Patent Publication Number: US-9893478-B2

Title: Slide connector for electrically connecting module to wearable device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a slide connector, and particularly to a slide connector that is to be connected to a wearable device. 
     In recent years, so-called wearable devices, in which terminal devices such as various sensors and communication devices operate as being worn by a user, have attracted attention. Such a wearable device is electrically connected to a device like a measuring device or a power source to be used to transmit detected information or to receive power supply. While the electrical connection can be established via a connector attached to a garment, the connection via a connector has to be disconnected, for example, when the wearable device is removed and when the garment is washed. 
     Accordingly, as disclosed in JP 2015-135723 A, a snap button connector has been used to establish connection between devices. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 31 , a snap button connector disclosed in JP 2015-135723 A includes a male snap button  2  attached to a first cloth  1  and a female snap button  4  attached to a second cloth  3 . The first cloth  1  and the second cloth  3  are made from conductive cloth, while the male snap button  2  and the female snap button  4  are formed of a conductive material. As a convex portion  5  of the male snap button  2  is inserted into a concave portion  6  of the female snap button  4  and pressed down by two bar-like springs  7  of the female snap button  4 , the male snap button  2  and the female snap button  4  are electrically connected to each other, whereby the first cloth  1  and the second cloth  3  are electrically connected to each other via the male snap button  2  and the female snap button  4 . 
     Electrical connection of the wearable device can be made using a snap button connector of this type, and when the wearable device is removed or the garment is washed, for example, the electrical connection via the snap button connector can be disconnected by detachment of the male snap button  2  from the female snap button  4 . 
     In the snap button connector of JP 2015-135723 A, however, since each of the male snap button  2  and the female snap button  4  functions entirely as a single electrode, connection of a plurality of wires would require as many snap button connectors as the number of the wires to be attached to a garment, leading to failure of miniaturization of a wearable device. 
     In addition, while the connector that electrically connects the first cloth  1  to the second cloth  3  needs to be thin, the snap button connector of JP 2015-135723 A has a configuration in which the convex portion  5  of the male snap button  2  is fitted in the concave portion  6  of the female snap button  4  in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the garment and thus is disadvantageous for reduction in thickness. 
     Moreover, for electrical connection between the first cloth  1  and the second cloth  3 , it is required to strongly push either the male snap button  2  or the female snap button  4  down to the wearer&#39;s body from above the garment. This gives stress on the body, being inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problem described above and is aimed at providing a slide connector that can achieve miniaturization of a wearable device, make the device thinner, and reduce stress on a wearer&#39;s body at the time of connection of the connector. 
     A slide connector according to the invention includes a garment-side connector portion to be attached to a garment and a module-side connector portion to be fitted with the garment-side connector portion in a fitting plane, wherein the garment-side connector portion includes a garment-side connector body in a plate shape extending along the fitting plane, a plurality of first contact portions each in a plate shape and each having a contact surface parallel to the fitting plane, the plurality of first contact portions being arranged in the garment-side connector body, and at least one locking portion having a locking surface parallel to the fitting plane, wherein the module-side connector portion includes a plurality of second contact portions each elastically movable in a direction orthogonal to the fitting plane, the plurality of second contact portions corresponding to the plurality of first contact portions of the garment-side connector portion, and at least one portion to be locked extending in parallel to the fitting plane, and wherein, as the module-side connector portion is superimposed on the garment-side connector portion and slid along the fitting plane from a first position to a second position, each of the plurality of second contact portions comes into contact with the contact surface of a corresponding first contact portion to establish electrical connection, and the at least one portion to be locked comes into contact with the locking surface of the at least one locking portion, whereby the module-side connector portion is fitted with the garment-side connector portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a slide connector according to Embodiment 1 before fitting. 
