Garment electrical connector

• US 6,319,015 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Faunce
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Faunce
• Inventors: Faunce, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US09/527,795
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 439/37, 439/108, 439/409, 290/5, 290/6, 361/220, 361/886, 361/887
• US Class Current: 439/37
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/22 End pieces terminating in a spring clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/32 End pieces with two or more terminations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45775 having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment

Abstract

A connector for use with fabric, such as when formed into a garment, employs a first connector secured to the fabric and a second mating connector associated with an external device. The connectors, when joined, pass electrical signals such as audio or data signals between the external device and the garment.

Claims

1. A garment electrical connector comprising:

a support member carrying first connector portions thereon and adapted for exchanging signals with a device;

second connector portions mounted to a garment, said second connector portions adapted to electrically mate with said first connector portions, for carrying signals to and/or from said external device and to and/or from said garment,

wherein said support member comprises an elongate bar with at least one face having force member projections thereon that are normal to said face and reside between adjacent first connector portions.

2. A garment electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said first connector portion and said second connector portion together comprise snap connectors adapted for releasably engaging with one another.

3. A garment electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said snap connectors comprise gold connectors.

4. A garment electrical connector according to claim 3 wherein said garment has a first side and a second side wherein said second connector is mounted on the first side of said garment by non-releasable attachment to a mounting member which is mounted on said second side of said garment,and wherein said garment is made of cloth that is compressible and resilient to ensure contact between said first connector portion and said second connector portion.

5. A garment electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said mounting member is non-releasably attached to a planar electrical distribution substrate.

6. A garment electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said mounting member and said planar electrical distribution substrate are supported between layers of fabric.

7. A garment electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein said first connector, said second connector and said mounting member are plated with an electrically conductive material.

8. A garment electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein said electrically conductive material is gold.

9. A garment electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein one of said first and second connector portions comprises plural biased connection members and the other of said first and second connector portions comprises corresponding plural connection pads for receiving said plural biased connection members thereagainst.

10. A garment electrical connector according to claim 9 wherein said first and second connector portions further comprise mating snap members.