U.S. patent application number 11/675742 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-06 for protective garment having improved accessibility.
Invention is credited to Andrew Paul O'Brien.
Application Number | 20070277278 11/675742 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38788397 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070277278 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Brien; Andrew Paul |
December 6, 2007 |
PROTECTIVE GARMENT HAVING IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY
Abstract
Provided in embodiments of the present invention is a water
sport garment providing protection from cold water and having an
improved access system for entry into or exit from the garment. In
one embodiment, the water sport protective garment includes a torso
portion, pant-leg portions extending from the torso portion,
non-openable sleeve portions extending from the torso portion, and
at least one openable seam extending from the torso portion down
each of the pant-leg portions such that when the openable seam is
opened a section of the torso portion and sections of the leg
portions can be displaced to improve access into and egress from
the protective garment.
Inventors: |
O'Brien; Andrew Paul;
(Westhaven, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARGER JOHNSON & MCCOLLOM, P.C.
210 SW MORRISON STREET, SUITE 400
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
38788397 |
Appl. No.: |
11/675742 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60803976 |
Jun 5, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 11/04 20130101;
B63C 9/087 20130101; B63C 2011/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/2.17 |
International
Class: |
B63C 11/04 20060101
B63C011/04 |
Claims
1. A wetsuit having improved access for persons with limited
mobility, the wetsuit comprising: a torso portion having a neck
opening; un-openable sleeve portions extending from the torso
portion to sleeve-ends; first and second pant-leg portions
extending from the torso portion respectively to first and second
pant-ends; a first zipper extending from the neck opening of the
torso portion to the first pant-end of the first pant-leg portion;
and a second zipper extending from the neck opening of the torso
portion to the second pant-end of the second pant-leg portion.
2. The wetsuit of claim 1, where the first and second pant-ends
respectively open by use of the first and second zippers.
3. The wetsuit of claim 1, further comprising first and second
pant-leg seals respectively integrated with the first and second
pant-ends, the first and second pant-leg seals being fixed and
un-openable.
4. The wetsuit of claim 1, further comprising first and second
booties respectively integrated with the first and second
pant-ends.
5. The wetsuit of claim 4, further comprising hand flap folds
attached to each of the sleeves adjacent to the sleeve-ends, each
hand flap fold arranged such that it can fold over the
corresponding sleeve-end.
6. The wetsuit of claim 5, further comprising a hood integrated
with at least a portion of the neck opening of the torso
portion.
7. The wetsuit of claim 6, further comprising at least one cinching
mechanism.
8. The wetsuit of claim 1, where the first and second zippers are
arranged on front panels of the torso and pant-leg portions.
9. The wetsuit of claim 1, where the first and second zippers are
arranged on back panels of the torso and pant-leg portions.
10. The wetsuit of claim 1, where the first and second zippers are
arranged on side panels of the pant-leg portions, and side panels
and a front panel of the torso portion.
11. The wetsuit of claim 1, where the first and second zippers are
arranged on side panels of the pant-leg portions, and side panels
and a back panel of the torso portion.
12. The wetsuit of claim 1, further comprising sleeve seals
integrated with the sleeve-ends.
13. A water sport protective garment structured to protect a person
wearing the garment from cold water when the person is at least
partially submerged in the cold water, the protective garment
comprising: a torso portion; pant-leg portions extending from the
torso portion; at least one openable seam extending from the torso
portion down each of the pant-leg portions such that when the
openable seam is opened a section of the torso portion and sections
of the leg portions can be displaced to ease access into and egress
from the protective garment; and non-openable sleeve portions
extending from the torso portion.
14. The protective garment of claim 13, where the openable seam
extends partially down the pant-leg portions such that a section of
the pant-leg portions remains unopened when the openable seam is
opened.
15. A water sport protective garment comprising: a torso portion
having an integrated front section, an integrated back section,
integrated side sections, an upper section having a neck opening,
and a lower section: first and second sleeve portions integrated
with the upper section of the torso portion, each sleeve portion
extending from the torso portion to sleeve-end sections; first and
second pant-leg portions integrated with the lower section of the
torso portion, each pant-leg portion extending from the torso
portion to pant-end sections; sleeve seals formed at each
sleeve-end section, each sleeve seal being fixed and un-openable;
and at least one openable seam extending from the ends of the
pant-end sections to the upper section of the torso portion such
that at least a portion of the torso portion and portions of the
first and second pant-leg portions can be displaced to facilitate
entry into and exit from the protective garment.
