Mechanism for electrically connecting an electronic device to a garment

• US 6,854,988 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wright, Jeremy, Vu, Giang Truong, Van Heerden, Clive R., Marmaropoulos, George, Mama, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US10/185,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 439110-119, 439/285, 361/679, 361/683, 607/108, 2 6/9, 128/37
• US Class Current: 439/110
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector

Abstract

A mechanism for electrically connecting various electronic devices to a garment is provided. The mechanism has a sliding track adapted to support a variety of different electronic devices. The sliding track has one or more channels enabling elective electrical communication between at least one electronic device and a power source. The electronic device is adapted to be selectively supported by the sliding track such that the electronic device can slide along the sliding track. The mechanism has one or more channels having at least one conductive element disposed therein. The first conductive element is shaped to conform to one or more channels to provide an ideal electrical contact surface. The one or more channels are adapted to selectively enclose or seal the conductive element.

Claims

1. A mechanism for electrically connecting an electronic device to a garment, comprising:

a flexible sliding track operatively associated with a garment and suitable for supporting at least one electronic device,

wherein said flexible sliding track has one or more channels with at least one first conductive element disposed therein enabling selective electrical communication between said at least one electronic device and a power source.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said at least one electronic device is selectively supported by said flexible sliding track such that said electronic device can slide therealong.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein said at least one first conductive element is shaped to conform with said one or more channels to provide an ideal electrical contact surface.

4. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein said one or more channels are suitable for enclosing said at least one first conductive element.

5. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein said one or more channels are suitable for sealing said at least one first conductive element to prevent fluid from making contact therewith.

6. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein said at least one electronic device has at least one second conductive element suitable for making electrical contact with said at least one first conductive element.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein said at least one second conductive element is suitable for facilitating electrical communication with said at least one first conductive element.

8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein said at least one second conductive element is suitable for securing said at least one electronic device to said sliding track.

9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein said at least one second conductive element is adjustable via an actuator.

10. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said sliding track is permanently connected to said garment by at least one of the group consisting of (a) a knit operation, (b) a bonding operation, (c) a stitch operation, (d) an adhesive operation, (e) a mechanical operation, or (f) any combination thereof.

11. A mechanism for electrically connecting an electronic device to a garment, comprising:

a flexible sliding track operatively associated with a garment and suitable for supporting one or more electronic devices, said flexible sliding track having one or more channels with at least one conductive element therein;

one or more adapters for connecting to said flexible sliding track and/or said one or more channels;

wherein said one or more adapters facilitate mechanically and electrically connecting one or more electronic devices to said garment via said flexible sliding track.

12. The mechanism of claim 11, wherein said at least one electronic device has at least one second conductive element and wherein said adapter has at least one third conductive element suitable for connecting said at least one second conductive element with said at least one first conductive element.

13. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein one or more channels have a first and a second protective element, wherein said first and second protective elements cooperate to seal said one or more channels while simultaneously allowing for electrical communication between said at least one third conductive element of said adapter and said at least one first conductive element of said one or more channels.

14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein said first and said second protective elements are disposed between said one or more channels and said adapter, wherein said first and said second protective elements are shaped to conform with said sliding track such that said at least one first conductive element of said one or more channels is sealed to prevent fluid from making contact therewith.

15. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein said adapter is suitable for opening and closing said first and said second protective elements to allow said at least one third conductive elements to make electrical contact with said at least one first conductive element in said one or more channels.

16. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein said adapter is slidable along said sliding track such that the sealed integrity of said one or more channels is maintained while said at least one third conductive element is in electrical communication with said at least one first conductive element of said one or more channels.

17. A method for electrically connecting at least one electronic device to a garment, comprising the step of:

providing at least one flexible sliding track operatively associated with a garment and suitable for supporting at least one electronic device;

supporting said at least one electronic device on said flexible sliding track, said sliding track having at least one channel; and

enabling selective electrical communication between said at least one electronic device and a power source.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of selectively supporting said at least one electronic device on said sliding track wherein said at least one electronic device slides on said sliding track.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of enclosing a first conductive element within said at least one channel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of selectively sealing said first conductive element in said at least one channel, said at least one channel preventing fluid from entering said at least one channel.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of contacting at least one second conductive element to said at least one first conductive element in said at least one channel, said at least one second conductive element being part of said at least one electronic device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of adjusting said at least one second conductive element to facilitate electrical communication between said at least one second conductive element and said at least one first conductive element, in response thereto.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of protecting said at least one channel by providing a first protective element and a second protective element, said first protective element and said second protective element cooperating to seal said at least one channel, while simultaneously allowing for selective electrical communication between at least one third conductive element.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of electrically connecting said at least one third conductive element to said at least one first conductive element, said at least one third conductive element being part of an adapter.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of fastening said electronic device to said adapter, such that a power source may transfer electrical power through said at least one first conductive element, said at least one second conductive element and said at least one third conductive element to said at least one electronic device.