Wearable article with removable module

• US 10,455,867 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Donohoe, Brendan, Fockele, Alice, Kash, Brian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US15/951,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20180295897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

An assembly includes a housing having a receptacle defining a chamber and an opening on a top side of the receptacle providing access to the chamber, such that the receptacle receives an electronic module within the chamber. First and second contact members have first and second contact pads, respectively, positioned outside the chamber on an underside of the receptacle opposite the top side and first and second arms, respectively extending from the first and second contact pads through a wall of the receptacle to form first and second electrical contacts exposed within the chamber. The first and second contact pads each have widths that are enlarged relative to the first and second arms, respectively. The first electrical contact and the second electrical contact form an interface exposed within the chamber and configured for removable electronic connection to a connector of the module when the module is received in the chamber.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a receptacle defining a chamber and having an opening on a top side of the receptacle providing access to the chamber, such that the receptacle is configured to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber by insertion of the electronic module through the opening;

a first contact member comprising a first contact pad positioned outside the chamber on an underside of the receptacle opposite the top side, the first contact member further comprising a first arm extending from the first contact pad through a wall of the receptacle to form a first electrical contact exposed within the chamber, wherein the first contact pad has a width that is enlarged relative to the first arm; and

a second contact member comprising a second contact pad positioned outside the chamber on the underside of the receptacle adjacent to the first contact pad, the second contact member further comprising a second arm extending from the second contact pad through the wall of the receptacle to form a second electrical contact exposed within the chamber, wherein the second contact pad has a width that is enlarged relative to the second arm,

wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact form an interface exposed within the chamber and configured for removable electronic connection to a connector of the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a carrier engaged with the receptacle such that the carrier is received within a cavity in the receptacle, wherein the first and second contact members are engaged with the carrier such that the carrier supports the first and second electrical contacts to be exposed within the chamber.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the carrier includes a first slot and a second slot that is parallel to and alongside the first slot, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are in the form of contact springs, and wherein the first electrical contact is positioned within the first slot and the second electrical contact is positioned within the second slot, such that the first and second slots provide room for the first and second electrical contacts to flex upward when engaged by the connector of the electronic module.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the cavity in the receptacle is open to an exterior of the receptacle.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the carrier includes a retaining tab and the receptacle includes an engaging surface, and wherein the retaining tab engages the engagement surface to retain the carrier within the cavity.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second arms form a 180°

bend between the first and second contact pads and the first and second electrical contacts.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an insulative material covering the first and second contact pads and portions of the underside of the receptacle adjacent to the first and second contact pads.

8. A system comprising a wearable article with the assembly of claim 1 mounted on the wearable article such that the first and second contact pads are located on an inner side of the wearable article, wherein the wearable article further comprises an electrically-powered component and conductive leads extending from the first and second contact pads to the electrically-powered component.

9. An assembly comprising:

a housing comprising;

a receptacle defining a chamber and having an opening providing access to the chamber, such that the receptacle is configured to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber by insertion of the electronic module through the opening; and

a carrier engaged with the receptacle such that the carrier is received within a cavity in the receptacle;

a first contact member comprising a first arm extending from an exterior of the receptacle into the chamber to form a first electrical contact exposed within the chamber, wherein the first contact member is engaged with the carrier such that the carrier supports the first electrical contact to be exposed within the chamber; and

a second contact member comprising a second arm extending from the exterior of the receptacle into the chamber to form a second electrical contact exposed within the chamber, wherein the second contact member is engaged with the carrier such that the carrier supports the second electrical contact to be exposed within the chamber,

wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact form an interface exposed within the chamber and configured for removable electronic connection to a connector of the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the carrier includes a first slot and a second slot that is parallel to and alongside the first slot, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are in the form of contact springs, and wherein the first electrical contact is positioned within the first slot and the second electrical contact is positioned within the second slot, such that the first and second slots provide room for the first and second electrical contacts to flex upward when engaged by the connector of the electronic module.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cavity in the receptacle is open to an exterior of the receptacle.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the carrier includes a retaining tab and the receptacle includes an engaging surface, and wherein the retaining tab engages the engagement surface to retain the carrier within the cavity.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first contact member further comprises a first contact pad located outside the chamber adjacent an outer surface of the receptacle, such that the first arm extends from the first contact pad to the first electrical contact, and wherein the second contact member further comprises a second contact pad located outside the chamber adjacent the outer surface of the receptacle, such that the second arm extends from the second contact pad to the second electrical contact.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the carrier comprises a base exposed to the exterior of the receptacle, a neck extending upward from the base into the cavity, and a shelf extending from the neck into the chamber, wherein the shelf is positioned adjacent the first and second electrical contacts.