16. The protective garment of claim 15, where the openable seam
includes a single zipper track extending from the first pant-end
section to the upper section of the torso portion and continuing to
extend from the upper section of the torso portion to the second
pant-end section.
17. The protective garment of claim 16, further comprising a neck
seal formed at the neck opening of the upper section of the torso
portion, the neck seal being fixed and un-openable.
18. The protective garment of claim 17, where the sleeve seals and
neck seal are structured so that a person wearing the protective
garment while at least partially submerged in water remains dry
under the protective garment.
19. The protective garment of claim 18, further comprising leg
seals formed at each pant-end section, each leg seal being
un-openable and structured so that the person wearing the
protective garment while at least partially submerged in water
remains dry under the protective garment.
20. The protective garment of claim 18, further comprising booties
integrally formed with each pant-end section.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/803,976, filed on Jun. 5, 2006, the contents of
which are incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a protective
garment having improved access, and more particularly to a water
sport garment providing protection from cold water and having an
improved access system for entry into or exit from the garment.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Garments that provide protection for an individual's body
have existed in some form for many years as cold environmental
conditions can quickly drain a body of heat. These protective
garments generally provide protection in two ways: shielding the
body from elements of the cold conditions, such as a shell limiting
the ability of a cold breeze to reach a person, and insulating a
body from cold temperatures. Because water has a very high thermal
conductivity, cold water can be especially dangerous since it can
quickly chill a person by stripping away body heat. This is
particularly of concern when the exposure to water includes partial
or total submersion in the water. In these circumstances,
traditional cold weather protective garments are generally
ineffective in protecting the person because the water saturates
them, which compromises their insulative properties. However, two
types of garments have been developed that provide significantly
better protection against cold water. The first type of garment
acts to seal the water away from the body so that other warm
clothing can provide insulation without becoming wet. An example of
this type of garment is a dry suit. The second type of garment
works by allowing a small layer of water to enter between the
garment and the person's body and then trapping the small layer of
water so that it can be heated and provide a warm layer next to the
person's body. An example of this type of garment is a wetsuit.
[0004] Dry suits typically use tight seals on the wrists and neck
of the suit to prevent water from entering the space between the
suit and the body of the person. These suits can further use
incorporated foot booties or have additional tight seals around the
ankles to prevent water from entering the space between the suit
and the body of the person. The dry suit itself generally includes
water impermeable material such as a synthetic rubber and sealed
access zippers. However, because zippers do not provide as
effective a seal as the water impermeable material, the use of
zippers is generally minimized as much as possible (such as a
single zipper going across the upper torso from shoulder area to
shoulder area), which can make donning a dry suit a difficult
chore. Additionally, because the seals around the open parts of the
suit must restrict the access of water, they are generally
difficult to fit through.
[0005] Wetsuits, on the other hand, typically allow some water to
enter the space between the suit and the body of the person wearing
the suit and then trap that water in the space between the wetsuit
and the person's body. To help accomplish this basic goal, most
wetsuits include a synthetic rubber material such as neoprene. This
synthetic rubber provides some repellency protection from the
environmental conditions, but also helps insulate an individual
from the cold water by trapping a thin layer of water next to an
individual's body. The thin layer of water can be heated by the
body and provide a warm layer next to the individual's body. To
ensure this insulative feature is effective, wetsuits are typically
tight fitting so that there is only a small layer of water next to
the body to heat, and have constrictive areas of material around
the arm and leg cuffs to help trap this thin layer of water next to
the body. However, because the effectiveness of wetsuits depends on
this tight fit and constrictive cuffs, they can be very difficult
to enter into or exit from, especially because most wetsuits only
have a single zipper running from the neck opening of the suit to
the mid section area on the front or back of the suit.
