WO2015048180A2 - Bra with impact and penetration resistant protective panel, impact detection and wireless notification - Google Patents

Bra with impact and penetration resistant protective panel, impact detection and wireless notification Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015048180A2
WO2015048180A2 PCT/US2014/057291 US2014057291W WO2015048180A2 WO 2015048180 A2 WO2015048180 A2 WO 2015048180A2 US 2014057291 W US2014057291 W US 2014057291W WO 2015048180 A2 WO2015048180 A2 WO 2015048180A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
impact
sensor panel
protective
cpu
penetration
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2014/057291
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2015048180A3 (en
Inventor
Thomas MIGGLIOZI
Keith Delucia
Claudio Ballard
Original Assignee
Miggliozi Thomas
Keith Delucia
Claudio Ballard
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Miggliozi Thomas, Keith Delucia, Claudio Ballard filed Critical Miggliozi Thomas
Publication of WO2015048180A2 publication Critical patent/WO2015048180A2/en
Publication of WO2015048180A3 publication Critical patent/WO2015048180A3/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41—WEARING APPAREL
    • A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
    • A41C3/00—Brassieres
    • A41C3/12—Component parts
    • A41C3/14—Stiffening or bust-forming inserts
    • A41C3/142—Stiffening inserts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41—WEARING APPAREL
    • A41C—CORSETS; BRASSIERES
    • A41C3/00—Brassieres
    • A41C3/005—Brassieres specially adapted for specific purposes
    • A41C3/0057—Brassieres specially adapted for specific purposes for sport activities

Definitions

  • the following disclosure relates to protective clothing, and in particular to clothing for protecting the wearer against chest impact and/or penetration.
  • the invention comprises a sports bra including a panel that is resistant to impact and/or penetration.
  • the sports bra includes circuitry for chest impact and/or penetration detection and wireless notification of chest impact and/or penetration events.
  • a woman or girl who receives an impact in the chest area during a sporting activity may not notice, or may not remember, the precise location of the impact. Such failure to remember may be due, e.g., to excitement, distraction, concussion or unconsciousness. Further, a woman or girl who receives an impact in the chest area during a sporting activity may not be able to accurately judge the magnitude of the impact. Knowledge of the location and/or magnitude of a chest impact may be useful in assessing possible injury to the heart or other body structures.
  • a need also exists, for clothing that can accurately measure and record the magnitude of a chest impact.
  • a protective clothing device comprises a sports bra structure having a central portion formed of a protective material. When worn, the central portion is disposed over the middle of the chest area, i.e., where the heart is located.
  • the protective material of the central portion may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material.
  • the protective material of the central portion is flexible.
  • a protective clothing device comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas, a pouch disposed between the breast contacting areas, and at least one protective pad formed of a protective material that is configured to be inserted into a cavity within the pouch.
  • the protective material of the protective pad may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material.
  • the protective material of the protective pad is flexible.
  • the pouch can accommodate more than one protective pad at a time such that the number of protective pads in the pouch can be varied to provide different levels of protection.
  • the pouch is configured to include a narrow opening that is expandable to allow the passage of the protective pad into the cavity.
  • the pouch includes a flap that is selectively securable with hook and loop material to retain the protective pad within the cavity of the pouch.
  • the protective clothing device further comprises at least one auxiliary strap attached to the pouch and extending around the wearer's body to stabilize the pouch against the wearer.
  • a protective clothing device for wearing over the chest area of a person's body and detecting a chest impact or penetration comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas configured to be worn over a person's breasts and a central portion disposed therebetween.
  • a sensor panel is mounted to the central portion, the sensor panel including one or more individual sensors, wherein each individual sensor is one of a touch-activated sensor, a G-force-activated sensor, or a penetration activated sensor.
  • a control module is mounted to the sports bra structure and operably connected to the sensor panel for receiving electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors.
  • the control module includes a CPU unit including a processor for processing the electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors and producing impact-related data, a memory unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and storing the impact-related data for future retrieval, and a communication unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact- related data from the CPU and including at least one radio communication transceiver configured to operate in one of cellular mode, Wi-Fi mode or Bluetooth mode for sending wireless messages including impact-related data under control of the CPU unit.
  • the CPU is configured to cause the communication unit to send a wireless message containing impact-related data retrieved from the memory unit when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
  • At least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the location of an impact on the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the location of the impact on the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the location of the impact on the sensor panel.
  • At least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the areal extent of an impact on the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the areal extent of the impact on the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the areal extent of the impact on the sensor panel.
  • at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the location of a penetration of the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the location of the penetration of the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the location of the penetration of the sensor panel.
  • At least some of the individual sensors are configured to detect the magnitude of an impact on the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the magnitude of the impact on the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the magnitude of the impact on the sensor panel.
  • control module further comprises a GPS unit including at least one GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS information indicative of the geographic location of the protective clothing device.
  • the GPS unit is operably connected to the CPU unit for sending signals indicative of the geographic location of the protective clothing device to the CPU unit.
  • the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the geographic location of the protective clothing device.
  • the protective clothing device further comprises protective material that is impact resistant and/or penetration resistant disposed in the central portion of the sports bra structure.
  • a protective clothing device for wearing over the chest area of a person's body and detecting a chest impact or penetration comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas configured to be worn over a person's breasts and a central portion disposed therebetween.
  • a sensor panel is mounted to the central portion, the sensor panel including one or more individual sensors, wherein each individual sensor is one of a touch-activated sensor, a G-force-activated sensor, or a penetration activated sensor.
  • a control module is mounted to the sports bra structure and operably connected to the sensor panel for receiving electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors, the control module including a CPU unit including a processor for processing the electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors and producing impact-related data and a memory unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and storing the impact-related data for future retrieval.
  • the protective clothing device further comprises an audible alarm unit operably connected to the CPU unit. The CPU is configured to cause the audible alarm unit to make a noise when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
  • the protective clothing device further comprises a visual display panel operably connected to the CPU unit.
  • the CPU is configured to cause the visual display panel to display impact-related data when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
  • the memory unit further comprises a removable nonvolatile card containing impact-related data that can be removed from the clothing device.
