METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GARMENT FOR WORK WITH EMS/EMG/EGG, AND SUCH A GARMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a garment (1), and to a garment which is worn on the human body and which is suitable for conducting electrical signals to and/or from the human body. The method comprises the following steps: spreading out a supporting structure (100) which has at least two garment components (110) which are partially coupled by means of at least one partial coupling (120); positioning a prefabricated functional structure (200) or producing a functional structure (200) which has the function of transferring the electrical signals from and/or to the human body in a spatial relationship to the supporting structure (100) in such a way that, when the functional structure (200) crosses a boundary between at least two garment components (110), the functional structure (200) is positioned on the partial coupling (120) between the garment components (110), coupling the supporting structure (100) to the functional structure (200), finishing the garment (1) by means of final coupling of the garment components (110) to each other.

Claims

1. A method for producing a garment (1) which is worn on the human body and is suitable for transmitting electrical signals to and/or from the human body in a conductive manner and which comprises the following steps: spreading out a supporting structure (100) which has at least two garment components (110) which are partially coupled by means of at least one partial coupling (120); positioning a premanufactured functional structure (200) or producing a functional structure (200), which has the function of transmitting the electrical signals from and/or to the human body, in a spatial relationship with respect to the supporting structure (100) in such a manner that, when the functional structure (200) crosses a boundary between at least two garment components (110), the functional structure (200) is positioned on the partial coupling (120) between the garment components (110), coupling the supporting structure (100) to the functional structure (200), finishing the garment (1) by means of coupling the garment components (110) to one another at the end.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supporting structure (100) is positioned or produced and in the spatial relationship with respect to the functional structure (100, 200) in such a manner that at least part of the functional structure (200) lies in the garment (1) such that said part can transmit the signals to and from at least one body part.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the functional structure (200) comprises at least one electrode (240), at least one terminal (250), at least one conducting structure (220) and at least one insulating structure (230).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the conducting structure (220) is produced by coupling at least one premanufactured line (222) or by casting or injecting conducting material (302) into a die (400), or by cutting the conducting structure (220) out of a sheet of conducting material (302), or by a 2D/3D printing method with conducting material (302), or another method suitable for this purpose, or a combination thereof, in at least one line harness (221).

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the insulating structure (230) is produced by casting insulating material (301) into the die (400) onto the conducting structure (220), or is cast separately into the die (400), or by means of cutting of the insulating structure (230) out of a sheet of insulating material (301), or by 2D/3D printing methods with insulating material (301), or another method suitable for this purpose, or a combination thereof.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the insulating structure (230) completely covers the conducting structure (220) and the terminal (250) but at least partially does not cover the electrodes (240).

7. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the electrodes (240) and/or the terminal (250) as part of the conducting structure (220) are/is produced from the conducting material (302) in one step.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the electrodes (240) and/or the terminal (250) are/is produced separately from the conducting material (302) using the same method as the conducting structure (220).

9. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the electrodes (240) and/or the terminal (250) are/is coupled to the conducting structure (220) in a further step.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the conducting structure (220) and the insulating structure (230) are spread out on each other and coupled to each other.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, by means of the coupling of the conducting structure (220) to the insulating structure (230), the electrodes (240) are functionally separated from the conducting structure (220).

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling is achieved by sewing, adhesive bonding, pressure, welding, heating or a combination thereof.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the conducting and insulating materials (301, 302) are produced from at least one elastic compound, such as, for example, silicone.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the conducting material (302) is a bond between at least one elastic compound and at least one electrically conducting material.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conducting material is carbon.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in a further step, the functional structure (200) is tested for damage or faults prior to the coupling to the supporting structure (100).

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lines (222) which lead from the terminal (250) to the electrodes (240) and are intended for mirrored electrodes (240) in each case for the left and right side of the human body are designed in such a manner that the resistance for the two lines (222) does not differ by more than 50%.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lines (222), the conducting structure (220) and the insulating structure (230) are produced in mixed form or jointly in a wavy, zigzag-shaped, or spiral arrangement or in further geometrical arrangements in order to assist the elasticity of the garment (1).

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the functional structure is formed integrally.

20. A garment (1) which is worn on the human body and is suitable for transmitting electrical signals to and/or from the human body in a conducting manner, comprising: a supporting structure (100) which has at least two garment components (110) which are partially coupled by means of at least one partial coupling (120); a functional structure (200) which has the function of transmitting the electrical signals from and/or to the human body, and is arranged in a spatial relationship with respect to the supporting structure (100) in such a manner that, when the functional structure (200) crosses a boundary between at least two garment components (110), the functional structure (200) is positioned on the partial coupling (120) between the garment components (110).

