Patent Application
20240245148
The present invention relates to a garment control button. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heated garment control button with sleep mode function.
Garments with electrically powered, active heating elements may help keep a wearer warm and comfortable when experiencing cold environments for extended periods. Some of these types of garments include external control buttons that control the internal heating elements. The external control buttons may be depressed to cycle between various temperature zones and an off state. Such control buttons typically include a multi-colored indicator light that serves to indicate to a user which temperature zone has been selected. However, there are situations in which the user may desire to temporarily deactivate the indicator light. For example, an individual may be in a purposefully darker environment and wish to emit as little light as possible. The individual wearer may also wish to deactivate the indicator light for aesthetic purposes.
In view of the above concerns, it is desirable to provide a heated garment with an external control button having an indicator light that may be selectively turned on or off by the wearer. In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in functional and design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to a heated garment control button with sleep mode function. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of heated garment control button with sleep mode functions now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a heated garment control button with sleep mode function wherein the same may be utilized for providing convenience for the user when using a heated garment control button with sleep mode function.
The present system comprises a heated garment control button with sleep mode function having a planar base member sewed inside a heated garment and a button housing disposed on the planar base member to the heated garment.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the heated garment control button with sleep mode function. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
The heated garment control button with sleep mode function 100 may include a planar base member 110 and a button housing 120.
The planar base member 110 may be sewn inside a heated garment 112 or the like. The planar base member 110 may include a perimeter channel 114 that receives a plurality of stitching 116 that secures the planar base member 110 within the heated garment 112. The heated garment 112 may be a jacket (not shown) or any other suitable wearable heated garment. The planar base member 110 may be sewn on a front panel 112A or any other desired location on the heated garment 112. The planar base member 110 may be made of silicon or the like.
The button housing 120 extends upwardly and outwardly from the planar base member 110 to the heated garment 112. The button housing 120 may include a beveled edge 122 and a semi-transparent upper portion 124. The semi-transparent upper portion 124 may include an indicia 126 such as an artistic indicia, a functional indicia (not shown), or the like.
The button housing 120 may be disposed between the semi-transparent upper portion 124 and the planar base member 110 that defines an interior volume 128 that houses a control circuit 121 and an indicator light 123. One edge of the button housing 120 may include a projection 125 that serves as a secondary button 125A that is operably connected to the indicator light 123. When depressed, the secondary button 125A causes the indicator light 123 function to be disabled, such that depressing the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 only causes temperature changes and does not activate the indicator light 123 until the secondary button 125A is depressed a subsequent time. The indicator light 123 may be an Light Emitting Diode or LED light 123A or the like.
The indicator light 123 may be beneficial for visual confirmation, quick glance information, troubleshooting, group activities, night-time outdoor activities, work safety, emergency situations, and the like.
The indicator light may provide immediate visual confirmation of the heating level in the garment. This is especially useful in situations where the user may not immediately feel the change in temperature, for example, if they are wearing several layers or are in an already warm environment.
The light is beneficial when the user wants to check the temperature setting without disrupting their activities. For instance, during outdoor sports like skiing or snowboarding, a user may quickly glance at the light to verify the heating setting without needing to stop or remove their gloves to feel the button.
If the heating elements are malfunctioning or not working as expected, the indicator light may provide crucial information for troubleshooting. Different light colors or patterns may signify different issues, like a low battery or a short in the heating element.
In group activities taking place in darker environments, such as night hiking or camping, having an illuminated indicator may help keep track of all group members. Different light colors may even be used to distinguish between individuals or teams, or indicate varying heating levels for each individual.
If a user is engaged in outdoor activities during the night, such as running, cycling, or hiking, an illuminated light may enhance their visibility to others, potentially preventing accidents.
For people working in low-light conditions or at night, such as road construction crews, security staff, or emergency personnel, having an illuminated indicator may increase their visibility to others and improve their safety.
In a situation where visibility is low due to environmental factors such as heavy fog, snow, or smoke, the light may be used to signal one's location to others or emergency responders.
The indicator light 123 may be beneficial when turned-off for stealth, aesthetic preference, battery conservation, wildlife observation or hunting, photography or film production, sleeping, discretion in social situations, and the like.
