Modular Wearable Connector Patent Snapshot 2026
The indexed corpus for modular wearable connectors currently comprises a single patent family, filed in 2024 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota via PCT. This nascent space is effectively open: no commercial incumbents appear in the record, and the technology branches spanning garments, woven fabrics, and printed-circuit assemblies remain largely uncontested.
University of Minnesota holds the field with one PCT filing
The Regents of the University of Minnesota rank first — and, at present, only — in the modular wearable connector evidence snapshot, accounting for the entirety of the indexed corpus with one patent family filed through WIPO’s PCT system in 2024.
Concentration is absolute: the top five filers’ share of the ranked applicants visible in this query stands at 100%, driven entirely by a single academic institution. There is no observable tier gap because no second-tier applicant exists in the current record.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regents of the University of Minnesota | 1 |
A sole academic holder at the PCT stage signals that the technology is at an early, pre-commercialization point. Industrial players have not yet entered the record, leaving the foundational claim space structurally open to follow-on filings.
Because patent applications typically publish 18–24 months after filing, activity from late 2024 onward is likely under-counted; the corpus should be treated as a floor, not a ceiling. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
A single 2024 filing marks the start of indexed activity
The annual filing trend and technology composition both reflect an extremely early-stage field. One filing in 2024 is the sole data point across the ten-year window.
Annual filing trend
No activity appears from 2017 through 2023; a single patent family was filed in 2024. Years 2025 and 2026 show zero indexed records, consistent with publication lag rather than an absence of activity — applications filed in those years would not yet appear.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
The lone filing spans three IPC branches: A41D (outerwear and garments), D03D (woven fabrics and weaving), and H05K (printed circuits and assemblies). This cross-branch footprint reflects the hybrid textile-electronics nature of modular wearable connectors and defines the technical perimeter of the current corpus.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Textile architectures for repositionable components
Systems and methods for producing and using an e-textile are described herein that use connectors to create an electronic connectivity in any of a number of desired patterns or positions across the e-textile. These systems and methods can use a multi-layer e-textile that includes an insulating layer, a conductive layer, and a connector. (excerpt from the patent abstract)
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
Assignee snapshot from the current evidence set
The applicants below are visible in this query result. Because the evidence set is relatively small, read this section as a directional snapshot rather than a full competitive ranking.
University of Minnesota
The Regents of the University of Minnesota hold the only indexed patent family in this space, filed in 2024 via PCT. Their technology emphasis sits across outerwear and garments (A41D), woven fabrics (D03D), and printed-circuit assemblies (H05K). Momentum is classified as a new entrant with one family in the recent period versus zero in the prior window.
patent families: 1No challenger on record
No second applicant exists in the current corpus. The challenger position is structurally vacant. Any organization filing in modular wearable connectors would immediately occupy this role. Monitoring PCT national-phase publications and new PCT applications in A41D, D03D, and H05K is the recommended early-warning approach.
patent families: 0Frequently asked questions
The current indexed corpus contains one patent family, filed in 2024 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota via PCT. This should be treated as a floor given publication lag for recent filings.
The Regents of the University of Minnesota is the sole and therefore leading applicant, holding one patent family. No commercial or industrial applicants appear in the current record.
The single indexed family spans three IPC branches: A41D (outerwear and garments), D03D (woven fabrics and weaving), and H05K (printed circuits and assemblies), reflecting the hybrid textile-electronics nature of the technology.
The filing was made through WIPO’s PCT system. National-phase entry decisions — which determine country-level protection — have not yet been published in the indexed record.
Based on the evidence — a single filing from an academic institution with no prior-year activity and no commercial applicants — the field is at a very early, pre-commercial stage. A formal lifecycle stage cannot be assigned from one data point, but all indicators point to seed-stage conditions.
Based on the current corpus, H01R (electrical connectors and contacts) and A44B (buttons, buckles, and fasteners) are adjacent branches with no indexed filings. Both have plausible technical relevance to modular wearable connectors, though this observation should be validated against a broader search before any follow-up research decisions is made.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. Patsnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.