[0006] As discussed above, both of these types of protective
garments, and indeed substantially all water sport protective
garments, require a certain amount of mobility and dexterity to
enter into or exit from the garments. Access openings are also
traditionally kept to a minimum, as they are more susceptible than
the garment material for allowing water in. Although the access
difficulties of these types of suits do not substantially hinder
most adults, they can prevent a child or person with limited
mobility from being able to use the protective suit. This in turn
may prevent these people from being able to safely participate in
many activities in and around water. Thus, a water sport protective
garment is desirable where the protective garment provides an
improved access system while still maintaining its effectiveness in
providing protection from cold water. These and other problems in
conventional protective garments are addressed by embodiments of
the present invention.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention provide a water sport
protective garment having improved access and being structured to
effectively protect a person wearing the garment from cold water
when the person is at least partially submerged in the cold water.
In one embodiment, the water sport protective garment includes a
torso portion, pant-leg portions extending from the torso portion,
and non-openable sleeve portions extending from the torso portion.
To help facilitate access to the garment, the garment further
includes at least one openable seam extending from the torso
portion down each of the pant-leg portions such that when the
openable seam is opened a section of the torso portion and sections
of the leg portions can be displaced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a protective garment
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates another front view of the protective
garment shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3a illustrates a detail view of a pant-end according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3b illustrates a detail view of a pant-end according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3c illustrates a detail view of a sleeve-end and sleeve
seal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a protective garment
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIGS. 5a-5d illustrate side views of a protective garment
showing different configurations of the openable seam according to
embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a protective garment
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] To address the problems discussed above and other problems,
embodiments of the present invention are directed to a water sport
garment providing protection from cold water and having an improved
access system for entry into or exit from the garment. Some of
these embodiments are described below in detail, and in addition,
some specific details are shown for purposes of illustrating the
inventive principles. However, numerous other arrangements may be
devised in accordance with the inventive principles of this patent
disclosure. Thus, while the present invention is described in
conjunction with the specific embodiments illustrated in the
drawings, it is not limited to these embodiments or drawings.
Rather, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents that come within the scope and spirit of the inventive
principles set out in the appended claims. Further, well known
processes have not been described in detail in order not to obscure
the present invention. Thus, the inventive principles are not
limited to the specific details disclosed herein.
[0017] Throughout this disclosure, the term water sport protective
garment is used to describe the garment that is the subject of the
present invention. Although this garment may be embodied in many
different forms, two of the most common methods of structuring
water sport protective garments are as wetsuits and dry suits. It
will be noted below in the discussion of the exemplary embodiments
of the present invention if a certain embodiment is particularly
well suited for either of these types of protective garments.
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate front views of a water sport
protective garment according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a first front view of the protective
garment 100 in a closed state and FIG. 2 illustrates a second front
view of the protective garment 100 in an open state. Although, this
exemplary embodiment may be implemented in several types of
garments, it may be particularly well suited as a wetsuit because
of the lack of sealing around the neck area.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective garment 100
includes a torso portion 110, sleeve portions 120, and pant-leg
portions 130. The sleeve portions 110 are integrated with the torso
portion 110 and extend from the torso portion 110 to sleeve-ends
125. The sleeve-ends 125 may just be the end of the sleeve material
and simply hemmed. However, the sleeve-ends 125 may also include
separate material attached to the sleeve material. The sleeve-ends
125 may also be formed to have a cuff of thicker material. Although
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the sleeve portions 110 as relatively long
sleeves, the sleeve portions 110 may extend only a short distance
from the torso portion 110, such as only extending a small distance
down the upper arm of a person wearing the protective garment 100,
or they may extend for a relatively long distance, such as down to
the wrist of a person wearing the protective garment 100. Sleeve
seals 128 may be arranged at the sleeve-ends 125 so as to be
integrated with the sleeve-ends 125. Additional details about the
sleeve seals 128 are discussed below with respect to FIG. 3c.
[0020] The pant-leg portions 130 are also integrated with the torso
portion 110 and extend from the torso portion 110 to pant-ends 135.
Similar to the sleeve-ends 125, the pant-ends 135 may just be the
end of the pant-leg material or include separate material attached
to and integrated with the pant-leg material. Further, the pant-end
135 may have a hemmed finish or be formed in a cuff arrangement.
Additionally, the pant-leg portions 130 may extend only a short
distance from the torso portion, such as extending a small distance
down the upper leg of a person wearing the protective garment 100,
or they may extend for a relatively long distance, such as down to
the ankle of a person wearing the protective garment 100.