If the user is in a situation where they want to remain inconspicuous, such as wildlife photography, military, law enforcement or hunting, an illuminated indicator light might be undesirable as it could attract attention or scare off animals. During stealth operations, such as in the military or law enforcement, the ability to control the visibility of the light may help reduce the risk of detection.
Some users might simply find the light distracting or unattractive and prefer to have it off when they don't need to verify the heating setting.
While the energy used by an indicator light is generally minimal, in situations where every bit of battery life counts (like on a long camping trip without access to charging), users might prefer to turn off the indicator light to extend the overall battery life of the heated garment.
As mentioned previously, the light could potentially scare away animals. In these situations, being able to turn off the light could help the wearer remain unnoticed by the wildlife.
If the user is involved in photography or filming, particularly in low-light conditions, an indicator light could interfere with the shot or cause unwanted reflections. Being able to turn off the light would be beneficial in these situations.
If the user is sleeping in the garment like heated pajamas or a heated blanket (for instance, while camping or on a long flight), they might want to turn off the indicator light to avoid it disturbing their sleep or the sleep of those around them.
In certain social situations, the user might not want to draw attention to the fact that they're wearing a heated garment. For example, at a formal outdoor event in cool weather, a blinking or brightly colored light could be seen as distracting or out of place.
The heated garment control button with sleep mode function 100 may be depressed to select a desired heat level. More specifically, the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 may be depressed in the range of approximately 1 to 3 times to select the desired heat level. The secondary button 125A may be depressed to sleep mode to specifically turn the indicator light 123 off while maintaining a current heat level from the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120.
The heated garment control button with sleep mode function 100 may include the semi-transparent upper portion 124 having an indicia 126.
The indicia 126 may turn color as the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 may be depressed and the secondary button 125A may be depressed to sleep mode to specifically turn the indicator light 123 off at a corresponding desired heat level from the secondary button 125A.
The indicia 126 may turn a light grey color when turned-off 126A, a blue color when turned on at a low level 126B, a white color when turned on at a medium level 126C, and a red color when turned on a high level 126D. The indicia 126 may turn a light grey color when turned-off and in sleep mode 126E, while a temperature is maintained.
The temperature and duration settings 130 may include a High setting 132, a Medium setting 134, and a Low setting 136, or the like. There is also a Sleep mode setting 138 from depressing the secondary button 125A. The temperature and duration settings 130 may correspond to the indica 126 discussed in
The High setting 132 may have a temperature of approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit and have a duration of heating of approximately at least 2 hours. The Medium setting 134 may have a temperature of approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit and have a duration of heating of approximately at least 3 hours. The Low setting 136 may have a temperature of approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit and have a duration of heating of approximately at least 4.5 hours.
The control circuit (
The sample instructional sheet 140 may also include instructions where the secondary button 125A may be depressed or activated independently of the main heating element control button. This allows the user to turn off the indicator light 123 while the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 remain active at the previously selected temperature level and duration.
The heated garment control button with sleep mode function 100 may be depressed on the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 to change the temperature and temperature and duration settings 130.
The heated garment control button with sleep mode function 100 may include the secondary button 125A causes the indicator light 123 function to be disabled, such that depressing the upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 only causes temperature changes and does not activate the indicator light 123 until the secondary button 125A is depressed a subsequent time.
The upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 and the secondary button 125A may be depressed approximately 1 to 3 times to select a desired heat level.
The secondary button 125A may allow the indicator light 123 to sleep while maintaining the temperature and duration settings 130.
The upper portion 124 of the button housing 120 and the secondary button 125A may be activated independently of one another. The user may thus control the heating element temperature and duration without having the illumination of the indicator light 123 when desired. When the user desires to reactivate the indicator light 123, the secondary button 125A may be pressed a second time. In this way, the wearer of the heated garment may selectively control the activation of the indicator light 123.
The button styles 150 may include a raised square button 151, a recessed diamond button 152, a recessed square button 153, a raised circular button 154, and a dual oval button 155.