  • a protective clothing device has a built-in sensor that reads impact/G-forces and GPS location, and sends alerts via SMS to approved people (i.e., parents) when an impact has gotten close or exceeded a certain limit.
  • FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a protective clothing device, in this case a sports bra, in accordance with one embodiment
  • FIGURE 2 shows a front view of a protective clothing device, in this case a sports bra, in accordance with another embodiment
  • FIGURE 3 shows a partial view of an alternative pouch for a sports bra similar to the one shown in FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURES 4A and 4B show, respectively, front and rear views of a protective clothing device in accordance with another embodiment.
  • FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a protective clothing device, namely a sports bra, in accordance with one embodiment.
  • Protective sports bra 100 comprises a sports bra structure 102 having two breast contacting areas 104 and a central portion 106 therebetween formed of a protective material.
  • the sports bra 100 may further comprise shoulder straps 108 and a lower band 1 10.
  • the breast contacting areas 104 may be separate, spaced-apart cups, whereas in other embodiments the breast contacting areas will be portions of a single band of material that overlay, respectively, each of the wearer's breasts.
  • the central portion 106 When worn, the central portion 106 may be disposed over the middle of the wearer's chest area, i.e., where the heart is located.
  • the protective material 1 12 (only partially shown for purposes of illustration) of the central portion 106 may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, a ceramic material, a metallic material or a combination of such materials.
  • the protective material 112 of the central portion 106 is flexible, however, in some circumstances the protective material may be wholly or partially non-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid.
  • the protective material 1 12 is selected to protect the wearer of the sports bra 100 against blunt- force trauma or other injury caused by impact from balls, sticks, etc. striking the heart area.
  • FIGURE 2 there is illustrated a protective clothing device, namely a sports bra, in accordance with another embodiment.
  • Protective sports bra 200 comprises a sports bra structure 202 having two breast contacting areas 204, a pouch 205 disposed between the breast contacting areas, and at least one protective pad 206, 206' formed of a protective material that is configured to be insertable into a cavity 207 formed within the pouch. Insertion of the protective pad 206' into the cavity 207 is denoted by arrow 209.
  • the sports bra 200 may further comprise shoulder straps 208 and a waistband 210.
  • the breast contacting areas 204 may be separate, spaced-apart cups, whereas in other embodiments the breast contacting areas will be portions of a single band of material that overlay, respectively, each of the wearer's breasts.
  • the pouch 205 may be formed as an integral portion of the sports bra structure 202; whereas in other embodiments, the pouch may be formed separately and attached to the sports bra structure using stitching, adhesives or other fastening devices. In one embodiment, the pouch 205 is attached to the sports bra structure 202 using hook and loop fastening material (not shown).
  • the protective clothing device 200 further comprises at least one auxiliary strap 211 attached to the pouch 205 and extendable around the wearer's body to stabilize the pouch against the wearer's body during vigorous movement.
  • auxiliary strap 21 1 only a portion of the optional auxiliary strap 21 1 is shown; it will be understood that the strap extends around the wearer's body.
  • the protective material 212 of the protective pad 206, 206' may be rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, a ceramic material, a metallic material or a combination of such materials.
  • the protective material 1 12 is selected to protect the wearer of the protective sports bra 200 against blunt-force trauma or other injury caused by impact from balls, sticks, etc. striking the heart area.
  • the protective material 212 of the protective pad 206, 206' is flexible, however, in some applications the protective material of at least some of the protective pads may be non-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid.
  • different protective pads 206, 206' may be made of different materials to offer different degrees of protection or comfort.
  • the pouch 205 can accommodate more than one protective pad 206, 206' at a time such that the number of protective pads in the pouch can be varied to provide different levels of protection.
  • the pouch 205 and protective pads 206 and/or 206' may be disposed over the middle of the wearer's chest area.
  • the pouch 205 is further configured to include a narrow opening or slot 214 to allow the passage of the protective pad 206 into the cavity 207.
  • the opening or slot 214 may be lined with an elastic 216 or other flexible material that will stretch (i.e., making the opening larger) to allow the protective pad 206 to be inserted or withdrawn from the cavity 207 and then retract back (i.e., making the opening smaller) to retain the pad within the cavity.
  • the pouch 205 includes a movable flap 302 that is selectively securable with hook and loop material 304, 306 to retain the protective pad or pads 206 within the cavity 207 of the pouch.
  • Sports bra 400 is externally similar in many respects to the protective sports bras 100, 200 described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2.
  • Sports bra 400 comprises a sports bra structure 402 having two breast contacting areas 404 and a central portion 406 therebetween, and may further comprise shoulder straps 408 and a lower band 410.
  • the breast contacting areas 404 may be separate, spaced-apart cups or portions of a single band of material.
  • the central portion 406 may be disposed in the center of the band such that it lies over the middle of the wearer's chest area, i.e., where the heart is located.
  • the sports bra 400 may further include a back strap or panel 412 connected to the breast contacting areas 404 and straps 408 and configured to extend around the wearer's back.
  • the sports bra 400 may include one or more layers of protective material 414 disposed in the central area 406 similar to that found in protective sports bras 100, 200.
  • FIGURE 4A shows the outer layer of the central portion 406 broken away to show the protective material 414 below, and further shows much of the protective material 414 broken away so that additional elements can be seen that are positioned below the protective material. It will be understood that the protective material 414 is actually disposed across substantially all of the central portion 406 over the wearer's heart area.
  • the protective material 414 may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, a ceramic material, a metallic material or a combination of such materials.
  • the protective material 414 of the central portion 406 is flexible, however, in some circumstances the protective material may be wholly or partially non-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid.
  • the protective material 414 may be built-in to the bra structure 402 as in sports bra 100, or removable pads (not shown) as in sports bra 200.
  • the protective material 414 is selected to protect the wearer wearing the sports bra 400 against blunt-force trauma or other injury caused by impact from balls, sticks, etc. striking the heart area.
  • the protective material is not required in all embodiments of the sports bra 400, as some embodiments may include only impact detection and wireless notification structures as further described herein.
