GB2579037A

GB2579037A - Garment seal

Info

Publication number: GB2579037A
Application number: GB1818631.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Oliver Paul
Original assignee: Survitec Group Ltd
Current assignee: Survitec Group Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-15
Filing date: 2018-11-15
Publication date: 2020-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-15
Also published as: GB201818631D0; GB2579037B

Abstract

A waterproof garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a wearer's body in use, comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material having an opening for accommodating a part of the wearer's body. The sheet is more readily resiliently deformed in a direction across the opening than along a central axis of the sheet. The material may have a lower elastic modulus or a higher elastic elongation in the direction across the opening. A distal end of the sheet may be folded back to form a double-layered hem. The tubular sheet’s circumference may be smallest at an intermediate region, for example by including two frusto-conical portions tapering towards and meeting at the intermediate region. A west suit, immersion suit, survival suit, dry suit or semi-dry suit including the seal arrangement and a method of making the seal arrangement are also disclosed.

Description

GARMENT SEAL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a waterproof garment seal arrangement, to a wet suit, immersion suit, survival suit, dry suit or semi dry suit including at least one of the seal arrangements, and to a method of manufacturing a waterproof garment seal arrangement.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Various waterproof garments are known which are used by divers, military personnel or in emergency situations where immersion in water is likely.

For diving, wet suits and dry suits are known. Dry suits are substantially watertight and are fairly loosely fitting to allow thermally protective clothing to be worn underneath. Wetsuits are closer fitting to the body. A limited amount of water is allowed to enter the small space between the suit and the wearer's body, whereafter further water exchange ceases. The material of the wet suit is thermally insulating. The water present between the wearer's body and the suit helps to retain body heat.

Immersion and survival suits have a similar construction to dry suits and may be worn by pilots or seafarers when there is a likelihood of evacuation into water.

Protective garments are also used by personnel who need to 30 enter hazardous areas, such as where dangerous chemicals are present.

Garments of the type described above, generally comprise a main body part which covers the trunk, arms and legs of the 35 wearer. To provide a fluid-tight seal between the garment and the wearer's body, wrist seals, ankle seals and a neck seal may be fixed to the garment or may be detachable.

Seals for drysuits are located at the extremities of a drysuit at the wrist and neck, and, if the suit is not equipped with attached boots or socks, then also at the ankle. The seals are there to ensure that no or limited fluid from the environment can enter the suit and also at times to maintain a small positive pressure within the suit by resisting egress of air/gas from the drysuit.

Traditionally seals for drysuits have been produced in a natural rubber, latex or plastics, or other homogenous elastic, material In recent years the most popular "nonwoven" materials employed are Latex Rubber or Silicone or closed cell Chloroprene (Commercially known as "Neoprene"0 by DuPont).

In the case of Chloroprene seals the surface is usually reinforced by laminating a layer of high stretch knitted textile or elastic textile to one side of the chloroprene layer (the chloroprene layer is usually in the lmm to 7mm thickness range). The other side, which would normally face the skin of the wearer, has a smooth surface to offer a good seal against the skin of the wearer and also to allow easy doffing and donning of the seal.

In all the above types of seal the material forming the seal is shaped and contoured to allow a water/air tight fit around the neck/wrist/ankle of the wearer so that the sealing end of the seal is smaller in circumference than the circumference of the wearer's neck/wrist/ankle.

Also in all the above types of seal, the seal is formed using a single sheet of the material that the seal is constructed 35 in.

The shaping/contouring of the seals is done by moulding the seal or by incorporating a seam using sewing/gluing/welding and other similar techniques.

All the above types of seal have one or more problems as 5 described below:-Latex rubber seals: - Are prone to rapid degradation in UV light, ozone causing early weakening of the Latex rubber and are easily torn when donning and doffing.

-The material itself is inherently weak even before weathering from UV light and ozone and care has to be exercised by the wearer when donning and doffing the seal.

-Some wearers have an allergic skin reaction to latex rubber.

Silicone seals: -Are very difficult to attach to the drysuit and form a water tight seal to the suit as silicone will not adhere to normal commercially available adhesives and cements; additionally the silicone easily tears when sewn.

- The material itself is inherently weak if "nicked" or punctured in use and then easily tears, and care has to be exercised by the wearer when donning and doffing the seal; and ensuring that it is not damaged in use.

