Apple obtains new patent on 'Smart Garments'

Patented tech looks similar to that used in Nike + iPod Sport Kit

While we at VatorNews are some of the biggest champions for Apple products around, I have to confess that this newest one just sounds kind of odd.

Apple obtained a method patent for "Smart Garments" Tuesday. Sounds good, right? Well, hold on, because the actual application of the patented tech is to measure the amount of wear and tear incurred in these "Smart Garments" during exercise and report this information back to a central database, so the user can be notified when its time to replace them.

Yes, you heard that right. Apple got a patent on gym clothes that tell you when they're worn out. Ooookay?

Other aspects of this technology seem slightly more useful. As applied to footwear, this technology as embedded in shoes would create a user profile, which can feed back messages to the user if his or her running style is becoming inconsistent with the norm, as well as suggest a more appropriate running style.

Another application mentioned in the patent is matching the user's "wear pattern," or the manner in which he or she wears out garments, which as we all know can vary from person to person, with certain garments that will reflect this data. Our best guess for using this tech would be, if you wear out the underarms of your running shirts, this tech suggests that you purchase shirts with reinforced underarms, and so forth.

However, this tech isn't really new in any way that we can tell right away. Apple already has something like this in its Nike + iPod Sport Kit, which pairs sensors embedded in Nike+ shoes with a performance readout in the user's iPod or iPhone.

One Engadget report speculates that Apple might be sidestepping their deal with Nike to create their own shoe, which Engadget surmises probably wouldn't make the good people at Nike too very happy. Even more interesting about this speculation, however, is the thought of what these Apple-manufactured clothes might look like.

We're guessing Apple's first collection will feature some variation on a sleek, simple design with high functionality?