The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2007
Matthieu Grange, Chavannes, CH;
Arnaud Casagrande, Lignière, CH;
Matthieu Grange, Chavannes, CH;
Arnaud Casagrande, Lignière, CH;
The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd, Marin, CH;
Abstract
The positioning device can position a spherical object. This object is placed and held by gravity on three points of support (P, P', P″) of the positioning device. The center of gravity of the object in any position is within the triangle formed by the three points of support. The positioning device includes means for driving the object in rotation. The drive means includes a drive member including wheel whose contact with the external surface of the object forms one of the support points (P) of the positioning device. This drive member can impose a rotation on the object, via the wheel, in all directions. The other two points of support (P′, P″) are made using two ball and socket joints, wherein the ball is held on an air cushion in a housing of the ball and socket joint.