GB2076277A - Jacket for water sports - Google Patents

Abstract

A jacket comprises: a chest portion and sleeves of a lined elastomer; fluid-tight sealing means 1 at the end of the sleeves and at the neck; and, at the lower edge of the jacket, further fluid-tight sealing means having a band of elastomer facing inwardly of the jacket for sealing contact with the wearer's skin or an elastomer undergarment. The band may consist of an unlined lower edge of the jacket chest portion and may be attached to the remainder of the chest portion by stitching masked by a fluid-tight layer such as fluid-tight tape. Alternatively, a belt 6 may be provided inside the jacket at its lower end and the band may be formed by folding the lower jacket edge under the belt 6 to bring the outer surface of the elastomer into contact with the wearer's skin or said elastomeric undergarment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Jackets for water sports The present invention relates to jackets for water sports such as scuba diving, and windsurfing.

It is conventional to make doting for water sports from elastomeric material, such as closed-cell neoprene, which may be lined with Nylon (e.g. Rubatex). One commonly used form of suit is the so-called "long john" comprising an elastomeric jacket integral with leg coverings. Where the long john it to function as a wet suit, the suit does not need to be completely water tight. Water seeps in and is trapped next to the user's skin which quickly warms it. Alternatively, warm water may be poured in at the start. Beneath the outer waterproof lalyer, a foam material is present which acts as an insulator. Such a suit is often provided with zips at the ankles and at the wrists to tighten the material of the suit about the associated limb.

Where a long john is to be used as a dry suit, waterproof seals are provided at the neck and wrists and ankles. One known method of providing such a seal is to fold under the elastomeric material at the ankles and wrists which thereby tightly grip the associated limb and provides a fluid tight seal. It is also possible to provide fluid tight seals by utilising zips.

Where the suit is a two-piece suit, it is also necessary to provide a seal at the waist.

Hitherto, this has been achieved by use of a relatively expensive waterproof zip fastener.

An object of the invention is to provide a jacket for water sports which can be relatively inexpensive and which can be effectively sealed at the waist.

According to the invention, there is provided a jacket comprising: a chest portion of a lined elastomer; sleeves of a lined elastomer; fluid-tight sealing means at the ends of-the sleeves and at the neck; and, at the lower edge of the jacket, fluid-tight sealing means having a band of elastomer facing inwardly of the jacket for sealing contact with a wearer's skin or an elastomeric undergarment.

In one embodiment of the invention, said band consists of an unlined lower edge of the jacket chest portion.

In said one embodiment, said band may be attached to the remainder of the chest portion by stitching masked with a fluid-tight layer.

Preferably, said layer is fluid-tight tape.

Prefereably, said stitching is zig-zag stitching.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a belt inside the jacket at its lower end, said band being formed by folding said lower edge under the belt to bring the outer surface of the elastomer into contact with the wearer's skin or said. elastomeric undergarment.

Said elastomer is preferably synthetic rubber.

Expediently, said synthetic rubber is neoprene.

Preferably, said neoprene is formed as a closed-cellular material.

Peferably, said chest portion and sleeves are lined with nylon.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a person wearing a diving jacket; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the waist seal of the jacket of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows the trunk of a person wearing a diving jacket for use in water sports such as scuba diving or wind-surfing. The jacket is made of an elastomer, preferably synthetic rubber such as closed-cell neoprene and is lined, preferably with Nylon. Rubatex, e.g.

G231 N Nylon super stretch Rubatex, is a suitable material. Conventional folded under forms of seal 2 are provided at the neck 3 and the wrist 4. The material is folded inwards back upon itself and thereby forms a ciose snug fit which is fluid tight since the elastomeric material is brought next to the wearer's skin. At the waist 5, the material of the jacket 1 is similarly folded inwards back upon itself. However, there is this difference in that at the waist a belt 6 is provided internally of the lower edge of the jacket and the material of the jacket is folded inside the belt. This therefore causes the material of the jacket to tightly grip the wearer's waist and produces a fluid tight seal. If desired, a further belt may be worn externally of the jacket on top of the folded-in portion.The necessity or otherwise for providing such an additional belt depends upon the particular shape of the wearer concerned.

