Wearable article with band portion adapted to include textile-based electrodes and method of making such article
View Patent ↗A circular knit tubing adapted for making a wearable article has a first knitted single layer tubular portion and a second knitted single layer tubular portion separated by a junction portion. The second tubular portion is folded over the first tubular portion at a fold line in the junction portion. The first and second tubular portions are then joined together, whereby the junction portion forms a band or welt. After the band is formed, the second tubular portion is folded back to cover the band. The wearable article may be a shirt having single layer top and bottom portions with a central double welt portion for physical contact around the wearer's chest or torso. The junction portion forming the band or welt preferably is integrally knitted with the first and second tubular portions. The band or welt defines a central opening to receive an electronic or electrical device or other component.
1. A circular knit tubing to make a wearable article, comprising:
a first single layer tubular portion having first and second tubular portion ends,
a tubular double welt or junction portion, said junction portion having first and second tubular portion ends, the first tubular end of the junction portion connected to the second tubular end of the first portion;
a second single layer tubular portion having first and second tubular portion ends, the first tubular end of the second portion connected to the second end of the junction portion;
a fold in the junction portion; and
means for joining the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion together while the junction portion is folded to form a welt or band at the junction portion, wherein the second end of the second single layer tubular portion is folded back over the welt or band at a line formed where the first tubular portion and the junction portion or second tubular portion have been joined so that the second single layer tubular portion covers the band portion.
2. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the junction portion has a textile-based electrode formed therein.
3. The seamless circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the band is positioned in the wearable article to wrap around and contact a wearer's chest, torso, abdomen, leg, arm or forehead.
4. The circular knit tubing of claim 2 , wherein the folding of the junction portion causes a first textile-based electrode to come into physical and electrical contact with a second textile-based electrode formed in the junction portion.
5. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the band formed by the folded junction portion defines a central opening into which an electrical or electronic device or component may be inserted, attached or mounted.
6. The circular knit tubing of claim 4 , wherein the band formed by the folded junction portion defines a central opening into which an electrical or electronic device or component may be inserted, attached or mounted for electrical contact with one or more of the textile-based electrodes.
7. The circular knit tubing of claim 5 , wherein central opening in the band communicates with a slot for accepting the electronic device or component.
8. The circular knit tubing of claim 5 , wherein the electronic device is a heart rate monitor, an ECG, EEG or HRV monitor, an EMG, a pacemaker reader, a galvanic skin sensor, a pulse oximeter, a thermister, an antenna, an accelerometer, a battery, a data logger, a wireless transmitter, a display, an personal music player, a speaker, a cell phone, a PDA, a warming or cooling device, a respiration sensor, an LED, a light source, a vibrator, a doppler, a strain gauge, a dermal patch, an injection device, a tourniquet, or a pressure cuff.
9. The circular knit tubing of claim 5 , wherein the electrical component is a wire, a cable, an interconnect, a connector, a RIP band or a snap.
10. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first single layer tubular portion is finished to form shoulder portions, arm holes, and a neck hole.
11. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the second single layer tubular portion is finished to create leg holes or a shirt hem.
12. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first single layer tubing is finished to form an opening for a wearable article selected from the group consisting of: shirt, body garment, leotard, arm cuff, wrist cuff, hat, legging, stocking, and hosiery.
13. The circular knit tubing of claim 11 , wherein the second end of the second single layer tubing is finished to form an opening for a wearable article selected from the group consisting of: shirt, body garment, leotard, arm cuff, wrist cuff, hat, legging, stocking, and hosiery.
14. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , wherein the first and second single layer tubular portions and the junction portion are continuously formed from one seamless circular knit tube.
15. The circular knit tubing of claim 1 , further comprising a second welt or band in the circular knit tubing.
16. A method for making a seamless circular knit wearable article, comprising:
knitting a single layer tubing;
forming a welt or band in said tubing with a pick up stitch;
folding a portion of the single layer tubing back over the welt or band at a line formed at the pick up stitch so that a single layer of knit single layer tubing covers the band portion; and
finishing the tubing to form the wearable article,
wherein the band contacts skin of a wearer who wears the wearable article.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: forming an electrode in or on the band.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: forming a second welt or band in said tubing with a pick up stitch, wherein the second band contacts skin of the wearer who wears the wearable article.
19. A circular knit tubing to make a wearable article, comprising:
a first single layer tubular portion having first and second tubular portion ends,
a tubular double welt or junction portion, said junction portion having first and second tubular portion ends, the first tubular end of the junction portion connected to the second tubular end of the first portion;
a second single layer tubular portion having first and second tubular portion ends, the first tubular end of the second portion connected to the second end of the junction portion;
a fold in the junction portion;
means for joining the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion together while the junction portion is folded to form a welt or band at the junction portion;
a first textile-based electrode formed in the junction portion; and
a second textile-based electrode formed in the junction portion;
wherein the folding of the junction portion causes the first textile-based electrode to come into physical and electrical contact with the second-textile based electrode.
20. The circular knit tubing of claim 19 , wherein the band formed by the folded junction portion defines a central opening into which an electrical or electronic device or component may be inserted, attached or mounted for electrical contact with one or more of the textile-based electrodes.
21. A circular knit tubing to make a wearable article, comprising:
a first single layer tubular portion having first and second tubular portion ends,
a tubular double welt or junction portion, said junction portion having first and second tubular portion ends, the first tubular end of the junction portion connected to the second tubular end of the first portion;
a second single layer tubular portion having first and second tubular portion ends, the first tubular end of the second portion connected to the second end of the junction portion;
a fold in the junction portion; and
means for joining the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion together while the junction portion is folded to form a welt or band at the junction portion;
wherein the band formed by the folded junction portion defines a central opening which communicates with a slot adapted to receive an electrical or electronic device or component.