Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a garment that includes integrated waterproof impact resistant speakers. Related methods of manufacturing the garment are also provided herein.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a utility application, which claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/135,895 filed Mar. 20, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure provides a garment having integrated speakers and related methods of manufacturing the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Garments are worn in a number of different potentially wet and rugged environments. For example, buoyant vests are commonly worn by wakeboarders, water skiers, and kite boarders. During such water activities it is often desirable to play music. However, to provide music to the athlete during wakeboarding or water skiing, the volume of the music must be very high in part due to the relatively large distance between the athlete and the tow boat. Headphones are not ideal for use in these types of environments as they can be lost and/or cause injury to the athlete when the athlete impacts the water. There is a need in the art for garments having integrated waterproof impact resistant speakers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure provides a garment that includes integrated waterproof impact resistant speakers. Related methods of manufacturing the garment are also provided herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a partially assembled view of certain electrical components of garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a partially assembled view of the garment of  FIG. 1  with the components of  FIG. 9  integrated therein; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of a rear portion of the garment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram of the electrical components of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a component of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of the component of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a perspective exploded view of the component of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a perspective exploded view of the component of  FIG. 13 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a portion of the component of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring to the figures, the garment of the present disclosure is described in further detail. In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  includes a body portion  80  that includes a back portion  12  and a front portion  20 . The back portion  12  includes a rear upper shoulder portion  14  that includes a trapezoid covering portion  82  and a shoulder blade covering portion  84 . The rear upper shoulder portion  14  includes a first layer  16  and a second layer  18 . It should be appreciated that alternative configurations are possible. 
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment, the front portion  20  includes a front upper shoulder portion  22  that includes a collar bone covering portion  86 . The front upper shoulder portion  22 ,  23  includes a first layer  24  and a second layer  26 . In the depicted embodiment, the first layer  24  and second layers  26  are composite materials each including three sub layers. In the depicted embodiment, the front upper shoulder portions  22 ,  23  of the front portion  20  includes mesh openings  48 ,  50 . In the depicted embodiment the first layer  24  and second layer  26  are flexible and stretch. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are possible. 
         [0024]    In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  includes a first through channel  28  and a second through channel  30 . The first and second through channels  28 ,  20  are provided between the front upper shoulder portion  22  of the front portion  20  and the rear upper shoulder portion  14  of the back portion  12  and also between the first layer  16  and second layer  18  of the back portion. In the depicted embodiment, the channels  28 ,  30  are also between the first layer  24  and the second layer  26  of the front upper shoulder portion  22 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0025]    In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  includes a left speaker enclosure  32  and a right speaker enclosure  34  provided in the front upper shoulder portion  22  of the front portion  20 . In the depicted embodiment, the left and right speaker enclosures  32 ,  34  have at least a portion located between the first layer  26  and the second layer  26 . In the depicted embodiment, the front face  52  of the left speaker enclosure  32  is located adjacent the mesh opening  48  and the front face  54  of the right speaker enclosure  34  is located adjacent the mesh opening  50 . In the depicted embodiment, the left speaker enclosures  32 ,  34  are stitched between adjacent layers of the collar bone covering portion  86  of the front portion  20 . It should be appreciated that many other alterative configurations are possible. 
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment, the left and right speaker enclosures  32 ,  34  include a waterproof construction. In the depicted embodiment, the left and right speaker enclosures include the same configuration. Accordingly, only the left speaker enclosure will be described in further detail herein. 
         [0027]    In the depicted embodiment, the left speaker enclosure includes a body portion that includes a front face  52  and a rear face  56 . The front face  52  including at least one aperture  58  therein that opens to a cone portion  60  of a speaker  62 . In the depicted embodiment, the cone portion  60  of the speaker  62  is arranged such that liquid (e.g., water) that comes into contact with the cone portion  60  will naturally drain away from the cone when the garment is a vertical position (normal position when the garment is worn). In the depicted embodiment, the cone portion  60  is at least partially exposed to the environment. In the depicted embodiment, control buttons  76 ,  78  secure the left and the right speaker enclosure  32 ,  34 . In the depicted embodiment, the control buttons  76 ,  78  are sealed to the speaker enclosure. It should be appreciated that alternative configurations are possible. 
         [0028]    In the depicted embodiment, the aperture  58  is one of many apertures that are a part of a speaker protector/ speaker guard  68 . The speaker protector  68  is positioned over the cone portion  60  of the speaker (i.e., the cone portion  60  is positioned behind the perforated guard). In the depicted embodiment, the cone portion  60  is constructed of a waterproof material. The periphery edge  64  of the cone portion is sealed to a cylindrical sleeve  66  (internal tube) positioned within the left speaker enclosure  32 . In the depicted embodiment, the cone portion  60  is located behind a perforated guard and sealed around its periphery from its back side within an internal tube  66 . It should be appreciated that alternative configurations are possible. 
         [0029]    In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  includes a power and control box  36  provided in the rear upper shoulder portion  14  of the back portion  12  between the first layer  16  and the second layer  18 . In the depicted embodiment, the power and control box  36  includes at least a battery  38 , a control circuit  40 , and an inductive charging coil  42 . In the depicted embodiment, a charging unit  74  is provided that is configured to charge the battery  38  when the garment  10  is placed adjacent to the charging unit  74 . It should be appreciated that many alternative configurations are also possible (e.g., alternative configuration may include a removable battery and/or a batter that is charged via a wired connection). 
