Athletic Band with Removable Module

Abstract

A performance monitoring system includes an athletic band or other article of apparel worn by a user, with a pocket supported by the article and defining a cavity, where the pocket has a sensor opening extending through an inner wall of the pocket and an access opening providing access to the cavity. The system also includes an electronic module received in the cavity such that the module can be inserted and removed from the cavity through the access opening. The module has a projection on an underside of the electronic module and a sensor mounted on the projection, where the projection extends through the sensor opening when the electronic module is received in the cavity and is configured to place the sensor in close proximity to skin of the user, such that the sensor is configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A performance monitoring system comprising:
 an article of apparel configured to be worn by a user, the article of apparel having a pocket supported by the article of apparel, wherein the article of apparel is at least partially formed of an elastic fabric material that defines an inner wall of the pocket configured to face the user's skin and an outer wall of the pocket that is opposite the inner wall, such that the pocket is integrally formed with the article of apparel, with a cavity defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the pocket has a sensor opening extending through the inner wall of the pocket and an access opening providing access to the cavity, and wherein the elastic fabric material defining the inner and outer walls of the pocket is heat pressed from both inner and outer sides of each of the inner and outer walls, using a heat-activated material, to form the inner and outer walls of the pocket as an inner heat pressed layer and an outer heat pressed layer of a heat pressed elastic fabric material, such that the inner heat pressed layer and the outer heat pressed layer are spaced from each other and define the cavity therebetween, and wherein the heat pressed elastic fabric material of the inner heat pressed layer and the outer heat pressed layer has lower elasticity than the elastic fabric material of the article of apparel to provide greater rigidity to the inner and outer walls of the pocket; and   an electronic module received in the cavity such that the electronic module is configured to be inserted and removed from the cavity through the access opening, the electronic module comprising a projection on an underside of the electronic module and a sensor mounted on the projection, wherein the projection extends through the sensor opening when the electronic module is received in the cavity and is configured to place the sensor in close proximity to skin of the user, such that the sensor is configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the access opening is defined in the inner wall of the pocket, and the sensor opening is separate from the access opening. 
     
     
         3 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic module comprises a casing defining the projection, a computer device contained within the casing and in communication with the sensor, and an interface defined on a top side of the casing and configured to receive user input for operation of the computer device. 
     
     
         4 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the electronic module further comprises a connector configured for connection to an external device, and the band further comprises a protective shell positioned within the cavity, wherein the protective shell receives the connector therein when the electronic module is received in the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn by the user, wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end and is configured to be worn on an arm of the user, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the narrower end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         6 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn by the user, wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end and is configured to be worn on an arm of the user, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the wider end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         7 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel further comprises a moveable securing member securing the module within the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an optical heart rate sensor. 
     
     
         9 . A performance monitoring system comprising:
 an article of apparel configured to be worn by a user, the article of apparel having a pocket supported by the article of apparel, wherein the article of apparel comprises a first elastic fabric layer defining an inner wall of the pocket configured to face the user's skin and a second elastic fabric layer defining an outer wall of the pocket that is opposite the inner wall, with a cavity defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the pocket has an access opening providing access to the cavity,   wherein the first elastic fabric layer and the second elastic fabric layer are each heat pressed from both inner and outer sides thereof, using a heat-activated material, to form the inner wall of the pocket as an inner heat pressed layer and to form the outer wall of the pocket as an outer heat pressed layer spaced from the inner heat pressed layer to define the cavity therebetween, and wherein the inner heat pressed layer and the outer heat pressed layer have lower elasticity and greater rigidity than other non-heat pressed portions of the first elastic fabric layer and the second elastic fabric layer to provide greater rigidity to the inner and outer walls of the pocket and greater rigidity surrounding the access opening; and   an electronic module received in the cavity such that the electronic module is configured to be inserted and removed from the cavity through the access opening.   
     
     
         10 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the pocket further has a sensor opening extending through the inner wall of the pocket, and the electronic module comprises a projection on an underside of the electronic module and a sensor mounted on the projection, wherein the projection extends through the sensor opening when the electronic module is received in the cavity and is configured to place the sensor in close proximity to skin of the user, such that the sensor is configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user 
     
     
         11 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor opening is separate from the access opening. 
     
