The disclosure relates to the field of bodysuits, such as wetsuits or drysuits, worn to protect a wearer against the environment.
Bodysuits are worn when a wearer intends to provide protection against the outside environment. Bodysuits including wetsuits and drysuits are often worn in aquatic environments to protect a wearer from cold temperatures of the surrounding liquid. Bodysuits, such as hazard suits, may be worn to protect against liquid or gaseous materials in the environment outside the bodysuit.
A typical prior art wetsuit is formed from chloroprene rubber, which may not provide heat retention in more frigid environments and which may suffer from corrosion caused by UV light or other environmental corrosive agents. Bodysuits of the prior art have difficulty maintaining water and/or air seals, particularly near bodysuit openings and bodysuit attachments such as gloves, boots, or headgear. As a result, unwelcome water or atmosphere from the outside environment may enter the bodysuit.
There is a need for a bodysuit capable of providing improved performance properties such as thermal retention and corrosion resistance while additionally preventing the introduction of unwelcome environmental intrusions.
Certain embodiments of the bodysuit of the present disclosure include a core formed from a silicone-based material. The bodysuit may additionally include an exterior layer and/or an interior layer. Embodiments include one or more seal components at one or more bodysuit openings. Embodiments include one or more primary adherence seal components formed from a silicone based material at one or more bodysuit openings configured to engage with and form a seal with one or more secondary adherence seal components at the openings of one or more bodysuit attachments. Other embodiments include a combination of seal components and adherence seal components.
Embodiments of the seal components may be configured to form a comfortable seal against a wearer's associated body part (e.g. arm, wrist, leg, ankle, neck) that is strengthened upon subjection to a pressure differential that may otherwise force liquid or atmosphere from the environment past the seal and into the bodysuit.
In an embodiment, a bodysuit includes a core substantially formed from a silicone based material, an exterior layer adjacent and exterior to the core, and formed from a stretchable material, and an interior layer interior to the core and formed from an insulating material. At least one seal component is preferably annularly disposed along an inner collar surface of the bodysuit, and includes at least one seal element annularly disposed along a periphery of at least a portion of the inner collar surface and resiliently extending in an inward radial direction from the inner collar surface.
The exterior layer may be formed from a woven stretchable fabric, elastic or rubber material capable of abrasion resistance, and tear or puncture resistance. The core may be substantially free of embedded or dispersed materials.
The seal component may include a variable clearance formed between the inwardly extending seal element and the inner collar surface. The inwardly extending seal element is arranged to deflect in an outward radial direction toward the inner collar surface to reduce the clearance. At least one recessed portion may annularly extend around a periphery of at least a portion of the inner collar surface. The at least one seal element may have a first end portion secured to or within the at least one recessed portion and be pitched in a generally inward radial direction and a generally distal longitudinal direction to form an apex at an innermost radial extension. At least a portion of the first end portion may be arranged to deflect in a generally outward radial direction toward the at least one recessed portion.
A second end portion may be connected to the first end portion at the apex, and the second end portion can be pitched in a generally outward radial direction toward the at least one recessed portion. At least a portion of the first end portion or second end portion may be slidable within the at least one recessed portion. The variable clearance preferably defines an interior configuration arranged to engage the inner collar surface. The interior configuration may extend in an outward radial direction from the seal element toward the inner collar surface and be moveable relative to the inner collar surface.
The interior configuration may comprise at least one blade extending at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis. The blade may taper in thickness toward a proximal blade end and/or toward a distal blade end or from a seal element end toward an inner collar surface end.
The bodysuit may have a reinforcement disposed at a location associated with the at least one seal component. The bodysuit preferably has a primary adherence seal component disposed at a bodysuit opening, and substantially formed from a silicone-based material.