21. A garment (1) produced by means of a method as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] FIG. 1 schematically shows a garment according to the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 2 schematically shows a supporting structure which, according to the invention, is partially coupled.

[0055] FIG. 3 schematically shows a functional structure according to the invention.

[0056] FIG. 4 schematically shows the construction of a die.

[0057] FIGS. 5a-5e schematically show possible embodiments of the electrodes.

[0058] FIGS. 6a-6f schematically show possible embodiments of the lines.

[0059] FIG. 7 schematically shows the construction of a functional structure.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0060] The present invention is described with reference to particular embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, wherein, however, the invention is not limited to these embodiments and to these drawings, but rather is determined by the patent claims. The drawings should not be understood as limiting. Certain elements may be illustrated in the drawings in enlarged or exaggerated form and not true to scale, for illustrative purposes.

[0061] Unless specifically indicated differently, the use of an indefinite or definite article with respect to a word in the single, for example a or the, also includes the plurality of such a word. The designations first and second and so on in the description and in the claims are used for differentiating between similar elements or for differentiating identical elements and not necessarily for the description of a temporal or other sequence. The terms used in such a manner should basically be considered as interchangeable under corresponding conditions.

[0062] In FIG. 1, a garment (1) composed of, for example, textiles, which covers the human body is shown in such a manner that the front and the rear side of the garment (1) can be seen from the inside. The garment (1) has a supporting structure (100) and a functional structure (200), wherein the functional structure (200) is at least partially attached on the inner side of the garment (1) in order to bring parts thereof in contact with the human skin.

[0063] The supporting structure (100) according to FIG. 2 is constructed from a material suitable for wearing against the human skin. The material can be directly knitted from one piece according to a provided pattern, or produced by another suitable method, or can consist of one or more garment components (110) which are at least partially coupled to one another by means of, for example, sewing or adhesive bonding or another suitable method in order to have a garment (1) as the result at the end. The garment (1) covers at least part of the body, but can also be a full body garment. The garment (1) is conceived to permit freedom of movement and not only for this reason is constructed precisely to the height of different people and, after being donned, is intended to lie closely against the skin. The garment components (110) are only partially coupled to one another, thus making it possible for the supporting structure (100) to be spread out flat.

[0064] The boundary between the garment components (110) run in the finished garment (1) far beyond the boundaries shown in FIG. 2 and should also be seen as the lines where the garment components meet and where the latter, entirely coupled together, result in a garment. The partial couplings (120) produced by the partial coupling are at least as wide as the width of that part of the functional structure (200) which is laid over said partial coupling (120). FIG. 2 schematically shows a supporting structure (100) in which the garment components (110) have been partially coupled to each other at part of the boundary. If more than the partial coupling were to take place, it would no longer be possible to spread out the supporting structure (100) flat. The partial couplings (120) which are shown are precisely as wide here as the boundary part, illustrated in FIG. 2, between the garment components (110), wherein said partial couplings can be much smaller and can take place only on one part of said boundary part.

[0065] The functional structure (200) according to FIG. 3 or 7 includes at least one terminal (250), at least one conducting structure (220) which is connected to the terminal (250), at least one insulating structure (230) which insulates the conducting structure (220) at at least one point against the body and ensures that said conducting structure does not come into contact with the human skin at at least one point, and at least one electrode (240) which is connected to the conducting structure (220) and which transmits the electrical signals to and from the human skin, wherein FIG. 3 does not illustrate the insulating structure (230), in order to improve the clarity.

[0066] The conducting structure (220) according to FIG. 3 or 7 serves for the purpose of transmitting the electrical signals between the terminal (250) and the electrodes (240). In a preferred embodiment, the conducting structure (220) is attached as a whole on the inner side of the garment (1), but can also be entirely or partially attached on the outer side of the garment (1).

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, the conducting structure (220) is produced by means of an injection molding or casting method, in which, in a first step, a casting mold or a die (400) according to FIG. 4 is produced. A plurality of and different dies can be produced depending on the size and shape of the garment (1).

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the conducting structure (220) is produced by laying at least one line (222) into the die (400), wherein each line (222) takes up its designated position, and by casting an insulating material (301) into the die (400), said material then hardening. The hardening of the cast insulating material (301) produces the insulating structure (230). A cross section thereof is illustrated in FIG. 6f. In a further embodiment, without using a line (222), a conducting material (302) can be cast into the die (400), said conducting material hardening and allowing the desired conducting structure (220) to be produced. If, in a further step, an insulating material (301) is cast thereon, the insulating structure (230) is also produced here directly in the die (400). A cross section thereof is illustrated in FIG. 6e.

