Patent · US Expired

Electrical connector configured as a fastening element

US7462035B2 · kind B2 · utility

160Cited by
37References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 27, 2005
Grant dateDec 9, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 27, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R13/5219
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. Several wearable connector embodiments are disclosed. The first, an O-ring based version, was subsequently replaced by a more mature second version, which is based on anisotropic pressure sensitive conductive elastomer. Both are snap-style, low-profile, 360°-moving, round, blind operable plug-and-play, reconfigurable wearable connectors with power/data daisy-lattice-style connectivity. A third embodiment comprises a non-conductive elastomeric environmental seal. A fourth embodiment utilizes a self-acting, automatic shutter-type environmental seal. A fifth embodiment comprises a smaller version that resembles a conventional snap fastener commonly used on clothing. The inventive technology will benefit the military and public safety personnel such as police, fire, EMT and other services that require special protective clothing integrated with multiple electronic devices. Other applications include special clothing for the disabled, prisoners, the mentally ill and…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.