U.S. patent application number 17/017974 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-31 for suit having water-inflow double-blocking function.
This patent application is currently assigned to SURFLO CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SURFLO CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yong Hui PARK.
Application Number | 20200404990 17/017974 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005121368 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200404990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Yong Hui |
December 31, 2020 |
SUIT HAVING WATER-INFLOW DOUBLE-BLOCKING FUNCTION
Abstract
Disclosed is a suit having a water-inflow double-blocking
function. The suit includes a lower body portion, an upper body
portion coupled to a top of the lower body portion and integral
with the lower body portion, wherein the upper body portion has an
opening defined in a top center of the upper body portion, and a
neck cover coupled removably to the upper body portion, the neck
cover including: a neck portion surrounding a neck, and an
extension extending outwardly from a bottom of the neck portion to
surround the neck, wherein the extension is inserted into the
opening of the upper body portion and is coupled to an inner
surface of the upper body portion, wherein the neck cover prevents
water from flowing into the opening of the upper body portion.
Inventors: |
PARK; Yong Hui; (Yongin-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SURFLO CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SURFLO CO., LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
1000005121368 |
Appl. No.: |
17/017974 |
Filed: |
September 11, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/KR2019/004157 |
Apr 8, 2019 |
|
|
|
17017974 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 2500/50 20130101;
A41D 2300/322 20130101; A41D 13/012 20130101; A41D 2400/44
20130101; A41D 2300/324 20130101; A41D 31/10 20190201 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/012 20060101
A41D013/012; A41D 31/10 20060101 A41D031/10 |
Claims
1. A suit having a water-inflow double-blocking function, the suit
comprising: a lower body portion; an upper body portion coupled to
a top of the lower body portion and integral with the lower body
portion, wherein the upper body portion has an opening defined in a
top center of the upper body portion; and a neck cover coupled
removably to the upper body portion, the neck cover including: a
neck portion surrounding a neck; and an extension extending
outwardly from a bottom of the neck portion to surround the neck,
wherein the extension is inserted into the opening of the upper
body portion and is coupled to an inner surface of the upper body
portion, wherein the neck cover prevents water from flowing into
the opening of the upper body portion, wherein the upper body
portion includes an over-head cover having one side part fixed to a
rear portion of the upper body portion, and having the other side
part coupled to a front portion of the upper body portion and
extending across a central top of the upper body portion, wherein
the over-head cover has a head receiving hole defined therein
through which a head passes, wherein the over-head cover covers the
opening of the upper body portion receiving the extension of the
neck cover and thus seal the neck, thereby blocking water inflow to
the opening of the upper body portion in a double manner, wherein
the over-head cover further includes water-proof rubbers and water
inflow prevention films for blocking water inflow while the
over-head cover covers the opening of the upper body portion and
thus seals the neck, wherein each of the water-proof rubbers is
embedded into each of both lateral ends of the over-head cover to
first block inflow of water while the over-head cover covers the
opening of the upper body portion and thus seals the neck, and
wherein the water inflow prevention films are disposed inwardly of
the water-proof rubbers, and second blocks inflow of water not
blocked by the water-proof rubbers.
2. The suit of claim 1, wherein the water inflow prevention films
are arranged on each of an inner surface of the over-head cover and
an outer surface of the upper body portion and are spaced apart
from each other at a predetermined spacing.
3. The suit of claim 2, wherein the water inflow prevention films
formed on the inner surface of the over-head cover and the water
inflow prevention films formed on the outer surface of the upper
body portion are arranged in a zigzag form, such that the water
inflow prevention film formed on the outer surface of the upper
body portion blocks a gap between the adjacent water inflow
prevention films formed on the inner surface of the over-head
cover.
4. The suit of claim 1, wherein each of the water-proof rubbers is
made of an elastic rubber and pressurizes each of the both lateral
ends of the over-head cover to allow the both lateral ends of the
over-head cover to be in close contact with the upper body
portion.
5. The suit of claim 1, wherein the upper body portion further
includes a fixing cover fixed to the front portion of the upper
body portion, wherein the fixing cover includes a zipper to couple
and fix the other side part of the over-head cover to the front
portion of the upper body portion.
