ARTICLE OF CLOTHING WITH CONTROL BUTTON

• US 20160128393A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Janda, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 11,033,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28

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.

Claims

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 defining a first opening for receiving the interface, the first opening having a border; and

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 the first opening and the second opening substantially aligned, a portion of the outer shell folding over the frame, the frame inhibiting the border of the outer shell from pulling away from at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the interface.

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 portion of the outer shell folding 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 frame extends beyond the base periphery on all edges of the base periphery.

7. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the button assembly includes electronics coupled to the interface, and a protective layer defining a third opening for receiving the interface, the protective layer being coupled to the outer shell with the first opening and the third opening substantially aligned.

8. The article of clothing of claim 7, 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.

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

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

11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the frame is not permanently attached to the outer shell and the button assembly.

12. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a face defining a face periphery, and wherein the second opening has a shape complementary to the face periphery.

13. The article of clothing of claim 12, wherein the face periphery is substantially the same as the shape of the second opening.

14. The article of clothing of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating array coupled to the button assembly;

a battery pack for supplying power to the heating array; and

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.

15. The article of clothing of claim 14, wherein the interface includes at least one control button communicating with the controller.

16. 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.

17. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the interface includes at least one control button.

18. The article of clothing of claim 17, wherein the interface includes at least two control buttons.

19. A method of assembling an article of clothing, the article of clothing including an outer shell defining a first opening, and a button assembly having a first protective layer defining a second opening, the method comprising:

aligning the first opening of the outer shell with the second opening of the first protective layer;

providing a frame having a third opening;

positioning the frame between the outer shell and the first protective layer while aligning the third opening with the first opening and the second opening; and

positioning an interface of the button assembly within the first opening.

20. An article of clothing comprising:

a button assembly including an interface, 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 defining a first opening for receiving the interface, the first opening having a border; and

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 the first opening and the second opening substantially aligned, the face of the interface being accessible through 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 outer shell from pulling away from at least one of a first edge and a second edge of the face periphery.