Patent Application
20240172822
This disclosure relates generally to garment designs for carrying wearable devices.
For many users it is desirable to conceal their wearable device (e.g., a smartphone) in their garment for practical and/or cosmetic purposes. Concealing a wearable device in a clothing accessory (e.g., a purse) or in a conventional pants or jacket pocket typically interferes with the functionality of the device (e.g., interference with device sensor functionality), and requires the user to remove the device from the pocket or accessory to interact with the device (e.g., compose a text message, receive a call).
Embodiments are disclosed for a pocket assembly that integrates into a garment (e.g., a shirt, blouse, jacket, etc.) and allows for positioning of a wearable device on a user's body. In some embodiments, the pocket assembly is configured so that sensors of the wearable device are exposed to the environment outside the pocket assembly (e.g., optical modules, speaker, top microphone, and world-facing and user-facing LEDs, etc.). In some embodiments, a capacitive touch pad and bottom microphone of the first portion are partially or entirely concealed by fabric.
In some embodiments, the pocket assembly includes two subassemblies: a garment subassembly and a pocket subassembly.
The garment subassembly includes: 1) an aperture (e.g., a lozenge-shaped cutout) in the garment allowing for insertion and removal of device(s) from the garment exterior; 2) a first reinforcement layer adhered to the front side of the garment around the aperture for clean termination of the raw textile edge of the aperture; and 3) a second (interior) reinforcement layer laminated to the back side of the garment to provide structure, stiffness, additional edge finishing and to enable capacitive touch functionality.
The pocket subassembly includes elastic internal pocket material bonded to the second (interior) reinforcement layer, creating volume for the device(s) to take up inside of the garment. The material combination of the second (internal) reinforcement layer and the elastic internal pocket material creates a low-friction interaction when the device(s) are inserted. The stiffness of this elastic pocket material relative to the stiffness of the garment and the second reinforcement layer lamination biases the position of the device towards the pocket-side.
A third reinforcement layer (e.g., polyurethane film) is adhered to the elastic pocket material to provide additional stiffness that ensures constraint of the position of the device inside of the pocket assembly. An optional material patch adhered on the garment-facing side of the elastic pocket material allows for material matching of the garment and the region of the pocket that is visible through the aperture.
The pocket assembly described above will allow for full functionality of the device(s) when worn on the user's body, and will also allow the user to interact with the device(s) without the user removing the device(s) from the pocket assembly.
In some embodiments, a wearable device comprises two portions that are configured to mate together (e.g., magnetically mate together) to form the wearable device. For such devices, the pocket allows the two portions to be electromagnetically coupled together to enable wireless power transfer and/or communication between the two portions. In some embodiments, a first portion is an electronic device that includes sensors and the second portion is a portable battery pack that mates with the electronic device. The disclosed pocket assembly allows the wireless transfer of power/data without the need to physically attach or magnetically couple the two portions together through the garment.
The garment subassembly includes first reinforcement layer 101, garment 100, and second (interior) reinforcement layer 103. First (exterior) reinforcement layer 101 is disposed around aperture 108 in the front of garment 100, as shown in
The pocket subassembly includes garment material patch 104, adhesive 105, elastic pocket 106 and third reinforcement layer 107 (e.g., polyurethane (PU) film). Garment material patch 104 is an optional material patch adhered on the garment-facing side of the elastic pocket material that allows for material matching of the garment and the region of the pocket that is visible through aperture 108. Adhesive 105 secures the pocket assembly to the garment assembly. Elastic pocket 106 is material that stretches to accommodate devices(s). Third reinforcement layer 107 (e.g., PU film) constrains the device(s) location and provides stiffness.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub combination or variation of a sub combination.
Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/429,112, filed Nov. 30, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63429112 | Nov 2022 | US |
