CONNECTION MEMBER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME AND CONNECTION STRUCTURE

• US 20120156926A1
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: KATO, Kohei, AKAIKE, Fumitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/587 adhesive; fusible
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 3/005 Tapes or ribbons not otherwise provided for D03D1/0005, D03D1/0011, D03D1/06, D03D1/08, D03D1/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/04 Outerwear; Protective garments
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2503/04 Floor or wall coverings; Carpets
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/12 Vehicles D10B2505/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/12 by twisting
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/015 Heater wherein the heating element is interwoven with the textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor

Abstract

A connection member which is electrically connected to a conductive fabric having conductive threads, a method for manufacturing the connection member, and a connection structure are provided. The connection member includes a band-shaped part including conductive wires which extend in a longitudinal direction, and a connection terminal which is attached to an end portion of the conductive wires. The method includes forming an original band-shaped member by weaving while using the conductive wires for a part of warp and using at least non-conductive threads for weft; exposing the conductive wires at an end portion of the original band-shaped member;

and attaching a connection terminal to the exposed conductive wires. The connection structure includes the conductive fabric and the connection member, and the conductive wires of the connection member are electrically connected to the conductive threads exposed from the conductive fabric.

Claims

1. A connection member which is electrically connected to a conductive fabric having conductive threads, the connection member comprising:

a band-shaped part including conductive wires which extend in a longitudinal direction; and

a connection terminal which is attached to an end portion of the conductive wires.

2. The connection member according to claim 1,

wherein the band-shaped part is a woven fabric with warp and weft, and

wherein the conductive wires configures a part of the warp and at least non-conductive threads are used for the weft.

3. The connection member according to claim 2,

wherein the warp of the band-shaped part includes the conductive wires and non-conductive threads.

4. The connection member according to claim 3,

wherein a plurality of conductive wires are provided between adjacent non-conductive threads in the warp.

5. A method of manufacturing a connection member which is electrically connected to a conductive fabric having conductive threads and includes a band-shaped part including conductive wires which extend in a longitudinal direction, and a connection terminal which is attached to an end portion of the conductive wires, the method comprising:

forming an original band-shaped member by weaving while using the conductive wires for a part of warp and using at least non-conductive threads for weft;

exposing the conductive wires at an end portion of the original band-shaped member; and

attaching a connection terminal to the exposed conductive wires.

6. The method according to claim 5,

wherein in the exposing step, the conductive wires at the end portion of the original band-shaped member are exposed by unthreading the non-conductive threads woven as the weft.

7. A connection structure comprising:

a conductive fabric having conductive threads which are exposed at an end portion of the conductive fabric; and

a connection member including;

a band-shaped part including conductive wires which extend in a longitudinal direction; and

a connection terminal which is attached to an end portion of the conductive wires,

wherein the conductive wires of the connection member are electrically connected to the conductive threads exposed from the conductive fabric.