6. The suit of claim 1, wherein one of female and male snap buttons
is formed on each of front and rear portions of the extension of
the neck cover and the other of female and male snap buttons is
formed on each of the front and rear portions of the upper body
portion so that the neck cover is detachably coupled to the upper
body portion using the female and male snap buttons.
7. The suit of claim 1, wherein a water-proof rubber is disposed on
an inner surface of the neck cover to allow the neck cover to
closely adhere to a skin of the neck, thereby preventing water from
flowing through a gap between the neck cover and the neck into the
opening of the upper body portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of International
Patent Application No. PCT/KR2019/004157, filed on Apr. 8, 2019.
The disclosure of the above-listed applications is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate
to a suit for water sports used on water and in water, and more
particularly, to a suit for blocking water inflow in a double
manner.
[0003] In general, a suit for water sports is worn to protect a
body when enjoying various water sports such as scuba diving,
surfing, swimming, triathlon, wind surfing, etc. The suit includes
a wet suit and a dry suit. The wet suit refers to a suit in which
inner seawater heated by a body temperature while the suit is
gradually getting wet in water is maintained between a skin and the
suit. The dry suit refers to a suit that essentially blocks inflow
of water (seawater) into an inside thereof when used underwater.
The dry suit is relatively expensive because the suit is
manufactured using a water-proof zipper so that water does not
inflow into the suit.
[0004] However, in a conventional existing dry suit, the
water-proof zipper is provided on a back side of the suit. Thus,
when wearing or removing the suit by himself or herself, a user
must wear or remove the suit while being careful not to cause a
breakdown in the water-proof zipper. Thus, not only is it
inconvenient to open and close the proof zipper, but also it is not
easy to wear or take off the suit by himself or herself.
[0005] Further, it is preferable to wear the wet suit so that only
a small amount of seawater gradually inflows into the suit such
that the suit is in close contact with the body while much seawater
does not inflow into an inside of the suit. In other words, when
the suit is too large, a large amount of water inflows through an
ankle, wrist, and neck portion into the inside of the suit, thereby
creating a space between the suit and a skin such that the suit is
not in close contact with the body. Further, a large amount of
water inflows into the suit, thereby leading to decrease in a body
temperature and loss of buoyancy, thereby causing personal
accident.
[0006] Accordingly, it is preferable to wear the wet suit so that
the suit is tightly fitted to the body so that the suit is not
loose. In this case, it is very inconvenient to wear or undress the
suit by himself or herself. Moreover, when using the suit on water
or underwater, a gap between a neck portion of a wearer and the
suit is created due to movement of the head, so that the suit is
not tightly fitted to a neck of the wearer. This causes a large
amount of seawater to inflow through the gap into the suit, thereby
causing decrease in the body temperature.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a suit for
blocking water inflow into the suit in a double manner in which a
time and effort in attaching and detaching the suit to and from a
body of a user are significantly reduced compared to the
conventional wet suit, and the user easily and conveniently wears
and takes off the suit by himself or herself, and in which water
inflow into the suit is effectively blocked when the user wears the
suit and then uses the suit on water and underwater.
[0008] The purpose to be achieved by the inventive concept are not
limited to the purposes mentioned above, and other purposes that
are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in
the art from the following description.
[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment, a suit having a
water-inflow double-blocking function includes a lower body
portion, an upper body portion coupled to a top of the lower body
portion and integral with the lower body portion, wherein the upper
body portion has an opening defined in a top center of the upper
body portion, and a neck cover coupled removably to the upper body
portion, the neck cover including: a neck portion surrounding a
neck, and an extension extending outwardly from a bottom of the
neck portion to surround the neck, wherein the extension is
inserted into the opening of the upper body portion and is coupled
to an inner surface of the upper body portion, wherein the neck
cover prevents water from flowing into the opening of the upper
body portion, wherein the upper body portion includes an over-head
cover having one side part fixed to a rear portion of the upper
body portion, and having the other side part coupled to a front
portion of the upper body portion and extending across a central
top of the upper body portion, wherein the over-head cover has a
head receiving hole defined therein through which a head passes,
wherein the over-head cover covers the opening of the upper body
portion receiving the extension of the neck cover and thus seal the
neck, thereby blocking water inflow to the opening of the upper
body portion in a double manner, wherein the over-head cover
further includes water-proof rubbers and water inflow prevention
films for blocking water inflow while the over-head cover covers
the opening of the upper body portion and thus seals the neck,
wherein each of the water-proof rubbers is embedded into each of
both lateral ends of the over-head cover to first block inflow of
water while the over-head cover covers the opening of the upper
body portion and thus seals the neck, wherein the water inflow
prevention films are disposed inwardly of the water-proof rubbers,
and second blocks inflow of water not blocked by the water-proof
rubbers.