         FIGS. 2A to 2C  are a plan view, a side view and a bottom view, respectively, each showing a garment-side connector portion used in the slide connector according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a base member of the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a plurality of first contact portions held by the base member of the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are an enlarged perspective view and an enlarged side view, respectively, each showing the first contact portion. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a frame member of the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view showing the frame member of the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the base member and the frame member of the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1 as being attached to cloth of a garment. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing a module-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view showing the module-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the module-side connector portion and the garment-side connector portion aligned to each other in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing the module-side connector portion superimposed on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 14  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the first contact portion and a second contact portion when the module-side connector portion is superimposed on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 15  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between a locking portion and a portion to be locked when the module-side connector portion is superimposed on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 16  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the first contact portion and the second contact portion when the module-side connector portion is rotated and slid on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the slide connector according to Embodiment 1 at a time of fitting. 
         FIG. 18  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the first contact portion and the second contact portion at the time of fitting in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 19  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the locking portion and the portion to be locked at the time of fitting in Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged side view showing a first contact portion of a garment-side connector portion of a slide connector according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view showing a module-side connector portion of the slide connector according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom view showing the module-side connector portion of the slide connector according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 23  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the module-side connector portion and the garment-side connector portion aligned to each other in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 24  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the first contact portion and a second contact portion when the module-side connector portion is superimposed on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 25  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the first contact portion and the second contact portion when the module-side connector portion is rotated and slid on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 26  is a partial cross-sectional view showing a positional relation between the first contact portion and the second contact portion at a time of fitting in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view showing a slide connector according to Embodiment 3 before fitting. 
         FIG. 28  is a plan view showing a module-side connector portion and a garment-side connector portion superimposed on each other in Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 29  is a plan view showing the module-side connector portion linearly slid on the garment-side connector portion in Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view showing the slide connector according to Embodiment 3 at a time of fitting. 
         FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional snap button connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below based on the appended drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a structure of a slide connector according to Embodiment 1. The slide connector includes a garment-side connector portion  11  to be attached to a garment and a module-side connector portion  31  to be fitted with the garment-side connector portion  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A to 2C , the garment-side connector portion  11  includes a garment-side connector body  12  in a circular plate shape, a plurality of first contact portions  13  arranged in the garment-side connector body  12 , and a plurality of locking portions  14  formed in the garment-side connector body  12 . 
     The garment-side connector body  12  is composed of a base member  15  in a circular plate shape and a frame member  16  attached to an outer periphery of a front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . The frame member  16  has a circular frame shape with an opening portion  17  provided at its center, and the plurality of first contact portions  13  are arranged so as to be each partially exposed above the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  through the opening portion  17  of the frame member  16  but not to be exposed to a rear surface  15 B of the base member  15 . In addition, the plurality of locking portions  14  are located on an outer periphery side of the garment-side connector portion  11  in relation to the plurality of first contact portions  13  and arranged in a circumferential direction along an inner circumferential edge of the frame member  16 . 
     The base member  15  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The first contact portions  13  are arranged and held in the base member  15  in the circumferential direction so as to form a circle as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Each of the first contact portions  13  includes a circumferentially extending portion  13 A extending along the circumferential direction of the base member  15  and a radially extending portion  13 B connected to the circumferentially extending portion  13 A and extending along the radial direction of the base member  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . At one end surface of the circumferentially extending portion  13 A, a contact surface  13 C is formed, and an inclined surface  13 D is continuously connected to the contact surface  13 C, whereas at the other end of the circumferentially extending portion  13 A, a flat surface  13 E is formed and continuously connected to the inclined surface  13 D. 
     The radially extending portion  13 B is connected to the other end of the above-described circumferentially extending portion  13 A. The radially extending portion  13 B extends from the other end of the circumferentially extending portion  13 A along the radial direction of the base member  15  and is provided at its end with an external connection portion  13 F in a bending shape. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , the contact surface  13 C is parallel to the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  and has a substantially same height as that of the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 ; the inclined surface  13 D that is continuous with the contact surface  13 C is inclined toward a rear surface  15 B of the base member  15  so as to lower as advancing from the contact surface  13 C to the flat surface  13 E; and the flat surface  13 E that is continuous with the inclined surface  13 D is parallel to the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  and is positioned on the rear surface  15 B side to be lower than the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . In addition, the external connection portion  13 F is positioned at a higher height than that of the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the circumferentially extending portion  13 A of each of the first contact portions  13  is exposed above the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  to form an exposed portion through the opening portion  17  of the frame member  16  shown in  FIG. 2A . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the external connection portion  13 F of each of the first contact portions  13  protrudes from the front surface  15 A and is exposed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 , whereas the radially extending portion  13 B except the external connection portion  13 F is buried in the base member  15  and not exposed to the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . 
