Wearable Article with Removable Module

Abstract

A system includes an electronic module containing an electronic component and a connector in communication with the electronic component, and a housing defining a chamber and having an opening providing access to the chamber to receive the electronic module. The housing has an interface for removable electronic connection to the connector of the module when the module is received in the chamber, and the housing further has a magnet connected to the housing. The module includes a sensor configured to sense the magnet when the module is received in the chamber, and the module is configured to deactivate the connector when the sensor does not sense the magnet and to activate the connector when the sensor does sense the magnet. The sensor may be a Hall effect sensor and/or the connector may be configured for connection to a USB port in various configurations.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A wearable system comprising:
 a jacket comprising a fabric material and having a body configured to be worn on a torso of a user and two sleeves connected to the body and configured for receiving arms of the user;   a housing mounted on the jacket, the housing comprising a receptacle having greater rigidity than the fabric material of the jacket to which the housing is mounted, the receptacle having a plurality of walls defining a chamber and an opening providing access to the chamber, the housing further comprising an interface having electrical contacts exposed within the chamber and consisting of a power contact and a ground contact;   a first electrical contact member connected to the power contact of the interface, the first electrical contact member having a first rigid arm extending from the power contact out of the housing and configured for connection to an electrical component;   a second electrical contact member connected to the ground contact of the interface, the second electrical contact member having a second rigid arm extending from the ground contact out of the housing and configured for connection to the electrical component; and   an electronic module configured to be removably inserted into the chamber through the opening, the electronic module comprising a casing containing at least a power supply and a connector in communication with the power supply, wherein the connector is a USB-format connector having a power terminal and a ground terminal configured for removable physical and electrical connection to the power contact and the ground contact, respectively, of the interface of the housing when the electronic module is received in the chamber, and wherein the USB-format connector further has additional terminals not physically or electrically engaged by any of the electrical contacts of the interface.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the USB-format connector includes four connection terminals including the power terminal and the ground terminal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic module further comprises a computer component contained in the casing and configured for communication through the USB-format connector. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a lip extending around the opening to engage the electronic module and retain the electronic module in the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a carrier connected to the receptacle, the carrier comprising a base and a shelf spaced from the base, wherein the carrier is configured to receive the electronic module between the shelf and the base, and wherein the carrier configured to support the power contact and the ground contact to be accessible from within the chamber and exposed between the base and the shelf. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier includes a first slot in the shelf and a second slot in the shelf that is parallel to and alongside the first slot, and wherein the power contact and the ground contact are in the form of contact springs, and wherein the power contact is positioned within the first slot and the ground contact is positioned within the second slot, such that the first and second slots provide room for the power contact and the ground contact to flex upward when engaged by the connector. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an electrically powered component and conductive leads connecting the electrically powered component to the first electrical contact member and the second electrical contact member, respectively, to connect the electrically powered component to the power contact and the ground contact of the interface, such that the electronic module is configured to power the electrically powered component through the conductive leads when the electronic module is received in the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A wearable system comprising:
 a jacket comprising configured to be worn on an upper body of a user;   a housing connected to the jacket by a bonding material, the housing comprising a receptacle having a plurality of walls defining a chamber and an opening providing access to the chamber, the housing further comprising an interface having electrical contacts exposed within the chamber and consisting of a power contact and a ground contact;   a first electrical contact member connected to the power contact of the interface, the first electrical contact member having a first rigid arm extending from the power contact out of the housing and configured for connection to an electrical component;   a second electrical contact member connected to the ground contact of the interface, the second electrical contact member having a second rigid arm extending from the ground contact out of the housing and configured for connection to the electrical component; and   an electronic module configured to be removably inserted into the chamber through the opening, the electronic module comprising a casing containing at least a power supply and a connector in communication with the power supply, wherein the connector is a USB-format connector having a power terminal and a ground terminal configured for removable physical and electrical connection to the power contact and the ground contact, respectively, of the interface of the housing when the electronic module is received in the chamber, and wherein the USB-format connector further has additional terminals not physically or electrically engaged by any of the electrical contacts of the interface.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the USB-format connector includes four connection terminals including the power terminal and the ground terminal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic module further comprises a computer component contained in the casing and configured for communication through the USB-format connector. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a lip extending around the opening to engage the electronic module and retain the electronic module in the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a carrier connected to the receptacle, the carrier comprising a base and a shelf spaced from the base, wherein the carrier is configured to receive the electronic module between the shelf and the base, and wherein the carrier configured to support the power contact and the ground contact to be accessible from within the chamber and exposed between the base and the shelf. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the carrier includes a first slot in the shelf and a second slot in the shelf that is parallel to and alongside the first slot, and wherein the power contact and the ground contact are in the form of contact springs, and wherein the power contact is positioned within the first slot and the ground contact is positioned within the second slot, such that the first and second slots provide room for the power contact and the ground contact to flex upward when engaged by the connector. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising an electrically powered component and conductive leads connecting the electrically powered component to the first electrical contact member and the second electrical contact member, respectively, to connect the electrically powered component to the power contact and the ground contact of the interface, such that the electronic module is configured to power the electrically powered component through the conductive leads when the electronic module is received in the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A wearable system comprising:
 a jacket comprising configured to be worn on an upper body of a user;   an electrically-powered component mounted on the jacket;   a housing mounted on the jacket at a location separate from the electrically-powered component, the housing comprising a receptacle having a plurality of walls defining a chamber and an opening providing access to the chamber, the housing further comprising an interface having electrical contacts exposed within the chamber and including a power contact and a ground contact;   a first electrical contact member connected to the power contact of the interface, the first electrical contact member having a first rigid arm extending from the power contact out of the housing;   a first electrical lead connected to the first electrical contact member outside the housing and further connected to the electrically-powered component to place the electrically-powered component in electrical communication with the power contact;   a second electrical contact member connected to the ground contact of the interface, the second electrical contact member having a second rigid arm extending from the ground contact out of the housing;   a second electrical lead connected to the second electrical contact member outside the housing and further connected to the electrically-powered component to place the electrically-powered component in electrical communication with the ground contact; and   an electronic module configured to be removably inserted into the chamber through the opening, the electronic module comprising a casing containing at least a power supply and a connector in communication with the power supply, wherein the connector is a USB-format connector having a power terminal and a ground terminal configured for removable physical and electrical connection to the power contact and the ground contact, respectively, of the interface of the housing when the electronic module is received in the chamber, such that the electronic module is configured for supplying power from the power supply to the electrically-powered component through the power contact, the ground contact, the first electrical contact member, the first electrical lead, the second electrical contact member, and the second electrical lead, and wherein the USB-format connector further has additional terminals not physically or electrically engaged by the power contact and the ground contact.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the electrically-powered component comprises an array of light-emitting devices. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the USB-format connector includes four connection terminals including the power terminal and the ground terminal, and wherein the electronic module further comprises a computer component contained in the casing and configured for communication through the USB-format connector. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a lip extending around the opening to engage the electronic module and retain the electronic module in the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the housing further comprises a carrier connected to the receptacle, the carrier comprising a base and a shelf spaced from the base, wherein the carrier is configured to receive the electronic module between the shelf and the base, and wherein the carrier configured to support the power contact and the ground contact to be accessible from within the chamber and exposed between the base and the shelf. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the carrier includes a first slot in the shelf and a second slot in the shelf that is parallel to and alongside the first slot, and wherein the power contact and the ground contact are in the form of contact springs, and wherein the power contact is positioned within the first slot and the ground contact is positioned within the second slot, such that the first and second slots provide room for the power contact and the ground contact to flex upward when engaged by the connector.