Article of clothing with control button

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11033059-B2
Application number	US-201514933761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

An article of clothing and method of assembly. The article of clothing includes a button assembly with an interface having a first edge and a second edge. An outer shell is coupled to the button assembly. The outer shell defines a first opening for receiving the interface and having a border. A frame defines a second opening for receiving the interface and is positioned between the button assembly and the outer shell with the first opening and the second opening being substantially aligned. A portion of the outer shell folds over the frame, and the frame inhibits the border of the outer shell from pulling away from at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of clothing comprising:
a button assembly including an interface having a first edge and a second edge;
an outer shell coupled to the button assembly, the outer shell having an outer surface and outer shell edges defining a first opening for receiving the interface, the first opening having a border;
a frame defining a second opening for receiving the interface, the frame being positioned between the button assembly and the outer surface of the outer shell with a portion of the first opening and the second opening aligned, the frame inhibiting the border of the first opening from pulling away from at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the interface;
a heating array coupled to the button assembly;
a battery pack for supplying power to the heating array;
a controller configured to selectively provide power from the battery pack to the heating array; the controller being configured to control operation of the heating array based on a user input from the interface; and
a protective layer defining a third opening configured as a through-hole for receiving the interface, the protective layer being coupled to the outer shell with at least portions of the first opening and the third opening aligned, the protective layer including a fabric;
wherein the outer shell edges extend through the second opening and the third opening and are folded over the frame and the protective layer.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a rigid material.

3. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell includes a polyester material.

4. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the interface includes a face and a base, the face being accessible through the first opening and defining a face periphery, the base defining a base periphery having a plurality of edges, the base extending beyond the face periphery, the base being beneath the outer shell edges folded over the frame.

5. The article of clothing of claim 4 , wherein the frame extends beyond the base periphery on at least two edges of the base periphery.

6. The article of clothing of claim 4 , wherein the button assembly includes electronics coupled to the interface.

7. The article of clothing of claim 6 , wherein the protective layer is a first protective layer, and wherein the button assembly also includes a second protective layer, the first protective layer and the second protective layer covering the electronics coupled to the interface.

8. The article of clothing of claim 7 , further comprising an inner shell coupled to the outer shell, the inner shell covering an inside of the button assembly.

9. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell and the button assembly are sewn together.

10. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the frame is not fastened to the outer shell.

11. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the interface includes at least one control button communicating with the controller.

12. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the interface has a height, and wherein, when the frame is positioned between the button assembly and the outer shell, a generally planar surface is created by the interface and the outer shell.

13. The article of clothing of claim 11 , wherein the interface includes at least two control buttons.

14. An article of clothing comprising:
a button assembly including an interface having a protection portion configured to accommodate electrical wires, the interface including a face defining a face periphery and a base extending beyond the face periphery and defining a base periphery having a plurality of edges;
an outer shell coupled to the button assembly, the outer shell having an outer surface and outer shell edges defining a first opening for receiving the interface, the first opening having a border;
a frame defining a second opening for receiving the interface, the frame being positioned between the button assembly and the outer surface of the outer shell with a portion of the first opening and the second opening aligned, the face of the interface being accessible through the first opening and the second opening, the base periphery extending beyond the first opening and the second opening, the frame extending beyond the base periphery on at least two of the plurality of edges of the base periphery and inhibiting the border of the first opening from pulling away from at least one of a first edge and a second edge of the face periphery; and
a heater electrically coupled to the button assembly, wherein operation of the heater is controllable based on a user input from the interface;
a protective layer defining a third opening configured as a through-hole for receiving the interface, the protective layer being coupled to the outer shell with the first opening and the third opening substantially aligned, the protective layer including a fabric;
wherein the outer shell edges extend through the second opening and the third opening and are folded over the frame and the protective layer.

15. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the second opening is a through-hole.

16. The article of clothing of claim 14 , wherein the first and second openings are through-holes, and wherein at least a portion of the interface extends through the through-holes.

17. The article of clothing of claim 14 , wherein the button assembly further comprises an electronic display.

18. The article of clothing of claim 17 , wherein the electronic display includes at least one LED.

19. The article of clothing of claim 17 , wherein the electronic display emits light in one of a first color or a second color.

20. The article of clothing of claim 14 , wherein the button assembly includes a backlight.

21. An article of clothing comprising:
a button assembly including an interface having a first edge and a second edge;
an outer shell coupled to the button assembly, the outer shell having an outer surface and outer shell edges defining a first opening for receiving the interface, the first opening having a border;
a frame defining a second opening for receiving the interface, the frame being positioned between the button assembly and the outer surface of the outer shell with a portion of the first opening and the second opening aligned, the frame inhibiting the border of the first opening from pulling away from at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the interface;
a heater in electrical communication with the button assembly, wherein operation of the heater is controllable based on a user input from the interface; and
a protective layer defining a third opening for receiving the interface;
wherein the outer shell edges extend through the second opening and the third opening and are folded over the frame and the protective layer.

22. The article of clothing of claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is coupled to the outer shell, wherein the frame is held in place by the coupling between the outer shell and the protective layer.

23. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is a first protective layer, and wherein the button assembly also includes a second protective layer disposed at a back of the interface, the first protective layer and the second protective layer joined to each other around a portion of the interface and leaving an open portion for accommodating wires.

24. The article of clothing of claim 14 , wherein the

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Janda Timothy
• Dorman Justin D

Classifications

• A41D13/0051 Primary

  Heated garments (heated divers' suits B63C11/28) · CPC title