Magnetic fastener providing electrical connection and having female member with solid cover

A magnetic snap fastener for releasably coupling a first material to a second material, the fastener comprising

• a male fastening element affixable to the first material, the male fastening element including an integrally formed stud and stud flange formed from a single piece of ferromagnetic material, and
• a female fastening element affixable to the second material, the female fastening element including a cover and a magnet disposed within a cavity defined by the cover, the female fastening element having a channel into which the stud is insertable, the cover being a unitary member of metal, wherein the channel is a distally closed and proximally open socket or recess defined by a continuous wall portion of the cover for receiving the stud and preventing passage of liquid through the channel to the magnet;
• and
• the male fastening element and the female fastening element providing magnetic coupling to releasably couple the first and second materials wherein the female fastening element includes an eyelet and a rivet fixedly insertable therein for affixing to the second material.

An electrical device, comprising a sensor:

• a first portion having a male fastening element affixed thereon, the male fastening element including an integrally formed stud and stud flange;
• and
• a second portion having a female fastening element affixed thereon, the female fastening element including a cover and a magnet disposed within a cavity defined by the cover, the female fastening element having a channel into which the stud is insertable, the cover being a unitary member of electrically conductive metal, wherein the channel is a distally closed and proximally open socket or recess defined by a continuous wall portion of the cover for receiving the stud and preventing passage of liquid through the channel to the magnet;
• and
• the male fastening element and the female fastening element being magnetically couplable to each other such that the male fastening element contacts the female fastening element to form a conductive electrical path from the first portion to the second portion through the male fastening element and the female fastening element when the male fastening element and the female fastening element are magnetically coupled to each other, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a heart sensor or a fitness tracker.

An electrically conductive magnetic snap fastener for releasably coupling a first material to a second material, the fastener comprising:

• (a) a male fastening element affixable to the first material, including
• (i) an integrally formed stud and stud flange, having a hollow cavity and stamped or drawn from a single piece of electrically conductive ferromagnetic sheet metal, and
• (ii) an electrically conductive post to affix the male fastening element to the first material, said post including a post portion, press-fitted or crush-fitted into said hollow cavity in electrically conductive contact with an interior surface of the stud, and a flange portion spaced from the stud flange such that the first material lies between and in contact with the stud flange and the flange portion of the post when the male fastening element is affixed thereto;
• and
• (b) a female fastening element affixable to the second material, the female fastening element including a cover and a magnet disposed within a cavity defined by the cover, the female fastening element defining a channel into which the stud is insertable, the cover being a unitary member of electrically conductive metal disposed for electrically conductive contact with the male fastening element when the stud is inserted in the channel, wherein the channel is a distally closed and proximally open socket or recess defined by a continuous wall portion of the cover for receiving the stud and preventing passage of liquid through the channel to the magnet;
• the male fastening element and the female fastening element being magnetically couplable to each other when the stud is inserted in the channel, such that the male fastening element contacts the female fastening element to form a conductive electrical path through the male fastening element and the female fastening element when the male fastening element and the female fastening element are magnetically coupled to each other.

A component for a magnetic snap fastener for releasably coupling a first material to a second material, the component comprising a male fastening element affixable to the first material, the male fastening element being disposable and comprising

• (a) an integrally formed stud and stud flange, having a hollow cavity and stamped or drawn from a single piece of electrically conductive ferromagnetic sheet metal;
• and
• (b) an electrically conductive post to affix the male fastening element to the first material, said post including a post portion, press-fitted or crush-fitted into said hollow cavity in electrically conductive contact with an interior surface of the stud, and a flange portion spaced from the stud flange such that the first material lies between and in contact with the stud flange and the flange portion of the post when the male fastening element is affixed thereto,
• wherein the component is configured to magnetically couple with a female fastening element affixable to the second material, the female fastening element including a cover and a magnet disposed within a cavity defined by the cover, the female fastening element having a channel into which the stud is insertable, the cover being a unitary member of electrically conductive metal, wherein the channel is a distally closed and proximally open socket or recess defined by a continuous wall portion of the cover for receiving the stud and preventing passage of liquid through the channel to the magnet, the female element being electrically conductive at least in a portion disposed for electrically conductive contact with the male fastening element when the stud is inserted in the channel, and the male fastening element and the female fastening element being magnetically couplable to each other when the stud is inserted in the channel, such that the male fastening element contacts the female fastening element to form a conductive electrical path through the male fastening element and the female fastening element when the male fastening element and the female fastening element are magnetically coupled to each other.