Athletic band with removable module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10194702-B2
Application number	US-201615383876-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

A manufacturing method uses a main body piece formed of an elastic fabric material and having a first portion having a first end, a second portion having a second end opposite the first end, and two side ends extending between the first and second ends. A bonding material is placed in contact with the first and/or second portions, arranged in lines extending in a direction between the first and second ends. The lines are spaced from each other in a second direction extending between the side ends. The main body piece is folded so that the first portion confronts the second portion, defining a fold line, where the bonding material is positioned between the first and second portions. The folded main body piece is then heat pressed and bent so the side ends are connected together to form a band having a tubular body defining a central passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a first portion and a second portion formed of a fabric material;
placing a bonding material in contact with at least one of the first and second portions, wherein the bonding material is arranged in a plurality of lines extending in a first direction and spaced from each other;
moving the first and second portions together to form an assembled piece, such that the first portion confronts the second portion, wherein the bonding material contacts the first and second portions and is positioned between the first and second portions;
heat pressing the assembled piece to seal the bonding material between the first and second portions, including placing a plug between the first and second portions during the heat pressing, such that the plug defines a pocket connected to the assembled piece and having an access opening configured to receive an electronic module therein; and
forming the assembled piece into an article configured to be worn on a user's body.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are provided as a single main body piece formed of the fabric material, the single main body piece comprising the first portion having a first end, the second portion having a second end opposite the first end, and two sides extending between the first and second ends, wherein the first and second portions are moved together to define the assembled piece by folding the single main body piece.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the article has a central passage extending in an axial direction, wherein the article is configured to be worn on the user's body such that a portion of the user's body is received in the central passage, and wherein the lines of the bonding material in the article extend in the axial direction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assembled piece has a hole through the first portion, and wherein the hole defines the access opening.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the assembled piece is assembled such that the first portion forms an inner surface of the article, and wherein the access opening is located on the inner surface of the article.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the assembled piece has a second hole through the first portion, and wherein the second hole defines a sensor opening in the pocket on the inner surface of the article, the sensor opening configured to permit a sensor permit a sensor of the electronic module to be placed in close proximity to skin of the user's body.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the assembled piece has a second hole through the second portion, wherein the second hole defines a display hole in an outer surface of the article configured to permit viewing a display of the electronic module through the second portion.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the lines of bonding material is a broken line comprising a plurality of line segments separated by a plurality of gaps.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gaps of a first line are offset from the gaps of a second line adjacent to the first line, such that the gaps of the first line are aligned with the line segments of the second line, and the gaps of the second line are aligned with the line segments of the first line.

10. A method comprising:
providing a first portion and a second portion formed of a fabric material, wherein a hole extends through the first portion;
placing a bonding material in contact with at least one of the first and second portions, wherein the bonding material is arranged in a plurality of lines extending in a first direction and spaced from each other, and wherein each of the lines of bonding material is a broken line comprising a plurality of line segments separated by a plurality of gaps;
moving the first and second portions together to form an assembled piece, such that the first portion confronts the second portion, wherein the bonding material contacts the first and second portions and is positioned between the first and second portions, and wherein a first trim strip is connected to cover adjacent ends of the first and second portions together;
heat pressing the assembled piece to seal the bonding material between the first and second portions, the heat pressing comprising placing a plug between the first and second portions during the heat pressing and pressing the assembled piece between opposed dies, such that the plug defines a pocket and the hole defines an access opening configured to receive an electronic module therein; and
forming the assembled piece into an article configured to be worn on a user's body, wherein the first portion forms an inner surface of the article, such that the access opening is positioned on the inner surface, wherein a second trim strip is connected to cover additional adjacent ends of the first and second portions together.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second portions are provided as a single main body piece formed of the fabric material, the single main body piece comprising the first portion having a first end, the second portion having a second end opposite the first end, and two sides extending between the first and second ends, wherein the first and second portions are moved together to define the assembled piece by folding the single main body piece.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the article has a central passage extending in an axial direction, wherein the article is configured to be worn on the user's body such that a portion of the user's body is received in the central passage, and wherein the lines of the bonding material in the article extend in the axial direction.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein a second hole extends through the first portion, and wherein the second hole defines a sensor opening in the pocket on the inner surface of the article, the sensor opening configured to permit a sensor of the electronic module to be placed in close proximity to skin of the user's body.

14. A method comprising:
providing a first portion and a second portion formed of a fabric material, wherein a hole extends through the first portion;
placing a housing in contact with at least one of the first and second portions, the housing being made from a polymer material having a rigidity greater than the fabric material, the housing defining a cavity and having an access opening permitting access to the cavity;
moving the first and second portions together to form an assembled piece, such that the first portion confronts the second portion, wherein the housing is positioned between the first and second portions and a portion of the housing including the access opening is received in the hole through the first portion, such that the access opening is accessible; and
forming the assembled piece into an article configured to be worn on a user's body, wherein the housing defines a pocket that is configured to removably receive an electronic module through the access opening.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the housing has a flange extending outwardly around at least a portion of a periphery of the housing, wherein the flange is positioned between the first and second portions after the assembled piece is formed.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying two opposed mold pieces to the assembled piece to heat press the first and second portions around the flange of the housing.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising applying a trim piece to the assembled piece around the hole, wherein the mold pieces heat press the trim piece to the assembled piece.

1

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Cobbett Jamian R
• Judge Monica
• Schneider Summer
• Sze Kevin C
• Manesh Ariana B
• Quay Simon
• Webb Bill
• Fitzgerald Quinn

Classifications

• A45F2005/008

  Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg · CPC title

• B29C65/52

  characterised by the way of} applying the adhesive {(B29C65/50 takes precedence; apparatus for applying liquids in general B05C; processes for applying liquids in general B05D) · CPC title

• A61B5/7455

  characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation · CPC title

• A61B5/6807

  Footwear · CPC title

• A61B5/6824

  Arm or wrist · CPC title