     Moreover, a plurality of protrusions  18  protruding from the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  are formed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 , and the external connection portions  13 F of the first contact portions  13  and the protrusions  18  are located so as to be covered by the frame member  16  when the frame member  16  is attached to the base member  15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the frame member  16  is provided with a plurality of notches  19  that are arranged along the inner circumferential edge of the frame member  16  along the circumferential direction and open toward the opening portion  17 . Each of the notches  19  is formed across the thickness direction of the frame member  16  from a front surface  16 A to a rear surface  16 B. The rear surface  16 B of the frame member  16  is provided with a plurality of locking surfaces  20  at positions adjacent to the notches  19 , respectively, along the circumferential direction. The locking surfaces  20  are arranged at the inner circumferential edge of the frame member  16  along the circumferential direction, located in parallel to the front surface  16 A of the frame member  16  and on the front surface  16 A side rather than the rear surface  16 B side, and face toward the rear surface  16 B of the frame member  16 . 
     In addition, the rear surface  16 B of the frame member  16  is provided with a plurality of first fitting holes  21  and a plurality of second fitting holes  22 , the first fitting holes  21  respectively corresponding to the external connection portions  13 F of the first contact portions  13  protruding from the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 , and the second fitting holes  22  respectively corresponding to the protrusions  18  protruding from the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . 
     The base member  15  configured as described above can be integrally formed with the first contact portions  13  through the insert-molding using an insulation resin, for example. The frame member  16  can also be formed from an insulation resin. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the frame member  16  is attached to the base member  15  as sandwiching cloth C of a garment between the base member  15  and the frame member  16 . The cloth C is preliminarily provided with an opening portion  23  in a similar size to the opening portion  17  of the frame member  16  and provided, on the rear surface of the cloth C, with a plurality of wiring portions  24  corresponding to the plurality of first contact portions  13 , and the wiring portions  24  are connected to a wearable device (not shown) that is attached to a garment. The wiring portions  24  are arranged around the opening portion  23  such that one end of each of the wiring portions  24  overlaps the corresponding external connection portion  13 F of the base member  15  when the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  is brought into contact with the rear surface of the cloth C. 
     The front surface  15 A of the base member  15  is brought into contact with the rear surface of the cloth C, and the base member  15  is aligned to the frame member  16  such that one end of each of the wiring portions  24  of the cloth C comes into contact with the corresponding external connection portion  13 F of the base member  15 , the rear surface  16 B of the frame member  16  is brought into contact with the front surface of the cloth C, and in this state, the frame member  16  is firmly pressed to the base member  15 . In this manner, the external connection portions  13 F and the protrusions  18  of the base member  15  respectively fit into the first fitting holes  21  and the second fitting holes  22  of the frame member  16  with the cloth C being sandwiched between the base member  15  and the frame member  16 , whereby the garment-side connector portion  11  is attached to the cloth C. 
     In this process, each of the wiring portions  24  of the cloth C is pressed into the corresponding first fitting hole  21  of the frame member  16  while being in contact with the corresponding external connection portion  13 F of the base member  15  and is electrically connected to the external connection portion  13 F. 
     In addition, the locking surfaces  20  of the frame member  16  face the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  via the opening portion  23  of the cloth C, and, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the locking portion  14  is formed between each of the locking surfaces  20  of the frame member  16  and the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . 