         [0030]    In the depicted embodiment, a plurality of closed cell foam pads  70  are stitched between the first layer  16  and second layer  16  of the back portion  12  and the first layer  24  and second layer  26  of the front portion  20 . In the depicted embodiment, the power and control box  36  is nested within a foam pad  72 . In the depicted embodiment, the power and control box  36  recessed within the shoulder blade covering portion  84  of the back portion  12 . It should be appreciated that alternative configurations are possible. 
         [0031]    In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  includes a first wire  44  extending between the left speaker enclosure  32  to the power and control box  36 . The first wire  44  extends through the first through channel  28 . In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  includes a second wire  46  extending between the right speaker enclosure  34  to the power and control box  36 . The second wire  46  extends through the second through channel  30 . In the depicted embodiment, a first set of control wires extend from the left speaker enclosure  32  located in the front covering portion to the power control box  36  located in the back covering portion and a second set of wires control wires extend from the right speaker enclosure  34  located in the front covering portion to the power control box  36  located in the back covering portion. In the depicted embodiment, the first set of control wires and the second set of control wires are free floating within the through channel  28 ,  30 . 
         [0032]    The present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing a garment having integrated waterproof speakers. In the depicted embodiment, the method can include the step of cutting a first pattern from a first material to form an inside layer  100 . The periphery edge of the inside layer can include a right closure edge  102 , a front right neck edge  104 , a right front shoulder edge  106 , a right arm hole edge  108 , a right rear shoulder edge  110 , a rear neck edge  112 , a left rear shoulder edge  114 , a left arm hole edge  116 , a left front shoulder edge  118 , front left neck edge  120 , and a left closure edge  122 . The method can include the step of cutting a second pattern from a second material to form an outside layer  124 . The periphery edge of the outside layer  124  matches the periphery of the inside later  100  and can include a right closure edge  126 , a front right neck edge  128 , a right front shoulder edge  130 , a right arm hole edge  132 , a right rear shoulder edge  134 , a rear neck edge  136 , a left rear shoulder edge  138 , a left arm hole edge  140 , a left front shoulder edge  142 , front left neck edge  144 , and a left closure edge  146 . It should be appreciated that many alternative patterns are also possible. 
         [0033]    The disclosed method can include the step of cutting apertures  148 ,  150  in a left shoulder zone  152  and right front shoulder zone  154  of the outside layer to create a left speaker outlet and a right speaker outlet. The method can also include the step of stitching mesh material  156 ,  158  over the left speaker outlet and the right speaker outlet. The method can also include the step of stitching a first zipper portion  160  between the inside layer  100  and outside layer  124  along the right closure edge  102 ,  126  and stitching a second zipper portion  162  between the inside layer  100  and outside layer  124  along the left closure edge  122 ,  146 . It should be appreciated that many alternative steps are also possible. 
         [0034]    The method can include the step of stitching a plurality of foam pads  164 ,  166 ,  168  between the inside layer  100  and outside layer  124 . The method can include the step of stitching the right front shoulder edge  130  of the outside layer  124  to the right rear shoulder edge  134  of the outside layer  136 . The method can include the step of stitching the right front shoulder edge  106  of the inside layer  100  to the right rear shoulder edge  110  of the inside layer  100  thereby creating a first shoulder channel  170 . It should be appreciated that many alternative steps are also possible. 
         [0035]    The method can include the step of electrically connecting a sealed left speaker enclosure  32  to a power and control box  36  via a first wire  44  and electrically connecting a sealed right speaker enclosure to the power and control box via a second wire  46 . The method can include the step of placing the sealed left speaker enclosure  32  between the inside layer  100  and outside layer  124  such that the face of the left speaker enclosure is adjacent the left speaker outlet and placing the right speaker enclosure  34  between the inside layer  100  and outside layer  124  such that the face of the sealed right speaker enclosure is adjacent the right speaker outlet. It should be appreciated that many alternative steps are also possible. 
         [0036]    The method can include the step of placing the power and control box  36  between the inside layer  100  and outside layer  124  below the rear neck edge  112 ,  136 . The method can include the step of arranging the first wire  44  though the first shoulder channel  170  and arranging the second wire  46  through the second shoulder channel. It should be appreciated that many alternative steps are also possible. 
         [0037]    The method can include the step of stitching the front right neck edge  104  of the inside layer  100  to the front right neck edge  128  of the outside layer  124 , stitching the right arm hole edge  108  of the inside layer  100  to the right arm hole edge  132  of the outside layer  124 , stitching the rear neck edge  112  of the inside layer  100  to the rear neck edge of the outside layer  124 , stitching the left arm hole edge  116  of the inside layer  100  to the left arm hole edge  140  of the outside layer  124 , stitching the front left neck edge  120  of the inside layer  100  to the front left neck edge  144  of the outside layer  124 . It should be appreciated that many alternative steps are also possible. 
         [0038]    The method can include the steps of assembling the sealed left speaker enclosure, wherein steps include: inserting a circular profile speaker  62  into a cylindrical tube structure/cylindrical sleeve  66 . In the depicted embodiment, the tube structure is open to a front portion  52  of a speaker enclosure  32 . The method can include the step of sealing the periphery of the speaker to cylindrical tube structure and melting a rear cap over the rear portion of the speaker enclosure to seal the speaker enclosure. 
         [0039]    The method can also include the step of arranging a first set of wires though the first channel and arranging the second set of wires through a second channel and proving a first and second set of wires that are 150% the length of the distance between the left speaker and the power and control box. 
         [0040]    Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure, and it should be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative examples set forth herein.