The bodysuit preferably has at least one bodysuit attachment including an attachment opening and a secondary adherence seal component substantially formed from a silicone-based material and disposed at the attachment opening. The at least one bodysuit attachment is in contact with the bodysuit, and the primary and secondary adherence seal components engage with and adhere to each other to form a seal between the bodysuit and the bodysuit attachment. The primary adherence seal component is circumferentially disposed along the inner collar surface of the bodysuit, and the secondary adherence seal component is circumferentially disposed along an outer collar surface of the bodysuit attachment.
The numerous advantages, features, and functions of embodiments of the bodysuit will become readily apparent and better understood in view of the following description and accompanying drawings. The following description is not intended to limit the scope of the bodysuit, but instead merely provides exemplary embodiments for ease of understanding.
The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a better understanding of the components, and are not intended to be limiting in scope, but rather to provide exemplary illustrations. The figures illustrate exemplary configurations of a bodysuit, and in no way limit the structures or configurations of a bodysuit and components according to the present disclosure.
Some examples of the advantages associated with embodiments exhibiting a core 12 formed from a silicone based material, as compared to bodysuits found in the prior art, include enhanced heat retention and excellent resistance to cold temperatures, superior elasticity and compressibility, excellent water repellency, reduced bodysuit drying times, corrosion resistance, UV light resistance, excellent weatherability, and a lower thickness requirement compared to conventional neoprene wetsuits.
Low intermolecular forces within silicone polymeric matrices provide high elasticity and compressibility, yet silicone can still provide excellent resistance to cold temperatures. The combination of flexibility and high heat retention allows for constructing a bodysuit that need not be as thick as prior art counterparts to get the same results. The water repellency properties of silicone allow for bodysuits constructed with a core 12 formed from silicone to dry in time less than those of the prior art, reducing the occurrence and level of discomfort associated with donning a still damp or wet bodysuit, particularly in more frigid environments. The chemical inertness of silicone provides corrosion resistance, particularly in seawater and other aquatic environments where bodysuits are likely to be exposed to corrosive agents.
A bodysuit exhibiting a core 12 formed from a silicone polymer will incorporate the silicone's weatherability and UV light resistance. This is advantageous to those using bodysuits in activities where the wearer is exposed to sunlight for large portions of the activity, such as surfing and windsurfing, and where prior art bodysuits such as those made from chloroprene rubber are susceptible to damage.
Still referring to
The interior layer 16 may be composed of woven fabrics (such as spun polymers, fleece, or natural fibers), chloroprene rubber, or any other elastic or rubber material. The interior layer 16 may be capable of providing additional thermal insulation and/or is utilized to provide increased comfort to a user.
In referring to
The core 12 and the silicone forming the same may include voids or trapped gas, such as air, and layers forming a gas filled space to reduce heat transfer across a part of ta thickness of the core. The construction of the core may result in a 3D structure arrange for accommodating the gas filled spaces while not increasing a thickness of the core or leading to a loss of freedom of the user.
The inner collar surface 26 may be the interior portion of the bodysuit 20 covering and contacting the wrist or wrists of a wearer or the area just below (i.e. more proximal to the user's body) the wrists, and/or the area covering and contacting the ankle area or the area just above (i.e. more proximal to the user's body) the ankles of a wearer. When the length or structure of the bodysuit sleeves and/or leg coverings differs, an inner collar surface 26 may be the interior portion of a bodysuit 20 generally covering the general area of a user's forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder, lower leg, knee, or upper leg, among other locations. An inner collar surface 26 may be associated with a neck/head opening, such that the inner collar surface 26 where a seal component 22 is disposed relates to the interior portion of the bodysuit 20 covering a user's general neck area.
One skilled in the art will recognize that a seal component 22 may be disposed at any location in a bodysuit 20 where it is desired to create a water tight or air tight seal such that any air and/or liquid from the outside environment is prevented from moving past the seal to any portion of a user's body further toward the interior (i.e. more proximal to the user's center) than the location of the seal component 22. An inner collar surface 26 may encompass the area immediately adjacent to the bodysuit opening 24 and any other portion of the interior surface of the bodysuit 20 wherein a seal component 22 may be placed to protect any more proximal areas of the user's body.