     The locking surface  20  has, at an end portion thereof adjacent to the corresponding notch  19 , a step  25  that slightly projects toward the rear surface  16 B of the frame member  16 , i.e., on the base member  15  side. 
     The module-side connector portion  31  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The module-side connector portion  31  includes a module-side connector body  32  in a circular box shape, a plurality of spring-like second contact portions  33  projecting from a rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32 , and a plurality of plate-shaped portions to be locked  34  projecting from the outer circumferential portion of the module-side connector body  32  in the radial direction along the rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32 . 
     The second contact portions  33  are arranged in the circumferential direction of the module-side connector body  32  so as to form a circle and correspond to the first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  and are each formed to be elastically movable in a direction orthogonal to the rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32 . 
     In addition, the portions to be locked  34  correspond to the locking portions  14  of the garment-side connector portion  11  and also to the notches  19 . 
     The portions to be locked  34  are arranged on an outer periphery side of the module-side connector portion  31  in relation to the second contact portions  33 . 
     In addition, the front surface  32 A of the module-side connector body  32  is provided with a tab  35  used to rotate the module-side connector portion  31  on the garment-side connector portion  11 . 
     The module-side connector body  32  in a box shape accommodates therein a circuit module to be connected to a wearable device (not shown) attached to a garment, for example. 
     In the garment-side connector portion  11 , the first contact portions  13 , the locking portions  14 , the opening portion  17  of the frame member  16  and the notches  19  are all arranged in a concentric fashion, while in the module-side connector portion  31 , the circular outer periphery of the module-side connector body  32 , the second contact portions  33  and the portions to be locked  34  are all arranged in a concentric fashion. In addition, a circle along which the first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  are arranged is set to have a diameter value same as that of a circle along which the second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  are arranged. 
     The slide connector is configured such that, as being inserted in the opening portion  17  of the frame member  16  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , the module-side connector portion  31  can be rotated and slid about the center of the concentric circle of the garment-side connector portion  11 . 
     For fitting the module-side connector portion  31  with the garment-side connector portion  11 , the module-side connector portion  31  is aligned to the garment-side connector portion  11  such that the portions to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31  are located directly above the notches  19  of the garment-side connector portion  11 . In this manner, each of the spring-like second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  is located directly above the flat surface  13 E of the corresponding first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
     Subsequently, the module-side connector portion  31  is moved and superimposed on the garment-side connector portion  11 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the notches  19  of the garment-side connector portion  11  are inserted into the portions to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31 . At this time, while the second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  projects downward from the rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the flat surface  13 E of the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  is positioned on the rear surface  15 B side to be lower than the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . Accordingly, the second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  is close to but not in contact with the flat surface  13 E of the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , or even if in contact with the flat surface  13 E of the first contact portion  13 , the second contact portion  33  contacts so lightly as not to elastically deform. 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the portion to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31  is inserted in the notch  19  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , and the rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32  comes into contact with the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  of the garment-side connector portion  11 . 
     The rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32  and the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  each forms a fitting plane when the garment-side connector portion  11  is fitted with the module-side connector portion  31 . 
     The rotation position of the module-side connector portion  31  when the portions to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31  are inserted in the notches  19  of the garment-side connector portion  11  in this manner is defined as a first position P 1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     Starting from the state where the module-side connector portion  31  is located at the first position P 1 , the tab  35  of the module-side connector portion  31  is operated to rotate and slide the module-side connector portion  31  on the garment-side connector portion  11  along the fitting plane, whereby each of the spring-like second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  moves from the position directly above the flat surface  13 E of the corresponding first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  toward the inclined surface  13 D of the first contact portion  13 . Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , as the spring-like second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  reaches to a position above the inclined surface  13 D of the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , the spring-like second contact portion  33  comes into contact with the inclined surface  13 D of the first contact portion  13  and gradually elastically deforms since the inclined surface  13 D is inclined so as to rise upward as advancing from the flat surface  13 E to the contact surface  13 C. 