[0021] The torso portion 110 has a front section, a back section,
and side sections. Additionally, the torso portion 110 has an upper
section that includes a neck opening 115 and a lower section. The
sleeve portions 120 extend from the upper section of the torso
portion 110 and the pant-leg portions 130 extend from the lower
section of the torso portion 110. The torso portion 110, the sleeve
portions 120, and the pant-leg portions 130 may include a material
that is water impermeable. This material may be a synthetic rubber,
such as neoprene.
[0022] The system by which the protective garment 100 illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be accessed includes a plurality of openable
seams that extend from the neck opening 115 of the torso portion
110 to the pant-ends 135 of the pant-leg portions 130. In this
embodiment, the openable seams may include a first zipper track 150
operable with a first zipper 155 and a second zipper track 151
operable with a second zipper 156. The use of the term "zipper" may
refer to a zipper track, a zipper slider, or both mechanisms.
Although the openable seam is embodied as a zipper in these
embodiments, any type of resealable continuous closure mechanism
may be used. In the present embodiment, the first zipper track 150
extends from the neck opening 115 down a first one of the pant-leg
portions 130 to a first one of the pant-ends 135 and the second
zipper track 151 extends from the neck opening 115 down a second
one of the pant-leg portions 130 to a second one of the pant-ends
135. The zippers 155 and 156 are respectively operable along the
first and second zipper tracks 150 and 151 to provide access to the
protective garment 100.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates the protective garment 100 in a closed
state. That is, the zippers 155 and 156 are operated to fully
engage the zipper tracks 150 and 151. The zippers 155 and 156 may
be configured to be fully engaged when they are near the neck
opening 115 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or they may be configured to
be fully engaged near the pant-ends 135 as illustrated by the
phantom lines in FIG. 1. Further, zippers 155 and 156 may comprise
a dual zipper configuration where each zipper track 150 and 151 has
two sliders operating on it. This dual zipper configuration may
allow for additional flexibility in providing access to the
protective garment 100.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the protective garment 100 in an open
state. That is, the zippers 155 and 156 are operated to fully
disengage the zipper tracks 150 and 151. As shown in FIG. 2, when
the protective garment 100 is in an open state, a section of the
torso portion 110 and sections of the pant-leg portions 130 may be
displaced to ease entry into and exit from the protective garment
100. In particular, because sections of the torso and pant-leg
portions 110, 130 can be displaced, a child or person with limited
mobility may easily step into the protective garment, put their
arms through the sleeve portions 120, and zip up the zippers 155
and 156.
[0025] These steps may also be carried out with the help of an
assistant such as a parent or friend. If the zippers 155 and 156
fully disengage the pant-leg portions 130 such that the pant-ends
135 open, a child or person with limited mobility may be laid in
the protective garment 100, insert their arms in the sleeve
portions 120, and have an assistant engage the zippers 155 and 156
to zip up the protective garment 100.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeve portions 120 of the
protective garment 110 do not open. That is, the sleeve portions
120 do not have a separate zipper access system. This is in part
because as mentioned above, zippers or other openable seams tend to
let in more water than the insulative material itself. Second,
zippers can be more costly to implement than just providing fully
formed sleeves. Also, children and people with limited mobility
generally have an easier time guiding their arms and hands through
sleeves than in donning a complete tight fitting garment because
they are generally used to inserting their arms through sleeves.
Additionally, the sleeves may be formed to fit more loosely on the
person and then have cinching mechanisms (discussed with respect to
FIGS. 5a-5d) that can help tighten the fit after the person has
inserted their arms into the sleeve portions 120.
[0027] FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate detailed views of embodiments of the
pant-ends and sleeve ends. FIG. 3a illustrates a detail view of a
pant-end according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3a, each pant-end 235 may be structured so
that the zipper track 250 extends to the end of the fabric. In this
configuration, the zipper 255 may fully disengage the zipper track
250 such that the pant-end 235 completely opens up. The
configuration of this embodiment may have the advantage of allowing
access to persons that may have difficulty guiding their legs
through a tight cuff or seal, such as a young child or a person
with limited mobility in their legs.
