CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/161,550, filed March 16, 2021. The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A smartwatch includes a portable device designed to be worn on the wrist of a user. Smartwatches can include one or more sensors on the back surface of the smartwatch face, such as a photoplethysmographic sensor. The sensor can collect various biological data of the user by having the sensor be in physical contact with the user’s wrist. However, a glove worn by the user can impede in the smartwatch’ s ability in collecting biological data. For example, the glove can be designed to cover the wrist, such that wearing the smartwatch in conjunction with the glove results in the smartwatch sensor coming in contact with the glove and not the user’s wrist. In some examples, a glove cuff can contact with the smartwatch, and movement of the user’s hand can affect the smartwatch’ s positioning and/or undesirably actuate a button or crown. In one particular example, a user wearing a golf glove and smartwatch on the same arm can experience this smartwatch shifting, in particular due to the different hand/wrist movements associated with playing golf.

SUMMARY

Gloves for securing a smartwatch are described herein. In one aspect, a glove for securing a wearable device can include a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the top surface and the bottom surface define a cavity for housing a metacarpal region of a human hand; where the top surface defines an aperture configured to receive a photoplethysmographic surface of the wearable device; and a plurality of couplings, each having a first end and a second end, where each first end is coupled to the top surface and each second end is configured to couple to a coupling of the wearable device.

This aspect can include a variety of embodiments. In one embodiment, each second end is configured to couple to a band coupling of the wearable device. In another embodiment, the top surface and the bottom surface further define the cavity to house one or more fingers of the human hand.

In another embodiment, the top surface and the bottom surface further define the cavity to house a wrist portion of the human hand. In some cases, the glove can further include strap coupled to a portion of the top surface, the bottom surface, or both, and adjacent to a wrist portion of the cavity, where the strap comprises a bottom surface having a coupler configured to couple to a corresponding coupler of the top surface. In some cases, the coupler of the strap and the coupler of the top surface includes a hook-and-loop system, a snap-button system, a button- and-buttonhole system, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the strap is coupled to the top surface via stitching.

In one embodiment, the glove can further include a set of breathable apertures defined by the top surface, the bottom surface, or both.

In one embodiment, the glove can further include one or more portions of reinforcing fabric coupled to the bottom surface.

In one embodiment, the glove is a golf glove.

In another aspect, a glove for securing a wearable device can include a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the top surface and the bottom surface define a cavity for housing a metacarpal region of a human hand, where the top surface defines an aperture configured to receive a photoplethysmographic surface of the wearable device; and a sleeve configured to house the wearable device, where the sleeve comprises at least a layer of plastic ( e.g ., transparent or translucent plastic) and coupled to the top surface of the main body to form a pocket.

This aspect can have a variety of embodiments. In one embodiment, the sleeve defines at least four edges, and where at least three of the four edges are coupled to the top surface of the main body.

In another embodiment, the top surface and the bottom surface further define the cavity to house one or more fingers of the human hand.

In another embodiment, the top surface and the bottom surface further define the cavity to house a wrist portion of the human hand the top surface and the bottom surface further define the cavity to house a wrist portion of the human hand. In some cases, the glove can further include a strap coupled to a portion of the top surface, the bottom surface, or both, and adjacent to a wrist portion of the cavity, and where the strap comprises a bottom surface having a coupler configured to couple to a corresponding coupler of the top surface.

In some cases, the coupler of the strap and the coupler of the top surface include a hook- and-loop system, a snap-button system, a button-and-buttonhole system, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the strap is coupled to the top surface via stitching.

In another embodiment, the glove can further include a set of breathable apertures defined by the top surface, the bottom surface, or both.

In another embodiment, the glove can further include one or more portions of reinforcing fabric coupled to the bottom surface.

In another embodiment, the glove can be a golf glove.

In another aspect, a golf glove can include a dorsal opening; and a pair of smartwatch- band adapters coupled to the glove and adapted and configured to hold a photoplethysmographic surface of a smartwatch against a dorsal surface of a wearer’s hand.

This aspect can include a variety of embodiments. In one embodiment, the golf glove allows the user to wear the smartwatch while golfing without inadvertently contacting buttons of the smartwatch.