     Furthermore, as the tab  35  of the module-side connector portion  31  is operated to rotate and slide the module-side connector portion  31  to a second position P 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the spring-like second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  moves from the inclined surface  13 D to the contact surface  13 C on the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 18  and elastically deforms to come into contact with the contact surface  13 C of the first contact portion  13  at a predetermined contact pressure. In this manner, the first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  are electrically connected to the second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  31 , and the fitting state between the garment-side connector portion  11  and the module-side connector portion  31  is achieved. 
     In addition, when the module-side connector portion  31  is positioned at the position P 2 , the portion to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31  is inserted in the locking portion  14  formed between the locking surface  20  of the garment-side connector portion  11  and the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 19 . In this manner, the module-side connector portion  31  is prevented from falling off in a direction away from the garment-side connector portion  11 , and the fitting state is locked. 
     At this time, the portion to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31  is inserted deeper than the step  25  of the locking surface  20  and is pressed toward the locking surface  20  by the reaction force of elastic deformation of the second contact portions  33 . Hence, even if the module-side connector portion  31  fitted with the garment-side connector portion  11  is rotated to return from the second position P 2  to the first position P 1 , the portion to be locked  34  is stuck with the step  25  of the locking surface  20 , whereby the locking state is maintained. 
     The garment-side connector portion  11  and the module-side connector portion  31  may be released from the fitting state by pressing the module-side connector portion  31  against the garment-side connector portion  11 , having the portion to be locked  34  on the side of the front surface  15 A of the base member  15  away from the step  25  of the locking surface  20 , and rotating and sliding the module-side connector portion  31  to the first position P 1 . 
     Accordingly, as the module-side connector portion  31  is simply superimposed on the garment-side connector portion  11  and rotated and slid from the first position P 1  to the second position P 2  along the fitting plane, the spring-like second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  come into contact with the plate-shaped first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , respectively, to establish electrical connection, and the portions to be locked  34  of the module-side connector portion  31  come into contact with the locking surfaces  20  of the locking portions  14  of the garment-side connector portion  11 , whereby the module-side connector portion  31  can be fitted with the garment-side connector portion  11 . Therefore, a wearable device can be miniaturized and thinned, and besides the need to firmly press a snap button toward a wearer&#39;s body from above the garment in a conventional snap button connector can be removed, whereby stress on a wearer&#39;s body when the connector is connected can be reduced. 
     In addition, since each of the first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  has the inclined surface  13 D continuous with the contact surface  13 C, when the garment-side connector portion  11  is fitted with the module-side connector portion  31 , the corresponding second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  comes into contact with the contact surface  13 C as wiping the inclined surface  13 D of the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11 . Accordingly, a possible connection failure between the first contact portion  13  and the second contact portion  33  due to a foreign object present therebetween can be effectively prevented. 
     Embodiment 2 
     In Embodiment 1 above, the spring-like second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  31  each project from the rear surface  32 B of the module-side connector body  32 , while the contact surfaces  13 C of the first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  11  each have a substantially same height as that of the front surfaces  15 A of the base member  15 , and the flat surfaces  13 E are positioned on the rear surface  15 B side to be lower than the front surface  15 A of the base member  15 . However, the invention is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 20  shows a first contact portion  13  of a garment-side connector portion  41  of a slide connector according to Embodiment 2. The first contact portion  13  is same as that used in Embodiment 1 but has a contact surface  13 C at a position higher than a front surface  45 A of a base member  45 , an inclined surface  13 D continuous with the contact surface  13 C inclined so as to lower as advancing from the contact surface  13 C to a flat surface  13 E, and the flat surface  13 E continuous with the inclined surface  13 D at a height almost same as that of the front surface  45 A of the base member  45 . 
     Except the difference in the positional height of the first contact portion  13  with respect to the base member  45  as described above, the garment-side connector portion  41  has the same structure as that of the garment-side connector portion  11  in Embodiment 1. 
