Electrical connector configured as a fastening element

• US 20070105404A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisense Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
• Inventors: Forrester, Thomas, Jannson, Tomasz, Lee, Kang, Kostrzewski, Andrew, Levin, Eugene, Savant, Gajendra
• Granted Patent: US 7,556,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/37
• 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: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/04 using electrically conductive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/06 Riveted connections by explosion H01R4/08

Abstract

An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. The first, an O-ring based version, was subsequently replaced by a more mature second version, which is based on anisotropic pressure sensitive conductive elastomer. Both are snap-style, low-profile, 360°-moving, round, blind operable plug-and-play, reconfigurable wearable connectors with power/data daisy-lattice-style connectivity. A third embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal. A fourth embodiment utilizes a self-acting, automatic shutter-type environmental seal. A fifth embodiment comprises a smaller version that resembles a conventional snap fastener commonly used on clothing. The inventive technology will benefit the military and public safety personnel such as police, fire, EMT and other services that require special protective clothing integrated with multiple electronic devices. Other applications include special clothing for the disabled, prisoners, the mentally ill and children. A non-wearable embodiment is used to provide evidence of tampering of a container.

Claims

1. A connector in combination with a system for rendering a carton tamper evident, the system having at least one set of conductive resistance paths distributed throughout the wall of the carton, the connector comprising:

a male connector element and a female connector element, said elements being mated upon closure of the carton;

said conductive resistance paths being connected to at least one of said elements, the resistance of said resistance paths being altered by intrusive tampering of said carton;

said connector having a device for detecting said resistance altering.

2. The connector recited in claim 1 wherein said detecting device comprises a Wheatstone bridge and said resistance forms at least one arm of said bridge.

3. The connector recited in claim 1 further comprising an alarm for indicating altered resistance detected by said device.

4. The connector recited in claim 3 further comprising an RFID tag for communicating said alarm indication externally of said carton.

5. A connector affixed to a carton for use in a system for indicating intrusive tampering of the carton;

the connector comprising;

a pair of matable connector elements configured to be mated upon closure of the carton;

at least one of said elements connected to a network of resistive electrical paths distributed throughout the wall of the carton; and

a detector for detecting a change in the resistance of said resistive electrical paths.

6. The connector recited in claim 5 further comprising an indicator for indicating a detected change in resistance.

7. The connector recited in claim 6 further comprising a communication device for communicating a detected change in resistance to a location outside the carton.

8. The connector recited in claim 5 wherein said resistive electrical paths comprise conductive ink having a selected resistivity.

9. The connector recited in claim 5 wherein said detector comprises a Wheatstone bridge and wherein said network forms at least one resistance arm of said bridge.

10. The connector recited in claim 6 wherein said indicator comprises a digital latch.

11. The connector recited in claim 7 wherein said communication device comprises an RFID tag.

12. The connector recited in claim 9 further comprising at least one battery providing a voltage source for said Wheatstone bridge.

13. The connector recited in claim 8 wherein said resistivity of said conductive ink electrical paths exhibits a substantially binary resistive profile whereby a resistance change is detected only when a path is broken.