Garment with built-in audio source wiring

• US 8,965,032 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerry Leigh of California Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jerry Leigh of California Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolfe, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/340,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20120090070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 381/300, 381/301, 381/309, 381/333, 381/370, 381/374, 381/376, 381/384, 381/385, 381/388, 2 6/9, 220/9, 220/913, 290/5, 290/6, 379/430, 455/100, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/384
• 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: A42B 1/245 Means for mounting audio or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

An audio source system may be built into a garment such as a hooded garment in such a way that safety concerns such as with a hooded garment for children are taken into account so that the audio system wiring cannot be made loose causing a danger of strangulation nor can the hood be cinched. This is done by putting speakers into the hood between a lining and an outer layer and passing the wires into the space between them and then into a tube that is open to the hood inner space and down the tube to a pocket in the body of the garment. Also securing tabs are used to prevent cinching action upon pulling the wire.

Claims

1. A combination of a garment and wiring for an audio source device comprising:

a garment having an opening portion and a channel extending from proximate a left to a right side of the opening portion; and

audio connection wiring comprising a source access connector and having a first portion pair of wires extending from the connector which first portion pair of wires are joined, up to a separation point at which the pair of wires separate into separate left and right wires terminating in respective left and right earphones;

the audio connection wiring being assembled into the garment so that the connector is available at a selected location for connecting to an audio source device;

the separation point being inside the channel and the separate left and right wires exiting the channel each having a length outside the channel terminating in the respective left and right earphones; and

a strain relief member provided around the wires at the separation point securing the wires against unintended separation;

whereby an audio source device may be attached at the connector and the earphones may be inserted into a user'"'"'s ears and the wiring is protected against unintended separation of the wires within the channel.

2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a securing member attached to the strain relief member and also attached to the garment thereby to prevent lateral movement of the wires inside the channel.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the securing member is a fabric strip fixed to the strain relief member and being co-sewn into a hem stitch which defines the channel.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the strain relief member is a plastic barrel applied around the wires at the separation point.

5. The combination of claim 4 further comprising a securing member comprising a fabric strip adhesively attached to the plastic barrel and also attached to the garment by being co-sewn into a hem stitch which defines the channel thereby to prevent lateral movement of the wires inside the channel.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opening portion is a collar of the garment and the channel extends around the collar.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opening portion comprises a hood for cinching and further comprising a hollow left and right lanyard inside which each of the left and right wires extend respectively, each lanyard being attached at an entry end to the strain relief member and terminating at the each earphone.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the lanyards are of a flexible resilient and stretchable material.