Electrical garment and electrical garment and article assemblies

• US 8,308,489 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisense Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Kang S., Forrester, Thomas, Gans, Eric, Walter, Kevin Carl, Silvestris, David J., Jannson, Tomasz
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/259,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 439/37, 2 6/9
• US Class Current: 439/37
• 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: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6585 Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness

Abstract

Electrical garments and components for use in electrical garments are provided. A communication medium of various forms is integrated into a garment seam that is used to join two or more portions of a garment. The communication media can be used to provide electrical or other electromagnetic connection for coupling among a plurality of electrical devices associated with the garment. Accordingly, the electrical garment can be configured for a plurality of uses, applications and environments, depending on the electrical devices associated therewith. The electrical devices can be configured to be attached to or integrated with the garment in a releasable fashion or in a more permanent configuration. The electrical devices can be chosen for their desired functionality and interconnected with the communication media, which is at least partially integrated within the garment seams. Additional embodiments provide an electronic connector suitable for use with seams incorporating electronic wiring. The connector provides additional flexibility in constructing the electric garment as additional items may be incorporated into the electronic capabilities of the garment.

Claims

1. A communicative textile seam conduit, comprising:

first and second textile portions;

fastening elements configured to join the first and second textile portions to create a seam;

communication media disposed within the seam and configured to provide electromagnetic connectivity, between a plurality of electrical devices; and

EMI/RFI shielding at least partially surrounding the communication media and disposed partially or completely within the seam.

2. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, wherein the first and second textile portions are different panels of the garment.

3. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, wherein the first and second textile portions are different portions of a same panel of the garment.

4. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, wherein the fastening elements comprise stitching.

5. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, wherein the EMI/RFI shielding comprises a tubular conductive material.

6. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, wherein the EMI/RFI shielding comprises a plurality of portions of conductive material stitched or otherwise joined so as to partially or completely surround the communication media.

7. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, wherein the EMI/RFI shielding comprises conductive fabric or a metallic mesh.

8. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed at least partially within the seam.

9. The communicative textile seam conduit of claim 1, further comprising a temperature controlling medium disposed at least partially within the seam.

10. A communicative textile seam conduit, comprising:

first and second textile portions;

fastening elements configured to join the first and second textile portions to create a seam;

communication media disposed within the seam and configured to provide electromagnetic connectivity between a plurality of electrical devices; and

an antenna disposed at least partially within the seam.

11. An electrical garment, comprising:

a plurality of textile portions;

fastening elements configured to join the plurality of textile portions to create the garment, the fastening elements creating a seam at the junction of two or more of the textile portions;

communication media disposed within the seam and configured to provide electromagnetic connectivity between a plurality of electrical devices; and

EMI/RFT shielding at least partially surrounding the communication media and disposed partially or completely within the seam.

12. The electrical garment of claim 11, wherein the first and second textile portions are different panels of the garment.

13. The electrical garment of claim 11, wherein the first and second textile portions are different portions of a same panel of the garment.

14. The electrical garment of claim 11, wherein the fastening elements comprise stitching.

15. The electrical garment of claim 11, wherein the EMI/RFI shielding comprises a tubular conductive material.

16. The electrical garment of claim 11, wherein the EMI/RFI shielding comprises a plurality of portions of conductive material stitched or otherwise joined so as to partially or completely surround the communication media.

17. The electrical garment of claim 11 wherein the EMI/RFI shielding comprises conductive fabric or a metallic mesh.

18. The electrical garment of claim 11, further comprising a heat sink disposed at least partially within the seam.

19. The electrical garment of claim 11, further comprising a temperature controlling medium disposed at least partially within the seam.

20. The electrical garment of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of electrical devices attached to the garment and electrically coupled to the communication media.

21. An electrical garment, comprising:

a plurality of textile portions;

fastening elements configured to join the plurality of textile portions to create the garment, the fastening elements creating a seam at the junction of two or more of the textile portions;

communication media disposed within the seam and configured to provide electromagnetic connectivity between a plurality of electrical devices; and

an antenna disposed at least partially within the seam.

22. An electrical garment, comprising:

a plurality of textile portions;

fastening elements configured to join the plurality of textile portions to create the garment, the fastening elements creating a seam at the junction of two or more of the textile portions;

communication media disposed within the seam and configured to provide electromagnetic connectivity between a plurality of electrical devices;

electrical connectors for providing electromagnetic connectivity between the seam and an additional textile portion; and

EMI/RFI shielding at least partially surrounding the communication media and disposed partially or completely within the seam.

23. The electrical garment of claim 22, wherein the first and second textile portions are different panels of the garment.

24. The electrical garment of claim 22, wherein the first textile portion is a panel of the garment and the second textile portion is a separate garment.

25. The electrical garment of claim 22, wherein the seam incorporates an electrical connector.

26. An electrical garment, comprising:

a plurality of textile portions;

fastening elements configured to join the plurality of textile portions to create the garment, the fastening elements creating a seam at the junction of two or more of the textile portions;

communication media disposed within the seam and configured to provide electromagnetic connectivity between a plurality of electrical devices;

electrical connectors for providing electromagnetic connectivity between the seam and an additional textile portion; and

an antenna disposed at least partially within the seam.