[0029] FIG. 3b illustrates a detail view of a pant-end according to
another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3b, each pant-end 335 may be
structured so that the zipper track 350 does not extend to the end
of the fabric. Thus, in this embodiment, the pant-end 335 remains
partially closed even when the zipper track 350 is completely
disengaged. Each pant-end 335 may also have a pant-leg seal 338
integrally formed with the pant-end 335. The pant-leg seal 338 may
include a rubber or synthetic rubber gasket that limits or
completely prevents water from entering the protective garment. In
a wetsuit configuration, this seal 338 may also help prevent the
thin layer of warmed water from leaving or interchanging with new
cold water. The configuration of this embodiment may have the
advantage of providing improved sealing functionality and improved
warmth. Also, this embodiment may be easier to operate with
children that squirm or move while the suit is being donned. That
is, it can be very difficult to engage a zipper that is on two
separate sections of material, especially when one or both of the
sections of material is being displaced by a moving body.
[0030] FIG. 3c illustrates a detail view of a sleeve-end and sleeve
seal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring
to FIG. 3c, each sleeve portion 120 may have a sleeve seal 128
integrally formed with the sleeve-end 125. Similar to the pant-leg
seal 338 shown in FIG. 3b, the sleeve seal 128 may be formed of a
separate piece of material and attached to the sleeve-end 125. The
sleeve seal 128 may include a rubber or synthetic rubber gasket
that limits water from entering the protective garment. A
sleeve-seal 128 that completely prevents water from entering the
protective garment is necessary for dry suits. On the other hand,
in a wet suit configuration, the sleeve-seal 128 may help prevent
the thin layer of warmed water form leaving or interchanging with
new cold water. While this seal may make donning the sleeve
portions 120 of the protective garment more difficult, it will also
make the garment more effective in providing insulating protection.
Thus, the use of seals in specific embodiments may be dependent on
the physical capabilities of the person the garment is designed
for.
[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of a protective garment
according to another embodiment of the present invention. The
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is similar in many ways to the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, elements that are similarly
structured and/or have similar functionality will not be described
again. This embodiment may again be better implemented as a wetsuit
because of the lack of a seal in the neck and upper torso
areas.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, protective garment 400 includes a torso
portion 410, sleeve portions 420 extending to sleeve ends 425, and
pant-leg portions 430 extending to pant-ends 435. The protective
garment 400 also includes an access system that features zipper
tracks 450 and 451 operable by zippers 455 and 456. The operation
of this access system is similar to the one discussed above with
respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this
embodiment, however, the sleeve-portions 420 include hand flap
folds 480 formed adjacent to the sleeve-ends 425. The hand flap
folds 480 may be structured to be able to fold over the
corresponding sleeve-ends 425 and sleeve seals 428 if present. The
hand flap folds 480 may help improve the overall warmth of the
protective garment 400 by protecting the hands of the person
wearing the protective garment 400 from direct contact with cold
water. Each hand flap fold may be formed by stitching along the
sides and end adjacent to the sleeve-end 425 while leaving the end
facing the torso portion 410 loose. This arrangement allows the
flap to be folded over the sleeve-end 425 to cover the sleeve-end
425. The right sleeve illustrated in FIG. 4 shows the hand flap
fold 480 in an unused state, while the left sleeve of the
protective garment 400 shows the hand flap fold 480 folded over the
sleeve-end 425.
[0033] The protective garment 400 may also include an integrated
hood 470. The hood 470 my be integrally formed with a least a
section of the torso portion 410 near the neck opening 415. As a
substantial amount of body heat can be lost through the head, a
hood 470 may be desirable in situations where the water temperature
is especially cold, or there is a likelihood of prolonged exposure
to the cold water. The hood 470 may be donned after the person is
in the protective garment 400 with the zippers 455 and 456 fully
engaged in a closed state. Additionally, the hood 470 may be donned
during entry into the protective garment 400.
[0034] The pant-leg portions 430 of the protective garment may also
include booties 490 integrally formed with the pant-ends 435. The
booties 490 can be made of a moderately flexible material to fit a
variety of foot sizes and may include traction patterns (not shown)
on the bottom parts for improved grip while standing or walking. In
this embodiment, the zipper tracks 450 and 451 do not extend all
the way to the integrated booties. To don the protective garment
400 with booties 490, a person would have to slip his or her feet
into each of the booties, insert their arms into the sleeve
portions, and use the zippers 455 and 456 to fully engage the
respective zipper tracks 450 and 451. Having integrated booties 490
may be advantageous in providing additional warmth, as a pant-leg
cuff or seal is not required, and may be helpful in providing
general foot protection without the need for separate footwear.
