GB2162044A - Clothing for aquatic sportsman - Google Patents

Abstract

In published patent specifications GB- A-21 10069 and GB-A-2125681,there are described respectively a one-piece dry suit and a two-piece dry suit which are mainly of a foam rubber or rubber-like material but which have sleeves of a thin waterproof fabric. In order to provide supplemental insulation, when required, for the sleeves 5 of such a suit, there are provided, in accordance with the invention, removable liners 7 of a nylon or acrylic pile fabric, secured within the sleeves 5 by peelable fasteners 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clothing for aquatic sportsman This invention related to clothing for aquatic sportsmen, and more particularly, but not solely, to waterproof suits for use by windsurfers. Although the clothing to be described is designed primarily for use bywindsurfers, it may also be of use in other aquatic sports where the user spends most ofthe time above the water surface and is only occasionally immersed.

Competitivewindsurfing is to some extent decided on matters of style, so that in addition to the user's natural vanity, other ends are served by a waterproof suit having an attractive appearance. Also, it is important that the user's arms remain reasonably free and unconstricted for proper control of a board and to delay the onset of fatigue.

In published patent specifications GB-A-21 10069 and GB-A-21 25681, there are described respectively a one-piece dry suit and a two-piece dry suit which are mainly of a foam rubber or rubber-like material but which have sleeves of a thin waterprooffabric, which is described as being of a breathable nature, in order to mitigate the effects of condensation within the suit.

Air may circulate within the suit and arm portions thereof. These suits have been commercially successful of recent times. Suits ofthis nature may be worn with orwithoutthermally insulating underwear, but it has been found that under some conditions, the user may feel too warm to necessitate the use of underwear, but may suffer from chilling of the arms which are not protected by foam material.

In order to provide a solution to this problem, there is provided, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a linerfor a sleeve portion of a waterproof suit, the liner being made of a thermally insulating material, such as a nylon or acrylic pile fabric, and having means for detachably securing it within the sleeve.

Thus, when the need isfeltfor localised insulation for the arms only, the liner may be readily inserted, and may be as readily removed if no longer required, e.g. if full thermal underwear is to be worn.

In accordance with a second aspect ofthe invention, there is provided a waterproof suit of foam rubber or rubber-like material having sleeves of a thin water prooffabric with detachable liners in the sleeves, the liners being formed of a thermally insulating material, such as a nylon or acrylic pile fabric.

The liners are preferably secu red by means of a peelable fastener, e.g. that sold under the Trade Mark "Velcro".

The sleeves may be of a breathable material, e.g.

that sold undertheTrade Mark "Goretex".

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, ofwhich the single figure is a diagrammatic elevation showing party of a one piece suit in accordance with a preferred form ofthe invention.

One arm has been partially omitted from the suit illustrated, but may be assumed to be symmetrical with the illustrated arm. The suit illustrated is a one-piece suit with a body portion 1 and leg portions 2 of a foam rubber material, such as neoprene. The leg portions2terminateinintegralbootees3,butthese may be omitted or cut off and replaced by ankle sealing meansto maintaintheintegrityofthesuit.A neck seal 4 is provided in accordance with dry suit prncrice. As taught by GB-A-21 10069, the arm portions 5 or sleeves are of a looser fitting breathable waterproof material, such as that sold under the Trade Mark "Goretex", and terminate in wrist seals 6.

Within the arm portions 5, there are provided removable liners 7 of a nylon our acrylic pile fabric and secured bypeelablefastenersconsistingofshort strips of inter-engaging hook and loop tape 8 located nearthe shoulder and wristends ofthe liner7 and arm portion 5. The particular material used forthis purpose may be that sold underthe Trade Mark "Velcro".

The liners 7 are thus readily removable and may also befitted easily when required to provide supplemental insulation.

The arm portions 5, even when fitted with liners 7, leavethewearer'sarmsfreerthanthe conventional sleeves of a foam rubber suit, and still retain the attractive appearance of the unlined arm portions 5.

It will be appreciated thatthe liners ofthe invention may also be used with sleeves of a two-piece suit of the type described in GB-A-2125681.

Various other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A liner for a sleeve portion of a waterproof suit, the liner being made of a thermally insulating material and having meansfor detachably securing itwithin the sleeve.

2. Alineras claimed in claim 1,in which the lineris made of a nylon pile fabric.

3. A liners as claimed in claim 1, in which the liner is made of an acrylic pile fabric.

4. A liner as claimed in claim 1,2, or3, comprising peelable fasteners.

5. Awaterproof suit offoam rubber or rubber-like material having sleeves of a thin waterproof fabric with detachable liners in the sleeves, the liners being formed of a thermally insulating material.

