CN1890855A - A garment including an inductive button and buttonhole - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a button (12) and buttonhole (6) adapted to inductively transfer power within a garment. The garment includes a buttonhole including a first coil and button including a second coil. The button disposed within the buttonhole enables electrical power to be transferred between the first and second coil. In one example, the button is attached to the garment (10) and the buttonhole is attached to a second garment (4). In another example, the button is included on a power supply and the power supply is removably attached to the garment by placing the button within the buttonhole.

Description

Clothing including sensor buttons and buttonholes

The present invention relates generally to wearable electronic devices and, more particularly, to a button and buttonhole adapted for inductively transferring power within a garment for wearable electronic applications.

Wearable electronics include those that integrate electronic components with fabrics and clothing. Examples of these are Walkmans, Heart Rate Monitors, Biofeedback Sensors, Headphones, Data Line Connectors, Microprocessors, Computerized Components, etc. In most of the above examples, it is desirable to have a quick and safe electrical connection. This is especially true in the case of connecting the power supply to the fabric circuit.

When connecting power to fabric circuits, the physical connection is often used as a metal contact. The use of metal contacts in wearable electronics presents a problem. First, these metal contacts can be oxidized or otherwise affected by environmental conditions or during cleaning. To avoid such damage, the metal contacts have to be sealed. However, sealing such electrical contacts is often difficult and expensive.

The present invention proposes a button and buttonhole suitable for inductively transferring power in clothing. The garment includes a buttonhole including a first loop and a button including a second loop. A button placed in the buttonhole allows power to be transferred between the first and second coils. In one example, the button is attached to the garment and the buttonhole is attached to the second garment. In another example, a button is included on the power supply, and the power supply is removably attached to the garment by placing the button in the buttonhole.

Looking now at the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an example of a garment including induction buttons and buttonholes according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the sensor buttonhole used in the example of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor button used in the example in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor button and buttonhole used in the example of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is another example of a garment including sensor buttons and buttonholes according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is a top view of the sensor buttonhole used in the example in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor button used in the example in Figure 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor button and buttonhole used in the example of FIG. 5 .

An example of a garment comprising sensor buttons and buttonholes according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 . In this example, the induction buttons and buttonholes are used to transfer power between the outer garments 10,4. As can be seen, induction buttonholes 6 are included on the garment 4 . Conductive pathways 8 are also included on the garment 4 . The conductive pathway 8 electrically connects the sensor buttonhole 6 to an electrical device (not shown) such as a walkman, MP3 player, lighting device, radio, or the like. This therefore enables power to be supplied from the sensor buttonhole 6 to the electrical device via the conductive path 8 . The electrical device is also preferably removably attached to the outer garment 4 .

As can also be seen, sensor buttons 12 are included on the undergarment 10 . The power source 16 is removably attached to the undergarment 10 . In one example, the power source 16 is a plastic molded case including disposable or rechargeable batteries. During operation, power supply 16 provides power to operate the electrical device. Another conductive pathway 14 is also included on the underwear 10 to electrically connect the sensor button 12 to the power source 16 . This therefore allows power to be transferred from the power source 16 to the sensor button 12 through the conductive path 14 .

During operation, the sensor button 12 is placed in the sensor buttonhole 6 to transfer power from the underwear 10 to the outer garment 4 . Accordingly, power will be transferred from the power source 16 to the sensor button 12 through the conductive path 14 . The power supplied to the sensor button 12 is transmitted to the sensor button hole 6 by induction. In addition, the power transmitted to the sensor buttonhole 6 is supplied to the electric device through the conductive path 8 .

A top view of the sensor buttonhole is shown in Figure 2. As can be seen, the sensor buttonhole 6 includes a coil 18 integrated into the fabric of the garment 4 . The coil 18 preferably consists of conductive fibers woven into the fabric of the garment 4 . Examples of suitable conductive fibers include stainless steel or silver plated synthetic fibers. Protruding from the coil 18 is a conductive path 8 . As previously mentioned, the conductive path 8 electrically connects the sensor buttonhole 6 to an electrical device at the other end. This conductive path 8 preferably also consists of conductive fibers woven into the fabric of the garment 4 .

A cross-sectional view of the sensor button is shown in Figure 3. As can be seen, the induction button 12 includes a coil 20 integrated into the material of the button 12 . This coil 20 may in particular consist of thin wires or conductive fibers included in the material from which the button 12 is molded. As can also be seen, the sensor button 12 is attached to the garment 10 at one end of the conductive path 14 . As previously described, the conductive pathway 14 electrically connects the sensor button 12 to a power source. The conductive path 14 preferably also consists of conductive fibers woven into the fabric of the undergarment.

A cross-sectional view of the sensor button and buttonhole is shown in FIG. 4 . As can be seen, the sensor button 12 is placed in the sensor button hole 6 . Thus, any voltage applied across the coil 20 of the button 12 will be induced into the coil 18 of the buttonhole 6 . Accordingly, power is inductively transferred between the induction button 12 and the buttonhole 6 .