Neoprene seals: - Are prone to tearing from the end of the seam that is required to be introduced in order to contour the neoprene material to the wrist/neck/ankle of the wearer.

- Whilst the textile lining that is laminated to the neoprene is strong, the neoprene itself is weak and is prone to wearing and degradation around the open edge of the seal.

-Some wearers have an allergic skin reaction to neoprene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a 5 wearer's body in use, the seal arrangement comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material having an opening therethrough configured to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, wherein the tubular sheet of material is more readily elastically deformed in a direction across the opening 10 than along a central axis of the tubular sheet of material.

The tubular sheet of material may have a higher elastic elongation in the direction across the opening than in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of 15 material.

The ratio of elastic elongation in the direction across the opening to elastic elongation in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material may be up to about 40:1 but not less than 20:1.

Additionally, or alternatively, the tubular sheet of material may have a lower elastic modulus in the direction across the opening than in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material.

The ratio of elastic modulus in the direction across the opening to elastic modulus in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material may be about 1:2.

A distal end of the tubular sheet of material may be folded back to form an elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body.

in a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a wearer's body in use, the seal arrangement comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material having an opening therethrough configured to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, wherein the tubular sheet of material is more readily elastically deformed in a direction across the opening than along a central axis of the tubular sheet of material, the method including forming the tubular sheet of material from a plurality of panels.

In third aspect, the present invention provides a substantially waterproof Of fluid-tight garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a wearer's body in use, the seal arrangement comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material configured to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, wherein a distal end of the tubular sheet of material is folded back to form an elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body.

The tubular sheet of material may extend from a main body of the garment at a main body end thereof to the distal end thereof.

In an embodiment the circumference of the tubular sheet of 25 material is less at an intermediate region of the tubular sheet of material, between main body end and the distal end, than at the main body end and the distal end.

In an embodiment the tubular sheet of material comprises two 30 generally frusto-conical portions, each tapering toward, and meeting at, the intermediate region.

In an embodiment the tubular sheet of material is folded back over itself by a fold formed in the intermediate region of the tubular sheet of material. The fold is therefore in the narrowest part of the sheet of material and may form an effective seal against the wearer's body.

In an embodiment the distal end of the tubular sheet of material is folded back outwardly to form the elastically deformable double-layered hem for sealing against the wearer's body. The distal end of the tubular sheet of material in this arrangement lies on the exterior of the garment seal.

In an embodiment the double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body comprises two substantially parallel 10 and/or concentric layers of the tubular sheet of material.

In an embodiment the main body end of the tubular sheet of material is coupled to the main body of the garment.

The main body end of the tubular sheet of material may be fixed to (e.g. integrally formed with) the main body of the garment or may be detachable therefrom.

In an embodiment the seal arrangement comprises wrist seal, 20 ankle seal and/or a neck seal.

In an embodiment the elastically deformable tubular sheet of material advantageously has hypoallergenic properties.

The elastically deformable tubular sheet of material may comprise at least one coated panel and at least one uncoated panel. Alternatively, the elastically deformable tubular sheet of material may be coated in its entirety. The coating is preferably present at the fold, where a seal is formed against the wearer. The coating may have hypoallergenic properties.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a wet suit, immersion suit, survival suit, dry suit or semi dry suit including at least one seal arrangement as recited 35 above.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a wearer's body in use, the seal arrangement comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material configured to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, the method including folding back a distal end of the tubular sheet of material to form an elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body.

The tubular sheet of material may be formed from a plurality of panels. Some of the panels may be formed of coated elastically deformable material and others of the panels may be uncoated elastically deformable material. A substantially waterproof or fluid-tight connection may be formed between adjacent ones of the coated panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention embodiments will now be described by way of example, with 20 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view a waterproof garment including a main body part covering the trunk, arms and legs of the wearer, and wrist, ankle and neck seals; Figure 2 shows an overhead plan view of two parts prior to formation of the seal from these parts according to a first embodiment; Figure 3 shows an overhead plan view of the two parts of Figure 2 after they are joined together; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the seal according to a first embodiment; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the seal according to a first embodiment Figure 6 shows an overhead plan view of two parts prior to formation of the seal from these parts according to a second embodiment; Figure 7 shows an overhead plan view of the two parts of Figure 6 after they are joined together; Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the seal according to a 10 second embodiment; and Figure 8 is a side elevation of the seal according to a second embodiment.

