Garment and method for producing the same

• US 7,870,761 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Thomson, Abigaii, Valentine, Warren B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell; Danny
• Application Number:
  US10/513,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,815 Days
• Field of Search: 661/70, 661/69.R, 661/71, 661/90
• US Class Current: 66/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/256 Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/243 upper parts of panties; pants
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0113 One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches

Abstract

A garment includes a sensor band of generally smaller dimensions than the garment for holding sensor electrodes incorporated in the band against a user'"'"'s body while wearing the garment. The sensor band is elasticated to conform against the user'"'"'s body and the garment is relatively loose fitting. The sensor band may be attached to the remainder of the garment by highly elastic and flexible webbing portions.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

a sensor band for holding one or more sensors in contact with a wearer'"'"'s body, and

a plurality of linking portions connected to the sensor band at first interfaces and to the garment at second interfaces,

wherein the second interfaces are joined together so that the linking portions and the sensor band are inside the garment, and

wherein a diameter of the sensor band is smaller than a diameter of a portion of the garment where the sensor band is attached to the garment via the linking portions.

2. The garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sensor band is provided with one or more electrodes.

3. The garment in accordance with claim 2 wherein the one or more electrodes is integral with the sensor band.

4. The garment in accordance with claim 2 or 3 wherein the one or more electrodes is of knitted construction.

5. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensor band includes resiliently extendable material allowing the sensor band to stretch or contract to conform to the wearer'"'"'s body.

6. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of linking portions are of a highly mechanically yielding material.

7. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the garment is of knitted construction.

8. The garment in accordance with claim 7 wherein the garment and the plurality of linking portions are formed as a common integral component.

9. The garment in accordance with claim 7 wherein the garment, the plurality of linking portions and the sensor band are formed as a common integral component.

10. The garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein the garment is made using a circular knitting technique.

13. The garment of claim 1, wherein the sensor band is removably attachable to the plurality of linking portions.

11. A method of providing a garment of knitted construction, said method comprising the acts of:

performing a first knitting stage to produce a first garment portion,

performing a second knitting stage to produce a first mesh portion continuing from the first garment portion at a first interface;

performing a third knitting stage to produce a sensor band continuing from the first mesh portion at a second interface;

performing a fourth knitting stage to produce a second mesh portion continuing from the sensor band at a third mesh portion;

performing a fifth knitting stage to produce a second garment portion continuing from the second mesh portion at a fourth mesh portion; and

joining the first interface and the fourth interface so that the first mesh portion, the second mesh portion, and the sensor band are inside the garment,

wherein the sensor band contacts a wearer'"'"'s body.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 and further comprising the act of providing said first mesh portion with attachment means suitable for attaching with the sensor band which is capable of holding one or more sensors in contact with a wearer'"'"'s body.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a diameter of the sensor band is smaller than a diameter of the first garment portion where the sensor band is attached to the garment.

15. A garment comprising:

a sensor band for holding one or more sensors in contact with a wearer'"'"'s body; and

a plurality of linking portions connected to the sensor band at first interfaces and to the garment at second interfaces,

wherein the second interfaces are joined together so that the linking portions and the sensor band are inside the garment.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the sensor band comprises a flexible material and wherein a diameter of the sensor band is smaller than a diameter of a portion of the garment where the sensor band is attached to the garment via the linking portions.

17. The garment of claim 15, wherein the sensors are adapted to detect electrical signals associated with the wearer'"'"'s heartbeat.

18. The garment of claim 15, wherein the sensor band comprises a socket adapted for connecting with an electrical device, and wherein the sensors are in electrical contact with the socket via conductive tracking formed along the sensor band.

19. The garment of claim 15, wherein the linking portions have dimensions and comprise a material that allow the sensor band to maintain the sensors in contact with the wearer'"'"'s body while a portion of the garment that is laterally outward from the sensor band is separated from the wearer'"'"'s body.