  • a sensor panel 416 is mounted to the central portion 406 of the sports bra 400.
  • the sensor panel 416 is disposed below the protective material 414; however, in other embodiments of the sports bra 400, the sensor panel 416 may be disposed in front of or between the protective panels of protective material 414.
  • the sensor panel 416 detects impacts or G- shocks on the panel or a penetration of the panel. To detect impacts and penetrations, the sensor panel 416 may include one or more individual sensors 418.
  • the individual sensors 418 of the sensor panel 416 are arranged in a grid or array 420 such that the location and/or areal extent of an impact can be detected based on the known location of the sensor or sensors 418 activated by the impact. Penetration of the sensor panel 416 may be detected using the sensors 418 or separate penetration sensors (not shown).
  • the sensors 418 on the sensor panel 416 may include touch sensors (denoted 418a) such as mechanical or electromechanical switches, capacitance sensors, or other known touch-sensing elements, G-force sensors (denoted 418b) such as accelerometers or other known acceleration- or shock-sensing elements or a combination of touch and G-force sensors.
  • touch sensors denoted 418a
  • G-force sensors denoteted 418b
  • accelerometers or other known acceleration- or shock-sensing elements or a combination of touch and G-force sensors.
  • the touch sensors 418a can detect touch only (i.e., the only recognized states are "presence of touch” and "absence of touch") whereas in other embodiments, the touch sensors 418a can detect both touch and the magnitude of the touching force within a predetermined range of force.
  • the G-force sensors 418b can only detect G-forces which exceed a certain threshold (i.e., the only recognized states are "below G-threshold” and "G-threshold exceeded") whereas in other embodiments the G-force sensors 418b can detect the magnitude of the G-force experienced within a predetermined G-force range.
  • the sensor panel 416 is operably connected to a control module 422.
  • control module 422 is positioned on the back strap 412 of the sports bra 400 and operably connected to the sensor panel 416 by a wiring harness 424 running within the lower band 410, however in other embodiments the control module may be positioned on the front or side of the bra structure 402, on a straps 408, or even embedded within the central portion 406 or sensor panel itself.
  • the control module 422 includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 426 and a memory unit 428 operably connected to the CPU.
  • the control module 422 further includes an optional communication unit 430 operably connected to the CPU 426, an optional Global Positioning System (“GPS”) unit 432 operably connected to the CPU, an optional visual display unit 436 operably connected to the CPU and an optional audible alarm/indicator unit 438 operably connected to the CPU.
  • the CPU 426, memory unit 428, communication unit 430, GPS unit 432, display unit 436 and audible alarm unit 438 are operably interconnected with one another using circuitry 434.
  • a battery or other power source may be operably connected to the circuitry 434 to provide power to the components of the control module 422.
  • the CPU 426 includes a processor and associated circuitry capable of executing the instructions of a computer program or application and accessing and storing data from internal and external memory.
  • the CPU 426 receives signals from the sensor panel 416 indicative of impacts, impact locations, impact force magnitudes, G-forces, G-force magnitudes, or other impact information, processes the signals and stores relevant impact data in the memory unit 428.
  • the CPU 426 may also receive signals from the communication unit 430, if present, indicative of new program steps to be performed, authorized person addresses, program start/stop commands, requests for data, etc., and send signals to the communication unit indicative of messages to be sent and impact data received from the sensor panel 416 or memory unit 428.
  • the CPU 426 may also receive signals from the GPS unit 432, if present, indicative of the geographic location of the sports bra 400, process the signals and store relevant geographic location data in the memory unit 428.
  • the CPU 426 may also send signals to the visual display unit 436 indicative of impact data, registration information, system status, low battery, etc.
  • the visual display unit 436 may include text screens (e.g., LED, LCD or OLED screens), dedicated digital displays or analog indicators such as individual LEDs or light bulbs.
  • the CPU 426 may also send signals to the audible alarm unit 438 causing the alarm unit to make noises indicative of impact data, system status, low battery, etc.
  • data stored in the memory unit 428 may be retrieved by the CPU 426 and transmitted wirelessly to authorized users via the communications unit 430.
  • the impact data retrieval and wireless transmission process is incorporated into an automatic notification routine that is initiated in response to the occurrence of an impact at a predetermined location, an impact exceeding a predetermined magnitude and/or a G-force exceeding a predetermined G-level.
  • the impact data and retrieval process may be initiated by a direct request received via the communication unit 430 or via manual controls (not shown) on the control module 422.
  • the requested impact data may be transmitted wirelessly via the communication module 430, displayed on the visual display unit 436 or both.
  • the occurrence of an impact at a predetermined location, an impact exceeding a predetermined magnitude and/or a G-force exceeding a predetermined G-level will activate the audible alarm/indicator unit 438 and/or display impact information on the visual display unit 436 whether or not a wireless notification is also initiated.
  • the memory unit 428 includes RAM and/or ROM memory accessible to/from the CPU 426 for storing program/application instructions and/or data regarding impacts, impact location (i.e., location of impact on the sensor panel 416), impact time, impact magnitudes, geographic location data (i.e., geographic location of sports bra 400), communication protocols and communication addresses to be used by the communication unit 430, or names or numbers of authorized devices or persons to be notified of impacts. Some or all of the data stored in the memory unit 428 may be accessible by the CPU 426 and/or the other components of the control module 422, such as the communication unit 430 and GPS unit 432, if present.
  • Some or all of the memory capacity of the memory unit 428, including the impact-related data may be externally accessible via the wireless communication unit 430, if present. Some or all of the memory capacity of the memory unit 428, including the impact-related data, may be accessible via direct connection to the circuitry 434, e.g., via USB communications through a USB port (not shown). Further, some or all of the memory capacity of the memory unit 428, including the impact-related data, may reside on removable nonvolatile media such as Secure Digital Standard-Capacity (“SDSD”), High-Capacity (“SDHC”), eXtended- Capacity (“SDXC”) or SDIO cards. Such removable nonvolatile media may be removed from the control module 422 for data retrieval (i.e., "reading") of impact-related information in a suitable reading device.