In the drawings, like elements are generally designated with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A dry suit in accordance with embodiments of the invention is 20 shown generally at 1 in Figure 1. The dry suit comprises a main body 3 that accommodates the trunk, arms and legs of the wearer.

It should also be appreciated that, although the embodiments are described in relation to a dry suit, the invention is also applicable to other types of garments where substantially waterproof or fluid-tight seals are desirable.

The dry suit includes neck seal 5, wrist seals 7 and ankle seals 9.

The drysuit seals 5, 7 and 9 of the embodiments provide the wearer of the drysuit with a water/air tight elastic seal that can be used to seal the wrist, neck and ankle, that is able to overcome at least some of the disadvantages as listed above in currently available drysuits seals, as well as being easy to don and doff and comfortable in use.

Although the drysuit of Figure y includes neck seal 5, wrist seals 7 and ankle seals 9 in accordance with the embodiments, it should be understood that only one seal (or a number of seals) in accordance with the embodiments may be included, with the other seals being of a different design or omitted.

A seal in accordance with a first embodiment includes a plurality of panels 11 of coated high stretch/elastically deformable textile in which the coating provides a water/air tight layer to the textile. This textile has a high degree of elasticity (typically an elongation, when coated or laminated with the water/air tight layer, in excess of 100%; i.e. a 10cms length would stretch to 20cms). The textile may be a warp knitted textile.

The seal in accordance with the first embodiment also includes a plurality of panels 13 of uncoated high stretch/elastically deformable textile. The textile may be a warp knitted textile.

The seal has a circumference smaller than that of the wearer's body at the narrowest point 14 (the point of sealing), and typically about 20% smaller.

The seal is formed as follows: The uncoated high stretch textile 13 is attached to the coated high stretch textile 11 using a stretch stitch configuration such as an 'overlook" or "flatlock" stitch on both halves of the seal along seams 20 (seems 20 extending from X-Y and Y-X). This seam is not required to be waterproof.

Several parts 15A and 15B (two in this example) are cut from the attached uncoated high stretch textile 13 and the coated 35 high stretch textile 11 as shown in Figure 2 in order to achieve the desired final contouring of the seal. Typically these parts 15A and 158 will form two halves that are then joined together to form the final contoured shape to the seal.

The two parts 15A and 158 are then joined together to form a tubular sheet of material 18, as shown in Figure 3. The tubular sheet of material 18 has a main body end 18A for attachment to the main body of the drysuit and a distal end 188. The main body end 18A may be integrally formed with the drysuit or a portion thereof -such as a portion covering the forearm or foreleg of the wearer.

The portion of the seams 21 that join the coated high stretch textile panels 11 together (seams 21 extending form U-Y and R-X) is waterproof/fluid-tight. These joins may be formed using a sewn and taped (e.g. hot taping) arrangement, gluing, a sonically or Radio Frequency welded seam, or other means to obtain a water/air tight seam.

Along the portion of the seams 23 that join the non-coated high stretch textile panels 13 together (seams 23 extending from Y-W and X-S) the seams 23 can be joined by any secure means, such as sewing only -as these portions of the seams are not required to be water/air tight.

The half (designated 19A in Figure 3) of the now fully sewn seal that includes the panels 13 of the seal constructed in the uncoated stretch textile is pulled up (or folded) over the outside of the half (designated 198 in Figure 3) of the seal that includes the panels 11 that are fully coated, to form the fully completed seal. The fold is along a fold line 16 that is midway between the ends of the sheet of material, at the narrowest point 14, as shown in Figure 3.

The seal when folded has an outer layer 17A and an inner layer 17B, the layers 17A and 17B being substantially parallel (and concentric), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The sides SW are folded up to lie along the same alignment / line as RU, then they are joined by sewing or gluing or welding or any other method of joining to hold them in position when donning wearing and doffing the seals.

In order to obtain a secure seam that will not tend to tear at the narrowest point (open end) of the seal, one of the advantageous features of this first embodiment is to turn (fold) back the material on itself to eliminate the need for a raw edge at the narrowest open end of the seal. This prevents or reduces the likelihood of the occurrence of a torn seam or laddering of the exposed cut elastic textile from stressing of the seam when donning and doffing the seal.