Fig. 2 shows the sealing arrangement in more detail. The material of the jacket 1 is folded inwardly at 7 passing inside the belt 6.

The jacket described above is thus completely sealed to prevent ingress of water when in use. Air contained inside the jacket functions as an insulating layer and keeps the wearer warm. Furthermore, additional warm clothing may be worn beneath the jacket.

It is envisaged that the jacket may be worn on top of a conventional elastomeric long john syle wet suit of dry suit although the wearing of such a suit is not essential.

The described form of waist sealing is relatively simple and inexpensive when compared with conventional forms of zip fastening seal.

Returning to Fig. 1, the inside of the jacket is shown thickened at 8. This thickening is preferably of the same material as the remainder of the jacket, and may be double-sided Rubatex, and is such as to grip the wearer snugly approximately at the lower edge of the rib cage. This provides additional secondary sealing, and also acts as a spacer to ensure that a layer of air is retained in the jacket.

The belt 6 may be an entirely separate article. On the other hand it may be secured inside the trunk portion of the jacket either permanently, e.g. by an adhesive, or semipermanently by passing it through loops provided internally of the jacket towards the lower edge.

Preferably, the length of the belt will be adjustable, either by means of a buckle arrangement or the like or by making the belt of elastic material, or by a combination of these methods.

In the illustrated embodiment, the waist seal is achieved by utilising the belt 6 and the folded under lower edge of the jacket. However, a similar effect may be achieved without the use of a belt and without the need to fold under the lower edge of the jacket. As will be appreciated, the illustrated embodiment achieves its sealing effect by bringing the outer elastomeric surface of the lined jacket material next to the wearer's skin or next to a undergarment worn by the wearer such as a long john. However, if lining material is absent from the lower portion of the jacket a similar effect may be achieved since elastomeric material will then be adjacent the wearer's skin or adjacent an undergarment worn by the wearer. It is envisaged that the lower eight inches or so of the chest portion of the jacket could be constructed in this way. For simplicity, one can make use of the normal nylon backed closed-cellular neoprene and reverse it in the lower part of the chest portion of the jacket, attaching it to the remainder of the jacket by any suitable means such as zigzag stitching covered with tape and glued.

The outward facing nylon layer may be provided with any suitable decorative motif or pattern as desired. Thus, the entire jacket may be manufactured from GE231 N Nylon super stretch Rubatex. However, the nylon outer layer of the lower sealing portion of the jacket is not of course essential since the functional sealing effect is achieved merely by the contact between the inward facing elastomeric surface of the sealing band and the wearer's skin or the outer surface of an elastomeric undergarment such as a long john.

Claims (11)

1. 5. A jacket comprising: a chest portion of a lined elastomer; sleeves of a lined elastomer; fluid-tight sealing means at the ends of the sleeves and at the neck; and, at the lower edge of the jacket, fluid-tight sealing means having a band of elastomer facing inwardly of the jacket for sealing contact with a wearer's skin or an elastomeric undergarment.
2. 2. A jacket according to claim 1 wherein said band consists of an unlined lower edge of the jacket chest portion.
3. 3. A jacket according to claim 2 wherein said band is attached to the remainder of the chest portion by stitching masked with a fluidtight layer.
4. 4. A jacket according to claim 3 wherein said layer is fluid-tight tape.
5. 5. A jacket according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said stitching is zig-zag stitching.
6. 6. A jacket according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a belt inside the jacket at its tower end and wherein said band is formed by folding said lower edge under the belt to bring the outer surface of the elastomer into contact with the wearer's skin or said elastomeric undergarment.
7. 7. A jacket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said elastomer is synthetic rubber.
8. 8. A jacket according to claim 7 wherein said synthetic rubber is neoprene.
9. 9. A jacket according to claim 8 wherein said neoprene is formed as a closed-cellular material.
10. 1 0. A jacket according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said chest portion and sleeves are lined with nylon.
11. 11. A jacket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.