Removable Protective Watch Cover

This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/134,773, filed Jan. 7, 2021, and is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/775,653, filed May 10, 2022, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Smart watches have become a very useful health tracking tool for individuals who are looking to monitor their exercise and movement activity. The metrics on the watches have improved dramatically since inception, and now offer advanced heart monitoring and active and resting energy information to its users. Smart watches have begun replacing standard wristwatches, and approximately 80% of smart watch consumers attribute its health monitoring and tracking features as the main reason for purchasing a smart watch.

While the popularity of smart watches has increased and the metrics of the applications on smart watches have improved, these smart watches are not currently allowed to be worn during active/contact sports, a period in which users would like to have metrics on their heart monitoring and activity levels, especially if the user has any preexisting heart conditions or if a hereditary heart condition runs in their family genetics.

While there are rugged, hard shelled smart watch protectors in the marketplace, these hard covers only generally focus on preventing potential damage to the watch and may cause harm if worn during a physical game or contact sport. Currently, smart watch wearers are often required to remove their smart watch before playing in contact sports and, thus, they are not tracking their exercise levels. Essentially, the purpose of buying a smart watch—to track exercise and health information—is generally unavailable to athletes at all levels since they are not generally allowed to wear their smart watches during crucial periods of exercise during their games/competitions.

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure offer protection to not only the smart watch, as certain embodiments include a clear Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) cover over the smart watch face, but also comply with certain rules and regulations of various sport associations such that the smart watch can be worn during practice and/or competitions. In this regard, one embodiment of the present disclosure is a removable protective smart watch cover that includes a soft, mesh-foam flap portion covering the hard surfaces of the smart watch. A smart watch user can slip or otherwise position the removable protective smart watch cover over their smart watch to allow smart watch use during contact sports or during regular exercise. In some embodiments, the construction of the removable protective smart watch cover complies with the standard level of protection required to be worn over hard surfaces during regulated contact sports games. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure allow smart watch wearers to monitor their activity levels during periods of exercise and activity that otherwise would not be allowed.

In accordance with one aspect, a removable protective watch cover includes a tubular body portion having a window for viewing a face of an associated watch when positioned on a body of a user, and a flap portion selectively securable to the tubular body portion in closed position covering the window. The flap portion includes cushioning material configured to overlay at least the window of the tubular body portion when the flap portion is in the closed position.

The cushioning material can include a silicone material that is part of a cushion portion of the flap portion. A first end of the flap portion can be fixed to the tubular body portion and a second end of the flap portion can be releasably securable to the tubular body portion such that the flap portion can be moved between the closed position and an open position exposing the window. The window can include a transparent material for protection of the associated watch. At least one of the tubular body portion and flap portion can have elastic properties. The cushioning material further can include first and second layers of mesh sandwiching the silicone material.

The cover can include a strip of material having a first portion having the window and first and second cooperating hook/loop fasteners on opposite sides of the window such that the first portion can be transformed from a substantially planar structure to the tubular body portion by engaging the first and second cooperating hook/loop fasteners. A flap hook/loop fastener can be provided at an end of the strip opposite the first hook and loop fastener and a cushion portion interposed between the flap hook/loop fastener such that the flap hook/loop fastener can be engaged with the second hook/loop fastener with the cushion portion positioned over the window. The cushioning material can include a silicone material. The flap portion can include first and second layers of mesh sandwiching the silicone material.

In accordance with another aspect, a removable protective watch cover system comprises a tubular body portion having a window for viewing a face of an associated watch when positioned on a body of a user, and a flap portion selectively securable to the tubular body portion in closed position covering the window. The flap portion includes a cushion portion configured to overlay at least the window of the tubular body portion when the flap portion is selectively secured to the tubular body portion in the closed position, the flap portion has a length at least as long as the circumference of the tubular body portion such that the flap portion can be worn independently of the tubular body portion with the cushion portion configured to overlay the associated watch.

The window can include a transparent material for protection of the associated watch. At least one of the tubular body portion and flap portion can have elastic properties. The cushion portion can include first and second layers of mesh sandwiching the silicone material.

In accordance with another aspect, a method of covering a watch during use comprises positioning a tubular body portion of a cover over the watch on a wrist of a user, the tubular body portion having a window for viewing a face of the watch, and covering at least a portion of the window with a flap portion of the cover, the flap portion being selectively securable to the tubular body portion in closed position covering the window and including a cushioning material configured to overlay at least a portion of the window of the tubular body portion when the flap portion is in the closed position.

The method can further include moving the flap portion to an open position to expose the watch face, and/or, wrapping a strip of material around the wrist of the user and securing the strip of material in a tubular configuration, and/or selecting one of a plurality of flap portions and removably securing the selected flap portion to the tubular body portion.

