Protective wristwatch enclosure assembly for ski/snowboard gloves and jackets

Abstract

 A protective wristwatch case for attaching a standard wristwatch to the outside of the glove or jacket sleeve for viewing while skiing or snowboarding. The glove or jacket sleeve includes an outer shell. The wristwatch case includes a pad attached to or formed by the outer shell, a hollow transparent enclosure defining a protective space, and a fastener for removably securing the hollow transparent enclosure to the pad. Straps secure the wristwatch band to the glove/jacket. The enclosure includes movable pins that selectively protrude into the protective space to allow the wearer to operate the watch control buttons.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to gloves and jackets, and more particularly to a protective wristwatch enclosure assembly for ski and snow boarding gloves and jackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Presently, many ski and snowboard gloves are made with a long cuff portion that extends well beyond the user's wrist. The long cuff overlaps with the cuff portion of the user's jacket in order to prevent snow and cold air from entering the glove and jacket.

[0003] One problem with ski and snowboard gloves and jackets is that it is quite difficult for the user to view a wristwatch worn on the user's wrist. The user must pull back the cuff of the glove, then pull back the cuff of the jacket in order to get viewing access to the watch. For gloves with extra long cuffs, this can be quite difficult.

[0004] One solution has been to provide a special watch that is waterproof, is shock resistant, and has an extra long band so the watch can be worn on the outside of the glove or ski jacket. The problem with this solution, however, is that the user must purchase an extra, water proof watch just for skiing or snowboarding, and the watch easily falls off when the glove or jacket is removed.

[0005] There is a need for ski and snowboard gloves and jackets that provide viewer access to a standard wristwatch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a watch enclosure that securely, safely and conveniently secures a standard wristwatch to the outside of the glove or jacket sleeve in a manner that the user can view the wristwatch.

[0007] The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of the present invention, for attaching a wristwatch to a cuff portion of a glove or jacket sleeve, includes a pad for attaching to a cuff portion of a glove or jacket sleeve, a hollow transparent enclosure defining a protective space, and a fastener for removably securing the hollow transparent enclosure to the pad.

[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, a glove includes an outer shell having at least one finger portion and a thumb portion, and a wristwatch case attached to the shell. The wristwatch case includes a pad attached to the outer shell, a hollow transparent enclosure defining a protective space, and a fastener for removably securing the hollow transparent enclosure to the pad.

[0009] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a jacket includes at least one sleeve having an outer shell, and a 'wristwatch case attached to the outer shell. The wristwatch case includes a pad attached to the outer shell, a hollow transparent enclosure defining a protective space, and a fastener for removably securing the hollow transparent enclosure to the pad.

[0010] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent by a review of the specification, claims and appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] 

Fig. 1A is a top view of the protective enclosure assembly of the present invention attached to a glove, with the watch case in its open position.

Fig. 1B is a top view of the protective enclosure assembly of the present invention, with the watch case in its closed position.

Fig. 1C is a side cross-sectional view the watch protective enclosure of the present invention.

Fig. 1D is a top view of the protective enclosure assembly of the present invention attached to a jacket sleeve.

Fig. 2A is a top view of a first alternate embodiment of the present invention attached to a glove, with the watch case in its open position.

Fig. 2B is a top view of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention, with the watch case in its closed position.

Fig. 2C is a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2D is a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention, with the wristbands folded underneath the watch case in its open position..

Fig. 2E is a top view of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention attached to the jacket sleeve.

Fig. 3A is a top view of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention, together with safety straps.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention, together with safety straps.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, with the watch case in its open position.

Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention attached to a jacket sleeve.

Fig. 5A is a top view of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a side view of the third alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5C is a side cross-sectional view of the pin in the third alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention, with the watch protective enclosure in its open position and one strap partially retracted from the pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The present invention is a protective wristwatch enclosure assembly that is includes a transparent wristwatch case that affixes a standard wristwatch to the cuff portion of a ski/snowboarding glove or jacket sleeve for convenient viewing while protecting the wristwatch from water and shock.

