Articles with removable elements

• US 6,611,962 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Widdemer, John D., Redwood, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORAN, KATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US09/891,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 216/2, 2 1/6, 216/11, 216/12, 216/14, 216/7, 128/878, 602/9, 602/14, 602/21, 602/22, 602/162, 602/64, 600/15, 82/44, 82/50, 607/111
• US Class Current: 2/160
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0024 with accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0007 Bracelets specially adapted for other functions or with means for attaching other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/06 using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Broadly, the present invention is an article, such as a glove or watch, to be worn by a user. The article includes at least one removable element with a health enhancing component, a comfort enhancing component, or an electronic component. Upon mating the element to the article, the element is removably connected to the inside of the article. When the user disposes their a hand within the article, the element is in contact with the user'"'"'s skin. The element can be disposed about the user'"'"'s wrist or adjacent the back of the user'"'"'s hand. In another embodiment, the invention includes a replacement watch band with the health enhancing, comfort enhancing, or electronic components. The health, comfort or electronic features of the components can be appreciated by the user, when the article or watch band is worn.

Claims

1. An article to be worn by a user, the article comprising:

at least one article fastener disposed on the article; and

a plurality of layers including at least one longitudinally extending layer having at least one component selected from the group consisting of;

a health enhancing component, a comfort enhancing component, and an electronic component;

wherein the article fastener removably attaches the plurality of layers to the article.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the article fastener is a hook and loop type fastener.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the article has an interior surface and the article fastener is positioned on the interior surface.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending layer is a flexible band.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the component is a health enhancing component selected to alleviate the effects of ailments of the musculoskeletal system.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending layer is in contact with the user'"'"'s skin when the article is worn.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a glove and the layer is a band disposable in a wrist portion of the glove.

8. The article of claim 1, further comprising an article body including a portion that at least partially covers an appendage when worn.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers encompasses the at least one component.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein said plurality of layers further includes a cushioning layer.

11. A longitudinally extending layer element for use within an article to be worn by a user, the article having a first fastener, the layer comprising:

a second fastener complementary with the first fastener, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of;

a health enhancing component, a comfort enhancing component, and an electronic component, said at least one component being coupled to the second fastener,

wherein the second fastener removably attaches the longitudinally extending layer to the article.

12. The layer of claim 11, wherein the longitudinally extending layer extends a length sufficient to at least partially cover a user'"'"'s wrist when the article is worn by the user.

13. The layer of claim 11, wherein the component is removably attached to the layer.

14. The layer of claim 13, further comprising a component fastener and the component fastener attaches the at least one component to the layer.

15. The layer of claim 11, wherein the at least one component is health enhancing and selected from the group consisting of magnetic material, far infra-red amplifying material, and copper material.

16. The layer of claim 11, wherein the at least one component is electronic and includes a function selected from the group consisting of measuring heart rate, measuring blood pressure, measuring distance walked, measuring body temperature, measuring external temperature, measuring time, measuring strokes, measuring speed of user, and measuring speed of the hand of the user.

17. The layer of claim 11, further comprising a cushioning layer.

18. The layer of claim 11, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a health enhancing component and a comfort enhancing component.

19. An article to be worn by a user, the article comprising:

an article body that at least partially covers an appendage when worn;

at least one article fastener disposed on the article; and

a plurality of layers including at least one longitudinally extending layer having at least one health enhancing component;

wherein the article fastener removably attaches the plurality of layers to the article; and

wherein the component is removably attached to the longitudinally extending layer.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein said plurality of layers further includes a cushioning layer.