Patent Application
20130254963
The present invention relates to a dry or semi-dry suit intended for marine sports such as sailing, sail boarding, surfing, paddling diving and so on.
It is known in the art to provide a dry suit or semi dry suit comprising a 1-piece garment constructed from a substantially watertight textile or rubber material or composite thereof. Whereby said garment features watertight seals around the neck, wrists and ankles or watertight fabric gloves and/or socks that are combined with the suit. In order to facilitate entry into said suits it is known in the art to incorporate a watertight zipper positioned on either the front or back of the garment. Said seals are generally bulky with little flexibility and therefore provide much discomfort to the user, said seals also require significant maintenance in order to function correctly and are a common cause of failure of the suit and also add significant cost to the its manufacture.
It is known to provide a two-piece dry suit comprising trousers and a jacket top which are interconnected at the waist by a so-called rolled seal. Annular rubber sealing flaps are attached to the waist of the trousers and to the bottom edge of the jacket and are adapted to lie one over the other when the two pieces of the suit are put on. To make the seal the two flaps are rolled up together from their free lower edges.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,570,019 discloses a method of applying a tight fitting belt or cummerbund around the waist over the rolled seal. The belt applies considerable pressure to the stomach region of the wearer, which does not constitute a serious disadvantage for divers operating at depths where substantial pressures are experienced. For others, however, such as sailors who spend their time at or above the water surface the pressure from the suit belt can cause much discomfort.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,477 discloses a 2-piece dry suit having sealing bands for producing a rolled seal between the two pieces at the waist of the suit. An additional overlying part, fastened to one piece of the suit extends across the rolled seal into co-operation with the other piece of the suit in order to secure to seal in the rolled condition. Whilst this invention provides less pressure around the waist of the wearer, considerable bulk and stiffness of the rolled seals still exists. Said sealing bands are also commonly manufactured from a latex rubber or similar material which is not durable to ultraviolet light or abrasion or puncture and is therefore easily damaged during the process of dressing the suit, during normal use or during storage and transport.
The present invention aims to provide a solution to the problems mentioned above by providing a two-piece drysuit whereby the top is combined with the lower section by means of a series of overlapping flaps that combine to create a less bulky seal with greater flexibility and comfort to the wearer. The present invention also allows the use of materials in the seal between the 2 pieces that are more stable in ultraviolet light and salt water than those required by the inventions mentioned above thereby providing improved durability.
a and
a and
a, 4b and 4c are cross-sectional views of one potential embodiment of the sealing system that combines the top piece and bottom piece of the present invention.
a, 5b and 5c are cross-sectional views of another potential embodiment of the sealing system that combines the top piece and bottom piece of the present invention.
a, 6b and 6c are cross-sectional views of another potential embodiment of the sealing system that combines the top piece and bottom piece of the present invention.
a, 7b, 7c and 7d are cross-sectional views of another potential embodiment of the sealing system that combines the top piece and bottom piece of the present invention.
a, 8b, 8c and 8d are cross-sectional views of another potential embodiment of the sealing system that combines the top piece and bottom piece of the present invention.
a, 9b and 9c are cross-sectional views of another potential embodiment of the sealing system that combines the top piece and bottom piece of the present invention.
The present invention discloses a two piece dry suit made from a substantially watertight textile or rubber material or composite thereof whereby the top piece of the suit combines with the bottom piece of the suit by means of a series of overlapping flaps made from a stretchable material that fit tightly around the wearers waist to form a substantially watertight seal.
In one aspect of the present invention the said top suit piece is constructed from a textile composite that is substantially liquid impermeable and preferably water vapour permeable. Said suit top preferably features neck and wrist seals adhered to the said textile, said seals are made from a waterproof and stretchable material such as latex rubber, silicon, neoprene foam composite or other material that fits tightly around the wearers neck and wrists to provide a water tight seal. A tight fitting stretchable waist seal that combines with the bottom suit piece is also attached to the suit piece around the waist or torso area. Said suit top piece is preferably constructed by means of stitching with the addition of waterproof tape or glue applied over the seams to ensure a watertight seal. In an alternative embodiment, said composite fabric may be ultrasonically welded or glued or bonded without stitching to provide a watertight seal.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the bottom suit piece is constructed from a substantially liquid impermeable and stretchable rubber material or composite thereof. In one preferred embodiment said rubber material is a composite consisting of a rubber foam such as neoprene foam laminated to at least one textile fabric. It is preferred that said composite has good stretch to allow said garment to fit tightly around the wearers body. The said rubber foam composite material is preferably combined to form the said suit piece by means of seam taping, gluing or blind stitching or combinations thereof in order to ensure a watertight seal.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention said top suit piece may be constructed from a substantially liquid impermeable and stretchable rubber material or composite thereof. In one preferred embodiment said rubber material is a composite consisting of a rubber foam such as neoprene foam laminated to at least one textile fabric. It is preferred that said composite has good stretch to allow said garment to fit tightly around the wearers body. The said rubber foam composite material is preferably combined to form the said suit piece by means of seam taping, gluing or blind stitching or combinations thereof in order to ensure a watertight seal
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention said bottom suit piece may be constructed from a textile composite that is substantially liquid impermeable and preferably water vapour permeable. Said suit bottom preferably features integrated watertight socks made form the same textile material or alternatively features ankle seals adhered to the said textile, said seals are made from a waterproof and stretchable material such as latex rubber, silicon, neoprene foam composite or other material that fits tightly around the wearers leg or ankle to provide a water tight seal. Said suit bottom piece is preferably constructed by means of stitching with the addition of waterproof tape or glue applied over the seams to ensure a watertight seal. In an alternative embodiment, said composite fabric may be ultrasonically welded or glued or bonded without stitching to provide a watertight seal.
In one aspect of the present invention the said suit bottom piece may be configured to have shoulder straps made of the same material or another material as to provide support for the bottom suit piece and prevent any movement of the garment during normal use.
In a further aspect of the present invention said stretchable sealing flaps are attached to the suit top and suit bottom pieces and fit tightly around the wearers waist or torso. Said sealing flaps are preferably made from a stretchable and watertight material. In a preferred embodiment, said flaps are constructed from a composite consisting of a foam rubber material such as neoprene laminated to at least one textile fabric. Said flaps preferably have at least one surface that is substantial smooth as to form a good watertight seal with adjacent smooth surfaces of combined sealing flaps.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention said sealing flaps are folded one or more times to improve the watertight seal between suit top and bottom pieces.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention additional fastening means may be added to connect said top suit piece and said bottom suit piece at the waist seal area to prevent said overlapping waist sealing flaps from disengaging during normal use. In one potential embodiment said fastening means is provided by hook and loop fastening tabs. In another potential embodiment said fastening means may be provided by plastic or metal snap buttons.
The suit top 10, shown in
The suit bottom 20 shown in
The complete 2-piece dry suit is shown in
A preferred embodiment of waist seal system is shown in cross sectional view in
b and
It is preferable that outer surface 403 of inner waist seal 105 and adjacent inner surface of lower waist seal 204 feature a smooth or finely textured rubber surface that promotes a watertight seal and also provides some friction when pressed together to prevent movement between each seal. Outer surface 406 of lower waist seal and adjacent inner surface 404 of outer waist seal 106 may also feature a smooth rubber surface to provide an improved seal.
Another preferred embodiment of waist seal system is shown in cross sectional view in
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in cross sectional view in
In other preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in cross sectional view in
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in cross sectional view in
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012901333 | Apr 2012 | AU | national |