  • SDSD Secure Digital Standard-Capacity
  • SDHC High-Capacity
  • SDXC eXtended- Capacity
  • SDIO cards Secure Digital Standard-Capacity
  • the optional communication unit 430 includes at least one radio communication transceiver, associated circuitry and antenna that can transmit signals containing the various impact data from the sensor panel 416 or memory unit 428 to authorized persons and/or authorized devices under direction of the CPU 426.
  • the communication unit 430 includes multiple transceivers, with each one operable in a different mode.
  • the transceiver of the communication unit may operate in a cellular telephone mode (e.g., CDMA or GSM) to send synthesized voice messages and/or text messages (e.g., SMS format), in a Wi-Fi mode (i.e., as set forth in the various 802.1 1 standards and other Wi-Fi protocols) to send data messages, in a Bluetooth mode (i.e., as set forth in IEEE 802.15.1 and other Bluetooth protocols) to send data messages, or in accordance with other wireless network or wireless communication protocols.
  • the voice, text and/or data messages sent by the communication unit 430 may include information regarding a unique ID of the sports bra 400, the name of the registered user, impact data including number of impacts, impact location, impact time, impact magnitudes, geographic location data and other data discussed herein.
  • the optional GPS unit 432 includes at least one GPS receiver unit capable of receiving GPS information, which may be from GPS satellites and/or from terrestrial location sources/services such as cellular tower triangulation services.
  • the GPS unit 432 may provide, either periodically or on demand, location information regarding the geographic location of the sports bra 400 to the CPU 426.
  • the CPU 426 may incorporate the geographic location information into automatic notification messages sent when a chest impact or G-force is received by the wearer of the sports bra 400 so that the authorized persons will know the current location of the wearer.
  • the impact or G-force will be detected by the sensor panel 416 and reported to the control module 422.
  • the control module 422 will then process the signals regarding the impact and store information regarding the time, location, extent and/or magnitude of the impact in the memory unit 428 so that it can be retrieved and used to assessing possible injury to the wearer's heart or other body structures.
  • the audible alarm 438 will be immediately activated by the impact so that the wearer, game officials or other nearby persons will be aware that the impact occurred.
  • Retrieval of the impact-related information from the memory unit 428 may take place immediately via wireless communication if the communication unit 430 is present, immediately via visual inspection if the visual display unit 436 is present, or at a later time via download (e.g., USB connection) or by removal of a nonvolatile memory card.
  • the control module 422 may send an automatic alert message via cellular call, SMS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to approved people (e.g., parents, coaches, doctors) when a chest impact is received, or when the impact exceeds certain predetermined limits.
  • the automatic alert notice may contain various impact-related data as previously described.
  • the automatic alert message may include geographic location information regarding the whereabouts of the wearer along with impact-related information. In this way, the parents or other approved persons will not only know that a high-impact or G-force incident has occurred, but they will immediately know where the wearer is located even if the wearer is unable to communicate.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Abstract

A protective clothing device for protecting a person's chest area against trauma caused by impact or penetration comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas and a protective material disposed therebetween. The protective clothing device may also have built-in sensors that sense and record impact/G-forces to the chest area and the GPS location of the device. Wireless alerts may be automatically sent to approved people (i.e., parents) when an impact has exceeded a predetermined limit, the alerts containing information regarding the impact and/or GPS location of the device.

Description

BRA WITH IMPACT AND PENETRATION RESISTANT
PROTECTIVE PANEL, IMPACT DETECTION AND WIRELESS
NOTIFICATION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Patent Cooperation Treaty Application of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/881,864, filed September 24, 2013, entitled BRA WITH IMPACT AND/OR PENETRATION RESISTANT PROTECTIVE PANEL (Atty. Dkt. No. VMPT-31897), the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The following disclosure relates to protective clothing, and in particular to clothing for protecting the wearer against chest impact and/or penetration. In one aspect thereof, the invention comprises a sports bra including a panel that is resistant to impact and/or penetration. In a further aspect thereof, the sports bra includes circuitry for chest impact and/or penetration detection and wireless notification of chest impact and/or penetration events.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Women and girls playing lacrosse or other sports involving the use of sticks and/or balls may suffer serious, and potentially fatal, injuries if a ball or the end of a stick strikes the chest near the player's heart area. A need therefore exists, for clothing that can protect a female wearer's heart area during sports activities.
[0004] A woman or girl who receives an impact in the chest area during a sporting activity may not notice, or may not remember, the precise location of the impact. Such failure to remember may be due, e.g., to excitement, distraction, concussion or unconsciousness. Further, a woman or girl who receives an impact in the chest area during a sporting activity may not be able to accurately judge the magnitude of the impact. Knowledge of the location and/or magnitude of a chest impact may be useful in assessing possible injury to the heart or other body structures. A need therefore exists, for clothing that can sense and record the location of a chest impact. A need also exists, for clothing that can accurately measure and record the magnitude of a chest impact.
[0005] If a woman or girl receives a chest impact or chest penetration during a sporting activity, they may not immediately notice the injury, may not correctly assess the extent of injury, or may not report the injury due to competitive pressures. In other circumstances, the woman or girl may be unable to communicate regarding the chest impact or penetration due to concussion or unconsciousness. Providing timely notification of a chest impact or penetration to coaches, medical personnel, parents or other persons is desirable to allow prompt assessment of possible injury to the heart or other body structures and, if necessary, prompt treatment. A need therefore exists, for clothing that has the ability to wirelessly notify preselected persons regarding the details of a chest impact or penetration. SUMMARY
[0006] In one aspect thereof, a protective clothing device comprises a sports bra structure having a central portion formed of a protective material. When worn, the central portion is disposed over the middle of the chest area, i.e., where the heart is located. The protective material of the central portion may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material. Preferably, the protective material of the central portion is flexible.
[0007] In another aspect, a protective clothing device comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas, a pouch disposed between the breast contacting areas, and at least one protective pad formed of a protective material that is configured to be inserted into a cavity within the pouch. The protective material of the protective pad may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material. Preferably, the protective material of the protective pad is flexible. In some embodiments, the pouch can accommodate more than one protective pad at a time such that the number of protective pads in the pouch can be varied to provide different levels of protection.
