Method for putting on or taking off a piece of clothing or for closing, putting on, opening, or taking off a piece of luggage

Abstract

A method for putting on or taking off a piece of clothing or for closing, putting on, opening, or taking off a piece of luggage, including the steps of tightening or loosening by means of a tensioning element driven by a driven tension roller and a switching element. The tightening or loosening takes place by actuation of the switching element. The switching element has a number of contact-sensitive sensors which are arranged adjacent to one another and form a surface accessible to the user of the piece of clothing or of the piece of luggage. The method includes the steps of scanning the surface of the sensors by the user in a first direction, detecting the signal of the sensors by a controller, and causing a first tensioning force level or a first closing path of the tensioning element to be initiated by the controller and the electric motor.

Claims

1. A method for putting on or taking off a hat, a jacket, trousers, a hoodie, a bra or a belt onto a wearer or from the wearer of the same or for closing, putting on, opening, or taking off a backpack or a sports or travel bag carried by a person, wherein the hat, the jacket, the trousers, the hoodie, the bra, the belt, the backpack or the sports or travel bag comprises: a rotary closure for tightening of the hat, the jacket, the trousers, the hoodie, the bra or the belt at the wearer or loosening of the same from the wearer or for closing, putting on, opening or taking off the backpack or the sports or travel bag by at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor, a switching element which is connected to a controller, wherein the switching element and the controller can actuate the electric motor, wherein the tightening of the hat, the jacket, the trousers, the hoodie, the bra or the belt at the wearer or loosening of the same from the wearer or the closing, putting on, opening or taking off the backpack or the sports or travel bag takes place by actuating of the switching element by the user of the same using a finger, wherein the switching element comprises a number of touch-sensitive sensors which are arranged one beside the other and form a surface which is accessible to the user, wherein the method comprises: passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in a first direction, detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing of putting on of the hat, the jacket, the trousers, the hoodie, the bra or the belt, or the closing or putting on the carried backpack or the sports or travel bag at a first level of fastening force or with a first closing path of the tensioning element by the controller and the electric motor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in the first direction, detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing putting on of the hat, the jacket, the trousers, the hoodie, the bra or the belt or the closing or putting on the carried backpack or the sports or travel bag at a second level of fastening force or with a second closing path of the tensioning element by the controller and the electric motor, wherein the second level of fastening force is higher than the first level of fastening force or the second closing path is bigger than the first closing path.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises: passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in the first direction, detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing putting on of the hat, the jacket, the trousers, the hoodie, the bra or the belt or the closing or putting on the carried backpack or the sports or travel bag at a third level of fastening force or with a third closing path of the tensioning element by the controller and the electric motor, wherein the third level of fastening force is higher than the second level of fastening force or the third closing path is bigger than the second closing path.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: passing the finger of a user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing relieving of the tensioning element to a reduced level of the fastening force or to a reduced closing path by the controller and the electric motor.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at or on the switching element a number of illumination elements are arranged, wherein the actual level of the fastening force or of the actual closing path is displayed by the number of activated illumination elements.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the illumination elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening force level of the tensioning member is increased in steps.

8. A method for tightening an article, comprising: providing a rotary closure for tightening the article, wherein the rotary closure comprises a tensioning roller for winding a tensioning element, and the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor, providing a switching element that is connected to a controller, wherein the switching element and the controller can actuate the electric motor, tightening of the article takes place by actuating of the switching element by a user of the same using a finger, and the switching element comprises a plurality of touch-sensitive sensors that are arranged one beside the other, passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in a first direction, and detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing tensioning of the tensioning element by the controller and the electric motor, wherein a fastening force level of the tensioning element is increased in steps.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in the first direction, and detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing the tensioning element to achieve a second level of fastening force.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second level of fastening force is higher than the first level of fastening force or the second closing path is bigger than the first closing path.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: passing the finger of the user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in the first direction, detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing the tensioning element to achieve a third level of fastening force.

12. The method according to claim 8 further comprises: passing the finger of a user over the surface of the touch-sensitive sensors in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and detecting the signal of the touch-sensitive sensors by the controller and causing relieving of the tensioning element to a reduced level of the fastening force or to a reduced closing path by the controller and the electric motor.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of illumination elements are arranged along the switching element, wherein the actual level of the fastening force or of the actual closing path is displayed by the plurality of activated illumination elements.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the illumination elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

15. A device for putting on or taking off an article, comprising: a rotary closure for tightening the article that includes at least one tensioning element, wherein the rotary closure comprises a rotatably arranged tensioning roller for winding the tensioning element, wherein the tensioning roller is driven by an electric motor, a switching element which is connected to a controller, wherein the switching element and the controller can actuate the electric motor, wherein the tightening of a hat, a jacket, trousers, a hoodie, a bra or a belt, or the closing, putting on, opening or taking off a backpack or a sports or travel bag takes place by actuating of the switching element, wherein the switching element comprises a number of touch-sensitive sensors which are arranged one beside the other and form a surface which is accessible to a user, wherein the touch-sensitive sensors are configured to receive a first swipe by the user, which causes the electric motor to rotate the tensioning roller to a first level of fastening, and wherein a second swipe along the touch-sensitive sensors by a user causes the electric motor to rotate the tensioning roller to a second level of fastening.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein a third swipe in a direction opposite the first swipe and the second swipe causes the electric motor to rotate the tensioning roller in a reverse direction.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of illumination elements are arranged along the switching element, wherein the illumination elements display to a user the level of fastening.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the illumination elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

19. The device according to claim 15, wherein a fastening force level of the tensioning element is configured to increased in steps.

