Stretchable conductive connector

• US 8,469,741 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Oster, Craig D., Carim, Hatim M., Menon, Vinod P., Bedingham, William
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US12/990,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20110065319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 439/586, 439/516, 439/371, 174/69, 174/502
• US Class Current: 439/586
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/33 Contact members made of resilient wire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A stretchable conductive connector. The conductive connector can include a viscoelastic support member having a variable length, and a conductor coupled to the support member. The conductor can include at least one bend to accommodate the variable length of the viscoelastic support member.

Claims

1. A conductive connector comprising:

a viscoelastic support member having a variable length; and

a conductor coupled to the support member, the conductor including at least one bend to accommodate the variable length of the viscoelastic support member;

wherein the viscoelastic support member exhibits plastic deformation.

2. The conductive connector of claim 1, wherein the support member is a first support member and further comprising a second support member, and wherein the conductor is coupled between the first support member and the second support member.

3. The conductive connector of claim 1, wherein the conductor is embedded in the support member.

4. The conductive connector of claim 1, wherein the support member defines an interior, and wherein the conductor is positioned within the interior of the support member.

5. The conductive connector of claim 1, wherein the conductor has at least one of a spiral configuration and a conductive thick film laminate.

6. The conductive connector of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conductive connector is at least one of radiotransparent and disposable.

7. The conductive connector of claim 1, wherein the support member includes at least one slit or weakened region.

8. A method of providing a communication pathway between two points, the method comprising:

providing a variable-length connector having a first end and a second end, the connector adapted to provide a pathway between a first point and a second point for at least one of an electromagnetic signal, an electrical signal, an acoustic signal, a mechanical signal, a thermal signal, and a chemical signal;

changing the length of the connector to provide an appropriate distance between the first point and the second point;

coupling the first end of the connector to the first point; and

coupling the second end of the connector to the second point;

wherein the variable-length connector comprises a viscoelastic support member and a conductor coupled to the support member, the conductor including at least one bend to accommodate the variable length of the viscoelastic support member, and wherein changing the length of the connector comprises plastically deforming the viscoelastic support member.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the length of the connector occurs prior to at least one of coupling the first end of the connector to the first point and coupling the second end of the connector to the second point.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the length of the connector includes changing the length of the connector a first time to provide a first distance between the first end of the connector and the second end of the connector, and further comprising changing the length of the connector a second time to provide a second distance between the first end of the connector and the second end of the connector.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the length of the connector includes lengthening the variable-length connector, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein changing the length of the connector a second time occurs after at least one of coupling the first end of the connector to the first point and coupling the second end of the connector to the second point.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the length of the variable-length connector includes shortening the variable-length connector to decrease the distance between the first end of the connector and the second end of the connector.