Vibrating garment assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022265507-A1
Application number	US-202217678924-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 23, 2022
Priority date	May 7, 2019
Publication date	Aug 25, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A garment assembly includes a sleeve member having outer and inner surfaces, a first vibration assembly associated with the sleeve member, and a control module associated with the sleeve member. The first vibration assembly includes a plurality of vibration motors that are arranged in a circle about a center point. An angular distance between each vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors is approximately the same. The control module includes a battery, and the first vibration assembly is in electrical communication with the control module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A garment assembly, comprising:
a sleeve member that includes an inner surface and an outer surface, a first vibration assembly associated with the sleeve member, wherein the first vibration assembly includes at least a first vibration motor, and a control module associated with the sleeve member, wherein the control module includes a battery, and wherein the first vibration assembly is in electrical communication with the control module, wherein the control module includes a docking station that includes a battery portion and a control portion, wherein the docking station is secured to the inner surface of the sleeve member, wherein a battery space is defined between the battery portion and the inner surface of the sleeve member, wherein the sleeve member includes a battery opening defined therethrough that couples the battery space with an exterior of the sleeve member, wherein the battery is removable from the control module through the battery opening.

2 - 3 . (canceled)

4 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member is formed by a knitting process, wherein the sleeve member includes a first vibration assembly pocket defined within the sleeve member and between the inner and outer surfaces, wherein the first vibration motor is disposed in the first vibration assembly pocket.

5 . The garment assembly of claim 4 , further comprising an electrical communication strip that includes a stretchable fabric member and at least a first wire that is secured to the stretchable fabric member, wherein the first wire extends between the control module and the first vibration motor, wherein the first wire is formed in a slack pattern when the stretchable fabric member is in a normal position, and wherein the stretchable fabric member is configured to stretch in a longitudinal direction and the first wire is configured to straighten when the stretchable fabric member is stretched in the longitudinal direction.

6 . The garment assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a tunnel that extends between the first vibration assembly pocket and a control module pocket that contains the control module, wherein the tunnel contains the electrical communication strip.

7 . The garment assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first vibration assembly includes a second vibration motor, wherein the first vibration assembly pocket includes first and second pocket fingers, wherein the first vibration motor is positioned in the first pocket finger and the second vibration motor is positioned in the second pocket finger.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The garment assembly of claim 1 wherein the docking station includes an outer flange extending therearound, wherein the outer flange is secured to the inner surface of the sleeve member.

10 . The garment assembly of claim 9 , wherein an inner layer member is secured to an inner surface of the docking station and the inner surface of the sleeve member to form a control module pocket that houses the control module.

11 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second vibration assembly associated with the sleeve member, wherein the second vibration assembly includes a plurality of vibration motors that are arranged in a circle about a center point, wherein an angular distance between each vibration motor of the plurality of vibration motors is approximately the same, wherein the first vibration assembly is positioned to target a first body part and the second vibration assembly is positioned to target a second body part when the garment assembly is worn by a user.

12 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member includes a distal end and a proximal end, and a sleeve length is defined between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the sleeve member includes a first section with a first compression value and a second section with a second compression value.

13 . The garment assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second section is defined between the first section and the proximal end, and wherein the first compression value is greater than the second compression value.

14 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member defines a sleeve length between a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the sleeve member comprises a material that includes a range of compression values that decrease between the distal end and the proximal end.

15 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member comprises a germanium alloy that is configured to emit infrared radiation.

16 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member comprises a biometric sensor.

17 . (canceled)

18 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the docking station includes a first magnet and the battery includes a second magnet, and wherein the first magnet is magnetically attracted to the second magnet when the battery is received in the docking station.

19 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the garment assembly is waterproof or water resistant.

20 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first vibration assembly is sealed in the sleeve member and waterproof.

21 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the control module, the battery, and the docking station are removable from the garment assembly prior to washing.

22 . The garment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member is a sock, and wherein the first vibration assembly and the control module are arranged in a layer of the sock.

23 . A method of forming a garment assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a garment member using a knitting process, wherein the garment member includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein during the knitting process at least a first tunnel and at least a first vibration assembly pocket are formed within the garment member and between the inner and outer surfaces, and wherein a slit is formed in the inner surface of the garment member, obtaining a first vibration assembly that includes at least a first vibration motor, wherein the first vibration motor includes at least a first wire connected thereto, inserting the first vibration motor and the first wire through the slit, maneuvering the first vibration motor into the first vibration assembly pocket, and maneuvering the first wire into the first tunnel.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
forming a battery opening through the garment member, obtaining a control module comprising a docking station and a battery, wherein the docking station comprises a battery portion and a control portion, securing the docking station to the inner surface of the garment member, wherein a battery space is defined between the battery portion and the inner surface of the garment member, wherein the battery opening couples the battery space with an exterior of the garment member, wherein the battery is removable from the control module through the battery opening.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the docking station comprises an outer flange extending therearound, and wherein the securing the docking station to the inner surface of the garment member comprises securing the outer flange to the inner surface of the garment member.

26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising: obtaining an inner layer member, and securing the inner layer member to an inner surface of the docking station and the inner surface of the garment

Assignees

• Therabody Inc

Inventors

• Merino Eduardo
• Nazarian Benjamin
• Solana Jaime Sanchez

Classifications

• D04B1/22

  specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration · CPC title

• D10B2501/061

  Piped openings (pockets) · CPC title

• D10B2501/04

  Outerwear; Protective garments · CPC title

• D10B2401/18

  including electronic components · CPC title

• D10B2403/0333

  with tubular portions of variable diameter or distinct axial orientation · CPC title