Electric garment

• US 10,178,882 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Yue
• Original Assignee: Steven Yue
• Inventors: Yue, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US15/132,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 219211, 219212, 219494, 219497, 219483, 219496
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/00 Hosiery; Panti-hose elastic stockings for curative purposes A61F13/08
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/06 Trousers
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0041 for connecting the glove to the garment or the arm of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0272 For heating of fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles

Abstract

An electric garment includes an article of clothing, a first electrical device attached to the article of clothing, and a retractable connector assembly. The retractable connector assembly includes an electric cord electrically connected to the first electrical device, a first connector, and a retractable unit that includes an elastic member connected to the electric cord. The first connector is movable relative to the article of clothing between a concealed position and an exposed position. When the first connector is moved from the concealed position to the exposed position, the elastic member is deformed for generating a restoring force to move the first connector back to the concealed position.

Claims

1. An electric garment adapted to be worn by a wearer, said electric garment comprising:

an article of clothing including a clothing main body and two limb parts, at least one of said limb parts being formed with a slit;

a first electrical device attached to said article of clothing; and

a retractable connector assembly, including;

an electric cord that is electrically connected to said first electrical device, and that is at least partially received in said slit;

a first connector that is electrically connected to said electric cord, wherein the first connector is movable relative to said article of clothing between a concealed position, where said first connector is concealed within said at least one of said limb parts and located outside of said slit, and an exposed position, where said first connector is exposed from said at least one of said limb parts; and

a retractable unit that includes an elastic member connected to said electric cord, wherein when said first connector is moved from the concealed position to the exposed position, said elastic member is deformed for generating a restoring force to move said first connector back to the concealed position,

wherein the electric cord is configured to allow electricity to be transmitted from the first electrical device to the first connector.

2. The electric garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member is configured as an elastic strap.

3. The electric garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said elastic member has a first end that is proximate to said first connector, and a second end that is distal from said first connector and that is fixedly disposed in said slit.

4. The electric garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retractable unit further includes a fixing member that fixes said first end of said elastic member to an end of said electric cord which is proximate to said first connector.

5. The electric garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retractable connector assembly further includes an extension cord that electrically interconnects said electric cord and said first connector.

6. The electric garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electric cord and said extension cord are integrally formed.

7. The electric garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said limb parts of said article of clothing is a sleeve, said second end of said elastic member being fixed in said slit at a position that corresponds to a shoulder of the wearer.

8. The electric garment as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said limb parts of said article of clothing is a sleeve, said second end of said elastic member being fixed in said slit at a position that corresponds to an elbow of the wearer.

9. The electric garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member of said retractable unit is configured as a helical electric wire that electrically interconnects said electric cord and said first connector.

10. The electric garment as claimed in claim 9, wherein said retractable unit further includes a fixing member that fixes an end of said elastic member, which is distal from said first connector, to said article of clothing.

11. The electric garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a wearable accessory that is adapted to be worn on one of two hands of the wearer which is adjacent to said slit of said at least one of said limb parts;

a second electrical device that is attached to said wearable accessory; and

a second connector that is electrically connected to said second electrical device, and that is operable to be connected to said first connector so as to permit electricity to be transmitted from said first electrical device to said second electrical device.

12. The electric garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said article of clothing is an upper garment, each of said limb parts of said article of clothing being a sleeve, said wearable accessory being a glove.

13. The electric garment as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said at least one of said limb parts includes an inner lining layer and an outer cloth layer that surrounds said inner lining layer and that cooperates with said inner lining layer to define said slit therebetween; and

said article of clothing further includes a glove-resembling portion that is connected to said inner lining layer, that is disposed at a position corresponding to a cuff of said at least one of said limb parts, and that is formed with a through hole adapted for a thumb of the wearer to extend therethrough.

14. The electric garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a wearable accessory that is adapted to be worn on one of two feet of the wearer which is adjacent to said slit of said at least one of said limb parts;

a second electrical device that is attached to said wearable accessory; and

a second connector that is electrically connected to said second electrical device, and that is operable to be connected to said first connector so as to permit electricity to be transmitted from said first electrical device to said second electrical device.

15. The electric garment as claimed in claim 14, wherein said article of clothing is a pair of pants, each of said limb parts of said article of clothing being a pant leg, said wearable accessory being a sock.

16. The electric garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said first electrical device includes a power supply and at least one electric-heating element that is electrically connected to said power supply; and

said second electrical device includes an electric-heating element that is powered by said power supply when said first connector is connected to said second connector at the exposed position.

17. The electric garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slit has an exit end adjacent to a cuff of said at least one of said limb parts, said first connector being shaped so as to prevent said first connector from entering into said slit via said exit end.

18. The electric garment as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first connector is L-shaped.