Electronic Housing and Sensor Connection Arrangement

• US 20130077263A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Under Armour Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Under Armour Incorporated
• Inventors: Kovach, F. Grant, Berns, Jason, Oleson, Mark A., Hollenbach, Samuel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,119,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/747
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip

Abstract

A garment includes a fabric portion, an electrode fixedly connected to the fabric portion, a receptacle fixedly connected to the fabric portion, and an electronics module releasably positioned in the receptacle. The receptacle includes a receptacle housing, an electrode lead, and a receptacle contact. The electrode lead is attached to the electrode. The electrode lead engages the receptacle contact to establish an electrical connection with the receptacle contact without being attached to the receptacle contact. The electronics module includes a module contact that engages the receptacle contact when the electronics module is positioned in the socket to establish an electrical connection between the module contact and the receptacle contact.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

a torso portion;

at least one electrode positioned on the torso portion;

a receptacle provided on the torso portion, the receptacle comprising a receptacle housing including a rear surface and a front surface with a socket formed in the front surface, the receptacle further comprising at least one electrode lead retained by the receptacle housing, the at least one electrode lead including a first portion connected to the at least one electrode and a second portion extending through a channel in the receptacle housing, the channel elongated in a direction that extends substantially parallel to the rear surface of the receptacle housing; and

an electronics module releasably positioned within the socket, the electronics module including at least one module contact, wherein the at least one module contact is electrically connected to the electrode lead when the electronics module is positioned within the socket.

2. The garment of claim 1, the receptacle further comprising at least one receptacle contact engaging the electrode lead, the receptacle contact further engaging the at least one module contact when the electronics module is positioned in the socket.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the at least one receptacle contact is a connection pin that is elongated in a direction that extends substantially parallel to the rear surface of the receptacle housing.

5. The garment of claim 1 wherein a socket entrance is defined by a circular lip on the front surface of the receptacle, and wherein the electronics module includes a circular groove formed in a circular sidewall, the circular lip of the receptacle engaging the circular groove when the electronics module is positioned within the socket.

6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the electrode lead includes at least one tang crimped onto the at least one electrode.

7. The garment of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the electrode lead includes a finger extending through the channel.

8. The garment of claim 7, the receptacle further comprising at least one receptacle contact engaging the electrode lead, wherein the finger is a curved finger with a substantially smooth surface that engages a domed end of the receptacle contact in a cavity of the receptacle housing.

9. The garment of claim 8 further comprising a bumper positioned in the channel, the bumper configured to urge the curved finger into engagement with the domed end of the receptacle contact.

10. The garment of claim 1 wherein the electrode lead includes a rear plate positioned against the rear surface of the receptacle housing, the first portion of the electrode lead positioned on one side of the rear plate and the second portion of the electrode lead positioned on an opposite side of the rear plate.

4. The garment of claim 4 wherein the electronics module includes a circular sidewall and the module contact extends outward from the circular sidewall.

11. A garment comprising:

a fabric portion;

an electrode fixedly connected to the fabric portion;

a receptacle fixedly connected to the fabric portion, the receptacle comprising;

a receptacle housing including a front side and a rear side with a socket defined on the front side of the receptacle housing; and

an electrode lead provided within the receptacle housing, the electrode lead including a rear plate, an electrode connector extending from the rear plate, and a finger extending from the rear plate separate from the electrode connector, the electrode connector engaging the electrode and the finger extending through a channel in the receptacle housing; and

an electronics module releasably positioned in the socket, the electronics module including a module housing with a module contact retained by the module housing, the electronics module further comprising a processor, a power device, and a transmitter positioned within the module housing, wherein the module contact is electrically connected to the electrode lead when the electronics module is positioned in the socket.

12. The garment of claim 11, the receptacle further comprising at least one receptacle contact engaging the finger of the electrode lead, the receptacle contact further engaging the at least one module contact when the electronics module is positioned in the socket.

13. The garment of claim 12 wherein the at least one receptacle contact is a connection pin that is elongated in a direction that extends substantially parallel to the rear surface of the receptacle housing.

15. The garment of claim 11 wherein a socket entrance is defined by a circular lip on the front side of the receptacle housing, and wherein the electronics module includes a circular groove formed in a circular sidewall, the circular lip of the receptacle housing engaging the circular groove when the electronics module is positioned within the socket.

16. The garment of claim 11 wherein the electrode connector includes a tang extending through a hole in the electrode and crimped onto the electrode.

17. The garment of claim 11, the receptacle further comprising at least one receptacle contact engaging the finger of the electrode lead in a cavity of the receptacle housing.

18. The garment of claim 17 further comprising a bumper positioned in the channel, the bumper configured to urge the finger into engagement with the receptacle contact.

19. The garment of claim 18 wherein the channel elongated in a direction that extends substantially parallel to a flat surface on the rear side of the receptacle housing.

14. The garment of claim 14 wherein the electronics module includes a circular sidewall and the module contact extends outward from the circular sidewall.

20. A garment comprising:

a fabric portion;

an electrode fixedly connected to the fabric portion;

a receptacle fixedly connected to the fabric portion, the receptacle comprising a receptacle housing, an electrode lead, and a receptacle contact, the electrode lead attached to the electrode, the electrode lead engaging the receptacle contact to establish an electrical connection between the electrode lead and the receptacle contact without being attached to the receptacle contact; and

an electronics module releasably positioned in the receptacle, the electronics module including a module contact, the module contact engaging the receptacle contact when the electronics module is positioned in the socket to establish an electrical connection between the module contact and the receptacle contact.