6. Suit as claimed in claim 5, in which the liner is made of a nylon pile fabric.

7. A suit as claimed in claim 5, in which the liner is made of an acrylic pile fabric.

8. Asuit as claimed in claim 5,6 or7, in which the liners are secured by means of peelable fasteners.

9. Asuit as claimed in any of claims 5to 8, in which the sleeves are of a breathable material.

10. A linerfor a sleeve portion of a waterproof suit substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to the accompanying drawing.

11. A waterproof suit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clothing for aquatic sportsman This invention related to clothing for aquatic sportsmen, and more particularly, but not solely, to waterproof suits for use by windsurfers. Although the clothing to be described is designed primarily for use bywindsurfers, it may also be of use in other aquatic sports where the user spends most ofthe time above the water surface and is only occasionally immersed. Competitivewindsurfing is to some extent decided on matters of style, so that in addition to the user's natural vanity, other ends are served by a waterproof suit having an attractive appearance. Also, it is important that the user's arms remain reasonably free and unconstricted for proper control of a board and to delay the onset of fatigue. In published patent specifications GB-A-21 10069 and GB-A-21 25681, there are described respectively a one-piece dry suit and a two-piece dry suit which are mainly of a foam rubber or rubber-like material but which have sleeves of a thin waterprooffabric, which is described as being of a breathable nature, in order to mitigate the effects of condensation within the suit. Air may circulate within the suit and arm portions thereof. These suits have been commercially successful of recent times. Suits ofthis nature may be worn with orwithoutthermally insulating underwear, but it has been found that under some conditions, the user may feel too warm to necessitate the use of underwear, but may suffer from chilling of the arms which are not protected by foam material. In order to provide a solution to this problem, there is provided, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a linerfor a sleeve portion of a waterproof suit, the liner being made of a thermally insulating material, such as a nylon or acrylic pile fabric, and having means for detachably securing it within the sleeve. Thus, when the need isfeltfor localised insulation for the arms only, the liner may be readily inserted, and may be as readily removed if no longer required, e.g. if full thermal underwear is to be worn. In accordance with a second aspect ofthe invention, there is provided a waterproof suit of foam rubber or rubber-like material having sleeves of a thin water prooffabric with detachable liners in the sleeves, the liners being formed of a thermally insulating material, such as a nylon or acrylic pile fabric. The liners are preferably secu red by means of a peelable fastener, e.g. that sold under the Trade Mark "Velcro". The sleeves may be of a breathable material, e.g. that sold undertheTrade Mark "Goretex". The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, ofwhich the single figure is a diagrammatic elevation showing party of a one piece suit in accordance with a preferred form ofthe invention. One arm has been partially omitted from the suit illustrated, but may be assumed to be symmetrical with the illustrated arm. The suit illustrated is a one-piece suit with a body portion 1 and leg portions 2 of a foam rubber material, such as neoprene. The leg portions2terminateinintegralbootees3,butthese may be omitted or cut off and replaced by ankle sealing meansto maintaintheintegrityofthesuit.A neck seal 4 is provided in accordance with dry suit prncrice. As taught by GB-A-21 10069, the arm portions 5 or sleeves are of a looser fitting breathable waterproof material, such as that sold under the Trade Mark "Goretex", and terminate in wrist seals 6. Within the arm portions 5, there are provided removable liners 7 of a nylon our acrylic pile fabric and secured bypeelablefastenersconsistingofshort strips of inter-engaging hook and loop tape 8 located nearthe shoulder and wristends ofthe liner7 and arm portion 5. The particular material used forthis purpose may be that sold underthe Trade Mark "Velcro". The liners 7 are thus readily removable and may also befitted easily when required to provide supplemental insulation. The arm portions 5, even when fitted with liners 7, leavethewearer'sarmsfreerthanthe conventional sleeves of a foam rubber suit, and still retain the attractive appearance of the unlined arm portions 5. It will be appreciated thatthe liners ofthe invention may also be used with sleeves of a two-piece suit of the type described in GB-A-2125681. Various other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A liner for a sleeve portion of a waterproof suit, the liner being made of a thermally insulating material and having meansfor detachably securing itwithin the sleeve.

2. Alineras claimed in claim 1,in which the lineris made of a nylon pile fabric.

3. A liners as claimed in claim 1, in which the liner is made of an acrylic pile fabric.

4. A liner as claimed in claim 1,2, or3, comprising peelable fasteners.

5. Awaterproof suit offoam rubber or rubber-like material having sleeves of a thin waterproof fabric with detachable liners in the sleeves, the liners being formed of a thermally insulating material.

6. Suit as claimed in claim 5, in which the liner is made of a nylon pile fabric.

7. A suit as claimed in claim 5, in which the liner is made of an acrylic pile fabric.

8. Asuit as claimed in claim 5,6 or7, in which the liners are secured by means of peelable fasteners.

9. Asuit as claimed in any of claims 5to 8, in which the sleeves are of a breathable material.

10. A linerfor a sleeve portion of a waterproof suit substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to the accompanying drawing.

11. A waterproof suit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.