[0010] The water inflow prevention films may be arranged on each of
an inner surface of the over-head cover and an outer surface of the
upper body portion and may be spaced apart from each other at a
predetermined spacing.
[0011] The water inflow prevention films formed on the inner
surface of the over-head cover and the water inflow prevention
films formed on the outer surface of the upper body portion may be
arranged in a zigzag form, such that the water inflow prevention
film formed on the outer surface of the upper body portion blocks a
gap between the adjacent water inflow prevention films formed on
the inner surface of the over-head cover.
[0012] Each of the water-proof rubbers may be made of an elastic
rubber and pressurizes each of the both lateral ends of the
over-head cover to allow the both lateral ends of the over-head
cover to be in close contact with the upper body portion.
[0013] The upper body portion may further include a fixing cover
fixed to the front portion of the upper body portion, wherein the
fixing cover may include a zipper to couple and fix the other side
part of the over-head cover to the front portion of the upper body
portion.
[0014] One of female and male snap buttons may be formed on each of
front and rear portions of the extension of the neck cover and the
other of female and male snap buttons may be formed on each of the
front and rear portions of the upper body portion so that the neck
cover is detachably coupled to the upper body portion using the
female and male snap buttons.
[0015] A water-proof rubber may be disposed on an inner surface of
the neck cover to allow the neck cover to closely adhere to a skin
of the neck, thereby preventing water from flowing through a gap
between the neck cover and the neck into the opening of the upper
body portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0016] The above and other objects and features will become
apparent from the following description with reference to the
following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like
parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified,
and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a suit for blocking water
inflow in a double manner according to an embodiment of the
inventive concept;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which an over-head cover
and a neck cover shown in FIG. 1 are separated from each other.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a view showing a state before wearing an over-head
cover shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a view showing a state after wearing the over-head
cover shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIGS. 5A-5D and 6A-6D are schematic diagrams showing a
process of wearing a suit for blocking water inflow in a double
manner according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Advantages and features of the inventive concept, and a
method of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the
embodiments to be described later in detail together with the
accompanying drawings. However, the inventive concept is not
limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented
in various different forms.
[0023] In the present specification, the present embodiments are
provided to completely disclose the inventive concept, and to fully
inform a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which
the inventive concept belongs to the scope of the invention.
Further, the inventive concept is only defined by the scope of the
claim. Accordingly, in some embodiments, well-known components,
well-known operations, and well-known approaches are not described
in detail in order to avoid obscuring the inventive concept.
[0024] In addition, the same reference numerals refer to the same
elements throughout the specification. In addition, the mentioned
terms used in the present specification are intended for explaining
the embodiment, and are not intended to limit the inventive
concept. As used herein, the singular forms "a" and "an" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", and "including" when
used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated
features, integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do
not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or
portions thereof.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and
scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that
terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should
be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
[0026] Hereinafter, technical features of the inventive concept
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a suit for blocking water
inflow in a double manner according to an embodiment of the
inventive concept, and FIG. 2 show a state of a separation between
an over-head cover and a neck cover shown in FIG. 1.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a suit 10 according to an
embodiment of the inventive concept is worn to protect a body of a
user when performing various water sports activities such as scuba
diving, surfing, swimming, triathlon, windsurfing, etc. The suit
implements a protective effect that prevents a decrease in a body
temperature during water sports activities, and prevents damage to
the body from external objects.