     In a module-side connector portion  51  of the slide connector according to Embodiment 2, as illustrated in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , an annular groove  52 C is formed on a rear surface  52 B of a module-side connector body  52 , a plurality of spring-like second contact portions  33  are arranged in the groove  52 C at a height at which the spring-like second contact portions  33  protrude from the bottom surface of the groove  52 C but do not protrude from the rear surface  52 B of the module-side connector body  52 . 
     Except the fact that the module-side connector body  52  has the groove  52 C as well as the positional height of the second contact portions  33  with respect to the module-side connector body  52 , the module-side connector portion  51  has the same structure as that of the module-side connector portion  31  in Embodiment 1. 
     For fitting the module-side connector portion  51  with the garment-side connector portion  41 , the garment-side connector portion  41  and the module-side connector portion  51  are first aligned. In this manner, each of the spring-like second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  51  is located directly above the flat surface  13 E of the corresponding first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  41 , as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
     Then, the module-side connector portion  51  is moved and superimposed on the garment-side connector portion  41 . At this time, the contact surface  13 C of the first contact portion  13  is inserted in the groove  52 C of the module-side connector body  52 , and the flat surface  13 E of the first contact portion  13  is positioned at the almost same height as that of the front surface  45 A of the base member  45  as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . In the meantime, since the second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  51  does not protrude downward from the rear surface  52 B of the module-side connector body  52 , the second contact portion  33  is close to but not in contact with the flat surface  13 E of the first contact portion  13 , or even if in contact with the flat surface  13 E of the first contact portion  13 , the second contact portion  33  contacts so slightly as not to elastically deform. 
     When the module-side connector portion  51  is rotated and slid on the garment-side connector portion  41  along the fitting plane, as illustrated in  FIG. 25 , as the spring-like second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  51  reaches to a position above the inclined surface  13 D of the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  41 , the spring-like second contact portion  33  comes into contact with the inclined surface  13 D of the first contact portion  13  and gradually elastically deforms since the inclined surface  13 D is inclined so as to rise upward as advancing from the flat surface  13 E to the contact surface  13 C. 
     Furthermore, as the module-side connector portion  51  is rotated and slid, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , the spring-like second contact portion  33  of the module-side connector portion  51  moves from the inclined surface  13 D to the contact surface  13 C of the first contact portion  13  of the garment-side connector portion  41  and elastically deforms to come into contact with the contact surface  13 C of the first contact portion  13  at a predetermined contact pressure. In this manner, the first contact portions  13  of the garment-side connector portion  41  are electrically connected to the second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  51 , and the fitting state between the garment-side connector portion  41  and the module-side connector portion  51  is achieved. 
     In this manner, even if the connector according to the invention is configured such that the spring-like second contact portions  33  of the module-side connector portion  51  do not project from the rear surface  52 B of the module-side connector body  52 , similarly to Embodiment 1, the module-side connector portion  51  can be fitted with the garment-side connector portion  41  by mere rotation and sliding of the module-side connector portion  51  on the garment-side connector portion  41 , a wearable device can be miniaturized and thinned, and at the same time, the burden on a wearer&#39;s body at the time of connection of the connector can be reduced. 
     In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the number of the first contact portions  13  and the number of the second contact portions  33  are not limited to the numbers shown in the drawings and can be any number as long as they are each plural. 
     In addition, in Embodiments 1 and 2, while the first contact portions  13  and the second contact portions  33  are arranged so as to form a circle, they may be arranged so as to form an arc which is a part of a circle. 
     Embodiment 3 
     In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the module-side connector portion  31  or  51  is rotated and slid on the garment-side connector portion  11  or  41  to be fitted. However, the invention is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a structure of a slide connector according to Embodiment 3. The slide connector includes a garment-side connector portion  61  to be attached to a garment and a module-side connector portion  71  to be linearly slid on the garment-side connector portion  61  to be fitted. 
     The garment-side connector portion  61  includes a rectangular garment-side connector body  62 , a plurality of plate-like first contact portions  63  arranged linearly on the garment-side connector body  62 , and a plurality of locking portions  64  formed in the garment-side connector body  62 . 