The raised square button 151 may be beveled or the like. The recessed diamond button 152 may be at a surface level the recessed diamond button 152 is disposed on. The recessed square button 153 may be at a surface level the recessed square button 153 is disposed on. The raised circular button 154 may be paired with a wireless system that allows devices to connect and exchange data when they are relatively close to each other or BLUETOOTH® technology. The dual oval button 155 may include a start indicia 155A and a pair of hands indicia 155B that may indicate a two-hand control switch 155C that requires both hands to be used to operate a machine to ensure that the operator's hands are in a safe position before the machine starts.
The additional components 200 may include a server system 204, an input system 206, an output system 208, a plurality of client systems 210, 214, 216, 218 and 220, a communications network 212, a hand-held device 222, and a heated garment control button with sleep mode function non-transitory storage media 225.
The communications network 212 may include the Internet 212A and/or a BLUETOOTH® technology 212B. In other embodiments, the overall system 200 may include additional components and/or may not include all of the components listed above.
The overall system 200 may include a voice recognition system 230, a plurality of motion sensors 240, a timer device 250, a plurality of proximity sensors 260, an embedded touchscreen interface 270, a plurality of biometric sensors 280, an ambient temperature-based control 290, and a Smartwatch 295.
The voice recognition system 230 may be incorporated into the control circuit (
The motion sensors 240 may interpret one or more user gestures and control the heating and light settings, accordingly, offering a more intuitive interaction.
The timer device 250 may integrate a timer or scheduling function to automatically control the heating and light based on the time of day or a user-defined schedule, providing an intelligent, context-aware operation. The timer device 250 may integrate a timer or scheduling function to automatically control the heating and light based on the time of day, user-defined schedule, or even based on anticipated weather patterns, providing an intelligent, context-aware operation.
The proximity sensors 260 may automatically dim or turn off the indicator light 123 when it detects a nearby object, minimizing unnecessary light emission and potential disturbances.
The embedded touchscreen interface 270 may be embedded into the garment, offering the user a higher level of control over the heating elements and the indicator light 123.
The biometric sensor 280 may monitor the wearer's body temperature or heart rate, and adjust the indicator light 123 based on these biometric readings, optimizing personal comfort.
The ambient temperature-based control 290 may incorporate an external temperature sensor to adjust the indicator light 123 based on the surrounding ambient temperature, creating an adaptive, environmentally responsive operation.
The Smartwatch 295 may control the indicator light 123, maximizing the use of existing wearable technology. This could provide a user-friendly interface for controlling the indicator light 123, and may also incorporate health data collected by the Smartwatch 295 to further refine the garment's heating settings.
The first mobile screenshot 300 may allow a user to operate the heated garment control button with sleep mode function 100 from the hand-held device 222 such as a cellphone 222A or the like.
The heated garment control button with sleep mode function non-transitory storage media 225 may include an app 225A that may be downloaded onto a hand-held device 222 such as a cellphone 222A or the like that would include the first mobile screenshot 300 and the second mobile screenshot 310.
The first mobile screenshot 300 may include a commercial indicia 302, a temperature control toggle switch 304, a plurality of temperature and duration settings 306, and a plurality of status buttons 308.
The commercial indicia 302 may describe a company name 302A and an image of a product 302B. The temperature control toggle switch 304 may toggle between an on position 304A and an off position 304B. The temperature and duration settings 306 may include a Low temperature setting 306A, a Medium temperature setting 306B, and a High temperature setting 306C. The status buttons 308 may include a Ghost Mode button 308A, a Battery Status button 308B, and a Max Run Time button 308C. The Ghost Mode button 308A may indicate if the Ghost Mode is on or off. The Battery Status button 308B may indicate a percentage of full battery power available. The Max Run Time button 308C indicates an amount of time the temperature and duration settings 306 will run.
The second mobile screenshot 310 may include the same components as the first mobile screenshot 300 but include a Ghost Mode Pop-up Menu 312.
The Ghost Mode Pop-up Menu 312 may include an On button 312A, an Off button 312B, a description of the Ghost Mode 312C, and a X circle 312D.
The On button 312A may be depressed to turn on the Ghost Mode. The Off button 312B may be depressed to turn off the Ghost Mode. The description of the Ghost Mode 312C may include what the Ghost Mode will do and what it is. The X circle 312D may be depressed to close the Ghost Mode Pop-up Menu 312.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/440,015 filed on Jan. 19, 2023. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63440015 | Jan 2023 | US |