A seal component 22 may be integrally formed with the bodysuit 20 such that portions of the seal component 22 are integrally formed with and part of the inner collar surface 26. Alternatively, a seal component 22 may be formed separately and attached to the bodysuit 20 using a bonding method such as adhesive application, heat-seal, molding, etc.
A bodysuit attachment 38 also includes a secondary adherence seal component 40, which is preferably formed from a silicone-based material. This embodiment and other similar embodiments utilize the intrinsic capability of silicone to adhere to itself and create a seal, such that by bringing a bodysuit attachment 38 in contact with the associated portion of the bodysuit 30, a primary adherence seal component 32 and a secondary adherence seal component 40 engage with and adhere to each other to form a seal between the bodysuit 30 and a bodysuit attachment 38.
Either of the adherence seal components may be an applied compound or substance exhibiting secondary or intermolecular bonding forces to themselves or as different applied compounds or substances applied to corresponding mating components.
As shown in
Preferably, the exterior area of the bodysuit attachment 38 is substantially adjacent to a bodysuit attachment opening 44. A user may don the bodysuit 30 and a bodysuit attachment 38, and by adjusting the components, may bring a primary adherence seal component 32 in contact with an associated secondary adherence seal component 40, allowing the components to engage with and adhere to each other to form a seal between the bodysuit 30 and a bodysuit attachment 38.
Similar embodiments may have alternative configurations of primary and secondary adherence seal components. A primary adherence seal component associated with a bodysuit opening may be disposed along an outer collar surface of the bodysuit, and a secondary adherence seal component associated with a bodysuit attachment may be disposed along an inner collar surface of the bodysuit attachment. The primary and secondary adherence seal components are brought into contact with each other to form a seal between the bodysuit and the bodysuit attachment.
The exact details related to the relative locations of the primary and secondary adherence seal components may be altered in a variety of ways without departing from the overall concept of providing for separate adherence seal components to engage with and adhere to each other to form a seal between the suit and suit attachment.
One or more bodysuit attachments 58 (such as gloves, boots, or head attachments) may be provided with their own secondary seal components 60 and their own secondary adherence seal components 62. As discussed in relation to the embodiment described in
The placement of any primary and secondary adherence seal components may be altered without departing from the functionality and purpose of providing an adherence seal between the bodysuit and a bodysuit attachment. The configuration in
As shown in
A bodysuit attachment 78 may include a receiving locking component 80, which may be formed from silicone or a variety of other materials such as polymers, rubbers, coated textiles, and other suitable materials. This embodiment and other similar embodiments utilize the interaction between an engaging locking component 72 and a receiving locking component 80, such that by bringing a bodysuit attachment 78 in contact with the associated portion of the bodysuit 70, an engaging locking component 72 and a receiving locking component 80 engage with each other to lock and form a connection between the bodysuit 70 and a bodysuit attachment 78.
As shown in
A user may don the bodysuit 70 and a bodysuit attachment 78, and by adjusting the components, may bring an engaging locking component 72 in contact with an associated receiving locking component 80, allowing the components to engage with each other to lock and form a connection between the bodysuit 70 and a bodysuit attachment 78.
Similar embodiments may have alternative configurations of engaging and receiving locking components. An engaging locking attachment associated with a bodysuit opening may be disposed along an outer collar surface of the bodysuit, and a receiving locking component associated with a bodysuit attachment may be disposed along an inner collar surface of the bodysuit attachment. The engaging and receiving locking components are brought into contact with each other to lock and form a seal between the bodysuit and the bodysuit attachment.
In another example, some embodiments may be configured such that an engaging locking component is associated with a bodysuit component and a receiving locking component is associated with the bodysuit, or vice versa. Embodiments such as those illustrated in
The exact details related to the relative locations of the engaging and receiving locking components may be altered in a variety of ways without departing from the overall concept of providing for separate locking components capable of engaging with each other to form a lock between the suit and a suit attachment. Embodiments including locking components may be combined with any of the seal components and/or adherence seal components described.