Another advantageous feature in this first embodiment is to improve the ease of donning and doffing of the seal by forming the majority of the outer layer 17A with the panels 13 of uncoated textile in order to reduce the modulus of elasticity of the seal, thus reducing the force required to push the hand/head/foot of the wearer through the seal.

The outer layer 17A may not extend completely along the inner layer 17B (the outer layer 17A may be shorter than the inner layer 17B).

It should be understood that the non-coated high stretch textile panels 13 may be omitted from the seal. In this arrangement, the coated panels 11 may be larger, so that they have the shape of the combined panels 11 and 13 shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the outer layer 17A may be shorter than the inner layer 178. Such an arrangement will provide a seal with a higher modulus of elasticity.

In order to further improve the performance of the seals the waterproof coating to the coated high stretch textile panels 35 11 may be a hypoallergenic polyurethane, such as used in hospital mattresses. This may avoid the allergic reaction that some wearers of drysuits have to currently commercially available latex rubber and neoprene seals.

The use of a hypoallergenic coating on a warp knitted textile may combine the mechanical properties of both materials to create stretch in either one or two directions enabling a waterproof seal to be formed as per fabrics MR201:SPU:80 or MR704:XPU:120 (available from Regis Fabrics).

The warp knitted textile of the panels 11 and/or 13 may be made from either single or multiple yarn such as nylon, polyester or polyurethane in a construction that enables stretch at a suitable modulus in either the weft, warp or both directions.

The coating of the panel 11 may be of a formulation that, when combined with the textile, increases the modulus and reduces the extension of the textile in either the warp, weft or both directions to enable an efficient seal to be made.

The coating formulation of the panel 11 may be made to provide a semi vapour permeable but waterproof coating which is also hypoallergenic and offers sufficient resistance to light, water and chemical degradation in order to maintain its integrity.

The combination of the textile and coating of the panel 11 may offer greater wear, tear and abrasion resistance than the use of a single water proof membrane, or latex seal.

The textile of the panels 11 and/or 13 may be either a 2, 3 or 4 bar warp knit and of such a construction, stitch density and porosity to provide the characteristics mentioned above, and examples of such are MR201 or MR70413 (available from Regis Fabrics).

The coating may be Polyurethane (PU). 1*3

The two PU coated knits that we have referred to are: MR704:XPU:120 which is the PU coated knit which is most suitable to a wrist seal and MR201:SPU:80 which is the PU coated knit which is most suitable to a neck seal.

MR704 and MR201 are the reference numbers pertaining to the knitted textile to which the PU coating is applied.

MR704 is a four-way stretch textile that is knitted in such a way and with a "speciality" yarn so that the two surfaces can each move differentially, one to the other. On coating, these properties mean that the fabric will move in all four axes working with the coating to maintain a high degree of stretch at a low elastic modulus.

MR201 has a very high degree of elongation particularly in the weft direction, which upon coating gives excellent light weight performance with maximum elongation and a low elastic modulus in one direction. The uncoated knit can be extended 300% with minimal force, so when coated the high elongation and low modulus are still within the criteria required for a neck seal.

XPU and SPU references the PU coating formulation and the XPU (Extreme PU) is a harder than the SPU (Standard PU) and as a result the XPU wears better but has a higher modulus so is more restrictive than the SPU coating so suits a wrist seal better.

The final number (120 or 80) relates to the weight of PU coating in grams per square metre. A thicker coating will wear better but be more restrictive so would better suit a wrist seal compared to a neck seal.

The constructions of the knitted textiles (MR704 and MR201) are designed in such a way that, when coated, the effect of the coating process least affects the elastic performance. That is, the effect of the coating reduces as little as possible the elongation characteristics and increases as little as possible the elastic modulus so by doing optimizes comfort and performance of the seals made in the PU coated knitted textile.

The overall performance data and specification of the PU coated textile knits are as follows:-MR704: XPU: 120: Composition: 34% PU; 40% PES; 17% Elastane; 9% PA Coated weight: 355grams/sq. metre Elongation: 180% (i.e.: 10cms will stretch to 18cms) Elastic Modulus: 150N to stretch a 50mm strip to 150% MR201: XRU: 120: Composition: 55% PO; 45% PA Coated weight: 120grams/sq. metre Elongation: 220% (i.e.: 10cms will stretch to 22cms) Elastic Modulus: 30N to stretch a 50mm strip to 150% Other types of material to those mentioned above may be used. Overall, the materials from which the seals are made 25 preferably have elastic performance figures fall within, but are not restricted to, the following parameters:-Elongation: 160% to 250% Elastic Modulus: N 30N to 60 N to stretch a 50mm strip to 150% elongation.