With reference to, an exemplary removable protective smart watch cover is illustrated and identified generally by reference numeral. The covergenerally includes a tubular body portionhaving a central passageway P allowing the coverto be slipped over a smart watchbeing worn by a user, and a flap portionsecured at a first end to the tubular bodycover by stitching, hook and loop fasteners, or other mechanisms. In other embodiments, the tubular bodyand the flap portioncan be of a unitary, one-piece construction such that stitching or otherwise securing the first end of the flap portionmay not be necessary. In still other embodiments, the flap portionmay be separable from the tubular body.

In, the coveris shown with the flap portionin an open position revealing the smart watchfor viewing and/or use. The tubular bodyhas a windowthrough which the smart watchcan be viewed when the flap portionis in the open position. The windowcan simply be an opening in the tubular body. In other embodiments, the windowcan include a clear plasticor other type of transparent material to protect the surface of the smart watch, while still allowing a user to view and/or manipulate the touch surfaces of the smart watch.

The tubular bodyand/or flap portioninclude portions thereof containing a releasable securement mechanism that allows the flap portionto be releasably secured in a closed (protective) position covering the smart watch, as shown in. In the closed position the flap portioncovers the smart watch. In the illustrated embodiment, the coverutilizes a hook and loop type releasable securement mechanism. In this regard, the flap portionincludes a hook/loop materialthat extends generally across the width of the flap portionand is configured to cooperate with a hook/loop material of the tubular bodyto retain the flap portionin the closed position. In other embodiments, different releasable securement mechanisms can be used such as snaps, clips, magnets, or any other suitable mechanism. A distal end of the flap portionincludes a tab portionthat allows a user to easily grasp the flap portionwhen moving the flap portionbetween the open position and the closed position.

The flap portionfurther includes a cushion portionconfigured to overlay the smart watchwhen the flap portionis in the closed position. The cushion portioninclude, for example, a silicone material sandwiched between spacer layers of foam/fabric (see) and sewn or otherwise secured to the flap portion. In other embodiments, the cushion portioncan include a foam or the like. In still other embodiments, the cushion portioncan be in the form of an air cushion. Certain configurations of the padding membermay be designed to comply with any rules or regulations of one or more sport associations such that the coverallows the smart watchto be worn during practice and/or competition.

Turning to, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated and identified generally by reference numeral. The coverincludes a tubular body portionconfigured to be slipped over a smart watchworn by a user, and a flap portionremovably securable to the tubular bodycover by hook and loop fasteners, or other mechanisms. In this embodiment, the covergenerally includes the same components as the coverofwith the exception that the flap portionis entirely removable from the tubular body. To this end, the tubular bodyand flap portionhave two sets of cooperating hook and loop type fasteners. Although not shown in, the tubular bodyhas a window through which a smart watch can be viewed when the flap portionis in the open position, or separated from the body, while the flap portionincludes a cushion portionsimilar to the coverof.

The coverinis shown with interchangeable flap portionsseparated from the tubular body. The interchangeable flap portionsare identical in structure, but can differ in appearance (e.g., color) or other aesthetics. For illustrative purposes, opposite sides of the interchangeable flap portionsare shown. A distal end of each flap portionincludes a tab portionthat allows a user to easily grasp the flap portionwhen moving the flap portionbetween the open position and the closed position, or when separating the flap portionfrom the tubular body. Each flap portionincludes two strips of hook/loop fastenersand. Stripis similar to stripof the flap portionin the embodiment of. Stripis located at an opposite end of the flap portion. Stripgenerally secures one end of the flap portion to a cooperating hook/loop fastenerof the tubular body portionin a manner and position similar to the stitching or other securing mechanism described above in connection with the embodiment of. Stripgenerally secures the other end of the flap portionto a cooperating hook/loop fastener of the tubular body portionin a manner and position similar to stripembodiment of.

The embodiment ofadvantageously allows a user to swap out different flap portionsfor a variety of reasons. For example, a flap portionhaving enhanced cushioning capabilities can be used during certain times, while a different flap portion having perhaps less cushioning capabilities can be used during other times. Interchangeable flap portionsof different colors, sizes, materials, etc. can be interchangeably used with the tubular body portion. In other examples, a flap portion can simply be replaced when it becomes worn or dirty. In still other embodiments, a portion or all of the flap portion can be comprised of a transparent material that provides certain cushioning and/or protective aspects such that the watch face can be viewed through the flap portion. Such materials can include silicone, or clear plastic air cushions or the like.

In still another example, the flap portion can be used independently as a protective band by securing the flap portion over the smart watch with the cushioning material positioned over the watch face, for example. In this example, the material of the flap portion may cooperate with the flap hook/loop fastenersandsuch that the flap portion can be secured about the user's wrist. In this embodiment, the flap portion has a length at least as long as the circumference of the tubular body portion such that the flap portion can be worn independently of the tubular body portion with the cushion portion configured to overlay the associated watch.

