A tensioner including a support member, a thrust member supported so as to be capable of reciprocating movement in a straight line along a first direction with respect to the support member, and a contact-type flat spiral spring. The flat spiral spring is disposed adjacent to the thrust member in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The flat spiral spring has a coil axis direction running in a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction and includes an inner-end portion anchored to the support member and an outer-end portion anchored to the thrust member so as to bias the thrust member in a forward-direction and so as to be wound-up by movement of the thrust member in a retraction-direction.

A tensioner includes a movable section, a fixed section, a flat spiral spring, and a back-up spring. The movable section receives load from an entrained transmission body through a tension member. The fixed section supports the movable section so as to be capable of displacing. The flat spiral spring biases the movable section so as to resist the tension member. The flat spiral spring unwinds in a state in which there is a small inter-plate friction force in cases in which there is a large biasing force applied to the tension member to counter load acting from the tension member. The flat spiral spring winds-up in a state in which there is a large inter-plate friction force in cases in which there is a small biasing force applied to the tension member to counter load acting from the tension member. The back-up spring limits wind-up of the flat spiral spring.

A connector includes a first buffer member that includes a spiral-shaped wire, a second buffer member that has a substantially annular and flat plate-like shape capable of warping in a thickness direction, a collar member that includes a first flange facing a radially inner side of the first buffer member, and a second flange facing a radially inner side of the second buffer member, and a coupling member. A gap for allowing the second buffer member to move in a radial direction is formed between the second buffer member and a cylindrical portion. A distance between a position of a surface of the second flange and a position of a lowest end of the collar member is greater than a distance between a position of a surface of the first flange and the position of the surface of the second flange in a view in an axial direction.

A connector includes a first buffer member that includes a spiral-shaped wire, a second buffer member that has a substantially annular and flat plate-like shape capable of warping in a thickness direction, a collar member that includes a first flange facing a radially inner side of the first buffer member, and a second flange facing a radially inner side of the second buffer member, and a coupling member. A gap for allowing the second buffer member to move in a radial direction is formed between the second buffer member and a cylindrical portion. A distance between a position of a surface of the second flange and a position of a lowest end of the collar member is greater than a distance between a position of a surface of the first flange and the position of the surface of the second flange in a view in an axial direction.

A curtain assembly includes a scrolling device having a first axle, a second axle and at least one third axle. A scrolling spring is a scroll-shaped unit and includes a first end and a second end. The second end of the scrolling spring is located close to the center of the roll-shaped unit. The first end is located at outside of roll-shaped unit. The recovery force of the first end of the scrolling spring is smaller than that of the second end of the scrolling spring. The first end of the scrolling spring is connected to a first wheel. The second end of the scrolling spring is connected to a second wheel. The scrolling spring is wrapped in an “S” pattern between the first and second heels. When the curtain is collected, it does not expand downward. When the curtain is expanded, it is not dragged upward.

A flexible timepiece component, in particular for an oscillator mechanism or for a barrel of a horological movement, the component extending along a main plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanowires (3) being juxtaposed, the matrix (2) including a material (4) for filling the interstices between the nanowires (3) to join them to each other, each nanowire (3) forming a solid one-piece tube, the nanowires (3) being disposed substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the main plane (P) of the component (6, 7).

A flexible timepiece component, in particular for an oscillator mechanism or for a barrel of a horological movement, the component extending along a main plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanowires (3) being juxtaposed, the matrix (2) including a material (4) for filling the interstices between the nanowires (3) to join them to each other, each nanowire (3) forming a solid one-piece tube, the nanowires (3) being disposed substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the main plane (P) of the component (6, 7).

A bearing pusher assembly for moving product in a channel of a product display apparatus. The product display apparatus can have a tray component and a spring, the bearing pusher assembly to be coupled with the spring and moveable with respect to the tray component. The spring provides a resilience force to the tray component and the bearing pusher assembly upon deformation. The bearing pusher assembly includes a pusher body, an axle coupled to the pusher body, and a ball bearing coupled to the axle and rotatably moveable with respect to the tray component. Also disclosed is a product display apparatus including the bearing pusher assembly.

A force sensing element is used in a pressure transducer. The force sensing element includes a flat, disc-type spring having a unitary body that circumscribes a central axis, and a plurality of spirals that are continuous with each other and extend radially outwardly from the central axis. The plurality of spirals includes nested symmetrical flights having walls with a non-uniform thickness, and the disc spring is uniformly deflectable along the central axis in response to force acting on the disc-type spring. The spring is configured to have a high accuracy and a high fatigue life such that the spring is suitable for use in high-pressure applications that may require repeatability while operating with over 10 million cycles of unidirectional or bi-directional axial loading.

An overload protection mechanism includes a first accommodating member, a second accommodating member, a force storage member, and an object. The second accommodating member is rotatably disposed on the first accommodating member. The force storage member is disposed between the first accommodating member and the second accommodating member. Opposite ends of the force storage member are connected to the first accommodating member and the second accommodating member. The object is connected to the second accommodating member. When an external force is exerted on the object and a torque generated by the external force is larger than a torque provided by the force storage member, the external force forces the object to drive the second accommodating member to rotate with respect to the first accommodating member.