Swimwear design and construction

• US 10,806,192 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROKA Sports, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ROKA Sports, Inc.
• Inventors: Canales, Robert Allen, Spenser, Kurt Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria M
• Application Number:
  US16/124,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20190008216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 2 82
• 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: A41D 13/012 for aquatic activities, e.g. with buoyancy aids
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0125 with buoyancy aids
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2300/322 using slide fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/24 Reducing drag or turbulence in air or water
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/46 Storage or supply of water for drinking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2500/50 Synthetic resins or rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2500/52 in sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/10 for sport activities
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 7/00 Bathing gowns; Swim-suits, drawers, or trunks; Beach suits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A wetsuit is provided which comprises (a) a first central region comprising a first material and having a first thickness; and (b) a second lateral region comprising a second material and having a second thickness. The buoyancy per unit area of the first region is greater than the buoyancy per unit area of the second region.

Claims

1. A wetsuit comprising:

a first central buoyancy enhancing region comprising an aerated polymeric material provided along a vertical centerline on a front of the wetsuit having a first buoyancy per unit area; and

a hydrodynamic electronics package integrated into the construction of the wetsuit and configured for monitoring a user'"'"'s swimming cadence, location and physiologic characteristics,

the wetsuit having a top portion that extending from a collar portion at a neck region to a middle portion, the middle portion extending from about a rib cage portion to a waist portion, and a bottom portion that comprises the waist portion, a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a crotch portion, and

wherein the electronics package comprises a processor and onboard memory.

2. The wetsuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors integrated into the construction of the wetsuit, either with or without hardwire connections.

3. The wetsuit of claim 2, wherein the sensors comprise at least one of:

at least one set of accelerometers;

a core body temperature monitor;

a GPS tracker;

at least one cadence sensor; and

a heart rate monitor.

4. The wetsuit of claim 1, further comprising a second central buoyancy enhancing region provided along the vertical centerline on a back of the wetsuit.

5. The wetsuit of claim 4, wherein the second central buoyancy enhancing region comprises a material that is the same material as the first central buoyancy enhancing region.

6. The wetsuit of claim 4, wherein the second central buoyancy enhancing region comprises a different material than the first central buoyancy enhancing region.

7. The wetsuit of claim 4, wherein the second central buoyancy enhancing region comprises a more flexible material than the first central buoyancy enhancing region.

8. The wetsuit of claim 4, wherein the second central buoyancy enhancing region comprises a non-aerated polymeric material.

9. The wetsuit claim 3, further comprising a GPS antenna/receiver integrated into the construction of the wetsuit;

wherein the GPS antenna/receiver is configured with or without hardwire connections that run through or along the surface of the back of the swimwear and a waterproof connection that can interface with a GPS device, and

further configured as either a proprietary device or configured to be compatible with third-party receivers using a suitable adapter in a wired or wireless configuration.

10. The wetsuit of claim 9, wherein said UPS antenna/receiver is configured for at least one of:

a proprietary communication protocol and

a commercial communication protocol.

11. The wetsuit of claim 3, wherein the top portion further comprises sleeves.

12. The wetsuit of claim 11 wherein the at least one set of accelerometers is placed in at least one of:

a waist region;

the sleeves; and

the first leg portion and the second leg portion.

13. The wetsuit of CLAIM 1, wherein first leg portion and a second leg portion are configured to extend to an ankle region of a user.

14. The wetsuit of claim 1, wherein first leg portion and a second leg portion are configured to extend to below a knee region of a user.

15. The wetsuit of claim 1, wherein first leg portion and a second leg portion are configured to extend to above a knee region of a user.

16. The wetsuit of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the wetsuit is equipped with zipper.

17. The wetsuit of claim 4, wherein the second central buoyancy enhancing region is symmetrically disposed about a zipper.

18. The wetsuit of claim 3, further comprising LEDs integrated into the arms of the wetsuit that alert the swimmer with colors or light patterns when either pre-defined cadence goals are met, or when certain goals are no longer being achieved, or when the cadence of the swimmer has deviated undesirably.

19. The wetsuit of claim 3, further comprising a vibration mechanism integrated into the arms of the wetsuit that alert the swimmer when pre-defined cadence goals are met, or when either certain goals are no longer being achieved, or when the cadence of the swimmer has deviated undesirably.