[0013] The wristwatch protective enclosure assembly 1 of the present invention is shown attached to a glove 2 in Figs. 1A-1C, or to a jacket 50 as shown in Fig. 1D. Glove 2 includes an insulation layer (not shown), and an outer shell 3 with finger portions 4, a thumb portion 6, a cuff portion 8, and a wrist strap 10 (to secure the glove 2 tightly around a user's wrist). Jacket 50 includes an outer shell 52 that has sleeves 54 each terminating in a cuff portion 56.

[0014] The protective enclosure assembly 1 includes a watch case 12 and short/long straps 14/16. The wristwatch case 12 includes a bottom pad 18 that is hingedly attached to a transparent enclosure 20 so that transparent enclosure 20 rotates from an open position to a closed position against pad 18. Enclosure 20 is preferably made of a durable glass, plastic or rubber material that is transparent enough to read a watch disposed therein. Enclosure 20 has a bottom opening 22 surrounded by a bottom rim 24, and defines a protective space 25 for a wristwatch. Fastener 26, such as a hook and fabric type fastener (e.g. sold under the brand name Velcro®), is attached to the rim 24 to engage with pad 18 (preferably made out of fabric) to removably secure the enclosure 20 in its closed position.

[0015] Pad 18 is preferably hingedly attached to transparent enclosure 20 so enclosure 20 is not inadvertently dropped or lost by the user. The hinge is formed by joining the pad 18 and enclosure 20 together by either stitching them together, attaching them together using flexible material(s), or by actually including any common hinge device that are well known in the art. Alternately, the hinge can be formed by relying on the flexibility of the enclosure 20 material, whereby an end portion of the enclosure is removably attached to the pad, and the user pulls up the one end of the enclosure 20 which flexes enough to allow access to the protected space. Pad 18 is attached to the outer shell 3 of glove 2, or to the outer shell 52 of the jacket cuff portions 56.

[0016] To secure a standard wristwatch 28, which includes wristbands 30, to the cuff 8 of glove 2 or the jacket cuff 56, the enclosure 20 is placed in its open position as illustrated in Fig. 1A. Wristwatch 28 is placed face up on pad 18, and wristbands 30 are inserted through straps 14/16. The enclosure 20 is then rotated over wristwatch 28 and down onto pad 18, where fastener 26 engages with pad 18 to secure the enclosure 20 in its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1B. Thereafter, the wristwatch can be viewed through transparent enclosure 20.

[0017] The present invention allows the user to mount a standard wristwatch to the cuff portions of the glove or jacket so that the wristwatch can be conveniently viewed without having to move the glove cuff portion away from the jacket cuff portion. Any standard wristwatch can be quickly and easily mounted to and removed from enclosure 20, which protects wristwatch 28 from snow, water and external shock. Straps 14/16 secure the wristbands 30 to the glove cuff portion 8 or jacket cuff portion 56.

[0018] Figs. 2A-2C illustrate a first alternate embodiment of the present invention, where enclosure 20 has a central portion 32 for housing the wristwatch 28, and smaller elongated flat portions 34 extending from the central portion 32 for housing the wristbands 30. This embodiment provides ice, water and abrasion protection for the wristband 30. For longer wristbands, exit slots 36 can be formed at the ends of flat portions 34 to allow the wristbands 30 to extend out of the enclosure 20 where straps 14/16 could be included to secure the portions of wristband 30 that extend from enclosure 20. It should be understood that only central portion 32 need be transparent to read the watch therein, and that flat portions 34 could be opaque. It should also be noted that the wristbands 30 can be folded underneath the central portion 32 before the enclosure 20 is rotated to its closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 2D, whereby the enclosure 20 also provides protection for almost the entire lengths of the wristbands 30 and the need for straps 14/16 is eliminated. The elongated flat portions could be reduced in length, or eliminated all together with the exit slots formed directly in the central portion 32, to allow the wristbands 32 to fasten together underneath the central portion 32. Fig. 2E illustrates the first alternate embodiment attached to the jacket cuff portion 56.