In another embodiment, the golf glove allows the user to wear the smartwatch while golfing without inadvertently contacting a crown of the smartwatch.

In another embodiment, contact between the smartwatch and the dorsal surface of the wearer’s hand facilitates photoplethysmographic measurement of the user’s heart rate.

In another embodiment, contact between the smartwatch and the dorsal surface of the wearer’s hand facilitate golf swing measurements using accelerometers, gyroscopes, and apps included in the smartwatch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and desired objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 depicts a glove for securing a smartwatch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 depicts a glove for securing a smartwatch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts a photograph of a golf glove for securing a smartwatch, as worn by a user, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts a golf glove for securing a smartwatch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts various embodiments of brackets for securing a smartwatch to a glove, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts a glove for securing a smartwatch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DEFINITIONS

The instant invention is most clearly understood with reference to the following definitions.

As used herein, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. “About” can be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term about.

As used in the specification and claims, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing,” “having,” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like.

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, the term “or,” as used herein, is understood to be inclusive.

Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,

16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 (as well as fractions thereof unless the context clearly dictates otherwise).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Glove

A glove for securing a smartwatch is described herein. The glove can include a piece of fabric that defines a cavity for housing a wearer’s hand (e.g., for covering a user’s metacarpal region and in some cases the finger regions of the user’s hand). The glove can also define an aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a back-facing surface of a smartwatch. The aperture can be defined on a dorsal, or top, surface of the glove. The portion of the back-facing surface received by the aperture can include one or more sensors of the smartwatch, such as a photoplethysmographic sensor. When worn by a user, the one or more sensors of the smartwatch can be in physical contact with the wearer’s hand or wrist (e.g., with the skin and in optical communication with the blood vessels lying beneath the skin), while the smartwatch is secured to the glove. Further, the front-facing surface of the smartwatch can be exposed apart from the glove, which can allow the wearer to continue to utilize the features typically provided by the front face surface of smartwatches (e.g., a display screen, a touchscreen, etc.).

Couplings

The glove can also include a coupler for coupling the smartwatch to the glove. Various embodiments of a coupler can be implemented in conjunction with the glove. For example,

FIG. 1 depicts a glove 105 including a set of couplers 110-a, 110-b. The couplers 110-a, 110-b can be configured to couple to corresponding couplers of the smartwatch. For example, the couplers 110-a, 110-b can be male or female adapters configured to couple to respective complementary female or male couplers of the smartwatch. In some cases, the couplers 110-a,

110-b can be similar to couplers of a smartwatch band.

Each coupler 110-a, 110-b can also include a strap. The opposite end of each strap can be attached to the glove 105 via attachments 115-a, 115-b, which can be stitching, adhesive, and the like.

FIG. 2 depicts a glove 205 with a sleeve 210 as the smartwatch coupler. The sleeve 210 can be positioned over the aperture of the glove 205 (e.g., for receiving the back face surface of the smartwatch). The sleeve 210 can define a cavity for housing the smartwatch. The sleeve 210 can further define a plurality of edges, where at least one of the edges is coupled to the glove 205 (e.g., via stitching, adhesive, etc.). At least one other edge of the sleeve 210 can be uncoupled to the glove 205, which can allow for the smartwatch to be positioned within the cavity of the sleeve 210. The uncoupled edge can also include a lip 215 along the length of the edge, which can prevent a smartwatch in the cavity from falling out of the cavity. The sleeve 210 can also define an aperture 220, for which the front face surface of the smartwatch to be exposed from the sleeve (e.g., for display screen, touchscreen access).

FIG. 5 depicts various brackets 500 that can be implemented with a glove for securing a smartwatch The brackets 500 can be the shape of the smartwatch for securing the smartwatch. The brackets 500 can include arms 502 along the edges of the brackets 500, which can, along with a bottom surface of the bracket 500, define a gap configured for securing the smartwatch. The arms 502 can also include protrusions on distal ends of the arms, which can extend towards the center axis of the bracket. Slots 504 allow for stitching 506 to a glove or other garment. A central hole 508 allows for optical communication between the smartwatch and the wearer’s skin.

EQUIVALENTS

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The entire contents of all patents, published patent applications, and other references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.