[0029] The suit 10 is manufactured in a one-piece form for easy
wearing and undressing, and is made of neoprene having excellent
elasticity so that water does not inflow into the inside of the
suit by maximizing adhesion thereof with the body after wearing the
suit. In addition, the neoprene outer surface is coated with
polyurethane to reduce a surface friction with water during scuba
diving or swimming, thereby lowering a resistance to water during
underwater activities.
[0030] The suit 10 is manufactured in a one-piece form, and is
divided into a lower body portion 1 and an upper body portion 2
based on a body wearing portion. As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 2a
which has an open top is defined in a top center of the upper body
portion 2. In this connection, the opening 2a is formed by cutting
a top portion in a roughly `Y` shape so that the wearer does not
feel uncomfortable when wearing or removing the suit 10.
Accordingly, when wearing or undressing the suit 10, the wearer may
open the opening 2a of the upper body portion 2 beyond a width of
the wearer's shoulder, thus significantly reducing wearing and
undressing times. Further, it is easy to wear for those having a
physical handicap to easily wear the suit 10.
[0031] A neck cover 21 is provided on the opening 2a of the upper
body portion 2, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The neck cover 21
may protect the wearer's neck from external objects, and keep the
neck of the wearer warm and prevent water from flowing into the
opening 2a of the upper body portion 2 during water sports
activities.
[0032] The neck cover 21 may have an approximately neck warmer
shape. For example, the neck cover 21 may include a neck portion
surrounding the neck, and an extension extending outwardly from a
bottom of the neck portion to surround the neck and coupled to an
inner surface of the upper body portion 2. The neck cover 21 has at
least a portion inserted inside the upper body portion 2 through
the opening 2a of the upper body portion 2, and tightly coupled to
an inner surface of the upper body portion 2. In this connection,
the neck cover 21 has male snap buttons 21a on front and rear sides
thereof, such that the male snap buttons 21a may be detachably
coupled to female snap buttons 2b provided on front and rear sides
of the upper body portion 2.
[0033] Further, an inner skin of the neck cover 21 which is in
direct contact with the wearer's neck is made of a shark skin
fabric so that the neck cover 21 closely adheres to the skin of the
neck area when the neck cover 21 is in contact with water, thereby
to prevent water from flowing into the inside of the suit through
the neck cover 21 and the neck portion.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, an over-head cover 22 is coupled, at one
side, to a back side (a rear side) of the upper body portion 2 to
cover and seal a gap between the neck cover 21 and the opening 2a
in a double manner. A fixing cover 24 is provided on a front side
(abdomen side) of the upper body portion 2 and combined with the
over-head cover 22 using a zipper 23, thereby to fix the other side
of the over-head cover 22 to the upper body portion 2. In this
connection, the zipper 23 may include a water-proof zipper.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the over-head cover 22 has a head
receiving hole 22a into which the wearer's head is inserted.
Accordingly, when wearing the suit, the user pulls the other side
of the over-head cover 22 whose one side is fixed to the rear side
of the upper body portion 2 to overlap a top central portion of the
upper body portion 2, and then insert the head through the head
receiving hole 22a and then fastens the other end of the over-head
cover 22 to a top end of the fixing cover 24 using the zipper
23.
[0036] In one example, a water-proof rubber 25 may be embedded at
each of both lateral ends of the over-head cover 22 to prevent
water from flowing into the inside of the suit while preventing
both lateral ends of the over-head cover 22 from rolling up. In
this connection, the water-proof rubber 25 is made of an elastic
rubber embedded inside and along each of both lateral ends of the
over-head cover 22.
[0037] The water-proof rubber 25 uses an elastic force to
elastically press both lateral ends of the over-head cover 22 to
tightly adhere both lateral ends of the over-head cover 22 to the
upper body portion 2. Thus, during water sports activities, water
is prevented from flowing into the inside of the suit through a gap
between the over-head cover 22 and the upper body portion 2.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a view showing to explain a state before wearing
the over-head cover shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a view showing a
state after wearing the over-head cover shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in a state in which the neck
cover 21 is inserted into the opening 2a of the upper body portion
2, and is coupled to an inner face thereof using the snap buttons
21a and 2b, as shown in FIG. 4, the user pulls the other side of
the over-head cover 22 to overlap the top central portion of the
upper body portion 2, and then use the zipper 23 to fix the other
end of the over-head cover 22 to a top of the fixing cover 24.
