one translation table, wherein each translation table of the at least one translation table is joined to one end of a corresponding main flexible blade of the at least one main flexible blade, the corresponding main flexible blade and the translation table being arranged in series and forming a pair connected to the fixed support such that the translation table is configured to move in translation at least in part under an effect of the bending of the corresponding main flexible blade, wherein each translation table of the at least one translation table is arranged in series between a single corresponding main flexible blade and the movable element, the translation table being joined to the movable element and to the second end of the corresponding main flexible blade, the corresponding main flexible blade being joined to the fixed support at the first end, and wherein each translation table comprises two secondary flexible blades, the secondary flexible blades being joined at one end to a rigid part of the translation table and at another end to the movable element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one main flexible blade includes six main flexible blades and the at least one translation table includes six translation tables such that the flexible guides comprises six pairs, each pair consisting of a corresponding main flexible blade of the six flexible blades and a corresponding translation table of the six translation tables, the six pairs being angularly distributed about a central part of the fixed support, so as to form a symmetrical pivot, each main flexible blade being joined at one end to the central part of the fixed support, three pairs being joined to the fixed support and three pairs being joined to the movable element, by the corresponding translation table. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flexible guide according to claim 4, wherein the three pairs joined to the fixed support and the three pairs joined to the movable element are distributed alternately about the central part of the fixed support. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The flexible guide according to claim 3, wherein the fixed support comprises a central part of the flexible guide, to which each of the at least one main flexible blades are joined. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The flexible guide according to claim 4, further comprising the central part of the fixed support forming an intermediate element between the support and the movable element, to which each of the six main flexible blades are joined. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flexible guide according to claim 1, wherein each translation table comprises two secondary flexible blades and a rigid part, the two secondary flexible blades being joined at one end to the rigid part and at another end to the fixed support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The flexible guide according to claim 3, wherein the translation table comprises the two secondary flexible blades, which are joined to a same face of the rigid part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The flexible guide according to claim 8, wherein the rigid part forms a bend, such that the each corresponding main flexible blade is perpendicular to the two secondary flexible blades of the corresponding translation table joined to the corresponding main flexible blade when the guide is in the rest position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The flexible guide according to claim 3, wherein the secondary flexible blades are disposed in different rows. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flexible guide according to claim 11, wherein the secondary flexible blades are substantially parallel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The flexible guide according to claim 1, wherein the movable element comprises a balance, which is centered about the central part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A rotating resonator mechanism for a horological movement, comprising the flexible guide according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 A flexible guide for a rotating resonator mechanism of a horological movement, the flexible guide comprising: a fixed support; a movable element configured to move relative to the fixed support; at least one main flexible blade allowing the movable element to move relative to the fixed support by bending the one or more main flexible blades via a rotary motion about a center of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in one plane; and at least one translation table, wherein each translation table of the at least one translation table is joined to one end of a corresponding main flexible blade of the at least one main flexible blade, the corresponding main flexible blade and the translation table being arranged in series and forming a pair connected to the fixed support such that the translation table is configured to move in translation at least in part under an effect of the bending of the corresponding main flexible blade, wherein the at least one main flexible blade includes a plurality of main flexible blades and the at least one translation table includes a corresponding plurality of translation tables such that the flexible guides comprises a plurality of pairs, each pair consisting of a corresponding main flexible blade of the six flexible blades and a corresponding translation table, the plurality of pairs being angularly distributed about a central part of the fixed support, so as to form a symmetrical pivot, each main flexible blade being joined at one end to the central part of the fixed support, a first subset of the plurality of pairs being joined to the fixed support and a second subset of the plurality of pairs being joined to the movable element, by the corresponding translation table.