The first embodiment, with its combination of coated and uncoated panels, may suitable for providing a seal with higher elastic modulus parameters for certain end uses such as in Immersion suits were resistance to very high wind forces are likely to be required or where we may require a higher internal pressure to be maintained within a sealed suit environment, and similar situations. :5

More generally, the first embodiment provides: 1. A substantially waterproof orfluid-tight garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a wearer's body in use, the seal arrangement comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material configured to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, wherein a distal end of the tubular sheet of material is folded back to form an elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body.

2. The seal arrangement of point 1 above, wherein the tubular sheet of material extends from a main body of the garment at a main body end thereof to the distal end thereof.

3. The seal arrangement of point 2 above, wherein a circumference of the tubular sheet of material is less at an intermediate region of the tubular sheet of material, between main body end and the distal end, than at the main body end and the distal end.

4. The seal arrangement of point 3 above, wherein the tubular sheet of material comprises two generally frusto-conical portions, each tapering toward, and meeting at, the intermediate region.

D. The seal arrangement of point 3 or 4 above, wherein the tubular sheet of material is folded back over itself by a fold formed in the intermediate region of the tubular sheet of material.

6. The seal arrangement of any one of points 1 to 5 above, wherein the distal end of the tubular sheet of material is folded back outwardly to form the elastically deformable double-layered hem for sealing against the wearer's body. 1 6 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

The seal arrangement of any one of points 1 to 6 above, wherein the double-layered hem for sealing against the wearer's body comprises two substantially parallel or concentric layers of the tubular sheet of material.

The seal arrangement of any one of points 1 to 7 above, wherein the main body end of the tubular sheet of material is coupled to the main body of the garment.

The seal arrangement of any one of points 2 to 8 above, wherein the main body end ofthe tubular sheet of materia is integrally formed with the main body of the garment.

The seal arrangement of any one of points 1 to 9 above, wherein the seal arrangement comprises wrist seal, ankle seal or a neck seal.

The seal arrangement of any one of points 1 to 10 above, wherein elastically deformable tubular sheet of material has hypoallergenic properties.

The seal arrangement of any one of points 1 to 11 above, wherein the elastically deformable tubular sheet of material comprises at least one coated panel and at least one uncoated panel.

A wet suit, immersion suit, survival suit, dry suit or semi dry suit including at least one seal arrangement as claimed in any one of points 1 to 12 above.

A method of manufacturing a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight garment seal arrangement as defined in any one of points 1 to 12 above, the method including folding back the distal end of the tubular sheet of material to form the elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body.

The method of point 14 above, including forming the tubular sheet of material from a plurality of panels.

16. The method of point 15 above, wherein some of the panels are formed of coated elastically deformable material and others of the panels are uncoated elastically deformable material.

17. The method of point 15 or 16 above, including forming a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight connection between adjacent ones of the coated panels.

The Applicant reserves the right to claim any of points 1 to 17 above in the present application or any related (e.g. divisional application) filed in the future.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, any or all of the seals (wrist, neck and/or ankle) may be constructed in their entirety in a coated bi-laminate knit. The coating may be a PU coating.

A seal in accordance with a second embodiment includes a plurality of panels 11A of modified coated high stretch/elastically deformable textile in which the coating provides a water/air tight layer to the textile. The textile may be a warp knitted textile.

The seal is formed as follows: Several parts 15A and 15B (two in this example) are cut from the attached high stretch textile 11A as shown in Figure 6 in order to achieve the desired final contouring of the seal.

Typically these parts 15A and 158 will form two halves that are then joined together to form the final contoured shape to the seal.

The two parts 15A and 155 are then joined together to form a tubular sheet of material 18, as shown in Figure 7. The tubular sheet of material 18 has a main body end 18A for attachment to the main body of the drysuit and a distal end 18B. The main body end 18A may be integrally formed with the drysuit or a portion thereof -such as a portion covering the forearm or foreleg of the wearer.