[0008] In another embodiment, the pouch is configured to include a narrow opening that is expandable to allow the passage of the protective pad into the cavity.
[0009] In another embodiment, the pouch includes a flap that is selectively securable with hook and loop material to retain the protective pad within the cavity of the pouch. [0010] In another embodiment, the protective clothing device further comprises at least one auxiliary strap attached to the pouch and extending around the wearer's body to stabilize the pouch against the wearer.
[0011] In another aspect thereof, a protective clothing device for wearing over the chest area of a person's body and detecting a chest impact or penetration comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas configured to be worn over a person's breasts and a central portion disposed therebetween. A sensor panel is mounted to the central portion, the sensor panel including one or more individual sensors, wherein each individual sensor is one of a touch-activated sensor, a G-force-activated sensor, or a penetration activated sensor. A control module is mounted to the sports bra structure and operably connected to the sensor panel for receiving electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors. The control module includes a CPU unit including a processor for processing the electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors and producing impact-related data, a memory unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and storing the impact-related data for future retrieval, and a communication unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact- related data from the CPU and including at least one radio communication transceiver configured to operate in one of cellular mode, Wi-Fi mode or Bluetooth mode for sending wireless messages including impact-related data under control of the CPU unit. The CPU is configured to cause the communication unit to send a wireless message containing impact-related data retrieved from the memory unit when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
[0012] In one embodiment, at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the location of an impact on the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the location of the impact on the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the location of the impact on the sensor panel.
[0013] In another embodiment, at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the areal extent of an impact on the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the areal extent of the impact on the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the areal extent of the impact on the sensor panel. [0014] In yet another embodiment, at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the location of a penetration of the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the location of the penetration of the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the location of the penetration of the sensor panel.
[0015] In still another embodiment, at least some of the individual sensors are configured to detect the magnitude of an impact on the sensor panel, the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the magnitude of the impact on the sensor panel, and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the magnitude of the impact on the sensor panel.
[0016] In a further embodiment, the control module further comprises a GPS unit including at least one GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS information indicative of the geographic location of the protective clothing device. The GPS unit is operably connected to the CPU unit for sending signals indicative of the geographic location of the protective clothing device to the CPU unit. The wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the geographic location of the protective clothing device.
[0017] In as still further embodiment, the protective clothing device further comprises protective material that is impact resistant and/or penetration resistant disposed in the central portion of the sports bra structure.
[0018] In another aspect thereof, a protective clothing device for wearing over the chest area of a person's body and detecting a chest impact or penetration comprises a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas configured to be worn over a person's breasts and a central portion disposed therebetween. A sensor panel is mounted to the central portion, the sensor panel including one or more individual sensors, wherein each individual sensor is one of a touch-activated sensor, a G-force-activated sensor, or a penetration activated sensor. A control module is mounted to the sports bra structure and operably connected to the sensor panel for receiving electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors, the control module including a CPU unit including a processor for processing the electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors and producing impact-related data and a memory unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and storing the impact-related data for future retrieval. [0019] In one embodiment, the protective clothing device further comprises an audible alarm unit operably connected to the CPU unit. The CPU is configured to cause the audible alarm unit to make a noise when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred. [0020] In another embodiment, the protective clothing device further comprises a visual display panel operably connected to the CPU unit. The CPU is configured to cause the visual display panel to display impact-related data when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
[0021] In still another embodiment, wherein the memory unit further comprises a removable nonvolatile card containing impact-related data that can be removed from the clothing device.
[0022] In a further aspect, a protective clothing device has a built-in sensor that reads impact/G-forces and GPS location, and sends alerts via SMS to approved people (i.e., parents) when an impact has gotten close or exceeded a certain limit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: [0024] FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a protective clothing device, in this case a sports bra, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0025] FIGURE 2 shows a front view of a protective clothing device, in this case a sports bra, in accordance with another embodiment;
[0026] FIGURE 3 shows a partial view of an alternative pouch for a sports bra similar to the one shown in FIGURE 2; and
[0027] FIGURES 4A and 4B show, respectively, front and rear views of a protective clothing device in accordance with another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a protective clothing device, namely a sports bra, in accordance with one embodiment. Protective sports bra 100 comprises a sports bra structure 102 having two breast contacting areas 104 and a central portion 106 therebetween formed of a protective material. The sports bra 100 may further comprise shoulder straps 108 and a lower band 1 10. It will be understood that in some embodiments, the breast contacting areas 104 may be separate, spaced-apart cups, whereas in other embodiments the breast contacting areas will be portions of a single band of material that overlay, respectively, each of the wearer's breasts. When worn, the central portion 106 may be disposed over the middle of the wearer's chest area, i.e., where the heart is located.
[0029] The protective material 1 12 (only partially shown for purposes of illustration) of the central portion 106 may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, a ceramic material, a metallic material or a combination of such materials. Preferably, the protective material 112 of the central portion 106 is flexible, however, in some circumstances the protective material may be wholly or partially non-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid. The protective material 1 12 is selected to protect the wearer of the sports bra 100 against blunt- force trauma or other injury caused by impact from balls, sticks, etc. striking the heart area.
[0030] Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a protective clothing device, namely a sports bra, in accordance with another embodiment. Protective sports bra 200 comprises a sports bra structure 202 having two breast contacting areas 204, a pouch 205 disposed between the breast contacting areas, and at least one protective pad 206, 206' formed of a protective material that is configured to be insertable into a cavity 207 formed within the pouch. Insertion of the protective pad 206' into the cavity 207 is denoted by arrow 209. The sports bra 200 may further comprise shoulder straps 208 and a waistband 210. It will be understood that in some embodiments, the breast contacting areas 204 may be separate, spaced-apart cups, whereas in other embodiments the breast contacting areas will be portions of a single band of material that overlay, respectively, each of the wearer's breasts.
[0031] In some embodiments, the pouch 205 may be formed as an integral portion of the sports bra structure 202; whereas in other embodiments, the pouch may be formed separately and attached to the sports bra structure using stitching, adhesives or other fastening devices. In one embodiment, the pouch 205 is attached to the sports bra structure 202 using hook and loop fastening material (not shown).
