US 11,693,366 B2
Flexible guide and set of superimposed flexible guides for rotary resonator mechanism, in particular of a horological movement
Pascal Winkler, St-Blaise (CH); Jean-Luc Helfer, Le Landeron (CH); and Yves-Alain Cosandier, Renens (CH)
Assigned to ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse, Grenchen (CH)
Filed by ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse, Grenchen (CH)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/23,565.
Claims priority of application No. 19205242 (EP), filed on Oct. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0124306 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G04B 17/04 (2006.01); G04B 17/08 (2006.01)
CPC G04B 17/045 (2013.01) [G04B 17/08 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flexible guide for a rotary resonator mechanism of a horological movement, the guide comprising:
a first support,
an element movable relative to the first support,
a first pair of flexible strips connecting the first support to the movable element, so that the movable element can displace relative to the first support by bending the strips in a circular movement about a center of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in a plane, and
prestressing means, the prestressing means being configured to apply a force for buckling the first pair of flexible strips by bringing the first support closer to the movable element, so that the flexible guide comprises two stable angular positions of the movable element relative to the first support for which a return moment is zero, the two stable angular positions having a predetermined angle of rotation therebetween,
wherein the return moment of the flexible guide has a substantially sinusoidal shape between the two stable angular positions.