Patent Application
20210207794
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of garments and particularly to illuminated athletic wear used by runners, bikers, and other non-contact sport athletes.
Many exercise enthusiasts do not have the ability to dictate the time of the day for which they workout. This may be due to multiple factors including work schedule requirements, commute times, and even environmental considerations. For example, many athletes work traditional work hours and have long commute times to and from work. Still others may live in a relatively hot environment where it is difficult to run during the heat of the day. In each of these situations, athletes may have no alternative other than to exercise at night. Also, there may be places and/or events where the lack of lighting is not optimal for the safety of the athlete.
Athletic wear is typically designed principally with comfort of the athlete in mind. For example, running pants may be designed to be lightweight and to pull moisture away from the skin. Accordingly, running pants are often tight fitting and made of a stretchable moisture wicking material. Many current offerings are black or a dark gray which may be difficult for others to see at night. Dark color offerings are certainly not the rule, and in fact there are many offerings that are designed with style in mind (e.g., having stylish patterns and bright colors). However, even these stylish and colorful running pants may be difficult for others to see at night. If others (e.g., such as those operating automobiles) are unable to clearly see an athlete running at night, then there is an increased safety risk for the athlete.
Limited means exist for increasing the visibility of an athlete at night, or otherwise in darkness. One solution is for an athlete to carry a flashlight. However, even a small flashlight requires holding by the athlete which can interfere with the athlete's workout. Further, a flashlight may be focused and thereby may not increase visibility of the athlete from multiple angles. Another proposed solution includes providing lights connected by wires on an item of athletic apparel. While this solution represents an improvement relative to simply carrying a flashlight, the wires connecting the lights and the mechanisms required to attach the lights to the athletic apparel may present challenges in terms of manufacturing, durability, and stretchability.
In light of the foregoing and other shortcomings in the art, it is desirable to provide an improved method of manufacturing athletic wear and improved athletic wear.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an illuminated athletic wear garment.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide an improved illuminated athletic wear garment.
According to an embodiment a method of manufacturing an illuminated athletic wear garment is provided. The method may include applying a first conductive trace to a surface of a first piece of fabric of the illuminated athletic wear garment and applying a second conductive trace to the surface of the first piece of fabric of the illuminated athletic wear garment. The method may further include affixing a plurality of lights to the illuminated athletic wear garment. The lights may each be connected to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. The first conductive trace and the second conductive trace may each be at least ¼ inch wide.
According to another embodiment a method of manufacturing an illuminated athletic wear garment is provided. The method may include applying a first conductive trace to a surface of a first piece of fabric of the illuminated athletic wear garment. The method may further include applying a second conductive trace to the first piece of fabric of the illuminated athletic wear garment. The first conductive trace and the second conductive trace may each be at least ¼ inch wide.
According to another embodiment an illuminated athletic wear garment is provided. The illuminated athletic wear garment may include an outer surface and a first conductive trace affixed to the outer surface of the illuminated athletic wear garment. The illuminated athletic wear garment may further include a second conductive trace affixed to the outer surface of the illuminated athletic wear garment and a plurality of lights each connected to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. The first conductive trace and the second conductive trace may each be at least ¼ inch wide.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. In the drawings:
The following description of the embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The embodiments to be discussed next are not limited to the configurations described below but may be extended to other arrangements as discussed later.
The terms “a”, “an” and “the” may refer to one or more than one of an element (e.g., item, act, feature, or characteristic). Similarly, a particular quantity of an element may be described or shown while the actual quantity of the element may differ. The terms “and” and “or” may be used in the conjunctive or disjunctive sense and will generally be understood to be equivalent to “and/or”. Reference to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or the like, means that a particular element described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular elements may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Elements described as being separate may be combined into a single element. Similarly, elements described as being individual may be split into two or more elements. For example, although single first and second conductive traces are described, a conductive trace may be formed of a plurality of conductive trace segments. As another example, although operation 108 (described below) is depicted as a single operation in
As mentioned above, the present inventor has recognized that limited means exist for increasing the visibility of an athlete at night, or otherwise in darkness. Flashlights and headlamps (worn on a user's head) may be cumbersome and may not provide visibility from multiple angles. Providing lights connected by wires on an item of athletic apparel may be less cumbersome and may increase visibility, however; the wires connecting the lights and the mechanisms required to attach the lights to the athletic apparel and wires may present challenges in terms of manufacturing, durability, and stretchability.
Before turning to the drawings, a non-limiting overview of some of the embodiments is provided. According to an embodiment, an inventive method of manufacturing an illuminated athletic wear garment may be provided. Stretchable conductive traces may be affixed to the illuminated athletic wear garment. One or more water-resistant layers may be applied to the conductive traces providing electrical insulation and protection. Lights may be affixed to the illuminated athletic wear garment wherein a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace may each be in communication with each of the lights. The conductive traces may be stretchable while still being suitably thick for purposes of illuminating the lights (e.g., at least ¼ inch wide).