[0032] Depending on the size and/or weight of the pouch 205 and protective pads 206, 206', additional stabilization of the components may be required to prevent undesired movement during vigorous movement. In some embodiments, the protective clothing device 200 further comprises at least one auxiliary strap 211 attached to the pouch 205 and extendable around the wearer's body to stabilize the pouch against the wearer's body during vigorous movement. In FIGURE 2, only a portion of the optional auxiliary strap 21 1 is shown; it will be understood that the strap extends around the wearer's body.
[0033] The protective material 212 of the protective pad 206, 206' (only partially shown on pad 206' for purposes of illustration) may be rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, a ceramic material, a metallic material or a combination of such materials. The protective material 1 12 is selected to protect the wearer of the protective sports bra 200 against blunt-force trauma or other injury caused by impact from balls, sticks, etc. striking the heart area. Preferably, the protective material 212 of the protective pad 206, 206' is flexible, however, in some applications the protective material of at least some of the protective pads may be non-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid. In some embodiments, different protective pads 206, 206' may be made of different materials to offer different degrees of protection or comfort. In some embodiments, the pouch 205 can accommodate more than one protective pad 206, 206' at a time such that the number of protective pads in the pouch can be varied to provide different levels of protection. When worn, the pouch 205 and protective pads 206 and/or 206' may be disposed over the middle of the wearer's chest area.
[0034] Referring now still to FIGURE 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the pouch 205 is further configured to include a narrow opening or slot 214 to allow the passage of the protective pad 206 into the cavity 207. In a preferred embodiment, the opening or slot 214 may be lined with an elastic 216 or other flexible material that will stretch (i.e., making the opening larger) to allow the protective pad 206 to be inserted or withdrawn from the cavity 207 and then retract back (i.e., making the opening smaller) to retain the pad within the cavity.
[0035] Referring now to FIGURE 3, in another embodiment, otherwise similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 2, the pouch 205 includes a movable flap 302 that is selectively securable with hook and loop material 304, 306 to retain the protective pad or pads 206 within the cavity 207 of the pouch.
[0036] Referring now to FIGURES 4A and 4B, there is illustrated a protective clothing device, namely a sports bra, in accordance with another aspect. Sports bra 400 is externally similar in many respects to the protective sports bras 100, 200 described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2. Sports bra 400 comprises a sports bra structure 402 having two breast contacting areas 404 and a central portion 406 therebetween, and may further comprise shoulder straps 408 and a lower band 410. As in the previous aspect, the breast contacting areas 404 may be separate, spaced-apart cups or portions of a single band of material. In the case where the breast contacting areas 404 are parts of a single band of material, the central portion 406 may be disposed in the center of the band such that it lies over the middle of the wearer's chest area, i.e., where the heart is located. As best seen in FIGURE 4B, the sports bra 400 may further include a back strap or panel 412 connected to the breast contacting areas 404 and straps 408 and configured to extend around the wearer's back. [0037] As best seen in FIGURE 4A, the sports bra 400 may include one or more layers of protective material 414 disposed in the central area 406 similar to that found in protective sports bras 100, 200. For purposes of illustration, FIGURE 4A shows the outer layer of the central portion 406 broken away to show the protective material 414 below, and further shows much of the protective material 414 broken away so that additional elements can be seen that are positioned below the protective material. It will be understood that the protective material 414 is actually disposed across substantially all of the central portion 406 over the wearer's heart area. The protective material 414 may be a rubber material, a plastic material, a carbon fiber material, an aramid fiber material, or other protective material including, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, a ceramic material, a metallic material or a combination of such materials. Preferably, the protective material 414 of the central portion 406 is flexible, however, in some circumstances the protective material may be wholly or partially non-flexible, rigid or semi-rigid. The protective material 414 may be built-in to the bra structure 402 as in sports bra 100, or removable pads (not shown) as in sports bra 200. The protective material 414 is selected to protect the wearer wearing the sports bra 400 against blunt-force trauma or other injury caused by impact from balls, sticks, etc. striking the heart area. The protective material is not required in all embodiments of the sports bra 400, as some embodiments may include only impact detection and wireless notification structures as further described herein.
[0038] As best seen in FIGURE 4A, a sensor panel 416 is mounted to the central portion 406 of the sports bra 400. For purposes of illustration in FIGURE 4A, overlying portions of the central portion 406 and protective material 414 are broken away or not shown so that the sensor panel 416 can be seen. In the embodiment shown, the sensor panel 416 is disposed below the protective material 414; however, in other embodiments of the sports bra 400, the sensor panel 416 may be disposed in front of or between the protective panels of protective material 414. The sensor panel 416 detects impacts or G- shocks on the panel or a penetration of the panel. To detect impacts and penetrations, the sensor panel 416 may include one or more individual sensors 418. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4A, the individual sensors 418 of the sensor panel 416 are arranged in a grid or array 420 such that the location and/or areal extent of an impact can be detected based on the known location of the sensor or sensors 418 activated by the impact. Penetration of the sensor panel 416 may be detected using the sensors 418 or separate penetration sensors (not shown).
[0039] The sensors 418 on the sensor panel 416 may include touch sensors (denoted 418a) such as mechanical or electromechanical switches, capacitance sensors, or other known touch-sensing elements, G-force sensors (denoted 418b) such as accelerometers or other known acceleration- or shock-sensing elements or a combination of touch and G-force sensors. In some embodiments, the touch sensors 418a can detect touch only (i.e., the only recognized states are "presence of touch" and "absence of touch") whereas in other embodiments, the touch sensors 418a can detect both touch and the magnitude of the touching force within a predetermined range of force. In some embodiments, the G-force sensors 418b can only detect G-forces which exceed a certain threshold (i.e., the only recognized states are "below G-threshold" and "G-threshold exceeded") whereas in other embodiments the G-force sensors 418b can detect the magnitude of the G-force experienced within a predetermined G-force range. [0040] Referring now also to FIGURE 4B, the sensor panel 416 is operably connected to a control module 422. In the illustrated embodiment, the control module 422 is positioned on the back strap 412 of the sports bra 400 and operably connected to the sensor panel 416 by a wiring harness 424 running within the lower band 410, however in other embodiments the control module may be positioned on the front or side of the bra structure 402, on a straps 408, or even embedded within the central portion 406 or sensor panel itself.
