Patent Description:
Connectors are sometimes integrated into clothing, apparel, and/or other wearable articles worn by an individual in a variety of different applications, such as, but not limited to, first responders (e.g. fire and police), maintenance technicians, soldiers, and/or the like. Known connectors that are integrated into wearable articles are not without problems. For example, in some environments, such as when the connectors are being used outside or in other harsh environments, contaminants such as dirt, mud, grease, sand, and/or other debris, and/or fluids such as water and/or oil may get trapped within a receptacle connector. Contaminants may enter the receptacle while the receptacle connector is disconnected from the complementary plug connector, or while the connectors are mated if the mating interface is not sealed. Such contaminants may contaminate the mating interface of the connector and/or otherwise impede mating of the plug and receptacle connectors, which for example may interrupt the electrical connection and/or damage the connector(s). Removal of such contaminants may be difficult and/or time consuming. For example, it may be difficult to clean the mating interface of a connector in the field. Moreover, attempting to clean the mating interface of a connector may damage of the conductors of the connector. For example, using tools, fingers, thumbs, cloths, and/or the like to remove the contaminants may damage the conductors. Some contaminants may be permanently trapped beneath the conductors of a connector.

A prior art connector, including the features set out in the preamble of claim <NUM>, and which is for a wearable article, is disclosed in patent <CIT>. Further prior art connectors for attachment to flexible substrates are also disclosed in patents <CIT> and <CIT>.

According to the invention there is provided a receptacle connector for a wearable article as set out in claim <NUM>.

In an embodiment, a receptacle connector is provided for a wearable article. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a receptacle configured to receive a complementary plug connector therein. The housing is configured to be mounted to the wearable article. A printed circuit board is held by the housing. The printed circuit board includes mating contacts for mating with the plug connector. The printed circuit board includes mounting contacts that are configured to terminate conductors of a flat cable of the wearable article or an e-textile of the wearable article.

In an embodiment, a receptacle connector is provided for a wearable article. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a receptacle configured to receive a complementary plug connector therein. The housing is configured to be mounted to the wearable article. Contacts are held by the housing. The contacts are arranged in a mating interface along which the receptacle connector mates with the plug connector. The contacts include mating surfaces at which the contacts mate in physical contact with corresponding mating contacts of the plug connector. The receptacle of the housing is defined by a channel that extends a length along the housing from a first end to a second end. At least the first end of the channel is open. The channel has a bottom and a top that extend along the length of the channel. The mating interface of the receptacle connector extends along the bottom of the channel. The top of the channel is open over the mating interface such that the mating surfaces of the contacts are exposed through the top. The top of the channel is open through the first end of the channel such that a continuous pathway is defined from the mating interface through the first end.

In an embodiment, a wearable article includes a sheet of material configured to be worn by an individual, and a receptacle connector mounted to the sheet of material. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a receptacle configured to receive a complementary plug connector therein, and a printed circuit board held by the housing. The printed circuit board includes mating contacts for mating with the plug connector. The printed circuit board includes mounting contacts that terminate conductors of a flat cable of the wearable article or an e-textile of the wearable article.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a connector system <NUM>. The connector system <NUM> includes a receptacle connector <NUM> and a plug connector <NUM> that mate together to form an electrical and/or fiber optic connection therebetween. The connector system <NUM> is provided along an electrical and/or fiber optic path between two devices <NUM> and <NUM> for providing a separable electrical and/or fiber optic connection between the devices. The connector system <NUM> is optionally mounted to any type of wearable article <NUM>, such as, but not limited to, a vest, a shirt, a jacket, pants, trousers, a boot, a shoe, a helmet, a hat, a cap, a coat, armor, and/or the like. The connector system <NUM> may be configured to operate at any standard, protocol, and/or the like, such as, but not limited to, USB <NUM>, USB <NUM>, USB <NUM>, CAN-BUS, GIGA-BIT ETHERNET, and/or the like. The connector system <NUM> may be scalable to a variety of different sizes.

