Wearable device having athletic functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9734477-B2
Application number	US-201113287064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2011
Priority date	Nov 1, 2010
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device configured to be worn by a user, the device comprising:
a housing having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end releaseably engageable with the second longitudinal end, wherein the housing has an outer encasement member and an inner spine member, the inner spine member having at least one substantially rigid portion and at least one flexible zone, the at least one flexible zone being located between the at least one substantially rigid portion and one of the first or second longitudinal ends, and wherein the at least one flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape and a lesser thickness at a central portion of the upwardly concaved shape than the remaining thickness of the upwardly concaved shape;
a controller supported by the housing, the controller having a sensor operably associated therewith wherein the sensor detects activity of the user;
a display supported by the housing, the display operably connected to the controller;
an indicator system supported by the housing, the indicator system operably connected to the controller, wherein the indicator system includes a plurality of lighting elements,
wherein the controller selects and illuminates multiple lighting elements of the plurality of lighting elements in accordance with a progress of the user toward an activity goal; and
wherein the outer encasement member is positioned around the inner spine member, the outer encasement member encases the controller, the display, and the indicator system, wherein the outer encasement member comprises at least a first side edge and an outer surface, and wherein a radius of the first side edge is smaller than a radius of the outer surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises a substantially rigid central portion, a first substantially rigid segment and a second substantially rigid segment and wherein the at least one flexible zone comprises a first flexible zone and a second flexible zone, the first flexible zone connecting and disposed between, in a longitudinal direction of the inner spine member, a first end of the substantially rigid central portion and the first substantially rigid segment and the second flexible zone connecting a second end of the substantially rigid central portion and the second substantially rigid segment.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the first substantially rigid segment has a curvilinear configuration and defines a first recessed compartment and the second substantially rigid segment has a curvilinear configuration and defines a second recessed compartment, the first recessed compartment comprised of a thixomolded member that receives a first curved battery operably connected to the controller and a first metal closure member positioned over the first curved battery, the second recessed compartment comprised of a thixomolded member that receives a second curved battery operably connected to the controller and a second metal closure positioned over the second curved battery.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first recessed compartment has an opening, the first curved battery having a first resilient member supporting contacts wherein the contacts are positioned in the opening and connected to the controller, and wherein the second recessed compartment has an opening, the second curved battery having a second resilient member supporting contacts wherein the contacts are positioned in the opening and connected to the controller.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the substantially rigid central portion and the first substantially rigid segment and the second substantially rigid segment generally define a first thickness and wherein the first and second flexible zones have a second thickness less than the first thickness.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the first flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape and the second flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the first flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape and the second flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape wherein central portion of each concaved shape has a lesser thickness than the thickness of the remaining portion of the upwardly concaved shape.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller has a flexible circuit member connected along a length of the inner spine member, the display and indicator system being operably connected to the flexible circuit member.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprise a plurality of LED lights.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein at least one of the lighting elements is capable of displaying different colored lights.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of lighting elements of the indicator system are capable of displaying at least a red color, a yellow color and a green color.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the inner spine member includes a recessed compartment, the controller having a battery positioned in the recessed compartment and operably connected to the controller.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the recessed compartment is comprised of a thixomolded member and metal closure member positioned over the thixomolded member.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the recessed compartment comprises a metal enclosure.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein a first projection member is connected to the first longitudinal end and a second receiver member is connected to the second longitudinal end, the first projection member having a USB connector operably connected to the controller, the USB connector being releasably engageable with the second receiver member.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the USB connector has a rigid body having a plurality of leads, wherein the leads are evenly spaced apart from one another.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the USB connector has a rigid body defining a top surface, the USB connector having a plurality of leads recessed in the rigid body, each lead having a raised rib positioned proximate the top surface.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member further comprises a beveled side edge, and wherein the indicator system is located in the beveled side edge.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein a radius of the beveled side edge is smaller than a radius of the outer surface.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer member positioned around the inner spine member.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the outer encasement member further has an input button operably connected to the controller, the input button having a rigid base member integrally connected to a flexible cap and wherein the thermoplastic elastomer member abuts a peripheral edge of the rigid base member.

22. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible zone has a gradually lessening thickness along a length of the central portion of the upwardly concaved shape.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the gradually lessening thickness along the central portion of the upwardly concaved shape that enhances a flexible characteristic of the at least one flexible zone.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the display is positioned proximate a central portion of the housing and the indicator system is positioned proximate the central portion of the housing and generally adjacent to the display.

25. The de

Assignees

• Weast Aaron B
• Cobbett Jamian R
• Crankson Kwamina
• Kash Brian
• Oyibo Lola
• Lowe Jr Edward Stephen
• Micheletti Marco
• Buxton Bert
• Raven Demi
• Henderson Kris
• Zipperer James
• Wittenstein Nikolaus Adrian
• Bielman James
• Cummings Kate
• Sprouse Jake
• Goldberg J Gerson
• Riccomini Robert A
• Makay Michael C
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Weast Aaron B
• Cobbett Jamian R
• Crankson Kwamina
• Kash Brian
• Oyibo Lola
• Lowe Jr Edward Stephen
• Micheletti Marco
• Buxton Bert
• Raven Demi
• Henderson Kris
• Zipperer James
• Wittenstein Nikolaus Adrian
• Bielman James
• Cummings Kate
• Sprouse Jake
• Goldberg J Gerson
• Riccomini Robert A
• Makay Michael C

Classifications

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• G16H20/30

  relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising · CPC title

• A61B5/08

  Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs · CPC title

• A61B5/681

  Wristwatch-type devices · CPC title

• A63B2220/12

  Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS · CPC title