Woven stretchable grounding strap
AssigneeSemtronics Corporation
InventorAlbert C. Breidegam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A woven strap that may be comfortably worn on the wrist to drain or wick static electrical charges from the wearer. Conductive fibers on the inside surface of the strap contact the skin and conduct electrical charges to a grounding cord attached to the strap. Face yarns exposed on the outer surface may be woven to form designs. The woven fabric material of the strap is attached to a clasp allowing the strap to be adjustable in size. Because of the woven nature of the fabric material and the adjustable clasp, the strap is more comfortable than other conductive elastic wrist straps. The woven fabric material is particularly advantageous because it stretches easily, it is inexpensive, and it does not roll over onto itself as it is being drawn over the hand.
Claims17
A strap for establishing electrical contact with a person's body, comprising:
- (a) a length of woven material for extension in its longitudinal direction circumferentially of the person's wrist, ankle or limb, and comprising:
- (i) a plurality of elastic warp yarns oriented in the longitudinal direction to allow the material to stretch;
- and
- (ii) a plurality of electrically conductive yarns exposed on the inner surface of the material to contact the person's skin;
- (b) an electrically non-conductive clasp attached to a first end of the material to capture the second end of the material for securing the strap to the person;
- and
- (c) a fitting attached to the clasp to receive an electrically conductive cord, which fitting is in electrical contact with the conductive yarns.
Woven elastic electrically conductive material comprising:
- (a) a plurality of elastic warp yarns to allow the material to stretch;
- (b) a plurality of electrically conductive warp yarns exposed on a first side of the material;
- and
- (c) a plurality of weft yarns.
Woven elastic electrically conductive material comprising:
- (a) a plurality of elastic warp yarns to allow the material to stretch, each comprising:
- (i) at least one rubber strand;
- and
- (ii) at least one strand of polyester fibers wrapped about the rubber strand;
- (b) a plurality of electrically conductive warp yarns exposed on a first side of the material;
- (c) a plurality of binder warp yarns for electrically insulating the conductive yarns from objects that may contact the second surface of the material;
- (d) a plurality of facing warp yarns exposed in the second side of the material for imparting an attractive appearance to the material;
- and
- (e) a plurality of weft yarns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.