The devices <NUM> and <NUM> each may be any type of electronic, fiber optic, and/or other type of device. In one exemplary embodiment, the device <NUM> is a battery pack and the device <NUM> is an LED array that is powered by the battery pack <NUM>. Other types of devices may be interconnected by the connector system <NUM> in other embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle connector <NUM> terminates a plurality of flat cables <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. The flat cables <NUM> connect the receptacle connector <NUM> to the device <NUM>. Although a plurality of flat cables <NUM> are shown for connecting the receptacle connector <NUM> to a single device <NUM>, the receptacle connector <NUM> may terminate any number of flat cables <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM> for connecting the receptacle connector <NUM> to any number of devices. In other embodiments, the receptacle connector <NUM> terminates an e-textile (not shown) that includes fabrics that enable computing, digital components, electrical pathways, fiber optic pathways, and/or electronic and/or fiber optic devices to be embedded therein. Specifically, the e-textile provides the wearable article <NUM> with wearable technology that allows for the incorporation of built-in technological elements into the fabric of the wearable article <NUM>. The wearable article <NUM> may constitute intelligent clothing or smart clothing.

The plug connector <NUM> is also shown in the illustrated embodiment as being electrically connected to the corresponding device <NUM> via a corresponding cable <NUM>. But, in other embodiments, the plug connector <NUM> may be mounted directly to the device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the receptacle connector <NUM>. The receptacle connector <NUM> is shown in <FIG> as mounted to a sheet of material <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>, as is also shown in <FIG>. The receptacle connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> that is shown mounted to the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a front mounting plate <NUM>. The front mounting plate <NUM> includes a channel <NUM> that defines a receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>. The channel <NUM> enables the receptacle <NUM> to be cleaned (e.g., wiped). The channel <NUM> will be described in more detail below.

The receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> is configured to receive a plug <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the plug connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) therein for mating the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together. In other words, the plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> is inserted (i.e., plugged) into the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> to mate the plug connector <NUM> with the receptacle connector <NUM>. The receptacle connector <NUM> includes contacts <NUM> that are arranged in a mating interface <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. The receptacle connector <NUM> is configured to mate with the plug connector <NUM> along the mating interface <NUM> to electrically and/or fiber-optically connect the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together. Specifically, the mating interface <NUM> is configured such that mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> mate in physical contact with corresponding mating contacts <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of the plug connector <NUM> when the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are mated together. Each of the contacts <NUM> may be a signal contact, a ground contact, or a power contact. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts <NUM> are surface pads of the printed circuit board <NUM> (described below). The contacts <NUM> may be referred to herein as "mating contacts".

<FIG> and <FIG> are front and rear, respectively, exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector <NUM>. The receptacle connector <NUM> includes a printed circuit board <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, which includes the front mounting plate <NUM>. The housing <NUM> also includes a back mounting plate <NUM> and a seal <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> is held by the housing <NUM> within an opening <NUM> of the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an exterior side <NUM> of the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>, while <FIG> illustrates an interior side <NUM> of the sheet <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, a first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> extends on the exterior side <NUM> of the sheet <NUM>. The contacts <NUM> extend along the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a second side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> extends on the interior side <NUM> of the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. Optionally, the printed circuit board <NUM> includes one or more ground planes (not shown) for providing electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection. For example, in some embodiments, the printed circuit board <NUM> includes a ground plane on the first side <NUM> and a ground plane on the second side <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> optionally includes a circuit element (not shown; such as, but not limited to, a resistor and/or the like) that is configured to provide an indication that indicates whether the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are fully mated together in the mated state shown in <FIG>.