The seams 21A that join the coated high stretch textile panels 11A together (seams 21A extending form U-W) is waterproof/fluid-tight. These joins may be formed using a sewn and taped (e.g. hot taping) arrangement, gluing, a sonically or Radio Frequency welded seam, or other means to obtain a water/air tight seam.

The lower (as shown in Figure 7) half (designated 19A) of the now fully sewn seal is pulled up (or folded) over the outside of the upper (as shown in Figure 7) half (designated 195) of the seal, to form the fully completed seal. The fold is along a fold line 16 that is midway between the ends of the sheet of material, at the narrowest point 14, as shown in Figure 7.

The seal when folded has an outer layer 17A and an inner layer 178, the layers 17A and 178 being substantially parallel (and concentric), as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The sides SW are folded up to lie along the same alignment / line as RU, then they are joined by sewing or gluing or welding or any other method of joining to hold them in position when donning wearing and doffing the seals.

In order to obtain a secure seam that will not tend to tear at the narrowest point (open end) of the seal, one of the optional advantageous features of this second embodiment is to turn (fold) back the material on itself to eliminate the need for a raw edge at the narrowest open end of the seal. This prevents or reduces the likelihood of the occurrence of a torn seam or laddering of the exposed cut elastic textile from stressing of the seam when donning and doffing the seal_ In order to further improve the performance of the seals the waterproof coating to the coated high stretch textile panels 11A may be a hypoallergenic polyurethane, such as used in hospital mattresses. This may avoid the allergic reaction that some wearers of drysuits have to currently commercially available latex rubber and neoprene seals.

The coating of the panel 11A may be of a formulation that, when combined with the textile, increases the elastic modulus and reduces the extension of the textile in either the warp, weft or both directions to enable an efficient seal to be made.

The coating formulation of the panel 11A may be made to provide a semi vapour permeable but waterproof coating which is also hypoallergenic and offers sufficient resistance to light, water and chemical degradation in order to maintain its integrity.

The combination of the textile and coating of the panel 11A may offer greater wear, tear and abrasion resistance than the use of a single water proof membrane, or latex seal.

The textile of the panels 11A may be either a 2, 3 or 4 bar warp knit and of such a construction, stitch density and porosity to provide the desired characteristics.

The second embodiment provides a seal fully in a PU coated bilaminate knit, and still provides good ease of donning and doffing, due to a PU coated bi-laminate knit that offers the necessary elongation and elastic modulus for the seals to be able to be donned and doffed with ease. It is unexpected that a fully PU coated bi-laminate knit could provide this property.

All commercially available seals currently use materials and knitted fabrics that exhibit 4 way stretch (elongation).

When a user is observed donning and doffing a seal a force is required to be exerted along the length of the seal (in the direction L in figure 8) during donning and doffing. The action of stretching the seal in this direction causes much of the elongation available across the seal to be taken Up in extending the seal lengthwise (in the direction L in figure 8) thus causing a restriction to the passage of the subject's hand/foot/head through the seal -as the lengthwise stretching of the seal tends to reduce the circumference of the seal opening.

In order to overcome this issue and to maximise the elongation available across the seal (in the direction A in figure 8 -i.e. in a plane parallel to the opening and perpendicular to the direction L, and/or along a central axis of the tube formed from the sheet of material) during donning and doffing the second embodiment uses a new knitted textile that offers virtually nil elongation (in the direction L in figure 8) along the seal (typically around 5% after PU coating) but a very large elongation across (in the direction A in figure 8) the seal (typically over 200% after PU coating).

The textile has a lower elastic modulus in the direction A than in the direction L. That is, the force required to elastically deform the textile in the direction A is less than the force required to elastically deform the textile in the direction L. The ratio of elastic modulus in direction A to elastic modulus in direction L may be 1:2.

The new knitted textile used in the second embodiment is a 35 modified version of the MR201 (available from Regis Fabrics) knitted textile mentioned above, with an elongation before coating in the order of 300% in the weft and in the order of 2].

5% in the warp (with the weft extending generally in the direction A and the warp extending generally in the direction L).

The PU coating may be a hypoallergenic PU with high surface strength and abrasion resistance and a weight in the order of 120 grams per sq. meter (e.g. as available from Redwood Distribution, with the code XPU120).

The seal of the second embodiment bay be formed without a double layered hem region and without folding back the distal end.

