Stretchable fabric switch

• US 7,388,166 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• 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: Pulford, Katharine, Marmaropoulos, George, Vu, Giang Truong
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHMAN, MARINA
• Application Number:
  US10/560,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 200 6113- 6119, 200 6141- 6144, 200/52.R, 200/85.A, 200/85.R, 200/86.A, 200/86.R, 200511-514
• US Class Current: 200/52.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/56 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/061 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/0085 Layered switches integrated into garment, clothes or textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/10 in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern

Abstract

The present invention provides a stretchable fabric that may serve as a switch device or coupling to an electronic device and a power source by merely stretching or pushing the fabric. The stretchable fabrics may be usable in a wearable garment, furniture, or other suitable locations where it can be incorporated to close a circuit. Through a releasable stretching or pushing action by the user, electrically conductive strips integrated in the fabrics come in contact to activate related ancillary equipment such as power supplies or electronic devices.

Claims

1. A fabric switch comprising:

an inner cord including at least two conductive cords releasably connected in linear series; and

a non-conductive cord enclosing said inner cord,

wherein said non-conductive cord is stretchable to release the contact between said at least two conductive cord electrically, and

wherein said non-conductive cord is resilient to enable the contact between said at least two conductive cords to be resumed electrically.

2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the material of said non-conductive cord defines a moisture-resistant enclosure for said inner cord.

3. The switch of claim 1, wherein said inner cord and said non-conductive cord are shaped in a loop form.

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein said inner cord is coupled to a fabric circuit integrated in a garment.

5. The switch of claim 1, wherein said inner cord serves as a coupling to an electronic device.

6. The switch of claim 1, wherein said inner cord serves as a coupling to a power source.

7. The switch of claim 1, wherein said inner cord engages and supports ancillary units to transmit electronic signals.

8. The switch of claim 1, wherein said inner cord is coupled to a fabric circuit integrated in furniture.

9. A method for permitting a person to activate a fabric switch, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an inner cord including at least two conductive cords releasably connected in linear series and a non-conductive cord enclosing said inner cord;

mounting both said inner cord and said non-conductive cords to a garment or furniture;

stretching said non-conductive cord to release the contact between said at least two conductive cords,

releasing said non-conductive cord to enable contact between said at least two conductive cords to be resumed electrically.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of protecting said inner cord from ambient conditions by enclosing it in said nonconductive cord having a moisture-resistant material.