The printed circuit board <NUM> includes mounting contacts <NUM> that extend along the second side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the mounting contacts <NUM> terminate conductors <NUM> of the flat cables <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. Alternatively, the mounting contacts <NUM> terminate conductors (not shown) of an e-textile (not shown) of the wearable article <NUM>. Optionally, the mounting contacts <NUM> include insulation displacement contacts (IDCs; such as, but not limited to, IDCs that are mounted to the printed circuit board <NUM> via press-fit eye-of-the needle segments) that are configured to terminate the conductors of an e-textile of the wearable article <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting contacts <NUM> are configured to be ultrasonically welded to the conductors <NUM> of the flat cables <NUM>. Alternatively, the mounting contacts <NUM> may be terminated to the conductors <NUM> in a different manner, such as by soldering, crimping, and/or by other means. Optionally, the mounting contacts <NUM> may be compression crimped to the conductors <NUM>. Each of the mounting contacts <NUM> may be a signal contact, a ground contact, or a power contact.

As described above and shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> is mounted to the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM> such that the printed circuit board <NUM> is held within the opening <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. Specifically, the front mounting plate <NUM> and the back mounting plate <NUM> connect together with the printed circuit board <NUM> and the sheet <NUM> sandwiched between the mounting plates <NUM> and <NUM>. The seal <NUM> is sandwiched between the back mounting plate <NUM> and the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the seal <NUM> includes a sealing member <NUM> and a seal cover <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> is held (i.e., sandwiched) between the seal cover <NUM> and the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> is elastomeric such that the sealing member <NUM> is configured to at least partially seal, as is best seen in <FIG>, the interface between the seal cover <NUM> and the interior side <NUM> of the sheet <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> thus may prevent, reduce, and/or the like contaminants (such as, but not limited to, dirt, mud, grease, sand, other debris, water, oil, other fluids and/or moisture, and/or the like) from contaminating the mounting interface at which the mounting contacts <NUM> terminate the conductors <NUM> of the flat cables <NUM>. For example, the seal <NUM> may prevent, reduce, and/or the like electrical shorts at the mounting contacts <NUM>. The seal cover <NUM> may be more rigid as compared to the sealing member <NUM> to facilitate compressing the sealing member <NUM> and thereby maintaining a seal between the seal cover <NUM> and the interior side <NUM> of the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear perspective view of the receptacle connector <NUM>. Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the front mounting plate <NUM> (not visible in <FIG>) and the back mounting plate <NUM> are connected together such that at least a portion of an end <NUM> of the flat cable <NUM> is sandwiched between the mounting plates <NUM> and <NUM>. In other words, the end <NUM> of the flat cable <NUM> is captured (i.e., contained) between the mounting plates <NUM> and <NUM>, as is apparent from <FIG> and <FIG>. The housing <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> thus provides strain relief to the flat cable <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> may be mounted to the wearable article <NUM> (i.e., the mounting plates <NUM> and <NUM> may be connected together) using any type of connection, such as, but not limited to, by being sewn (i.e., stitched) to the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>, by being adhered (i.e., glued) to the sheet <NUM> using an adhesive, by being riveted to the sheet <NUM> using one or more rivets, by being bolted to the sheet <NUM> using one or more threaded fasteners, and/or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the front mounting plate <NUM> and the back mounting plate <NUM> are bolted together using threaded fasteners <NUM> to connect the mounting plates <NUM> and <NUM> together and thereby mount the housing <NUM> to the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> includes an approximately circular shape, but the housing <NUM> additionally or alternatively may include any other shape. The circular shape of the housing <NUM> may prevent, reduce, and/or the like pressure points on the wearer of the wearable article <NUM> and thereby increase the comfort of the combination of the wearable article <NUM> and a connector system. The circular shape of the housing <NUM> may facilitate providing the connector system <NUM> with a relatively low profile, which may prevent, reduce, and/or the like snagging of the connector system <NUM> (e.g., which may prevent, reduce, and/or the like the connector system <NUM> from being damaged).