Furthermore, according to the present application, the voltage induced between the coils 18, 20 can be raised, lowered or kept the same depending on the number of turns of each coil 18, 20. For example, if the voltage remains the same, each coil 18, 20 will have the same number of turns. Optionally, the coil 18 in the buttonhole 6 will have more turns if the voltage needs to rise.

In the example of FIG. 1 , sensor buttonholes 6 are included on outer garment 4 and sensor buttons 12 are included on underwear 10 . It should be noted, however, that other configurations are contemplated by the present invention. For example, sensor buttonholes may be included on underwear and sensor buttons on outerwear. In addition, induction buttonholes and buttonholes may also be included on a single garment.

Another example of a garment including sensor buttons and buttonholes according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 . In this example, power is delivered within a single garment 22 . Furthermore, a sensor button 30 is included in the power supply 29 . Accordingly, the power supply 29 can be removably attached to the garment 22 by placing the sensor button 30 into the sensor buttonhole 28, as shown.

As can be seen, sensor buttonholes 28 are included on garment 22 . Conductive pathways 24 are also included on garment 22 . The conductive pathway 22 electrically connects the sensor buttonhole 28 to an electrical device 26 also attached to the garment 22 . This therefore enables power to be supplied from the sensor buttonhole 6 to the electrical device 26 through the conductive path 24 . The electrical device 26 can be a walkman, MP3 player, lighting device, radio. Preferably the electrical device 26 is removably attached to the garment 22 .

During operation, sensor button 30 is placed in sensor buttonhole 28 to transfer power from power source 29 to garment 22 . Therefore, power from the power source 29 will be supplied to the sensor button 30 . The power supplied to the sensor button 30 is inductively transmitted to the sensor button hole 28 . Additionally, power delivered to the sensor buttonhole 30 is supplied to the electrical device 26 through the conductive channel 24 .

A top view of the sensor buttonhole is shown in Figure 6. As can be seen, the sensor buttonhole 28 includes a loop 32 that is integrally integrated into the fabric of the garment 22 . The coil 32 is also preferably composed of conductive fibers woven into the fabric of the garment 22 . Extending from the coil 32 is a conductive path 24 . As previously described, the conductive pathway 24 electrically connects the sensor buttonhole 28 to the electrical device. The conductive pathway 24 is preferably also composed of conductive fibers woven into the fabric of the garment 22 .

A cross-sectional view of the sensor button is shown in FIG. 7 . As can be seen, a sensor button 30 is included in the power supply 29 . Therefore, the sensor button 30 is preferably integrally molded with the power supply 29 . The power supply 29 may be configured to hold a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery. The induction button 30 includes a coil 34 integrally integrated into the material of the button 30 . This coil 34 may in particular consist of thin wires or conductive fibers included in the material from which the button 30 is molded. Furthermore, this coil 34 is electrically connected to the battery of the power source 29 through electrical contacts and wires.

A cross-sectional view of the sensor button and buttonhole is shown in FIG. 8 . As can be seen, the sensor button 30 is placed in the sensor button hole 28 . Accordingly, any voltage applied across the coil 34 of the button 30 will be induced into the coil 32 of the buttonhole 28 . Accordingly, power is inductively transferred between the sensor button 30 and the buttonhole 28 . Furthermore, according to the present application, the voltage induced between the coils 34, 32 can be increased, decreased or kept the same depending on the number of turns of each coil 34, 32.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise structures or configurations disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited by the detailed description.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. A garment comprising: a buttonhole comprising a first coil; a button comprising a second coil; and wherein said button placed in said buttonhole allows electrical power to flow between the first and second coils transfer. 2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a conductive pathway extending from the buttonhole. 3. The garment of claim 2, further comprising an electrical device removably attached thereto. 4. The garment of claim 3, wherein the electrical device is connected to the conductive pathway. 5. The garment of claim 2, wherein the conductive pathways comprise conductive fibers woven into the fabric of the garment. 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first loop comprises conductive fibers woven into a fabric of the garment. 7. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a conductive pathway extending from the button. 8. The garment of claim 6, further comprising a power source removably attached thereto. 9. The garment of claim 7, wherein the power source is connected to the conductive pathway. 10. The garment of claim 1, said second coil comprising conductive fibers or wires integrated into said button. 11. The garment of claim 1, wherein the button is included on a power source, and the power source is removably attached to the garment by placing the button in the buttonhole. 12. The garment of claim 1, wherein the buttons are attached to the garment and the buttonholes are attached to a second garment. 13. A method of transmitting electrical power within a garment, comprising: providing a buttonhole comprising a first coil; providing a button comprising a second coil; and placing said button in said buttonhole to operate between first and Power is transferred between the second coils. 14. A method of transferring electrical power between a first garment and a second garment, comprising: providing a buttonhole on the first garment comprising a first loop; providing a button on the second garment comprising a second loop; and The button is placed in the buttonhole to transfer power between the first and second coils.

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