Wearable device having athletic functionality

• US 9,734,477 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike International Ltd. (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Buxton, Bert, Henderson, Kris, Bielman, James, Cummings, Kate, Lowe, Jr., Edward Stephen, Wittenstein, Nikolaus Adrian, Crankson, Kwamina, Raven, Demi, Micheletti, Marco, Kash, Brian, Oyibo, Lola, Riccomini, Robert A., Goldberg, J. Gerson, Sprouse, Jake, Makay, Michael C., Weast, Aaron B., Cobbett, Jamian R., Zipperer, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganesan, Sundhara
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abyan, Shila Jalalzadeh
• Application Number:
  US13/287,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,114 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1, 482 8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• 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 5/1112 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: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• 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: G04G 17/08 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 : for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• 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 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 : Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 : including near field communication means, e.g. RFID

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 user, the device comprising:

a housing having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end releaseably engageable with the second longitudinal end, wherein the housing has an outer encasement member and an inner spine member, the inner spine member having at least one substantially rigid portion and at least one flexible zone, the at least one flexible zone being located between the at least one substantially rigid portion and one of the first or second longitudinal ends, and wherein the at least one flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape and a lesser thickness at a central portion of the upwardly concaved shape than the remaining thickness of the upwardly concaved shape;

a controller supported by the housing, the controller having a sensor operably associated therewith wherein the sensor detects activity of the user;

a display supported by the housing, the display operably connected to the controller;

an indicator system supported by the housing, the indicator system operably connected to the controller, wherein the indicator system includes a plurality of lighting elements,

wherein the controller selects and illuminates multiple lighting elements of the plurality of lighting elements in accordance with a progress of the user toward an activity goal; and

wherein the outer encasement member is positioned around the inner spine member, the outer encasement member encases the controller, the display, and the indicator system, wherein the outer encasement member comprises at least a first side edge and an outer surface, and wherein a radius of the first side edge is smaller than a radius of the outer surface.

2. The device of claim 1 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 and disposed between, in a longitudinal direction of the inner spine member, a first end of the substantially rigid central portion and the first substantially rigid segment and the second flexible zone connecting a second end of the substantially rigid central portion and the second substantially rigid segment.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the first substantially rigid segment has a curvilinear configuration and defines a first recessed compartment and the second substantially rigid segment has a curvilinear configuration and defines a second recessed compartment, the first recessed compartment comprised of a thixomolded member that receives a first curved battery operably connected to the controller and a first metal closure member positioned over the first curved battery, the second recessed compartment comprised of a thixomolded member that receives a second curved battery operably connected to the controller and a second metal closure positioned over the second curved battery.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first recessed compartment has an opening, the first curved battery having a first resilient member supporting contacts wherein the contacts are positioned in the opening and connected to the controller, and wherein the second recessed compartment has an opening, the second curved battery having a second resilient member supporting contacts wherein the contacts are positioned in the opening and connected to the controller.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the substantially rigid central portion and the first substantially rigid segment and the second substantially rigid segment generally define a first thickness and wherein the first and second flexible zones have a second thickness less than the first thickness.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the first flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape and the second flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the first flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape and the second flexible zone has an upwardly concaved shape wherein central portion of each concaved shape has a lesser thickness than the thickness of the remaining portion of the upwardly concaved shape.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller has a flexible circuit member connected along a length of the inner spine member, the display and indicator system being operably connected to the flexible circuit member.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lighting elements comprise a plurality of LED lights.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein at least one of the lighting elements is capable of displaying different colored lights.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of lighting elements of the indicator system are capable of displaying at least a red color, a yellow color and a green color.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the inner spine member includes a recessed compartment, the controller having a battery positioned in the recessed compartment and operably connected to the controller.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the recessed compartment is comprised of a thixomolded member and metal closure member positioned over the thixomolded member.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the recessed compartment comprises a metal enclosure.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein a first projection member is connected to the first longitudinal end and a second receiver member is connected to the second longitudinal end, the first projection member having a USB connector operably connected to the controller, the USB connector being releasably engageable with the second receiver member.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the USB connector has a rigid body having a plurality of leads, wherein the leads are evenly spaced apart from one another.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the USB connector has a rigid body defining a top surface, the USB connector having a plurality of leads recessed in the rigid body, each lead having a raised rib positioned proximate the top surface.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member further comprises a beveled side edge, and wherein the indicator system is located in the beveled side edge.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein a radius of the beveled side edge is smaller than a radius of the outer surface.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer member positioned around the inner spine member.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the outer encasement member further has an input button operably connected to the controller, the input button having a rigid base member integrally connected to a flexible cap and wherein the thermoplastic elastomer member abuts a peripheral edge of the rigid base member.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible zone has a gradually lessening thickness along a length of the central portion of the upwardly concaved shape.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the gradually lessening thickness along the central portion of the upwardly concaved shape that enhances a flexible characteristic of the at least one flexible zone.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the display is positioned proximate a central portion of the housing and the indicator system is positioned proximate the central portion of the housing and generally adjacent to the display.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein the display projects light in a first direction and the indicator system projects light in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

26. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator system has a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being illuminable based on a level of activity sensed by the sensor for the user, and wherein the controller is capable of receiving information regarding a level of activity of one other person, the second segment being illuminable based on the level of activity of the one other person.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator system further comprises a first plurality of lighting elements positioned on one side of the housing and a second plurality of lighting elements positioned on an opposite side of the housing.

28. The device of claim 1 wherein the inner spine member supports the controller, the display and the indicator system, wherein the housing further has an elastomer member encasing a majority of an entire length of the inner spine member, the controller, the display and the indicator system, wherein the majority of the entire length of the inner spine member is not exposed to an outside of the housing.

29. The device of claim 1 wherein an inner portion of the outer encasement member comprises an inner diameter of the wearable device.

30. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner and outer surfaces form an internal volume.

31. The device of claim 1 wherein the display and indicator system are viewable through the outer encasement member when illuminated.

32. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing has a generally annular shape dimensioned to be worn on a wrist of the user.

33. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller illuminates the indicator system in response to detecting a predetermined amount of activity by the user.

34. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller illuminates the indicator system in response to detecting a predetermined amount of inactivity by the user.

35. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member comprises a generally rounded outer surface and a generally planar inner surface.

36. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member includes at least a first region to accommodate viewing of the display, and at least a second region to accommodate viewing of the indicator system.

37. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer encasement member includes at least a first aperture that accommodates an input button for interaction with the controller.