Optionally, the housing <NUM> can be mounted to the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM> in any rotational orientation to enable the plug connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to be mated with the receptacle connector <NUM> from any predetermined direction. Moreover, the contacts <NUM> on the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> may have any arrangement to enable the plug connector <NUM> to mate with the receptacle connector <NUM> from any predetermined direction. In other words, the arrangement of the contacts <NUM> on the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be selected to enable the plug connector <NUM> to mate from one of a variety of different directions.

<FIG> is an enlarged front perspective view of the receptacle connector <NUM>. As briefly described above, the front mounting plate <NUM> includes a channel <NUM> that defines the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>. The channel <NUM> extends a length along the housing <NUM> from a first end <NUM> to a second end <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> is open. The receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> that is defined by the channel <NUM> is configured to receive the plug <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the plug connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) therein through the first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> has a bottom <NUM> and a top <NUM> that extend along the length of the channel <NUM>. The bottom <NUM> of the channel <NUM> includes a bottom wall <NUM> that is defined by the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG>. The mating interface <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>, including the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM>, thus extends along the bottom <NUM> of the channel <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> includes opposing side walls <NUM> and <NUM> that extend from the bottom <NUM> to the top <NUM> of the channel <NUM>. Optionally, the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> are angled acutely relative to the bottom <NUM>. Specifically, the side <NUM> and <NUM> may be angled acutely relative to the bottom wall <NUM> of the channel <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG>. The acutely angled side walls <NUM> and <NUM> facilitate holding the plug connector <NUM> toward the bottom <NUM> of the channel <NUM> (i.e., toward the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> in physical contact with the contacts <NUM>) to facilitate maintaining a sufficient electrical and/or fiber optic connection between the contacts <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> and the corresponding contacts <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of the plug connector <NUM>. The acutely angled side walls <NUM> and <NUM> may provide a lead-in feature for insertion of the plug connector <NUM> into the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> through the first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM>. The lead-in feature of the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> may ease mating of the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> in the low light (e.g., the dark, night, dusk, and/or the like) and/or other low-visibility conditions (e.g., smoke and/or the like). As described above, the housing <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> can be mounted to the sheet <NUM> of the wearable article <NUM> in any rotational orientation to enable the plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> to be received into the first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> from any predetermined direction.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the top <NUM> of the channel <NUM> is open over the mating interface <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> such that the mating interface <NUM>, and thus the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM>, are exposed through the top <NUM> of the channel <NUM>. The top <NUM> of the channel is also open through the first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> such that a continuous pathway is defined from the mating interface <NUM> through the first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> thus enables the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector to be cleaned (e.g., wiped). Specifically, the continuous pathway of the open top <NUM> and the open first end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> that is defined from the mating interface <NUM> through the first end <NUM> provides a cleanable receptacle <NUM>. Accordingly, the receptacle can be cleaned of contaminants (such as, but not limited to, dirt, mud, grease, sand, other debris, water, oil, other fluids and/or moisture, and/or the like) that: may prevent the plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> from being received within the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>; may prevent the contacts <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> from establishing a sufficient electrical and/or fiber optic connection with the contacts <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM>; may damage the receptacle connector <NUM> (e.g., the contacts <NUM>) and/or the plug connector <NUM> (e.g., the contacts <NUM>); and/or the like. For example, a user may use a finger, a thumb, a tool, a cloth, and/or the like to wipe across the mating interface <NUM>, through the channel <NUM>, and out the first end <NUM> to clear contaminants from the receptacle <NUM>. The channel <NUM> may thus enable the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> to be more reliable and/or be more easily cleaned than the contacts of at least some known connectors. For example, the channel <NUM> may enable the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> to be cleaned without damaging the contacts <NUM>. Moreover, the open top <NUM> of the channel <NUM> may enable the receptacle <NUM> to trap less contaminants than the receptacles of at least some known connectors.

