GB2125681A - Protective clothing - Google Patents

Description

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GB2 125 681 A

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SPECIFICATION Protective clothing

5 This invention relatesto protective clothing.

While the protective clothing according to the invention is primarily designed for use when windsurfing, and will be primarily described in connection with that activity, it will be understood that it is also 10 usable for other aquatic activities, such as sailing.

It will be understood that windsurfing is a sport in which the expert hopes to avoid immersion but it is an everpresent risk, so that, particularly in cold weather, protective garments are normally worn. 15 Windsurfing garments have been adapted from diving suits which fall into two basic categories, namely dry suits and wet suits.

Dry suits forwindsurfing are normally made of a light non-stretchable and non-insulating material. 20 Underwear is normally worn for insulation. These types of suits are of one piece design and incorporate a waterproof zip for donning and divesting. A disadvantage of this kind of suit is that it relies solely on under-garmants being worn forthermal insulation. 25 They are also bulky and cumbersome and a windsurfer, in orderto practice his sport, needs as much freedom of movement as can be obtained. Furthermore, if a windsurfer should fall into the water, large amounts of air inside his suit can cause difficulties in 30 manouvering.

Windsurfing isasportwherestyleplaysan important role. This style needs to be observed by judges of competitions and, as such, dry suits handicap the user in view ofthe possible prejudice engendered by the 35 lackofaesthetic appeal ofthe large and shapeless suit.

There exist dry suits made from expanded neoprene forwindsurfing, made as a one piece suit design.

Entry is usually through a waterproof zip, and as the suit will give good insulation without relying upon 40 undergarments and has a snug fit, it is aesthetically correct. Such suitsare regarded as impractical as the snug fitting sleeves will restrict blood circulation in the arms and cause cramping.

There also exists now a dry suit primarily for 45 windsurfing, forming the subject of my recently published U.K. Patent Specification GB-A 2110069, wherein an expanded neoprene one piece suit, with entry usually through a waterproof zip, incorporates sleeves made of a waterproof fabric and adapted to be 50 loose fitting. Thus warm airfrom the body portion of the suit may travel into the sleeves for some insulation and warming ofthe arms. Such suits do not restrict blood circulation in the arms.

A conventional wet suit is made from expanded 55 neoprene and normally of a two piece design. This type of suit is worn tight to the user's body to minimise theflow of water within the suit since only limited quantities of water can flow between the suit and the wearer's body. This water soon warms to body 60 temperature. However when the user leaves the water, particularly in windy conditions, chilling is quite rapid so a wet suit is only suitablefor limited periods of wear and for use in relatively warm conditions.

65 Wet suits exist with sleeves which are made of a waterproof fabric and adapted to be loose fitting. These are satisfactory until the wearer may fall into the water when large amounts of water will flood into the sleeves chilling the wearer quite rapidly.

It is common in relatively warm conditionsto wear only the body and leg portion of a wet suit, known as 'Long Johns', and to wear in addition the top portion, commonly known as a 'Bolero', when the wearer beginsto chill. Such an arrangement is not totally satisfactory forwindsurfing as waterwill continue to enterthe suit once the wearerfalls into the water.

According to the present invention there is provided a protectivesuit including a leg and body garment of foam rubber or rubber like material and an upper garment made from waterproof material to go over the arms and at least an upper part ofthe torso ofthe wearer, characterised in thatthe upper garment has seals at the neck and wrists and also has a lower seal arrangementto form a seal around a body portion of the leg and body garment.

A leg and body portion, if worn on its own, would have the functions of the body and leg portion of a wet suit and would therefore be ideal for use in warm weather. The ankles ofthe body and leg portion may optionally be waterproofed by turning inwardly and tightening with straps if the wearer prefers to windsurf barefoot. Such an arrangement would stop any ingress of water from spray if travelling at speed in strong winds. Atop portion incorporating a seal at the neck, wrist and waist and when worn with the body and leg portion would therefore renderthe combined garments waterproof and therefore ideal for use in cold weather.

Such an arrangement eliminates the need for expensive waterproofed sliding clasp fasteners, and donning and divesting ofthe garments requires only minimal assistance.

Preferably the sleeves are made of a breathable waterproof material, such as that sold under the trade name 'Goretex'. The sleeve portion may however be made of a non breathable fabric or of fabric coated with polyurethane.

The complete top portion or garment may be manufactured in 'Goretex' or other breathable or non-breathable material or of polyurethane material.

Thetop portion is preferably worn outside of the body and leg portion and sealed thereto at the chest, waist or hip.

Alternatively, the top portion may be worn inside the body and leg portion and sealed against the body portion thereof.

Sealing ofthe top portion to the body and leg portion can be achieved by overlapping two latex (or similar) seals and relying on the snug fit of the two garments. The overlapped seals may be rolled together, e.g. round a bead at the edge of one of them. If required to give additional security, a cummerbund or belt which may be worn independently or may form part ofthe belt of the windsurfers trapeze harness or life jacket, maybe useful to preventthetop portion from riding up in the event of a fall, at speed, into the water, and causing the seal to leak.

