Retractable electrical connector assembly and electric-heating garment including the same

Abstract

A retractable electrical connector assembly is attached to a piece of clothing, is electrically connected to an electric-powered article, and includes an electrical connector, a stationary unit and a movable unit. The electrical connector is disposed at the clothing and electrically connected between a power supply and the electric-powered article. The stationary unit is attached to the clothing. The movable unit is connected to the electrical connector, and is movable relative to the stationary unit to move the electrical connector between an inner position, where the electrical connector is received in the clothing, and an outer position, where the electrical connector is exposed partially from the clothing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retractable electrical connector assembly adapted to be attached to a piece of clothing and adapted to be electrically connected to an electric-powered article for transmitting electricity from a power supply to the electric-powered article, the piece of clothing including a clothing main body and a pair of limb parts extending from the clothing main body, at least one of the limb parts being formed with a slit, said retractable electrical connector assembly comprising:
 an electrical connector adapted to be disposed at the piece of clothing and to be electrically connected between the power supply and the electric-powered article for transmitting the electricity from the power supply to the electric-powered article;   a stationary unit adapted to be attached to said one of the limb parts that is formed with the slit; and   a movable unit connected to said electrical connector, adapted to be exposed from said one of the limb parts through the slit, and movable relative to said stationary unit to move said electrical connector between an inner position, where said electrical connector is adapted to be received in said one of the limb parts, and an outer position, where said electrical connector is adapted to be exposed partially from said one of the limb parts.   
     
     
         2 . The retractable electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said stationary unit includes a pair of tooth members that are adapted to be sewn on said one of the limb parts of the piece of clothing at the slit; and   said movable unit is connected to said stationary unit and includes
 at least one sliding member that is connected between said tooth members, that is slidable with respect to said tooth members, and that cooperates with said tooth members as a zipper, and 
 a connecting member connecting said sliding member to said electrical connector for driving said electrical connector to move between the inner position and the outer position. 
   
     
     
         3 . The retractable electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said electrical connector includes an output terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the electric-powered article for outputting the electricity to the electric-powered article, and an electric cable electrically connected to said output terminal for transmitting the electricity to said output terminal,
 wherein said connecting member of said movable unit is fixedly connected to one of said output terminal and said electric cable.   
     
     
         4 . The retractable electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said movable unit includes two of said sliding members adjacent closely to each other, and further includes a pull rope interconnecting said sliding members, said connecting member being connected to one of said sliding members. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , said one of the limb parts including an outer cloth layer that has an inner surface, wherein:
 said stationary unit includes a pair of stationary members that are adapted to be connected fixedly to the inner surface of the outer cloth layer of said one of the limb parts, that are disposed adjacent respectively to opposite ends of the slit, and that are formed with respective through holes; and   said movable unit includes
 a movable cord extending through said through holes and movable with respect to said stationary members, 
 a pull rope connected fixedly to said movable cord and adapted to be pulled for moving said movable cord with respect to said stationary members, and 
 a connecting member fixedly connecting said movable cord to said electrical connector for driving said electrical connector to move between the inner position and the outer position. 
   
     
     
         6 . The retractable electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said movable cord is in a ring shape, said pull rope of said movable unit is connected fixedly to said movable cord between said stationary members, and said connecting member of said movable unit is fixedly connected to said movable cord at a position opposite to said pull rope. 
     
     
         7 . An electric-heating garment, comprising:
 a piece of clothing including a clothing main body and a pair of limb parts extending from said clothing main body, at least one of said limb parts being formed with a slit; and   a retractable electrical connector assembly attached to said piece of clothing, and adapted to be electrically connected to an electric-powered article for transmitting electricity from a power supply to the electric-powered article, said retractable electrical connector assembly including
 an electrical connector disposed at said piece of clothing and adapted to be electrically connected between the power supply and the electric-powered article for transmitting the electricity from the power supply to the electric-powered article, 
 a stationary unit attached to said one of the limb parts that is formed with said slit, and 
 a movable unit connected to said electrical connector, exposed from said one of said limb parts through said slit, and movable relative to said stationary unit to move said electrical connector between an inner position, where said electrical connector is received in said one of said limb parts, and an outer position, where said electrical connector is exposed partially from said one of said limb parts. 
   