As shown in <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the mating interface <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> is approximately flat. For example, the mating surface <NUM> of each of the contacts <NUM> is approximately flat in the illustrated embodiment. Moreover, and for example, the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> are extend approximately within the same plane in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in <FIG>. The approximately flat shapes of the mating surfaces <NUM> and the alignment within the common plane provide the mating interface <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> as approximately flat. The approximately flat mating interface <NUM> may provide a wipeable and/or cleanable surface for cleaning the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM>. For example, a user may use a finger, a thumb, a tool, a cloth, and/or the like to wipe across the mating interface <NUM> to clear contaminants from the contacts <NUM>. The approximately flat mating interface <NUM> may thus enable the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> to be more reliable and/or be more easily cleaned than the contacts of at least some known connectors. For example, the approximately flat mating interface <NUM> may enable the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> to be cleaned without damaging the contacts <NUM>. Moreover, the approximately flat mating interface <NUM> may trap less contaminants than the mating interfaces of at least some known connectors.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> is open and the top <NUM> of the channel <NUM> is open through the second end <NUM>. Accordingly, a continuous pathway is defined from the mating interface <NUM> through the second end <NUM> of the channel <NUM>. In some other embodiments, the second end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> is closed.

Optionally, the receptacle connector <NUM> includes a flap <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the flap <NUM> is mounted to the front mounting plate <NUM> at the second end <NUM> of the channel <NUM>. The flap <NUM> is mounted to the front mounting plate <NUM> at a hinge <NUM> such that the flap <NUM> is hinged at the second end <NUM> of the channel <NUM>. The flap <NUM> thus at least partially closes the second end <NUM> of the channel <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment. The flap <NUM> is configured to cover the mating interface <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> when the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are not mated together (i.e., when the plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> is not received within the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>). The flap <NUM> thus may prevent, reduce, and/or the like contaminants (such as, but not limited to, dirt, mud, grease, sand, other debris, water, oil, other fluids and/or moisture, and/or the like) from contaminating the mating interface <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>.

The flap <NUM> is also configured to cover the top <NUM> of the channel <NUM> when the plug connector <NUM> is received within the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector (i.e., when the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are mated together. Optionally, the flap <NUM> includes a latch mechanism <NUM> that is configured to cooperate with a latch mechanism <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of the plug connector <NUM> to latch (i.e., hold) the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together in a mated state wherein the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are mated together as shown in <FIG>. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch mechanism <NUM> includes hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), but the latch mechanism <NUM> additionally or alternatively may include any other structure that enables the latch mechanism <NUM> to cooperate with the latch mechanism <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> to latch the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together in the mated state. The flap <NUM> may facilitate providing the connector system <NUM> with a relatively low profile, which may facilitate use of the connector system <NUM> with wearable articles and/or may prevent, reduce, and/or the like snagging of the connector system <NUM>. Optionally, the flap <NUM> is relatively flexible. The flap <NUM> is optionally constructed from an electrically conductive material to provide EMI protection.

<FIG> an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the plug connector <NUM>. The plug connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and contacts <NUM> held by the housing <NUM>. The contacts <NUM> are connected to corresponding conductors (not shown) of the cable <NUM>. The plug connector <NUM> optionally includes a metal shield <NUM> that is held by the housing <NUM>. The metal shield <NUM> provides EMI shielding and may provide impedance control. The contacts <NUM> may be referred to herein as "mating contacts".

The contacts <NUM> that are arranged in a mating interface <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) at which the plug connector <NUM> is configured to mate with the receptacle connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to electrically and/or fiber-optically connect the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together. Specifically, the mating interface <NUM> is configured such that mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> mate in physical contact with the mating surfaces <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the corresponding contacts <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> when the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are mated together. Each of the contacts <NUM> may be a signal contact, a ground contact, or a power contact. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts <NUM> are pogo compression contacts, but any other type of contact may be used. For example, in some other embodiments (e.g., the contacts <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> shown in <FIG>), the contacts <NUM> are stamped and formed deflectable spring contacts. In some other embodiments, and for example, the plug connector <NUM> includes a printed circuit board (not shown) that is connected to the conductors of the cable <NUM> and includes the contacts <NUM> (e.g., the contacts <NUM> are compression contacts of the printed circuit board).