15. A system comprising a wearable article with the assembly of claim 9 mounted on the wearable article such that the first and second arms extend to an inner side of the wearable article, wherein the wearable article further comprises an electrically-powered component and conductive leads extending from the first and second contact members to the electrically-powered component.

16. An assembly comprising:

a housing comprising;

a receptacle defining a chamber and having an opening providing access to the chamber, such that the receptacle is configured to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber by insertion of the electronic module through the opening; and

a carrier engaged with the receptacle such that the carrier is received within a cavity in the receptacle, wherein the carrier has a first post and a second post projecting outward from the carrier;

a first contact member having a first electrical contact exposed within the chamber, wherein the first contact member is engaged with the carrier such that the carrier supports the first electrical contact to be exposed within the chamber, and wherein the first post of the carrier is press-fit into a first receiver in the first contact member to connect the first contact member to the carrier; and

a second contact member having a second electrical contact exposed within the chamber, wherein the second contact member is engaged with the carrier such that the carrier supports the second electrical contact to be exposed within the chamber, and wherein the second post of the carrier is press-fit into a second receiver in the second contact member to connect the second contact member to the carrier,

wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact form an interface exposed within the chamber and configured for removable electronic connection to a connector of the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the carrier includes a first slot and a second slot that is parallel to and alongside the first slot, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are in the form of contact springs, and wherein the first electrical contact is positioned within the first slot and the second electrical contact is positioned within the second slot, such that the first and second slots provide room for the first and second electrical contacts to flex upward when engaged by the connector of the electronic module.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the cavity in the receptacle is open to an exterior of the receptacle.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the carrier includes a retaining tab and the receptacle includes an engaging surface, and wherein the retaining tab engages the engagement surface to retain the carrier within the cavity.

20. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the first contact member further comprises a first contact pad located outside the chamber adjacent an outer surface of the receptacle and a first arm extending from the first contact pad to the first electrical contact, and wherein the second contact member further comprises a second contact pad located outside the chamber adjacent the outer surface of the receptacle and a second arm extending from the second contact pad to the second electrical contact.

21. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the carrier comprises a base exposed to the exterior of the receptacle, a neck extending upward from the base into the cavity, and a shelf extending from the neck into the chamber, wherein the shelf is positioned adjacent the first and second electrical contacts.

22. A system comprising a wearable article with the assembly of claim 16 mounted on the wearable article, wherein the wearable article further comprises an electrically-powered component and conductive leads extending from the first and second contact members to the electrically-powered component.

23. A method comprising:

connecting a first contact member and a second contact member to a carrier, the first contact member comprising a first contact pad and a first arm extending from the first contact pad to form a first electrical contact, and the second contact member comprising a second contact pad and a second arm extending from the second contact pad to form a second electrical contact;

providing a receptacle defining a chamber and having an opening providing access to the chamber, such that the receptacle is configured to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber by insertion of the electronic module through the opening, the receptacle having a cavity in communication with the opening;

inserting the carrier into the cavity in the receptacle to engage the carrier with the receptacle to form a housing such that the carrier supports the first and second electrical contacts to form an interface exposed within the chamber and configured for removable electronic connection to a connector of the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber, and wherein the first arm and the second arm extend outside the receptacle such that the first contact pad and the second contact pad are positioned adjacent an outer surface of the receptacle;

connecting a first conductive lead to the first contact pad and connecting a second conductive lead to the second contact pad to place the first and second leads in electronic communication with the first and second electrical contacts, wherein the first and second conductive leads extend away from the first and second contact pads; and

covering at least the first contact pad and the second contact pad with an insulative material.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first contact pad and the second contact pad each have at least one projection, and wherein the first and second conductive leads are connected to the first and second contact pads by winding around the at least one projection.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second conductive leads are connected to the first and second contact pads by stitching.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the insulative material covers all portions of the first and second contact members positioned outside the receptacle.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the insulative material covers portions of the receptacle adjacent the first and second contact pads.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the carrier has a first post and a second post projecting outward from the carrier, and wherein the first and second contact members are connected to the carrier by press-fitting the first post of the carrier into a first receiver in the first contact member and press-fitting the second post of the carrier into a second receiver in the second contact member.