The seal element 114 or inner collar surface 112 can be formed separately of a softer or stiffer material or a material more suitable for a seal than the material forming the associated portion of the bodysuit and then attached to the bodysuit using a bonding method. The seal element and/or inner collar surface of this and other embodiments disclosed may be constructed from a variety of materials such as polymers, rubbers, coated textiles, and other suitable materials.
As shown in
The seal element 114 is also preferably configured to provide increased radially inward sealing pressure when pressures on the distal side of the seal are higher than those on the proximal side of the seal. When liquid or atmosphere from the outside environment is moving in a proximal direction and is forced against the distal end of the seal surface 114, the distal end of the seal surface 114 will deflect further inward radially increasing the strength of the seal and preventing the introduction of the outside liquid or atmosphere.
While
Using additional seal elements can further decrease localized pressures by better distributing loads, leading to increased comfort. In one preferred embodiment, there may be up to five or more annularly disposed seal elements utilized with each other as part of a seal component utilized in the bodysuit.
The seal element 214 is configured in a manner similar to that described previously with seal element 114. The inwardly extending portion of the seal element 214 is deflected outwardly toward the inner collar surface 212 to facilitate insertion of a user's body part (e.g. arm, leg, or neck) while resisting backwards movement of the body part that would break the seal and introduce liquid or atmosphere from the environment into more proximal portions of the bodysuit. It will be apparent that when a higher pressure exists on the distal side of the seal element 214 as compared to the proximal side, the variable clearance 218 will increase and the seal element 214 will extend further radially inward against a user's associated body part (e.g. arm, wrist, leg, ankle, neck), increasing the radial sealing force.
One of skill in the art will also recognize that with this and all other seal component embodiments described, when a higher pressure exists on the proximal side of one or more seal elements 214 as compared to the distal side, the variable clearance 218 will decrease and the seal element 214 will deflect radially outward to facilitate removal of fluid (as liquid and/or air) on the interior side of the bodysuit. In this manner, the seal component 210 of this embodiment can facilitate removal of fluid (as liquid and/or air) on the interior of the bodysuit while preventing re-entry of such fluid or the entry of additional fluid.
The embodiment illustrated in
The seal elements 314 are configured in a manner similar to that described previously with seal elements 114 and 214 such that, when exposed to differential pressure, seal elements 314 will bend radially inward to engage more forcefully with the user's associated body part (e.g. arm, wrist, leg, ankle, neck) to strengthen the seal, or will bend radially outward to facilitate removal of interior fluids, respectively. The embodiment illustrated in
In
The recessed portion 520 is configured to accommodate the seal element 514 as it is deflected into the recessed portion 520. Though not shown in the particular embodiment illustrated by
The seal element 514 of this embodiment includes a base member 522, at least a portion of which is secured to or secured within the recessed portion 520. The base member may be arranged to be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner collar surface 512, though it is not limited to this orientation. The seal element 514 of this embodiment also includes an inwardly pitched member 524 extending from a distal end of the base member 522 in an inward radial direction and a distal longitudinal direction to form an apex 526 at the innermost radial extension.
The seal element 514 also includes an outwardly pitched member 528 that extends from the apex 526 in an outward radial direction (i.e. toward the recessed portion 520) and a distal longitudinal direction. At least a portion of the seal element 514 is slidable within the recessed portion 520, such that upon deflection of the seal element 514 toward the recessed portion 520, at least a portion of the seal element 514 is compressed to lie at least partially within the recessed portion 520.
As shown in
When the seal element 514 is compressed, it is preferred that at least a portion of the seal element 514 should extend inward at least a distance from the recessed portion 520 to maintain the seal against a user's body part. The length of the recessed portion 520 may be configured to be less than the length of the seal element 514 when in a compressed state ensuring a minimum variable clearance 518 and preventing the seal element 514 from becoming flattened.
