Connector systems for breathing apparatus

1 . A breathing apparatus comprising a wearable support frame, wherein the wearable support frame comprises a connector system comprising:

a first connector provided on the wearable support frame, the first connector comprising an electrical transfer element and a non-magnetized, magnetically attractive element to be attracted by a magnet;

a second connector for connection to the first connector, comprising a complementary electrical transfer element for power and/or data transfer with the electrical transfer element of the first connector and further comprising a magnet for attracting the magnetically attractive element so as to magnetically secure the first and second connector to one another for power and/or data transfer between the electrical transfer elements; and

wherein the magnetically attractive element is covered by a non-conducting material such that the magnetically attractive element is not exposed on a surface of the first connector.

2 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a plurality of magnetically attractive elements and the second connector comprises a respective plurality of magnets for attracting the plurality of magnetically attractive elements.

3 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least two of the magnetically attractive elements are arranged on opposing sides of the electrical transfer element, and wherein at least two of the magnets are arranged on opposing sides of the complementary electrical transfer element.

4 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrical transfer element and the complementary electrical transfer element are conductive electrical contacts.

5 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrical transfer element and the complementary electrical transfer element are inductive electrical elements.

6 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

7 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a protrusion or a recess having the electrical transfer element, and the second connector comprises a complementary recess or protrusion having the complementary electrical transfer element.

8 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a plurality of electrical transfer elements and a respective plurality of complimentary electrical transfer elements, wherein at least one pair of an electrical transfer element and a complimentary electrical transfer element are configured to transfer power, and at least one pair of an electrical transfer element and a complimentary electrical transfer element are configured to transfer data.

9 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a charging apparatus comprising the second connector, the charging apparatus configured to charge the breathing apparatus via the first and second connectors.

10 . A breathing apparatus comprising a wearable support frame, wherein the wearable support frame comprises a connector system for power and/or data transfer, comprising:

a first connector comprising a contact protrusion having at least first and second electrical contacts, the electrical contacts defining a contact axis along a straight line extending between the first and second contacts, and the first connector comprising a non-magnetized, magnetically attractive element to be attracted by a magnet;

a second connector comprising a complementary recess for receiving the contact protrusion having complementary electrical contacts for contacting the first and second electrical contacts of the first connector, and the second connector comprising a magnet for attracting the magnetically attractive element so as to magnetically secure the first and second connector to one another;

wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is attached to a cable and, at a connection interface between the cable and the connector, a longitudinal axis of the cable is substantially perpendicular to the contact axis;

wherein the contact protrusion and the complementary recess each comprise a peripheral surface which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cable, wherein the inclined peripheral surfaces are configured to overlay one another when the first and second connectors are in a connected configuration; and

wherein the inclined peripheral surfaces are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cable such that, in the connected configuration, a tensile force applied to the cable will urge the first and second connectors to disconnect as the inclined peripheral surfaces move relative to one another.

11 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the contact protrusion and/or the complimentary recess have a longest dimension which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cable.

12 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the inclined peripheral surfaces are arranged on an opposing peripheral side of the contact protrusion and/or complimentary recess to the connection interface between the cable and the connector.

13 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and/or second connector comprises a connector portion on which the contact protrusion or complimentary recess is arranged, the connector portion being substantially planar, and wherein the respective connector further comprises a stepped portion comprising the connection interface between the cable and the connector such that the longitudinal axis of the cable is spaced apart from the connector portion.

14 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and second connectors each comprise three or more electrical contacts arranged on the contact axis.

15 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the contact protrusion and the complementary recess each further comprise a further peripheral inclined surface which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable, such that, in the connected configuration, a lateral force applied to the first or second connector which is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable will urge the first and second connectors to disconnect as the further inclined peripheral surfaces move relative to one another.

16 . The breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein at least one pair of an electrical contact and a complimentary electrical contact are configured to transfer power, and at least one pair of an electrical contact and a complimentary electrical contact are configured to transfer data.

17 . The breathing apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a charging apparatus comprising the second connector, the charging apparatus configured to charge the breathing apparatus via the first and second connectors.