     The garment-side connector body  62  is composed of a base member  65  in a rectangular plate shape and a frame member  66  in a rectangular frame shape attached to an outer periphery of a front surface  65 A of the base member  65 . The frame member  66  is provided with a rectangular opening portion  67  at its center, and the plurality of first contact portions  63  are each partially exposed above the front surface  65 A of the base member  65  through the opening portion  67  of the frame member  66 . In addition, the locking portions  64  are located on an outer periphery side of the garment-side connector portion  61  in relation to the first contact portions  63  and arranged along an inner circumferential edge of the frame member  66 . 
     Similarly to the first contact portions  13  in Embodiment 1, each of the first contact portions  63  has a contact surface, an inclined surface continuous with the contact surface and a flat surface continuous with the inclined surface, and the contact surface, the inclined surface and the flat surface are exposed above the front surface  65 A of the base member  65 . In addition, the first contact portion  63  has an external connection portion protruding to the outer periphery of the front surface  65 A of the base member  65  and covered by the frame member  66 . 
     The frame member  66  is provided with a plurality of notches  69  that open toward the opening portion  67 , and a locking surface (not shown) is formed in the vicinity of each of the notches  69 . 
     The module-side connector portion  71  includes a module-side connector body  72  in a rectangular box shape, a plurality of spring-like second contact portions (not shown) projecting from a rear surface of the module-side connector body  72 , and a plurality of plate-like portions to be locked  74  projecting laterally from the module-side connector body  72 . 
     The second contact portions (not shown) are arranged so as to correspond to the first contact portions  63  of the garment-side connector portion  61  and are each formed to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the rear surface of the module-side connector body  72 . 
     The module-side connector portion  71  thus structured is superimposed on the garment-side connector portion  61 , the notches  69  of the garment-side connector portion  61  are inserted into the portions to be locked  74  of the module-side connector portion  71 , and the module-side connector portion  71  is positioned at a first position P 1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . At this time, each of the second contact portions of the module-side connector portion  71  faces the flat surface of the corresponding first contact portion  63  of the garment-side connector portion  61  and is not connected to the first contact portion  63  of the garment-side connector portion  61  yet. 
     As the module-side connector portion  71  is linearly slid on the garment-side connector portion  61  from the first position P 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 29 , each of the spring-like second contact portions of the module-side connector portion  71  moves toward the inclined surface of the corresponding first contact portion  63  of the garment-side connector portion  61 . Furthermore, as the module-side connector portion  71  is linearly slid to a second position P 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 30 , each of the spring-like second contact portions of the module-side connector portion  71  elastically deforms and comes into contact with the contact surface of the corresponding first contact portion  63  of the garment-side connector portion  61  at a predetermined contact pressure. In this manner, the first contact portions  63  of the garment-side connector portion  61  are electrically connected to the second contact portions of the module-side connector portion  71 , and the fitting state between the garment-side connector portion  61  and the module-side connector portion  71  is achieved. 
     In addition, when the module-side connector portion  71  is positioned at the second position P 2 , each of the portions to be locked  74  of the module-side connector portion  71  is inserted in the corresponding locking portion  64  formed between the locking surface of the garment-side connector portion  61  and the front surface  65 A of the base member  65 , whereby the fitting state between the garment-side connector portion  61  and the module-side connector portion  71  is locked. 
     In this manner, even if the connector according to the invention is configured such that the module-side connector portion  71  is linearly slid on the garment-side connector portion  61 , similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2, the module-side connector portion  71  can be fitted with the garment-side connector portion  61  by mere sliding of the module-side connector portion  71  on the garment-side connector portion  61 , a wearable device can be miniaturized and thinned, and at the same time, stress on a wearer&#39;s body at the time of connection of the connector can be reduced. 
     It should be noted that as long as the garment-side connector portion  61  and the module-side connector portion  71  have a plurality of the first contact portions  63  and a plurality of the second contact portions, respectively, the number of the first contact portions  63  and the number of the second contact portions are not limited.