For example, <FIG> an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a plug connector <NUM>. The plug connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and a printed circuit board <NUM> held by the housing <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> includes mating contacts (not shown), which are electrically connected to corresponding conductors (not shown) of a cable <NUM>. The plug connector <NUM> optionally includes a metal shield <NUM> that is held by the housing <NUM>. The metal shield <NUM> provides EMI shielding and may provide impedance control. Each of the mating contacts of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be a signal contact, a ground contact, or a power contact. Moreover, each of the mating contacts of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be any type of contact, such as, but not limited to, a surface pad of the printed circuit board <NUM>, a compression contact of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and/or the like.

The printed circuit board <NUM> may include one or more additional components in addition to the mating contacts, such as, but not limited to, a ground plane (not shown), any type of circuit element, and/or the like. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the printed circuit board <NUM> includes a circuit element <NUM> (such as, but not limited to, a resistor and/or the like) that is configured to provide an indication that indicates whether the connector <NUM> is fully mated with a complementary connector (e.g., the receptacle connector <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

Referring again to <FIG>, the illustrated embodiment of the housing <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> includes two complementary shells 92A and 92B that connect together to define the housing <NUM>. Other arrangements, structures, and/or the like may be used in other embodiments. The shell 92B of the housing <NUM> includes contact cavities <NUM> into which mating ends <NUM> (which include the mating surfaces <NUM>) of the contacts <NUM> extend, as is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The contacts <NUM> are configured to be received within corresponding contact cavities <NUM> through rear ends <NUM> of the contact cavities <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> are enlarged and have complementary shapes with the corresponding contact cavities <NUM>. The complementary shapes of the contact ends <NUM> act (i.e., function) as plugs that at least partially seal the rear ends <NUM> of the contact cavities <NUM>. The seals provided by the contact ends <NUM> may prevent, reduce, and/or the like water, moisture, and/or other fluids from entering the housing <NUM> through front ends <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) of the contact cavities <NUM>. The seals provided by the contact ends <NUM> thereby may prevent, reduce, and/or the like electrical shorts between contacts <NUM>. The seals provided by the contact ends <NUM> may enable the plug connector <NUM> to be water tight.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the plug connector <NUM> optionally includes a seal <NUM> that extends around the mating interface <NUM>. The seal <NUM> is configured to sealingly engage the printed circuit board <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to seal the mated interface between the connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. Optionally, the seal <NUM> is elastomeric. The seal provided by the seal <NUM> may provide the mated interface between the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> as water tight.

Referring now to <FIG>, the mating interface <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> may provide a wipeable and/or cleanable surface for cleaning the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM>. For example, a user may use a finger, a thumb, a tool, a cloth, and/or the like to wipe across the mating interface <NUM> to clear contaminants from the contacts <NUM>. The mating interface <NUM> may thus enable the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> to be more reliable and/or be more easily cleaned than the contacts of at least some known connectors. For example, the mating interface <NUM> may enable the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> to be cleaned without damaging the contacts <NUM>. Moreover, the mating interface <NUM> may trap less contaminants than the mating interfaces of at least some known connectors.