[0069] According to FIGS. 6a to 6d, the lines (222) can be placed in various ways into the die (400) in order to increase the flexibility of the conducting structure (220) and to improve the flexibility of the functional and supporting structures (100, 200). FIG. 6a shows a wavy structure, FIG. 6b shows a zigzag-like structure and FIG. 6d shows a spiral structure of the line (222). Said structures ensure that the line (222) is not damaged when the garment (1) is stretched. Furthermore, a wavy structure is also illustrated for the insulating material (301) in FIG. 6c, wherein said structure can also be used for the conducting material (302), which structure is achieved by an appropriate configuration of the die (400). Any desired combination of said structures and also other structures which increase the flexibility can be used.

[0070] In a further embodiment, a combination between the conducting material (302) and the use of electric lines (222) for the optimum transmission of the signals are possible. An insulating structure (230), for example consisting of the insulating material (301) but also of other possible insulating materials, can be cast here into the die (400) around the conducting material (302) in order to insulate the conducting material (302) from the human skin and further influencing factors which could interfere with the transmission of the electrical signals. In the cases in which the conducting structure (220) has not been sufficiently insulated beforehand, an insulating structure (230) is fitted on the conducting structure (220).

[0071] In a further embodiment possibility, the lines (222) are spread out into the required position on a surface and the materials (301,302) are cast thereon as already described, but without using a die (400). After the materials (301, 302) have hardened, the conducting structure (220) is cut out by, for example, laser, waterjet, tungsten carbide blades or other methods suitable for this purpose. In the cases in which the conducting structure (220) has not been sufficiently insulated beforehand, an insulating structure (230) is fitted on the cut-out conducting structure (220). The insulating structure (230) can also be produced here by casting and/or cutting, wherein a combination of the methods used is possible for both methods.

[0072] In a further step, the electrodes (240) are produced according to FIGS. 5a-5e. The shapes of the electrodes (240), as illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5e, have been determined depending on various factors. An electrode (240) intended for use in an EMS garment (1) should be elastic, flexible and stretchable such that said electrode is matched precisely to the skin of the body shape in order thereby to obtain as large a contact surface as possible so as to transmit the signals to and from the skin and furthermore to the muscles as efficiently as possible. The shape of the electrode has to be simultaneously matched to the shape of the muscle to be stimulated. That is to say in practice that, for example, an electrode shape (240) of FIG. 5a fits better to a group of muscles around which it circles, for example in the case of an extremity. By contrast, the electrode (240) from FIG. 5d is more suitable for stimulating a flat group of muscles, for example the chest muscles, or an individual muscle at a certain point.

[0073] The preferred method for producing the electrodes (240) is also selected depending on the preferred method for producing the conducting structure (220). If the conducting structure (220) is produced in a die (400) by the use of electrical lines (222) and an insulating material (301), the line ends (223) are configured in such a manner that they are placed precisely wherever an electrode (240) is intended to be produced. At the same time, the insulating material (301) is cast in such a manner that the line ends (223) are not covered. Alternatively, the line ends (223) can also be freed from the insulating material (301) in an intermediate step. In a further step, the electrodes (240) are cast by the conducting material (302) being cast onto the line ends (223) in the die, wherein the die (400) predetermines the desired shape of the electrodes (240). By means of this rapid method, the materials (301) and (302) are connected to one another seamlessly and permanently. However, if necessary, recourse can also be made to other means, such as, for example, adhesives or local heating, in order to permanently ensure the coupling. Furthermore, the electrodes (240) can be produced individually from preferred materials, such as, for example, conducting material (302), silver or other materials and retrospectively coupled to the line ends (223). Adhesives or local heating can be used in order to permanently ensure the coupling to the conducting structure (220). Care should be taken here to ensure that the materials and methods used do not impair the conductivity.

[0074] If the conducting structure (220) is produced by using lines (222), an insulating material (301) and cutting out, the line ends (223) are configured in such a manner that they are placed precisely wherever an electrode (240) is intended to be produced. At the same time, the insulating material (301) is cast in such a manner that the line ends (223) are not covered. Alternatively, the line ends (223) can also be freed from the insulating material (301) in an intermediate step. In a further step, the electrodes (240) are cast by the conducting material (302) being cast onto the line ends (223) and subsequently being cut out into the desired electrode shape. By means of this rapid method, the materials (301) and (302) are connected to one another seamlessly and permanently. However, if necessary, recourse can also be made to other means, such as, for example, adhesives or local heating in order to permanently ensure the coupling. Furthermore, the electrodes (240) can be produced individually from preferred materials, such as, for example, conducting material (302), silver or other materials, and subsequently coupled on to the line ends (223). Adhesives or local heating can be used in order to permanently ensure the coupling to the conducting structure (220).