[0041] The control module 422 includes a central processing unit ("CPU") 426 and a memory unit 428 operably connected to the CPU. In the illustrated embodiment, the control module 422 further includes an optional communication unit 430 operably connected to the CPU 426, an optional Global Positioning System ("GPS") unit 432 operably connected to the CPU, an optional visual display unit 436 operably connected to the CPU and an optional audible alarm/indicator unit 438 operably connected to the CPU. In the illustrated embodiment, the CPU 426, memory unit 428, communication unit 430, GPS unit 432, display unit 436 and audible alarm unit 438 are operably interconnected with one another using circuitry 434. A battery or other power source (not shown) may be operably connected to the circuitry 434 to provide power to the components of the control module 422.
[0042] The CPU 426 includes a processor and associated circuitry capable of executing the instructions of a computer program or application and accessing and storing data from internal and external memory. The CPU 426 receives signals from the sensor panel 416 indicative of impacts, impact locations, impact force magnitudes, G-forces, G-force magnitudes, or other impact information, processes the signals and stores relevant impact data in the memory unit 428. The CPU 426 may also receive signals from the communication unit 430, if present, indicative of new program steps to be performed, authorized person addresses, program start/stop commands, requests for data, etc., and send signals to the communication unit indicative of messages to be sent and impact data received from the sensor panel 416 or memory unit 428. The CPU 426 may also receive signals from the GPS unit 432, if present, indicative of the geographic location of the sports bra 400, process the signals and store relevant geographic location data in the memory unit 428. The CPU 426 may also send signals to the visual display unit 436 indicative of impact data, registration information, system status, low battery, etc. The visual display unit 436 may include text screens (e.g., LED, LCD or OLED screens), dedicated digital displays or analog indicators such as individual LEDs or light bulbs. The CPU 426 may also send signals to the audible alarm unit 438 causing the alarm unit to make noises indicative of impact data, system status, low battery, etc.
[0043] In preferred embodiments, data stored in the memory unit 428, including various impact data, may be retrieved by the CPU 426 and transmitted wirelessly to authorized users via the communications unit 430. In some embodiments, the impact data retrieval and wireless transmission process is incorporated into an automatic notification routine that is initiated in response to the occurrence of an impact at a predetermined location, an impact exceeding a predetermined magnitude and/or a G-force exceeding a predetermined G-level. In some embodiments, the impact data and retrieval process may be initiated by a direct request received via the communication unit 430 or via manual controls (not shown) on the control module 422. In various such "direct request" embodiments, the requested impact data may be transmitted wirelessly via the communication module 430, displayed on the visual display unit 436 or both. In some embodiments, the occurrence of an impact at a predetermined location, an impact exceeding a predetermined magnitude and/or a G-force exceeding a predetermined G-level will activate the audible alarm/indicator unit 438 and/or display impact information on the visual display unit 436 whether or not a wireless notification is also initiated.
[0044] The memory unit 428 includes RAM and/or ROM memory accessible to/from the CPU 426 for storing program/application instructions and/or data regarding impacts, impact location (i.e., location of impact on the sensor panel 416), impact time, impact magnitudes, geographic location data (i.e., geographic location of sports bra 400), communication protocols and communication addresses to be used by the communication unit 430, or names or numbers of authorized devices or persons to be notified of impacts. Some or all of the data stored in the memory unit 428 may be accessible by the CPU 426 and/or the other components of the control module 422, such as the communication unit 430 and GPS unit 432, if present. Some or all of the memory capacity of the memory unit 428, including the impact-related data, may be externally accessible via the wireless communication unit 430, if present. Some or all of the memory capacity of the memory unit 428, including the impact-related data, may be accessible via direct connection to the circuitry 434, e.g., via USB communications through a USB port (not shown). Further, some or all of the memory capacity of the memory unit 428, including the impact-related data, may reside on removable nonvolatile media such as Secure Digital Standard-Capacity ("SDSD"), High-Capacity ("SDHC"), eXtended- Capacity ("SDXC") or SDIO cards. Such removable nonvolatile media may be removed from the control module 422 for data retrieval (i.e., "reading") of impact-related information in a suitable reading device.
[0045] The optional communication unit 430 includes at least one radio communication transceiver, associated circuitry and antenna that can transmit signals containing the various impact data from the sensor panel 416 or memory unit 428 to authorized persons and/or authorized devices under direction of the CPU 426. Preferably, the communication unit 430 includes multiple transceivers, with each one operable in a different mode. The transceiver of the communication unit may operate in a cellular telephone mode (e.g., CDMA or GSM) to send synthesized voice messages and/or text messages (e.g., SMS format), in a Wi-Fi mode (i.e., as set forth in the various 802.1 1 standards and other Wi-Fi protocols) to send data messages, in a Bluetooth mode (i.e., as set forth in IEEE 802.15.1 and other Bluetooth protocols) to send data messages, or in accordance with other wireless network or wireless communication protocols. The voice, text and/or data messages sent by the communication unit 430 may include information regarding a unique ID of the sports bra 400, the name of the registered user, impact data including number of impacts, impact location, impact time, impact magnitudes, geographic location data and other data discussed herein.