Turning to, another exemplary embodiment of a cover in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated and identified generally by reference numeral. In this embodiment, the coveris generally comprised of a strip of materialhaving features thereof that comprise a tubular body portionand a flap portionwhen worn by a user. To this end, and with reference from left to right in, the strapincludes a first hook/loop fastener portionof the tubular body portion, a windowthrough which a smart watch can be viewed when the flap portionis in an open position, and a second hook/loop fastener portionof the tubular body portion. As in the other embodiments, the windowcan simply be an opening in the tubular body portion. In other embodiments, the windowcan include a clear plastic or other type of transparent material to protect the surface of a smart watch while still allowing a user to view and/or manipulate the touch surfaces of the smart watch.

With reference from left to right in, the flap portionincludes a flap hook/loop fastener portionand a cushioning portion. The flap hook/loop fastener portion is adapted to cooperate with the second hook/look fastener portionof the tubular body portionwhen the tubular body portionis secured around the wrist of a user. In this regard, it is noted that the second hook/loop fastener portionin this embodiment includes a hook/loop fastener on both the front and back of the strip, as shown in. Thus, the flap hook/loop fastener portioncan engage the second hook/loop fastener portionon the back of the strip, while the first hook/loop fastener portionof the tubular body portioncan engage the second hook/loop fastener portionon the front of the strap.

In use, the tubular body portionof the cover is first wrapped around a wrist of a user such that the first and second hook/loop fastenersandare engaged. In this position, the tubular body portion defines a central passagewaythrough which a user's wrist passes. It should be appreciated that, after initial fitment of the tubular body portion, a user may leave the first and second hook/loop fastenersandengaged when removing and/or reinstalling the cover. For example, upon initial use the user may adjust the first and second hook/loop fastenersandto achieve a desired fitment of the tubular body portionabout the user's wrist. Then, because the strapor portions thereof can be a stretchable or elastic material, the tubular body portioncan be slipped off and onto the user's wrist as desired.

Once the tubular body portionis configured, the flap portioncan be positioned in a closed position by engaging flap hook/look fastenerwith hook/loop fastener. As will be appreciated, this includes wrapping the flap portionaround the user's wrist in a manner such that the cushion portioncovers the windowand/or a bezel or other portions of the smart watch, such as shown in. It will further be appreciated that the flap portioncan be opened in a manner similar to, for example, the embodiment shown in.

The stripcan be comprised of a base layer of material, with the various separate components being attached to the base layer via one or more of stitching, adhesives, or the like. In other examples, the stripcan be comprised one or more of the several components joined together in end-to-end fashion to form the strip(e.g., no base layer material).

Further, it should be appreciated that, as used herein, the term tubular body portion refers to both the tubular structure as well as the portion of the substantially planar stripthat is transformable into a tubular structure.

Referring now to, another exemplary embodiment of a cover in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated and identified generally by reference numeral. In this embodiment, the coveris generally comprised of a strap of materialhaving features thereof that comprise a tubular body portionwhen wrapped about a user's wrist, but does not include a window or flap portion as in the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, a coverin accordance with this embodiment may generally be worn by a user when access to a smart watch is not desired or permitted. This may be, for example, during competitive play when access to the smart watch would not be feasible or desired. The strapincludes a first hook/loop fastener portionof a front side thereof, a second hook/loop fasteneron a back side thereof, and cushion portion.

Turning to, an exemplary material that can be used for the cushion in the above-described embodiments is illustrated. This material includes a silicone patch, which is some embodiments may be a 2 inch×3 inch silicone patch having a thickness of between, for example, ⅜ inch (or less) to ½ inch (or greater). It will be appreciated that a wide range of thickness and sizes of the silicone patchcan be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

illustrates a cushion portion of the exemplary embodiments comprised of the silicone patchsandwiched between layers of spacer mesh.

In use, the various embodiments of the present disclosure can be slipped, or other-wise positioned over/around the wrist of a user wearing a smart watch and located such that the window of the tubular body portion is aligned with the smart watch face. The flap portion can be selectively opened and closed by the user to access the smart watch when desired. In general, the flap portion will remain in the closed position unless the user is interacting with the smart watch. Accordingly, the flap portion can be configured with resilient components that tend to automatically return the flap portion to the closed position when released by the user.

Various materials can be used for the different elements of the exemplary embodiments. In some examples, the mesh layers can include a neoprene or other fabric or mesh. Other cushioning materials can include a laminated foam, a molded foam, a covered foam, silicone or the like, or any combination thereof. The cushioning material can be sandwiched between layers of spacer. The tubular body portion of the exemplary embodiments can be a circular knit tube, a quilted material a 3D knit, a sock knit or a thick ponte, for example. Various materials can be used including one or more of cotton, nylon, polyester rubber and/or spandex, for example.

The exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.