     
     
         8 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said stationary unit includes a pair of tooth members that are sewn on said one of said limb parts of said piece of clothing at said slit; and   said movable unit is connected to said stationary unit and includes
 at least one sliding member that is connected between said tooth members, that is slidable with respect to said tooth members, and that cooperates with said tooth members as a zipper, and 
 a connecting member connecting said sliding member to said electrical connector for driving said electrical connector to move between the inner position and the outer position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said electrical connector includes an output terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the electric-powered article for outputting the electricity to the electric-powered article, and an electric cable electrically connected to said output terminal for transmitting the electricity to said output terminal,
 wherein said connecting member of said movable unit is fixedly connected to one of said output terminal and said electric cable.   
     
     
         10 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said movable unit includes two of said sliding members adjacent closely to each other, and further includes a pull rope interconnecting said sliding members, said connecting member being fixedly connected to one of said sliding members. 
     
     
         11 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said one of said limb parts has an inner surface;   said stationary unit includes a pair of stationary members that are connected fixedly to said inner surface of said one of said limb parts, that are disposed adjacent respectively to opposite ends of said slit, and that are formed with respective through holes; and   said movable unit includes
 a movable cord extending through said through holes and movable with respect to said stationary members, 
 a pull rope connected fixedly to said movable cord and adapted to be pulled for moving said movable cord with respect to said stationary members, and 
 a connecting member fixedly connecting said movable cord to said electrical connector for driving said electrical connector to move between the inner position and the outer position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said movable cord is in a ring shape, said pull rope of said movable unit is connected fixedly to said movable cord between said stationary members, and said connecting member of said movable unit is fixedly connected to said movable cord at a position opposite to said pull rope. 
     
     
         13 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said one of said limb parts is further formed with an end opening away from said clothing main body, and includes an outer cloth layer formed with said slit near said end opening, a lining layer, and a pouch layer that is disposed between said outer cloth layer and said lining layer, that corresponds to said slit, that cooperates with said outer cloth layer to define an accommodating space in spatial communication with said slit, and that is formed a pair of apertures in spatial communication with said accommodating space and adjacent to opposite ends of said slit,
 wherein said electrical connector includes an output terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the electric-powered article for outputting the electricity to the electric-powered article, and an electric cable extending through said apertures and being electrically connected to said output terminal for transmitting the electricity to said output terminal,   wherein said electrical connector is exposed partially from said one of said limb parts through said end opening when said electrical connector is at the outer position.   
     
     
         14 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising an electric-heating device that includes a first electric-heating component, and a controller electrically connected to said first electric-heating component and said electrical connector of said retractable electrical connector assembly, said controller being adapted to be electrically connected to the power supply and being configured to control the electricity transmitted from the power supply to said first electric-heating component and said electrical connector. 
     
     
         15 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said piece of clothing further includes a pair of pockets disposed at said clothing main body, and said electric-heating device further includes two second electric-heating components respectively disposed in said pockets and electrically connected to said controller,
 wherein said controller is further configured to control and provide the electricity from the power supply to said second electric-heating components when said electrical connector is not electrically connected to the electric-powered article.   
     
     
         16 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said electric-heating device further includes a user-operable unit that is disposed at said clothing main body of said piece of clothing, that is electrically connected to said controller, and that includes an on-off button for activating said controller to output the electricity from the power supply, and a power-switching button for activating said controller to adjust electric power of the electricity provided to said first electric-heating component and said electrical connector. 
     
     
         17 . An electric-heating garment, comprising:
 a piece of clothing including a clothing main body and a pair of limb parts extending from the clothing main body, at least one of said limb parts being formed with a slit;   an electric-powered article; and   a retractable electrical connector assembly attached to said piece of clothing and electrically connected to said electric-powered article for transmitting electricity from a power supply to said electric-powered article, said retractable electrical connector assembly including
 an electrical connector disposed at said piece of clothing and adapted to be electrically connected between the power supply and said electric-powered article for transmitting the electricity from the power supply to said electric-powered article, 
 a stationary unit attached to said one of the limb parts that is formed with said slit, and 
 a movable unit connected to said electrical connector, exposed from said one of said limb parts through said slit, and movable relative to said stationary unit to move said electrical connector between an inner position, where said electrical connector is received in said one of said limb parts, and an outer position, where said electrical connector is exposed partially from said one of said limb parts. 
   
     
     
         18 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said electric-powered article includes an electric-heating component, and an input terminal electrically connected to said electric-heating component and said electrical connector of said retractable electrical connector assembly for transmitting the electricity from said electrical connector to said electric-heating component. 
     
     
         19 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said piece of clothing is an upper body garment, said limb parts are sleeves, and said electric-powered article is a glove. 
     
     
         20 . The electric-heating garment as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said piece of clothing is pants, said limb parts are pant legs, and said electric-powered article is a sock.