Elements of the first and second embodiments may be used in a single garment.

With regard to the first and second embodiments, it should be noted that, whilst seals for drysuits are typically basically made in an impermeable elastic material having a planar smooth surface to the side that abuts the skin of the wearer, the physical properties of the material from which the seals are constructed may vary between a seal designed for the wrist as opposed to the neck in order to obtain the optimum performance to best suit seals that may be worn in the neck as opposed to the wrist and vice versa. For instance in the case of a neck seal there is likely to be less abrasion and wear incurred by the seal in use as opposed to a wrist seal where typically this area of the suit is being actively rubbed against objects as the wearer undertakes work tasks.

Additionally a greater degree of elongation may be required in a neck seal as opposed to a wrist seal in order to be able to pull the seal over a head, whilst still being able to maintain a 'snug" sealing fit around the neck as opposed to a wrist seal where the degree of elongation is less in a wrist seal in order to push a hand through the seal whilst still being able to obtain a -snug-sealing fit around the wrist.

Further, a wrist seal can have a higher elastic modulus as the wrist of a wearer can withstand a greater pressure exerted around the wrist than in the area of the neck where excessive pressure around the neck can cause severe discomfort to the extent that it can affect the blood flow through the jugular vein thus depriving the brain of oxygen resulting in dizziness and disorientation to the wearer.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A substantially waterproof or fluid-tight garment seal arrangement for creating at least a partial seal against a wearer's body in use, the seal arrangement comprising an elastically deformable tubular sheet of material having an opening thesethrough configured to accommodate a part of the wearer's body, wherein the tubular sheet of material is more readily elastically deformed in a direction across the opening than along a central axis of the tubular sheet of material.
2. The seal arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tubular sheet of material has a lower elastic modulus in the direction across the opening than in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material.
3. The seal arrangement of claim 2, wherein the ratio of elastic modulus in the direction across the opening to elastic modulus in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material about 1:2.
4. The seal arrangement of claim. 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tubular sheet of material has a higher elastic elongation in the direction across the opening than in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material.
The seal arrangement of claim 4, wherein the ratio of elastic elongation in the direction across the opening to elastic elongation in the direction along the central axis of the tubular sheet of material is up to about 40:1 but not less than 20:1.
6. The seal arrangement of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a distal end of the tubular sheet of material is folded back to form an elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body. 2 4
7. The seal arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular sheet of material extends from a main body of the garment at a main body end thereof to the distal end thereof.
8. The seal arrangement of claim 5, wherein a circumference of the tubular sheet of material is less at an intermediate region of the tubular sheet of material, between main body end and the distal end, than at the main body end and the distal end.
9. The seal arrangement of claim 6, wherein the tubular sheet of material comprises two generally frusto-conical portions, each tapering toward, and meeting at, the intermediate region.
10. The seal arrangement of claim 6 or 7, wherein the tubular sheet of material is folded back over itself by a fold formed in the intermediate region of the tubular sheet of material.
11. The seal arrangement of any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the distal end of the tubular sheet of material is folded back outwardly to form the elastically deformable double-layered hem for sealing against the wearer's body.
12. The seal arrangement of any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the double-layered hem for sealing against the wearer's body comprises two substantially parallel or concentric layers of the tubular sheet of material.
13. The seal arrangement of any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the main body end of the tubular sheet of material is coupled to the main body of the garment.
14. The seal arrangement of any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the main body end of the tubular sheet of material is integrally formed with the main body of the garment.
15. The seal arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal arrangement comprises wrist seal, ankle seal or a neck seal.
16. The seal arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein elastically deformable tubular sheet of material has hypoallergenic properties.
17. The seal arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastically deformable tubular sheet of material comprises at least one coated panel.
18. A wet suit, immersion suit, survival suit, dry suit or semi dry suit including at least one seal arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.
19. A method of manufacturing a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight garment seal arrangement as defined in any one of claims 1 to 17, the method including forming the tubular sheet of material from a plurality of panels.
20. The method of claim 19, including folding back the distal end of the tubular sheet of material to form the elastically deformable double-layered hem region for sealing against the wearer's body.
21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the panels are formed of coated elastically deformable material.
22. The method of claim 19, 20 or 21, including forming a substantially waterproof or fluid-tight connection between adjacent ones of the coated panels.