Wearable device assembly having athletic functionality

• US 8,974,349 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Weast, Aaron B., Cobbett, Jamian R., Orankson, Kwamina, Kash, Brian L., Oyibo, Lola, Goldberg, J. Gerson, Makay, Michael C., Riccomini, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYAN, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US13/353,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/8, 482/9
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/045 Mounting of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0278 : of USB type details relating to connectors H01R27/00

Abstract

A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.

Claims

1. A wearable device configured to be worn by a person, the assembly comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end releaseably engageable with the second end, the housing having an inner spine member having at least one substantially rigid portion and at least one flexible zone, the rigid portion being pivotable about the at least one flexible zone,

wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises a substantially rigid central portion, a first substantially rigid segment and a second substantially rigid segment, and wherein the at least one flexible zone comprises a first flexible zone and a second flexible zone, the first flexible zone connecting a first end of the central portion and the first segment and the second flexible zone connecting a second end of the central portion and the second segment, wherein the first flexible zone is upwardly concaved-shaped and the second flexible zone is upwardly concaved-shaped;

a controller supported by the spine member, the controller having a sensor operably associated therewith wherein the sensor detects activity of the person;

at least one plug member adhered to the controller and spine member at the at least one flexible zone, wherein the at least one plug member comprises a first plug member and a second plug member, the first plug member having a convex outer surface dimensioned to coincide with the upwardly concaved-shape of the first flexible zone, the second plug member having a convex outer surface dimensioned to coincide with the upwardly concaved-shape of the second flexible zone;

a display supported by the housing, the display operably connected to the controller and configured to display indicia related to the activity of the person.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion has a first thickness and the first flexible zone and the second flexible zone have a second thickness less than the first thickness.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one plug member is made from polypropylene.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing has an elastomer member positioned over the spine member and the at least one plug member.

5. A wearable device configured to be worn by a person, the assembly comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, the first end releaseably engageable with the second end, the housing having an inner spine member having a substantially rigid central portion, a first substantially rigid segment and a second substantially rigid segment, the spine member further having a first flexible zone connecting a first end of the central portion and the first segment and a second flexible zone connecting a second end of the central portion and the second segment, the first flexible zone defining a first recessed area and the second flexible zone defining a second recessed area,

wherein the first flexible zone is upwardly concaved-shaped and the second flexible zone is upwardly concaved-shaped;

a controller comprising a flexible printed circuit member supported along the spine member, the controller having a sensor operably associated therewith wherein the sensor detects activity of the person;

a first plug member positioned in the first recessed area and a second plug member positioned in the second recessed area;

a display supported by the housing, the display operably connected to the controller and configured to display indicia related to the activity of the person,

wherein the housing further has an outer encasement member positioned around the inner spine member, the controller, plug members and display, and

wherein an outer surface of the spine member defines a curvilinear arc wherein an outer surface of the first plug member is positioned proximate the curvilinear arc and wherein an outer surface of the second plug member is positioned proximate the curvilinear arc.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a first projection member connected to the first end and a receiver member connected to the second end, the first projection member having a USB connector, the USB connector having a body having a first side and second side, and further having leads on the first side and a recess on a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the leads are flush with the first side of the body, the receiver member defining an opening and pivotally supporting a finger wherein in a latched position, the USB connector is received by the receiver member wherein the finger is received in the recess, and wherein in an unlatched position, the finger is pivotable away from the USB connector wherein the USB connector is removable from the receiver member, wherein the first projection member is releasably engageable with the receiver member.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein each lead has a base member subjected to a coining process providing a raised planar platform, the raised planar platform being flush with the first side of the body.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the body of the USB connector has a beveled edge.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein the first plug member has a convex-shaped outer surface dimensioned to correspond to the upwardly concaved-shape of the first flexible zone.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein the second plug member has a convex-shaped outer surface dimensioned to correspond to the upwardly concaved-shape of the second flexible zone.

11. The device of claim 5 wherein the first plug member is connected to the flexible circuit member and the spine member by an adhesive.

12. The device of claim 5 wherein the second plug member is connected to the flexible circuit member and the spine member by an adhesive.

13. The device of claim 5 wherein the first plug member is connected to the flexible circuit member and the spine member by a threaded fastener.

14. The device of claim 5 wherein the second plug member is connected to the flexible circuit member and the spine member by a threaded fastener.

15. A wearable device assembly configured to be worn by a person, the assembly comprising:

spine member having a first end and second end and intermediate portion therebetween, the spine member having a generally curvilinear configuration, the spine member having a substantially rigid central portion and a first substantially rigid segment connected to an end of the central portion by a first flexible portion having an upwardly concave shape, the spine member further having a second substantially rigid segment connected to another end of the central portion by a second flexible portion having an upwardly concave shape, the first substantially rigid segment defining a first recessed compartment comprising a thixomolded member, the second substantially rigid segment defining a second recessed compartment comprising a thixomolded member;

a controller having a flexible circuit member attached along a length of the spine member, the controller having a three-axis accelerometer operably associated therewith to detect a level of activity of the user;

a first plug member positioned in the first flexible portion, the first plug member having a convex-shaped outer surface dimensioned to correspond to the upwardly concaved-shape of the first flexible portion, the first plug member connected to the flexible circuit member and the spine member by an adhesive;

a second plug member positioned in the second flexible portion, the second plug member having a convex-shaped outer surface dimensioned to correspond to the upwardly concaved-shape of the second flexible zone, the second plug member connected to the flexible circuit member and the spine member by an adhesive;

a display connected to the circuit member and positioned proximate the central portion of the spine member;

an indicator system connected to the circuit member and positioned adjacent to the display, wherein the indicator system is illuminable based on a level of activity of the user sensed by the accelerometer;

an input button positioned adjacent to the display and operably connected to the circuit member;

an outer thermoplastic elastomer member positioned around the spine member, controller, display and indicator system, the elastomeric member engaging a periphery of the input button, the elastomeric member having a first opening in communication with the first recessed compartment and having a second opening in communication with the second recessed compartment, wherein a thickness of the elastomer member at the first flexible portion is approximately the same as a thickness of the elastomer member adjacent the first flexible portion, and wherein a thickness of the elastomer member at the second flexible portion is approximately the same as a thickness of the elastomer member adjacent the second flexible portion;

a first battery positioned in the first recessed compartment and operably connected to the controller and a first metal closure member positioned over the first battery and connected to the spine member, and a second battery positioned in the second recessed compartment and operably connected to the controller and a second metal closure member positioned over the second battery and connected to the spine member; and

a latch mechanism having a first projection member connected to the first end of the spine member comprising a USB connector operably connected to the controller, the USB connector having a first side having a plurality of leads and a second side having recess, the latch mechanism further having a receiver member connected to the second end of the spine member, the receiver member having a pivoting finger therein wherein upon insertion of the USB connector into the receiver member, the finger is received in the recess.