The mating ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> extend through front ends <NUM> of the corresponding contact cavities <NUM>, as is shown in <FIG>. The mating surfaces <NUM> of the mating ends <NUM> extend a distance outward from a mating side <NUM> of the shell 92B that is less than the distance the seal <NUM> extends outward from the mating side <NUM>, which may increase the durability of the contacts <NUM> by preventing, reducing, and/or the like the mating surfaces <NUM> from engaging in physical contact with the first side <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) of the printed circuit board <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) during mating of the connectors <NUM> and <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the plug connector <NUM> includes a latch mechanism <NUM> that is configured to cooperate with a latch mechanism <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> to latch (i.e., hold) the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together in the mated state wherein the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are mated together as shown in <FIG>. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch mechanism <NUM> includes a deflectable spring 120A that is configured to be received within a latch opening 122A (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the latch mechanism <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>. The spring 120A has a curved shape that is configured to draw (i.e., pull) the plug connector <NUM> into the receptacle <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> as the spring 120A is received into the latch opening 122A. The spring 120A thus facilitates ensuring that the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> fully mate together. The latch mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> additionally or alternatively may include any other structure that enables the latch mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> to cooperate <NUM> to latch the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together in the mated state.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the connector system <NUM> illustrating the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> being mated together. The latch mechanism <NUM> may protect the contacts <NUM> during mating of the connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, the spring 120A of the latch mechanism <NUM> may prevent, reduce, and/or the like the mating surfaces <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> from engaging in physical contact with the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> during mating of the connectors <NUM> and <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG>. Specifically, <FIG> illustrates that physical contact between the latch mechanism <NUM> and the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> causes the plug connector <NUM> to be angled with respect to the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM>, which prevents the contacts <NUM> from engaging in physical contact with the first side <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> during mating of the connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. The latch mechanism <NUM> thus may increase the durability of the contacts <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the plug connector <NUM> includes the latch mechanism <NUM> that is configured to cooperate with the latch mechanism <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the flap <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) to latch (i.e., hold) the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together in the mated state wherein the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are mated together as shown in <FIG>. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch mechanism <NUM> includes hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), but the latch mechanism <NUM> additionally or alternatively may include any other structure that enables the latch mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> to cooperate to latch the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together in the mated state. <FIG> illustrates the flap <NUM> covering the mated connectors <NUM> and <NUM> with the latch mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> engaged to latch the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> in the mated state.

<FIG> is a partially exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a connector system <NUM>. The connector system <NUM> includes a receptacle connector <NUM> and a plug connector <NUM> that mate together to form an electrical and/or fiber optic connection therebetween. The receptacle connector <NUM> is mounted to a sheet of material <NUM> of a wearable article <NUM>. The receptacle connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having a channel <NUM> that defines a receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM>. The channel <NUM> enables the receptacle <NUM> to be cleaned, for example as described above with respect to the channel <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the receptacle connector <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> is configured to receive a plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> therein for mating the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together. In other words, the plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> is inserted (i.e., plugged) into the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> to mate the plug connector <NUM> with the receptacle connector <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> extends a length along the housing <NUM> from a first end <NUM> to a second end <NUM>. The channel <NUM> has a bottom <NUM> and a top <NUM> that extend along the length of the channel <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the first end <NUM> and the top <NUM> of the channel <NUM> are each open. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the receptacle <NUM> of the receptacle connector <NUM> is configured to receive the plug <NUM> of the plug connector <NUM> therein through the open top <NUM> of the channel <NUM> to mate the connectors <NUM> and <NUM> together.

<FIG> an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a plug connector <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded lower perspective view of the plug connector <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the plug connector <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> and a contact assembly <NUM> held by the housing <NUM>. The contact assembly <NUM> includes contacts <NUM>, which are connected to corresponding conductors <NUM> of a cable <NUM>. The contact assembly <NUM> has an insulator <NUM> that holds the contacts <NUM>. The plug connector <NUM> optionally includes a metal shield (not shown) that is held by the housing <NUM>. The insulator <NUM> electrically isolates the contacts <NUM> from the metal shield and may provide impedance control.

The contacts <NUM> that are arranged in a mating interface <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). Each of the contacts <NUM> may be a signal contact, a ground contact, or a power contact. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts <NUM> are stamped and formed deflectable spring contacts. The contacts <NUM> may be referred to herein as "mating contacts".