According to another exemplary embodiment, an inventive illuminated athletic wear garment may be provided. A first conductive trace and a second conductive trace may each be affixed to the outer surface of the illuminated athletic wear garment. In an embodiment, the first conductive trace may be a power conductive trace and may be connected to a positive terminal of a power supply. The second conductive trace may be a return conductive trace and may be connected to a negative terminal of a power supply. In an embodiment, one or more water-resistant layers (e.g., one or more of an overlay and an underlay) may be applied to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. Multiple lights may each be connected to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. The conducive traces may be stretchable while still being suitably thick for purposes of illuminating the lights (e.g., at least ¼ inch wide). One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that while some embodiments are described with reference to lights, other suitable electronic input and/or output devices may be substituted, where appropriate, to function with the conductive traces.
In an embodiment, the lights may be multi-color light-emitting diode (LED) lights, each including an onboard control module. In addition to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, a data conductive trace may be affixed to the outer surface of the illuminated athletic wear garment and connected to each of the LED lights. An illumination (such as an on/off state, a color, and/or a power level) of the LED lights may be controllable.
Turning next to the drawings,
An illuminated athletic wear garment may take many different forms. That is, while the illuminated athletic wear garment 200 of
In operation 102, a first conductive trace 202 may be applied to the illuminated athletic wear garment 200. In operation 104, a second conductive trace 204 may be applied to the illuminated athletic wear garment 200. For example, the first and second conductive traces 202, 204 may be applied to the illuminated athletic wear garment 200 by screen printing. The first conductive trace 202 may be a power conductive trace and may be connected to a positive terminal of a power supply. The second conductive trace 204 may be a return conductive trace and may be connected to a negative terminal of a power supply. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the polarity of the conductive traces may be reversed, that is, the first conductive trace 202 may be a return and may be connected to a negative terminal of the power supply, and the second conductive trace 204 may be power and may be connected to a positive terminal of the power supply. Although the first and second conductive traces 202 and 204 are shown herein as each being a single conductive trace, an alternative embodiment may include a plurality of first and second conductive trace segments that run from light to light, or that are otherwise segmented.
The first conductive trace 202 and second conductive trace 204 may be formed using ink including a conductive material. For example, the first conductive trace 202 and second conductive trace 204 may be formed using ink or paint including approximately sixty-six percent (66%) silver. Because one or more embodiments seek to provide a comfortable athletic wear garment, it may be desirable to reduce heat generation in providing illumination. At the same time and also for user comfort, it is desirable that the conductive traces are stretchable. Silver has been found to have both low resistance and a high degree of stretchability. Accordingly, conductive traces 202, 204 formed from conductive ink including silver may be provided on a substrate such as a polymer substrate. Alternatively, ink or paint may be infused with other conductive materials such as graphite.
As another alternative embodiment, solid copper may be provided, e.g., on a polymer substrate in a manner analogous to copper being used on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Copper traces may be desirable with respect to cost and also with respect to bondability. Accordingly, conductive traces 202, 204 formed from copper may be provided on a substrate.
In an embodiment, the first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204 may each be greater than one-quarter (¼) inch wide. Preferably, the first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204 may be from one-quarter (¼) inch to three (3) inches wide. More preferably, from one-half (½) inch to two-and-one-half (2½) inches wide, and most preferably, from three-quarters (¾) inch to two (2) inches wide. For example, the first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204 may each be approximately one (1) inch wide. It will be appreciated that the width may be consistent for most if not all of the length of the first and second conductive traces, but that in some embodiments, the width may vary over portions, such as where the first and second conductive traces start or end, and where curves or turns may be present in the design of the first and second conductive traces. In an embodiment, the height (i.e., thickness) of the first and second conductive traces may be, at least at portions, between 0.01 mills and 50 mills. Depending upon the number of lights to be powered by the first and second conductive traces, a current of approximately 300 to 400 milliamps of current may flow through each of the first and second conductive traces. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that alternative sizes and dimensions may be possible with, e.g., alternative materials and designs, and that such alternatives fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, a data conductive trace 206 may be applied (operation 106) to the surface of the fabric, see, e.g.,
The data conductive trace 206 may be formed from a conductive material such as ink or paint including silver, or alternatively, ink or paint including other conductive materials such as graphite. In an embodiment, the data conductive ink trace 206 may be, e.g., a sixteenth of an inch or less. Depending upon the number of lights to be controlled using the data conductive ink trace, a current of less than one milliamp may flow through the data conductive ink trace. Alternatively, the data conductive trace 206 may be formed from copper.
In an embodiment, one or more water-resistant layers (e.g., one or more of an overlay and an underlay) may be applied to the conductive traces in operation 108. More detail is provided below regarding application of water-resistant layers.
In operation 110, a plurality of lights may be affixed to the illuminated athletic wear garment.