Sealing ofthe top portion to the body and leg portion may be by fixing a circular or alternative shape neoprene or other corresponding section to either of

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the garments and a corresponding channel to the other.

Riding up ofthe bolero may be overcome by extending the top portion ofthe hip level and by 5 extending and shaping the back such that it may pass between the legs and fasten at the front.

Thetop portion may incorporate a collarto protect the neck seal and help to prevent heat loss at the neck. Such a configuration is included in my above men-10 tioned U.K. Patent Specification.

Socks or bootees may be fitted to the leg and body portion.

A wet suit long john type leg and body portion is normally lined on the inside with a nylon orsimilar 15 fabricwhich has the effect of reinforcing the foam material to give it tearing strength, lubricating the skin contact so as to make the garment easier to take on and off, and also providing some comfort next to the skin. It is normally considered disadvantageous for a 20 lining of this nature to be on the outside surface ofthe suit since if it does get wet, the water tends to cling on and thereby increase the overall weight ofthe suit.

Although the use of awkwardly placed sliding clasp fasteners is avoided by use of a protective garment as 25 described above, it has now been found that it is not normally possibleforthewearerto remove the garment without any assistance, si nee it has proved difficultto apply enough manual force atthe shoulders to pull the garment clear of the body.

30 It has now been discovered that if the upper part of the leg and body portion, or long john, is provided on its external surface with a nylon orsimilarfabric coating, then there is sufficient lubrication forthe seal on the upper garment to slip fairly easily up the body 35 so thatthe wearer may in fact remove the garment without assistance.

Accordingly, therefore, it is preferred thatthe leg and body garment has part ofthe body portion above the seal covered on the outside with a self lubricating 40 fabric lining e.g. nylon.

It is also preferred thatthe inside ofthe upper part of the long john should be unlined since the long john is normally put on and taken off by sliding overthe legs with thetop portion being peeled off and folded down 45 and donned in the reverse manner.

Provision ofthe rubber surface next to the skin is also advantageous in that it limits the amount of water getting into the long john should this be worn without the upper protective garment and the wearerfall into 50 the water.

The preferred arrangement is thatthe upper part of the long john should be made ofthe same material, i.e. nylon lined closed cell foam rubber or a rubber like material, as the rest of the long john, but reversed so 55 thatthe lining is on the outside.

The arrangement described above is preferably used with the overlapping and rolled seals, with the bead being formed on the leg and body portion seal. In orderto remove the garment, the seal is unrolled and 60 the upper garment seal can then be slid overthe nylon covered surface ofthe upper part of the long john. This required much less effortto be applied to the shoulders ofthe garment than would be the case if the seal were in contact with the rubber like surface. 65 The long john may be provided with a flap above the seal which may be used to conceal the seal when the latter is rolled up. Also, the upper garment may have means fortighteningtheflap against the long john below the seal, e.g. a belt or drawstring to prevent the 70 seal unrolling downwardly.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the general features of an upper protective garment;

75 Figure 2 is a diagram showing the features of a body and leg portion;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of part of a long john incorporating a flap;

Figure4isaviewsimilarto Figure 3, with the seal 80 rolled up and concealed.

Figure 5 is a viewsimilarto Figure 3 showing in addition a portion of an upper garmentwith its flap folded back;

Figure 6 is a view similarto Figure 5 showing the 85 seals rolled together and the flap folded down.

Figure 7 is a view similarto figure 6 and showing a bolero having a drawstring.

Figure 8 is a further similar view showing howthe drawstring may be made to anchor the bolero to the 90 longjohn;and

Figure 9 is a view similarto Figure 1, also showing a bolero having a drawstring.

Figure 1 shows a bolero type garment having a body portion 1 which is made of neoprene or like foamed 95 rubber like material. Sleeves 2 are formed of a breathable waterproof material such as'Goretex', so as to be loose fitting. Wrist seals of a conventional type are shown at3 and a neck seal at 4. Asealing strip of latesforcooperation with a sealing strip on the leg and 100 body portion of a wet suit is shown at 5.

Turning nowto Figure 2, the garment shown there is a generally conventional part of a wet suit and consists of body portions 6 and leg portions 7. Located in the waist region ofthe body portion 6 there is shown a 105 strip of latex8for overlapping engagement by the sealing strip 5 ofthe garment shown in Figure 1. To make an effective seal, the strips 5 and 8 are rolled together. This is easily done if the seals are a reasonably tight but yielding fit round the body ofthe 110 wearer.

If required, seals may befitted to the ankles ofthe leg portion 7, but it may be preferred merely to turn these in and strap them either against wearer's ankles or around bootees, in orderto provide an effective 115 seal.

Turning nowto figure3,there isshown a layer 11 of closed cell foam material constituting part of a long john. The upper part ofthe long john hasanexternaf covering or lining 12 of nylon or similar fabric, closely 120 adhering to it, and the lining or covering 12 is provided with an extension or flap 13 at its lower end. Attached to the layer 11 is a latex seal 14 which extends around the whole circumference of the wearers body in a generally horizontal position, and this seal terminates 125 at its lower end with a bead 15. It will be seen thatthe seal 14extendswell below the flap 13, butinuse, when the long john is being worn alone or with a wet suit or bolero which is not sealed to the long john, then the seal 14 is normally rolled up around its bead 15 so 130 that ittakes theform shown in Figure4in which the

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seal is concealed beneath theflap 13.