[0019] Figs. 3A-3B illustrate safety straps 38 that can be added to prevent enclosure 20 of the first alternate embodiment from inadvertently opening during use. Safety straps 38 are attached between enclosure 20 and cuff portions 8 or 56, and include detachable clips 40 that allow the safety straps to be separated when the user wants to open enclosure 20.

[0020] Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, where enclosure 20 only has a single flat portion 34 extending from the enclosure central portion 32. In this embodiment, both wristbands 30 are folded into the single flat portion 34. Wristwatch case 12 can be positioned so that wrist strap 10 is disposed over the single flat portion 34 to prevent enclosure 20 from inadvertently opening.

[0021] Figs. 5A-5C illustrate a third alternate embodiment of the present invention, where push pins 42 are attached to the enclosure 20 to engage with buttons 29 on the wristwatch 28. Enclosure 20 is made of a pliable material and includes protrusions 44 in which pins 42 are fixed with a fixing material 46 such as glue. The user presses pins 42 down until they engage with and operate the button controls 29 on wristwatch 28 without having to open the enclosure 20. Alternately, enclosure 20 is made of a more rigid material, and pins 42 are slidably attached to enclosure 20.

[0022] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated herein, but encompasses any and all variations falling within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the watch enclosure could be attached to the back portion of the glove near the finger portions 4 instead of to the cuff portion 8, or to any portion of sleeve 54. Further, different shapes and numbers of straps can be used to secure the wristbands to the glove or jacket cuffs. The short and long straps 14/16 are preferable because it is easy to insert the wristbands therethrough, however a single long strap could be used to better protect the wristbands from the elements. The straps 14/16 could be partially or completely removable via hook and fabric fasteners, snaps, etc., to better accept and secure the wristbands, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Pad 18 could be integrally formed as part of the shell 3 or 52, so that enclosure 20 is removably attached directly to glove 2 or sleeve 54. Enclosure 20 could be removable in its entirety from pad 18, with no hinging attachment at one end. Finally, the present invention also is equally applicable to gloves with a single finger portion, which are also commonly called mittens.

Claims

1. A protective wristwatch enclosure assembly for attaching a wristwatch to a cuff portion of a glove or jacket sleeve, comprising: a pad for attaching to a cuff portion of one of a glove and a jacket sleeve; a hollow transparent enclosure defining a protective space; and a fastener for removably securing the hollow transparent enclosure to the pad.

2. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent enclosure has an opening and is hingedly attached to the pad between an open position where the protective space is accessible through the opening and a closed position where the opening is sealed by the transparent enclosure abutted against the pad.

3. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of straps attached to the cuff portion adjacent to the transparent enclosure.

4. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the straps are at least partially removably detachable from the cuff portion.

5. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes hook and fabric materials attached to the pad and the transparent enclosure.

6. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes at least one removable strap securing the transparent enclosure to the cuff portion.

7. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 6, wherein the removable strap includes a detachable clip.

8. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a central portion and at least one elongated portion extending therefrom, which together define the protective space.

9. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 8, wherein a slot is formed in an end portion of the elongated portion.

10. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one slot is formed in the enclosure.

11. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a central portion and a pair of elongated portions extending therefrom, all of which together form the protective space.

12. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is made of a pliable material and includes a plurality of pins for selectively protruding into the protective space.

13. The protective wristwatch enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of pins slidably attached thereto for selectively protruding into the protective space.

14. A glove, comprising a protective wristwatch enclosure assembly according to any of the preceding claims.

15. A jacket, comprising a protective wristwatch enclosure assembly according to any of claims 1 to 13.

Drawing