Referring now to <FIG>, the illustrated embodiment of the housing <NUM> includes two complementary shells 392A and 392B that connect together to define the housing <NUM>. Other arrangements, structures, and/or the like may be used in other embodiments. The shell 392B of the housing <NUM> includes contact cavities <NUM> into which mating ends <NUM> (which include mating surfaces <NUM>) of the contacts <NUM> extend, as is shown in <FIG>. The shell 392A of the housing <NUM> includes ribs <NUM>. The mating ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> extend over corresponding ribs <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> have contoured segments 410A that are configured to engage in physical contact with the mating ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> as the contacts <NUM> are deflected during mating. The contoured segments 410A are shaped complementary with the mating ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> such that the mating ends <NUM> engage the corresponding ribs <NUM> with a relatively smooth fit (i.e., the contoured segments 410A of the ribs <NUM> nest within the corresponding mating ends <NUM> with a fit that does not distort the shape of the corresponding mating ends <NUM>). The complementary shape of the contoured segments 410A of the ribs <NUM> with the mating ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> may facilitate increasing the durability of the contacts <NUM>.

The ribs <NUM> may protect the mating ends <NUM> of the contacts <NUM> from over-deflection. For example, the ribs <NUM> may prevent the mating ends <NUM> from being deflected to or past a position where the mating ends <NUM> are damaged from being deflected past the working range of the mating ends <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the ribs <NUM> (not visible in <FIG>) are configured to be received within corresponding contact cavities <NUM> through rear ends <NUM> (not visible in <FIG>) of the contact cavities <NUM>. As can be seen from a comparison of <FIG> and <FIG>, the ribs <NUM> have complementary shapes with the corresponding contact cavities <NUM>. The complementary shapes of the ribs <NUM> act (i.e., function) as plugs that at least partially seal the rear ends <NUM> of the contact cavities <NUM>. The seals provided by the ribs <NUM> may prevent, reduce, and/or the like water, moisture, and/or other fluids from entering the housing <NUM>. The seals provided by the ribs <NUM> thereby may prevent, reduce, and/or the like electrical shorts between contacts <NUM>. The seals provided by the ribs <NUM> may enable the plug connector <NUM> to be water tight.

Claim 1:
A receptacle connector (<NUM>) for a wearable article (<NUM>), the receptacle connector comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) having a receptacle (<NUM>) configured to receive a complementary plug connector (<NUM>) therein, the housing (<NUM>) being configured to be mounted to the wearable article (<NUM>); and
a printed circuit board (<NUM>) held by the housing, the printed circuit board comprising mating contacts (<NUM>) for mating with the plug connector (<NUM>), the printed circuit board comprising mounting contacts (<NUM>) that are configured to terminate conductors (<NUM>) of a flat cable (<NUM>) of the wearable article (<NUM>) or an e-textile of the wearable article (<NUM>),
wherein the receptacle connector (<NUM>) includes a front mounting plate (<NUM>) including a channel (<NUM>) that defines the receptacle (<NUM>) and extends a length along the housing (<NUM>) from a first open end (<NUM>) to a second end (<NUM>);
characterised in that:
(i) a top (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>) is open over a mating interface (<NUM>) of the receptacle connector (<NUM>) such that the mating interface (<NUM>) and thus mating surfaces (<NUM>) of the mating contacts (<NUM>) are exposed through a top (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>);
(ii) the top (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>) is also open through the first end (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>) such that a continuous pathway is defined from the mating interface (<NUM>) of the receptacle connector (<NUM>) through the first end (<NUM>) of the channel (<NUM>); and
(iii) either (a) the channel (<NUM>) includes side walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) that are angled acutely relative to a bottom (<NUM>) thereof to facilitate holding the plug connector (<NUM>) or (b) the receptacle connector (<NUM>) includes a latch mechanism configured to cooperate with a latch mechanism of the plug connector (<NUM>) to latch the plug connector (<NUM>) to the receptacle connector (<NUM>).