The seal elements 514 are generally configured in a manner similar to that described previously with other seal element embodiments 114, 214, 314, and 414 such that, when exposed to differential pressure, seal element 514 will engage more forcefully with the user's associated body part (e.g. arm, wrist, leg, ankle, neck) to strengthen the seal or will bend radially outward to facilitate removal of interior fluids, respectively. In this embodiment, this is accomplished when an outward proximal moving force abuts with the outwardly pitched member 528, causing it to slide proximally within the recessed portion 520 increasing the variable clearance 518 and pushing the apex 526 further inward against a user's body part. Many seal elements similar to the seal element 514 of this embodiment may be used with each other in a seal component of the present bodysuit disclosure.
The seal element 814 includes a base member 822, at least a portion of which is secured to or secured within the recessed portion 820. The base member may be arranged to be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner collar surface 812, though it is not limited to this orientation. The seal element 814 of this embodiment also includes an inwardly pitched member 824 extending from a distal end of the base member 822 in an inward radial direction and a distal longitudinal direction, a longitudinal member 826 extending from the inwardly pitched member 824 in a distal direction parallel to the inner collar surface 812, and an outwardly pitched member 828 extending from the longitudinal member 826 in an outward radial direction (i.e. toward the recessed portion 820) and a distal longitudinal direction.
As discussed with the seal element 514 illustrated in
The seal component 810 includes an interior configuration 830 that extends in an outward radial direction from the seal member 814 towards the inner collar surface 812 (or recessed portion 820 thereof) and is configured to be moveable relative to the inner collar surface 812. The interior configuration 830 is preferably formed of a plurality of blades. The plurality of blades act to expand and exert pressure against the inner collar surface 812, pushing the seal element 812 further inward against a user's associated body part.
Each blade may be configured to extend at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis to ensure that each blade folds properly in a predetermined direction during deflection to avoid any localized pressure points. This arrangement also allows the blades to fold during donning of the bodysuit (e.g. when a hand or foot is pushed through the seal component 810), allowing the seal element 814 to deflect radially outward toward the inner collar surface 812. This arrangement allows the blades to extend during any backwards slipping of the user's associated body part that would break the seal, pushing the seal element 814 further radially inwards to strengthen the seal.
One of skill in the art will recognize that any other equivalent structure or projections may also be envisioned in place of blades to form the interior configuration 830. A collapsible, box-like, or honeycomb structure may be used. Additionally or, circular, cylindrical, or spherical components that collapse, deflate, or depress under pressure may be utilized. As another example, a structure of randomly oriented filaments or collapsible and/or flexible rod-like protrusions may form part or all of the structure of the interior configuration 830. An inflation element may be provided to enable the space 818 to be inflated by an external means, such as a pump, to maintain a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
The seal element 812 may include one or more seal rings 832 annularly disposed around a continuous periphery of a portion of the seal element 814, preferably, a portion of the longitudinal member 826. The seal rings 832 are arranged to directly contact and engage the associated body part of the user to form the seal. Though the embodiment in
In some embodiments, the blade or plurality of blades may be tapered. The blades may be thickest in a longitudinal center portion and taper toward a distal blade end, a proximal blade end, or both. The blade or blades may be thickest at the innermost radial portion at a seal element end and taper toward the more outer radial portion at an inner collar surface end.
It is to be understood that not necessarily all objects or advantages may be achieved under any embodiment of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the bodysuit may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught without achieving other objects or advantages as taught or suggested.
The skilled artisan will recognize the interchangeability of various disclosed features. Besides the variations described, other known equivalents for each feature can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in this art to construct a body suit under principles of the present disclosure. It will be understood by the skilled artisan that the features described may be adapted to other types of bodysuits. As such, this disclosure and the embodiments and variations thereof are not limited to bodysuits.
Although this disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments and examples of a bodysuit, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed bodysuit embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the disclosure and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. It is intended that the present disclosure should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, and may be extended to other applications that may employ the features described.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61927529 | Jan 2014 | US |