[0046] The optional GPS unit 432 includes at least one GPS receiver unit capable of receiving GPS information, which may be from GPS satellites and/or from terrestrial location sources/services such as cellular tower triangulation services. The GPS unit 432 may provide, either periodically or on demand, location information regarding the geographic location of the sports bra 400 to the CPU 426. The CPU 426 may incorporate the geographic location information into automatic notification messages sent when a chest impact or G-force is received by the wearer of the sports bra 400 so that the authorized persons will know the current location of the wearer. [0047] Thus, if a woman or girl wearing the sports bra 400 receives an impact in the chest area during a sporting activity, or experiences a high-G shock in the chest area, the impact or G-force will be detected by the sensor panel 416 and reported to the control module 422. The control module 422 will then process the signals regarding the impact and store information regarding the time, location, extent and/or magnitude of the impact in the memory unit 428 so that it can be retrieved and used to assessing possible injury to the wearer's heart or other body structures. In some embodiments, the audible alarm 438 will be immediately activated by the impact so that the wearer, game officials or other nearby persons will be aware that the impact occurred. Retrieval of the impact-related information from the memory unit 428 may take place immediately via wireless communication if the communication unit 430 is present, immediately via visual inspection if the visual display unit 436 is present, or at a later time via download (e.g., USB connection) or by removal of a nonvolatile memory card.
[0048] In preferred embodiments of sports bra 400 including the communication unit 430, the control module 422 may send an automatic alert message via cellular call, SMS, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to approved people (e.g., parents, coaches, doctors) when a chest impact is received, or when the impact exceeds certain predetermined limits. The automatic alert notice may contain various impact-related data as previously described. In more preferred embodiments of sports bra 400 also including the GPS unit 432, the automatic alert message may include geographic location information regarding the whereabouts of the wearer along with impact-related information. In this way, the parents or other approved persons will not only know that a high-impact or G-force incident has occurred, but they will immediately know where the wearer is located even if the wearer is unable to communicate.
[0049] Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A protective clothing device for protecting a person's chest area against trauma caused by impact or penetration, the device comprising:
a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas and a central portion disposed therebetween; and
wherein the central portion is formed of a protective material that is impact resistant and/or penetration resistant.
2. A protective clothing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protective material of the central portion is one of:
a rubber material;
a plastic material;
a carbon fiber material;
an aramid fiber material; and
another protective material.
3. A protective clothing device for protecting a person's chest area against trauma caused by impact or penetration, the device comprising:
a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas;
a pouch disposed between the breast contacting areas and having a cavity formed therein, and
at least one protective pad formed of a protective material that is configured to be insertable into a cavity formed within the pouch.
4. A protective clothing device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the protective material of the protective pad is one of:
a rubber material;
a plastic material;
a carbon fiber material;
an aramid fiber material; and another protective material.
5. A protective clothing device for wearing over the chest area of a person's body and detecting a chest impact or penetration, the device comprising:
a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas configured to be worn over a person's breasts and a central portion disposed therebetween;
a sensor panel mounted to the central portion, the sensor panel including one or more individual sensors, wherein each individual sensor is one of a touch-activated sensor, a G-force-activated sensor, or a penetration activated sensor;
a control module mounted to the sports bra structure and operably connected to the sensor panel for receiving electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors, the control module including
a CPU unit including a processor for processing the electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors and producing impact-related data;
a memory unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and storing the impact- related data for future retrieval;
a communication unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and including at least one radio communication transceiver configured to operate in one of cellular mode, Wi-Fi mode or Bluetooth mode for sending wireless messages including impact-related data under control of the CPU unit;
wherein the CPU is configured to cause the communication unit to send a wireless message containing impact-related data retrieved from the memory unit when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein:
at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the location of an impact on the sensor panel;
the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the location of the impact on the sensor panel; and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the location of the impact on the sensor panel.
A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein:
at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the areal extent of an impact on the sensor panel;
the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the areal extent of the impact on the sensor panel; and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the areal extent of the impact on the sensor panel.
A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein:
at least some of the individual sensors are arranged on the sensor panel in a grid pattern so as to allow the detection of the location of a penetration of the sensor panel;
the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the location of the penetration of the sensor panel; and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the location of the penetration of the sensor panel.
9. A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein: at least some of the individual sensors are configured to detect the magnitude of an impact on the sensor panel;
the impact-related data stored in the memory unit includes data regarding the magnitude of the impact on the sensor panel; and the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the magnitude of the impact on the sensor panel.
10. A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the control module further comprises:
a GPS unit including at least one GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS information indicative of the geographic location of the protective clothing device;
the GPS unit being operably connected to the CPU unit for sending signals indicative of the geographic location of the protective clothing device to the CPU unit; and
wherein the wireless message sent from the communication unit includes data regarding the geographic location of the protective clothing device.
11. A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 5, further comprising protective material that is impact resistant and/or penetration resistant disposed in the central portion of the sports bra structure.
12. A protective clothing device for wearing over the chest area of a person's body and detecting a chest impact or penetration, the device comprising:
a sports bra structure having two breast contacting areas configured to be worn over a person's breasts and a central portion disposed therebetween;
a sensor panel mounted to the central portion, the sensor panel including one or more individual sensors, wherein each individual sensor is one of a touch-activated sensor, a G-force-activated sensor, or a penetration activated sensor;
a control module mounted to the sports bra structure and operably connected to the sensor panel for receiving electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors, the control module including
a CPU unit including a processor for processing the electrical signals indicative of activation of the individual sensors and producing impact-related data; and
a memory unit operably connected to the CPU unit for receiving impact-related data from the CPU and storing the impact- related data for future retrieval.
13. A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 12, further comprising:
an audible alarm unit operably connected to the CPU unit; and wherein the CPU is configured to cause the audible alarm unit to make a noise when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
14. A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 12, further comprising:
a visual display panel operably connected to the CPU unit; and wherein the CPU is configured to cause the visual display panel to display impact-related data when the CPU unit receives signals from the sensor panel indicating that a chest impact, G-force or penetration has occurred.
15. A protective clothing device in accordance with Claim 12, wherein the memory unit further comprises a removable nonvolatile card containing impact- related data that can be removed from the clothing device.
PCT/US2014/057291 2013-09-24 2014-09-24 Bra with impact and penetration resistant protective panel, impact detection and wireless notification WO2015048180A2 (en)

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GB2589947A (en) * 2019-09-09 2021-06-16 Prevayl Ltd Bra, garment and method
CN114519919A (en) * 2022-01-10 2022-05-20 杭州电子科技大学 Positioning and alarming system for explosive impact fragment protective clothing based on accelerometer array

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