Description

(1) In the drawings an embodiment of the invention is shown.

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematically in the side view a hat, depicted partially cut, which can be fastened with a rotary closure at the head of the wearer and

(3) FIG. 2 shows in perspective view a switching element for the actuation of the rotary closure by the finger of the person which uses the hat.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a garment 1 in the form of a hat. The hat 1 is designed as a peaked cap; the visor is marked with 13. If the hat 1 is placed on the (not shown) head of the wearer, it can be tensioned with a desired tension level at the head of the wearer. A tensioning strap 12 is provided for this purpose. With conventional solutions, the tensioning strap is adjusted manually to a desired tensioning force level.

(5) In the proposed solution, an electromotive solution is provided for this: A rotary closure 2 with a tensioning roller 4 is integrated in the hat 1. The tensioning roller 4 tensions a tensioning element 3 which is connected to the tensioning strap 12. An electric motor 5 actuates the tensioning roller 4 via a gearing not shown. The electric motor 5 is controlled by control means 7. A switching element 6 is provided for actuating the rotary closure 2 (via the electric motor 5 and the control means 7).

(6) In the embodiment, the switching element 6 is located in the front of the hat and is easily accessible by a finger of the user.

(7) To tighten and loosen the tensioning strap 12 at the head of the wearer of the hat 1, the user proceeds as follows:

(8) As shown in FIG. 2, the switching element 6 has a surface 10 equipped with a number of touch-sensitive sensors 9. Specifically, five touch-sensitive sensors 9 are arranged linearly next to each other. The individual touch-sensitive sensors 9 are designed as capacitive sensors, which are known as such in the state of the art. They react to contact with the finger 8 of the user of hat 1.

(9) To close the tensioning strap 12 of the hat 1, the user sweeps the touch-sensitive sensors 9 in a first direction R1 with his finger 8. If the control means 7 detect said contacting of the sensors 9, they cause a first tensioning force level to be reached, i. e. the electric motor 5 is operated with a first, preset maximum value for the motor current, e. g. 1.5 A.

(10) Illumination elements 11 in the form of LEDs are arranged on switching element 6. By activating one or more of the illumination elements 11, the approached tensioning force level can be displayed to the user (which he can only see in a mirror in the embodiment).

(11) If the passing of sensors 9 is repeated with finger 8 in the first direction R1, a second, higher tensioning force level can be approached; a second, specified maximum value for the motor current can now be 2.5 A, for example.

(12) If the sensors 9 are passed again, the tensioning force level can be further increased; a third, specified maximum value for the motor current can now be 3.5 A, for example.

(13) Depending on the transmission ratio between motor 5 and tensioning roller 4 and depending on the geometric conditions up to the point where the tensioning element 3 reaches the tensioning strap 12, corresponding levels of tensioning force result.

(14) The illumination elements 11 can in turn be used to indicate the current tensioning force level.

(15) To open the tensioning strap 12, the user uses his finger 8 to sweep the surface 10, i. e. the touch-sensitive sensors 9, in a second direction R2, opposite to the first direction R1. The control means 7 then initiate the complete opening of the tensioning strap 12. The electric motor 5 then moves into the completely relaxed state, which can be determined by a corresponding rotation angle sensor on the tensioning roller 4.

(16) This means that the user does not have to operate a closing or opening switch for a long time; it is sufficient to pass over the touch-sensitive sensors 9 as described.

(17) The user can thus advantageously approach a tensioning force level that is suitable for his requirements without having to adjust this by pressing the closing switch for a corresponding length of time.

(18) The example shows a hat. Of course, the proposed principle can also be used for many other applications.

(19) In this regard, clothing such as, in particular, (sports) jackets and (sports) trousers are mentioned, in which certain geometric relations are adjustable, such as the tension of the clothing in the hip area or the length of trouser legs and sleeves. For a (sports) jacket, it is also conceivable to automatically raise or lower a hood. For jackets in particular, automatic opening and closing can also be provided. The above mentioned design is also very advantageous for use with a bra (brassiere).

(20) Other particularly advantageous applications are backpacks. Here the length of the carrying straps can be adjusted as described in order to adapt the backpack to the needs of the wearer. Again, automatic opening and closing can also be provided for this application. The same applies to bags, in particular sports bags and travel bags, where only automatic opening and closing is usually provided for.

(21) Another application is the integration of the described device into a belt, with which the (tensioning) length can be adjusted in the way described.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(22) 1 Piece of clothing 2 Rotary closure 3 Tensioning element 4 Tensioning Roller 5 Electric motor 6 Switching element 7 Control means 8 Finger 9 Touch-sensitive sensor 10 Surface 11 Illumination element (LED) 12 Tensioning strap 13 Visor R1 First direction