Wearable article with band portion adapted to include textile-based electrodes and method of making such article

• US 7,878,030 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Textronics Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Burr, Stacey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): WORRELL JR, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US11/553,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 662/02, 661/71, 66/1, 66/69.R, 661/72.E, 66175-177, 661/73, 661/711, 600/388, 600/390, 600/391
• US Class Current: 66/173
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• 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: D04B 1/246 Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor

Abstract

A circular knit tubing adapted for making a wearable article has a first knitted single layer tubular portion and a second knitted single layer tubular portion separated by a junction portion. The second tubular portion is folded over the first tubular portion at a fold line in the junction portion. The first and second tubular portions are then joined together, whereby the junction portion forms a band or welt. After the band is formed, the second tubular portion is folded back to cover the band. The wearable article may be a shirt having single layer top and bottom portions with a central double welt portion for physical contact around the wearer'"'"'s chest or torso. The junction portion forming the band or welt preferably is integrally knitted with the first and second tubular portions. The band or welt defines a central opening to receive an electronic or electrical device or other component.

Claims

1. A method for making a seamless circular knit wearable article, comprising the steps of:

knitting a first series of courses defining a first tubular portion;

knitting to said first series of courses a second series of courses defining a tubular welt or junction portion;

knitting to said junction portion a third series of courses defining a second tubular portion;

folding the second tubular portion over the first tubular portion at a fold line within the junction portion;

joining the first tubular portion to the second tubular portion around the tubular portions at a position spaced from the fold line to form a welt or band; and

unfolding the second tubular portion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forming first and second textile-based electrodes in the circumferential tubular shaped junction portion, the first electrode for contacting the skin of wearer, the second electrode for connecting to an electronic device, wherein the first electrode physically contacts the second electrode in the band portion after the junction portion has been folded.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising finishing neck and arm openings in said first tubular portion.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising stitching shoulder seams to complete neck and arm openings in said first tubular portion.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising finishing leg openings at a bottom edge of the second tubular portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein joining is by stitching, knitting or tacking.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second tubular portion covers the welt or band when the second tubular portion is unfolded.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising finishing an end of the first tubular portion to form opening(s) for a wearable article selected from the group consisting of:

shirt, body garment, leotard, arm cuff, wrist cuff, hat, legging, stocking, and hosiery.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising finishing an end of the second tubular portion to form opening(s) for a wearable article selected from the group consisting of:

shirt, body garment, leotard, arm cuff, wrist cuff, hat, legging, stocking, and hosiery.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a slit or opening communicating with a pocket formed inside the band.

11. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

inserting an electronic device into the band portion through a slit formed therein and connecting the electronic device to at least one of the electrodes.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting an electronic device into the opening.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is an HR monitor, an ECG, EEG or HRM monitor, an EMG, a pacemaker reader, a galvanic skin sensor, a pulse oximeter, a thermister, an antenna, an accelerometer, a battery, a data logger, a wireless transmitter, a display, an personal music player, a speaker, a cell phone, a PDA, a warming or cooling device, a respiration sensor, an LED, a light source, a vibrator, a doppler, a strain gauge, a dermal patch, an injection device, a tourniquet, or a pressure cuff.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the component is a wire, a cable, an interconnect, a connector, a RIP band or a snap.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

knitting a fourth series of courses to said second tubular portion defining a second a tubular welt or junction portion;

knitting to said second junction portion a fifth series of courses defining a third tubular portion;

folding the third tubular portion over the second tubular portion at a fold line within the second junction portion;

joining the second tubular portion to the third tubular portion around the tubular portions at a position spaced from the fold line to form a second welt or band; and

unfolding the third tubular portion.

16. A method for making a seamless circular knit wearable article adapted to the human torso comprising the steps of:

knitting a single layer tubing;

folding the single layer tubing about a fold line to form a double layer tubing having inside and outside portions;

joining portions of the tubing together along a joinder line around the circumference of the double layer tubing at a predetermined distance from the fold line to form a circumferential tubular shaped band portion or double welt; and

separating the outside portion of the double layer from the inside portion and folding the outside portion about the joinder line to form a single layer top portion, a band portion, and a single layer bottom portion of the wearable article, wherein the band portion contacts the human torso when the wearable article is worn.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

forming first and second textile-based electrodes at opposite sides of the fold line in the tubing, the first electrode for contacting a wearer'"'"'s skin, the second electrode for connecting to an electronic device, wherein the first electrode physically contacts the second electrode in the band portion after the tubing has been folded.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming an opening communicating with an inside portion of the band portion.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising finishing neck and arm openings in the top portion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising stitching shoulder seams to complete neck and arm openings in said top portion.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising finishing leg openings in said bottom portion.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein joining is selected from group of joining means consisting of stitching, knitting, heat sealing, spot adhering and bar tacking.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising inserting an electronic device into the band portion.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising inserting an electronic device into the band portion through an opening formed therein and connecting the electronic device to the first and second electrodes.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic device is an HR monitor, an ECG, EEG or HRM monitor, an EMG, a pacemaker reader, a galvanic skin sensor, a pulse oximeter, a thermister, an antenna, an accelerometer, a battery, a data logger, a wireless transmitter, a display, an personal music player, a speaker, a cell phone, a PDA, a warming or cooling device, a respirator sensor, an LED, a light source, a vibrator, a doppler, a strain gauge, a dermal patch, an injection device, a tourniquet, or a pressure cuff.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the component is a wire, a cable, an interconnect, a connector, a RIP band or a snap.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming an electrode in or on the band portion.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the electrode is selected from the group consisting of:

an integrally knit electrode in the tubing, a sewn-on electrode, first and second textile-based electrodes at opposite sides of the joinder line that overlap in the band portion, layer electrodes electrically connected via a conductive fiber junction, and heat stamped metallic polymer electrode.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming a second circumferential tubular shaped band portion or double welt, wherein the second band portion contacts the human torso when the wearable article is worn.