     
         12 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an optical heart rate sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic module comprises a casing defining the projection, a computer device contained within the casing and in communication with the sensor, and an interface defined on a top side of the casing and configured to receive user input for operation of the computer device. 
     
     
         14 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic module further comprises a connector configured for connection to an external device, and the band further comprises a protective shell positioned within the cavity, wherein the protective shell receives the connector therein when the electronic module is received in the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the access opening is defined in the inner wall of the pocket and extends through the inner heat pressed layer. 
     
     
         16 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the article of apparel is a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn by the user, wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end and is configured to be worn on an arm of the user, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the narrower end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         17 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the article of apparel is a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn by the user, wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end and is configured to be worn on an arm of the user, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the wider end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         18 . An article of apparel configured to be worn by a user, comprising:
 a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn on an arm of the user; and   a pocket supported by the band, wherein the tubular body comprises a first elastic fabric layer defining an inner wall of the pocket configured to face the user's skin and a second elastic fabric layer defining an outer wall of the pocket that is opposite the inner wall, with a cavity defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the pocket has an access opening providing access to the cavity,   wherein the first elastic fabric layer and the second elastic fabric layer are each heat pressed from both inner and outer sides thereof, using a heat-activated material, to form the inner wall of the pocket as an inner heat pressed layer and to form the outer wall of the pocket as an outer heat pressed layer spaced from the inner heat pressed layer to define the cavity therebetween, and wherein the inner heat pressed layer and the outer heat pressed layer have lower elasticity and greater rigidity than other non-heat pressed portions of the first elastic fabric layer and the second elastic fabric layer to provide greater rigidity to the inner and outer walls of the pocket and greater rigidity surrounding the access opening, and   wherein the pocket is configured to removably receive an electronic module in the cavity through the access opening.   
     
     
         19 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the pocket further has a sensor opening extending through the inner wall of the pocket and configured to receive a sensor of the electronic module therethrough to place the sensor in close proximity to skin of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the sensor opening is separate from the access opening. 
     
     
         21 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the access opening is defined in the inner wall of the pocket and extends through the inner heat pressed layer. 
     
     
         22 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the narrower end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         23 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the wider end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         24 . A performance monitoring system comprising:
 an article of apparel configured to be worn by a user, the article of apparel having a pocket supported by the article of apparel, wherein the article of apparel is at least partially formed of an elastic fabric material that defines an inner wall of the pocket configured to face the user's skin and an outer wall of the pocket that is opposite the inner wall, such that the pocket is integrally formed with the article of apparel, with a cavity defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the pocket has a sensor opening extending through the inner wall of the pocket and an access opening providing access to the cavity, and wherein the elastic fabric material defining the inner and outer walls of the pocket is heat pressed from both inner and outer sides of each of the inner and outer walls, using a heat-activated material to form the inner and outer walls of the pocket as an inner heat pressed layer and an outer heat pressed layer of a heat pressed elastic fabric material, such that the inner heat pressed layer and the outer heat pressed layer are spaced from each other and define the cavity therebetween, and wherein the heat pressed elastic fabric material of the inner heat pressed layer and the outer heat pressed layer has lower elasticity than the elastic fabric material of the article of apparel to provide greater rigidity to the inner and outer walls of the pocket;   wherein the pocket is configured to removably receive an electronic module in the cavity through the access opening, such that the sensor opening is configured to permit a sensor of the electronic module to be placed in close proximity to skin of the user when the electronic module is received in the cavity.   
     
     
         25 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the access opening is defined in the inner wall of the pocket, and the sensor opening is separate from the access opening. 
     
     
         26 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the article of apparel is a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn by the user, wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end and is configured to be worn on an arm of the user, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the narrower end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         27 . The performance monitoring system of  claim 24 , wherein the article of apparel is a band comprising a tubular body configured to be worn by the user, wherein the tubular body of the band has a wider end and a narrower end and is configured to be worn on an arm of the user, and wherein the access opening is located at an end of the pocket most proximate to the wider end of the tubular body.