In an embodiment having a data conductive trace 206, one or more of the lights (see, e.g.,
A control module of a first of the plurality of lights may receive an input data signal through the input connection and may transmit an output signal through the output connection. In an embodiment, the input data signal may include first light data for controlling the first of the plurality of lights, second light data for controlling a second of the plurality of lights, and so on for however many lights are to be controlled. Finally, the input data signal may include last light data for controlling a last of the plurality of lights. A control module of the last of the plurality of lights may receive an input data signal through the input connection of the control module of the last of the plurality of lights.
For example, in an embodiment where ten lights are placed along the first, second, and data conductive traces 202, 204, 206, ten data packets may be transmitted along the data conductive trace 206 from, e.g., control circuitry of a power pack to the control module of the first of the ten lights. The ten packets may form a largest data transmission. The control module of the first of the ten lights may receive the data transmission through its input connection. The control module of the first of the ten lights may use the first of ten data packets to control its illumination. The control module of the first of the ten lights may output through its output connection the remaining nine data packets to the second of the ten lights. The control module of the second of the ten lights may receive the data transmission (which may, in an embodiment, be truncated relative to the original data transmission and may now be a next largest data transmission) through its input connection. The control module of the second of the ten lights may use the second of the ten data packets to control its illumination. The control module of the second of the ten lights may output through its output connection the remaining eight data packets to the third of the ten lights. This may continue, in like manner, until the control module of the last (or tenth in this example) light receives the data transmission (which may, in an embodiment, be truncated to all of the earlier transmissions and may now be the shortest data transmission of the data transmissions) through its input connection. The control module of the last light may use the last (or tenth) packet of the ten packets to control its illumination. In this embodiment, because there are no more packets to send, the control module of the last light may not output any data. In an embodiment, the output connection of the last light may not be connected to any conductive data trace or may be omitted.
In an alternative embodiment, data may be transmitted over the data conductive trace 206 using a data structure having addressing for individual lights. In another alterative embodiment, data may be transmitted over the data conductive trace 206 using data structures individually addressed to each individual light or a subset of lights.
In an embodiment, the plurality of lights may be LED lights. The illumination of the plurality of lights may be individually controllable in terms of at least one of an on/off state, a color, and a power level, as described herein.
As shown in
In an embodiment, one or more water-resistant layers (e.g., one or more of an overlay and an underlay) may be applied to the first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204. For example, in operation 108, a water-resistant overlay 312 (
The water-resistant layers may in some embodiments completely resist passage of water therethrough (a.k.a. “waterproof”) while in others may have a capability of resisting water passage therethrough to an extent. The term “water-resistant” may include these various degrees of water resistance, including “water-proof”.
As shown in
In an embodiment, an adhesive layer 318 may be provided on top of the fabric layer 310 of the illuminated athletic wear garment 200. The first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204 may be provided on top of the adhesive layer 318. Alternatively, the water-resistant underlay 316 may be provided on top of the adhesive layer 318, as shown in
In an embodiment, the first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204 may be printed directly on the water-resistant overlay 312, the underlay 316, or both, thereby forming a conductive trace sheet. In an embodiment, the overlay 312 and the underlay 316 may be joined together thereby forming the conductive trace sheet. The conductive trace sheet may be joined to the fabric layer 310 of the illuminated athletic wear garment 200 by the adhesive layer 318.
For example,
In an embodiment, the fabric layer 310 of the illuminated athletic wear garment 200 may be a pre-cut pattern when the first conductive trace 202 and the second conductive trace 204 are applied, whether directly or with other layers as shown in
The pattern of the conductive trace sheet 600 includes generally four straight portions 652, 654, 656, 658 of each of the first, second, and data conductive traces 202, 204, 206. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that alternative patterns are possible and are within the scope of the present invention. A specific pattern may be determined with consideration of one or more factors including manufacturability, ease of handling and use, and performance characteristics. For example, a performance characteristic that is desirable is that the illuminated athletic wear garment provide increased visibility of an athlete from all directions, which lends itself to at least three to four sides of the athlete being illuminated. For example, in the embodiment shown in
In an embodiment, the overlay or underlay (or both) may completely cover all conductive traces (first, second, and data). Holes (not shown because the water-resistant layer is transparent and not visible in
According to the embodiments, methods of manufacturing illuminated athletic wear garments are provided, as are improved athletic wear garments. The embodiments provide for a number of improvements, including, e.g., high visibility for an athlete at night. Another improvement is that such high visibility is provided without noticeably adding weight or requiring the athlete to carry a device such as a flashlight. Another improvement includes the durability, simplicity, and washability provided by the conductive traces, thereby removing the need for wires, which some users may find objectionable.
It should be understood that this description is not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which are included in the spirit and scope of the claims. Further, in the detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the invention. However, one skilled in the art would understand that various embodiments may be practiced without such specific details.
Although the elements of the present embodiments are described in the embodiments in particular combinations, each element can be used alone without the other elements of the embodiments or in various combinations with or without other elements disclosed herein.
This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the present application.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2019/033898 | 5/24/2019 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62676450 | May 2018 | US |
