Non-toxic fabric conductors and method for making same

• US 5,371,326 A
• Filed: 08/31/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clearwater Design, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cindy Clearwaters-Dreager, Thomas N. Dreager
• Inventors: Dreager, Thomas N., Clearwaters-Dreager, Cindy
• Primary Examiner(s): NIMMO, MORRIS
• Application Number:
  US08/114,611
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 174/128.1, 174/126.1, 174/126.2, 174/256, 174/257, 428/281, 428/283, 428/295, 428/240, 428/244
• US Class Current: 174/128.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/16 comprising conductive material in insulating or poorly conductive material, e.g. conductive rubber H01B1/14, H01B1/20 take precedence; insulating bodies with conductive admixtures H01B17/64; conductive paints C09D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/095 for polymer thick films, i.e. having a permanent organic polymeric binder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2426 Elemental carbon containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/273 Coating or impregnation provides wear or abrasion resistance

Abstract

An electrical conductor and method of making same is disclosed whereby the conductor is particularly suited for use in soft children'"'"'s toys because it is washable, non-toxic, safe, durable and crumple-resistant. The conductor is comprised of a nonwoven material which has been impregnated with conductive ink to form electric circuits within the fiber of the material. The circuits conduct currents sufficient to drive a plurality of detachable integrated circuits which are actuated by the pressing of pressure-sensitive switches which touch two conductive fabric traces to complete a circuit. Additionally, the conductors may be designed to have different resistances and combined within a circuit to form electric components capable of controlling and directing the flow of current.

Claims

1. An electrical conductor comprising a nonwoven fabric base saturated with a heat-cured conductive mixture, the conductive mixture comprising a mixture of a latex vehicle with carbon particles.

2. The electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric base is selected from a group consisting of felt and pellon.

3. The electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the conductive mixture comprises carbon in a one to ten percent loading range in a water-based latex with a plurality of organic, ionic or non-ionic surfactants but without volatile organics.

4. The electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is wash-resistant.

5. The electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is non-toxic.

6. The electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is crumple-resistant.

7. The electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is combined with a plurality of other electrical conductors as defined in claim 1 to form an electric component capable of directing or controlling an electric current flow.