[0035] FIGS. 5a-5d illustrate side views of a protective garment
showing different configurations of the openable seam according to
embodiments of the present invention. Each of FIGS. 5a-5d
illustrate an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
However, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5a-5d illustrate various
openable seam or zipper configurations. In addition to illustrating
various openable seam or zipper configurations, the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 5a-5d include a cinching mechanism 560. The cinching
mechanism may allow for a tighter and more customized fit of the
wet suit. Although only one cinching mechanism 560 is shown in each
of these embodiments, a plurality of cinching mechanisms 560 may be
present to further customize the fit of each protective garment
500. Cinching mechanisms 560 may be especially useful where the
protective garments are made for children because children tend to
quickly outgrow garments that have a set limited size. The cinching
mechanisms 560 may include fasteners such as Velcro straps, string
ties, buttons, loops, cinchable bungee cords, and the like.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 5a, the openable seams or zippers 550a are
formed on a back section or back panel 512 of the torso portion 510
and back sections of the pant-legs 530. Here, it may be difficult
for a single person with limited mobility to don the suit by
himself or herself, but it may be easier if the person has an
assistant and can lie face down in the suit to don the protective
garment 500a.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 5b, the openable seams or zippers 550b are
formed on a front section or front panel 511 of the torso portion
510 and a front section of the pant-legs 530. Here, it may be
easier for a single person with limited mobility to don the suit by
himself or herself, but the openable seams or zippers 550b may
interfere with a use of the suit, such as in surfing where a person
typically paddles out to waves with the front part of their torsos
on their surfing boards.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 5c, the openable seams or zippers 550c are
formed from the neck opening 515 partially down the back 512 of the
torso portion 510 and then continuing down the sides 513 of the
torso portion 510 and sides of the pant-leg portions 530. This
configuration may allow for even greater access as compared to the
embodiments of FIGS. 5a and 5b because a greater section of the
torso and pant-leg portions will be displaced, which in turn may
make it easier to don the protective garment 500c.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5d, the openable seams or zippers 550d are
formed from the neck opening 515 partially down the front 511 of
the torso portion 510 and then continuing down the sides 513 of the
torso portion 510 and sides of the pant-leg portions 530. Again,
this configuration may allow for even greater access as compared to
the embodiments of FIGS. 5a and 5b because a greater section of the
torso and pant-leg portions will be displaced, which in turn may
make it easier to don the protective garment 500d.
[0040] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a protective garment
according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The
embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1. Thus, elements that are similar in both embodiments will
not be further described. This embodiment may be implemented as a
wetsuit or a dry suit because the neck area could be sealed.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, the protective garment 600 includes a
single openable seam 650 having zippers 655 and 656 that extend
from the torso portion 610 of the protective garment 600 down each
of the pant-leg portions 630 to pant-ends 635. Although this
embodiment is shown having two zipper sliders 655 and 656, a single
zipper slider configuration is also possible. The openable seam may
additionally be a water tight sealed zipper, which is typically
used with dry suits to prevent all water from entering the space
between the protective garment 600 and the person wearing the
protective garment 600. However, because these zippers are often
fairly delicate, wetsuits usually use a more robust but less
water-proof zipper as a little water entry into the space between
the person and the protective garment 600 is allowable.
[0042] In addition to having the simplicity of only a single
openable seam 650, this embodiment is advantageous because a neck
seal 617 may be integrally formed with the neck opening 615 such
that substantially no water can enter the protective garment 600.
This is especially necessary where the protective garment 600 is a
dry suit, as all water should be prevented from entering the space
between the protective garment 600 and the person. Because of the
need for dryness within a dry suit, these types of protective
garments 600 require strong gasket seals on all portions of the
protective garment 600 that provide a barrier along the skin of the
person wearing the protective garment 600. The protective garment
600 may also have integrated booties as shown in the embodiment of
FIG. 4.
[0043] Having described and illustrated the principles of the
invention in embodiments thereof, it should be apparent that the
invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without
departing from such principles. I claim all modifications and
variations coming within the spirit and scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *