CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/303,752, filed on Feb. 12, 2010.
BACKGROUND Many activities require a person to wear a hand covering of some kind such as a glove or a mitten. For example, people wear gloves or mittens for outdoor activities in winter weather or inclement weather, such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice-skating, playing, walking, running, etc. People also wear some form of glove for other outdoor activities such as baseball, golf, skateboarding, rollerblading, rollerskating, etc. Often, people would like to check the time during these activities, but the glove or mitten makes it difficult to easily view a watch.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and various additional features of embodiments of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments of the invention which are schematically set forth in the figures. Like reference numerals represent corresponding parts.
FIG. 1A shows a hand covering with an arrangement for a removable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1B shows a mitten with an arrangement for a removable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1C shows a glove with an arrangement for a removable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1D shows an optional flap to cover the removable electronic device arranged on a mitten according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement for a removable electronic device for a hand covering according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 shows an arrangement for a removable electronic device for a hand covering according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 shows an arrangement for a removable electronic device for a hand covering according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5A shows another exemplary embodiment of an arrangement for a removable electronic device for a hand covering;
FIG. 5B shows an exemplary embodiment of the straps shown in FIG. 5A; and
FIGS. 6A-6C show an exemplary arrangement for a removable electronic device unit to attach to any hand covering.
While the above-identified drawing figures set forth alternative embodiments, other embodiments of the present invention are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents illustrated embodiments of the present invention by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention described herein are directed to an arrangement for a removable electronic device for a hand covering. The hand covering can be in the form of any glove or mitten or other hand covering, particularly those used during outdoor or physical activities. The electronic device can be any electronic device that can fit onto the area on the top of the hand covering such as, but not limited to, a watch, iPOD®, mp3 player, an altimeter, a global positioning device (GPS), stop watch, compass, etc. For purposes of facilitating description of embodiments of the invention, a watch is described and shown as the electronic device.
FIG. 1A shows a hand covering 10 such as a mitten with an electronic device 11. An optional flap 13 can be secured to the hand covering 10 by stitching, adhesive, or other suitable means. The electronic device 11 has a casing 14 that has a space 18 for receiving a strap 16. The strap 16 may include a single strap portion or multiple strap portions. The electronic device 11 and the strap 16 can be arranged in any location on the hand covering 10. The hand covering 10 can be made of any material appropriate for the application including, but not limited to, water resistant material, waterproof material, material having water resistant and/or waterproof portions, or any other suitable material.
FIG. 1B shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention where the hand covering 10 is a mitten and where the electronic device 11 is a watch 12. The mitten 10 can include the optional flap 13.
FIG. 1C shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention where the hand covering 10 is a glove and the electronic device 11 is a watch 12. FIG. 1D shows a mitten hand covering 10 with the optional flap 13. The flap 13 is attached to the hand covering along one side by stitching 13a. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard and the flap can be secured to the hand covering by adhesive, snaps or any other suitable securing means. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the flap 13 is closed using Velcro pieces 13b and 13c. The pieces 13a and 13c are attached to the hand covering 10 and the flap 13 by adhesive, stitching, or other suitable means. The flap 13 is closed to cover the removable watch 12 and secured by the Velcro pieces 13b and 13c. In the example shown, piece 13b has the hooks of the Velcro, and piece 13c includes the loops. However, the Velcro pieces could be arranged in any manner.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a removable electronic device 11 such as a watch 12, for example. The space 18 receives the loop part of a Velcro strap 20. The strap 20 has a top 20a and a bottom 20b. The bottom 20b of the strap 20 includes the loops of the strap 20. The upper part 22a of a bottom piece 22 includes the hooks of the Velcro. The bottom part 20b and the top part 22a meet to attach the watch 12 to the hand covering 10. The bottom piece 22 is secured to the hand covering 10 by adhesive, stitching glued, Velcro or other suitable means. Once again, for the example of the use of a Velcro strap, the loop and hook portions can be reversed from the arrangement shown.
FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment where the strap 30 has an upper part 30a and a bottom part 30b. The removable electronic device 11 is a watch 12, for example, that is removable from the upper part 30a. The bottom part 30b of the strap 30 includes the loops 30c of the Velcro. Bottom pieces 40 are attached to the hand covering 10 by adhesive, stitching or other suitable means. The bottom pieces 40 have a top part 40a and a bottom part 40b. The top part 40a includes the hooks of the Velcro. The strap 30 attaches to the bottom pieces 40 with the Velcro sections 30c and 40a.
FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention that is similar to FIG. 3c except that the entire bottom part 32b of the strap 32 includes the loops of the Velcro and the bottom piece 42 is long to match the bottom part 32b of the strap 32 and includes the hooks of the Velcro on the top part 42a. The bottom piece 42 is attached to the hand covering 10 by adhesive, stitching or other suitable means. The arrangement of the hooks and loops of the Velcro can be reversed. The watch 12 is attached to the hand covering 10 by connecting the parts 32b and 42a.
FIG. 5A shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention where the electronic device 11 is a compass 15. According to this embodiment, a Velcro strap 50 including half loops and half hooks is passed through each space 18. More particularly, the strap 50 includes a loop portion 50a and a hook portion 50b. When each strap 50 is laced through the corresponding opening 18, the loop portion 50a engages with the hook portion 50b to the electronic device in place. The bottom part 50c of each strap 50 is attached to the glove or mitten by adhesive, stitching or other suitable means. FIG. 5B illustrates the strap 50 having a loop portion 50a and a hook portion 50b.
FIG. 6A illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the invention. This embodiment includes a retrofit unit 56 that can be applied to any hand covering. In this embodiment an electronic device 11 is secured to a piece of material 60 that has a flap 61. The material 60 can be any suitable material including, but not limited to, a hard, non-flexible material, a stiff material, a flexible material. The flap 61 can be integral with the material 60 or be separate and made from the same or different material. The material 60 and the flap 61 can be water resistant and/or waterproof as necessary for the application. The electronic device 11 is attached to the material 60 by any of the embodiments previously described. Velcro pieces 62 and 64 are used to hold the flap 61 in closed position. In this exemplary embodiment, the material 60 with the flap 61 is attached to any hand covering 10 using Velcro piece 66 on the back 60b of the material 60, as shown in FIG. 6B. According to one embodiment, a pre-adhesive Velcro piece 68, shown in FIG. 6C, matches the shape of the Velcro piece 66. This piece is used to attach the whole retrofit unit to the hand covering 10. However, the flap 61 as well as the retrofit unit 56 can be secured by any suitable fastening or securing means.
While embodiments of the invention have been described in the context a hand covering, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the arrangement for a removable electronic device can be used for other purposes such as coats, jackets, and pants, for example.
While only certain features of embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