[0075] If the conducting structure (220) is produced by casting the conducting material (302) with or without lines (222) in a die (400) or by casting and cutting out, the electrodes (240) are cast together in one step in the die (400) as part of the conducting structure (220), or are cast together and cut out together. In a further step, a layer of insulating material (301) is cast around the conducting structure (220), but not around the electrodes (240). Alternatively, an insulating structure (230) which is precast and/or precut from insulating material (301) can be coupled to the conducting structure (220) such that the latter does not cover or insulate the electrodes (240). By means of these two methods, the electrodes (240) are functionally produced without the subsequent casting of the conducting material (302), or without the electrodes (240) having to be produced separately and coupled subsequently to the conducting structure (220).

[0076] According to FIG. 3 or 7, the terminal (250) is the component which produces the connection between the functional structure (200) and an external monitoring unit. The terminal (250) is preferably configured in such a manner that it forms a bridge between the inner side of the garment (1), on which said terminal is coupled to the conducting structure (220), and the outer side of the garment (1), on which the external monitoring unit is ideally located. The terminal (250) consists of a printed circuit board (251) to which line ends (223) are connected. Before the casting and/or cutting, the printed circuit board (251) can be placed into a premanufactured socket-like mold (252) and connected to the line ends (223) by means of contact points (253). The printed circuit board (251) together with the socket-like mold (252) is brought with the conducting structure (220) into the required position in the die (400) and then covered with the insulating material (301), as a result of which the printed circuit board is insulated by the insulating material (301) on the side with the line ends (223) and sealed in the socket-like mold (252). This gives rise to the terminal (250) as part of the functional structure (200).

[0077] A cable bundle which connects the garment (1) to a monitoring unit, in the form of a computer with a computer program product, can be connected to the socket-like mold (252) by means of a plug. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, instead of a plug with a cable bundle, use is made of a transceiver unit which receives the signals of the monitoring unit by radio, e.g. Bluetooth or WLAN (Wi-Fi) or by another transmitting method suitable for this purpose, and then converts said signals into electrical signals for the electrodes (240). Conversely, electrical signals from the electrodes (240) are converted by the transceiver unit into radio signals and transmitted to the monitoring unit. In a further embodiment, the monitoring unit is reduced in size in such a manner that the latter fits completely into the socket-like mold (252) in the garment (1).

[0078] In a further embodiment, as described above, the conducting structure (220) is cast directly from conducting material (302) into a die (400), or without a die (400) is cut out of a sheet of conducting material (302). In these embodiments, the terminal (250) which consists of the printed circuit board (251) and the socket-like mold (252) is coupled to the line ends (223) by means of contact points (253) after the formation of the lines (222). In a further step, the conducting structure (220) is sealed with insulating material (301). In a further embodiment, the terminal (250) can be positioned directly in the die (400) before the casting and the lines can be cast onto the contact points (253). By this means, a coupling step is omitted.

[0079] With the aid of the described steps, or any desired combination thereof, a functional structure (200) and a supporting structure (100) are produced. Said two structures can be investigated and tested separately from each other for faults and functionality.

[0080] In a further step, the supporting structure (100) and the functional structure (200) are combined with each other. This can be referred to as in the automobile industry as the marriage. The supporting structure (100) is spread out without creases on a surface and the functional structure (200) is placed thereon, wherein the process can also be carried out in reverse. The two structures (100, 200) are then coupled permanently to each other by means of adhesive or heat or pressure or by means of another suitable method or a combination thereof. It is important to note that all of the parts of the functional structure (100) are placed precisely onto the partial couplings (120) between the garment components (110). Furthermore, it is important for the position of the partial couplings (120) to be selected in such a manner that the functional structure (200) can optimally reach all regions of the garment (1).

[0081] In a further step, all of the partial couplings (120) of the supporting structure (100) are coupled at the end, as a result of which the garment (1) is produced. Owing to the fact that all of the parts of the functional structure (200) have already been placed onto the partial couplings (120) in a previous step, said structure is not damaged by the subsequent coupling of the garment components (110).

[0082] The previously described method steps result in the production of the garment (1) for work with EMS, EMG or ECG and all similar methods.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0083] garment (1) [0084] supporting structure (100) [0085] garment component (110) [0086] partial coupling (120) [0087] functional structure (200) [0088] conducting structure (220) [0089] line (222) [0090] line end (223) [0091] insulating structure (230) [0092] electrode (240) [0093] terminal (250) [0094] printed circuit board (251) [0095] socket-like mold (252) [0096] contact point (253) [0097] insulating material (301) [0098] conducting material (302) [0099] die (400)