[0040] In this way, when the over-head cover 22 covers the opening
2a of the upper body portion 2 to which the neck cover 21 is
coupled in a double manner to seal the neck portion, water inflow
into the suit may be effectively blocked compared to a traditional
rubber seal. In particular, the over-head cover 22 covers and
seals, in a double manner, a gap around the neck portion that may
be formed due to movement of the head during water sports
activities, thereby to completely block the inflow of water through
the opening 2a of the upper body portion 2 into the suit.
[0041] Further, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, after wearing the
over-head cover 22, the inner surface of the over-head cover 22 is
maintained only in a contact state with the outer surface of the
upper body portion 2. Thus, water may inflow into a gap formed
between the over-head cover 22 and the upper body portion 2.
Accordingly, according to the inventive concept, water inflow
prevention films 22b and 2c are formed to correspond to an inner
surface of the over-head cover 22 and an outer surface of the upper
body portion 2, respectively. In a state in which the over-head
cover 22 is in close contact with the outer surface of the upper
body portion 2, the water inflow prevention films 22b and 2c block
a gap between the over-head cover 22 and the upper body portion 2
so that water inflow into the gap may be prevented.
[0042] Each of these water inflow prevention films 22b and 2c may
be made of a silicon film. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a
plurality of water inflow prevention films 22b formed on the
over-head cover 22 are arranged on the inner surface of the
over-head cover 22 and are spaced from each other by a predefined
regular spacing. In addition, a plurality of the water inflow
prevention films 2c are arranged on the outer surface of each of
front and rear sides of the upper body portion 2 and are spaced
from each other by a predefined regular spacing and correspond to
the plurality of the water inflow prevention films 22b formed on
the over-head cover 22.
[0043] In a state in which the over-head cover 22 is coupled to the
fixing cover 24 while cover a front portion of the upper body
portion 2, the water inflow prevention films 22b formed on the
over-head cover 22 and the water inflow prevention films 2c formed
on the outer surfaces of the front and rear sides of the upper body
portion 2, respectively, are arranged in a zigzag shape, as shown
in FIG. 4. In other words, the water inflow prevention film 2c
formed on the outer surface of the upper body portion 2 blocks a
spacing between adjacent water inflow prevention films 22b formed
on the over-head cover 22.
[0044] FIGS. 5A-5D and 6A-6D are schematic diagrams showing a
process of wearing a suit for blocking water inflow in a double
manner according to an embodiment of the inventive concept. FIGS.
5A-5D are diagrams when viewed from a front of the suit, and FIGS.
6A-6D are diagrams when viewed from a rear of the suit.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5D and 6A-6D, the user first inserts
the neck cover 21 into the opening 2a of the upper body portion 2
and connect the neck cover 21 thereto, and then pulls the other
side of the over-head cover 22 to overlap the top central portion
of the upper body portion 2 and then puts the head thereof through
the head receiving hole 22a and thus wear the suit. Then, the user
attaches the other end of the over-head cover 22 to a top of the
fixing cover 24 using the zipper 23 to complete the wearing. In
addition, the undressing may be performed in an order opposite to
the order of wearing.
[0046] According to the inventive concept, the suit includes the
neck cover coupled to the opening of the upper body portion, and
the over-head cover for covering and sealing a gap between the neck
cover and the opening of the upper body portion in a double manner.
Thus, when the wearer wears the suit and uses the suit on water or
underwater, the suit may effectively block inflow of outside water
into the inside of the suit.
[0047] The effects of the inventive concept are not limited to the
above-mentioned effects, and other effects that are not mentioned
will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the
following description.
[0048] While the inventive concept has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive
concept. Therefore, it should be understood that the above
embodiments are not limiting, but illustrative.
* * * * *