Supporting an electrical connector

1. An apparatus for supporting an electrical connector, wherein:

said electrical connector is configured to provide a mechanically detachable electrical interface for equipment external to a surface of an item of clothing, while providing permanent electrical connections with a transmission loom internal to said item of clothing;

said electrical connector has a rigid component, having an external mechanical/electrical interface portion configured to extend externally through a first orifice defined in said item of clothing, and an internal electrical interface portion; and

said apparatus comprises:

a circuit board including first contacts attachable to said internal electrical interface portion; and

an over-moulding configured to surround said circuit board and having said rigid component extending therethrough, wherein said over-moulding includes:

a first side flange extending away from said rigid component in a first direction; and

a second side flange extending away from said rigid component in a second direction, wherein said first side flange and said second side flange are used to attach said over-moulding to an internal surface of the item of clothing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus includes stitches for stitching said first side flange and said second side flange to said internal surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said apparatus includes an outer-moulding having a second orifice for receiving said external mechanical/electrical interface portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:

said outer-moulding includes indications for receiving said stitches; and

said stitches extend through said outer-moulding, said item of clothing and said over-moulding.

5. A loom sub-assembly, comprising:

a plurality of electrical connectors configured to detachably attach external equipment, wherein each electrical connector of said plurality of electrical connectors is supported by said apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first loom portion connects a first circuit board to a second circuit board.

6. The loom sub-assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first loom portion is a ribbon cable insulated with silicone rubber.

7. The loom sub assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a second loom portion connecting said second circuit board to a third circuit board.

8. The loom sub-assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a third loom portion connecting said third circuit board to a fourth circuit board.

9. The loom sub-assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first loom portion is constructed from a ribbon of non-conductive material, with conductive wires included therein.

10. The loom sub-assembly of claim 9 , wherein:

a first end of said conductive wires connect to said first circuit board; and

a second end of said conductive wires connect to said second circuit board, to maintain the integrity of said first loom portion.

11. An item of clothing having said loom sub-assembly of claim 9 , wherein:

said conductive wires are restrained within a substantially central-portion of said ribbon; and

said ribbon is sewn into position within said item of clothing along a first-edge-portion of said ribbon.

12. The item of clothing of claim 11 , wherein said ribbon is also sewn into position along a second-edge-portion.

13. The item of clothing of claim 11 , including coloured thread included in said ribbon to indicate a sewing position.

14. The loom sub-assembly of claim 5 , wherein said mechanically detachable electrical interface presents a circular surface arranged substantially parallel with said surface, including a plurality of concentric electrical connectors.

15. The loom sub assembly of claim 14 , wherein:

said mechanically detachable electrical interface is substantially cylindrical;

said first orifice is substantially cylindrical, with at least one additional notch hole; and

said over-moulding includes at least one notch for insertion within said respective notch hole to maintain alignment of said electrical connector.

16. A method of supporting an electrical connector configured to provide a mechanically detachable electrical interface for equipment external to a surface of an item of clothing, while providing a permanent electrical connections with a transmission loom internal to said item of clothing, wherein:

said electrical connector has a rigid component, having an external mechanical/electrical interface portion configured to extend externally through a first orifice defined in said item of clothing, and an internal electrical interface portion; and

said method comprising the steps of:

connecting said internal electrical interface portion to a circuit board including first contacts attachable to said internal electrical interface portion;

connecting a first loom end of said transmission loom to said circuit board and connecting a second loom end of said transmission loom to said circuit board;

over-moulding said circuit board to surround said circuit board while enabling said rigid component to extend therethrough;

locating said external mechanical/electrical interface portion through said first orifice defined in said item of clothing; and

securing said over-moulding to an internal surface of said item of clothing by securing a first side flange of said over-moulding extending away from said rigid component in a first direction and securing a second side flange of said over-moulding extending away from said rigid component in a second direction.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of locating a cover over said surface of said item of clothing, wherein said cover includes a cover-orifice for receiving said external mechanical/electrical interface portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said securing step includes:

sewing through said cover, said item of clothing and said first side flange; and

sewing through said cover, said item of clothing and said second side flange.

19. An apparatus for supporting an electrical connector, wherein:

said electrical connector is configured to provide a mechanically detachable electrical interface for equipment external to a surface of an item of clothing, while providing permanent electrical connections with a transmission loom internal to said item of clothing;

said electrical connector has a rigid component, having an external mechanical/electrical interface portion configured to extend externally through a first orifice defined in said item of clothing, and an internal electrical interface portion; and

said apparatus comprises:

a circuit board including first contacts attachable to said internal electrical interface portion;

an over-moulding configured to surround said circuit board;

a first side flange extending away from a first side of said over-moulding;

a second side flange extending away from a second side of said over-moulding, wherein said first side flange and said second side flange are used to attach said over-moulding to an internal surface of the item of clothing;

stitches for stitching said first side flange and said second side flange to said internal surface; and

an outer-moulding having a second orifice for receiving said external mechanical/electrical interface portion, wherein:

said outer-moulding includes indications for receiving said stitches; and

said stitches extend through said outer-moulding, said item of clothing and said over-moulding.

20. A loom sub-assembly, comprising:

a plurality of electrical connectors configured to detachably attach external equipment, wherein each electrical connector of said plurality of electrical connectors is supported by said apparatus of claim 19 , wherein a first loom portion connects a first circuit board to a second circuit board.