Such an arrangement leads to an improvement in the appearance ofthe garment in use.

Turning nowto Figure 5, the portions ofthe long 5 john shown in Figure 5 are shown in conjunction with the lower portion 16ofan uppergarment.Theportion 16 has a latex seal 17 to cooperate with the seal 14to form a dry suit, and the lower portion further has an extension orflap 18 which in Figure 5 is shown folded 10 upwardlytoenableaccesstotheseals14and17.

In figure 4, the seals 14 and 17 are shown rolled together around the bead 15 to form the waterproof seal between the two garments, and the flap 18is shown as being folded down to its natural position to 15 conceal the rolled up seals.

In this position, the lower portion ofthe flap 18 is normally to be tightened onto the long john, e.g. by means of a belt or drawstring so that unrolling ofthe two seals is prevented and the watertightness thus 20 maintained even underadverse operating conditions ' or movements of considerable violence.

The belt may be applied through fairly conventional external loops(notshown). Adrawstring22can be threaded through a rolled bottom edge 21 (see figures 25 7and8)oftheflap 18 and exposed at the front through two eyelets and can then be pulled tight by means of a toggle on the end ofthe draw string 22 which can then be secured in position.

Figure 9 shows ends 23 ofthe drawstring 22 drawn 30 through a toggle having a body 24 a spring loaded plunger 25 which may be depressed manually to allow the drawstring 23 to run through the plunger and body, and when released, effectively clamp the drawstring to the body.

35 Figure 8 shows howthe rolled bottom edge 21 may be interrupted in the region ofthe small ofthe wearer's back, so that a length 26 ofthe drawstring may be drawn out and engaged to a hook ofthe catch

27 on the long john. This enables anchoring ofthe

40 garment 1 to the long john and also prevents unrolling ofthe seals at an area where the seals might become partially vulnerableto loosening and unrolling. The hook on catch 27 is shown as being associated to flap

28 to minimise chafing ofthe seal when the suit is not 45 being worn.

It is envisaged thatthe upper part ofthe long john may be lined both inside and out with the nylon fabric to provide both comfort forthe wearer and also the ease of removal.

50 It is to be noted thatthe seals between the two garments are both fairly close fitting to the wearer's body so thatthe seals are easily rolled together and also the appearance ofthe garment is good from a stylistic point of view. 55 Theuppergarment16maybeoffoam materialwith loose sleeves, but in some circumstances it may be desirablefor it to be formed wholly of loose material, e.g. the breathable material known as 'Goretex'.

Various modifications may be made within the 60 scope ofthe invention.

Claims (12)

1. A protective suit including a leg and body garment of foam rubber or rubber like material and an upper garment made from waterproof material to go 65 overthe arms and at least an upper part of the torso of the wearer, in which the upper garment has seals at the neck and wrists and also has a lower seal arrangementto form a seal around a body portion of the leg and body garment.

2. A protective suit as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeves are of loose fitting waterproof material.

3. A protective suit as claimed in claim 2, in which the sleeves are of a breathable material.

4. A protective suit as claimed in claim, 1,2, or 3, in which the upper garment includes a portion extending through the crotch to fasten and preventthe upper garment riding up.

5. A protective suit as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, in which the neck seal is protected by a collar.

6. A suit as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, in which the leg and body garment has a seal configuration to cooperate with the lower seal ofthe upper garment.

7. A suit as claimed in claim 6, in which the leg and body garment is made waterproof at the ankles and is also waterproof at all seams and fasteners exposed when the said leg and body garment is being worn.

8. A suit as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims in which the leg and body garment has part ofthe body portion above the seal covered on the outside with a self-lubricating fabric material, such as nylon.

9. A suit as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims, in which the leg and body garment and/orthe upper garment is/are provided with a flap above the seal, which flap may be used to conceal the seal when the latter is rolled up.

10. A suit as claimed in claim 9, in which the upper garmentis provided with means for drawing the flap tight below the rolled up seal to prevent unrolling of the seal.

11. AsuitasclaimedinClaim 10,inwhichthe tightening means is a drawstring located in a turned up edge ofthe upper garment.

12. A protective suit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddale Press Ltd., Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1984.

Published atthe Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London

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12. A suit as claimed in claim 11, in which the leg and body garment has a hook and catch in the region ofthe small of the wearer's back to engage a length of the drawstring to anchorthe upper garment on the leg and body garment and prevent unrolling of theseals. New claims or amendments to claims filed on Superseded claims 1 &2.

Newor amended claims:-

Remaining claims renumbered and appendancies corrected.

1. A protective suit including a leg and body garment of foam rubber or rubber like material and an upper garment made from waterproof material to go overthe arms and at least an upper part ofthe torso of the wearer, in which the upper garment has sleeves of loose fitting waterproof material terminating in seals atthe wrists, and a neck seal, and a lower seal arrangementto form a seal around the body portion of the leg and body garment.