Receptacle connector for a wearable article

A receptacle connector for a wearable article, the receptacle connector comprising:

• a housing having a receptacle configured to receive a complementary plug connector therein, the housing being configured to be mounted to the wearable article;
• contacts held by the housing, the contacts being arranged in a mating interface along which the receptacle connector mates with the plug connector, the contacts comprising mating surfaces at which the contacts mate in physical contact with corresponding mating contacts of the plug connector;
• and
• wherein 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 being open, the channel having a bottom and a top that extend along the length of the channel, the mating interface of the receptacle connector extending along the bottom of the channel, the top of the channel being open over the mating interface such that the mating surfaces of the contacts are exposed through the top, the top of the channel being open through the first end of the channel such that a continuous pathway is defined from the mating interface through the first end.

A wearable article comprising:

• a sheet of material configured to be worn by an individual;
• and
• a receptacle connector mounted to the sheet of material, the receptacle connector comprising:
• 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 comprising mating contacts for mating with the plug connector, the printed circuit board comprising mounting contacts that terminate conductors of a flat cable of the wearable article or an e-textile of the wearable article, wherein the printed circuit board comprises opposite first and second sides, the mating contacts extend along the first side, the mounting contacts extend along the second side, the first side extends on an exterior side of the sheet, and the second side extends on an interior side of the sheet.